February 29, 2016 - Bangalore Whitefield

Hey fam!!! 
This week was a pretty decent one.  We worked pretty dang hard this week and got bunked LIKE CRAZY!!!! But we still managed to put up some pretty decent numbers.  The best part of the week was Thanush getting baptized.  I will send some pics next week, but he had his family members from another Ward come and his cousin baptized him which was sweet.  It was a pretty good end to a tough week.  

We are doing pretty well for a tri-panionship but we are still growing together and working hard to make our area the standard of the mission.  It is going to take a ton of work and patience to get to that point, but we are being positive and having faith that we can do it.  We have done a ton of door knocking, but this week in weekly planning we felt inspired to try again to do more work with the active members.  So we are going to put our faith in that decision and see how it goes.  

Other than that, Babitha didn't end up coming so we decided to move her to the 20th because we feel that she isn't quite ready but for sure she will be baptized.  Our other investigators are really struggling so we are trying to find a lot of new people, which this week we didn't have much success with.  But, a mission is too short to be discouraged so we are pressing forward and going hard.  

Ummmmm i guess i don't know what else to say except this week we are going to Coimbatore to attend their zone training, so it will be cool to see a new place so i am pretty pumped for that.  Elder Basil and I are really enjoying together again, and our other companion Elder Coleman is way cool.  We have a ton of fun together.  Elder Basil and i are starting to train for the last 5 months, and we are going to gym every day and working out until next transfer when we will do a bunch of stuff to get in shape and get our skill back in ballin.

So anyways sounds like you guys are doing great and that's wonderful.  Time is really flying.  I'm sorry my emails are not so good lately haha i am running out of things to say, but i will try my best to keep some good info in these emails.  Especially with the surprising and unique new experience i am having right now.  

Love you guys a bunch!!!

Elder Ball

February 22, 2016 - Bangalore, Whitefield

Hey so last week i guess the mylds system crashed, so i guess my email didn't send to you.  So i forwarded last weeks:

So the title of my email this week is ummmm because i have no clue how to explain this week...So Tuesday and Wednesday i was just kind of chillin and mixing with different companions and stuff until the trainees came on Thursday.  So we had our trainers trainees meeting on Thursday morning and got assigned to a new Elder from India...

But the ummmmm part is what happened that day.  Right after the meeting and lunch, my companion was talking to president berrett for a while and then that night, he got on a train and went home.  I didn't even get to take him back to the apartment.  One day and he was gone that day.  So sad.  Poor guy.  He was awesome too.  Has an awesome testimony and so much gospel knowledge, speaks good english and is a really cool guy.  So basically i have been without an official companion this entire week.  These last four days i have been with my good friend Elder Porter (one of his batchmates), as he is waiting for his new trainee who comes in this week from England.  So i have no clue what is going to happen.

So not a lot got done this week but Preethi was baptized!!! It was awesome.  She brought her parents and friends, and it was so awesome!! Her mom introduced her to everyone and cried and shared her testimony it was awesome.  So Babitha probably will get baptized on the 28th!!! And Thanush also came, so he is getting baptized this upcoming week!!! It is great!!! Back to back to back baptisms.  For sure back to back and hopefully back to back to back.  

So basically it has been a difficult/weird week so i don't have much to say...sorry about that!  Thanks for the updates on the fam, and the SC and everything.  We will see what happens to me this week. 

We have about 78-80 missionaries right now.   After my batch, no one has come back yet...and no more hindi.  Yep Elder Ward worked with us for his last week!! it was cool.  I really like that guy.  Hey now!!! Don't put down my elephant ride!!! haha  Elder Coleman, one of the assistants rode with me.  They did two at a time.  So basically that's all i got this week...bummer right? But i guess it will all work out in the end! Love you guys!

Here are some pics from the baptism!!! 

As for this week....i will keep it fairly short.  Basically, out of nowhere I was asked to be an AP (Assistant).  Crazy how before this transfer i hadn't had any leadership, but this will be a great opportunity for service and to learn a lot.  I am in a tri-panionship with Elder Coleman and also my Aussie mate Elder Basil.  So we are together until Elder Coleman goes home next transfer, and then me and Elder Basil will be companions and run Whitefield by ourselves.  We have enjoyed being together and are working really hard.  We extended Thanush's baptism to next week and are hoping Babitha will also be ready.  We will see for sure, but basically this week and these days have been a blur, and this assignment by President Berrett came as an absolute shock to me but it will be great to learn from him.  So this probably means that i will be finishing here in Whitefield.  So basically that is it.  That's what i got for you this week and last week.  Been crazy but good.  Love you guys!

Elder Ball

Elder Chetti is on the left

Elder Ball and Preethi

Elder Ball and Elder Porter with Preethi and Irene

February 8, 2016 - Bangalore, Whitefield

Hello all! This week was an interesting one.  We had success/not success at the same time.  

As far as the not success, Thanush had to go out of town, so he wasn't able to come to church but he was bummed about that.  But he is still super pumped to get baptized, and so we just extended his date to the 28th.  we also invited his parents for baptism, so maybe his whole family will get baptized together.  That would be better anyway.  

We found 11 new investigators this week....11....which brings me to my next point.  This area has a problem.  But a good problem at that:)  We have too many people to teach.  No joke, every night when we plan, we have no idea how to schedule things around, because there are so many people we have to visit and teach.  So it will be interesting to see how that works out.
One of our super progressing investigators is Preethi.  She came again and is super excited for her baptism on Sunday! And even better, she brought her mom to church.  Yes bavitha finally came to church.  And they brought two of the other girls we are also teaching with them.  It was pretty great.  We also had a new family of 4 that we taught the parents come to church and that was good, as well as another sister who was a former investigator, but got offended a while back and now is coming around again.  We found so many new people to teach and most of them seemed pretty good actually.  February looks to be a busy one which is good but will be difficult to schedule everything.  

Also, another thing....I'm pregnant....So Elder Singh got transferred to Coimbatore.  Which leaves me here...President Berrett called me and asked me to train a brand new Elder that is coming in this week.  There are 4 new ones coming in, and i am going to train one of them in Whitefield.  Quite the shock for me.  And to be honest i totally feel inadequate about training.  I mean a lot of pressure to train in the same ward as the assistants are serving and that President Berrett attends, and given the fact i haven't been in leadership my entire mission...so i am a bit nervous about that.  I will get my son (trainee) on Thursday.  I am going to try my best, so just pray for me so that i can be a good trainer and example to this new elder, because trainers are really important as they are the first impression of a mission.  

As far as other things go that is about it.  Some good things going on here in our area and now a new responsibility, so should be interesting.  These last couple of weeks have really been frustrating with my companion.  My last companion Elder Ordejan explained patience as an eraser, every time you use it it gets smaller.  So i guess that has happened during this transfer, which isn't that good on my part.  i guess i still have to increase in patience....so i will be working on that. 

Well i love you guys and hope you have a great week!!!

Elder Ball

February 1, 2016 - Pictures, Manila Temple, Bangalore, Mysore

Manila Philippines Temple

The batch had the opportunity to go to the temple before leaving the 'pines

Elder Singh



Back to India and Elder Ball's love for Indian food!

The Zone went on a PDay trip to visit the sites at Mysore.

Proof that Elder Ball rode an elephant!

Reena's baptism

February 1, 2016 - Bangalore, Whitefield

It's February!...Crazy.  
Well this week was pretty dang awesome i have to say.  I have probably never been more frustrated with a companion than i was this week with mine as far as teaching efficiency and focusing, but we got some great work done.  

First of all, Reena did get baptized! It was awesome, and she even invited like 5 of her friends to her baptism!!! She is awesome and her baptism was long overdue.  She has such a strong testimony and is super humble so it was awesome.  

Also that young man named Thanush...He came to church this week again, and he brought his mom.  His mom was in tears in sacrament meeting because of the spirit she felt there, and Thanush also attended the baptism service because he said: "i am going to get baptized next week so i have to see how it works."  How awesome is that? He is super pumped to get baptized next week.  What is even better is that i am pretty sure they told the father how great they loved church, and before he said he would only come on alternate weeks.  but yesterday they invited us over for lunch and a teaching appointment after church, and he said next week the whole family is coming.  So we are pretty confident that right after Thanush get baptized, so will his parents!!! How cool is that!!!!  They are an awesome family.

Also sister Preethi, Bavitha's daughter, came.  Bavitha didn't come again, so we are basically dropping her until Preethi gets baptized...now i say that because of another awesome thing.  We introduced a member to Preethi yesterday at church, and the member did awesome fellowshipping.  Preethi absolutely loved church and told the member her testimony of the book of Mormon, and she told the member without even being asked that she is getting baptized in February.  We have her on date for the 14th, So we could have back to back to back baptisms!!!! The member even told us to baptize her next week because she is so ready, but she still needs to come to church next week and the following week to qualify for baptism, but so awesome to know that she is ready!  

A couple other random investigators that didn't show much interest before came to church as well which was awesome.  We found 9 new investigators this week.  Thanush and his parents, a father and his two daughters, and another family of three so we had an awesome week.  The work is really progressing and we have been working really hard.  So the Ravi Kumar and Ramesh Babu families are struggling a bit, so last night we retaught the Restoration to the Ravi Kumar family for better understanding, and i think they understood better this time as they committed to reading the BoM and coming to church next week.  Ramesh Babu just basically tried to Bible bash so we will see what happens with them. 

Yes, Elder Basil will leave at the same time as me, which reminds me of one point.  i think we should cancel the you guys coming to India thing...for a couple of reasons.   after i finished my ecclesiastical endorsement with President Berrett i talked to him about that.  he said it is discouraged for that to happen, but if the parents come anyway then they can work with them on it.  However, another thing is my mission has been extended a week to August 2, so as far a timing goes, i am not sure if coming to India would leave me much time before going to college.  a couple more thoughts...Elder Bunga is Zone Leader in Vizak, and Elder Bandi is Elder Bandi still haha.  Nope not teaching any africans but Elder D'Vaz still is in Lingarajapuram.  I guess they are the only interested ones in that area, but one of these days i might go there and show him some of my former investigators that weren't contacted after i left.  John is doing good.  He is teaching a French class now and is coming to church.  The members love him. 

 

I am getting up in the mornings a little earlier to go play ball.  Not every morning but most mornings.  Elder Basil doesn't have much interest in playing with me anymore though which kinda sucks.  MV is struggling huh?? Dang...seemed as though they were doing really good to start but i guess their schedule was also pretty easy to start.  

So yep we went to Mysore which was cool, and i uploaded quite a few pics.  I uploaded pics at the Manila temple, pics of Mysore, a pic of a random old lady just doing her thing right in front of some houses, and some others.  Hope you enjoy them.  

Haha "look upon the ball" (scripture he likes). Sometimes i joke with members and read them the scripture that says "and they did follow the directions of the ball." and then tell them that the scriptures teach people to listen to me haha.  Kinda funny.  They all get a kick out of my name haha.  Well I am glad things are going great there!

Love you!!! 

Elder Ball

January 25, 2016 - Bangalore, Whitefield

Hey jokes! i get to email today actually! Sorry about that.  False alarm.  So i will explain why we didn't get to email yesterday.  The reason is because yesterday for P-day we got approved to go to a place called Mysore for a zone activity.  Mysore is a really cool place with lots of sights to see and places to go but it's a 3 hour drive away, so we got back too late to do anything yesterday.  But Mysore was pretty dang cool.  I will send some cool pics next week of it.  

This week for me and Elder Singh was quite honestly a little bit of a disappointing one.  I was going to say discouraging because we worked so hard and didn't see the fruits of our labors, but this is just how India is so it is just a test from God.  And we are not giving up and are planning to have a killer week this week.  It was disappointing because we tried so hard, but didn't have much member support and only Reena came to church, which actually she is being interviewed as i type this, for her baptism on Sunday so are excited for that.  We also found 0 new investigators despite door knocking some more as compared to 10 the previous weeks consecutively.  But we have some good potentials that we found, so this week we should have some good new investigators so i am pumped for that.  

The Ravi Kumar family wants to feed us like all the time, which is a little bit difficult because i feel so bad about that.  So today we are going there for lunch, but we are going to have to wait for another one until they actually come to church so that it doesn't look like we are just taking advantage of them.  The Ramesh Babu family was difficult to get ahold of this week and we only taught them one, but today is a holiday for everyone so we have appointment today with them.  We got so bunked this last week which sucked but hopefully this week is better.  Also sister Bavitha couldn't come because she had to work last minute, and her children didn't some so we have to extend her baptism date...kind of a bummer but this week we goaled for 10 baptism dates and 14 investigators at church so we are putting our faith to the test!!!

One of the skype families is doing AWESOME! They are so interested and progressing so well.  The other guy in the other skype appointments has so many legal problems as he is a refugee and pretty much has had super bad luck with his time in Europe so it seems as though we won't get too much further with him.

So Mysore was pretty cool.  We went and saw a really old palace and had a good time with the zone.  But the best part, Dad will be really proud of.....and it's funny because he mentioned it in his email to me haha.  I RODE AN ELEPHANT....No joke.  i have photo and video proof.  Yes, pa, i rode an elephant for you.  Dropped 200 rupees to do it which was quite the dent in the wallet, but it was worth it.  Way cool.  So ha. Did it.  Maybe you will have to come do it with me next time;) Speaking of which, yeah i actually do think it would be way cool if you came to india at the end of my mish.  I am good with that.  

By the way, thanks dad for the college bball update, i was actually dying inside waiting to hear about that...no joke i was wondering last week what was going on haha.  Sounds like you guys are doing great though! i am very glad for that!!! And yeah i am still learning some Hindi.  These Indian languages are pretty dang difficult, but i am getting to understand a bit more.  Really hard to find time to learn it though is the problem.  So i have a book i am using and also i am teaching that english class to sisters who know absolutely zero English, so i am learning hindi as i try and communicate to teach them english haha.  English class is awesome and i realized how honestly, english kind of sucks haha.  It is so hard to teach and i am sure even harder to learn.  

So from what i am hearing i might finish my mission in Bangalore because registration issues haha.  So...not sure, but that is what it is looking like.  But yeah because of the weather i can't complain too much.  Hoping to get back to Lingarajapuram some time soon and show Elder D'Vaz some of my old stomping grounds..  

Anyways i love you guys and sorry about the late email!!!! Love You!!

Elder Ball

January 18, 2016 - Bangalore, Whitefield

Hello everyone!!
So this week started off super slow...the reason being because we went door knocking the first three days, and we literally found almost no success.  We went to a place where missionaries had never been and it was for good reason...pretty much only hindu and muslim homes...but we were diligent in continuing so we found some potentials.

Then in the second half of the week, we exploded with awesome stuff.  We found 10 new investigators again! We found a new family of 5 that is awesome, thanks to Rithik who introduced them to us, because they are his family.  we found a guy who recently moved here and is looking for a church to go to, and another guy who is having a leadership position in his church, and then a few part members and stragglers.  It was awesome!  We also had 5 investigators come to church this week.  Bavitha didn't come, but her son and daughter came with was awesome as well as Rithik, and a new guy named Anish and also sister Reena the Hindi sister.

As far as hindi goes i am still learning but slowly...it is hard...but what might help is i began teaching an english class which could get us more new investigators.  And also most of the people that attended only speak hindi, so i will learn hindi as i teach English, so it is pretty cool.

Other than that this week was pretty routine.  We ended up having some pretty good success.  We taught a couple skype lessons, and those investigators are doing really well so that is great.  We taught the Ramesh Babu family once, but they didn't come to church because they went out of town to Chennai, but they said next week for sure they are coming. so next week we could have like 10 investigators at church...how awesome would that be? 

So yeah, my comp can be frustrating at times, but i try to have as much fun and roll with it as much as possible and it helps.  Sometimes i have to take over a portion of the lesson and help him out, so because of that I am improving my teaching as well.  but we are improving hopefully and our lessons have been pretty effective lately.  It is pretty fun being with the assistants also, because president berrett expects their area and our area to be the best two in the mission to give an example to the rest of the mission.   We really have to improve on teaching less actives though, as we didn't teach any this week which was a bummer, so we are going to try and work better with the less actives and the members.  

Sounds like a great week for you guys as well which is awesome! Glad you are doing so well! My emails are also getting a tad short haha, but that is because i don't know what to say anymore! i hear this happens to pretty much every missionary who has been out for almost a year and half...

Love you guys!!!

Elder Ball