Monday, September 28, 2015
WEEK 12 - Q&A (Guest Edition)
This week, I asked for suggestions for questions on Aidan's and my FB and Instagram pages. We got some awesome questions! Thanks so much, friends! I will be using the questions I got for the next several weeks. Here are the first five. Enjoy!
1. Lindsay Storrs - What is your advice for those preparing for their missions? And bonus question: Who was your favorite Sunday School teacher? :)
My very very best piece of advice for people preparing for missions is to get in the habit of praying and studying every day. Basically know as much of the scriptures as you can and become and expert of the scriptures. Bonus: I think the answer is pretty clear.
2. Tim Provost - What is your funniest rejection story?
This one guy, in the nicest house in the whole neighborhood, when we knocked on his door, he opened the door, there is a second door that is about 10 feet away that we were standing at. He stayed inside his house and said, "What do you want? You are thieves. You are infesting my country." Pretty entertaining.
3. Aunt Karen - What were you most grateful for this week?
I was most grateful for the primary kids in our ward, they gave a wonderful program and showed me that you don't have to be old to be a spiritual giant.
4. Rikke Kotter - If you could have one anything shipped to you from back home for just a day, what would you want? No you can't say your Mom, you can't ship people silly.
I would want a meal from Zupas. Easily.
5. Loni Mitchell- What has been the most surprising thing about your mission and the hardest part of serving there?
The most surprising thing has been that basically everyone lets us in, like everyone. We have really only been turned away like three times. But with that, the hardest part is that everyone here is Catholic and they "like" their church too much to leave it.
6. Andrew - Who has had the biggest influence on your life?
The people that have had the biggest influence on me. My parents -- the examples they have been for me and the things they have taught me. Umm you, the example you have been, the things I have learned from you, and the experience of having something so close to me really has had an influence on me.
WEEK 12 - Hello Everyone
Tuesday
Tuesday we went to Urrutia and talked with Eidy. It is awesome now that she is a member and that we are working with her family.
Wednesday
Wednesday we worked with Carlos in our ward. He is 18 as well. He is preparing for the mission so we are helping him. We first went and chopped the weeds on the side of an investigator's house, which was lovely, considering my hands were already destroyed before we went. After that we went to visit and investigator, but she wasn't there, so we ended up teaching these other hermanas and one of them is super interested. After that we went and taught a new investigator that was a reference from the bishop's wife. He is great.
Thursday
Thursday we had a district meeting. After that we went to Arauli, and basically weren't able to do much. The work there is really hard, because it is so far away and there is a Catholic church there. The people only go to that church because it is easy. We went to eat at a member's house, a little grandma. While we were walking there, I had a prompting that we should share a scripture with her, D&C 24:7-8. And I shared it with her and talked about it a little. She ended up really needing that scripture, she was having a hard time with something and it helped her. And she told basically the whole ward about me. Gossip.
Friday
Friday we went to San Marcos and only taught only lady cause that was all the time we had, and then we went to Urrutia. We might be forming a branch there, which would be awesome, cause the people there struggle to get to the church.
Saturday
We worked with Carlos again. We taught a couple people and then it started to rain. And boy did it rain. We were soaked. We taught Kimberly. She knew the entire Joseph Smith story. Dates and everything. Like all of it. First Vision to the organization of the church. We also taught the reference of the bishop's wife, Alejandro, again. And he told us that he really wants to be baptized, so he has a date for the 10th. His son as well.
Sunday
Sunday was the primary program, and it was magnifecent. The kids were awesome. So spiritual.
That's basically all I've got for this week. Les quiero mucho. Les extraño mucho.
Elder Baller
Tuesday we went to Urrutia and talked with Eidy. It is awesome now that she is a member and that we are working with her family.
Wednesday
Wednesday we worked with Carlos in our ward. He is 18 as well. He is preparing for the mission so we are helping him. We first went and chopped the weeds on the side of an investigator's house, which was lovely, considering my hands were already destroyed before we went. After that we went to visit and investigator, but she wasn't there, so we ended up teaching these other hermanas and one of them is super interested. After that we went and taught a new investigator that was a reference from the bishop's wife. He is great.
Thursday
Thursday we had a district meeting. After that we went to Arauli, and basically weren't able to do much. The work there is really hard, because it is so far away and there is a Catholic church there. The people only go to that church because it is easy. We went to eat at a member's house, a little grandma. While we were walking there, I had a prompting that we should share a scripture with her, D&C 24:7-8. And I shared it with her and talked about it a little. She ended up really needing that scripture, she was having a hard time with something and it helped her. And she told basically the whole ward about me. Gossip.
Friday
Friday we went to San Marcos and only taught only lady cause that was all the time we had, and then we went to Urrutia. We might be forming a branch there, which would be awesome, cause the people there struggle to get to the church.
Saturday
We worked with Carlos again. We taught a couple people and then it started to rain. And boy did it rain. We were soaked. We taught Kimberly. She knew the entire Joseph Smith story. Dates and everything. Like all of it. First Vision to the organization of the church. We also taught the reference of the bishop's wife, Alejandro, again. And he told us that he really wants to be baptized, so he has a date for the 10th. His son as well.
Sunday
Sunday was the primary program, and it was magnifecent. The kids were awesome. So spiritual.
That's basically all I've got for this week. Les quiero mucho. Les extraño mucho.
Elder Baller
Monday, September 21, 2015
WEEK 11 - Q&A
1. Does Danli have fast food restaurants? Have you eaten in any?
Yeah it does. More like sit-down restaurants. But there are also fried chicken places everywhere. We haven't yet.
2. What is something about Honduras that is different from what you expected?
It is super super super dirty. Like when you finish your food, you just throw the garbage one the side of the road.
3. What do people think of Americans in Danli?
They love them. Everyone wants to talk to me. Everyone one says hi, just because I'm a gringo.
4. What do people in Danli do for a living?
Tons of people work at the tobacco factories, there are like five. That or they sell stuff on the streets.
5. How often do you do exchanges?
I have only done them twice, but one was for baptismal interviews.
Yeah it does. More like sit-down restaurants. But there are also fried chicken places everywhere. We haven't yet.
2. What is something about Honduras that is different from what you expected?
It is super super super dirty. Like when you finish your food, you just throw the garbage one the side of the road.
3. What do people think of Americans in Danli?
They love them. Everyone wants to talk to me. Everyone one says hi, just because I'm a gringo.
4. What do people in Danli do for a living?
Tons of people work at the tobacco factories, there are like five. That or they sell stuff on the streets.
5. How often do you do exchanges?
I have only done them twice, but one was for baptismal interviews.
WEEK 11 - Whatever Week This is: Baptisms
This week was AWESOME, basically the whole week we focused mainly on preparing Eidy and Luz for their baptisms.
Tuesday
I woke up on Tuesday feeling super sick to my stomach and that has basically plagued me all week, but I feel mostly better now. Basically the things to note from Tuesday were our visits to Luz and Eidy where we finished up teaching the last couple things we needed to teach.
Wednesday
Wednesday we went in the morning to finish chopping the "backyard" of an investigators house. It was hot. But I was priviledged enough to get the longer machete this time. So I wasn't completely dead by the end, I also chopped down a tree with the machete (new experience). After that we went to visit Luz and Eidy again, this time for the pre-interviews. They were both good, but we gave them each a little bit to study for Friday. At night we went and visited Ingrid, she is a
lawyer and friends with the bishop, cause he is a lawyer as well. She basically listens and understands everything we teach her, including the three kingdoms of glory, using D&C.
Thursday
Thursday we had a district meeting. Because our district is us and 6 Hermanas, and Elder Alarcon is the DL, I usually end up being the only Elder when we play games. Which is always super fun. We played Scripture Jeopardy. After that we went to met with another niña, Kimberly. She has tons and tons of questions, and she is really smart.
Friday
Friday was really good, I ended up going on exchanges with our ZL, Elder Smith, to do the interviews. He knew both of the investigators and said he was thrilled for both of them. He said that he was surprised that Eidy had accepted us, because whenever he went before, she would hide from the missionaries, the Lord truly has touched her heart. We were also nervous for Luz's interview cause she is a little timid, but Elder Smith said it was one of the best interviews he has
ever had with a child. She knew everything.
Saturday
Saturday morning we went and cleaned the font for the baptisms. It was really fun to get back into cleaning, just like the old days. After that we went and worked for a little while and then had the baptisms. It was amazing. I am so happy for both of them.
Sunday
Sunday both of them got confirmed during Sacrament meeting. It was so awesome. I am so grateful to be here. After that we went to visit Ingrid again, she again listened to everything, understood everything, and we talked about baptism. She was a little hesitant but she said that if she receives an answer she is going to be baptized.
Great week! Love you all!
Elder Baller
Tuesday
I woke up on Tuesday feeling super sick to my stomach and that has basically plagued me all week, but I feel mostly better now. Basically the things to note from Tuesday were our visits to Luz and Eidy where we finished up teaching the last couple things we needed to teach.
Wednesday
Wednesday we went in the morning to finish chopping the "backyard" of an investigators house. It was hot. But I was priviledged enough to get the longer machete this time. So I wasn't completely dead by the end, I also chopped down a tree with the machete (new experience). After that we went to visit Luz and Eidy again, this time for the pre-interviews. They were both good, but we gave them each a little bit to study for Friday. At night we went and visited Ingrid, she is a
lawyer and friends with the bishop, cause he is a lawyer as well. She basically listens and understands everything we teach her, including the three kingdoms of glory, using D&C.
Thursday
Thursday we had a district meeting. Because our district is us and 6 Hermanas, and Elder Alarcon is the DL, I usually end up being the only Elder when we play games. Which is always super fun. We played Scripture Jeopardy. After that we went to met with another niña, Kimberly. She has tons and tons of questions, and she is really smart.
Friday
Friday was really good, I ended up going on exchanges with our ZL, Elder Smith, to do the interviews. He knew both of the investigators and said he was thrilled for both of them. He said that he was surprised that Eidy had accepted us, because whenever he went before, she would hide from the missionaries, the Lord truly has touched her heart. We were also nervous for Luz's interview cause she is a little timid, but Elder Smith said it was one of the best interviews he has
ever had with a child. She knew everything.
Saturday
Saturday morning we went and cleaned the font for the baptisms. It was really fun to get back into cleaning, just like the old days. After that we went and worked for a little while and then had the baptisms. It was amazing. I am so happy for both of them.
Sunday
Sunday both of them got confirmed during Sacrament meeting. It was so awesome. I am so grateful to be here. After that we went to visit Ingrid again, she again listened to everything, understood everything, and we talked about baptism. She was a little hesitant but she said that if she receives an answer she is going to be baptized.
Great week! Love you all!
Elder Baller
Monday, September 14, 2015
WEEK 10 - Photos
Elder Baller has been sending photos every week the last few weeks and we LOVE it! Looks like this week, the theme was food. :)
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| I requested an exterior photo of his house... what a good boy. :) |
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| I'm SHOCKED he's drinking Coke. He's not a soda fan. I guess it might be one of the only options. The tiny little square thing on the book is a speaker. I sent it with the iPod and he said he loves listening to the church music on it. I also loaded it with a Christmas playlist for when the time comes. |
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| Not sure why they are in their G's, but whatever. LOL Elder Baller LOVES Elder Alarcon. |
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| Aidan has always been a great cook... and loves to experiment with new recipes. I'm so glad this is one area I didn't need to worry about with him on his mission. He'll eat well for sure. This looks like it could be a breakfast at home. |
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| Oh I LOVE this boy! (And again... why the G's...) |
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| Three grilled cheese sandwiches...at one sitting... his appetite hasn't changed apparently. |
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| LOVE HIM |
