NOTE: This week we found out that the issues in Bolivia had escalated and the people there are in a rage. The president who was elected a few weeks ago had manipulated the election to win. People are very angry have been rioting in the streets, ravaging stores and creating an unsafe environment. So the United States pulled all non-emergency Americans out of the country and Bolivia followed suit for the mission of Cochabamba by pulling out all North American missionaries. This has been hard for Elder Ballard and all of us to digest as we await more news.
Ok. Bruh. All I can say is bruh. IT IS A GOOD BRUH THOUGH, BEING A MISSIONARY IS SUCH AN ADVENTURE! AS YOU ALL HAVE PROBABLY HEARD MY MISSION IN BOLIVIA BASICALLY GOT SHUT DOWN, LIKE WHAT?!! Really I am so thankful to my heavenly father for his timing. I am praying for Bolivia and the missionaries there but how cool is it that your mission has this much political unrest??? Hahaha I think it’s actually so sick (not the riots and stuff but the idea of not actually knowing where you are going to be for the remainder of your mission).
Anyway, like most weeks this one was filled with a lot of highs and a lot of lows. Like usual, the best way I feel to get my thoughts into email version is by tying out a couple journal entrees:
– 11/13/19 (no title)”I don’t want to be out here. I really know I am suppose to be on a mission but I want to go home. I could go to Hawaii l, I could go study the gospel, I could go see my family. I do not, not like the gospel, I just feel so underqualified. I love pondering the Book of Mormon but I just don’t want to do it here. I want to go home. I miss my family. I just got the news that I most likely won’t go to Bolivia. I want to go there. Tempe is great but I want Bolivia. I was prepared to go. I don’t know… – Ok, this is me 10 minutes later, I am ok, we opened up a window and outside was pretty. Satan is scary. Oh my goodness…. he really had me there for a second.”
^^^^^ ok my take away from this journal entree is that discouragement and deception are tools of satan! I want to be out here on a mission! I do not care where I go, I know this is the lord’s work! Seriously satan can have a grasp on us sometimes, and it is scary. I have no figured out a way to fully avoid these situations yet but I am learning to just take a step. Just take a leap of faith in there hard times to read the book of mormon. It helps so much.
– 11/15/19 Journal Thoughts “Man, doctrine and covenants is crazy. Joseph Smith really went in. I am reading in S.84 right now about treasuring up continually, the words of life. How great is it right now that all I have to worry about is studying about christ, keep the commandments of christ, and declaring the word of christ? How incredible?”
^^^ When bad moments happen, have the faith to keep them in perspective!!! Bad days are inevitable, they are bound to happen. Just know that this is how heavenly father intended life to be! We cannot have christmas everyday or presents would hardly mean anything! We cannot simply have the best day ever every single day. Alma 34:40-41 gives me strength to endure with patience. All things are in accordance with Gods timing.
I realized this week that, in this life we all have wants and we all have needs. What is incredible is that heavenly father knows our hearts, wants and needs too. He knows us way better than we know ourselves. He knows perfectly, how to bless us. It is just up to us to align our will with his and recieve what he had to give us. I am learning that what you want matters to God, but what matters more, is you acknowledging that God knows what you want, more exactly than you know what you want, and the beautiful part about it is that he is willing to give it to you, if you are willing to give what you want up, for God. Seriously, insane how that works, but I realize that more and more everyday, being a missionary.
Other news, we put a couple down here, Micheal and Tiffany, on date for dec. 7!!!! I think seriously they are bigger examples to me and my companion than we are to them. The spirit resides in their home, even though they are not members yet.
But yes! I love being a missionary. I love reading my scriptures. I trust in God. I know that he knows best even though it is hard to accept that sometimes. I know that the gathering of scattered isreal is the most important work going on in the world today. If you are finding yourself stressed or frustrated this week, go do something for someone else! It will help you more than it will help the person you are serving. I pray for all of you guys, everyday. Thank you for the support.
All love, Elder Ballard
PS, in the new white handbook I can receive and read emails all throughout the week so if you are feeling the urge to talk, please know I am reading and responding in heart!
Elder Ballards Bolivia Mission 