Hey guys, I was going to start off this letter by saying I’m sorry about never writing these and that I will do better but I know that will never happen lol
I figured I could give a quick update on some things that have gone down over the last little bit 》》》
– First off, I hit my 10 month this week, and I am so excited to see the miracles the Lord still has in store for this next 14 months!!
– I was companions with Elder Thatcher and Elder Noble separately up in South Phoenix hace alguno tiempo and this last transfer we were in a trio down here in Yuma
– A new transfer is up so Elder Thatcher ya se fue a su casa and we got a reassigned missionary named Elder Alton. He was out 16 months or so in Chile before COVID hit
– Me and Elder Noble are over about 30 missionaries and they all know why they are out here. They are all so eager to further the work in Yuma. If you want to see any of our efforts, check up “Followers of Jesus Christ in Yuma” & “Seguidores de Jesucristo en Yuma” !!
– We have found through technology we are able to reach such a new wide variety of people, here are just a couple!! 👇👇
• We are teaching the Sue family from Samoa. She is now a single mom, after her husband left her and their 8 kids. She sails to another island 5 days a week to care for kids. What a boss mom!!
• We have our friend Isaac from Mexico who meets with us at his work because he doesn’t want his parents to know that he is taking lessons with us. We just had a powerful fast with him yesterday, so that he could answer to see if he should be baptized!
• Our guy Andres in Peru! We were able to work out a baptismal date for him and we set a daily scripture schedule because he wants to finish the book of mormon!
• Good ol Matilda in Argentia! She is a 70-80 year old women who now has the desire to learn more about the church. She said she prayed about the book of mormon and that God told her it was true!!! We are so excited for her!!!
• Irma from Venezuala, who is elect as it gets. We have gone through all the lessons and baptismal questions with her, she just needs to finish her move to Colombia than we will give the information to missionaries over there so she can be baptized!! Wahoo!
• Our buddy Naphtali over in Nigeria. Not even kidding, he has family members dying every other day from COVID & other things going through his city 😥 but he loves learning about Christ so we are working to get his info sent over to the bishop in his area!
Really, over all, I would just say I am happy. Days are long, stressful, repetitive, unmotivating, the list goes on, but I do however feel so blessed and privileged to be a missionary in these times. I am coming to better understand what President Nelson has so often said, about how it does not matter your circumstance, if you are growing your relationship with your Heavenly Father through prayer and scripture, you are winning.
Thank you for everyone that supports me, I feel so loved. Please remember to make time today to have a real conversation with your Father in Heaven, he has been waiting to hear from you.
Be safe!
Elder Ballard
Elder Ballards Bolivia Mission 