"The book is blue and the Church is TRUE" and "Hna Ball: missionary, wedding planner and mud trudger"

August 11th

Yet again, the computer crashed. And yet again I am sitting here fighting back the tears because this is so frustrating- This week was one of my very favorite weeks and so full of truly beautiful experience- which I had written but it looks like one more week of a quick rundown. 

“I slept and dreamt that life was joy. I awoke and saw that life was service. I awoke and behold, service was joy. ¨-Rabindranath Tagore

What a dream of a week it was! A week of service and so much joy. 

Favorite things:

- H and F. We taught them about the Book of Mormon, about how it can answer any questions and all- the spirit was so strong and when I asked them the baptismal question I thought it was a sure thing, an easy yes- but she immediately explained no- which was a dagger let me tell you. But it is because they know they are not ¨good in the eyes of God¨ and need to get married first! (woohoo law of chastity!) But they came to church and everything was perfect. woohoo. I love H so much. 

- Speaking of church, guess who snuck over to our church building in Sunday- R. The sly dog. She explained how it would never happen again, but ha-ha I love it. It's so bad and I do not like disobedience :) ) However, it was so good. How I love this crazy lady. She explained how even without our reading lessons she has been reading the book of Mormon everyday day (and showed me with her cute little notes and all) and how she hasn’t missed a week of church. How she is helping the Young Women and looooves it. This lady- I love R more than I can even explain. It is amazing to see the love and joy in her eyes. 

2 miracles:

1- the miracle of the inactive who would not open the door.

 We were knocking and knocking and he wouldn’t answer (which is so opposite of him- he’s the cute little old man who waits at the door for us to come) so right after knocking and all a lady walked by and we turned to contact her- we gave her a pass-along card of Jesucristo after the resurrection and I explained how we were missionaries and all that, then that families can be forever- to which she started to cry a little and explained she was on the way to the cemetery because it was the 1 year anniversary of her mothers passing. It was short and sweet and we were able to explain a little about Gods plan for her and her mother. She left for the cemetery so full of love and hope and it was the best thing to see and feel. 

 

our tiny barbie house

Also, the miracle of the forgotten scarf. Seriously I explained this in the other letter how it was all spiritual and all- but here it is. 

Forgotten scarf (which never happens really.)  We were walking away and talked about how we need to leave this family because it is hard to find the spirit in this house. The next day we realized that we had forgotten a scarf.  We went back for the scarf a couple days later- not only find the scarf but find a gooolden investigator- the granddaughter who we are now teaching.  I'm telling you- it’s so cool to be a missionary and see these little tender mercies everyday. 

 

My favorite investigators

This week was so spiritual and I had the best experience- but don’t have time now- I will go home and write it down and send it or something. Here are little facts of the week. 

I can get mail- and oh boy did I get it!

1- package from gma ball-. With the best little treats and I looove these little packs of treats in a mug. Gold. 

2- letter from mom. Love they made me cry and laugh and smile so much. Pls send more. (This was with the byu pin-love my pin collection- and the stickers) send more love notes. 

3- notes from gma ball. oh how I love it. She and grandma simpkins are SO GOOD to write every week. Best grandmas in the mission. 

- And 4. Oh wait no. 8 (oh my) postcards. Hahaha I wanted to kill you but I was laughing too hard. Oh my you kids. You little buggers. I love you so much. 

Cool things about Rio Bueno. 

-Its beautiful- my favorite geographical sector (not sure if that a word- its my favorite stuff about nature and all. You know)

But really, mud trudging all day, sometimes walking through cow fields, sometimes crawling through barbwire fences, sometimes slugs chilling in the house (love this. really its so funny), sometimes flashlights because the fog is so thick. 

My sector is about 20 miles long and so cool. We are focused in one part- but so cool. After lunch the moon is out all day long and so beautiful. The streets are little rivers in the rain. And it is so green and beautiful. Also we are somewhat heading into spring- so sunshine-ish. :) Did I mention I love Rio Bueno...?

Well family (hopefully) more next week. We never know- but hey that’s the adventure right!

This service is such a joy. 

I am literally living a dream and I love it. I love serving, mud trudging and mostly testifying of Him always! I love being a missionary! Have a happy last week of summer!

xoxo found bacon for the first time and could literally taste home  xoxo

Hna Ball

August 18th

¨To be humble is to recognize gratefully your dependence on the Lord. It is an indication that you know where your true strength lies. You can be both humble and fearless. You can be both humble and courageous.¨ - True to the faith

When I start out with a quote like this I think you all can get the feel of how the week was. Wow- what a truly crazy great, but what a hard week. You know? I learned a lot about my dependence on the Lord and where my strength truly is. But slowly, with the good, the bad, the rain, and the sun with it all I am seeing how through Him I am becoming fearless and courageous. Especially in these experiences where it’s so hard it’s humbling, or so happy I’m humbled to be a part of it. 

 

Our mommasita

HARD: 

The hardest for me is the rejection, the fallen appointments, and getting to know a new sector. The hardest was how we had 29 appointments this week- super crazy good appointments- but all fell through except 8, and out of these 8 only 4 were investigators. We had other lessons where we just stopped by- but oh my, it was so frustrating. 

Especially, because right now I feel I am the most obedient personally I’ve been the entire mission. But I just feel sometimes I am not having ¨success" and don’t understand why. 

 

Trying to stay warm

But then I just remember that in the experience to be humble and fearless and courageous- the humility comes first. 

The good thing is, the things good about this week- were really good. 

GOOD:

First we have a couple of gems that are progressing. "A" and "H". They actually contacted us- best. They showed up for English classes and loved it. Afterword’s we wrote down the direction to their house and have been visiting them. They are brother and sister, both young adults and so great. We have had crazy lessons with them- they don’t really want to commit to anything to much (and I think its because their mom is menos activo (less active) and has a little bit of problems with the church.) 

But she is fine with us visiting and we are slowly cracking the ice cold wall she’s got built up (oh boy its big one) :) Buuuuuut when we are with "A" and "H" we can just feel it. The spirit, the understanding when we teach. All of it. Love.  Just in one of our lessons we taught all of the restoration, the book of Mormon, baptism, and the first part of the plan of salvation. They are crazy- and I love it. 

We are helping a daaarling family prepare to be sealed in the temple. What gems. The kids were just baptized and we´ve been working a lot with them. Love. 

Then speaking of weddings- remember H and F- taught them all these good things, they came to church... well they want to get married- for real! woohooo. I called it. We´ve got some details to figure out, but oh boy I am so excited- and in a year I’m going to be in Santiago for when they go through the temple- calling it now. (Oh maybe I am getting little excited. They only came to church one time and still haven’t committed to a baptismal date hahaha, but I love them.)

Ok, but a cute little story about them. So one of our appointments fell through so we call them up and they are all, "oh it's late we are getting ready for bed" all this then we hear them whispering and they are all. "Come on over!" So we stop by and it’s a full on pj party, they are making us a fire and pancakes and ready with suuuch good questions. We are talking about F here, the guy who wasn’t quite sure about God. And now asking all these questions like ¨but if God loves us and the garden of Eden is perfect why would he let Satan enter- was it part of God's plan or did it just happen¨ (what? love.)

Dad, I love you. Just wanted to let you know. 

 

Spring has begun to sprung

Here the idea of the father is different. I don’t know how to explain it. But that’s why I love being here- I looove, love, love teaching people that no matter what the circumstance with their father here in Chile, they have a Heavenly Father who wants to be part of their lives and who loves them and knows them. 

When I explain whom our Heavenly Father is- I explain him, but a lot of times I explain the love, support and acceptance I feel from you, pops. And it’s through you and your example I’ve learned how to feel this love, support and all from my Heavenly Father- because I can acknowledge it. I sure love you punk. 

 

Thanks for the package mom

The other thing I love here- is kneeling in prayer. A lot of times it is the only time the family is together, kneeling in prayer and when they are able to hear their father pray. 

Ok, more about “F”. What? This kid! We were struggling one time- every plan had failed- literally plan a, b, c, d, e, f, and up to g. One of those times. So we stop and say a little teary prayer. Then we go and try more and nothing. Then more and nothing. Then we knock, literally, an entire street of houses and only 1 house answered (and they only opened the window for 2 seconds. ha-ha) So we are all "ok now what?" So we start walking to a different part of the sector and we contact him- then found out we had contacted his grandma earlier in the week. So we set an appointment with him (one of the appointments that actually worked out) and we taught him the restoration. So good. Oh, it was a lot of work before we found him but everything afterword’s had fallen into place. Bummer part- he’s leaving for a week and a half. Super good part he wants to learn more and has promised to read why he’s gone. So hopefully news to come. 

 

Our friend the goat

This week was also a week of sun! Oh my love. And a week of goat chasing in the street. Seriously this goat is just always chilling in a pack of dogs and I love it. The plan is to train it to follow us- I’m thinking a breadcrumb trail to start with. Then when he had confidence maybe a little name badge. Love him. 

We also had zone conference this week. Can I just tell you how much I love zone conference? First, it was about an hour bus ride and we were smashed in this sketchy bus with all these people- we used the time to have a little Spanish class for me and taught everyone around us the first lesson. Ha-ha 

Also now Hermana Spencer is in my zone and its giggles and pure joy all day. The new mission president is so good. Him and the Hermana are a bit... direct. But in the best of ways. They somehow convinced us to wake up 15 minutes earlier every day to start the work earlier. So yeah, momma and pops you know how hard the whole alarm thing is for me so it's true love. The conference was gold and we are applying it and I love it. 

(And after because we were in the city we got to stop off at a super market and buy some gluten free things so I am living the good life)

 

Rio Bueno

And zone conference means mail! 3 letters this week. All three gems, one from gma ball, Ange DeVore (woohoo best surprise ever) and one from the mama (with the baby pictures. so cute. ha-ha. here pictures are everything so send more.) Also, I think I say "send more" every week with what ever you do ha-ha so just keep being the best mom.

GROSS:

Eww, sorry this is gross but really it just explains the week. So it's so cold- sun is starting but it's still cold. There are frozen RATS, like big rats, in the street because it gets so cold they can’t walk to keep warm and just freeze. I told you its gross, but really. 

 

Rio Bueno

INTERESTING:

Ok, the other interesting experience of the week. We were visiting this inactive who things were going real well with. And were just chatting and stuff- just about to give her this assignment to come back to church when her pastor stops by (yeah in this moment we found out she’s visiting a different church and all these crazy things) but get this, it was so interesting. First, to just feel the different spirit, he is such a great man. And he is trying to help and lead, but it was just interesting to see and feel. Also, the fear in his eyes to talk to us- it was super interesting. A very pleasant lesson and all, but just interesting. 

I love being a missionary. And I love being a missionary here with Hermana Latham in Rio Bueno (aka beatifulville.)  But really, I am learning so much. Learning how to rely so much on Heavenly Father's strength and how to be courageous and fearless. I´ve got a way to go- but it's all good! 

Well family, this week I celebrated my 6 months here in Chile. I can’t believe it. Wowzers. What a wonderful, wet, happy, hard, best 6 months. 

I love you. 

Keep on keeping on. 

xoxo Hna ball; missionary, wedding planner and mud trudger.

Wishing I had packed my kayak....

“It takes courage to live, courage and strength and hope and humor.”

However, I think this perfectly explains the mission. How it takes courage to serve a mission, courage and strength and hope and humor. And if you’re missing one of these it just doesn’t quite work out. 

I've found so much courage in the plan of salvation.

 This is one of my all time very favorite and most spiritual lessons to share, cry with and testify of. To be able to explain to people how the end of this life is not the end. How God loves their family and has a plan specifically for them- gold. One of these golden lessons was with an inactive. She recently lost her husband and son and explained the pain, but the faith she has felt in this experience. I was again, because of my experience with Gordon, able to explain feelings I'd had, and how this gospel helped me in this time of darkness. How it takes courage to face death, courage to: hope for a better world: and courage to continue on. And not only continue, but continue in faith. 

I was strengthened in prayer. 

Last week I explained how I lost all my photos.  Well, I prayed and prayed and had the computer people try to help, but nothing. And honestly I was so frustrated and knew they were only photos, but how I probably wouldn’t ever see these people again- and how I knew they were only pictures- for this Heavenly Father could help. So I went to my room alone and just prayed that he would help me recover these memories and when I went back to check I had a couple of my most dear families. For me- this was more than just a miracle but I was strengthened in my knowledge that Heavenly Father truly loves me and is ready to help if I just ask. 

I am so filled with hope. 

This week we have dedicated our time to finding new investigators. The work here is hard- people are content with the lives and faith they have. But this week we had one investigator in church, a different investigator in an activity and we have two new that are gold. A daughter and mother and I loooove the daughter. She is 18 years old, a gem and is so receptivo (receptive)- I’m going to go ahead and say it- "this girl is going to be such a happy Mormon!" I have so much hope for this sector! 

 

Hna L's Birthday

Humor. 

My days are truly filled with joy. Spiritually and just laughably (ha-ha you may not think that’s a word but really its true.) It was Hna L's birthday this week and we had a rocking birthday party. When we were walking back and its dark and we are just chatting and all when all of a sudden Hna L is screaming, which means I am just screaming my head off.  And I look and she’s on the ground. It turns out a drunk on a bicycle hit her a little bit. (Hahahah- no not funny this is my dear companion.... :) ) But really. 

Hna L's birthday party

But this is the best part she stands up grunting a little and brushing off the dirt and starts to contact the crazy man! I loooved it. If this had been me I would have been cursing him out (not). But she just explains, "hi we are missionaries of the church of Jesus Christ of latter day saints and we have a message about jesucristo." and I am seriously loosing it- I have my face hidden behind my planner because I am crying and I am laughing so hard. Seriously, I think this was one of the funniest experience of my mission- and the guy is so confused and we are so confused and the first thing he says- "it was your fault." Which just makes me lose it even more. Luckily, all is well and Hna L isn’t hurt, but even just thinking about it I’m cracking up. 

So yes, it takes courage to serve a mission. 

 

Hna's at the bus station for transfers

This week was crazy. First we were up in Wednesday at 5am to run 40 minutes- literally run- with my entire luggage to the bus station. Where I got a different Hna for the day. It was crazy. But my favorite part of the morning was, I was in the bus station for hours and I was studying my scriptures to the side while my new Hna talked with the elders when a man came and sat by me.  He is an atheist scientist and had such great questions focusing on how I can believe in something I cant see. It was one of those "missionary" experiences where I had my scriptures and read with him in Alma.  At first I was so nervous “because he was a very educated man."  But then I remembered truth, is truth. He explained how liberated he is because he is not constricted by a religion. But I was able to just bare testimony and share from the scriptures the truth of liberation.

Afterword’s I was in another bus station in Osorno where I ran in to Cris! She somehow heard I was going to be passing through and had been waiting for a couple hours! So great to see a cute little Osorno face. 

Afterwards, I meet up with Hna L and we bused off to Rio Bueno. Can I just say that I looooove Hna L and I looooove Rio Bueno. 

Little facts about Rio Bueno:

The name Good River is for the river here- but I personally think it is for the streets- literally every street is a little raging river because we have rain like none other! And not just rain but that crazy Highland type wind. Its so fun- ha-ha. 

We just tromp around in rivers all day in full on rain gear- with rain boots; rain skirts (yeah real pretty) rain coats, under rain jackets, hats, scarfs, gloves and umbrellas. It’s seriously so fun. (This sounds sarcastic but I am dead seriously.) The not fun part, I found mold in my rain boots- but bought a real nice new pair (number 3 in 7 months) 

Also can we just talk about 7 months in my mission? What?! 

Also, I love Rio Bueno because it is beautiful, 100 little rivers, lots of land and green and mud and open space. It’s a little pueblocito (small village) and darling. 

My sector is huge because the houses are a bit spread out.  Sometimes we have to take a little bus from one part to the other.  And we have “el campo” (farming village) in our sector, which is just like Peterson Utah! Houses really spread out with a lot of land. I haven’t got to visit this part much but am so excited. Just chilling with the sheep and cows and happy, happy tranquilo (quiet) Chileans. 

I don’t have a ward, but the best branch in all of Chile. They are geeeems. I am also the first new sister missionary here in 6 months. It's a small place so I am famous. :) But the elders explained how I would probably be stationed here for about 4-6 months. So to get to work because I will have the time for all the follow up! woohhoooo! 

RANDOM:

Also, so funny, we are planning for a ward talent show.  They want me to sing with Hermana L and one of the recent members (who both have the voices of angels...) hah they call us Mariah Cary, Christina Aguilera (Hna L is really blonde) and I am Celine Dion! Wooohoo!  

Also, it's me, Hna L and 2 elders from the states. (All 4 of us are from byu-, which is funny. And when we tell people this they are always like "oh so you knew each other before".  To which we try to explain how big byu is...)

Also, I live in the "Barbie" house: which is a darling little cabin thing- with slotted ceiling and its really tiny and two stories and cold and I feel like I am camping everyday- I love it. 

I love it here. The other day in my study I happened across this gem. Mormon 9:21 (Behold, I say unto you that whoso believeth in Christ, doubting nothing, whatsoever he shall ask the Father in the name of Christ it shall be granted him; and this promise is unto all, even unto the ends of the earth.) This promise- believe in Christo and doubt nothing and pray and ask for help- then receive! is for all- Even me here at the very end of the world! :)

And how true it is! We have such a loving Heavenly Father!

Sending good vibes your way. 

xoxo please send my kayak haha xoxo 

Hna Ball