There you have it folks... My last sunday in August came and
went. It's kinda whacko cuz during a mission you end up with a feeling like the
last few months of you mission (for me it was June, July, and August of 2012)
will never arrive. And somehow they just come and go without you even realizing
it, and now all the sudden I'm on my last full week here... Yeah, I'm not even
able to express what I'm feeling haha, but oh well... I'll just, I dunno ignore
the feeling or something :P
Well how weird that my birthday is
already this week. It's kinda funny cuz my last birthday out here was kinda a
lame-o, and then with this swap in pdays, this one'll probably be another
lame-o :D But, just the fact that it'll be my one-more-week mark already makes
it rather memorable. That sure is crazy... I can't lie, I never felt like this
part of my mission would come. Since when I was like 15 or something I always
thought how un-imaginably long 2 years was, but now that it's coming to an end,
2 years doesn't seem like that long anymore. It's kinda fun now though to just
think about how my mission was... I have journal entries for every single day,
so that makes it even funner :) I was thinking a little bit as well, it sure is
gunna be crazy to see how much I've changed. Obviously I've seen a LOT of ways
that I've changed, but I feel like the end is just gunna be really easy to see
the difference from that day when I got out of the car in Provo and the day
I'll step off the plane in IF. It's making me realize just how perfect the Lord
is though, the whole idea of sending young men on missions to make them come
home as men is SUCH an inspired and perfect plan!!! I'm just so grateful for
everything I've learned and all the things I've passed through. Including the
trials and difficulties :)
This last week was really great cuz I had my
LAST zone conference with the Area President of Brazil, President Costa. Man,
what an inspired man... He looks a little bit like the white haired 3 Amigo
(wow, my brain doesn't remember much more about movies or anything haha) but
wow, he taught us incredible stuff. Once again that feeling of regret that I
won't be able to stick around all that long to see the results of the changes
happen hit me pretty bad, but it's helping me realize that even though MY
mission is coming to an end, the work of the Lord will continue and progress as
never before in this wonderful country and city. I wrote my notes in english
this time, so I'll have a pretty good sized "bank" of thoughts to
share with you guys after :) But it sure was a great experience. I saw a couple
of my groupies from the MTC, and I think all of us are kinda hitting the crazy
point where none of us can believe that our missions are on their last weeks.
Yesterday was a really special day, Felipe (the
oldest son of that family that was baptized a couple weeks past) wore a white
shirt and tie to church, and blessed the sacrament!!! I've already seen my
recent converts pass the sacrament, but it was just something really really
special to see him up there actually blessing it. His brothers will be passing
the sacrament this next sunday, and it'll be an amazing sight to be my last
sunday here in Brazil. Word is that he's gunna be called to be the bishop's
second assistant as well... I think us missionaries begin to feel a little bit
of a father's pride for a son when he receives the Priesthood cuz wow... It's
so amazing seeing this family progress. Felipe has been faithfully going to
seminary ever since he baptized, here it's only 2 days per week (you american
kids be grateful that you get it AT school and 5 days a week! We are so lucky!)
But this family is just showing more and more potential every minute :) I love
them so much. Felipe is already getting more and more excited to serve a
mission, so I'm just bursting with excitement.
Well, like I said last week, this feeling is
getting weirder and weirder cuz this week will be even worse with the
"lasts". I can't believe it but this'll be my LAST sunday in Brazil,
my LAST testimony meeting, my LAST pday (funny how today would have been my
last pday if the day hadn't changed haha) my LAST district meeting... Egah,
it's just uncharted territory for me. This week is going to be the best week of
my mission though, and I don't say that cuz it's the last, we just have some
awesome potential for the work, and I'm so grateful that the Lord is giving me
these opportunites until the very last minute. This gospel is true, this Church
is the only true church on the earth. This work is truly led by God, and it is
the best work on earth. Thank you all for your support and prayers, it's done
so much for me these last 2 years. Until next week! And from there..... Well...
Ya know. ;)
Hurrah for Israel!!!! -Elder Ballard
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