Lu'au and lots of other things

since about February I've been going and serving at the Island Feast Lu'au and I've had the same job since we moved the Lu'au there. it was a challenge for me because I had to sit there and tell people that they couldn't go to the Prime Dining side of the Lu'au and then if no one came by, it got kind of slow and became a long day. But a few days ago I was talking to Misty, the supervisor at the Lu'au and she told me I could be greeter starting the next day.

So, now I get to sit by the door and greet people as they come in to eat and I take their tickets that they use to get into the restaurant. For someone who is such a big "people-person" like I am, that was such a tender mercy when they asked me to do that.

One other cool thing that happened recently was I got to go on another sign language tour. It was kind of scary for me though because there were four people from different countries and they all only knew a tiny bit of ASL so it was kind of a challenge to talk to them and to try to figure out what on earth they were saying. I know at least two of the people were from the middle east and I'm not sure where the other two were from. It made me think of something my sign language teacher said about how ASL interpreters receive the Gift of Hands (instead of the Gift of Tongues like missionaries receive when they go on missions) :) It all ended pretty well because I used pantomime and i understood some of the fingerspelling that they used

i'm so grateful for the opportunity to interpret for Deaf guests that come into the center. It makes me feel really good that I am able to use that to help people that need it and that it will be something that will come in handy when I go back to school because I can start working on getting my interpreting license. it also makes me feel good as a missionary being able to serve those people. One of my main purposes here at the PCC is to spread the Aloha Spirit (or the Spirit of God) to everyone I meet. This is one way I can do that.

i know that Heavenly Father has given me these opportunities to serve different people and to spread the gospel to them, too

in the name of Jesus Christ, Amen 

-elder Ballam

conference

Hey I hope you guys were able to watch conference because it was really good. I really enjoyed the priesthood session. I got to go watch it with two of our neighbors who lived in the condo above us, their names were Cortland and Ethan Honn. There are 5 of them and the parents, Cortland and Robbie Honn actually brought the three kids out here because their daughter Cami got accepted to BYUH so they came for the second semester and stayed until just a few days ago. They are such a nice family and it's been really fun to get to know them. Cami  works at PCC in the bracelet engraving place where you can get the Hawaiian version of your name put on a leather bracelet. I have one, by the way, which is awesome. She also use to work in one of the big shops up in the front of PCC. Last week right before her family left, she gave them a really good surprise, she got engaged!

I liked the talk that elder Hales gave about putting the Armor of God to protect you against the" fiery darts of the adversary" I never knew that his dad was an artist and that he drew a picture of the armor of god, for Elder Hales when he was in high school. It reminded me of the painting that a guy did for me a couple summers ago of me standing on the stage of the Ellen Eccles' Theater standing in front of the savior, wearing the Armor of God.

I know that all of the people that spoke in conference were called by God and the messages that they gave were specifically for u

in the name of Jesus Christ Amen

-Elder Ballam

my birthday

hey guys sorry it's been a while but i wanted to tell you the cool stuff they did for me on my birthday back on the 9th. They threw me a party at the mission settlement when I got there that morning and then later that night when I wen to watch them take down the flag and sing, the hula girls did a dance for me to a Hawaiian song called "Beautiful Kawai'i" which I want to learn how to play on the Uke. Later we went to dinner and two of the serenaders sang happy birthday to me in Hawaiian and English. It was funny though because it was a jazzy version of Happy birthday so it was really really really fast. Then another one of my friends sang a Hawaiian song to me, too.   

fireside last sunday/ meeting a lady after the fireside

hey guys sorry it's been a while but I have a cool story I want to share with you. It's short but sweet  i hope you like it:

 So last week, dad and I got to do a fireside for the Relief Society in one of the Laie Wards here and after we were done, this lady came up to me and she said "you probably don't know me but my daughter use to work at PCC and she's talked to you a few times. I just wanted you to know that my daughter went on a mission because of meeting and talking to you.

That really surprised me because I've never had anyone tell me something like that before. i kept thinking "I had that big of an influence on her?!"  I just want you to know that you never know the kind of impact you're going to have on someone. I don't even really know the girl very well. I just met her a little while ago. But the fact that I had that sort of influence on her, makes me feel really good.

A really cool video i found on the youth application for the church online i thought you all would like...! check it out!

https://www.lds.org/youth/video/none-were-with-him?cid=iphone

Singing at the Brazil Club

On Sunday, I got to sing a song that my friends Kallie, April and Leticia sang, when I was on seminary council when I was a senior. The song is called "To Be Like Him" the topic was on scripture study and that song talks about the scriptures so I thought it would be a perfect song to sing.

 My mom had to go searching for a piano because the room didn't have one. She doesn't take no for an answer very easily so she went wandering around until she found one and some boys helped her push it into the room. It was one of those really small pianos like you find in the relief society rooms at church. know what I'm talking about? it was square instead of the shape a piano normally is.

P.S. I want to say thanks to April for emailing me that song so I could sing it.
Elder Ballam

new Hawaii Village

yesterday, i went to the new Hawaiian village that just opened a few weeks ago. They use to do everything that they do in the Hawaiian village, in the Marqueses village, in a big white tent, but now that Hawaii is open they don't have to do that any more. it was really cool to see all the different areas where they do the cultural presentations like the Hula and showing you the different uses for the Taro root. The cool thing about the different villages at the PCC is that they do a flag raising and lowering ceremony ever morning and night. Once when the village opens when the center opens, and once when the village and the center closes. They also sing their national anthem. Hopefully one of these days I can make it over to the Hawaiian village when it opens for the day so i can hear them sing their national anthem.

here's some trivia:

1.  how many of you think that the coconut is a native Hawaiian fruit?
2. how many of you think that the pineapple is a native fruit?
3. how many think that the macadamia nut is native to Hawaii?

missionaries

i got to go on splits with the missionaries again a couple weeks ago. it was really cool because we got to try the new "baptism approach" that the church just came out with, which means that you skip all the lessons and discussions and you ask them if they want to be baptized the way that the Savior was. it was really cool to actually see it "in action" because the person we asked almost said yes! She said she'd think about it and tell them when they came back the next time.

i really love going on splits with the missionaries and helping people because it gives me the chance to teach, and at the same time, I get to physically help people if they ask me to do something. Most of the physical stuff that we've helped people with has involved moving heavy things, which i obviously cant do, being in a wheelchair but there's other ways that I can help them, like just keeping them company

well i have to go to work now but I'll keep you posted

Elder Ballam

temple with my sign language teacher last week, and other random things....

I Had a cool experience last Friday. I got to go to the temple and do a session with my sign language teacher that I've been taking ASL from as part of my mission. It was really cool to get to sign with her in the temple. It was soooooo cool. Who would've ever thought I would get to do a temple session with one of my teachers? I think i get to do it with her again in a couple of weeks.We're going to Waiamea valley park today which is a really cool place that has lots of different kinds of birds and also has different classes like Hula lessons and lei making classes. There's also a waterfall that usually has water in it. If it rains a lot then there will be a lot of water but if it doesn't rain, there won't be that much.

Matthew 25:35-40

yesterday I went to the "graduation party" that's what they call it instead of a farewell party, for President Orgill, who i guess you could call my PCC mission President. He has been the president of the PCC for the past 13 years and he has now been called somewhere, they dont know where yet, or else the just wont tell us, to serve as a mission president. The farewells that they have here are so amazing because you get to see all the love that each of the people have for the person leaving. When i went to his, i thought it was going to last maybe 1/2 an hour to an hour, because most of them do. It ended up going for 5 hours. Each island that is represented at the PCC, gave him amazing things form their islands and then they would perform for him. Then each department at the center, like food and beverage and the island office and stuff, would give him things. Then he got up and gave a talk about what it's been like for him over the past 13 years, being able to serve the people of Hawai'i and all over the world. Throughout the whole night, it made me think of the scripture, Matt. 25:35-40 that says

 "for i was an hungered, and ye gave me meat: I was thirsty, and ye gave me drink: I was a stranger, and ye took me in: Naked, and ye clothed me: I was sick, and ye visited me: I was in prison, and ye came unto me.

Then shall the righteous answer him saying, Lord, when saw we thee an hungered and fed thee, or thirsty and gave thee drink? when saw we thee a stranger, and took thee in? or naked and clothed thee? Or when saw we thee sick or in prison and came unto thee? And the King shall answer and say unto them, Verily I say unto you, inasmuch as ye have done it unto one of the least of these, my bretheren, ye have done it unto me"

This basically describes president Orgill to a T. I was talking to my mom after the party was over and we both decided that if Webster's dictionary ever came up with a new definition for the word Charity, they should put "see President Orgill." I mean, he always thinks of other people before he thinks about himself, he always takes time to talk to people when he walks around the P.C.C. Sometimes i wonder if he ever sets aside some time just for himself to do whatever he wants. It's always " How are you doing" "what can i do to make your day better?" etc.

I went and talked to him after it was over and I just hugged him and cried because he has been so nice to me since I got here and i just love him. I guess you could say he's been like a second dad to me while I've been here, that's how close I've gotten to him. I think he's the closest example i can think of of acting like the savior would act, other than President Monson and the 12 apostles. Wherever he gets called on his mission, the people are going to LOVE HIM. He will make a really good mission president no matter where he is sent to.

He's even told us some very spiritual things in confidence about how much the Savior loves the P.C.C. 

I know that the savior loves me and that he loves President Orgill as well and that no matter where President goes on his mission, that he is going where the Lord wants him/needs him to go. I say these things in the name of Jesus Christ, Amen