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

family is here

i'm so excited that i get to see the rest of my family in such a short period of time. My sister Ester and her husband Scott left last night but now my brother Chris and sister in-law Jen and their 4 kids are here and i get to spend some time with them. Shortly after that my sister Vanessa, brother in-law Stefan and nephew Sebastian will be coming out. Then my other sister Olivia will be coming. or maybe it's the other way around, i dont remember... the first to come were my brother Nick and sister in-law Adel and my niece Mia. I am so gland that they all get to come see me and spend some time with me while I am here.

i know that my family loves me and that I will get to be with them forever. I say these things in the name of Jesus Christ, Amen