First Transfer

Hey Family!!!!

How is everyone doing? I hope all is going well!! I miss you all. So as you know I am in the real world now as a missionary!!! Crazy right;) I love it so far!! So I woke up at 5.00 in the morning on Wednesday and got everything ready to go. We left at 615 and took our bags to the Stake Center and then went to the mission home and had breakfast with the Mission President and his Wife. It was so amazing they are so sweet. We were there until after lunch just going over things we needed to know for the mission. Then they took us back to the Stake Center. When we got there most of the missionaries in our field were standing in the hall way singing Called to Serve. It was an amazing experience. They had us go in to the chapel and there were some more missionaries lined up and they were our trainers. So we all walked down the line and shook their hands.  President Preston had us sit on the stand and he then he introduced us to the missionaries and our new companions. When he got to me he said my name and then asked if any of them new Elder Ballantyne. Quite a few raised their hands. Then he told them that I was his cousin and they all were surprised that there was an intake of breath. Which reminds me will you let Kevin know that someone he met or taught has gotten baptized. Her name is Michelle H. I can't remember her last name. She was in Littleborugh. My new companions/trainers are Sister Hansen from Idaho, and Sister Longmore from California. They are so nice and funny. Sister Longmore is a lot like me. After the introductions we went to our flat and then went and got a few groceries. Then we went Street contacting. It was so much fun!!!! We knocked on the door of a less active women and she was so sweet. She let us in and told us that she had converted to Muslim. It was so interesting to hear about her belief, and she listened to us about ours. They ended up having me teacher her the story about Joseph Smith and the First Vision. I was so nervous but i think it went really well!! I am learning so many things already. It has just been a great experience so far.

I have a pamphlet of all of the church history sites we visited and I took lots and lots of pictures. It was so beautiful I never wanted to forget it;)

I love you all so much and I will write again on Monday.  We were able to write today because we did not have time yesterday. Just so you know when ever it is a transfer week P-day will be on Wednesday.

I hope you all have a great rest of the week!!!!!!

Sincerly
Sister Ballantyne

P.s. I am in Chorley so I am exactly just down the street from the MTC and the Temple. We have Zone conference next week so we are going to the Temple on Wednesday. I am so excited!!!!!!!!!