Week #5 - July 28, 2008 - Tales of a Brand New Missionary

Hey there friends and foes!

My first week is out of the way. It's crazy nice weather here. My companion's really cool (Elder Singleton...he's from Canada) and things are going well. The only thing that I'm really trying to get used to is tracting. (Going door to door) Not a whole lot of success here, so tracting is pretty common. I can't say I'm too fond of it yet. However, I have a much greater appreciation for nice people. It's pretty surprising how rude people feel they need to be. They could just as easily say something like "I really appreciate what you do, but we're not really interested. Have a nice day though!" Which some people do say, but very very few. Most will either tell us to quit wasting time, that we're going to hell, or to stay away from their house. We came up to one girl's house who looked mid-thirties/early forties who as soon as we got there said "Um...NO THANK YOU" (in the most annoyed-teenage girl persona she could muster) and then she said "And we will be getting a 'no soliciting' sign for our door to keep people like you away from our house. We're not afraid to call the cops."

We did get to teach a couple of people though, and the lessons were amazing. One girl in her early forties named Kara talked to us for about an hour. She's a hairdresser. She was pretty friendly and open with anything I had to say, which made me feel very at ease. I guess my companion had talked to her a few times before, so she's familiar with everything and is keeping commitments so she's doing well. We did a lot of Q&A this time and it was awesome. Lots of really good questions, and if I do say so myself, lots of really good answers. The Spirit was definitely helping out a lot. It's pretty cool when you finally understand what they mean when they constantly tell you in the MTC to let the Spirit work through you and not rely on your own knowledge.

I played the piano a few times. One elder took a video of me playing "All of Me" when he found out I could play and showed everyone.

One thing that's way nice though is I was eating at an Italian family's house (They love me - Balagna is a pretty good last name to have around here) called the Muzzio's, who said to tell Mom and Chief that they'd take care of me. The meal was pretty amazing. Anyway, I was talking to them and we got on the topic of hobbies, then singing, then Michael Buble, then a five year investigator two doors down who was WAY into Michael Buble and Frank Sinatra and Dean Martin etc who apparently sings exactly like all of them. He's almost sixty and he has all of this karaoke type stuff and he sings for a lot of gathering dealies. Anyway, the Muzzio's think I'm the one who'll have that magic touch when it comes to finally getting him to join the church, and they said anything's allowed when it means a potential baptism (meaning singing some Frank songs with him). Haha, so who knows. Either way it'll be fun to talk to him, but as for getting him baptized, who knows. It would be really cool though.

I did have two baptisms on Saturday- a guy named Robert and girl named Bianca. Given that I did nothing to get them to that point, it was still pretty cool and Robert asked me to talk on the Holy Ghost at his baptism. I got to know him two days before and he was really cool. I think he's 26. So, that was really neat. I saved a couple of programs from it. The one even has my name in it! It's been a while since I'd actually seen a baptism, so it was a way cool experience.

I got a free tie from an elder who's going home in a few months. He said that I was way cool and he wanted to be my godfather, so he let me pick one of his ties and then he wrote his and my name inside the back. What a nice fella. Kind of an ugly tie though. I didn't want to take a nice one.

We tracted into a man named Michelon. He was awesome. We kinda felt like just asking if he needed help with anything rather than introduce the church right off hand, and it turned out he and his wife were moving a ton of stuff and needed help. So, we helped and then sat down and touched a bit on the restoration and then Alma 32 about faith- and he said that the night before he had been praying for help and praying to have his faith strengthened and basically said that we were sent from God. Kinda nice to hear that after you've been told you're going to hell. So that was really cool and we're meeting with him again on Wednesday.
Anywho, gotta wrap things up but thanks for all the email and what not- the pictures are always nice!
Love- Elder Al

July 22, 2008 - Alex has arrived in Santa Rosa CA!

We received our first letter from Alex upon his arrival in California. His mission President gives each missionary an addressed and stamped envelope with a piece of stationery and the missionary's first assignment is to write a letter home to let everyone know that he has arrived safely. Here's Alex's account of his arrival on Monday, July 21, 2008:

I'm at the mission home and safe. It's very nice here and the Mission President and his wife are awesome. We stopped at the Oakland CA Temple on the way to Santa Rosa - it was closed but it was AMAZING! It had a terrace where you could walk up and see for miles. I took a ton of pictures.

(If you'd like to see a picture of the Oakland Temple, here's the link: http://www.lds.org/temples/main/0,11204,1912-1-49-0,00.html)

Then, from there we went to the Golden Gate bridge. WAY COOL! You could see Alcatraz from there too. More pictures of that too!

So, anywho, things are fantastic. We had our orientation, and I'll have my interview pretty soon. I'm starting to realize that I'm actually here so it's kind of a shock at this point. I'm way excited but a little intimidated. I'll find out tomorrow where my first assignment is.

We get two temple trips each year. I'm really excited. We either go to the temple in Oregon, Sacramento or Oakland. It depends on where you're serving at the time.

Well, flight was good and drive was good. Two elders had to take a later flight because it was overbooked. They just got here. Glad it wasn't me! :-) That's about it.

I love you!
Love, Al

Week #4 Begins - He's on his way!

On Monday, July 21, about 8:10am we received a phone call from Elder Balagna from the Salt Lake City UT airport! It was GREAT to hear from him. We were able to talk to him for about 30 minutes and we could just hear the excitement in his voice as he was preparing to leave. He left with 14 missionaries for their Santa Rosa assignments. He told us that he would be arriving at the Oakland CA airport, driving about 2 hours to Santa Rosa and spending the night in the mission home. On Tuesday he would be leaving for his first area.

It was amazing to us that after almost 3 weeks in the MTC he had made such good friends - and how difficult is was for all of them to say good-bye. What a tremendous experience!

We are out of town for the rest of the week celebrating our 30th wedding anniversary so we won't be able to check the mailbox for Alex's first letter until we get home. Our guess is that his P-Day (preparation day) is Monday - so we're hoping to get an e-mail then and we will post again with Alex's current news as well as his new address.

Happy Pioneer Day! :-)

Life at the MTC

These are the pictures Alex took at the MTC (Missionary Training Center). On July 21st, Monday, he will be leaving the MTC for Santa Rosa California to begin serving in his assigned area.

Elder Balagna and Elder Norton - companions in the MTC. It looks like they're studying the right books!

Alex and his "Fourth of July" Care Package from Mom & Dad - from the looks of the empty box, he and his buddies enjoyed every morsel!

MTC Roommates: Elder Balagna, Elder Norton, Elder Young and Elder Hills.

Alex "resting" in his bunk with his Superman Quilt and Superman Pillow Case! Almost like being home!
Elders Balagna and Norton riding the bus to the Temple and then standing outside the Mt. Timpanogus Temple. Alex has always LOVED the Temple and couldn't wait until he could attend. That makes the 6th temple Alex has attended since his 19th birthday on April 15th!

Alex and his friend from his floor at BYU - Morgan. Morgan entered the MTC at the same time as Alex. When Mom and Dad left Alex it was great to see that he had a college friend there to keep him company!

Alex in class at the MTC - so much to learn - so little time! :-)

Elder Balagna just being "Alex" with Elder Norton!

Preparation Day (P-Day) at the MTC - Elders Balagna and Norton - nametags still attached!

Week #3 - Last week at the MTC

Thanks a lot for the emails and the "dear elders" and letters. They're crazy awesome. And thanks for the pictures. Katie looks like a fantastic new niece! Tell her I said hi and I'm excited to see her when she's a toddler. The Lucy and Gracie pictures were nice too. They brought me back.

So as for my flight, I leave for Santa Rosa CA at 8:50am Mountain time from Salt Lake next Monday (July 21st). We're leaving the MTC at 5 am, so hopefully three hours early at the airport will be enough time. I think I'll be able to make quick calls to everyone. I don't know what time exactly, but it'll probably be around eightish your time.

I don't know when I'll get my new mission address but if you could make sure that everyone on the blog knows not to send anything here that won't get here before Saturday (July 19th) that would be fantastic.

Other than that, stuff's fantastic here and I really appreciate all the letters. Batman comes out in two days. Make sure to let me know how terrible it is.

Everyone in the district's doing well. We had another really good testimony meeting with each other after the devotional last night. It's pretty awesome.

Oh- there's a scripture that I wanted up on my blog: Alma 18:34-35: "Ammon said unto him: I am a man; and man in the beginning was created after the image of God, and I am called by his Holy Spirit to teach these things unto this people, that they may be brought to a knowledge of that which is just and true; And a portion of that Spirit dwelleth in me, which giveth me knowledge and also power according to my faith and desires which are in God."

That's really about all there is here. Not a whole lot's changed. I study a lot. It's pretty cool. Sunday was extraordinary. We watched the Joseph Smith movie that night and it was still amazing times forty nine.

That about wraps her up. Sorry I don't have more info. I'm way pumped to go!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

Wanted to let you know that we prayed for Elizabeth G. in Zone and District prayer last night.

I love you!
Warmest Regards, Elder Al

Letter From Al - July 2nd

First letter from Alex written the first day in the MTC:

I'm still alive after my first day. It sounds like the real work starts tomorrow, but so far things are delightful. I'm done w/my "dork dot" [sticker on name tag to identify new missionaries], so that's way nice. I don't feel like a newbie as much.

We met with our branch president and zone leaders tonight after a crazy, awesome orientation. I got called as the district leader. Hopefully I'll figure it out. I don't have much of an idea what I'm doing with it yet, other than teaching lessons, unifying our district, and going to meetings. I'm also the only one who can get our mail, so I guess that's pretty cool.

All of my roommates are awesome and excited to be here. They're all going to Santa Rosa with me. My companion is really cool, and excited about being as good as he can be. We were told in orientation to do our best, to do away with "teenager talk", such as "guys", "man", "dude", etc. We're both helping each other break the habit. It's way cool being called "Elder', and calling each other "Elder".

I've run into 8 people from my floor at BYU last semester. It's pretty crazy. Elder Hills is the one I knew from school who was going to Santa Rosa, and he is rooming with us here. Everyone's really jealous of my pillowcase and blanket [both made with love by Mom, Superman themed, of course].

Other than that, it sounds like I get email access the next 2 Wednesdays for 30 min. Oh, and the Provo temple just closed and will stay closed until I leave. Figures.

Anywho, stuffs way good and I love you all, times 50.

Love,
Elder Balagna (Al)

Week #2 - Continued - Update from Alex!!!

We just received our first e-mail from Alex! Here's his update:

Everything's great and I finished my first week! All of the newbies get here today and I'm pretty excited to feel like I'm a pro who's been at the MTC his whole life. Basically, the days consist of at least ten hours of study. My teachers are excellent and I'm learning a ton. I feel like I know more about the restoration and how to explain it than I've learned my whole life. I got to teach three "mock-discussions" yesterday to "investigators" and they went pretty well. Last night my companion and I were asked to give the first lesson to an entire district and they were going to do some critiquing after we were done (the district was just as new as we were). So, we went in, and the lesson went better than it EVER had. I finally understood Doctrine and Covenants 100:5-6 (I think those are the verses) where it says open your mouth and it will be filled. We were completely guided by the spirit and we played off of each other really really well. So, it was a pretty neat experience and everyone in the class was way impressed. The teacher said that we were ready to leave. :-)

By the way, www.dearelder.com is amazing and they come daily- I wouldn't mind at all if it stayed that way :-) I was called as district leader and it's pretty cool. I teach on Sunday and I lead all of our classes, keep a bunch of stuff organized and go to meetings. My branch president is a great person so it's been nice to get to know him. My district is fantastic. Last night we had a devotional with Alexander Morrison (Quorum of the 70) and we had a "district devotional review" where we're all supposed to go around the room and say what we liked and bear testimony. After that, the spirit was way strong and everyone bore REALLY good testimony of the meeting.

A brief rundown of the week: Today's my first P(preparation)-day, I'm doing laundry, and luckily despite the temple being closed here for the remainder of my time, they're letting us take a bus trip to Timpanogus to go to the temple there today. I'm way excited. The food here is VERY good, so that must be new. Fast Sunday's meal was amazing. I play piano for sacrament and priesthood meetings, they let us watch fireworks on July 4th, I'll be sending home pictures today.

Anywho, bye everyone!
Love- Elder Al

Week #2 - Waiting for a letter

Well, Alex will have been been in the MTC for exactly 1 week tomorrow and we haven't heard anything from him...probably because we're in Dayton OH with Cari and James and their family. Cari had a baby girl, Katelyn Faith, this morning and we're here helping out. Katelyn was 5 lbs 15oz and 19 inches long. Unfortunately, right after the C-section she had trouble breathing and was transferred to the NICU at Dayton Children's Hospital. Terry is spending the night with Katelyn, James is at the Base Hospital with Cari and I am at their home with Logan and Tyler. According to Papa (Terry) Katelyn is doing well and we hope both mom and baby will be home by the end of the week. In the meantime, we're sure that a letter from Alex awaits us in our mail at home. Terry will be returning home on Thursday and we will make sure that we post Alex's update as soon as we receive it!
Until then, thanks for supporting Alex. For your information, E-mails sent to him through www.dearelder.com, if sent before 1pm are delivered to him that very same day. You just need to send them to his MTC address which is listed on the first page of the BLOG - right hand side. It's a free service and from what I've heard - missionaries LOVE to receive mail! :-)

Alex in the Lobby of the MTC standing near a favorite painting of Christ

Entering the MTC - Week #1 - July 2, 2008

Alex outside the MTC - 11:20am July 2, 2008

Alex and Dad outside the MTC

Entering the MTC

Mom putting on Alex's Nametag

Alex, Mom and Dad (I think Alex looks a bit more excited than Mom and Dad!)
Well, it's time for me to take over the writing of the "BLOG". Yesterday was truly "the best of times and the worst of times". We arrived at the Missionary Training Center in Provo UT at about 11:20am. After dropping off Alex's luggage, getting his immunization papers squared away and parking the car, it was time to go inside. As he checked in, Terry and I waited "patiently" for him. When I asked him what they were talking to him about at the desk his response was "Secret Stuff". Basically they welcomed him, gave him some initial instructions and handed him his missionary nametag. From what I understand, it's a tradition for parents to put the nametag on the new missionary. Although the "waterworks" started for us earlier in the day - this step didn't help us keep our emotions under control one little bit! Although I'm smiling in the picture - I was only smiling on the outside. After a few more pictures, we went into the chapel area where we listened to a 30 minute presentation on the MTC and missionary work in general. We learned that each day the missionaries in the MTC consume 400 gallons of milk. WOW! We also learned that 52 languages are being taught to the new missionaries preparing to enter the mission field. It's truly an amazing place. The opening hymn was "Called to Serve" - and I didn't hear a single female voice. The missionaries were singing and all the moms were crying...as we all knew that in just a few minutes our boys (and girls) would be going through the "missionary door" and we would be going home. Ever since Alex was a little boy he dreamed about going on a mission and now his dream has come true. He's finally ready to "teach and preach and work as missionaries do" and we're very grateful for that! (Words taken from a favorite Primary song..."I Hope They Call Me On a Mission") We will miss him each day, but we are so happy that he will be spending the next two years serving our Lord and Savior, Jesus Christ, full time. We thank all of you for supporting Alex with your kind words of encouragement. Although he won't be able to personally post on the BLOG, he will e-mail me with his weekly report and I will post it for him. I will also send him copies of all of your comments - so thank you for those as well!

Alex would love to receive mail! You can go to http://www.dearelder.com/ and send him an e-mail letter while he's in the MTC. His current MTC address is posted at the top of the BLOG.

The Last Night!

My last night of normalcy is nearing an end. I'm so excited you don't even know. I figured I'd start off the blog myself so everyone has a final dose of me to get them through the next two years. After this, my sister and my mom will be keeping you all updated and probably posting a few lines that I send for them every week.


So as for my final words, I was trying to come up with something WAY cool for everyone to read, so here it is: Over the past several months, I have developed certain abilities beyond the realm of most humans (that I know of). Not only can I now fly, but I have also developed speed that surpasses the most advanced technology in the world today. These along with many other powers, about which I feel no need to boast, have basically turned me into the coolest guy ever.

That may or may not be true, but along with it, I'd like to say a few things:

1. I'll miss you all a lot and I'm really disappointed that I'll miss The Dark Knight and the new Superman, as well as two full seasons of The Office and House.

2. I am in NO WAY dreading a full two years of nothing but serving the Lord Jesus Christ. Although at times I'm sure it won't be easy, I'm doing this because I want to serve God more than anything and I know that this one of my absolute best opportunities to do so. This takes a whole lot of sacrifice (i.e. The Dark Knight, the new Superman, and two full seasons of The Office and House), but there is not a single doubt in my mind that it will be one hundred percent worth every bit of effort that went into it.

3. Packing for two years should be given more than a night's worth of effort. I hope I've got everything.

4. Letters and Packages will be greatly appreciated.

5. And finally, I would just like everyone to know that contrary to popular belief, my church does not force its members to serve a mission. Most guys do when they turn my age because it's not every day you get such an amazing opportunity to grow and to serve God with everything you've got. I'm doing this because I really really really want to. Really. I can't wait!!!

So, to all you readers who like to read, have a good two years and be sure to catch me up with all the new happenings when I'm home. I'll miss all of you but you might want to write me in case I forget why we were friends. :-)

Back in a couple years!