Missionary moments: Planting seeds
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Earlier this year, a thoughtful mission president, Albert E. Haines, who presided over the Illinois Chicago South Mission, wanted to let me know about a recent convert who was a "golden contact" and gave the credit to me. I had no idea who it could be.
It seems a gentleman in Aurora, Ill., was watching one of the Church's advertisements on television. The message appealed to him and my name, Neil Ballif, popped into his mind. I served with him in the military in Korea at the conclusion of the Korean War. He remembered that I had given him a copy of the Book of Mormon. After our tours in Korea, we returned to our homes in different parts of the country, not to see or hear from each other.
That was 54 years ago.
That gentleman, Ralph Cano, called the telephone number on the screen for more information about the Church. He was taught the lessons and baptized on Feb. 10, 2007.
Since I had played a part in this conversion, President Haines wanted me to know about it. I have been so excited, overwhelmed and thankful as I have had phone conversations with both President Haines and Ralph Cano. It has truly strengthened my testimony concerning missionary work, planting the seeds of the gospel with the knowledge that sometimes, when the Spirit knows they are ready, those seeds will sprout and grow and bless lives.
I think this has been especially important to me because when I was a young 19-year-old, I was not able to go on a mission. I was drafted instead. I know the Lord knew how disappointed I was and He wanted to let me know I had been a young missionary after all.
I'm hoping there have been and will be more harvesting of seeds I may have planted. As a senior couple, my wife, Sharon, and I served in the Russia Moscow Mission, and we hope that some seeds we planted there will also come to fruition. — Neil B. Ballif, Pleasant View 13th Ward, Pleasant View Utah Stake
