Elder Ellis called our family today!
He is doing really well. He says he loves getting letters and thanks everyone that is sending them and the packages. :) He is transferring to Hatillo, Puerto Rico tonight.
Elder Ellis says the weather is humid and he's eating a lot of rice, beans, and platanos which is a bigger size banana that we don't eat in the U.S. Elder is looking forward to work his new companion, they get along really well.
For Christmas the missionaries made a pinata and hit it with a homemade bat (the handle of a toilet plunger...ew). And they were made a tasty meal in the mission home that he really appreciated.
He also wanted everyone to know that if you write him, he is very good at writing back. He loves you all and says to do what you can to share the Light of Christ and be a missionary! He also says you are all in the prayers of a missionary.
Merry Christmas! :):):)
Dec. 22
"Dear Family,
This week has gone by so fast. And this email place is getting pretty strict about only using the computers for and hour and so it makes it difficult to read emails and send everything out in just an hour. But here it goes. This week we worked hard had hardly any success but enjoyed it as well. There is a sister missionary in our district going home that was like a big sister to me in this area. Helped me enjoyed it and spoke English… it was great but more than anything her leaving, reaching the end of her mission made me realize how short it is and how much you learn in your short time here. It is sad but a wonderful opportunity. This week was a big change in my attitude about the mission. Rather than missing home I felt more fear for going home. I’m not looking forward to my last transfer here on the mission. I miss you terribly but like I felt at school I am finally getting comfortable and it scares me to think I will be leaving this wonderful work. THIS TRANSFER WENT BY SO FAST!
Already into transfer 2. AND CHRISTMAS! AHHH. This next week is going to be great christmas and a new companion. I am scared and happy all at the same time. We worked really hard this week hardly anyone was home and our numbers show it. Unfortunately we didn't have any lessons with a member we went out with a member but didn't get to teach an investigator with him. We sweat a lot and helped The son of Manuel move from el coto (government paid housing which is full of drugs and bad stuff) to a much nicer neighborhood. It was a great chance to meet him and share out service with him i feel like we've established a great friendship with him that will hopefully continue on and eventually he can accept the gospel with his family! Manuel will be a great example to that! GREAT! This next week we HAVE to teach him. It's easy to see the ways the adversary cuts into their lives while a missionary. This whole last week he has been out with Hno. Rodriguez which is great but in doing so we haven't been able to teach him. Luckily he continues to come to church and is always intrigued with the doctrine always trying to learn more and sharing what he learns with his "Friend" or esposa...
This week i had a wonderful experience of prayer, which i never feel like i deserve. I couldn't find my wallet and checked every pair of pants i have multiple times. My backpack desk everything over and over. Then decided to pray. I asked to help me calm down. I was having a hard time. Becuase Sister Turpin is leaving and thinking about her leaving and how fast this transfer has gone that in no time i'll be where she is scared me. I am beginning to love it. I dont look forward to that last transfer. Then after praying for comfort and strength and the ability to relax and find my wallet, and ultimately humbling myself before the lord i finished my prayer and stood there thinking of where it could be then grabbed one pair of pants. and sure enough there it was. The lord always helps us. Always. I had checked the pants several times but in haste and fear didn't find it. With prayer and guidance from my father in heaven i was able to search.
a small part of my week but made a great impact on me. not to mention the rest of the day went great!
Then this morning i was reading Alma 26 i have loved the chapters of the sons of Mosiah! and this chapter tops it off for me Ammon saying that he has recieved all strength from the lord! This has been the way i have felt and acted these last few days and maybe weeks as well. Realizing that i am nothing without the strength that i recieve every day to continue. THis work is not easy and as this chapter shares they were spit upon rejected and hurt. Luckily i have only been hit with words but they continued to go on in the cuase they knew was right. AMAZING! This this morning i also read the talk by Michael John U. Teh of the seventy in the January Liahona, and he talks about our faith and how at times it is shaken by the ways of the world. Little seeds of doubt. I have felt this as well but have been able to overcome it through the wonderful blessings we recieve daily. He shares the example of Joseph smith when he was tarred and feathered and how the next day he continued and preached to the people like he knew he had to.
I Love this gospel and i love the scriptures! I Love being a Missionary!
This week i dont really remember to many specific events but i remember that i enjoyed it. When we went contacting on Wednesday there was a lady that answered her door and said “shame on you” You’re mormons aren’t you”, in English too. And I replyed in English of course we are and what are you and she replied I’m born again Christian and I hope you guys see the light. And I replied I’m sorry you feel that way but that is why we are here. To share the light of the gospel with the world. And she said. Shame on you in a low voice and kind of creepy. Then I said well I hope god blesses you and have a merry Christmas. Then she said he does. And I said I know that’s our message that we can have more blessings. Then she said again I hope you see the light. And I said I hope YOU see the light good bye. And as we walked away she said 1 wife! I turned around and walked back up to her door. Then said Ma’am We don’t practice polygamy anymore but if you’d like we could teach you more of the truth and clear up the rumors you’ve heard. I felt strong in this moment as in alma 26. Then on the same street about 8 houses down another lady shushed us away and asked if we would give blood to our kids. My companion replied. Of course we would. Without a doubt. And the lady said well some people in your religion wouldn’t. and he said Senora No somos testigos. We are NOT Jehovas witnesses. We testify of Jesus Christ and are missionaries of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter Day Saints “Mormones” she shushed us off again.
This street was filled with funny things like this. =) Made me smile!"
Past e-mails from Elder Ellis
Dec. 15
"Well This week. Started Monday with p day and sorry but eright now I don’t have too much time we are doing a zone activity and only have a short time to write and read. But Monday we Had p day and didn’t do much exciting just prepared. Today we are going to the Caves and you will have so wonderful pictures to look at when I send this card. =) I had a whole lizard for you this last week but in one of our big rainstorms I lost it.Tuesday we had interviews with president Martineau and those were wonderful! He is a Great mission president! Always plans everything to a tee …he’s a lawyer so it makes sense. But some of my concerns have been feeling the spirit and the book of mormon. I know the book of mormon is the Word of god and my problem was when I prayed I didn’t receive an undeniable manifestation that it is true. President said well. When you testify about it do you feel like you are lying. I of course said no. He said then you know it is true. It doesn’t matter how you received that answer just that you know its true. Then he said that the way that I know it is true is the same way about 90% of my investigators will know it is true as well. I know every time I read without a doubt that the are words written by prophets of God! I Know it. He helped strengthen my testimony of this. As well I was having struggles “listening” to the spirit and have been studying and studying on how to feel it more. He also helped me realize that I have a fear of not having it and fear and faith are complete opposites. SO this week I strived to have faith and not be afraid I didn’t have it or wasn’t listening to it. One night while teaching a 15 year old investigator My companion finished his part and I started talking. After I finished my part and we concluded the lesson my companion looked at me and said elder ellis. You just said everything that I was going to say. It isn’t a huge miracle but I said the things that came to my heart and my companion assured me that I had covered all that he needed to hear. I by the power of the spirit, taught the lesson that we had planned.
Nothing huge no huge miracle like many people look for and not even really the types of story where people say they said the perfect thing to baptize. No. I didn’t worry. Had faith and thoughts filled my heart. And filled the heart of my companion as well. I know this church is true! I know that by the power of the Spirit we can touch the hearts of the people. I know that The book of mormon is true and I know it is true because the assurance I receive while reading it!
I Love Being a Missionary! And I love our mission president! He is a great man! He is a man called of god!
He shared with me another thing that really touched me. He said. Elder Ellis… I don’t know much of your life before but I do know that you have been called into this mission for a purpose. The lord knows what leaders he needs at what times. He knows that there will be a change in this mission right at the end (sound familiar yet) He knows that the leaders in this mission will need to be strong and ready for the change of the mission president when my calling is over (sound similar to anything yet) Again elder ellis I don’t know much about your life before the mission but I know that you are prepared to be here at this time. For the people and also for the other missionaries. Don’t worry. Work hard and do you part as a servant of the lord.
I have been prepared to be here at this time. I know the lord needs me.
The rest of the week we were practicing a lot for a Christmas choir fireside thing that we had. It was… interesting… =) made me laugh. Beautiful!
Then this Sunday. Our investigator Manuel He came into the church and looked like a completely different man! Completely Different! He had a huge smile onm his face and just looked happy! Doctrine and Covenants 130 talks about the blessings from obedience to the laws upon which blessings are predicated. He obeyed the Word of wisdom and is now receiving blessings of health and happiness. WonderfuL! Also he has a moustache and since he has stopped smoking it has gotten much cleaner and the smoke marks are gone. He just looks so clean and new! I can’t wait till his baptism!
We also had Jack the 15 year old in the church this Sunday. I was kind of upset because none of the youth introduced themselves and none sat by him or talked to him either. And also as many youth do in our ward. Slouch! Aahhhh this is one of my biggest pet peeves. They didn’t look interested nor did they show the happiness and joy that we are promising to this investigator. The workof the members in missionary work is so important. We are working with the young mens president to help fix this and have a little training session. I understand many youth come because their parents make them but for a missionary its so hard to do our work when they aren’t paying attention. I love these people I love this area. Although we have a lot of work to do!"
Dec. 8, 2008
"Monday don’t quiet remember what we did Monday. I think it was the Night we met with our Investigator Jack. Jack is 15 and loves what we’re teaching on Monday night I believe we set his baptismal date for the 27th of December but now it has to be later because he didn’t come to church yesterday. We taught him then it ended up being 9. We are supposed to be in our apt at 9 unless we are teaching a lesson. We had walked to his house and it took 45 minutes. So we could briskly walk back home or try otherwise. So we began hitch hiking! =) No one would stop…then one guy stopped and asked where we needed to go and we told him and he said sorry don’t have time to take you there. So we kept walking and about a third of the way home someone finally stopped. We found out he is the nephew of a member and that’s why he stopped. He recognized us. We got home late but much sooner than we would have otherwise. We had a member lined up to go with us that night but cancelled an hour before and we couldn’t find anyone else. It is really hard here working with the members. They just don’t have time or don’t seem to understand how important this work is. Like I have said before I feel so bad for the leaders because they are the only ones that we call anymore.
Tuesday we had our District meeting and our CAR meeting with the ward council. That was good. My companion made me explain a little about our investigators and it scared me to death but wasn’t too bad. Then after he was said “elder ellis I’m going to talk with Hermano Morales you need to talk with Hermano Maldonado” So I did it. I was terrified but I understood almost every word he said which was great! I felt like I had been giving help in the moment I needed it. Then Wednesday we started our exchange for this transfer. Elder Luna one of the Zone leaders went with my companion and I went with Elder schaeffer the other Zone leader. I learned a lot about making the lessons simple and like mindy told me before I left that I should teach everyone as if they are a child. We did that and it was so much better than previous lessons. I learned so much about enjoying my mission working with members more and learned more about the culture and how to make rice =) Elder schaeffer is a great elder! His parent sent him a package with a present for every day of December and one for his companion as well! That’s a neat idea especially for elders with companions from mexico like mine or like his. Because it costs more money to send things from there. So they don’t get mail very often. I feel like a baby complaining about not getting letters when my companion hasn’t gotten mail in a few transfers. But I got a Planner calendar thing and a bag of cinnamon bears! =) reminded me of you dad.
Then on Friday we went back to our companions and worked. On Saturday we met with Manuel the man we were trying to get to stop smoking. Man that is a hard task. Especially when people have smoked for over 40 years. He has smoked since his was a kid and has tried many times before to quit. I wish there was just a way to get people to stop smoking. Well there is! One week 7 days and he is now a non smoker!!! It is so exciting! He bore his testimony in church yesterday and said that the first 4 days were the hardest days of his life but with prayer and help from the lord he did it! He completed his goal and is now smoke free! Coffee free as well. This program requires that they stop drinking coffee for the week as well and he said that now he has no desire to drink coffee. It is so wonderful to see the miracles in our lives. The lord can give us so much more strength! He stopped smoking! He did it. And on Saturday he asked us if he could had to be baptized to wear a white shirt and tie. His love for this gospel is amazing! He has now attended church 5 times. We really have been working hard and fasting for him to make the decision to obey the law of chastity. Please keep him in your prayers.Then we were teaching another lady and she was paying us no attention! I was so frustrated but we were teaching and I was asking questions to her and she wasn’t answering so I thought I was saying something wrong and she still didn’t answer so I looked at my companion hoping he would take over. He didn’t just sat there looking at me. So there were a few seconds…felt like a minute or two of silence because I had no idea what to say and my companion wasn’t helping me. So finally after enough silence I walked her through my question and taught the rest of the lesson without my companion. Not what I should have done but I didn’t want to be there anymore. She has no desire to change. She knows that it is true. She does. She has told us. But she doesn’t want to change. Her daughter is 6 and loves when we teach. Always asking questions always volunteering to read and everything else. It is so sad to see the love she has for the gospel. She knows prophets are called of god and are on the earth to guide us. But her mom has no desire to follow the promptings. I pray that she will be able to find the gospel and missionaries will continue to work with her when she is older.That has been my week. Not too eventful…no it was very eventful. But yeah this morning we were cleaning and I went on our balcony to get a bucket and we had 2 buckets stacked on the balcony I picked up the first one and in the bottom one was a nice little frog! Woohoo! I Love the animals here. It’s so funny to walk or ride my bike on the sidewalk and you hear all this rustling in the grass. Lizards everywhere. And don’t worry. Tails are nothing =)
Tranfers are Christmas eve and I don’t know what is going to happen yet. I should know next week. We have interviews with the president tomorrow.
Last night we got to watch the Christmas devotional. I love the Christmas season and I love Idaho and Utah! This feels nothing of the sort. We put up Christmas lights for a sister in the ward Saturday but when it is 80 degrees it just doesn’t feel like Christmas. I miss home and I miss the cold weather. HOT HOT HOT. I checked my Thermometer last night on my clock and I go to bed in 80 degree weather in our bedroom. Wonderful isn’t it! =) I love listening to President monson and his counselors as well. I know they are men called of god and I know that they have the authority to direct us. I am excited that in just about 2 weeks I will get to call you! Woohoo! I hope I get to go to a different area this next transfer. My companion is great but I’m ready for change. But who knows I will most likely be humbled.
Service service service. Wonderful key to happiness.
This morning I was studying in doctrine and covenants section 101 and I had never realized before that there were parables in Doctrine and covenants as well. 101 has a wonderful parable and help me realize the importance of obedience and I also read a story in my little missionary quote book about a Platoon leader; he had received specific instructions to arrive at the locations at 0200 hours and wait until 0210 hours. He arrived as planned and saw the enemy sleeping tanks dismounted and everything tranquil. He thought that the instructions were wrong and sent his men for attack at 0200 hours. They attacked and then in a matter of seconds the air was filled with artillery and everyone was dead. The platoon leader sitting up on his perch watched it all happen. At 0210 hours silence and the platoon leader thought “if only I knew what the general knew”This sections is very similar. We are giving instructions in our lives. Commandments that don’t necessarily make sense. But we need to follow them. Other wise the enemy can attack. We won’t be strong and we wont be able to do what we have been called to. The parable in this section is a Olive Tree and the Owner of the trees wanted them to be protected and commanded towers be built. The people building them didn’t uinderstand the purpose of the towers and didn’t fulfill the commands. Then the enemy attacked and all was lost. Life is so similar. We must obey with Exactness. As a missionary we are required to live with exactness and have been told we won’t be able to teach if we’re not. Wow.
I Love The Scriptures!
I Love My Family!
I Love My Mission!
With tons of love,
Elder Ellis"
Tuesday we had our District meeting and our CAR meeting with the ward council. That was good. My companion made me explain a little about our investigators and it scared me to death but wasn’t too bad. Then after he was said “elder ellis I’m going to talk with Hermano Morales you need to talk with Hermano Maldonado” So I did it. I was terrified but I understood almost every word he said which was great! I felt like I had been giving help in the moment I needed it. Then Wednesday we started our exchange for this transfer. Elder Luna one of the Zone leaders went with my companion and I went with Elder schaeffer the other Zone leader. I learned a lot about making the lessons simple and like mindy told me before I left that I should teach everyone as if they are a child. We did that and it was so much better than previous lessons. I learned so much about enjoying my mission working with members more and learned more about the culture and how to make rice =) Elder schaeffer is a great elder! His parent sent him a package with a present for every day of December and one for his companion as well! That’s a neat idea especially for elders with companions from mexico like mine or like his. Because it costs more money to send things from there. So they don’t get mail very often. I feel like a baby complaining about not getting letters when my companion hasn’t gotten mail in a few transfers. But I got a Planner calendar thing and a bag of cinnamon bears! =) reminded me of you dad.
Then on Friday we went back to our companions and worked. On Saturday we met with Manuel the man we were trying to get to stop smoking. Man that is a hard task. Especially when people have smoked for over 40 years. He has smoked since his was a kid and has tried many times before to quit. I wish there was just a way to get people to stop smoking. Well there is! One week 7 days and he is now a non smoker!!! It is so exciting! He bore his testimony in church yesterday and said that the first 4 days were the hardest days of his life but with prayer and help from the lord he did it! He completed his goal and is now smoke free! Coffee free as well. This program requires that they stop drinking coffee for the week as well and he said that now he has no desire to drink coffee. It is so wonderful to see the miracles in our lives. The lord can give us so much more strength! He stopped smoking! He did it. And on Saturday he asked us if he could had to be baptized to wear a white shirt and tie. His love for this gospel is amazing! He has now attended church 5 times. We really have been working hard and fasting for him to make the decision to obey the law of chastity. Please keep him in your prayers.Then we were teaching another lady and she was paying us no attention! I was so frustrated but we were teaching and I was asking questions to her and she wasn’t answering so I thought I was saying something wrong and she still didn’t answer so I looked at my companion hoping he would take over. He didn’t just sat there looking at me. So there were a few seconds…felt like a minute or two of silence because I had no idea what to say and my companion wasn’t helping me. So finally after enough silence I walked her through my question and taught the rest of the lesson without my companion. Not what I should have done but I didn’t want to be there anymore. She has no desire to change. She knows that it is true. She does. She has told us. But she doesn’t want to change. Her daughter is 6 and loves when we teach. Always asking questions always volunteering to read and everything else. It is so sad to see the love she has for the gospel. She knows prophets are called of god and are on the earth to guide us. But her mom has no desire to follow the promptings. I pray that she will be able to find the gospel and missionaries will continue to work with her when she is older.That has been my week. Not too eventful…no it was very eventful. But yeah this morning we were cleaning and I went on our balcony to get a bucket and we had 2 buckets stacked on the balcony I picked up the first one and in the bottom one was a nice little frog! Woohoo! I Love the animals here. It’s so funny to walk or ride my bike on the sidewalk and you hear all this rustling in the grass. Lizards everywhere. And don’t worry. Tails are nothing =)
Tranfers are Christmas eve and I don’t know what is going to happen yet. I should know next week. We have interviews with the president tomorrow.
Last night we got to watch the Christmas devotional. I love the Christmas season and I love Idaho and Utah! This feels nothing of the sort. We put up Christmas lights for a sister in the ward Saturday but when it is 80 degrees it just doesn’t feel like Christmas. I miss home and I miss the cold weather. HOT HOT HOT. I checked my Thermometer last night on my clock and I go to bed in 80 degree weather in our bedroom. Wonderful isn’t it! =) I love listening to President monson and his counselors as well. I know they are men called of god and I know that they have the authority to direct us. I am excited that in just about 2 weeks I will get to call you! Woohoo! I hope I get to go to a different area this next transfer. My companion is great but I’m ready for change. But who knows I will most likely be humbled.
Service service service. Wonderful key to happiness.
This morning I was studying in doctrine and covenants section 101 and I had never realized before that there were parables in Doctrine and covenants as well. 101 has a wonderful parable and help me realize the importance of obedience and I also read a story in my little missionary quote book about a Platoon leader; he had received specific instructions to arrive at the locations at 0200 hours and wait until 0210 hours. He arrived as planned and saw the enemy sleeping tanks dismounted and everything tranquil. He thought that the instructions were wrong and sent his men for attack at 0200 hours. They attacked and then in a matter of seconds the air was filled with artillery and everyone was dead. The platoon leader sitting up on his perch watched it all happen. At 0210 hours silence and the platoon leader thought “if only I knew what the general knew”This sections is very similar. We are giving instructions in our lives. Commandments that don’t necessarily make sense. But we need to follow them. Other wise the enemy can attack. We won’t be strong and we wont be able to do what we have been called to. The parable in this section is a Olive Tree and the Owner of the trees wanted them to be protected and commanded towers be built. The people building them didn’t uinderstand the purpose of the towers and didn’t fulfill the commands. Then the enemy attacked and all was lost. Life is so similar. We must obey with Exactness. As a missionary we are required to live with exactness and have been told we won’t be able to teach if we’re not. Wow.
I Love The Scriptures!
I Love My Family!
I Love My Mission!
With tons of love,
Elder Ellis"
Nov. 24, 2008
"I had my first experience with real Puerto Rican food this week and oh boy was it great on my bowels. Ha ha. I was paying for it the whole night. And it didn’t even taste good. Ugh. It might take a while to get used to their food. The love Platanos or plantain bananas they just fry em and eat em. Yuck. Its just like a burnt banana. Although Rice and Habichuelas are great. I really liek eating those and Rice and avacado is pretty good too. Elder and Hermana Reyes, a senior couple here took my companion and i out eat, and it was interesting. They also invited us to Thanks giving.
Here they have many strange words that are not usually in the spanish language. The name for almost any car but mainly bigger cars and vans is Guagua ( Goo-aww-Goo-aww) then name for thanksgiving is Dia de accion de Gracias but they all say sans givin. They say Wiken ((weekend) but in spanish is fin de la semana) and many other silly little words that they know in english and just shorten. It makes me laugh. So as you can tell i am in a much happier mood this week than i was last week. I’m getting used to things and trying to work harder. Trying to forget myself for these two years. It’s a hard task but it can be done. Last night i made a goal to not pass a single house when Contacting and talk to everyperson that we see. I plan on keeping that goal all through my mission becuase i want to have the opportunity to share with all the joy that comes from the Gospel of Jesus Christ.
We had some interesting experiences this last week. One was with a lady that said she was baptized but her husband wasn’t and so she didn’t go to church but she wanted us to come back and share a little message with her. So we planned a little lesson and she was very warm and welcoming. We watched the finding faith in christ DVD and then after asked her what she thought of it and she thought it was a great one and loves Jesus Christ. Then after we bore our testimonies of the Book of Mormon and Joseph smith and then began her little rant. She went on and on about how Jesus Christ has no religion that he is the religion and Said that the authority in the Bible comes from the holy ghost which is in all of us. Many other strange things but we just politely excused ourselves becuase she wasn’t allowing the spirit to be there. Needless to say we’re not going back there and are praying for her heart to be softened.
The other day we were out contacting and it started raining so hard. Within minutes there was inches of water on the street and we were soaked. My companion wanted to go drop off our Bicycles and walk with umbrellas but i wouldn’t let him. We rode our bikes to an investigator but her husband wasn’t home so we couldn’t teach her. So we stood outside talking with her and her little son probably about 3 or 4 came out and stood in the rain then Pulled his pants down a little and Started peeing in the rain. =) I started cracking up It reminded me of all the little kids at the pool that would pull there pants down and Pee into the pool. What a life. A little boy without a care in the world. Then his mom noticed and Pulled his pants back up and then he came out a few minutes later and did it again. It quickly turned our wet soggy day very crisp and entertaining. I Laughed so hard.
We have an investigator right now named Manuel, he comes to church every week and faithfully reads the Book of mormon. Although he is having some struggles with some things at the moment. He has lived with his girlfriend for the last 30 years and they are still not married. She recieves Social security and that would be gone if they got married, BUT he is willing to do what he needs to to have the blessings of the Gospel. He also smokes but wants to quit that as well. He is a great man and if he can continue in faith he will be a great member of the Church and great example to his family.
Other than that we don’t have too much else going on. A little wet this week a little busy but i am getting used to it. I still want to kill the rooster. I am going to freeze when i come home. I have noticed a lot of people are recieving social security here and are living in the urbinizations paid for by the government but have Plasma TV’s and brand new cars. Hmmm. Something doesn’t seem right. But i really am beginning to love it. I Love Being a missionary and i love the chance to Grow."
Here they have many strange words that are not usually in the spanish language. The name for almost any car but mainly bigger cars and vans is Guagua ( Goo-aww-Goo-aww) then name for thanksgiving is Dia de accion de Gracias but they all say sans givin. They say Wiken ((weekend) but in spanish is fin de la semana) and many other silly little words that they know in english and just shorten. It makes me laugh. So as you can tell i am in a much happier mood this week than i was last week. I’m getting used to things and trying to work harder. Trying to forget myself for these two years. It’s a hard task but it can be done. Last night i made a goal to not pass a single house when Contacting and talk to everyperson that we see. I plan on keeping that goal all through my mission becuase i want to have the opportunity to share with all the joy that comes from the Gospel of Jesus Christ.
We had some interesting experiences this last week. One was with a lady that said she was baptized but her husband wasn’t and so she didn’t go to church but she wanted us to come back and share a little message with her. So we planned a little lesson and she was very warm and welcoming. We watched the finding faith in christ DVD and then after asked her what she thought of it and she thought it was a great one and loves Jesus Christ. Then after we bore our testimonies of the Book of Mormon and Joseph smith and then began her little rant. She went on and on about how Jesus Christ has no religion that he is the religion and Said that the authority in the Bible comes from the holy ghost which is in all of us. Many other strange things but we just politely excused ourselves becuase she wasn’t allowing the spirit to be there. Needless to say we’re not going back there and are praying for her heart to be softened.
The other day we were out contacting and it started raining so hard. Within minutes there was inches of water on the street and we were soaked. My companion wanted to go drop off our Bicycles and walk with umbrellas but i wouldn’t let him. We rode our bikes to an investigator but her husband wasn’t home so we couldn’t teach her. So we stood outside talking with her and her little son probably about 3 or 4 came out and stood in the rain then Pulled his pants down a little and Started peeing in the rain. =) I started cracking up It reminded me of all the little kids at the pool that would pull there pants down and Pee into the pool. What a life. A little boy without a care in the world. Then his mom noticed and Pulled his pants back up and then he came out a few minutes later and did it again. It quickly turned our wet soggy day very crisp and entertaining. I Laughed so hard.
We have an investigator right now named Manuel, he comes to church every week and faithfully reads the Book of mormon. Although he is having some struggles with some things at the moment. He has lived with his girlfriend for the last 30 years and they are still not married. She recieves Social security and that would be gone if they got married, BUT he is willing to do what he needs to to have the blessings of the Gospel. He also smokes but wants to quit that as well. He is a great man and if he can continue in faith he will be a great member of the Church and great example to his family.
Other than that we don’t have too much else going on. A little wet this week a little busy but i am getting used to it. I still want to kill the rooster. I am going to freeze when i come home. I have noticed a lot of people are recieving social security here and are living in the urbinizations paid for by the government but have Plasma TV’s and brand new cars. Hmmm. Something doesn’t seem right. But i really am beginning to love it. I Love Being a missionary and i love the chance to Grow."
Elder Ellis is now in Puerto Rico
Hello everyone!
Sounds like Elder Ellis is getting a little homesick with the holidays coming up. If you can send him a little letter and say lots of prayers, I know he will be grateful. Thanks!!
NOVEMBER 17, 2008
"Okey Doke! Life here is much different. I will explain.
So my first Area is Arecibo, If you hold your hand up sideways with the thumb up and all fingers together it kind of looks like Puerto rico. San Juan is the tip of the Thumb and i am in Arecibo just about in the middle of the thumb. My first night i sweat like crazy and then it rained like crazy and i was soaked faster than i thought possible. Crazy. Then we went and visited a family that they had contacted and That was a wonderful experience They had a bunch of little kids and my companion just kind of looked at me and expected me to take over. I didn't know what to say so i just bore my testimony about the book of mormon. Kind of silly but at least they could understand me. This first transfer takes a lot of Faith in my companion Elder Ponce from Mexico City Mexico. Becuase i cannot understand hardly a word that is said to me. I understand almost all my companion says but Native Puerto Rican speakers slur everything and it's hard to understand. But they are all wonderful people. They offer us water and juice and soda. Tang is pretty big here. But even people who don't really want to listen to us offer us a glass of some beverage. Its pretty cool! But I am trying and trying to kind of forget my life before here because it is filled with so many more luxuries than here. We don't have windows just blinds with screens. A rooster that Crows starting as early as 1 AM and doesn't stop till about 10 AM My first night was hardest to sleep. All of my papers and books are getting a little warped because there is nothing to protect them from the Humidity. But i am really getting used to it here and learning to love it. There are Iguanas and people ride horses around the neighborhoods and PLAY MUSIC SO LOUD... All over
And mom you think you are decorating early. They had all their Christmas up before i got here. And everyone paints their houses at Christmas time so we will have lots of service to do. It makes me laugh to think of the hatred so many people have for our church when all we do is serve people. Everyone we see we ask if we can help them with anything. We haven't had any takers yet. We had one guy that spoke pretty good English and i think he used to like in Brooklyn or something. He had an English accent and looked like he had some battle scars. But he read my name and he said. "Your from the states. Arent ya" and i replied "Sure am" in English because he was talking in English. And he said " I Like you name" "If you didn't have a badge i'd think you were a marine" "you'd make a [darn] good marine. Nice jaw Strong name and good build" i just laughed. He wasn't too interested and just kept saying "You're born Lifes [hard] and you die" But other than him we have one Woman Named Graciela who is amazing. We asked her to read the Book of mormon and she said of course and then we went back to visit her the other day and she had marked it and was all ready for our next visit. I hope she continues and gains a testimony of the Book of mormon. The wonderful thing about the Book of mormon is if you know The book of mormon is true you know that Joseph Smith was a Profet of God and if joseph smith was a prophet of god then everything else should fall into play. That is why Moroni's promise is so amazing because the whole truth can be found on the simple principle of Praying With a scincere heart and realt intent having faith in Christ. What a wonderful promise. If i could say one thing to our ward, a couple scentances they would be Please read, become familiar with, and learn the simple doctrines contained in Preach my Gospel. Aside from the standard works Preach my gospel contains the basic Simple Doctrines of our belief and as each member has the obligation to be a missionary as well. The growth of the church would increase even faster if every member were to become a Preach my Gospel Missionary.
I Love Preach my Gospel. It really was written on the otherside of the veil!
My email is coming to an end and i want you all to know how much i love and miss you! SOO SOOO MUCH! Congratulations on all your little life Endeavors. Josh good luck with your math class. There will be some pictures in some other emails. Uh This Sunday we got the chance to listen to Elder bednar who came to Puerto rico and did a Question answer session. There was a satellite problem but towards the end we got to hear it. He Was asked one question about a temple in Puerto rico, he gave a great example of when he was a stake president the most faithful members lived furthest away and were always the first ones at meetings. Then he told the people of Puerto rico that the lord will see fit to build a temple When he knows the people won't underutilize it. He said that if they would build one the people would Attend so much at the beginning and eventually it would fall to a number not fit for the lord. So the lord will build a temple when he knows the hearts of the people are ready and have a strong center. There was more but that stood out most to me. Elder Bednar is an apostle of Jesus Christ the head of our Church. Thomas S Monson is a Prophet of God.
Well i gotta go. I'm holding up the other elders.
I Love You!
Elder Ellis"
Sounds like Elder Ellis is getting a little homesick with the holidays coming up. If you can send him a little letter and say lots of prayers, I know he will be grateful. Thanks!!
NOVEMBER 17, 2008
"Okey Doke! Life here is much different. I will explain.
So my first Area is Arecibo, If you hold your hand up sideways with the thumb up and all fingers together it kind of looks like Puerto rico. San Juan is the tip of the Thumb and i am in Arecibo just about in the middle of the thumb. My first night i sweat like crazy and then it rained like crazy and i was soaked faster than i thought possible. Crazy. Then we went and visited a family that they had contacted and That was a wonderful experience They had a bunch of little kids and my companion just kind of looked at me and expected me to take over. I didn't know what to say so i just bore my testimony about the book of mormon. Kind of silly but at least they could understand me. This first transfer takes a lot of Faith in my companion Elder Ponce from Mexico City Mexico. Becuase i cannot understand hardly a word that is said to me. I understand almost all my companion says but Native Puerto Rican speakers slur everything and it's hard to understand. But they are all wonderful people. They offer us water and juice and soda. Tang is pretty big here. But even people who don't really want to listen to us offer us a glass of some beverage. Its pretty cool! But I am trying and trying to kind of forget my life before here because it is filled with so many more luxuries than here. We don't have windows just blinds with screens. A rooster that Crows starting as early as 1 AM and doesn't stop till about 10 AM My first night was hardest to sleep. All of my papers and books are getting a little warped because there is nothing to protect them from the Humidity. But i am really getting used to it here and learning to love it. There are Iguanas and people ride horses around the neighborhoods and PLAY MUSIC SO LOUD... All over
And mom you think you are decorating early. They had all their Christmas up before i got here. And everyone paints their houses at Christmas time so we will have lots of service to do. It makes me laugh to think of the hatred so many people have for our church when all we do is serve people. Everyone we see we ask if we can help them with anything. We haven't had any takers yet. We had one guy that spoke pretty good English and i think he used to like in Brooklyn or something. He had an English accent and looked like he had some battle scars. But he read my name and he said. "Your from the states. Arent ya" and i replied "Sure am" in English because he was talking in English. And he said " I Like you name" "If you didn't have a badge i'd think you were a marine" "you'd make a [darn] good marine. Nice jaw Strong name and good build" i just laughed. He wasn't too interested and just kept saying "You're born Lifes [hard] and you die" But other than him we have one Woman Named Graciela who is amazing. We asked her to read the Book of mormon and she said of course and then we went back to visit her the other day and she had marked it and was all ready for our next visit. I hope she continues and gains a testimony of the Book of mormon. The wonderful thing about the Book of mormon is if you know The book of mormon is true you know that Joseph Smith was a Profet of God and if joseph smith was a prophet of god then everything else should fall into play. That is why Moroni's promise is so amazing because the whole truth can be found on the simple principle of Praying With a scincere heart and realt intent having faith in Christ. What a wonderful promise. If i could say one thing to our ward, a couple scentances they would be Please read, become familiar with, and learn the simple doctrines contained in Preach my Gospel. Aside from the standard works Preach my gospel contains the basic Simple Doctrines of our belief and as each member has the obligation to be a missionary as well. The growth of the church would increase even faster if every member were to become a Preach my Gospel Missionary.
I Love Preach my Gospel. It really was written on the otherside of the veil!
My email is coming to an end and i want you all to know how much i love and miss you! SOO SOOO MUCH! Congratulations on all your little life Endeavors. Josh good luck with your math class. There will be some pictures in some other emails. Uh This Sunday we got the chance to listen to Elder bednar who came to Puerto rico and did a Question answer session. There was a satellite problem but towards the end we got to hear it. He Was asked one question about a temple in Puerto rico, he gave a great example of when he was a stake president the most faithful members lived furthest away and were always the first ones at meetings. Then he told the people of Puerto rico that the lord will see fit to build a temple When he knows the people won't underutilize it. He said that if they would build one the people would Attend so much at the beginning and eventually it would fall to a number not fit for the lord. So the lord will build a temple when he knows the hearts of the people are ready and have a strong center. There was more but that stood out most to me. Elder Bednar is an apostle of Jesus Christ the head of our Church. Thomas S Monson is a Prophet of God.
Well i gotta go. I'm holding up the other elders.
I Love You!
Elder Ellis"
Nov. 9, 2008
"Woohoo! So this week was wonderful! Coming to the close of our firsty week here in the CCM it has been a different week but good. We had our teaching experience this last week and it was wonderful. We were able to go back and forth very smoothly and understand the investigator much better. Having the dominicans here makes it so much easier to understand spanish. We have continued to sing with Elder Gonzales and we sang i have a family here on earth and i started crying. Man i hate crying but i just really had a wonderful feeling of confirmation that i do ahve a fmaily here on earth and i will be able to live with them forever. I am so grateful for the wonderful blessings that i can experience here. Then the second verse i realized if i serve him well and do what i need to do i will be able to have a family of my own for eternity as erika will soon understand. What a great blessing we have to be born in the dispensation of the fullness of times and have the blessings of temple work in our day and age.
Friday we got special cookies from presidents wife and they are amazing. She makes the most amazing cookies. and i don't know if i told you guys but a few weeks ago President Harris's wife Made cookies "in honor of me" for every elder and sister here. She had them all bagged and everyrthing. They were amazing! Then Saturday, saturday's are the hardest day of the week here. We don't have Gym, we have MDT Class MDT Missionary Directed Time where we study and study and study. and only breaks for Breakfast Lunch and Dinner. ALL DAY IN THE SAME CLASSROOM! AAAHHH but We started adding in some verb games to not make it so Aburrido. Then sunday was fast sunday and probably one of the most spiritual fast's i ahve ever had! I have never really taken the words to heart of Fasting from food but feasting on the words of the lord. Being that the scriptures are our way of personal revelation It is so amazing how people including all of us can be directed to a certain scripture at certain times in our lives. Monday, i don't remember much of monday morning because our whole monday is focused on gearing up for our trip to the university. We went and it was wonderful the first few people we talked to weren't interested and it didn't bother me but my companion was having a hard time with it. We remembered the alst time we talked to a big group of people and decided to try it again. So we walked up to a group of 4 people and started talking to them and it was great things went smoothly then we asked if they wanted to elarn more and by what he said i became so frustrated. He said he had written his name down three times with three other missionaries like me and has never gotten a call. I was so frustrated with missionaries here and all over the world that don't do their job. I go out and make such an effort and try and make mistakes and work up a sweat to help other missionaries do their job and it makes me sad that they aren't doing what they need to to reap the fruits of our labor. We ended up walking away without a name or number. Then We walked over to another couple and they both signed. Then again our next one got angry with us and let us finish our short message and then told us he has one problem with us missionaries. He said "i was studying and trying to learn what i needed to and then you came along and just took some precious moments of my time. She has an exam now and we were trying to use these last few minutes to study so she can pass her class. My problem is this, you come and waste our time and say it is from god. I have a hard time believing that servants of God would interrupt people from their education."
we apologized for using his time promised him that our message would be worth the short amount of time and moved on. Then we met another man who Sincerely wanted a book of mormon and wanted to attend the church. He said that he loved what our church does for people that endure natural disasters and he wanted to be part of such a church. What a wonderful experience, now i hope he doesn't turn into one of the lost names that we seem to have from our contacting. It is a big pain in the rear. Our goal was 12 but we only got 5 contacts with lots of people that weren't ready. Tuesday we had our last large group meeting with president and his wife and that was good. I was in the back of the room and had elders falling asleep left and right and just sat and tried to catch what i could since it was in spanish. Then the last few days have just kinda passed by. I will write more a little later but now i need to get get my hair cut."
Friday we got special cookies from presidents wife and they are amazing. She makes the most amazing cookies. and i don't know if i told you guys but a few weeks ago President Harris's wife Made cookies "in honor of me" for every elder and sister here. She had them all bagged and everyrthing. They were amazing! Then Saturday, saturday's are the hardest day of the week here. We don't have Gym, we have MDT Class MDT Missionary Directed Time where we study and study and study. and only breaks for Breakfast Lunch and Dinner. ALL DAY IN THE SAME CLASSROOM! AAAHHH but We started adding in some verb games to not make it so Aburrido. Then sunday was fast sunday and probably one of the most spiritual fast's i ahve ever had! I have never really taken the words to heart of Fasting from food but feasting on the words of the lord. Being that the scriptures are our way of personal revelation It is so amazing how people including all of us can be directed to a certain scripture at certain times in our lives. Monday, i don't remember much of monday morning because our whole monday is focused on gearing up for our trip to the university. We went and it was wonderful the first few people we talked to weren't interested and it didn't bother me but my companion was having a hard time with it. We remembered the alst time we talked to a big group of people and decided to try it again. So we walked up to a group of 4 people and started talking to them and it was great things went smoothly then we asked if they wanted to elarn more and by what he said i became so frustrated. He said he had written his name down three times with three other missionaries like me and has never gotten a call. I was so frustrated with missionaries here and all over the world that don't do their job. I go out and make such an effort and try and make mistakes and work up a sweat to help other missionaries do their job and it makes me sad that they aren't doing what they need to to reap the fruits of our labor. We ended up walking away without a name or number. Then We walked over to another couple and they both signed. Then again our next one got angry with us and let us finish our short message and then told us he has one problem with us missionaries. He said "i was studying and trying to learn what i needed to and then you came along and just took some precious moments of my time. She has an exam now and we were trying to use these last few minutes to study so she can pass her class. My problem is this, you come and waste our time and say it is from god. I have a hard time believing that servants of God would interrupt people from their education."
we apologized for using his time promised him that our message would be worth the short amount of time and moved on. Then we met another man who Sincerely wanted a book of mormon and wanted to attend the church. He said that he loved what our church does for people that endure natural disasters and he wanted to be part of such a church. What a wonderful experience, now i hope he doesn't turn into one of the lost names that we seem to have from our contacting. It is a big pain in the rear. Our goal was 12 but we only got 5 contacts with lots of people that weren't ready. Tuesday we had our last large group meeting with president and his wife and that was good. I was in the back of the room and had elders falling asleep left and right and just sat and tried to catch what i could since it was in spanish. Then the last few days have just kinda passed by. I will write more a little later but now i need to get get my hair cut."
Oct. 30, 2008
"Hmm. This week passed again just as fast as the last. Study Study Study. I am using my study times even more affectively and it pays off. I GOT MY BALLOT. I am filling it out and then the mail goes out tomorrow. That measure about the THPRD NEEDS TO GO THROUGH. Then they can fix things like the boiler that goes out every year and be able to get things up and working like the lights in our pool that have a short.
But here in my world. The Dominicanos are great! My companion and i go into one of their rooms and teach them an english hymn every night. It's awesome. But we were singing last night and i forgot the words in english. I could remember every word in spanish but the english words slipped my mind. Then last night i got a little prideful about my memorization and offered to race a dominican that just got it all memorized and stupid me. He kicked my butt!. I wasn't even half way through it and he was done. Very Humbling experience. We teach him english words and he is helping us with out spanish. I can't wait till i'm fluent. Today we are doing the Endowment in spanish. I will definitely have a headset =) oh man.
We had set up an appointment to meet with this girl at the university on monday becuase last time we left here with an english pamphlet becuase she want's to talk english with us. So we were going to meet her but she never showed up. So much prayer and this sunday is fast sunday so hopefully we can see her again on monday and answer questions and help her find the Restored Gospel. Josh- i'm sorry i keep giving you advice but I LOVE PREACH MY GOSPEL. Start going through it and studying it. The lessons especially. They are great. I love Lesson Three. Thats all... =)
What else what else. We play basketball during our gym time and we had a pretty good system down and then all the domincans and they have completely different rules. They don't take the ball back. I swear they don't know what a foul is. and the scoring team gets the ball and they don't know what traveling is either. It makes the games interesting. It's pretty fun! I also started playing ping pong. It's way fun! I'm no good yet but i enjoy playing. But non missionaries who aren't supposed to be in our gym come in and break the balls and paddles and stuff so it makes it a pain to go and then not have a ball to play with. I usually play by myself anyway. Just fold it up like forest gump and go for it.
I am almost through Our heritage. WHAT A WONDERFUL BOOK! So many Miracles happened to the Saints. Their Faith was tried many times and they still kept going. Constantly moving constantly being attacked and constantly Trying to create a temple to Worship God. There is one story that Tells of a man who was tied up, and one of the guards walked over and said if you don't denounce mormonism right now i'll shoot you. and he replied never will i eny my god. and then the man tried to shoot him but the bullet would not fire. He seemed confused becuase he said his gun had never missed a shot. He cleaned it and tried again and still it would not fire. So he Cleaned it again and put a new pack in and tried again and it would not work. So the fourth time someone else cleaned it and he went for it the 4th time and his gun backfired killing the man who was trying to shoot the mormon. Crazy! So many stories and accounts of people that gave up everything they had to obey. Watched family members be killed and everything. Amazing Faith. It makes me feel like i have life so much easier. that there is nothing that i cannot do.
Another thing. I went to the Joseph Smith website the church has and was looking and some of the Documents they have there and i was just shocked at Joseph Smiths writing ability. What a Testimony to me that he was called of God. There are a few letter he wrote to Emma in Liberty Jail. He has terrible spelling and makes so many mistakes. For a man with that little education to produce a book so profound is a miracle and we are living it! We are seeing the fruits of those Pioneers who endured more trials than we could comprehend. But as the lord works to help us and guide us we know that satan tries just as hard. We have problems and trials in our day as well Much different but they are there. What an amazing blessing to be born in our day. Into families and Diversity and all the intricate details of our day.
There were some interesting times this week. We were talked to by the President about using our study time for things that our investigators will need. Some elders got on the subject of Cain. and whether Cain is alive or dead and it got pretty bad one elder went a little too far with it. But another elder started quoting Parly P Pratts Journal entries where it talks about his run in with Cain. and then president told us that that is of no importance to us at this time nor is it really important in any time of our lives. The main chunk of the Gospel we should focus on is the Atonement and Jesus Christ. Kind of like the Quote from Thomas Edison. "You and i have 16 hours in a day in which we can do something, the difference, you spend your time doing a bunch of unrelated things i spend all of mine focused on one thing and eventually my work is bound to amount to something." (paraphrased) Our purpose for coming to the earth is to prepare to meet god. I can be focused on something that will be more involved to my purpose in life at this moment. To help other Children of God to begin their preparations
Enough on that. Studying the scriptures has such a great impact on my day. In the Knowledge Christlike Attribute in Preach my gospel it says to Study the Scriptures Every day, and also the words of the living prophets. Why did i not do that before my mission? oh boy. It gives such great peace and comfort to my soul. At the university i am having a hard time being bold. In preach my gospel it tells us we need to be bold but not overbearing. This is people's salvation and not something to just say ok i understand if they say they are catholic or something else. I am practicing sharing with them the importance of our message.
Well my email is quite long and you're probab ly bored. I'm going to the temple."Life is not easy, becuase Salvation was not a cheap experience"Jeffrey R Holland.
I love Being a missionary!
Elder Ellis"
But here in my world. The Dominicanos are great! My companion and i go into one of their rooms and teach them an english hymn every night. It's awesome. But we were singing last night and i forgot the words in english. I could remember every word in spanish but the english words slipped my mind. Then last night i got a little prideful about my memorization and offered to race a dominican that just got it all memorized and stupid me. He kicked my butt!. I wasn't even half way through it and he was done. Very Humbling experience. We teach him english words and he is helping us with out spanish. I can't wait till i'm fluent. Today we are doing the Endowment in spanish. I will definitely have a headset =) oh man.
We had set up an appointment to meet with this girl at the university on monday becuase last time we left here with an english pamphlet becuase she want's to talk english with us. So we were going to meet her but she never showed up. So much prayer and this sunday is fast sunday so hopefully we can see her again on monday and answer questions and help her find the Restored Gospel. Josh- i'm sorry i keep giving you advice but I LOVE PREACH MY GOSPEL. Start going through it and studying it. The lessons especially. They are great. I love Lesson Three. Thats all... =)
What else what else. We play basketball during our gym time and we had a pretty good system down and then all the domincans and they have completely different rules. They don't take the ball back. I swear they don't know what a foul is. and the scoring team gets the ball and they don't know what traveling is either. It makes the games interesting. It's pretty fun! I also started playing ping pong. It's way fun! I'm no good yet but i enjoy playing. But non missionaries who aren't supposed to be in our gym come in and break the balls and paddles and stuff so it makes it a pain to go and then not have a ball to play with. I usually play by myself anyway. Just fold it up like forest gump and go for it.
I am almost through Our heritage. WHAT A WONDERFUL BOOK! So many Miracles happened to the Saints. Their Faith was tried many times and they still kept going. Constantly moving constantly being attacked and constantly Trying to create a temple to Worship God. There is one story that Tells of a man who was tied up, and one of the guards walked over and said if you don't denounce mormonism right now i'll shoot you. and he replied never will i eny my god. and then the man tried to shoot him but the bullet would not fire. He seemed confused becuase he said his gun had never missed a shot. He cleaned it and tried again and still it would not fire. So he Cleaned it again and put a new pack in and tried again and it would not work. So the fourth time someone else cleaned it and he went for it the 4th time and his gun backfired killing the man who was trying to shoot the mormon. Crazy! So many stories and accounts of people that gave up everything they had to obey. Watched family members be killed and everything. Amazing Faith. It makes me feel like i have life so much easier. that there is nothing that i cannot do.
Another thing. I went to the Joseph Smith website the church has and was looking and some of the Documents they have there and i was just shocked at Joseph Smiths writing ability. What a Testimony to me that he was called of God. There are a few letter he wrote to Emma in Liberty Jail. He has terrible spelling and makes so many mistakes. For a man with that little education to produce a book so profound is a miracle and we are living it! We are seeing the fruits of those Pioneers who endured more trials than we could comprehend. But as the lord works to help us and guide us we know that satan tries just as hard. We have problems and trials in our day as well Much different but they are there. What an amazing blessing to be born in our day. Into families and Diversity and all the intricate details of our day.
There were some interesting times this week. We were talked to by the President about using our study time for things that our investigators will need. Some elders got on the subject of Cain. and whether Cain is alive or dead and it got pretty bad one elder went a little too far with it. But another elder started quoting Parly P Pratts Journal entries where it talks about his run in with Cain. and then president told us that that is of no importance to us at this time nor is it really important in any time of our lives. The main chunk of the Gospel we should focus on is the Atonement and Jesus Christ. Kind of like the Quote from Thomas Edison. "You and i have 16 hours in a day in which we can do something, the difference, you spend your time doing a bunch of unrelated things i spend all of mine focused on one thing and eventually my work is bound to amount to something." (paraphrased) Our purpose for coming to the earth is to prepare to meet god. I can be focused on something that will be more involved to my purpose in life at this moment. To help other Children of God to begin their preparations
Enough on that. Studying the scriptures has such a great impact on my day. In the Knowledge Christlike Attribute in Preach my gospel it says to Study the Scriptures Every day, and also the words of the living prophets. Why did i not do that before my mission? oh boy. It gives such great peace and comfort to my soul. At the university i am having a hard time being bold. In preach my gospel it tells us we need to be bold but not overbearing. This is people's salvation and not something to just say ok i understand if they say they are catholic or something else. I am practicing sharing with them the importance of our message.
Well my email is quite long and you're probab ly bored. I'm going to the temple."Life is not easy, becuase Salvation was not a cheap experience"Jeffrey R Holland.
I love Being a missionary!
Elder Ellis"
October 23
Here is Elder Ellis' update for the week!! I only posted one picture this week that Elder sent over, but here is what he's been up to:
"This week when we went to the university we were talking to this one girl and then a few guys called uis over. so we walked over and tryed to see what was going on and they told us to tell them what we were telling her. Sure enough it was a whole baseball team just sitting around and one guy got everyone to sit down and told them to listen to us. That moment was the moment i have felt the most comfortable the whole time i have been here. I don't remember what i said but i just remember being completely comforted that something was working. Everyone was listening with a few giggling but once we were done we asked who would like to learn more from the other missionaries and we got 5-10 names and phone numbers written down.It was magnificent!
This week i didn't have as an exciting week as others. Although we did say goodbye to the Haitian elders They all left for their missions in Haiti. That was a though experience for them. We all treated them as brothers and becuase they are from haiti they haven't been blessed with the luxuries of life we have in the states. They told us of times where they mix flour dirt and water and let it bake in the sun then eat it. Wow. oh man oh man. so when we went to the store some elders got together and bought them all some shirts and other things they could take with them. I gave one elder one of my favorite ties and shared with another elder a quote from Ezra taft Benson "i have often said one of the greatest secrets of missionary work is work. If a missionary works he will get the spirit if he gets the spirit he will teach by the spirit if he teaches by the spirit he will touch the hearts of the people and he will be happy. There will be no homnesickness no worrying about families for all time talents and interests are centered on the work of the ministry. Work work work. There is no satisfactory substitute especially in missionary work" I love that! but I read a quote that i really like that says you can never experience real service until you serve someone that cannot repay you. i felt this in action this week and it was wonderful. They all called me the ....Guess Guess.....Magic man... =) it was great they were just as good as little kids to show the tricks to. One becuase they spoke french and i couldn't understand what they were saying to me and two they laugh at everything. It was great having them. and now we are into a new season with the dominican elders.
Today at Almuerzo i sat with a bunch of dominicans and they kept saying things to me but i didn't understand a single thing they said. They all started laughing and it was misreable. I can't wiat till i get the language down. Although during our meeting i could uinderstand most of what our Office worker said when he oppened the meeting and i can understand all of what our president says becuase he talks so slow and has a very american accent. Its nice to have experiences like that and then have another one to combat it at the university or i guess in the hallways now.
This week i also had the opportunity of preaching to the baseball team which i already explained. But aside from that not too much. We changed our planning methods and are now planning around our goals instead of just planning the things we want to do. I feel much mroe successful when i plan to my goals and achieve all that i plan. In the past i have rarely if ever planned out many things and hardley ever really set out goals to achieve. It make such a difference when you plan and spend your time wisely according to your plans. it is great and feels so rewarding! I planned to memorize My objective in spanish Doctrine and covenants 4 and The first vision in spanish this last week. I planned to have it done by last wednesday but didn't get it and worked and worked till i got it. I got it on saturday and passed it off and recieved my nifty bookmark. i am getting much better at studying and memorizing things. I wish i could go abck to school and retake all of my classes now. I needed desperately to study more and focus on the assignments i had. This has been a wonderful opportunity for me to learn and grow and i am so glad for it."
"This week when we went to the university we were talking to this one girl and then a few guys called uis over. so we walked over and tryed to see what was going on and they told us to tell them what we were telling her. Sure enough it was a whole baseball team just sitting around and one guy got everyone to sit down and told them to listen to us. That moment was the moment i have felt the most comfortable the whole time i have been here. I don't remember what i said but i just remember being completely comforted that something was working. Everyone was listening with a few giggling but once we were done we asked who would like to learn more from the other missionaries and we got 5-10 names and phone numbers written down.It was magnificent!
This week i didn't have as an exciting week as others. Although we did say goodbye to the Haitian elders They all left for their missions in Haiti. That was a though experience for them. We all treated them as brothers and becuase they are from haiti they haven't been blessed with the luxuries of life we have in the states. They told us of times where they mix flour dirt and water and let it bake in the sun then eat it. Wow. oh man oh man. so when we went to the store some elders got together and bought them all some shirts and other things they could take with them. I gave one elder one of my favorite ties and shared with another elder a quote from Ezra taft Benson "i have often said one of the greatest secrets of missionary work is work. If a missionary works he will get the spirit if he gets the spirit he will teach by the spirit if he teaches by the spirit he will touch the hearts of the people and he will be happy. There will be no homnesickness no worrying about families for all time talents and interests are centered on the work of the ministry. Work work work. There is no satisfactory substitute especially in missionary work" I love that! but I read a quote that i really like that says you can never experience real service until you serve someone that cannot repay you. i felt this in action this week and it was wonderful. They all called me the ....Guess Guess.....Magic man... =) it was great they were just as good as little kids to show the tricks to. One becuase they spoke french and i couldn't understand what they were saying to me and two they laugh at everything. It was great having them. and now we are into a new season with the dominican elders.
Today at Almuerzo i sat with a bunch of dominicans and they kept saying things to me but i didn't understand a single thing they said. They all started laughing and it was misreable. I can't wiat till i get the language down. Although during our meeting i could uinderstand most of what our Office worker said when he oppened the meeting and i can understand all of what our president says becuase he talks so slow and has a very american accent. Its nice to have experiences like that and then have another one to combat it at the university or i guess in the hallways now.
This week i also had the opportunity of preaching to the baseball team which i already explained. But aside from that not too much. We changed our planning methods and are now planning around our goals instead of just planning the things we want to do. I feel much mroe successful when i plan to my goals and achieve all that i plan. In the past i have rarely if ever planned out many things and hardley ever really set out goals to achieve. It make such a difference when you plan and spend your time wisely according to your plans. it is great and feels so rewarding! I planned to memorize My objective in spanish Doctrine and covenants 4 and The first vision in spanish this last week. I planned to have it done by last wednesday but didn't get it and worked and worked till i got it. I got it on saturday and passed it off and recieved my nifty bookmark. i am getting much better at studying and memorizing things. I wish i could go abck to school and retake all of my classes now. I needed desperately to study more and focus on the assignments i had. This has been a wonderful opportunity for me to learn and grow and i am so glad for it."
Oct.16
"October 16, 2008
Este semana pasado fue muy bien. It started with a big day of service on last thursday. We sweat a whole lot and all enjoyed it. Then Friday and saturday rolled around. So far friday and saturday are my least favorite days. In los estados unidos i would have something to do. It's the weekend lets do something... but in the CCM friday and saturday are just like every other day. Sundays are great however. We get nap time which feels like one of the most divine blessings we have =) and time to write letters... letters not emails.
But back into the mission. Lately we have been focusing on using scriptures effectively. Introducing a scripture and then having them read it then helping them understand it and apply it. So earlier when i Told josh to study the scriptures thats a more focused study plan for you. START NOW! learn how to do all of that. It will make your MTC experience better if you are learning a language, not to mention the amount knowledge you have before you go into the MTC.
On sunday we also got to watch Jeffrey R Holland in his Devotional at the MTC in 2000. It is magnificent. Nothing has ever given me such a strong testimony of the power a mission can have as his talk did. He speaks with power directness and Authority. What a wonderful Man. I stress the Greatness of that in hopes that you will be able to find it to watch and maybe show the young men if you feel so inspired.
one monday we went to the university again. My spanish is coming along nicely but i can't understand hardley a thing they say back. I try to translate it and then end up a few sentances behind them and then just say no entiendo (i don't understand). We had a goal of 6 Refferals and this week we realized we're talking way to much and need to bring our goal up to 10. we talked with another lady for 20 minutes. She was catholic and loved when we read out of the book of mormon becuase she knew they were inspired words. She just didn't understand why we needed another book. I recited the first vision to her in spanish (from memory) and she said Amen amen amen the whole way through but she never quiet understood. or maybe there was something i didn't understand. Probably the latter. then i realized we had taken way to much time so apologized and said we ahd to go. We said goodbye and then as we were walking up we saw a guy that said he already had a book of mormon and said that his family didn't want any of it in their house so he asked where he could get more answers so i gave him a pass along card and showed him the web site. THEN it started to Rain like a mad man. POURING... It only rained for 5 minutes and by the time it stopped we were soak to our skivveys. Completely wet. Swimming in my shoes. Then liek i said it stopped in 5 minutes. We started to walk back to the CCM and we were standing on the street corner. Cars are crazy here so we were just waiting to cross and a big bus with people hanging off every side comes driving by. Just like in a movie me and my companion Got our whole lower halfs soaked. The bus hit i big puddle and just drenched our legs. THEN we kept walking up this little hill and a little love bug was stopped. Just cranking his engine. Just would not let off the ignition. So we walked and i wanted to help and other missionaries were saying no no come on we have to go. and I would just let him sit there becuase there was no way any other drivers were going to stop. If you could see it you would know exactly why. So i ran up and asked if he needed help, he shook his head yes. So i got on the side and pushed pushed pushed. Since it was on a hill it rolled back a few feet and then some other elders started to help and we got it up the hill. It was sputting all the way up the hill then he finally got it in gear and started to go. Now we were soaking wet and hands black from all the dirt on his car. we walked the rest of the way back and then later that night my first case of Churria hit. =) only lasted for an evening thank heavens but boy was it unpleasant. We learned this neat new word becuase someone had heard it and didn't know what it was so they asked their teacher and it spread like wild fire.
Then we had a wonderful Meeting on tuesday with the Caribe area president he shook every missionaries hand and walked around as he talked wth us. It was wonderful. FYI there are about 50 missionaries here. all the guy are at the north end of the 4th floor the middle section is all classrooms and the south end is the 4 girls rooms. Next week we say goodbye to all the Haitian elders and then we have 30 Latino elders coming in. I am very excited. We will be using spanish much more and hopefully get much better at it.
on tuesday we got to go to the store the Tienda. I wanted to get some regular food that i'm a little more used to and so i did i got two cans of pringles. and sadly they are already gone. We only had an hour and so it was hard to decide what i wanted to get. i got a pretty Cool Shirt. Pretty redneck but pretty cool.
I Love being here i love being able to experience a completely different culture and completely different language. It is by no means easy work. and i mean it in all seriousness just being in the MTC has probably been one of the hardest things i have ever done in my life. To sit and study For hour after hour every day of the week is very draining physically emotionally and mentally.I love being a missionary. It's hard but it's worth it!"
Este semana pasado fue muy bien. It started with a big day of service on last thursday. We sweat a whole lot and all enjoyed it. Then Friday and saturday rolled around. So far friday and saturday are my least favorite days. In los estados unidos i would have something to do. It's the weekend lets do something... but in the CCM friday and saturday are just like every other day. Sundays are great however. We get nap time which feels like one of the most divine blessings we have =) and time to write letters... letters not emails.
But back into the mission. Lately we have been focusing on using scriptures effectively. Introducing a scripture and then having them read it then helping them understand it and apply it. So earlier when i Told josh to study the scriptures thats a more focused study plan for you. START NOW! learn how to do all of that. It will make your MTC experience better if you are learning a language, not to mention the amount knowledge you have before you go into the MTC.
On sunday we also got to watch Jeffrey R Holland in his Devotional at the MTC in 2000. It is magnificent. Nothing has ever given me such a strong testimony of the power a mission can have as his talk did. He speaks with power directness and Authority. What a wonderful Man. I stress the Greatness of that in hopes that you will be able to find it to watch and maybe show the young men if you feel so inspired.
one monday we went to the university again. My spanish is coming along nicely but i can't understand hardley a thing they say back. I try to translate it and then end up a few sentances behind them and then just say no entiendo (i don't understand). We had a goal of 6 Refferals and this week we realized we're talking way to much and need to bring our goal up to 10. we talked with another lady for 20 minutes. She was catholic and loved when we read out of the book of mormon becuase she knew they were inspired words. She just didn't understand why we needed another book. I recited the first vision to her in spanish (from memory) and she said Amen amen amen the whole way through but she never quiet understood. or maybe there was something i didn't understand. Probably the latter. then i realized we had taken way to much time so apologized and said we ahd to go. We said goodbye and then as we were walking up we saw a guy that said he already had a book of mormon and said that his family didn't want any of it in their house so he asked where he could get more answers so i gave him a pass along card and showed him the web site. THEN it started to Rain like a mad man. POURING... It only rained for 5 minutes and by the time it stopped we were soak to our skivveys. Completely wet. Swimming in my shoes. Then liek i said it stopped in 5 minutes. We started to walk back to the CCM and we were standing on the street corner. Cars are crazy here so we were just waiting to cross and a big bus with people hanging off every side comes driving by. Just like in a movie me and my companion Got our whole lower halfs soaked. The bus hit i big puddle and just drenched our legs. THEN we kept walking up this little hill and a little love bug was stopped. Just cranking his engine. Just would not let off the ignition. So we walked and i wanted to help and other missionaries were saying no no come on we have to go. and I would just let him sit there becuase there was no way any other drivers were going to stop. If you could see it you would know exactly why. So i ran up and asked if he needed help, he shook his head yes. So i got on the side and pushed pushed pushed. Since it was on a hill it rolled back a few feet and then some other elders started to help and we got it up the hill. It was sputting all the way up the hill then he finally got it in gear and started to go. Now we were soaking wet and hands black from all the dirt on his car. we walked the rest of the way back and then later that night my first case of Churria hit. =) only lasted for an evening thank heavens but boy was it unpleasant. We learned this neat new word becuase someone had heard it and didn't know what it was so they asked their teacher and it spread like wild fire.
Then we had a wonderful Meeting on tuesday with the Caribe area president he shook every missionaries hand and walked around as he talked wth us. It was wonderful. FYI there are about 50 missionaries here. all the guy are at the north end of the 4th floor the middle section is all classrooms and the south end is the 4 girls rooms. Next week we say goodbye to all the Haitian elders and then we have 30 Latino elders coming in. I am very excited. We will be using spanish much more and hopefully get much better at it.
on tuesday we got to go to the store the Tienda. I wanted to get some regular food that i'm a little more used to and so i did i got two cans of pringles. and sadly they are already gone. We only had an hour and so it was hard to decide what i wanted to get. i got a pretty Cool Shirt. Pretty redneck but pretty cool.
I Love being here i love being able to experience a completely different culture and completely different language. It is by no means easy work. and i mean it in all seriousness just being in the MTC has probably been one of the hardest things i have ever done in my life. To sit and study For hour after hour every day of the week is very draining physically emotionally and mentally.I love being a missionary. It's hard but it's worth it!"
Some e-mails:
"October 9,2008
So this week was crazy! First week in La Republica Dominica, and nosotros fuimos a la universidad. First week and my distrito went to the university. CRAZY! Ahhh we weren't ready for it at all. (this was monday) We went to the university to practice contacting. Meeting people and getting to know a little bit about them and what they believe then asking them if they would like to learn about waht we believe. Many people here are very friendly but also many people are very almost offended i guess. Becuase they say only rich people come to help them. I'm not very rich. Wow... Big thunderstorm outside right now. Crazy! but We talked with a few people and saw very little clothing. AAAHHH... got 4 refferals and the last one we talked with for 20 minutes. She talked so fast and we held on to just the little things we could. She would ask us if we understood and sometimes we would understand a few things and so we would say yes then she would ask us what we understood and we couldn't say anything back to her and so she just kept laughing at us and trying to help us. She would correct things we said. We ended up giving her a book of mormon. What an awesome experience. She wanted to know what time we had church on sunday and so we had to explain that we had church in the CCM and so we didin't know what time the church was. We went back and had our normal meals. Breakfast in the CCM or Desayuno consist of Pan (Bread) Cereal (cereal =p) and Fruit. FRESH FRUIT. FRESH BANANAS FRESH PAPAYA AND FRESH PINAPPLE. So good! Oh my word. Papaya is so soft and refreshing. But that is our breakfast EVERY DAY! then Almuerzo(Lunch) Pollo (chicken) Carne (usually Beef) Arroz (Rice 3 different kinds. yellow white and this stuff called ConCon it's like a big pancake of Burnt rice. Its crispy and pretty much just burnt. its good though. Habichuelas (Beans) then more pan (bread) and Jugo (juice mango, orange and some other flavor.) and then Cena (dinner) is a little different every night unlike breakfast and lunch. Either Tacos Fajitas pasta or whatever other american meal they want to try to copy. and That always turns out interesting. =) Same meals every day. Its great!
Then we have just been working on our spanish and conjugating verbs. That is the hardest part for me. I have an extensive vocab in spanish but don't know the grammer quite yet. and it might take a while to get to that point. i feel like i need Six weeks just relearn the gospel in spanish. The names are all different. Talking about the priesthood or sacerdocio the names for peter james and john are Pedro Santiago y Juan. AH MI MADRE! so every time you watch Napoleon Dynamite just think his name is peter in english. Woohoo!
Not too many other things happened. I will send a picture or two with some of our hatian friends. There is a big group of Hatian Missionaries here and they all speak french. It's hard to communicate but some of them know a little english and we teach each other here and there. I know that Yellow is Juon Brown is Maron White is Blan Red is Ruj and blue is blu and black is nowa. I doubt those are the right spellings but woohoo my colors in french. Now back to spanish. Other than those things we have been learning learning learning. My MTC experience was much easier and less frustrating than my CCM experience has been so far. The teacher here are much different they teach in a much different way and sometimes they try to speak english to us and its almost easier for us when they speak in spanish.
This week the presidents wife took us to the temple to do baptisms and that was so cool. We got to do it all confirm and Baptize each other. So as of yet in my mission i have baptized 5 People! Woohoo! Not even out of the CCM and i have Baptisms.
Next week we get to go to the Dominican Republic equivelant of walmart. i am excited. I have heard there are some nice ties made from people here in Republica Dominicana.
Today we went to the temple this morning and got to go through and endowment session. It was in english luckily but the last part was in spanish. a hard communication barier there. The temple is much bigger than i thought it would be and it is beautiful with palm trees and lizards everywhere. after the temple we were walking back and the water truck arrived so we helped them unload probably 55 water jugs to take up to our reserve on the 4th floor. HOLY COW!!! i got so sweaty. but it felt so good to help. After we ate our meat rice and beans then went to the Universidad to pick up trash in the parque. TONS OF TRASH!!! I WAS SHOCKED. and i have never sweat so much in my life. While we were there these guys asked me about the Hermanas. and asked if they were single. The men here seem to be interested in white women. and i replied No Lo siento. Las mujeres van 2 anos sino hombres. The women go two years without men. they all started laughing. Then as i walked by a couple the guy said Quierre Conocer. i beleive he was asking if i wanted to get to know his Girlfriend. and i said no lo siento despues de mi mision posible. No after my mission maybe. Pero Ahora nosotros Hablamos sobre Jesucristo. But now we can talk about Jesus Christ. =) again more laughing.
My time is about up. But this sums up my week. Lots of Spanish Lots of Rice Lots or Beans Lots of SWEATING. I Love IT!
I love Being a Missionary"
So this week was crazy! First week in La Republica Dominica, and nosotros fuimos a la universidad. First week and my distrito went to the university. CRAZY! Ahhh we weren't ready for it at all. (this was monday) We went to the university to practice contacting. Meeting people and getting to know a little bit about them and what they believe then asking them if they would like to learn about waht we believe. Many people here are very friendly but also many people are very almost offended i guess. Becuase they say only rich people come to help them. I'm not very rich. Wow... Big thunderstorm outside right now. Crazy! but We talked with a few people and saw very little clothing. AAAHHH... got 4 refferals and the last one we talked with for 20 minutes. She talked so fast and we held on to just the little things we could. She would ask us if we understood and sometimes we would understand a few things and so we would say yes then she would ask us what we understood and we couldn't say anything back to her and so she just kept laughing at us and trying to help us. She would correct things we said. We ended up giving her a book of mormon. What an awesome experience. She wanted to know what time we had church on sunday and so we had to explain that we had church in the CCM and so we didin't know what time the church was. We went back and had our normal meals. Breakfast in the CCM or Desayuno consist of Pan (Bread) Cereal (cereal =p) and Fruit. FRESH FRUIT. FRESH BANANAS FRESH PAPAYA AND FRESH PINAPPLE. So good! Oh my word. Papaya is so soft and refreshing. But that is our breakfast EVERY DAY! then Almuerzo(Lunch) Pollo (chicken) Carne (usually Beef) Arroz (Rice 3 different kinds. yellow white and this stuff called ConCon it's like a big pancake of Burnt rice. Its crispy and pretty much just burnt. its good though. Habichuelas (Beans) then more pan (bread) and Jugo (juice mango, orange and some other flavor.) and then Cena (dinner) is a little different every night unlike breakfast and lunch. Either Tacos Fajitas pasta or whatever other american meal they want to try to copy. and That always turns out interesting. =) Same meals every day. Its great!
Then we have just been working on our spanish and conjugating verbs. That is the hardest part for me. I have an extensive vocab in spanish but don't know the grammer quite yet. and it might take a while to get to that point. i feel like i need Six weeks just relearn the gospel in spanish. The names are all different. Talking about the priesthood or sacerdocio the names for peter james and john are Pedro Santiago y Juan. AH MI MADRE! so every time you watch Napoleon Dynamite just think his name is peter in english. Woohoo!
Not too many other things happened. I will send a picture or two with some of our hatian friends. There is a big group of Hatian Missionaries here and they all speak french. It's hard to communicate but some of them know a little english and we teach each other here and there. I know that Yellow is Juon Brown is Maron White is Blan Red is Ruj and blue is blu and black is nowa. I doubt those are the right spellings but woohoo my colors in french. Now back to spanish. Other than those things we have been learning learning learning. My MTC experience was much easier and less frustrating than my CCM experience has been so far. The teacher here are much different they teach in a much different way and sometimes they try to speak english to us and its almost easier for us when they speak in spanish.
This week the presidents wife took us to the temple to do baptisms and that was so cool. We got to do it all confirm and Baptize each other. So as of yet in my mission i have baptized 5 People! Woohoo! Not even out of the CCM and i have Baptisms.
Next week we get to go to the Dominican Republic equivelant of walmart. i am excited. I have heard there are some nice ties made from people here in Republica Dominicana.
Today we went to the temple this morning and got to go through and endowment session. It was in english luckily but the last part was in spanish. a hard communication barier there. The temple is much bigger than i thought it would be and it is beautiful with palm trees and lizards everywhere. after the temple we were walking back and the water truck arrived so we helped them unload probably 55 water jugs to take up to our reserve on the 4th floor. HOLY COW!!! i got so sweaty. but it felt so good to help. After we ate our meat rice and beans then went to the Universidad to pick up trash in the parque. TONS OF TRASH!!! I WAS SHOCKED. and i have never sweat so much in my life. While we were there these guys asked me about the Hermanas. and asked if they were single. The men here seem to be interested in white women. and i replied No Lo siento. Las mujeres van 2 anos sino hombres. The women go two years without men. they all started laughing. Then as i walked by a couple the guy said Quierre Conocer. i beleive he was asking if i wanted to get to know his Girlfriend. and i said no lo siento despues de mi mision posible. No after my mission maybe. Pero Ahora nosotros Hablamos sobre Jesucristo. But now we can talk about Jesus Christ. =) again more laughing.
My time is about up. But this sums up my week. Lots of Spanish Lots of Rice Lots or Beans Lots of SWEATING. I Love IT!
I love Being a Missionary"
Sorry!!
Sorry guys for not updating! It's mid-terms for me so I'm runnin' a little behind on things. Here is Elder Ellis' address:
Elder Ellis
Centro de Capacitacion Misional
Bolivar #825 Esq. Génesis Los Robles
Santo Domingo Republica Dominicana
Elder Ellis
Centro de Capacitacion Misional
Bolivar #825 Esq. Génesis Los Robles
Santo Domingo Republica Dominicana
New Pictures
Hey everyone! Elder Ellis sent us some pictures. Just look to the right and click on the little box that says "mission pictures"
He is in the Dominican Republic!!
Elder Ellis
CCM Dominican Republic
P.O. Box 30150
Salt Lake City 84130-0150
"as for mail we have the pouch and it has been narrowed down to a timeline of 4 days to 4 months for letters and such to get here."
He is doing great!! He gave our family phone calls at the airports to say hello and speak in spanish. It was really cool.
CCM Dominican Republic
P.O. Box 30150
Salt Lake City 84130-0150
"as for mail we have the pouch and it has been narrowed down to a timeline of 4 days to 4 months for letters and such to get here."
He is doing great!! He gave our family phone calls at the airports to say hello and speak in spanish. It was really cool.
One more step closer to Puerto Rico!!
Well hello everyone!! Here is a little bit from Elder Ellis:
"I started balling in class becuase i realized for the first time so far i really miss my family. I really do. I am so glad that GOD DOES HAVE A PLAN FOR US AND FAMILIES CAN BE TOGETHER FOREVER!!! What a blessing to know that. That no matter what happens we will be able to be with each other. This week we taught on the plan of salvation and it was a very humbling experience for my companion and I. We didn't necesarily study it before our teaching appointment and were searching for scriptures left and right. We focused on spanish a little more and so i guess it was a fair trade off. My spanish is coming along better. I feel like each day i start with a wall in front of me and i cna't learn any more spanish, then i realize at the end of the night some how i made it through."
Elder Ellis is LOVING what he is doing!! As far as what his plans are, today is the last day he is in the MTC in Provo and tomorrow he is leaving for his next adventure!! As soon as I know the address I will post it so he can have letter sent to him. Thanks for all your love and support!
"I started balling in class becuase i realized for the first time so far i really miss my family. I really do. I am so glad that GOD DOES HAVE A PLAN FOR US AND FAMILIES CAN BE TOGETHER FOREVER!!! What a blessing to know that. That no matter what happens we will be able to be with each other. This week we taught on the plan of salvation and it was a very humbling experience for my companion and I. We didn't necesarily study it before our teaching appointment and were searching for scriptures left and right. We focused on spanish a little more and so i guess it was a fair trade off. My spanish is coming along better. I feel like each day i start with a wall in front of me and i cna't learn any more spanish, then i realize at the end of the night some how i made it through."
Elder Ellis is LOVING what he is doing!! As far as what his plans are, today is the last day he is in the MTC in Provo and tomorrow he is leaving for his next adventure!! As soon as I know the address I will post it so he can have letter sent to him. Thanks for all your love and support!
Elder Ellis is now in the MTC!!!
Elder Ellis is now in the Provo MTC!!!!
You can write him here for the next three weeks:
Elder Aaron James Ellis
MTC Mailbox #342
PUR-SJUW 1110
2005 N. 900 E.
Provo, Utah 84604-1793
Start sending those letters!!!! :) :) :)
Almost There
This is Aaron, Soon to be Elder Ellis. Below i will have some basic instructions to write to me while i'm on my mission in Puerto Rico.
The main website that you can use to write me letters is http://www.dearelder.com This website allows you to send free letters to me while i'm in the MTC Both in Provo UT and Dominican Republic. When you got to that website you can click the Tab that says "Write A Letter" From there you can Type your sending address so i know where to send a letter back to, and also Type in my information which will be known when i get to the MTC. Untill then you will have to wait patiently. I wish you all the best of luck and blessings throughout the next two years!
The main website that you can use to write me letters is http://www.dearelder.com This website allows you to send free letters to me while i'm in the MTC Both in Provo UT and Dominican Republic. When you got to that website you can click the Tab that says "Write A Letter" From there you can Type your sending address so i know where to send a letter back to, and also Type in my information which will be known when i get to the MTC. Untill then you will have to wait patiently. I wish you all the best of luck and blessings throughout the next two years!
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