So this week.......
We had a lesson with the lady we gave the book of mormon to and she was very interested in the book of mormon and Joseph smith. She had even read to 2nd Nephi in the book of mormon. It was a great lesson one where you just sit back and smile becuase you know they are understanding.
For thanks giving we had one family that invited us over and fed us a ton. Then right after that we went to another family who also gave us a ton. They live further out in the nowheres. so we went and swang on some vines while she was finishing the food. =) We went to eat and It was delicious. My favorite of the day. While she was helping serve us i put a fake cockroach on her plate =) she came back and had the most disgusted look on her face. Then smiled and said "elderes yo debo saber ya que siempre me hacen maldades" =) I honestly continue to love these people. I feel like they are my family! I told my companion that i wish she could be my aunt or something. She told me that next year i can come back and go Black friday shopping with her all over puerto rico. She left at 4 in the morning.
We also ahd a ward activity that was great! We did Create a sundae. it turned out great! The ward mission leader was afraid of letting us run it thinking it wouldn't turn out very good. But it turned out great! We had another little talk with the bishop just to update him on our work and things that are happening.
Then on saturday we had a service project to clean someones yard. She also lives way out in the nowheres. it was super! My companion got sick. Way sick that night. His eyes were blood shot and had a fever. Then i gave him a blessing that night and he woke up perfectly fine.
Then sunday morning we both gave talks. I enjoyed it a lot. I learned a lot preparing and giving the talk. Revelation is great. Being able to use scriptures in ways i had never thought about seem to be coming to me much more lately. What a blessing. I have used the same chapter with many members this week and everytime empphasizing on a different principle of the Gospel. Nephi and his brothers getting the plates.
Good Good Good.
We even got a call from president telling us he heard we gave great talks in sacrament meeting.
November 16, 2009
Hello Family.
So we got our contacts this week! Woohoo! And our hours of finding time. This week we also tried pigs feet. MMMMM not! EWWW. I didn’t like it at all! And Flan de pana pen. Which is a flan made out of a big green fruit called bread fruit. We don`t have it in the states. But it is good. I learned you can pretty much make flan out of anything. Pumpkin cheese breadfruit and there are a few others I have heard of. I am going to learn how to do it. This weekend we also had the opportunity to listen to M Russel Ballard. He was in the DR and spoke to the whole caribe (Spanish for Carribbean) He shared many stories about his leadership and being able to open these islands to missionary work. He mentioned one where he was to choose a stake president and he was so concerned. It was one of his first assignments and he went to do the interviews and interviewed all but 2 people. Hadnt felt anything special with any of them. He got to the end and when he went into the hall to shake the hand of the second to last he said. Where do I know you from. He replied I shook your hand in general conference 3 years ago. He immediately knew he was to be the stake president. He was sustained and called his parents after the meeting on Sunday and said Mom quess what. She replied I already know last night when I was washing dishes I felt the impression you would be stake president. he mentioned she felt that at the same time he extended the call. The he told his father dad guess what I was called…I know to be stake president. his dad replied I already know I had a dream the other night that you were called to the stake president. He told elder Ballard about that and elder ballard returned to utah and spoke with Heber J Grant. And told him what had happened. And he started to chuckle. He asked him what was funny. And Heber Replied it's funny how the lord requires us to be confidential but he goes around telling everyone before it happens. =) funny huh
We had a great lesson with this lady named Mari. She has an eight year old daughter that was quoting scriptures in the bible the whole lesson. We talked about Jesus Christ and she said. Did you know it says in John that god so loved the world that he gave his only begotten son. And recited many scriptures. It was an amazing lesson and she told us she would pray. As well this week we had many contacts and one the guy stopped me and said tell me something I don’t know so I said ok well did you know that not only in Jerusalem but jesus also preached in… and he cut me off saying there you go again telling me something I have already read in the bible. We walked away.
We are having a few problems with the ward and their attitudes about preach my gospel and missionary work. I really tried being bold with members and trying different things to get references. I HATE KNOCKING DOORS. So president told me to find a more effective method. So we are having a family home evening at the home of the Bishops second counselor this week with one of their neighbors. =) it was great. I am really trying to work harder with the members here. This week we are focusing on getting the bishopric out with us. Its not so easy as they all work.
This week as well we finally had a good coordination meeting where we made some plans and followed up. We also spoke with the bishop about some concerns we have and overall I really just feel like this last week was how missionary work should be. We worked hard. Although we definitely could have worked better we did what we were supposed to and found new more effective ways to do some things.
Next week is Thanksgiving! CRAZY! We are going to the house of a member for thanksgiving. She told us not to plan anything for that day that the old missionaries have always spent the whole day there. But…nope. We will be obedient.
Wish you all a good week and if I remember more of what we did I will write it.
Hailee How are you? How is life how was your sleep over?
There is a family here that has a daughter that is 11 she acts like she is 16 I bet you will seem the same way when I see you again. And I bet I might seem like an old man when I get back. Guess what… I did jello to my companion this week. He said ´´elder what´s your problem why can you not be normal?´´ I just cant. Just not in my power. =) I hope youre enjoying your time as a kid. Before you know it before mom and dad know it youll be in BYUIDAHO with all the rest of your family. And mom and dad are going to move to utah or Idaho so theyre not lonely. =) That’s only 7 years away 7 years ago I was starting middle school and now I am already on my mission AAAHHHH almost done.
Josh! How are you bud! I haven’t heard from you in a while. Whats going on. What do you like to do most in Rexburg?
So we got our contacts this week! Woohoo! And our hours of finding time. This week we also tried pigs feet. MMMMM not! EWWW. I didn’t like it at all! And Flan de pana pen. Which is a flan made out of a big green fruit called bread fruit. We don`t have it in the states. But it is good. I learned you can pretty much make flan out of anything. Pumpkin cheese breadfruit and there are a few others I have heard of. I am going to learn how to do it. This weekend we also had the opportunity to listen to M Russel Ballard. He was in the DR and spoke to the whole caribe (Spanish for Carribbean) He shared many stories about his leadership and being able to open these islands to missionary work. He mentioned one where he was to choose a stake president and he was so concerned. It was one of his first assignments and he went to do the interviews and interviewed all but 2 people. Hadnt felt anything special with any of them. He got to the end and when he went into the hall to shake the hand of the second to last he said. Where do I know you from. He replied I shook your hand in general conference 3 years ago. He immediately knew he was to be the stake president. He was sustained and called his parents after the meeting on Sunday and said Mom quess what. She replied I already know last night when I was washing dishes I felt the impression you would be stake president. he mentioned she felt that at the same time he extended the call. The he told his father dad guess what I was called…I know to be stake president. his dad replied I already know I had a dream the other night that you were called to the stake president. He told elder Ballard about that and elder ballard returned to utah and spoke with Heber J Grant. And told him what had happened. And he started to chuckle. He asked him what was funny. And Heber Replied it's funny how the lord requires us to be confidential but he goes around telling everyone before it happens. =) funny huh
We had a great lesson with this lady named Mari. She has an eight year old daughter that was quoting scriptures in the bible the whole lesson. We talked about Jesus Christ and she said. Did you know it says in John that god so loved the world that he gave his only begotten son. And recited many scriptures. It was an amazing lesson and she told us she would pray. As well this week we had many contacts and one the guy stopped me and said tell me something I don’t know so I said ok well did you know that not only in Jerusalem but jesus also preached in… and he cut me off saying there you go again telling me something I have already read in the bible. We walked away.
We are having a few problems with the ward and their attitudes about preach my gospel and missionary work. I really tried being bold with members and trying different things to get references. I HATE KNOCKING DOORS. So president told me to find a more effective method. So we are having a family home evening at the home of the Bishops second counselor this week with one of their neighbors. =) it was great. I am really trying to work harder with the members here. This week we are focusing on getting the bishopric out with us. Its not so easy as they all work.
This week as well we finally had a good coordination meeting where we made some plans and followed up. We also spoke with the bishop about some concerns we have and overall I really just feel like this last week was how missionary work should be. We worked hard. Although we definitely could have worked better we did what we were supposed to and found new more effective ways to do some things.
Next week is Thanksgiving! CRAZY! We are going to the house of a member for thanksgiving. She told us not to plan anything for that day that the old missionaries have always spent the whole day there. But…nope. We will be obedient.
Wish you all a good week and if I remember more of what we did I will write it.
Hailee How are you? How is life how was your sleep over?
There is a family here that has a daughter that is 11 she acts like she is 16 I bet you will seem the same way when I see you again. And I bet I might seem like an old man when I get back. Guess what… I did jello to my companion this week. He said ´´elder what´s your problem why can you not be normal?´´ I just cant. Just not in my power. =) I hope youre enjoying your time as a kid. Before you know it before mom and dad know it youll be in BYUIDAHO with all the rest of your family. And mom and dad are going to move to utah or Idaho so theyre not lonely. =) That’s only 7 years away 7 years ago I was starting middle school and now I am already on my mission AAAHHHH almost done.
Josh! How are you bud! I haven’t heard from you in a while. Whats going on. What do you like to do most in Rexburg?
November 9, 2009
by small and simple things great things are brought to pass alma 37:6
SO THIS LAST WEEK WE HAD AN AWESOME LESSON WITH MARISOL! we were at her house and the most amazing thing happened. She Prayed! Then we talked about the plan of salvation. THEN! She said Elders please forgive me i am sorry i didn't accept Joseph Smith as a prophet.
(the week before al ensenarle the restoration she asked us how she could believe he was a prophet because he wasn't in the bible)
She said. I really feel like he could be a prophet. I feel like what i read here is the word of God! It was awesome! We also taught her daughter on saturday. She said i am Half and Half. I understand everyting i just dont really understand The spirit world. then she started talking about how her family loves tatoos and piercings. hmmm... But two really good lessons! Woohoo!
So this week We had interviews with presiden't. A lo mejor i will get a copy of our practices we did. he recorded us... =s and made us watch us teaching. He gave us some good complements. They acted hard for us. WHew. But they were things that usually come up. He also told me in my interview that he wanted to split my area its the biggest area in the mission. But he told me that he was going to becuase it has a lot of potential. But then i talked with him today and he said he wants to close it. Wake the members up. That would be my 3rd time closing an area. Woohoo! He also told me he really wants to change the culture of the mission. He dared me to be the one to change it. He said "Elder Ellis... The missionaries aren't working like they should. All it takes is one missionary to start a change. I want you to be that missionary! I want you to start it. Be completely obedient and more than anything i want you to baptize. I want you to have success. Elder Ellis i am making a promise for you. If you fulfill with the Goals we have set. I Promise you that you will baptize. Try the Lord! Be obedient and watch the blessings. Once you do it the whole mission will want to follow."
We have got our contacts since then and will continue to get them. He talked to me about just not letting myself be a person i don't want to be. I want to be a person that has success and as well one that is obedient so i am going to get my contacts to the best of my ability for the rest of my mission. There is no reason not to. I get scared typing it to you becuase what if i don't do it. BUT NO i want to do it. I will do it!
Woohoo! Missionary work is awesome!
We have about 3 great families right now that could really progress here soon.
But yeah i need to get off! Love You!
SO THIS LAST WEEK WE HAD AN AWESOME LESSON WITH MARISOL! we were at her house and the most amazing thing happened. She Prayed! Then we talked about the plan of salvation. THEN! She said Elders please forgive me i am sorry i didn't accept Joseph Smith as a prophet.
(the week before al ensenarle the restoration she asked us how she could believe he was a prophet because he wasn't in the bible)
She said. I really feel like he could be a prophet. I feel like what i read here is the word of God! It was awesome! We also taught her daughter on saturday. She said i am Half and Half. I understand everyting i just dont really understand The spirit world. then she started talking about how her family loves tatoos and piercings. hmmm... But two really good lessons! Woohoo!
So this week We had interviews with presiden't. A lo mejor i will get a copy of our practices we did. he recorded us... =s and made us watch us teaching. He gave us some good complements. They acted hard for us. WHew. But they were things that usually come up. He also told me in my interview that he wanted to split my area its the biggest area in the mission. But he told me that he was going to becuase it has a lot of potential. But then i talked with him today and he said he wants to close it. Wake the members up. That would be my 3rd time closing an area. Woohoo! He also told me he really wants to change the culture of the mission. He dared me to be the one to change it. He said "Elder Ellis... The missionaries aren't working like they should. All it takes is one missionary to start a change. I want you to be that missionary! I want you to start it. Be completely obedient and more than anything i want you to baptize. I want you to have success. Elder Ellis i am making a promise for you. If you fulfill with the Goals we have set. I Promise you that you will baptize. Try the Lord! Be obedient and watch the blessings. Once you do it the whole mission will want to follow."
We have got our contacts since then and will continue to get them. He talked to me about just not letting myself be a person i don't want to be. I want to be a person that has success and as well one that is obedient so i am going to get my contacts to the best of my ability for the rest of my mission. There is no reason not to. I get scared typing it to you becuase what if i don't do it. BUT NO i want to do it. I will do it!
Woohoo! Missionary work is awesome!
We have about 3 great families right now that could really progress here soon.
But yeah i need to get off! Love You!
November 2, 2009
This week was great! we had another run in with a group of Adventists and handled it much better. Instead of argueing i tried to help him realize that everyone thinks their way of interpreting the Bible is correct. He wouldn't agree saying he has the truth and the scriptures prove it. There was a huge difference. Between my purpose and his purpose. Between the way we went about it and the way he went about it. From the moment he started he talked about the ten commandments and how it says that even the smallest commandments are important. showing us that if we worship on a day other than what it says in the Bible we are worshipping the devil. We were trying to help him understand where the book of mormon came from and inviting him to read it. He just immediately shut it down. Saying he wouldn't waste his time reading something written by Joseph Smith. So we just left it at that and walked out. We did waste our time there. but instead of argueing with his points i agreed with most of them becuase they were true. but i also invited him to think of it from a different point of view. we continued talking and since then i have tried to really not waste my time. Asking people to be honest with us and tell us if they would like to hear or not.
Aside from that we had a great opportunity this week to see the answers of our heavenly father. We had service planned and received a call to find out that the person we were going to do service for was going to the doctor. We decide to go do our backup service and needed string and gasoline for the weedwacker. We went and on the way it started to pour. We said a prayer asking it to stop. As we walked out of the store the rain was gone. The sky still just as grey but not raining at all. Then as we started to work the clouds all disolved and we were able to serve this Brother. Then we went home cleaned up and started to proselyte and the rains started again.
The Lord answers Prayers!
Last night as well we had a great lesson with a family we found a few weeks ago. We have tried to teach them several times. but they always call and cancel but we finally got to talk to them. We started just talking to them and they asked if we wanted anything to drink he offered coffee and she replied "they don't drink coffee, right?" we agreed and started to talk about the Word of Wisdom. We taught them each part and they agreed completely with it. She said she was listening to the radio and heard that if your body hurts or you have headaches when you stop drinking or eating something it means it isn't good for you. She mentioned when she has tried to quit drinking coffee and now knowing god doesn't want us to do it she has more motivation. She encouraged her husband to read the book of mormon (he doesn't like to read) and then at the end without us saying a think they said they were coming to our church next week! Woohoo! and then they invited us over for Dinner! WoohoO!
No more accidents in cars or with machetes for now but im sure you'll hear more before christmas. Now is when people start to paint their houses. so cutting bushes down and many more service projects. =) no...
This week as well we went to talk with a girl that we had taught a few times. She always has like popcorn questions. Just random and pop out of no where. But we went by and her mom was fingering through the book of mormon we left with her. We decided to invite her to listen as well. She stayed and we taught the restoration. In preach my gospel it tells us the importance of using scriptures. Saying it is VITAL. and that the more we use them the more the spirit can be there and the more comfortable the investigator will feel to ask questions and come to church. So we used many scriptures and she started asking us good questions. then asked us why Joseph smith Never appears in the Bible. we explained that it is really just a test of Humility and Faith. If God were to tell us there would be a Joseph smith to come. Where would our faith be. and How many Fake Joseph Smiths would arise. We need to be humble and Ask him.
She understood and said. "Thats the only way i get by in life. I ask God in everything. I will read and ask him if it is true!" She was very humble and i hope and pray that she has recognized and recieved her answer.
So i give candy to the Kids at church if they can tell me an article of faith or quote another scripture. they all come up trying to tell me the Ten commandments or genesis 1:1 they don't say them right and get frustrated when i ask them where they are. I think this week instead of Candy i am going to give them Article of faith cards. so they can start learning them. =) They really attacked me. 4 kids on jumping on my back another pulling my tie another reaching in my pockets and another kicking my shins. AAAAAAHHHHHHH! Kids and Candy don't Mix!
Here the members think its a big sin celebrating Halloween. and a lady in a contact asked us if we celebrate it. we answered well back home its much different. and she quickly replied "But its a pagan holiday" i didn't know what to say.
What does pagan mean? I looked and never found any scriptures saying we can't celebrate holidays.
That was my week.
Well i am learning a ton. Not perfect by working hard. and today we are going Crabbing! Different way of doing it. but yeah! WOohoO!
Aside from that we had a great opportunity this week to see the answers of our heavenly father. We had service planned and received a call to find out that the person we were going to do service for was going to the doctor. We decide to go do our backup service and needed string and gasoline for the weedwacker. We went and on the way it started to pour. We said a prayer asking it to stop. As we walked out of the store the rain was gone. The sky still just as grey but not raining at all. Then as we started to work the clouds all disolved and we were able to serve this Brother. Then we went home cleaned up and started to proselyte and the rains started again.
The Lord answers Prayers!
Last night as well we had a great lesson with a family we found a few weeks ago. We have tried to teach them several times. but they always call and cancel but we finally got to talk to them. We started just talking to them and they asked if we wanted anything to drink he offered coffee and she replied "they don't drink coffee, right?" we agreed and started to talk about the Word of Wisdom. We taught them each part and they agreed completely with it. She said she was listening to the radio and heard that if your body hurts or you have headaches when you stop drinking or eating something it means it isn't good for you. She mentioned when she has tried to quit drinking coffee and now knowing god doesn't want us to do it she has more motivation. She encouraged her husband to read the book of mormon (he doesn't like to read) and then at the end without us saying a think they said they were coming to our church next week! Woohoo! and then they invited us over for Dinner! WoohoO!
No more accidents in cars or with machetes for now but im sure you'll hear more before christmas. Now is when people start to paint their houses. so cutting bushes down and many more service projects. =) no...
This week as well we went to talk with a girl that we had taught a few times. She always has like popcorn questions. Just random and pop out of no where. But we went by and her mom was fingering through the book of mormon we left with her. We decided to invite her to listen as well. She stayed and we taught the restoration. In preach my gospel it tells us the importance of using scriptures. Saying it is VITAL. and that the more we use them the more the spirit can be there and the more comfortable the investigator will feel to ask questions and come to church. So we used many scriptures and she started asking us good questions. then asked us why Joseph smith Never appears in the Bible. we explained that it is really just a test of Humility and Faith. If God were to tell us there would be a Joseph smith to come. Where would our faith be. and How many Fake Joseph Smiths would arise. We need to be humble and Ask him.
She understood and said. "Thats the only way i get by in life. I ask God in everything. I will read and ask him if it is true!" She was very humble and i hope and pray that she has recognized and recieved her answer.
So i give candy to the Kids at church if they can tell me an article of faith or quote another scripture. they all come up trying to tell me the Ten commandments or genesis 1:1 they don't say them right and get frustrated when i ask them where they are. I think this week instead of Candy i am going to give them Article of faith cards. so they can start learning them. =) They really attacked me. 4 kids on jumping on my back another pulling my tie another reaching in my pockets and another kicking my shins. AAAAAAHHHHHHH! Kids and Candy don't Mix!
Here the members think its a big sin celebrating Halloween. and a lady in a contact asked us if we celebrate it. we answered well back home its much different. and she quickly replied "But its a pagan holiday" i didn't know what to say.
What does pagan mean? I looked and never found any scriptures saying we can't celebrate holidays.
That was my week.
Well i am learning a ton. Not perfect by working hard. and today we are going Crabbing! Different way of doing it. but yeah! WOohoO!
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