WOW.....this is quite possibly Elder Aaron Ellis' last email home before he arrives in person!!! We are so excited!!!!
Well, here's the letter:
So this week was another good one like all the weeks of being a missionary. We had the Baptism of Francisco Garrastegui.
He is a member that was baptized many many years ago but all of his information is missing. The missionaries have been working on finding it or figuring out what to do for the last year. and Nothing. so i was tired of it and we made the arrangements and did everything to get him baptized and we did it. My clothes finally came out of the bag. Because he's about my size and he needed clothes. =) They got wet.
Then the next day we had a talk with the mom of our investigator Francisco. He is a great guy that we are teaching. Four years ago he lost his son and job and many other things all at the same time and from that time forward he has been kind of crazy. He understands well and is a great guy just has some nervous ticks. Their are some members that think he doesn't need baptism but we went through the Church handbook with the branch president and he said that he feels we should baptize him he has been coming for the last few months. I was tired of waiting on others to do their job so we scheduled everything and set his baptism up for this Saturday. He is pretty funny and i will tell you more about him when i get home. But he asked that i baptize him. So i will be performing the first baptism outside of the temple in my mission. Woohoo! Cool experience. I am very grateful for my companion. I would have been completely fine with someone else baptizing him. We sat down with him and asked who he wanted to baptize him and he said that he wanted it to be one of us two. my companion then said. Elder Ellis deserves to have this experience because he is going home next week. My companion is a good kid. He's got his quirks but he is a good Elder. We have the interview for tomorrow and then at three the last baptism of my mission. on my last Saturday of the mission! Awesome! so this transfer we doubled my baptisms that i have up to now received. That's hoping that everything goes well.
Shoes.... So my Hush puppies have lasted the whole mission. but this last week. the side just blew out. so i went and bought some 10 dollar shoes. The shoes lasted for a week and then blew out even worse than my others. I had some super glue and tried it on my hush puppies. WORKED! Whoohoo! so I'm still going in my hush puppies. They have lasted almost every day of my mission. Very few times did i wear the others i sent home. I didn't like the style and weren't as comfortable to walk in as the hush puppies.
I was able to buy two hammocks yesterday for the price of one. the man saying i was getting a good deal but i got it about normal pricing. and bought some other little puerto Rico memorabilia (sp?) and will buy some more this next week. i don't know how much time i will have next week because they haven't giving me any information. I did hear that we will receive the opportunity to go to El Morro. So i will have some good meditation time there.
I haven't been able to sleep very well lately due to anxiety and my face is breaking out a little. i am mostly nervous about work when i get back. I don't know what to do. But i am working hard and not "slackening my hand."
I have actually made a goal to read the book of Mormon again before i finish. WHOOOOOO Hard. I am finishing Jacob right now. that so much reading for me. I read so slow. but i am doing it. I need to read to Alma 30 by the end of the week. and then before next Thursday somehow read all the way to the end. I will do it. I am learning a lot.
But also we had a conversation with a member and he said that we had mentioned something that wasn't doctrine. We looked it up and studied it and in 15 minutes found the answer and learned so much more as a companionship. It was a great learning opportunity.
Well see you soon. if i don't write next week i will see you and tell you many more adventures. =)
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September 1, 2010
I have been praying since I started the mission that a hurricane would hit so I could do service. =) HAHAHAHA. It was only about 4 hours that it hit here. Very strong wind. The cell phone service was very weird. I believe it was because of the cloud cover. But Awesome! I got a video of some of it. Awesome. Right when the big winds started. I hope the one from Africa comes up here too. =) that would be awesome. I was so excited when we got the tail end of Earl. AWESOME!!! Trees flying all over the place and breaking and falling and rain like crazy. It is an awesome experience. Now if Fiona hits we will be out of power for almost 2 weeks. The rest of my mission. =) If I come home stinky. Please still love me.
All the houses are made of cement and our house has a house on top of it. So the winds would blow or neighbors away before it blows us away. =) it’s really just awesome that’s the only word I can put to it. As we walk down the streets we pick up branches in the road. But nothing big. We were talking with the branch president last night and he said the last time the hurricane George hit the missionaries went to clean up and someone called the police saying the Mormons were breaking trees. =) So we are just sticking to simple stuff until it gets worse.
My companion still hasn't come back because of the hurricane so i am still with elder Rivera. He's so trunky and it makes it hard for me to not be trunky. But i am really just trying to work just like any other day.
This last week on Monday we saw a man that we have taught many times before. When we saw him he was smoking and always says Mis hijos Cristo esta conmigo. Ando con cristo como con cristo duermo con cristo. As he was saying that I felt to be honest and tell him the truth.
I mentioned the scripture in Corinthians that our body is a temple for the Holy Ghost and that he could not possibly walk with Christ nor have Christ with him unless he was being obedient to Gods commandments. He said that his faith was different that he believes in a Christ that is merciful and that is always with us to help us. I mentioned that Christ being a perfect resurrected being can only be in places that are clean and only be in places where the hearts are pure. That Christ does love us is merciful but we need to do our part to reach his standard he has set. He looked at me very strangely then my companion opened his mouth and said in a very gringo accent. I cannot speak Spanish very well but Christ did come to this earth. He died for you and as we obey he will forgive our sins. I know that Christ is waiting for you to turn your life around.
He was quiet for a few seconds then said. Wow. This kid spoke the truth.
It was a great learning opportunity of how much I need my companion.
Then we went to the caverns. It took an hour to get there on bike. A lot less than I thought it would. We got there and started talking to a man from Chicago. I heard a thud and looked over to a little girl sitting with a cat on her lap. =) The cat on her lap gave birth to a stillborn so this dead little kitten fell onto the ground and the little girls skirt had blood all over it and she didn't really understand what was going on. Then all these people came and started taking pictures of it. =) Mainly American tourists. It was weid how everyone came to take pictures of it.
But then we got into the caves. Awesome. then as we finished the tour we came out of the caves to get on the trolly and the trolly driver took a curve to fast and the wheel was hanging over a small little cliff. We had to wait about 30 minutes for them to get a mechanic and bring a jack to get us out of the cave... I wanted to go up with my companion and move. It would have been so much easier doing it by hand. Three men could have done it easy.
Then as we all got on and the trolly started driving up the little curvy track the tires started screeching. And we started going backwards. The people got really scared because we were going backwards towards the cliff. =) And the man started yelling DONT HIT THE GAS JUST LEAVE THE BRAKE ON. So he stopped and then we all got off and started walking. Then we finally got to a flat area we all boarded again and started, the tires still screeching but we made it slowly. Then we rode our bikes back and were laughing the whole way for what had happened. Then we showered and went out to go work and heard some music. And then looked to where the music was coming from. We saw a Gordita on her second story balcony shaking trying to dance to the music. It was hilarious. Again we started laughing up a storm.
Then on Sunday night we were walking and a car stopped and waved for us to come over. A family from Tennessee. Great people. They said they had talked to the missionaries there in Tennessee and would love for us to visit them. We went over and on the way we got hit with the front of the hurricane. BAM! Rain pouring. We got soaked in seconds and kept walking. Walking almost a mile in pouring rain. Cars swerving into puddles to get us wet. =) then we arrived dripping wet and started to talk with them. They have been investigators for three years. but haven’t been baptized because they aren't married. Their daughter was baptized when she was eight but they aren't. We talked about obedience to Gods commandments. She said that they have learned a lot on this trip. She got dengue fever. Lost her wallet and so couldn't return without her license. Waiting for a new license her husband lost his Job, their son stepped on some glass and cut his foot open. and so they have had much time to think and were talking because they saw us walking one day and wanted to talk to us so turned around to follow us and we had entered the post office to get my package and couldn't find us. Then Sunday night they saw us again. Great lesson. We invited them to not ask when they should get married or if they should but rather to have the strength to do it. Then we invited them to go to church this Sunday when they get back in Tennessee. They promised they will. They testified of how much their lives have changed as members of the church. They hadn't been going for six months and a ton of things have happened. They promised they will go.
Then they offered us a ride and so in the car we kept talking and he called his bishop. He promised the bishop he will go to church. And he said. Bishop, things are turning around, we are going to come back to church and we will start to do things right.
AWESOME experience. I more than anything am excited to come back to my culture. Come back to my people and teach the Gospel amongst my brethren. I Love my country I love my people more than anything. I Love these people but nothing replaces home.
I am excited to keep working and keep having great experiences.
I Love you all! "Cuidesen" that is how the puerto ricans say it but in spanish its cuiden se
All the houses are made of cement and our house has a house on top of it. So the winds would blow or neighbors away before it blows us away. =) it’s really just awesome that’s the only word I can put to it. As we walk down the streets we pick up branches in the road. But nothing big. We were talking with the branch president last night and he said the last time the hurricane George hit the missionaries went to clean up and someone called the police saying the Mormons were breaking trees. =) So we are just sticking to simple stuff until it gets worse.
My companion still hasn't come back because of the hurricane so i am still with elder Rivera. He's so trunky and it makes it hard for me to not be trunky. But i am really just trying to work just like any other day.
This last week on Monday we saw a man that we have taught many times before. When we saw him he was smoking and always says Mis hijos Cristo esta conmigo. Ando con cristo como con cristo duermo con cristo. As he was saying that I felt to be honest and tell him the truth.
I mentioned the scripture in Corinthians that our body is a temple for the Holy Ghost and that he could not possibly walk with Christ nor have Christ with him unless he was being obedient to Gods commandments. He said that his faith was different that he believes in a Christ that is merciful and that is always with us to help us. I mentioned that Christ being a perfect resurrected being can only be in places that are clean and only be in places where the hearts are pure. That Christ does love us is merciful but we need to do our part to reach his standard he has set. He looked at me very strangely then my companion opened his mouth and said in a very gringo accent. I cannot speak Spanish very well but Christ did come to this earth. He died for you and as we obey he will forgive our sins. I know that Christ is waiting for you to turn your life around.
He was quiet for a few seconds then said. Wow. This kid spoke the truth.
It was a great learning opportunity of how much I need my companion.
Then we went to the caverns. It took an hour to get there on bike. A lot less than I thought it would. We got there and started talking to a man from Chicago. I heard a thud and looked over to a little girl sitting with a cat on her lap. =) The cat on her lap gave birth to a stillborn so this dead little kitten fell onto the ground and the little girls skirt had blood all over it and she didn't really understand what was going on. Then all these people came and started taking pictures of it. =) Mainly American tourists. It was weid how everyone came to take pictures of it.
But then we got into the caves. Awesome. then as we finished the tour we came out of the caves to get on the trolly and the trolly driver took a curve to fast and the wheel was hanging over a small little cliff. We had to wait about 30 minutes for them to get a mechanic and bring a jack to get us out of the cave... I wanted to go up with my companion and move. It would have been so much easier doing it by hand. Three men could have done it easy.
Then as we all got on and the trolly started driving up the little curvy track the tires started screeching. And we started going backwards. The people got really scared because we were going backwards towards the cliff. =) And the man started yelling DONT HIT THE GAS JUST LEAVE THE BRAKE ON. So he stopped and then we all got off and started walking. Then we finally got to a flat area we all boarded again and started, the tires still screeching but we made it slowly. Then we rode our bikes back and were laughing the whole way for what had happened. Then we showered and went out to go work and heard some music. And then looked to where the music was coming from. We saw a Gordita on her second story balcony shaking trying to dance to the music. It was hilarious. Again we started laughing up a storm.
Then on Sunday night we were walking and a car stopped and waved for us to come over. A family from Tennessee. Great people. They said they had talked to the missionaries there in Tennessee and would love for us to visit them. We went over and on the way we got hit with the front of the hurricane. BAM! Rain pouring. We got soaked in seconds and kept walking. Walking almost a mile in pouring rain. Cars swerving into puddles to get us wet. =) then we arrived dripping wet and started to talk with them. They have been investigators for three years. but haven’t been baptized because they aren't married. Their daughter was baptized when she was eight but they aren't. We talked about obedience to Gods commandments. She said that they have learned a lot on this trip. She got dengue fever. Lost her wallet and so couldn't return without her license. Waiting for a new license her husband lost his Job, their son stepped on some glass and cut his foot open. and so they have had much time to think and were talking because they saw us walking one day and wanted to talk to us so turned around to follow us and we had entered the post office to get my package and couldn't find us. Then Sunday night they saw us again. Great lesson. We invited them to not ask when they should get married or if they should but rather to have the strength to do it. Then we invited them to go to church this Sunday when they get back in Tennessee. They promised they will. They testified of how much their lives have changed as members of the church. They hadn't been going for six months and a ton of things have happened. They promised they will go.
Then they offered us a ride and so in the car we kept talking and he called his bishop. He promised the bishop he will go to church. And he said. Bishop, things are turning around, we are going to come back to church and we will start to do things right.
AWESOME experience. I more than anything am excited to come back to my culture. Come back to my people and teach the Gospel amongst my brethren. I Love my country I love my people more than anything. I Love these people but nothing replaces home.
I am excited to keep working and keep having great experiences.
I Love you all! "Cuidesen" that is how the puerto ricans say it but in spanish its cuiden se
August 25, 2010
so. This week. Interesting.
Since friday we went saturday to Mayaguez to listen to Elder Anderson of the 70 he talked a lot about how the Carribean presidency letter that was sent out stating that missionaries in this area are going to need to elevate their spiritual level and obedience higher than we have ever raised it before. saying that this area the missionaries need to think of themselves as more than Baptizers and Temporary visitors but a part of the branch and a key role in the growth and strengthening of the branch that we go to. I have felt for a while that that is really my mission here. As i helped Ramonita in vega baja return after 25 years out of the church and here from other elders that she is stil attending. knowing that Brother linares who as well hadn't been to church in years came back and now all go to church. Doing service for Roberto who as well hadn't come to church visiting him regularly trying to help him leave the alcohol and many other things that destroyed his life. Hes now coming to church starting the sunday i left vega baja hasn't missed hardley any sundays. Here in Lares a return missionary that hasn't come to church in more than 5 months and has promised us he will come to church this week and next. In arecibo helping recent converts continue strong and continue teaching them till they went to the temple. in San nicolas 5 of the previous investigators i had found and taught have been baptized. In curacao teaching sister Rincon to prepare and not lose hope to be baptized when the opportunity allows. Helping Yenny come to the waters of baptism and see her be baptized.
I have not seen a whole lot of direct successes but i know my work has been of great benefit. I have two baptisms in which i saw them get baptized. My white clothes have stayed in their bag since the DR but i consider my mission a great time of learning and growth. as i have mentioned many times before i feel as though i have extended my family throughout the world. As preach my Gospel says in the very beginning the Restored Gospel is the only thing that will bring peace to different nations and will bring all races and cultures into unity of faith. I know that to be true.
I am now with Elder Rivera. He ends with me. we are two old stinky missionaries and president sent him here so we can help get a young man on a mission. That is our purpose in this next week do everything possible to help him realize the importance of the mission. We went to aguadilla the other day and had district meeting with President and the assistants. I dont know if i agree with all that was said and expressed and i will explain more after the mission. but i am more than willing to be obedient and continue striving and giving more and more of what i have making myself tired and wearing myself out in the service of the Lord.
I am very grateful for this change becuase i have learned a lot. The ways of president Alvarado are a little different but i will be obedient.
we had a great meeting with the branch president yesterday. we showed him the sheets that came out last year about new converts and recent converts the action list of their progress. We are going to start working harder on this. I really want to leave this area as i feel i have left all of my others. I honestly feel i have help people come back and helped them in many ways.
Since friday we went saturday to Mayaguez to listen to Elder Anderson of the 70 he talked a lot about how the Carribean presidency letter that was sent out stating that missionaries in this area are going to need to elevate their spiritual level and obedience higher than we have ever raised it before. saying that this area the missionaries need to think of themselves as more than Baptizers and Temporary visitors but a part of the branch and a key role in the growth and strengthening of the branch that we go to. I have felt for a while that that is really my mission here. As i helped Ramonita in vega baja return after 25 years out of the church and here from other elders that she is stil attending. knowing that Brother linares who as well hadn't been to church in years came back and now all go to church. Doing service for Roberto who as well hadn't come to church visiting him regularly trying to help him leave the alcohol and many other things that destroyed his life. Hes now coming to church starting the sunday i left vega baja hasn't missed hardley any sundays. Here in Lares a return missionary that hasn't come to church in more than 5 months and has promised us he will come to church this week and next. In arecibo helping recent converts continue strong and continue teaching them till they went to the temple. in San nicolas 5 of the previous investigators i had found and taught have been baptized. In curacao teaching sister Rincon to prepare and not lose hope to be baptized when the opportunity allows. Helping Yenny come to the waters of baptism and see her be baptized.
I have not seen a whole lot of direct successes but i know my work has been of great benefit. I have two baptisms in which i saw them get baptized. My white clothes have stayed in their bag since the DR but i consider my mission a great time of learning and growth. as i have mentioned many times before i feel as though i have extended my family throughout the world. As preach my Gospel says in the very beginning the Restored Gospel is the only thing that will bring peace to different nations and will bring all races and cultures into unity of faith. I know that to be true.
I am now with Elder Rivera. He ends with me. we are two old stinky missionaries and president sent him here so we can help get a young man on a mission. That is our purpose in this next week do everything possible to help him realize the importance of the mission. We went to aguadilla the other day and had district meeting with President and the assistants. I dont know if i agree with all that was said and expressed and i will explain more after the mission. but i am more than willing to be obedient and continue striving and giving more and more of what i have making myself tired and wearing myself out in the service of the Lord.
I am very grateful for this change becuase i have learned a lot. The ways of president Alvarado are a little different but i will be obedient.
we had a great meeting with the branch president yesterday. we showed him the sheets that came out last year about new converts and recent converts the action list of their progress. We are going to start working harder on this. I really want to leave this area as i feel i have left all of my others. I honestly feel i have help people come back and helped them in many ways.
August 18, 2010
To all who follow these weekly letters of Elder Aaron Ellis: Just want you to know that today we received Elder Ellis' itinerary for his return home.
Wow!!! These 2 years have really flown by but we cannot wait for him to come back home!
Aaron arrives on Thursday September 16th at the Portland International Airport at 6:41pm via Delta airlines. You are welcome to come greet him at the airport with us if you feel so inclined.
Wow!!! These 2 years have really flown by but we cannot wait for him to come back home!
Aaron arrives on Thursday September 16th at the Portland International Airport at 6:41pm via Delta airlines. You are welcome to come greet him at the airport with us if you feel so inclined.
August 18, 2010
This fabulous week
Well. Since last Wednesday after we finished with our email and other p-day activities we started our ride out for San Sab. San Sebastian. We rode our bikes all the way from here to there then got a taxi then from there we went down to Aguada. When i got there i wanted so bad to go see Madeline one my first baptisms in my mission. We did. I put my hand out and she hit it out of the way and gave me a big hug. It was great to see her. But as we walked into her house her boyfriend walked out saying. I go to one church and I won’t confuse myself, and left in a very angry mood. I was shocked and immediately knew why she wasn't going to church anymore. We talked and she was pretty defensive and one of the Aguada Elders there said something that kind of offended her and it made me a little frustrated I only wanted her to feel the Spirit testify of what she needed to do. I invited her to read the Book of Mormon and she said she couldn't make that promise to me. It made me very sad. Then Thursday we were at Ponce and met with president and elder Vinas of the seventy. Great meeting that testified of things I had earlier mentioned to my zone leaders. I felt that they were kind of micromanaging the work. They had different ideas then Elder Vinas explained it very clearly and to me i got the answer.
Then yesterday we had district meeting it went well. Then after last night the Zone leaders called me and elder Knudsen told me that while they were in district meeting they were surprised because many of the points I was bringing up they had just heard from Elder Vinas and they asked each other wait a second did we share that with him yet? How does he know that?
It was a good moment helping me feel like a successful missionary.
Sorry we are going to the Mayaguez Zoo today. Woohoo!
No time.
Well. Since last Wednesday after we finished with our email and other p-day activities we started our ride out for San Sab. San Sebastian. We rode our bikes all the way from here to there then got a taxi then from there we went down to Aguada. When i got there i wanted so bad to go see Madeline one my first baptisms in my mission. We did. I put my hand out and she hit it out of the way and gave me a big hug. It was great to see her. But as we walked into her house her boyfriend walked out saying. I go to one church and I won’t confuse myself, and left in a very angry mood. I was shocked and immediately knew why she wasn't going to church anymore. We talked and she was pretty defensive and one of the Aguada Elders there said something that kind of offended her and it made me a little frustrated I only wanted her to feel the Spirit testify of what she needed to do. I invited her to read the Book of Mormon and she said she couldn't make that promise to me. It made me very sad. Then Thursday we were at Ponce and met with president and elder Vinas of the seventy. Great meeting that testified of things I had earlier mentioned to my zone leaders. I felt that they were kind of micromanaging the work. They had different ideas then Elder Vinas explained it very clearly and to me i got the answer.
Then yesterday we had district meeting it went well. Then after last night the Zone leaders called me and elder Knudsen told me that while they were in district meeting they were surprised because many of the points I was bringing up they had just heard from Elder Vinas and they asked each other wait a second did we share that with him yet? How does he know that?
It was a good moment helping me feel like a successful missionary.
Sorry we are going to the Mayaguez Zoo today. Woohoo!
No time.
August 11, 2010
SO this last week much time was spent on a special assignment from president. We were told by president to wake up early in the morning and talk to people taking their kids to school. They were all in their cars and we didn't really see much success. They just all dropped their kids off and yeah. But something we did do was split up with some young men in our branch. i went with the younger one and my companion went with the older one. It was a great learning experience for both of them and the older one told us yesterday. "you guys were right its so much better to share the gospel with friends. They understand you better and listen better" YEAH that was awesome to hear. I hope he takes us to more friends. While i was with the younger one. He just didn't really understand our purpose as missionaries and we started to tok. =) he got tired fast and would sit down while i was talking to people or walk around the street and it made it hard for the people to pay attention to us. so i decided it wasn't the most effective method. We saw an old lady and normally i ask if we can enter and talk to them. This time i just went in. and sat down. He didn't know that that wasn't normal. so he just followed me. We sang for her and talked a little. She didn't really understand. So i asked her a question about prayer. She said don't you think God has so many people to listen to that he wont listen to me. in that very moment i felt such a strong confirmation that GOD LISTENS TO ALL PRAYERS. no matter how pretty how simple how extravagant. I know he listens. and i testified to her that i know that God loves her. i testified that what she was feeling was God telling her of his love for her. as we left she said. God does listen to our prayers doesn't he. nice old lady. don't know how much she understood nor cared but i felt like she learned something and i know the young man learned something as well.
President came to our area and talked about the young men needing to be the ones who pass and bless and prepare the sacrament. That same week i had told them in a fireside that we wont have missionaries leaving from this branch until the Aaronic priesthood performs their duties that the lord has trusted them with. it was a great fireside and the members liked it. But then president Alvarado said the exact same thing when he came. It was great.
Yesterday as we passed by that young mans house he said. I have been assigned to bless the bread each week. =) IT is awesome. It made me so happy on Sunday to see them fulfilling with their responsibilities. They were all their preparing and they did everything. There is a lot for them to learn as youth but it has begun. What a great joy it is to work with youth.
So we were contacting on Wednesday and ran into a less active here in Lares. He went on his mission and came home early and was very active for a while then something happened and has stopped coming. We saw him and talked to him and i asked him about his testimony of the Book of Mormon. he said i have one but it will be gone soon. we told him how sad that made us but just kept talking to him. asking him about his mission and he loved telling us all about his stories and experiences. He also told us that he was writing a book. as he explained to us the plot of the story it seemed very similar to the book of Mormon and i told him that and he said. well i guess i cant leave all things. I told him i would love to see him come back to church and he said he will before i leave. Asked some questions about temples and masons. I was grateful that i had learned a little more about them and about Joseph smith being one and was able to help him understand the process of revelation. He told us he will come back. It was great. i told my companion that it totally reminded me of the song How to save a life. the story behind that song is fabulous. I invite you to look for it online and watch it. The story behind how to save a life.
they talk about how you just need to be a friend.
Then this week i read a quote by Joseph smith saying that we need to reach out to people and just help them. Not judge them. just like the phrase. They don't care how much you know till they know how much you care.
That was a great experience.
We also made some delicious pizza. While we were haciendo compras last week i asked my companion elder do you have pizza sauce. he said yeah there is some in the house. we got home and when i went to make the pizza. NADA. so we made it with BBQ sauce. it turned out alright. it tasted good. =) well
i love you and hope you have a great week.
President came to our area and talked about the young men needing to be the ones who pass and bless and prepare the sacrament. That same week i had told them in a fireside that we wont have missionaries leaving from this branch until the Aaronic priesthood performs their duties that the lord has trusted them with. it was a great fireside and the members liked it. But then president Alvarado said the exact same thing when he came. It was great.
Yesterday as we passed by that young mans house he said. I have been assigned to bless the bread each week. =) IT is awesome. It made me so happy on Sunday to see them fulfilling with their responsibilities. They were all their preparing and they did everything. There is a lot for them to learn as youth but it has begun. What a great joy it is to work with youth.
So we were contacting on Wednesday and ran into a less active here in Lares. He went on his mission and came home early and was very active for a while then something happened and has stopped coming. We saw him and talked to him and i asked him about his testimony of the Book of Mormon. he said i have one but it will be gone soon. we told him how sad that made us but just kept talking to him. asking him about his mission and he loved telling us all about his stories and experiences. He also told us that he was writing a book. as he explained to us the plot of the story it seemed very similar to the book of Mormon and i told him that and he said. well i guess i cant leave all things. I told him i would love to see him come back to church and he said he will before i leave. Asked some questions about temples and masons. I was grateful that i had learned a little more about them and about Joseph smith being one and was able to help him understand the process of revelation. He told us he will come back. It was great. i told my companion that it totally reminded me of the song How to save a life. the story behind that song is fabulous. I invite you to look for it online and watch it. The story behind how to save a life.
they talk about how you just need to be a friend.
Then this week i read a quote by Joseph smith saying that we need to reach out to people and just help them. Not judge them. just like the phrase. They don't care how much you know till they know how much you care.
That was a great experience.
We also made some delicious pizza. While we were haciendo compras last week i asked my companion elder do you have pizza sauce. he said yeah there is some in the house. we got home and when i went to make the pizza. NADA. so we made it with BBQ sauce. it turned out alright. it tasted good. =) well
i love you and hope you have a great week.
August 3, 2010
As we look through and study the points of focus and doctrine that they taught to us i am seeing and know that the lord guides this work. I have felt many times that he really is directing us here.
Last night i was contemplating my mission and how little i have understood till now and how little i still understand. and how much different my mission would have been if i would have learned and payed more attention at the beginning. I was thinking about the idea of asking to extend to be able to prove myself or make up for my faults or something. I thought about the two options ask for an extension or go with what i was given. I began to pray. I asked first about asking for an extension. I felt an uneasy feeling. confused. then i contemplated and asked about following the plan. and i felt peace and felt the confirmation. Throughout the morning preparing for district meeting i was wondering why i had received that answer and almost doubting because i was really feeling like i need to make up for my mistakes. Then in district meeting while sharing my testimony with the other missionaries i received a simple impression and memory about Zions Camp. If they never would have gone against or been brought to an all time low or made mistakes i don't think it would have been the same experience preparing them for the future. My mission is not even close to being a regret. I have worked hard. My mistakes and my weaknesses have prevented me from accomplishing many things here in the mission. But i know that it has been a learning experience and sometimes we need to miss out on blessings to open our eyes. to learn and grow. The tree that suffers the most wind has the deepest roots (or gets blown over =) ).
That simple thought brought peace to my troubled heart. Zions Camp. What a rich piece of history that the lord has blessed us with. I feel like i have passed through this small little part of My own Zions Camp and and striving to get the most out of it. I know this church was organized to make us happy. and i find so much happiness each and every day by learning about the Lord. I am working on my weaknesses striving to be a better missionary and disciple of Christ.
This week we taught the first English class here for them. It went very well but the had a baby shower right after so the didn't let me finish my class. =\ i was bummed.
SO walking all around Lares i have thought and felt. hmmm i must be losing quiet a bit of weight i am sweating more than normal. i was looking all over for a scale. i found like 5 but never had a quarter to us them. I finally in subway for lunch yesterday found one and my companion gave me a quarter. =) i with anticipation emptied my pockets took of my shoes and walked up to the machine. Stood in place deposited the quarter. thinking maybe I'm at around 180 or so. I waited as it told me it was calculating my weight. i thought calculating? is it weighing me in pieces or what? Then finally the weight popped up on the screen...WHAT??? I'm huge. =) i cant keep eating so many carbs and starches. That's all they give us here. Rice and potatoes. rice and beans. rice and this rice and that. rice and bananas. =) no i am not upset at all just now know i am getting more muscular =) i wish. =)
Well that was our week. A lot of learning opportunities. Chuggin along. i bought some new razors =) gillete pro-glide. Whew nice shave.
Last night i was contemplating my mission and how little i have understood till now and how little i still understand. and how much different my mission would have been if i would have learned and payed more attention at the beginning. I was thinking about the idea of asking to extend to be able to prove myself or make up for my faults or something. I thought about the two options ask for an extension or go with what i was given. I began to pray. I asked first about asking for an extension. I felt an uneasy feeling. confused. then i contemplated and asked about following the plan. and i felt peace and felt the confirmation. Throughout the morning preparing for district meeting i was wondering why i had received that answer and almost doubting because i was really feeling like i need to make up for my mistakes. Then in district meeting while sharing my testimony with the other missionaries i received a simple impression and memory about Zions Camp. If they never would have gone against or been brought to an all time low or made mistakes i don't think it would have been the same experience preparing them for the future. My mission is not even close to being a regret. I have worked hard. My mistakes and my weaknesses have prevented me from accomplishing many things here in the mission. But i know that it has been a learning experience and sometimes we need to miss out on blessings to open our eyes. to learn and grow. The tree that suffers the most wind has the deepest roots (or gets blown over =) ).
That simple thought brought peace to my troubled heart. Zions Camp. What a rich piece of history that the lord has blessed us with. I feel like i have passed through this small little part of My own Zions Camp and and striving to get the most out of it. I know this church was organized to make us happy. and i find so much happiness each and every day by learning about the Lord. I am working on my weaknesses striving to be a better missionary and disciple of Christ.
This week we taught the first English class here for them. It went very well but the had a baby shower right after so the didn't let me finish my class. =\ i was bummed.
SO walking all around Lares i have thought and felt. hmmm i must be losing quiet a bit of weight i am sweating more than normal. i was looking all over for a scale. i found like 5 but never had a quarter to us them. I finally in subway for lunch yesterday found one and my companion gave me a quarter. =) i with anticipation emptied my pockets took of my shoes and walked up to the machine. Stood in place deposited the quarter. thinking maybe I'm at around 180 or so. I waited as it told me it was calculating my weight. i thought calculating? is it weighing me in pieces or what? Then finally the weight popped up on the screen...WHAT??? I'm huge. =) i cant keep eating so many carbs and starches. That's all they give us here. Rice and potatoes. rice and beans. rice and this rice and that. rice and bananas. =) no i am not upset at all just now know i am getting more muscular =) i wish. =)
Well that was our week. A lot of learning opportunities. Chuggin along. i bought some new razors =) gillete pro-glide. Whew nice shave.
July 28, 2010
So this week has been quite an interesting one. Yesterday we had our district meeting. I was told to teach all the we learned in the *leadership meeting. It was really good we had some good practices and were able to share our testimonies about the missionary work and how we can improve it each day. Then we went and studied then went to lunch with a member. We had taught this fabulous member. She has been one of the most influential members in the missionary work we ate at her house then talked about who else she knows that could receive the Restored Gospel. She gave us two referrals. Woohoo. Then while we were saying the closing prayer it started to pour. Puerto Ricans don't really like to drive in the rain so we waited it out for about an hour. =\ That's how long it would have taken us to walk back anyway so it was regular. Then we had our regular meetings and everything normal that day.
Then on Monday. We went on a split with two of our recent converts. It was great. i went with Carlos and my companion went with Osvaldo. When we split up almost immediately Carlos got a call from his mom she called him and asked where we were going and then told him she would give us a ride. =\ made it hard for us to talk to people. but i understand the motherly concern of walking uphill for 30 minutes on a small road with a lot of traffic. =) We got there and the person we went to visit wasn't there so we visited someone else. Walking out i felt an impression to go back to the house. I told Carlos. Mira el señor dirige esta obra. Yo siento que necesitamos regresar a su casa. we did and BAM he was there. So we set up an appointment and he was able to see the Joy of being a missionary. The lord does wonderful things to help people stay faithful. Then Sunday we found some great people.
Sorry i was just told that the computer will automatically turn off at 4 and i need to rush through this email. long story short on last Monday i packed my bags to go to Bayamon for our leadership training meeting. we accidentally left the phone at home while we did email. Came back and had 8 missed calls. I called the zone leaders back and they said Elder Ellis. sorry but there's no room for you so you cant come with us. After that it was a very fruitless week and i was kind of upset that i didn't get to go to the training. Nothing really happened last week that was of great notice. But then on Saturday i had a trade-off with the zone leader and he told me as he left President Alvarado told him "i don't know why elder Ellis didn't come but you have 48 hours to train him." gave him a tap on the back of the head and sent him on his way.
So i learned a little bit and the wonderful thing is almost everything they touched on are things that the lord has revealed to me or impressions that i have gotten and put into practice and seen such tremendous blessings from it. Amazing! I love the mission and i love being a member of De Kerk van Jezus Christus Van de Heiligen Der latste Dagen. =) but know that i love you and am working.
My companion on Monday was in a horrible mood. Mad sad and downright uncooperative. Then we started to work and he snapped out of it. WORK WORK WORK there is no satisfactory substitute especially in missionary work.
Then on Monday. We went on a split with two of our recent converts. It was great. i went with Carlos and my companion went with Osvaldo. When we split up almost immediately Carlos got a call from his mom she called him and asked where we were going and then told him she would give us a ride. =\ made it hard for us to talk to people. but i understand the motherly concern of walking uphill for 30 minutes on a small road with a lot of traffic. =) We got there and the person we went to visit wasn't there so we visited someone else. Walking out i felt an impression to go back to the house. I told Carlos. Mira el señor dirige esta obra. Yo siento que necesitamos regresar a su casa. we did and BAM he was there. So we set up an appointment and he was able to see the Joy of being a missionary. The lord does wonderful things to help people stay faithful. Then Sunday we found some great people.
Sorry i was just told that the computer will automatically turn off at 4 and i need to rush through this email. long story short on last Monday i packed my bags to go to Bayamon for our leadership training meeting. we accidentally left the phone at home while we did email. Came back and had 8 missed calls. I called the zone leaders back and they said Elder Ellis. sorry but there's no room for you so you cant come with us. After that it was a very fruitless week and i was kind of upset that i didn't get to go to the training. Nothing really happened last week that was of great notice. But then on Saturday i had a trade-off with the zone leader and he told me as he left President Alvarado told him "i don't know why elder Ellis didn't come but you have 48 hours to train him." gave him a tap on the back of the head and sent him on his way.
So i learned a little bit and the wonderful thing is almost everything they touched on are things that the lord has revealed to me or impressions that i have gotten and put into practice and seen such tremendous blessings from it. Amazing! I love the mission and i love being a member of De Kerk van Jezus Christus Van de Heiligen Der latste Dagen. =) but know that i love you and am working.
My companion on Monday was in a horrible mood. Mad sad and downright uncooperative. Then we started to work and he snapped out of it. WORK WORK WORK there is no satisfactory substitute especially in missionary work.
July 19, 2010
So this week was cool. From wedneday till today. We keep Running around Lares. we had our weekly planning session on thursday taught a good CCM class then went home. Then on friday we taught some good lessons. We also while walking to our house for the night decided to stop and listen to a lady singing in a church. She sang beautifully and then while we were listening we started talking to a man standing outside. We asked him what the beliefs and doctrines of his church were. He mentioned he was a deacon for his church and my companion asked. and what does that mean to you? he answered and said well we are in charge of welcoming people and making sure they feel good. We are there to run errands for the pastor and make sure everything is ready. Then another guy came out. Another deacon and we kept asking them questions. We asked them things such as... "and how is your church organized?" "what is your opinion on the scripture saying that the dispensation of the fullness of times will be opened among the children of men?" What do you think of the role of a prophet is?" and many other questions trying to get him to think. and wonder why we were asking. But we remained obedient and didn't preach... well subtly but not out in the open. He was answering the questions to the best of his ability. he really hadn't studied them and we could tell so it wasn't very fair and we just kept talking in a very respectful manner. Then the pastor walked out. Shook our hands and we talked to him as well. We asked if we could come by his church one day and share with him our beliefs and listen to his beliefs. We would just like to get to know the churches in our neighborhood. He gladly agreed and we said that we would love to but we don't want to bring contention. he agreed and i'm excited to go back.
Then on saturday almost all the day was spent over in Aguadilla. Where i have previously served, while there i was asking the missionaries there if they had visited Madeline. The first baptism of my mission. They said she doesnt go to church anymore and doesn't even answer of return their calls. I was upset and told them to call her. They called and handed me the phone. Immediately she recognized my voice and i asked her why she wasn't going to church and told her how much that hurt me. I set an appointment with her for the elders to go by and visit her. Hung up the phone and yeah. less than 5 minutes. Then while reading in Alma 37 i came accross the scripture in verse six saying by small and simple things are great things brought to pass. I felt so strongly that that call was a small and simple thing. and i hope and pray that it will have helped her realize the error she is making.
The white handbook says we are supposed to receive permission from the mission president to communicate with our recent converts while still in the mission field. needless to say i did not recieve permission from my mission president and am repenting for that. but. President hinckley said that it is our responsibility to help our recent converts in the church and in our judgement we will be held responsible for them.
Then we had interviews with President Alvarado. He said to me twice Elder Be Extactly obedient but dont be a fanatic. ENJOY YOUR MISSION. him and his wife said that and it made me think that i can be more obedient in the small and simple things but i have definitely enjoyed my mission. Its my nature to enjoy what i do. In all cases.
Then after interviews we were supposed to drive to mayaguez to go to the centro americano games. to find families. While we were waiting for orders there was a tornado that hit the games stadium and a tower supposedly fell and there was a big mess. So we went on sunday 3 hours talking to people, a lot of people dressed immodestly and a lot of people drinking. Not sure it if it was super effective but we fulfilled with what we were asked to do. Woohoo!
That was our week. from wednesday until today. Then today i read an email, stating Tom Dijkoff whom Elder Zenger and I found was supposed to be baptized yesterday. =) thats two since i left that i taught and one more that will be baptized soon.
Then on saturday almost all the day was spent over in Aguadilla. Where i have previously served, while there i was asking the missionaries there if they had visited Madeline. The first baptism of my mission. They said she doesnt go to church anymore and doesn't even answer of return their calls. I was upset and told them to call her. They called and handed me the phone. Immediately she recognized my voice and i asked her why she wasn't going to church and told her how much that hurt me. I set an appointment with her for the elders to go by and visit her. Hung up the phone and yeah. less than 5 minutes. Then while reading in Alma 37 i came accross the scripture in verse six saying by small and simple things are great things brought to pass. I felt so strongly that that call was a small and simple thing. and i hope and pray that it will have helped her realize the error she is making.
The white handbook says we are supposed to receive permission from the mission president to communicate with our recent converts while still in the mission field. needless to say i did not recieve permission from my mission president and am repenting for that. but. President hinckley said that it is our responsibility to help our recent converts in the church and in our judgement we will be held responsible for them.
Then we had interviews with President Alvarado. He said to me twice Elder Be Extactly obedient but dont be a fanatic. ENJOY YOUR MISSION. him and his wife said that and it made me think that i can be more obedient in the small and simple things but i have definitely enjoyed my mission. Its my nature to enjoy what i do. In all cases.
Then after interviews we were supposed to drive to mayaguez to go to the centro americano games. to find families. While we were waiting for orders there was a tornado that hit the games stadium and a tower supposedly fell and there was a big mess. So we went on sunday 3 hours talking to people, a lot of people dressed immodestly and a lot of people drinking. Not sure it if it was super effective but we fulfilled with what we were asked to do. Woohoo!
That was our week. from wednesday until today. Then today i read an email, stating Tom Dijkoff whom Elder Zenger and I found was supposed to be baptized yesterday. =) thats two since i left that i taught and one more that will be baptized soon.
July 14, 2010
So... The letters reflect how i feel the day that i write them.
My great companion gets down on himself alot. He knows he doesn't speak spanish well amidst many other things he is dealing with and so he usually just gets depressed. I thinks it good he's my companion becuase i dont really get depressed. Most of the time i am pretty happy and last night. I wanted to Run home. 1 becuase we were a little late. and two i have just felt like running a lot lately. Why walk when running is faster. I sweat a ton anyway so that doesn't make a difference. So i started to run then after a little while i noticed he was still walking. He really didn't want to run. so i started walking. Then we were going up a big hill. and i still just wanted to run so i was doing high knees up the hill. It felt great. Then it started to pour So i was doing high knees up the hill in the rain stomping in all the puddles. Making my companion a little more impatient. Then we got home (we were on time even though we didn't run) the zone leaders called and asked to talk to him. He was telling them how his day was and he said his day wasn't good becuase he knew he could have done more. So i tried to brighten his night up by being a normal retard throwing my nice new beach ball around jumping up and off things in our house and blowing my conch shell. =) I think it helped a little. But
Today the sisters last week were emergency transfered out of Lares. so there are no more sisters and this morning we rode our bikes to the grocery store. It was fun. I liked it. The whole ride was down hill all the way home. Great! I got these Damprid things that they sell. They suck up the moisture and make it so my books and clothes don't get moldy. I am excited. PRETZEL M&M's ARE DELICIOUS! Thank you!!! i have placed two poppits on the toilet seat. =) Grand Fun that package is.
Spiritual side.
We had a great district meeting that taught me alot of trusting more in my companion. I realized i was starting to fall into another routine of talking a lot because its harder and slower for him to spit it out. But i need to trust in the holy ghost and really realized that he has been called here by the Lord to preach the gospel just as much as i have. I need to give him the same opportunity to fulfill with his calling.
but i realized something this morning in the Grocery store. i need to go grocery shopping with potential Novias. He is so slow... XP
on monday we went teaching with a recent convert Carlos. While we were out with him we were talking about him going on a mission because he was baptized a month ago and is 18 turns 19 next june. He is a fabulous young man. We went to another young man recent convert less actives house and watched on the way home. The person didn't have a remote control so we played it in english and i translated again in spanish. Ugh. =) it turned out interesting. The less active recent convert we were visiting got a phone call at the beginning of the video. It was his girlfriend and he was outside on the phone with her the whole time. It made me very sad. Teenage relationships really are dañinas. He is another one we are trying to prepare for a mission. ...we will see. some days he's way for it others its on the back burner.
We continued with carlos to our family home evening we had planned. We had planned to watch the same video with them. They fed us some delicous food. and carlos was talking with them the whole time. Great. he was talking and talking and talking. then he invited them to church before we even started teaching. Then we started watching the video and then family started talking and didn't even know what was going on. They talked through the whole thing.
When we had left he had invited them to church about 4 times. Fabulous missionary! That same night we were with him a car had rolled off the side of the curb. So we helped them push it back. Then there was a nice old lady that when we pass her house we usually sing for her. This time while passing by we were distracted and forgot to stop. as we walked by she came out "Hey Hey" we turned and saw her and felt bad we had just walked on by. So we ran back and sang for her. It felt great. and especially becuase he was able to see some of the small reasons why i love being a missionary. Our Time is dedicated to helping people. What a great blessing. Then we were walking by a bar. and his dad was in the bar. he came out and gave carlos a hug and shook our hands. It made me very sad to see carlos look at his drunken Father. almost in embarassment. he bought us water then told us "my son tells me that he wants to go to utah to be like you. I dont know about that. If the Lord wants him there i guess he can go"
Earlier we had a fabulous talk with his mom and told her that She has to let her son go on a mission, that their fmaily needs the blesings and the Lord needs the humble servants especially like her son.
She loves him very much becuase he really is a special son to them. He is obedient and loves to serve people. He was just like an immediate friend when i got here. and i told that to her and that God has given him that gift to bring people into the Gospel. Hes a great young man. Honestly felt like a brother the first time and continued till now. He is one of the most responsible youth i have met. Fabulous missionary.
His mom cares about him so much she called him 4 times in our appointment. Here the cultures is when a phone rings people answer it. so he got up and left 4 times. i wanted to tell her. You're sons with two Strippling Warriors ;) dont worry. =)
Mom i would appreciate it if you could write a letter to his mom. I will translate it. But a letter about the importance of him serving a mission. Mom to Mom. Heart to Heart. i would greatly appreciate it.
That was the majority of our week. just walking and talking a lot. I wish i had a scale to see how much i weigh now. we'll have to see when i get home. i am still Chunky Feliz
Carlos' little brother Abraham calls me Gordito. litteraly translated a little fat.
This is a great area. I can't believe today is the halfway mark of this transfer. my second to last is winding down.
Well i love you!
My great companion gets down on himself alot. He knows he doesn't speak spanish well amidst many other things he is dealing with and so he usually just gets depressed. I thinks it good he's my companion becuase i dont really get depressed. Most of the time i am pretty happy and last night. I wanted to Run home. 1 becuase we were a little late. and two i have just felt like running a lot lately. Why walk when running is faster. I sweat a ton anyway so that doesn't make a difference. So i started to run then after a little while i noticed he was still walking. He really didn't want to run. so i started walking. Then we were going up a big hill. and i still just wanted to run so i was doing high knees up the hill. It felt great. Then it started to pour So i was doing high knees up the hill in the rain stomping in all the puddles. Making my companion a little more impatient. Then we got home (we were on time even though we didn't run) the zone leaders called and asked to talk to him. He was telling them how his day was and he said his day wasn't good becuase he knew he could have done more. So i tried to brighten his night up by being a normal retard throwing my nice new beach ball around jumping up and off things in our house and blowing my conch shell. =) I think it helped a little. But
Today the sisters last week were emergency transfered out of Lares. so there are no more sisters and this morning we rode our bikes to the grocery store. It was fun. I liked it. The whole ride was down hill all the way home. Great! I got these Damprid things that they sell. They suck up the moisture and make it so my books and clothes don't get moldy. I am excited. PRETZEL M&M's ARE DELICIOUS! Thank you!!! i have placed two poppits on the toilet seat. =) Grand Fun that package is.
Spiritual side.
We had a great district meeting that taught me alot of trusting more in my companion. I realized i was starting to fall into another routine of talking a lot because its harder and slower for him to spit it out. But i need to trust in the holy ghost and really realized that he has been called here by the Lord to preach the gospel just as much as i have. I need to give him the same opportunity to fulfill with his calling.
but i realized something this morning in the Grocery store. i need to go grocery shopping with potential Novias. He is so slow... XP
on monday we went teaching with a recent convert Carlos. While we were out with him we were talking about him going on a mission because he was baptized a month ago and is 18 turns 19 next june. He is a fabulous young man. We went to another young man recent convert less actives house and watched on the way home. The person didn't have a remote control so we played it in english and i translated again in spanish. Ugh. =) it turned out interesting. The less active recent convert we were visiting got a phone call at the beginning of the video. It was his girlfriend and he was outside on the phone with her the whole time. It made me very sad. Teenage relationships really are dañinas. He is another one we are trying to prepare for a mission. ...we will see. some days he's way for it others its on the back burner.
We continued with carlos to our family home evening we had planned. We had planned to watch the same video with them. They fed us some delicous food. and carlos was talking with them the whole time. Great. he was talking and talking and talking. then he invited them to church before we even started teaching. Then we started watching the video and then family started talking and didn't even know what was going on. They talked through the whole thing.
When we had left he had invited them to church about 4 times. Fabulous missionary! That same night we were with him a car had rolled off the side of the curb. So we helped them push it back. Then there was a nice old lady that when we pass her house we usually sing for her. This time while passing by we were distracted and forgot to stop. as we walked by she came out "Hey Hey" we turned and saw her and felt bad we had just walked on by. So we ran back and sang for her. It felt great. and especially becuase he was able to see some of the small reasons why i love being a missionary. Our Time is dedicated to helping people. What a great blessing. Then we were walking by a bar. and his dad was in the bar. he came out and gave carlos a hug and shook our hands. It made me very sad to see carlos look at his drunken Father. almost in embarassment. he bought us water then told us "my son tells me that he wants to go to utah to be like you. I dont know about that. If the Lord wants him there i guess he can go"
Earlier we had a fabulous talk with his mom and told her that She has to let her son go on a mission, that their fmaily needs the blesings and the Lord needs the humble servants especially like her son.
She loves him very much becuase he really is a special son to them. He is obedient and loves to serve people. He was just like an immediate friend when i got here. and i told that to her and that God has given him that gift to bring people into the Gospel. Hes a great young man. Honestly felt like a brother the first time and continued till now. He is one of the most responsible youth i have met. Fabulous missionary.
His mom cares about him so much she called him 4 times in our appointment. Here the cultures is when a phone rings people answer it. so he got up and left 4 times. i wanted to tell her. You're sons with two Strippling Warriors ;) dont worry. =)
Mom i would appreciate it if you could write a letter to his mom. I will translate it. But a letter about the importance of him serving a mission. Mom to Mom. Heart to Heart. i would greatly appreciate it.
That was the majority of our week. just walking and talking a lot. I wish i had a scale to see how much i weigh now. we'll have to see when i get home. i am still Chunky Feliz
Carlos' little brother Abraham calls me Gordito. litteraly translated a little fat.
This is a great area. I can't believe today is the halfway mark of this transfer. my second to last is winding down.
Well i love you!
July 7, 2010
So this week.
Erika before i forget. We recieved a new mission president and he scheduled a meeting that we had to leave at 4 in the morning to get to. We got there and it was the Joining of the two puerto rico missions. I walked in and shook hands with a few people and kept walking then heard "elder wait a second. Come back here" i had no idea who was talking to me i turned around with wide eyes and there was a sister that pulled on my suit and said. "What was your last name???" she pulled the lapel of my suit to see my tag and then Said Erika's little brother. I talked to you at BYU-I and know your sister. She lived right next to me." Her name is sister Skout. i believe. You might find her on facebook if you dont know her by her last name. She said to say hi to you.
So in that meeting which was on friday. We met president alvarado who used to be an area general authority in the Caribbean. He talked about family. There is an elder that started his mission at the same time as his sister. He was in the West mission she was in the east mission. They said goodbye with a handshake in the Airport in Puerto rico. as they then left to go to their separate missions. Well on friday they saw each other for the first time. President Alvarado told them to come up to the front and he talked about the importance of family. then said. These are the only two missionaries who are authorized to do this in the mission. But Give each other a hug! They hugged for a long time making everyone else really jealous. Then he continued saying everytime you meet each other i hope that you would do it in this same way.
He talked alot about how we need to be a family here in puerto rico. There is no longer an east and west mission. BUT a puerto rico mission. He is convinced that this opening of the line is preparation for a temple in Puerto Rico.
Then him and his family (wife and three kids (16, 11, 9)) sang us a song and then we all went up to shake hands with them. Sister Alvarado is a very nice Puerto Rican full of love lady. then i shook hands with president Alvarado and he just said Hello elder and let go. Didn't even look me in the eyes. we went through the meeting and i learned a lot. He had tons of great greeny fire. He was pumped and it felt great with that many missionaries whew. Good feelings. Like the MTC again. Then at the end as we all walked out he shook everyones hand again. i noticed with some missionaries he would put his arm around them or ask them some questions. and again he just shook my hand and moved on to the other elders. Just didn't feel too accepted. But i'm looking forward to my first interview with him which will be a great opportunity to get to know him a little better.
He said that P-day will be every Wednesdays. So for the next however many weeks it is every wednesday.
This area is good, great recent converts. No investigators. and one thing that president said which is a little different was... "Get to know the people be their friends. Know their families then you'll have success." I have been trying to apply it and the contacts we make are so much better. It feels good.
We are walking all over. My face is getting a little skinnier. My belly...uh maybe not. Latin culture is so much different. People comment on you being fat very openly. They say things like you just need to lose a little weight and you'll look great!
There is a lady who they call tita. She looks a little like you mom and she said your double says hi. =)
Well that was my week. My comp's a nerd. but hes funny. we're so different in so many ways. He takes forever to do things. I eat a plate in about 5-10 minutes and he takes almost 45. so i have plenty of time to meditate. study or nap while he's eating lunch.
I LOVE THE BOOK OF MORMON. i am so grateful for what it has done to me. What a precious gift God has given us. This morning i read about the Zoramites. How they got up on the rameumptum. I had always heard Mom and Dad say that as a kid. But never knew what it meant. =) I learned this morning.
This time reading the book of mormon i am putting a lot more attention to each part i read and i love it. i am learning so much!
Well take care my dear family.
i didn't get the package yet because i'm in the mountains but it should come this week. My birthday was another day. No calls from any of my leaders not even the sisters in our district. My companion got me a dollar harmonica. to go wtih my conch shell. =) and that was about it. But it didn't bother me at all. just another birthday on the mission. the best birthday present will be about two months late. =)
Erika before i forget. We recieved a new mission president and he scheduled a meeting that we had to leave at 4 in the morning to get to. We got there and it was the Joining of the two puerto rico missions. I walked in and shook hands with a few people and kept walking then heard "elder wait a second. Come back here" i had no idea who was talking to me i turned around with wide eyes and there was a sister that pulled on my suit and said. "What was your last name???" she pulled the lapel of my suit to see my tag and then Said Erika's little brother. I talked to you at BYU-I and know your sister. She lived right next to me." Her name is sister Skout. i believe. You might find her on facebook if you dont know her by her last name. She said to say hi to you.
So in that meeting which was on friday. We met president alvarado who used to be an area general authority in the Caribbean. He talked about family. There is an elder that started his mission at the same time as his sister. He was in the West mission she was in the east mission. They said goodbye with a handshake in the Airport in Puerto rico. as they then left to go to their separate missions. Well on friday they saw each other for the first time. President Alvarado told them to come up to the front and he talked about the importance of family. then said. These are the only two missionaries who are authorized to do this in the mission. But Give each other a hug! They hugged for a long time making everyone else really jealous. Then he continued saying everytime you meet each other i hope that you would do it in this same way.
He talked alot about how we need to be a family here in puerto rico. There is no longer an east and west mission. BUT a puerto rico mission. He is convinced that this opening of the line is preparation for a temple in Puerto Rico.
Then him and his family (wife and three kids (16, 11, 9)) sang us a song and then we all went up to shake hands with them. Sister Alvarado is a very nice Puerto Rican full of love lady. then i shook hands with president Alvarado and he just said Hello elder and let go. Didn't even look me in the eyes. we went through the meeting and i learned a lot. He had tons of great greeny fire. He was pumped and it felt great with that many missionaries whew. Good feelings. Like the MTC again. Then at the end as we all walked out he shook everyones hand again. i noticed with some missionaries he would put his arm around them or ask them some questions. and again he just shook my hand and moved on to the other elders. Just didn't feel too accepted. But i'm looking forward to my first interview with him which will be a great opportunity to get to know him a little better.
He said that P-day will be every Wednesdays. So for the next however many weeks it is every wednesday.
This area is good, great recent converts. No investigators. and one thing that president said which is a little different was... "Get to know the people be their friends. Know their families then you'll have success." I have been trying to apply it and the contacts we make are so much better. It feels good.
We are walking all over. My face is getting a little skinnier. My belly...uh maybe not. Latin culture is so much different. People comment on you being fat very openly. They say things like you just need to lose a little weight and you'll look great!
There is a lady who they call tita. She looks a little like you mom and she said your double says hi. =)
Well that was my week. My comp's a nerd. but hes funny. we're so different in so many ways. He takes forever to do things. I eat a plate in about 5-10 minutes and he takes almost 45. so i have plenty of time to meditate. study or nap while he's eating lunch.
I LOVE THE BOOK OF MORMON. i am so grateful for what it has done to me. What a precious gift God has given us. This morning i read about the Zoramites. How they got up on the rameumptum. I had always heard Mom and Dad say that as a kid. But never knew what it meant. =) I learned this morning.
This time reading the book of mormon i am putting a lot more attention to each part i read and i love it. i am learning so much!
Well take care my dear family.
i didn't get the package yet because i'm in the mountains but it should come this week. My birthday was another day. No calls from any of my leaders not even the sisters in our district. My companion got me a dollar harmonica. to go wtih my conch shell. =) and that was about it. But it didn't bother me at all. just another birthday on the mission. the best birthday present will be about two months late. =)
June 28, 2010
Well i am on foot and bike. in the mountains. Rains every day between 2-4 HOURS.
President and Sister Martineau keep saying this will be the best part of my mission and that it will be the icing on my mission.
I left aruba. i bought a new carryon which ended up costing me 11 dollars and i saved 40 on overweight charges because flight between islands allow half the normal US weight standards. As i left i really felt like i was leaving my area in great condition. With several great investigators and great friendships with members and a strong english class that elder Zenger and Lopez and i had set up. It felt great leaving but then as i got to my area. Diarrhea struck one of the few times on the mission. and the humidity of puerto rico seems so much worse than i remembered. My bed is moist when i get in it at night. My towel never completely dries unless i leave it in the sun. Then i realized that we dont even live in our area. We have to walk down a huge hill to get to our area. Meaning later throughout the day we have a nice walk up. =) i will hopefully lose a little weight. Then on sunday we had a district conference with president martineau. I cried through the majority of it. Felt like a baby. It was just a really emotional meeting for me for some reason. President and sister martineau talked for their last time. and they sang a song that they have sung several times "follow the light" i think it was partly missing being in san nicolas. What a great area with great people it is. coming to rain. and a little bit of reflection on the lack of time i have left. It makes me happy to go home but just fear and sadness to leave these beautiful people. It just was too much for me that day.
I did however get to see many of the members with whom i started the mission. Some didn't remember me some did and gave me hugs immediately. it was great. Then we went home and ate.... My companion is a great guy but very slow and just without pep in his step nor contacts. He eats slower than molasis. I eat and then still have time to take a half hour nap or shower or study or do a load of laundry. =) he says he doesn't like to be rushed. I respect it. =)
Then this morning we went grocery shopping and because of all the Airport tax and everything i didn't have as much as i had written down. Same problem that i had with keybank where they overdrafted me for money that i had. but becuase the comuter hasn't caught up to the actual funds i could only spend 12 dollars on my gorceries. That was after getting 40 dollars worth. Kind of embarassing but the lady was really nice about it. =)
Now i am in the internet place it costs 5 dollars an hour. Nitido. =) All i can really do is smile. and just laugh at all that is happening. being rained on so much and climbing little hills all day long. Fun two transfers these will be.
Well cuidense y hasta la proxima...
i probably wont be writing till next wednesday. Becuase of 4th of July i believe.
Almost 21 crazy
President and Sister Martineau keep saying this will be the best part of my mission and that it will be the icing on my mission.
I left aruba. i bought a new carryon which ended up costing me 11 dollars and i saved 40 on overweight charges because flight between islands allow half the normal US weight standards. As i left i really felt like i was leaving my area in great condition. With several great investigators and great friendships with members and a strong english class that elder Zenger and Lopez and i had set up. It felt great leaving but then as i got to my area. Diarrhea struck one of the few times on the mission. and the humidity of puerto rico seems so much worse than i remembered. My bed is moist when i get in it at night. My towel never completely dries unless i leave it in the sun. Then i realized that we dont even live in our area. We have to walk down a huge hill to get to our area. Meaning later throughout the day we have a nice walk up. =) i will hopefully lose a little weight. Then on sunday we had a district conference with president martineau. I cried through the majority of it. Felt like a baby. It was just a really emotional meeting for me for some reason. President and sister martineau talked for their last time. and they sang a song that they have sung several times "follow the light" i think it was partly missing being in san nicolas. What a great area with great people it is. coming to rain. and a little bit of reflection on the lack of time i have left. It makes me happy to go home but just fear and sadness to leave these beautiful people. It just was too much for me that day.
I did however get to see many of the members with whom i started the mission. Some didn't remember me some did and gave me hugs immediately. it was great. Then we went home and ate.... My companion is a great guy but very slow and just without pep in his step nor contacts. He eats slower than molasis. I eat and then still have time to take a half hour nap or shower or study or do a load of laundry. =) he says he doesn't like to be rushed. I respect it. =)
Then this morning we went grocery shopping and because of all the Airport tax and everything i didn't have as much as i had written down. Same problem that i had with keybank where they overdrafted me for money that i had. but becuase the comuter hasn't caught up to the actual funds i could only spend 12 dollars on my gorceries. That was after getting 40 dollars worth. Kind of embarassing but the lady was really nice about it. =)
Now i am in the internet place it costs 5 dollars an hour. Nitido. =) All i can really do is smile. and just laugh at all that is happening. being rained on so much and climbing little hills all day long. Fun two transfers these will be.
Well cuidense y hasta la proxima...
i probably wont be writing till next wednesday. Becuase of 4th of July i believe.
Almost 21 crazy
June 22, 2010
President buckley is a funny guy. This morning i woke up with a huge zit on my nose. and we went to president buckleys to do our laundry and he walks out and starts singing Rudolph the Red Nose Reigndeer. I told him thats what you used to tell me. and he started laughing and said he wants to meet you. He says. Yo dad seems like a coo cat man.
So this week we also had a great time listening to president martineau yesterday. He did our last interviews and i was the last misisonary that president martineau has and will interview in his time as mission president. Then he sat us all down for our death talk. and Started saying. "what is one rule as a missionary that will make your life miserable if you continue to live it after the mission?"
We thought a little and i said coming home by 9:00 another elder said 140 contacts a week. another said 12 hours of finding time. And all were pretty funny but then president said "you guys are beating around the bush" Then he told us when we finish our missions we need to flirt again. Said It is your Priesthood responsibilty to find a Worthy daughter of God and Marry her in the temple. Then talked about 5 things that if we live them we will never fall away. Starting with Prayer. Scripture Study. Journal Keeping. Understanding and participating in the Sacrament weekly. Temple attendance. But it was great. This week i also read one of the Liahonas and it came with the world wide leadership training of 2008. It talks so much about families. That we are never to put that off. Not put it off for School not put it off for a car not put it off for anything. Then it talks about how having children shouldn't be put off for anything either. and we need the faith to have them not have them becuase we can but becuase its a commandment of God. i think i want like 20 kids. =) no my trunky reading aside we also have had a great week of success.
We talked to anamilena and i had left her with three chapters to read. Turns out she read the wrong chapters becuase i wrote it a little unorganized. Instead of reading 1 nephi Chapter 8 she read 3 nephi chapter 8. Instead of reading 1 nephi chapter 13 page 27 she read 3 nephi chapter 13 verse 27 on to the end. Really strengthening her faith in tithing. It was a fabulous cita with her. Then the next day at church She wanted to get up and so she stood up in Gospel principles and said that she was so grateful that i came here and i may not see her be baptized but she will do it. She someday down the road will send me pictures of her baptism. My companion shared with her about procrastinating the day of her repentance and she put her face in her hands and said "this is speaking to me" She knows what she needs to do and now its just getting the faith to do it. Fabulous.
we also started teaching a great lady named candy who came to church this sunday and just cried the whole time. She loved it and is so excited to change her life. She said that she is very upset that i am leaving too.
I really dont like recieving attention. i wish they wouldn't do it in front of people. in church especially. We are there to worship God and remember his servants but Christ is the main focus and i dont like it when it Leaves that topic. My homecoming talk (not that i have been thinking much about it because i haven't but it wont be about my mission it wont be about the experiences i had but will be just like the talks i give here. No different. talk about experiences can be after. they really can wait. Especially in sacrament meeting. it seems absurd to listen to the prayers of the sacrament then talk about one and their accomplishments.
What a great little place San Nicolas is. I know a lot of people here and i am sad to leave. president assured me that these last two transfers will be the best and pass faster than i can imagine.
I am heading to Lares, Puerto Rico. with a companion that will be a great learning experience. Im excited.
Love you All
So this week we also had a great time listening to president martineau yesterday. He did our last interviews and i was the last misisonary that president martineau has and will interview in his time as mission president. Then he sat us all down for our death talk. and Started saying. "what is one rule as a missionary that will make your life miserable if you continue to live it after the mission?"
We thought a little and i said coming home by 9:00 another elder said 140 contacts a week. another said 12 hours of finding time. And all were pretty funny but then president said "you guys are beating around the bush" Then he told us when we finish our missions we need to flirt again. Said It is your Priesthood responsibilty to find a Worthy daughter of God and Marry her in the temple. Then talked about 5 things that if we live them we will never fall away. Starting with Prayer. Scripture Study. Journal Keeping. Understanding and participating in the Sacrament weekly. Temple attendance. But it was great. This week i also read one of the Liahonas and it came with the world wide leadership training of 2008. It talks so much about families. That we are never to put that off. Not put it off for School not put it off for a car not put it off for anything. Then it talks about how having children shouldn't be put off for anything either. and we need the faith to have them not have them becuase we can but becuase its a commandment of God. i think i want like 20 kids. =) no my trunky reading aside we also have had a great week of success.
We talked to anamilena and i had left her with three chapters to read. Turns out she read the wrong chapters becuase i wrote it a little unorganized. Instead of reading 1 nephi Chapter 8 she read 3 nephi chapter 8. Instead of reading 1 nephi chapter 13 page 27 she read 3 nephi chapter 13 verse 27 on to the end. Really strengthening her faith in tithing. It was a fabulous cita with her. Then the next day at church She wanted to get up and so she stood up in Gospel principles and said that she was so grateful that i came here and i may not see her be baptized but she will do it. She someday down the road will send me pictures of her baptism. My companion shared with her about procrastinating the day of her repentance and she put her face in her hands and said "this is speaking to me" She knows what she needs to do and now its just getting the faith to do it. Fabulous.
we also started teaching a great lady named candy who came to church this sunday and just cried the whole time. She loved it and is so excited to change her life. She said that she is very upset that i am leaving too.
I really dont like recieving attention. i wish they wouldn't do it in front of people. in church especially. We are there to worship God and remember his servants but Christ is the main focus and i dont like it when it Leaves that topic. My homecoming talk (not that i have been thinking much about it because i haven't but it wont be about my mission it wont be about the experiences i had but will be just like the talks i give here. No different. talk about experiences can be after. they really can wait. Especially in sacrament meeting. it seems absurd to listen to the prayers of the sacrament then talk about one and their accomplishments.
What a great little place San Nicolas is. I know a lot of people here and i am sad to leave. president assured me that these last two transfers will be the best and pass faster than i can imagine.
I am heading to Lares, Puerto Rico. with a companion that will be a great learning experience. Im excited.
Love you All
Jue 14, 2010
It was another great week as a servant of the Lord. Keith and Anamilena decided on the 26th of June to be baptized. We asked in church if they would be willing to do it on the 21st becuase president Martineau and his wife will be here, and she said: Well we will go discuss it and pray about it, and let you know on monday evening. so we are pumped to go over there. I was so excited to be able to come down here to aruba and to stay for the rest of my mission mainly because ever since i was young and saw movies like Jonny Lingo and The other side of Heaven, i thought it would be awesome to baptize someone in the Ocean. It would be a wonderful little tender mercy to see it happen with Keith and Anamilena. Another wonderful thing is Tom and older man we are teaching decided on a date to be baptized and he kept it a secret telling only president Buckley. It is very exciting that he wants to be baptized as well. His wife not so much be He is going strong.
So i called one of the other elders here to see if president had given any more information out. and i heard some new news. At first when i heard from elder Roggeman i was upset because he told me i was going back to Puerto Rico. i Love aruba! I really do. This really is my favorite area of my mission. so far. But then after a few moments of thinking i realized i will love my new area as well. i will Serve the Lord with the Same Love that i have the last few years! Great Expereinces lie behind and ahead and i will still Love being a missionary! I have no idea where i am going to be sent. But i have such a different attitude right now. I have learned a lot in this stay here in the Islands. I obviously know there are times i could have done things better but i have a condifence in the Beautiful scriptures found in 2 nephi Chapter 28 stating how we learn and how the Lord gives us. These last Two years. (there are still 3 months) Have been the Greatest learning opportunity of my life. I have learned about people i have learned languages i have gained great friendships. but one of my Favorite things that i have learned is that the people the the Lord has put into my path have "breathed easier" I have heard of so many people that have continued after we left the Area or to come back to this area and see member Going strong. I know that through the Power of God we have accomplished many things. Me with my personality being the Crazy person i am. and my companions. Being the skeptics of my strange attitude, and with their own strange habits. But that is the Beauty of life. None of us are the same. Each person has their way. Each person sees through a different pair of Glasses. What great work it is to spend two years trying to look into those people and help them understand a message that will change their lives. I am eternally Grateful.
We visited the Adventist Church this last week. Quite funny experience. We showed up and they greeted us and everything. Then went through the service. Started by electing people. Not by spirit or revelation at all but in a democratic way of doing it. Just voting on people. Then we had Sabbath school. NOT Sunday School but Sabbath School. it was good. The Teacher wasn't prepared. and the students the members just started arguing. one with another. There were about 6 different groups for sabbath school. and as i looked around at all of them there were people arguing in each one. Wether it was the teacher or students. Then for the final part (3 hour service) they started out saying Welcome to our visitors today. and they asked the visitors to stand up. so we stood. then everyone gave us a "Wave of Welcome" and as they did we looked around. The only two white people in the Whole congregation of about 150 and the only visitors that day. so we just stand up two Nerdly White Smile clad Kids waving at all our black brothers and sisters. =) Quite the experience. They were very nice people. Good message too. Lack of Inspiration and Revelation.
That was our week in a nutshell. I have been kind of sick this week. and we are painting our apartment.
By the way two weeks ago president buckley told me to Say hello to you but i forgot. HELLO ELLIS FAMILY! from president Buckley
Love You!
So i called one of the other elders here to see if president had given any more information out. and i heard some new news. At first when i heard from elder Roggeman i was upset because he told me i was going back to Puerto Rico. i Love aruba! I really do. This really is my favorite area of my mission. so far. But then after a few moments of thinking i realized i will love my new area as well. i will Serve the Lord with the Same Love that i have the last few years! Great Expereinces lie behind and ahead and i will still Love being a missionary! I have no idea where i am going to be sent. But i have such a different attitude right now. I have learned a lot in this stay here in the Islands. I obviously know there are times i could have done things better but i have a condifence in the Beautiful scriptures found in 2 nephi Chapter 28 stating how we learn and how the Lord gives us. These last Two years. (there are still 3 months) Have been the Greatest learning opportunity of my life. I have learned about people i have learned languages i have gained great friendships. but one of my Favorite things that i have learned is that the people the the Lord has put into my path have "breathed easier" I have heard of so many people that have continued after we left the Area or to come back to this area and see member Going strong. I know that through the Power of God we have accomplished many things. Me with my personality being the Crazy person i am. and my companions. Being the skeptics of my strange attitude, and with their own strange habits. But that is the Beauty of life. None of us are the same. Each person has their way. Each person sees through a different pair of Glasses. What great work it is to spend two years trying to look into those people and help them understand a message that will change their lives. I am eternally Grateful.
We visited the Adventist Church this last week. Quite funny experience. We showed up and they greeted us and everything. Then went through the service. Started by electing people. Not by spirit or revelation at all but in a democratic way of doing it. Just voting on people. Then we had Sabbath school. NOT Sunday School but Sabbath School. it was good. The Teacher wasn't prepared. and the students the members just started arguing. one with another. There were about 6 different groups for sabbath school. and as i looked around at all of them there were people arguing in each one. Wether it was the teacher or students. Then for the final part (3 hour service) they started out saying Welcome to our visitors today. and they asked the visitors to stand up. so we stood. then everyone gave us a "Wave of Welcome" and as they did we looked around. The only two white people in the Whole congregation of about 150 and the only visitors that day. so we just stand up two Nerdly White Smile clad Kids waving at all our black brothers and sisters. =) Quite the experience. They were very nice people. Good message too. Lack of Inspiration and Revelation.
That was our week in a nutshell. I have been kind of sick this week. and we are painting our apartment.
By the way two weeks ago president buckley told me to Say hello to you but i forgot. HELLO ELLIS FAMILY! from president Buckley
Love You!
June 7, 2010
so this week we had for the First time in history 50 people in church! What a great blessing it was. We had 4 people in church too! That is awesome. i know my companion was sent here to teach me a few things and to help this area. That is awesome.
So this morning when we went to do laundry at president buckley house he lit fireworks to "celebrate 50" He even had us plant a papaya tree to remind him of 50. and everytime he eats a papaya and it drips down his face he will remember Elder Ellis and Elder Lopez. =) the fireworks weren't just any fireworks. Things that make a lot of noise. Cherry Bombs Mortars and tons (a whole box) of fire crackers. it was so loud all the car alarms on the street went off. it was hilarious. and he did it in his backyard. =) funny funny funny.
This week has been great and i am really feeling much better and trying to put into practice what we talked about in District meeting. We had Anamilena come with Fitzgerald to church this week. She is doing great! She still loves everything and said that again coming to church she just felt a peace. A love and a feeling she wishes could be with her always. As for Tom and sixta, he came this week but told us. Now i can't come to church every week but i have enjoyed these last two weeks coming to learn with you. He said that he feels a great friendship with the other members.
But Mainly we are just trying to keep going strong and i am so grateful to know what the spirit feels like. now its a matter of better knowing when to open my mouth. Its a funny process the process of learning. We do things and notice reactions but the real difficulty is taking the reaciton as your main goal and only doing things that help you in achieving that goal or reaction. What an adventure this has been it really scares me that there is so little left. I really enjoy meeting with people and seeing the changes in their lives and the light in their eyes. as they learn and grow in this Wonderful Gospel. What a blessing it has been. i am eternally Grateful to have been born into the family i have. Great experiences that have helped me become the person i am. Weak and helpless as i sometimes feel i also feel that i am learning and progressing line upon line and precept upon precept.
i have had quite an interesting week. Not a lot has happened since wednesday untill now. Supposedley while translating yesterday in church i said something completely wrong and my companion made fun of me for it. but he didn't even remember what it was that i said. He said my spanish was perfect but i said something that was false doctrine. Saying something about the bible being incorrect or something. The mouth just went a little too fast for the brain in that one i guess. or maybe the other way around. =) he was laughing for a while. We're finally painting the pink apartment. We got the paint last week and today we are going to paint it. =) Woohoo!
My watch broke. the band just completely broke into pieces. so i took it to a watch store and they put a new band on for 10 flourins. $5.55. Woohoo! i went a week without a watch and it was horrible we were late for everything.
So also about the immigration. President martineau called me on thursday night and said "elder ellis your going to go where the lord wants you. If you dont get more days in aruba you will be taken early to the Dominican republic and finish your mission there." as i heard that i was way excited! almost to the point that i wanted to purposely mess up my immigration. =) but no i am going to go apply today becuase we just got our tickets and everything.
One of the greatest spiritual experiences this week was when we had a tradeoff on monday and we had three elders in our car for the District meeting. We went to visit a recent convert and we sang Brillan Rayos de Clemencia. dont remember the name in english. But we sang that, the 5 of us and we all sang the different parts. IT WAS AWESOME! so powerful! the spirit was way strong then while trying to think of what to share with her, the story of Nephi came to mind. We needed to share about the word of wisdom with her and i had no idea what to share. I started without knowing what to share and just started reading how nephi entered the house Furtivamente. Not knowing beforehand what he should do. as he went up to Laban SHABAM drunk man on the ground weak and vulnerable to whatever may threaten his life. all the sudden the word of wisdom tied in so greatly. It was a great lesson and she understood perfectly. I love finding new ways to use the same stories. I think i have used that one story of nephi in a different way in every transfer of my mission! What a great learning opportunity for all of us.
Well i love You all! Take care and will write you in a short week!
So this morning when we went to do laundry at president buckley house he lit fireworks to "celebrate 50" He even had us plant a papaya tree to remind him of 50. and everytime he eats a papaya and it drips down his face he will remember Elder Ellis and Elder Lopez. =) the fireworks weren't just any fireworks. Things that make a lot of noise. Cherry Bombs Mortars and tons (a whole box) of fire crackers. it was so loud all the car alarms on the street went off. it was hilarious. and he did it in his backyard. =) funny funny funny.
This week has been great and i am really feeling much better and trying to put into practice what we talked about in District meeting. We had Anamilena come with Fitzgerald to church this week. She is doing great! She still loves everything and said that again coming to church she just felt a peace. A love and a feeling she wishes could be with her always. As for Tom and sixta, he came this week but told us. Now i can't come to church every week but i have enjoyed these last two weeks coming to learn with you. He said that he feels a great friendship with the other members.
But Mainly we are just trying to keep going strong and i am so grateful to know what the spirit feels like. now its a matter of better knowing when to open my mouth. Its a funny process the process of learning. We do things and notice reactions but the real difficulty is taking the reaciton as your main goal and only doing things that help you in achieving that goal or reaction. What an adventure this has been it really scares me that there is so little left. I really enjoy meeting with people and seeing the changes in their lives and the light in their eyes. as they learn and grow in this Wonderful Gospel. What a blessing it has been. i am eternally Grateful to have been born into the family i have. Great experiences that have helped me become the person i am. Weak and helpless as i sometimes feel i also feel that i am learning and progressing line upon line and precept upon precept.
i have had quite an interesting week. Not a lot has happened since wednesday untill now. Supposedley while translating yesterday in church i said something completely wrong and my companion made fun of me for it. but he didn't even remember what it was that i said. He said my spanish was perfect but i said something that was false doctrine. Saying something about the bible being incorrect or something. The mouth just went a little too fast for the brain in that one i guess. or maybe the other way around. =) he was laughing for a while. We're finally painting the pink apartment. We got the paint last week and today we are going to paint it. =) Woohoo!
My watch broke. the band just completely broke into pieces. so i took it to a watch store and they put a new band on for 10 flourins. $5.55. Woohoo! i went a week without a watch and it was horrible we were late for everything.
So also about the immigration. President martineau called me on thursday night and said "elder ellis your going to go where the lord wants you. If you dont get more days in aruba you will be taken early to the Dominican republic and finish your mission there." as i heard that i was way excited! almost to the point that i wanted to purposely mess up my immigration. =) but no i am going to go apply today becuase we just got our tickets and everything.
One of the greatest spiritual experiences this week was when we had a tradeoff on monday and we had three elders in our car for the District meeting. We went to visit a recent convert and we sang Brillan Rayos de Clemencia. dont remember the name in english. But we sang that, the 5 of us and we all sang the different parts. IT WAS AWESOME! so powerful! the spirit was way strong then while trying to think of what to share with her, the story of Nephi came to mind. We needed to share about the word of wisdom with her and i had no idea what to share. I started without knowing what to share and just started reading how nephi entered the house Furtivamente. Not knowing beforehand what he should do. as he went up to Laban SHABAM drunk man on the ground weak and vulnerable to whatever may threaten his life. all the sudden the word of wisdom tied in so greatly. It was a great lesson and she understood perfectly. I love finding new ways to use the same stories. I think i have used that one story of nephi in a different way in every transfer of my mission! What a great learning opportunity for all of us.
Well i love You all! Take care and will write you in a short week!
June 2, 2010
So sorry i am writing on Wednesday. We had district conference on Monday trade-offs yesterday and then today we finally get P-day.
President called me yesterday and said that if i dont get more immigration days here in Aruba i will be going back to puerto Rico next week. and will no longer be ending in the Santo Domingo mission. So i am going to the immigration office today to try to work everything out. I honestly dont see any problems arising just that it takes a week or two for them to process the extension requests. So i hope president doesn't send me out. i am willing to Go wherever though. I would love to finish here in Aruba but if the Lord needs me back in Puerto Rico. So be it. This week was an awesome week. We had 5 investigators in church Tom and Sixta who are an older couple. They are a fabulous couple He mentions and said in church that every time he went to Colombia and saw the Temple. He was Just amazed. He felt something so different. So President Martineau and President Antivilo (the new president) came and for the last hour just answered questions. Tom asked if it is possible to be attracted to a Mormon temple without being a member. and they answered telling him that God wanted to tell him something and he needed to pray to find what it is. Then Anamilena finally came. and we went to their house with President and Sister Martineau as well. It was great! They are such humble people. We gave her a Liahona Magazine and she loved it! She started reading it and said "This has so much to help us. It talks about being smarter with finances and talks about real life situations." then in church she asked if she could share her testimony in combined.
She said that she felt a great peace in the Church that she had never felt before. She loved how they were talking about their own families and telling their own experiences that they have had. She said that it was a beautiful experience. I just hope they would see that they can bring Fitzgerald. He doesn't need to stay home. at the end of Church sister martineau took a picture and President Martineau leaned over and said. "Elder you've got some good investigators" It was great. we are working hard with them and it is really a pleasure to see them progress and love what we share.
Then in Zone conference we talked about using the Book of Mormon more and it just testified my desire to only use the book of Mormon for the Rest of my mission. President also talked about being pure in heart and of clean hands. It was a great conference and i am already feeling the spirit more strongly as i apply what we talked about. AWESOME!
AMAZING!
ALMOST OVER... =(
i am not even looking at calendars anymore. i dont even like looking for baptismal dates because just a few more clicks and it into September.
I love you all! I am so proud that Hailee was able to go to the temple. What a tremendous blessing.
Hailee are you reading your scriptures every day?
do you still have family prayer and scripture study?
I wish you all the best!
Ku boso por sinti e amor ku ami tin. E ta asina grandi ku si e tabata den un blas e blas lo bai "boooom" asina grand'e ta
President called me yesterday and said that if i dont get more immigration days here in Aruba i will be going back to puerto Rico next week. and will no longer be ending in the Santo Domingo mission. So i am going to the immigration office today to try to work everything out. I honestly dont see any problems arising just that it takes a week or two for them to process the extension requests. So i hope president doesn't send me out. i am willing to Go wherever though. I would love to finish here in Aruba but if the Lord needs me back in Puerto Rico. So be it. This week was an awesome week. We had 5 investigators in church Tom and Sixta who are an older couple. They are a fabulous couple He mentions and said in church that every time he went to Colombia and saw the Temple. He was Just amazed. He felt something so different. So President Martineau and President Antivilo (the new president) came and for the last hour just answered questions. Tom asked if it is possible to be attracted to a Mormon temple without being a member. and they answered telling him that God wanted to tell him something and he needed to pray to find what it is. Then Anamilena finally came. and we went to their house with President and Sister Martineau as well. It was great! They are such humble people. We gave her a Liahona Magazine and she loved it! She started reading it and said "This has so much to help us. It talks about being smarter with finances and talks about real life situations." then in church she asked if she could share her testimony in combined.
She said that she felt a great peace in the Church that she had never felt before. She loved how they were talking about their own families and telling their own experiences that they have had. She said that it was a beautiful experience. I just hope they would see that they can bring Fitzgerald. He doesn't need to stay home. at the end of Church sister martineau took a picture and President Martineau leaned over and said. "Elder you've got some good investigators" It was great. we are working hard with them and it is really a pleasure to see them progress and love what we share.
Then in Zone conference we talked about using the Book of Mormon more and it just testified my desire to only use the book of Mormon for the Rest of my mission. President also talked about being pure in heart and of clean hands. It was a great conference and i am already feeling the spirit more strongly as i apply what we talked about. AWESOME!
AMAZING!
ALMOST OVER... =(
i am not even looking at calendars anymore. i dont even like looking for baptismal dates because just a few more clicks and it into September.
I love you all! I am so proud that Hailee was able to go to the temple. What a tremendous blessing.
Hailee are you reading your scriptures every day?
do you still have family prayer and scripture study?
I wish you all the best!
Ku boso por sinti e amor ku ami tin. E ta asina grandi ku si e tabata den un blas e blas lo bai "boooom" asina grand'e ta
May 24, 2010
Another great week in San Nicolas.
We started teaching a man named Roy a few weeks ago, and this week we set a baptismal date with him. AND he came to church. Its been a while since we had people in church and i have been meditating a lot on it and i think it was just a lack of Bold invitations to repent and follow Gods commandments. Something that i have realized i have never done so well on in my mission. I am still striving more and more to know and have the spirit with us while we teach. Seeking after it so that what we say strikes that familiar chord for them. One person specifically is Anamilena. She is from Colombia and has a 19 year old son who is autistic. We have no idea what to do... She has loved us coming over and mentioned how much she just loves what she feels while we're there. the last contact we made in our finding time a few weeks ago. But her son is getting into an age where the doctors say is hardest for him. They don't really have the facilities here to work with him and so he sits locked up in their house all day. She can't make it out for church. We called her to ask if she could come and i could hear in the background that he was slamming the door over and over. She very flustered answered the phone and quickly hung up. We just really don't quite know what to do. She really wants to come to church because she says she knows she will have a greater peace in her life but she just cannot leave her son with her husband. He also loves what we share and has read a quarter of the Book of Mormon and reads it daily, and so its either one comes and the other stays or they just don't come and its too difficult these days to just have one stay.
I want so badly for them to find a way to come to church a way to better care for him because their interest level is so high. Its just very hard.
Other that that wonderful family we have many other people that we are finding and mainly trying to get them to church.
I am so grateful for all the experiences we have had as missionaries and members of the church. President Buckley is very nervous about Branch conference and it is pretty funny. =) President Martineau and the new president will both be down here and so President Buckley is trying hard to get as many people to come as possible. He says he's losing sleep over it.
Reading about Natalee, was hard. I can't believe she's made it so far. What a trooper. Again the reality of the plan of salvation gives me joy in moments of pain and sadness. Knowing that there is a plan. We taught Keith and Anamilena this week about the plan of salvation and as we got to the end teaching about the Kingdoms. She said. Wait wait wait. So fitzgerald (their son) tendra la misma carita que tiene ahora? y viviremos juntos tambien? as we answered her questions she looked at her husband and tears rolled down her face. It was a moment of complete hope for her. Something that she mentioned no other church had ever shared. She has accepted all in her house looking for answers and has never found them. She received more than she expected by letting us into her house that one rainy day. What a wonderful blessing the plan of salvation is.
There was a senior couple here in our mission that the Wife was having medical problems and while elder Bednar was here for a conference she asked him for a blessing. He asked her before he blessed her. "do you have the faith not to be healed?" somewhat perplexed by the question then after understanding what he meant she accepted.
I loved this last general conference message by Dallin H Oaks. "Our family's faith is in Jesus Christ and is not dependent on outcomes."
What a great statement.
I know Jesus Christ Lives!
We started teaching a man named Roy a few weeks ago, and this week we set a baptismal date with him. AND he came to church. Its been a while since we had people in church and i have been meditating a lot on it and i think it was just a lack of Bold invitations to repent and follow Gods commandments. Something that i have realized i have never done so well on in my mission. I am still striving more and more to know and have the spirit with us while we teach. Seeking after it so that what we say strikes that familiar chord for them. One person specifically is Anamilena. She is from Colombia and has a 19 year old son who is autistic. We have no idea what to do... She has loved us coming over and mentioned how much she just loves what she feels while we're there. the last contact we made in our finding time a few weeks ago. But her son is getting into an age where the doctors say is hardest for him. They don't really have the facilities here to work with him and so he sits locked up in their house all day. She can't make it out for church. We called her to ask if she could come and i could hear in the background that he was slamming the door over and over. She very flustered answered the phone and quickly hung up. We just really don't quite know what to do. She really wants to come to church because she says she knows she will have a greater peace in her life but she just cannot leave her son with her husband. He also loves what we share and has read a quarter of the Book of Mormon and reads it daily, and so its either one comes and the other stays or they just don't come and its too difficult these days to just have one stay.
I want so badly for them to find a way to come to church a way to better care for him because their interest level is so high. Its just very hard.
Other that that wonderful family we have many other people that we are finding and mainly trying to get them to church.
I am so grateful for all the experiences we have had as missionaries and members of the church. President Buckley is very nervous about Branch conference and it is pretty funny. =) President Martineau and the new president will both be down here and so President Buckley is trying hard to get as many people to come as possible. He says he's losing sleep over it.
Reading about Natalee, was hard. I can't believe she's made it so far. What a trooper. Again the reality of the plan of salvation gives me joy in moments of pain and sadness. Knowing that there is a plan. We taught Keith and Anamilena this week about the plan of salvation and as we got to the end teaching about the Kingdoms. She said. Wait wait wait. So fitzgerald (their son) tendra la misma carita que tiene ahora? y viviremos juntos tambien? as we answered her questions she looked at her husband and tears rolled down her face. It was a moment of complete hope for her. Something that she mentioned no other church had ever shared. She has accepted all in her house looking for answers and has never found them. She received more than she expected by letting us into her house that one rainy day. What a wonderful blessing the plan of salvation is.
There was a senior couple here in our mission that the Wife was having medical problems and while elder Bednar was here for a conference she asked him for a blessing. He asked her before he blessed her. "do you have the faith not to be healed?" somewhat perplexed by the question then after understanding what he meant she accepted.
I loved this last general conference message by Dallin H Oaks. "Our family's faith is in Jesus Christ and is not dependent on outcomes."
What a great statement.
I know Jesus Christ Lives!
May 17, 2010
fotonan
So this week has been great. We are teaching some really good people but honestly the hardest thing is just getting them to come to church. I want so badly to see this chapel be filled and for the members to love coming to church. After watching Pioneers of Africa. i wish all new members could have an experience like that. It is just a wonderful blessing to have the restored gospel and i absolutely love sharing it. That God has spoken again to us! HE HAS I KNOW IT!!! i love teaching them that God has given us the answers to the questions people have had for centuries. and they aren't some oddly fitting answer but instead they MAKE SENSE. They truly do make sense and bring peace to our souls. It is so simply complex. Plan for everything. Watching our health watching out for the welfare of other people or as we believe and say Brothers and Sisters! How marvelous the plan of God. We go to church to be strengthened and to learn there is not a single person that cannot learn something in church. as Spencer W Kimball Stated (paraphrased) If you go to a testimony meeting and do not feel a well needed spiritual lifting there is quite the problem with you!.. that is so true. There is room and if everyone is wanting God the Divine teacher will send the holy ghost to teach you not mattering what words are coming out of the teachers mouth beit a member with 30 years in the church or 30 days bearing their heartfelt testimony in a class We can receive divine revelation wherever it be. I LOVE SHARING THAT. I love sharing that a 14 year old boy had a grand experience as he went unto God seeking for that same divine teaching. From his grand experience God has given us today more of the words of life to bring peace a relief to the weary soul. He will lift the hands that hang helplessly down.
How AMAZING it is to be part of this wonderful work. There are not enough positive words in my vocabulary to express how much i truly love this Gospel. Nor how pleased i am for the opportunity God has given me to serve him and study of his Son Jesus Christ.
God Speed.
So this week has been great. We are teaching some really good people but honestly the hardest thing is just getting them to come to church. I want so badly to see this chapel be filled and for the members to love coming to church. After watching Pioneers of Africa. i wish all new members could have an experience like that. It is just a wonderful blessing to have the restored gospel and i absolutely love sharing it. That God has spoken again to us! HE HAS I KNOW IT!!! i love teaching them that God has given us the answers to the questions people have had for centuries. and they aren't some oddly fitting answer but instead they MAKE SENSE. They truly do make sense and bring peace to our souls. It is so simply complex. Plan for everything. Watching our health watching out for the welfare of other people or as we believe and say Brothers and Sisters! How marvelous the plan of God. We go to church to be strengthened and to learn there is not a single person that cannot learn something in church. as Spencer W Kimball Stated (paraphrased) If you go to a testimony meeting and do not feel a well needed spiritual lifting there is quite the problem with you!.. that is so true. There is room and if everyone is wanting God the Divine teacher will send the holy ghost to teach you not mattering what words are coming out of the teachers mouth beit a member with 30 years in the church or 30 days bearing their heartfelt testimony in a class We can receive divine revelation wherever it be. I LOVE SHARING THAT. I love sharing that a 14 year old boy had a grand experience as he went unto God seeking for that same divine teaching. From his grand experience God has given us today more of the words of life to bring peace a relief to the weary soul. He will lift the hands that hang helplessly down.
How AMAZING it is to be part of this wonderful work. There are not enough positive words in my vocabulary to express how much i truly love this Gospel. Nor how pleased i am for the opportunity God has given me to serve him and study of his Son Jesus Christ.
God Speed.
May 10, 2010
Elder Ellis did send a letter after all but he sent it to the wrong address. So here it is:
Well this week.
I got a new companion. Said goodbye to my old companion spent two days waiting for my new companion to come. and yeah many other things.
This morning while studying i learned a little bit about analyzing my mission. The past and what the problems are. My companion and i looked at the numbers from last transfer. Something that i have rarely done so far. I learned a whole lot though! a Whole lot. We just kept beating the same dead horse it looks like. or at least thats what my new companion thought. We got new investigators but we just never had anyone progressing never had anyone come to church. So this morning looking over all that he said well if we dont have anyone coming to church we need to find people that will come to church we need to find people that will obey the lord commandments. That is so true.
This week i spent the two days without a companion with Elder Roggeman and Elder Maxwell. I was able to observe them. Watch and think about what was in their heads. Elder maxwell was trying to teach them everything they need to know. Elder roggeman got frustrated that elder maxwell was teaching so much and so then just sat there without wanting to say anything. and elder maxwell would just continue on and keep teaching. now personally i think that form of teaching is not effective at all. Not to mention they werent really listening to the people they were teaching they were both focusing too much on either what they wanted to share or what the other was sharing. that they forgot the importance of observing one another. Watching this i learned and reflected on past transfers with other missionaries. seeing that i have done the same things at times. and really learned a lot about people. and mainly realized again recieved an added testimony of the importance of the holy ghost. What a vital tool that we dont use/ This week i was also studying the Book of Mormon and really feel like there are many missionaries that really are the condemnation of not using the Book like were the early missionaries of the Church. That is why president invited us to read it again. because he felt we needed to use it more. I have been studying to do just that. Better use the book in our teaching. How great a tool. It explains so clearly the apostasy and the restoration of the gospel. We use the bible way too much as missionaries thinking tht if we dont show them from the bible they wont believe it. So untrue. There is nothing to bring the spirit stronger than show them Revealed truth. I hope to use it better this week and for the rest of my mission!
I Love you all! Hope you have a good week!
Well this week.
I got a new companion. Said goodbye to my old companion spent two days waiting for my new companion to come. and yeah many other things.
This morning while studying i learned a little bit about analyzing my mission. The past and what the problems are. My companion and i looked at the numbers from last transfer. Something that i have rarely done so far. I learned a whole lot though! a Whole lot. We just kept beating the same dead horse it looks like. or at least thats what my new companion thought. We got new investigators but we just never had anyone progressing never had anyone come to church. So this morning looking over all that he said well if we dont have anyone coming to church we need to find people that will come to church we need to find people that will obey the lord commandments. That is so true.
This week i spent the two days without a companion with Elder Roggeman and Elder Maxwell. I was able to observe them. Watch and think about what was in their heads. Elder maxwell was trying to teach them everything they need to know. Elder roggeman got frustrated that elder maxwell was teaching so much and so then just sat there without wanting to say anything. and elder maxwell would just continue on and keep teaching. now personally i think that form of teaching is not effective at all. Not to mention they werent really listening to the people they were teaching they were both focusing too much on either what they wanted to share or what the other was sharing. that they forgot the importance of observing one another. Watching this i learned and reflected on past transfers with other missionaries. seeing that i have done the same things at times. and really learned a lot about people. and mainly realized again recieved an added testimony of the importance of the holy ghost. What a vital tool that we dont use/ This week i was also studying the Book of Mormon and really feel like there are many missionaries that really are the condemnation of not using the Book like were the early missionaries of the Church. That is why president invited us to read it again. because he felt we needed to use it more. I have been studying to do just that. Better use the book in our teaching. How great a tool. It explains so clearly the apostasy and the restoration of the gospel. We use the bible way too much as missionaries thinking tht if we dont show them from the bible they wont believe it. So untrue. There is nothing to bring the spirit stronger than show them Revealed truth. I hope to use it better this week and for the rest of my mission!
I Love you all! Hope you have a good week!
May 10, 2010
No letter from Elder Ellis today as I suppose he talked it all out yesterday in his telephone call home. He is doing "Amazing" and working very hard. He really enjoys his companion as they are working hard together. He enjoys working with the Branch President in his area and he is committed to learning as much Dutch as he possibly can during the rest of his mission in Aruba. There are 35 members attending the Branch and the hardest thing is keeping them coming but those who do come are working very closely with them.
He is looking forward to joining the Dominican Republic Mission and seeing President and Sister Harris of the Dominican Republic Temple as he nears the end of his missionary work.
We look forward to receiving another letter next week.
He is looking forward to joining the Dominican Republic Mission and seeing President and Sister Harris of the Dominican Republic Temple as he nears the end of his missionary work.
We look forward to receiving another letter next week.
May 3, 2010
SO....
hmmmm
This week alot like last week we didn't get our contacts like presidnet has asked us but we taught many lessons and this week especially we were almost more in service clothes than in proselyting clothes. It was awesome! I loved working hard and sweating and getting dirty. After being in clean nicley pressed clothes all the time it feels good to spend a day getting way dirty. Then there was a lady we found. AWESOME named Elma she loved the first lesson and we are excited to go back this week... she had a few beams outside of her house 3 big ones that were about 300 pounds or so. and then about 30 smaller ones that were about 80 lbs around there. my arms are still sore. It was a great service project though. She told us not to till next week, but we did anyway and got it done and she was very grateful. President buckley had someone for us to go help. She had about 3 feet of vines and weeds and we started with weed wackers but it made it like confetti. then i just started taking armfuls of it getting way way dirty but it was so much faster. picking it up and just throwing it into the back of the pickup. my face was all brown and so were my arms. and we got way burnt that day. then after that we went and cut another members yard. then we went and cleaned up the church with the Priesthood. (my companion and me, president buckley and ivan.) cut down all the weeds.
This week i also noticed something else. I have truly gained a testimony of Fast offerings. I know the lord blesses us with what we need if we but put our faith in him and freely impart of what we have.
in my personal study i am reading the words of Isaiah and what amazing prophecies we have from him. The christian world doesn't even touch isaiah and we believe it to be some of the most sacred scripture that we have. As it is quoted frequently in the Book of Mormon.
i can't believe this is the last week of the transfer. i'm heading into my 3rd to last transfer. and it will be shorter than normal because we have an extra week in this companionship taking a week off the beginning of the next.
Well i hope Josh is doing great. Sometimes i wish i could be with Josh to experience these things. i was praying that he might get sent to the DR that i could be his trainer here in the Island of Aruba. But the lord knows where he needs him. I don't like to see josh go after me. I want him as a roommate in BYU-I.... That would be great!
We'll see.
I got hugged by a gay man. He wouldn't stop telling me how much he loved me and hugged me three times. He's a nice guy just kind of special. well i will keep writing other things as they come to mind but thats the main chunk of this week.
hmmmm
This week alot like last week we didn't get our contacts like presidnet has asked us but we taught many lessons and this week especially we were almost more in service clothes than in proselyting clothes. It was awesome! I loved working hard and sweating and getting dirty. After being in clean nicley pressed clothes all the time it feels good to spend a day getting way dirty. Then there was a lady we found. AWESOME named Elma she loved the first lesson and we are excited to go back this week... she had a few beams outside of her house 3 big ones that were about 300 pounds or so. and then about 30 smaller ones that were about 80 lbs around there. my arms are still sore. It was a great service project though. She told us not to till next week, but we did anyway and got it done and she was very grateful. President buckley had someone for us to go help. She had about 3 feet of vines and weeds and we started with weed wackers but it made it like confetti. then i just started taking armfuls of it getting way way dirty but it was so much faster. picking it up and just throwing it into the back of the pickup. my face was all brown and so were my arms. and we got way burnt that day. then after that we went and cut another members yard. then we went and cleaned up the church with the Priesthood. (my companion and me, president buckley and ivan.) cut down all the weeds.
This week i also noticed something else. I have truly gained a testimony of Fast offerings. I know the lord blesses us with what we need if we but put our faith in him and freely impart of what we have.
in my personal study i am reading the words of Isaiah and what amazing prophecies we have from him. The christian world doesn't even touch isaiah and we believe it to be some of the most sacred scripture that we have. As it is quoted frequently in the Book of Mormon.
i can't believe this is the last week of the transfer. i'm heading into my 3rd to last transfer. and it will be shorter than normal because we have an extra week in this companionship taking a week off the beginning of the next.
Well i hope Josh is doing great. Sometimes i wish i could be with Josh to experience these things. i was praying that he might get sent to the DR that i could be his trainer here in the Island of Aruba. But the lord knows where he needs him. I don't like to see josh go after me. I want him as a roommate in BYU-I.... That would be great!
We'll see.
I got hugged by a gay man. He wouldn't stop telling me how much he loved me and hugged me three times. He's a nice guy just kind of special. well i will keep writing other things as they come to mind but thats the main chunk of this week.
April 26, 2010
This week we had our District conference. President had us go through the white handbook and write down all of our disobedience issues. then he interviewed us and talked about it with him. Mine was good. Nothing big. but the little things are the more important things. and i am still striving to change them. I am grateful for what i was taught as a child. I do not even have a disposition to do evil or to break rules. It just makes sense to be obedient. I started to organize a little bit at the church and it freaked president buckley out. he was looking all over for things. it was pretty entertaining as all encounters with him are.
we ended the week with hardley any contacts and hours of finding time but had 8 new investigators and taught 6 member lessons with 8 members. THAT IS AWESOME. I was told that since i left last time the number of member lessons went way down. and now we are getting achieving it again. I am so grateful for how much i have grown and how much fear i am losing to call people and set appointments or invite them to come out with us. As we do it blessings come. for example my companion said that last night was the first night that he has had a family home evening at a members house where they invite investigators. IT was GREAT! and we had a really good tasting juice of Carrot and beet!
as i have said i am keeping track of my finances and as well in my daily planner i am keeping much beter track of what we do and it allows me to make a better accounting at the end of the week and i have everything recorded. It feels great. So in my interview i shared it with president martineau. He then after my interview asked me to show the other missionaries in the conference.
It feels like things are just coming together here at the last quarter of my mission. I am learning and applying things that i never did before. Much more organized and honestly i am really loving being a missionary!
In my journal for the first year or so i wrote every day. I LOVE BEING A MISSIONARY! i didn't always mean it. but i wrote it to try to help me love it more. and little mental training i guess. so i have noticed that through these last few months i have no longer written it. But you can tell in the way i write that there is a great love for what i am doing. I truly love this work i know God lives and loves us. i am eternally grateful for the fmaily he has given me. What a tremendous blessing.
i tried to send some letters to people this last time. But i apologize for those that read this and have not recieved a letter. It has kind of slipped down my list of important things to do. I am grateful for your support.
Siempre les agradecere por todo lo que me han hecho. Tanto las cosas fisicas o monetarias como las cosas espirituales.
My companion calls me crazy all the time. i dont think you should expect much of a change in maturity. =) i still love life and the Joy in my heart has not been extinguished.
we ended the week with hardley any contacts and hours of finding time but had 8 new investigators and taught 6 member lessons with 8 members. THAT IS AWESOME. I was told that since i left last time the number of member lessons went way down. and now we are getting achieving it again. I am so grateful for how much i have grown and how much fear i am losing to call people and set appointments or invite them to come out with us. As we do it blessings come. for example my companion said that last night was the first night that he has had a family home evening at a members house where they invite investigators. IT was GREAT! and we had a really good tasting juice of Carrot and beet!
as i have said i am keeping track of my finances and as well in my daily planner i am keeping much beter track of what we do and it allows me to make a better accounting at the end of the week and i have everything recorded. It feels great. So in my interview i shared it with president martineau. He then after my interview asked me to show the other missionaries in the conference.
It feels like things are just coming together here at the last quarter of my mission. I am learning and applying things that i never did before. Much more organized and honestly i am really loving being a missionary!
In my journal for the first year or so i wrote every day. I LOVE BEING A MISSIONARY! i didn't always mean it. but i wrote it to try to help me love it more. and little mental training i guess. so i have noticed that through these last few months i have no longer written it. But you can tell in the way i write that there is a great love for what i am doing. I truly love this work i know God lives and loves us. i am eternally grateful for the fmaily he has given me. What a tremendous blessing.
i tried to send some letters to people this last time. But i apologize for those that read this and have not recieved a letter. It has kind of slipped down my list of important things to do. I am grateful for your support.
Siempre les agradecere por todo lo que me han hecho. Tanto las cosas fisicas o monetarias como las cosas espirituales.
My companion calls me crazy all the time. i dont think you should expect much of a change in maturity. =) i still love life and the Joy in my heart has not been extinguished.
April 19, 2010
So this week was another good one. We dont have hardly anytime president buckly is taking us desert golfing today. =) fun stuff. But yeah this week we planned for an english class and also a scripture study class. I am very excited for both and it should be a great finding activity. So this week we had a man try to break into our car. We walked down the street to go visit someone and when we were walking back we saw him there pulling on the handles and trying to push the windows down and a bunch of dumb stuff. When he saw us getting close he went back to his car next to ours. I stood behind his car so he couldn't back out and asked him what he was doing and he said "i thought it was my car" So we aren't going to be parking there anymore. but then that night we heard that the elders in curacao also got there car broken into the same evening. The landlord of their apartment heard the dog barking more than normal. So he went out and saw two guys. They had stripped all the wires and everything and were starting it when he walked up they ran off leaving everything but completely tore up the car.
I am tired of theives. DONT TAKE STUFF THATS NOT YOURS!!! what dont people get about that. Man thats 6 bikes stolen and 2 tall gas cylinders one house broken into and almost a car stolen all on the same year on the same island. I like being here in aruba much better.
This week in church we had a good lesson on the commandments. This is a nice branch i really do love them. There were only 19 there this week though. So were still on the job. but we found some really good people this week. I am excited for them. Each one seemed to really have a great amount of interest in the book of mormon. Well see
Thanks for the picture sorry these computers are too slow for me to send pictures. i will send some soon.
I am tired of theives. DONT TAKE STUFF THATS NOT YOURS!!! what dont people get about that. Man thats 6 bikes stolen and 2 tall gas cylinders one house broken into and almost a car stolen all on the same year on the same island. I like being here in aruba much better.
This week in church we had a good lesson on the commandments. This is a nice branch i really do love them. There were only 19 there this week though. So were still on the job. but we found some really good people this week. I am excited for them. Each one seemed to really have a great amount of interest in the book of mormon. Well see
Thanks for the picture sorry these computers are too slow for me to send pictures. i will send some soon.
April 12, 2010
SO yeah my branch president was sitting right next to me when he made that call. He threatened to call you so i gave him your number. He is a psychologist and we are at his "resort" doing email. His resort is a room he has added onto his house. Today is my companions birthday so he's going to feed us today. Then we are going to go exploring. WOohoo! This week is was great. My companion is great we get along well and i am really enjoying working with him. Its much easier when both missionaries are in it together. i dont know. But This week we acheived our goal. It feels great to get to work with these members again. some times i am kind of duanted that i will be here for the rest of my mission but at the same time i really have a strong desire to help them reach 50 members for a chapel here in san nicolas. I really have such a strong desire to do it president! I hope 4 transfers is enough. That would be such a great way to end my mission. I plan to keep working with members like we have and work with Hno Torrealba the branch mission leader to achieve it. This week we wanted to take a member out each day and we did it! Woohoo. I really want all members here that are active coming to church to be active in our work then as well we will be helping them be finders. I was thinking about it and there are many people that have children or have other family members that it would be so easy to have almost double of what we have right now. I'm excited to work here. We are working hard.
President Buckley is a big joker. You really can't ever take him seriously.
We went back to Jenny and she told us about what she felt when she first heard about the story of Joseph Smith and she told us she felt a big warm feeling and knew without a doubt that he had saw what he said he did. After asking her that we read with her from joseph smith history. She loved it. and mentioned she wanted to read more. She hadn't done what we left with her. But she was just so excited. Reginel was cooking on the grill and when he saw us arrive he sent a kid to go buy some more meat. BUT we had just started our fast. I felt bad but it was a great appointment. Great to be able to talk to them again. We had family home evening with the Elliot family last night. It was great. Long time since i've had a good family home evening. and He's a chef of a popular tourist restaurant...so good food. But yeah just a good week of work. Next week i will have a song for Josh! =) my companion and i are making it up for him starting his mission.
Well i dont know what else to say but I love you!
President Buckley is a big joker. You really can't ever take him seriously.
We went back to Jenny and she told us about what she felt when she first heard about the story of Joseph Smith and she told us she felt a big warm feeling and knew without a doubt that he had saw what he said he did. After asking her that we read with her from joseph smith history. She loved it. and mentioned she wanted to read more. She hadn't done what we left with her. But she was just so excited. Reginel was cooking on the grill and when he saw us arrive he sent a kid to go buy some more meat. BUT we had just started our fast. I felt bad but it was a great appointment. Great to be able to talk to them again. We had family home evening with the Elliot family last night. It was great. Long time since i've had a good family home evening. and He's a chef of a popular tourist restaurant...so good food. But yeah just a good week of work. Next week i will have a song for Josh! =) my companion and i are making it up for him starting his mission.
Well i dont know what else to say but I love you!
April 5, 2010
Well, This week was great! Elder Zenger my companion is a great missionary He was at BYU-I the year in between josh and i. I loved listening to general conference. General conference here in San Nicolas. This year we got Internet and a flat screen plasma TV so that we could watch it. We had 33 people come on sunday morning. More than we have ever had attending at conference from our little branch. Coming back to this area there is a senior couple named the pietz they have done a great job helping the members recieve training both leadership and just learning how to be members of the church. They are great at helping members. much better than i can do. Senior couples are so needed. They really are. Right now the sister we have running the money and finances of the mission makes alot of mistakes. Sometimes we don't get our money rent or other things. Other times we randomly get a thousand dollars or several hundred because she made a mistake. Making it pretty fun.
This transfer we really want to work with members. We are trying to go out with at least one member each day. for now. and then want to get it back to how elder fierro and i were doing with every active member out with us. This little branch has a lot of potential. It really does. I am excited to be here. although i am trying to get creative. I remember a lot of people and they remember me. Yesterday i went toking in an area that i had recently done the last time i was here. There was an old man who told me he was waiting to die. we saw him again. and this time he was in a wheelchair. I walked up and said "your still alive... God must have something for you" for the first time in the many times i have spoken with this man i saw him smile. we didn't set an appointment with him but i plan to pass by there a few more times. This is going to be interesting finding new people In my last two transfers here i toked almost all of it and i can't even imagine 5 more months here. It will be a fun adventure. I know there were many doors without anyone answering. Just as Nephi the first two times they couldn't get the plates. It started yesterday. well this whole week actually. My companion took me to visit his investigators. i smiled the whole way because they were almost all people i had spoken to before. But the yesterday we went back to Jenny. I sent many emails about jenny and i believe even a few pictures. She hadn;t been taught for about 6 months. she told us yesterday that she wants to learn more and then wants to get baptized. We also went and taught Johan. another man i was teaching here that got baptized after i left. We are starting to teach his daughter who is 9. We have an appointment with them tonight! My brother starts his mission in 3 weeks. Crazy! i hope i have been a good example for him.
Serving a mission has been the greatest thing i have done in my life. It is two years jammed packed with learning. I don't know if it is possible to learn so much about life and the gospel anywhere else at this time in my life. What a tremendous blessing. Before the mission i heard a return missionary say. "The mission's not for everyone" I think that is quite an uneducated comment. Seeing how much it has changed my life and how much i have learned about others and helped others companions included. the mission is one of the greatest things anyone could ever do. I am striving to finish my mission on a great high. I want this area to be on fire. I loved elder Rasbands talk mentioning how many areas are chosen by thinking of where the missionary will finish his mission. The lord has sent me here. i know it. I will strive to fulfill what he wants me to do.
I Love You!
This transfer we really want to work with members. We are trying to go out with at least one member each day. for now. and then want to get it back to how elder fierro and i were doing with every active member out with us. This little branch has a lot of potential. It really does. I am excited to be here. although i am trying to get creative. I remember a lot of people and they remember me. Yesterday i went toking in an area that i had recently done the last time i was here. There was an old man who told me he was waiting to die. we saw him again. and this time he was in a wheelchair. I walked up and said "your still alive... God must have something for you" for the first time in the many times i have spoken with this man i saw him smile. we didn't set an appointment with him but i plan to pass by there a few more times. This is going to be interesting finding new people In my last two transfers here i toked almost all of it and i can't even imagine 5 more months here. It will be a fun adventure. I know there were many doors without anyone answering. Just as Nephi the first two times they couldn't get the plates. It started yesterday. well this whole week actually. My companion took me to visit his investigators. i smiled the whole way because they were almost all people i had spoken to before. But the yesterday we went back to Jenny. I sent many emails about jenny and i believe even a few pictures. She hadn;t been taught for about 6 months. she told us yesterday that she wants to learn more and then wants to get baptized. We also went and taught Johan. another man i was teaching here that got baptized after i left. We are starting to teach his daughter who is 9. We have an appointment with them tonight! My brother starts his mission in 3 weeks. Crazy! i hope i have been a good example for him.
Serving a mission has been the greatest thing i have done in my life. It is two years jammed packed with learning. I don't know if it is possible to learn so much about life and the gospel anywhere else at this time in my life. What a tremendous blessing. Before the mission i heard a return missionary say. "The mission's not for everyone" I think that is quite an uneducated comment. Seeing how much it has changed my life and how much i have learned about others and helped others companions included. the mission is one of the greatest things anyone could ever do. I am striving to finish my mission on a great high. I want this area to be on fire. I loved elder Rasbands talk mentioning how many areas are chosen by thinking of where the missionary will finish his mission. The lord has sent me here. i know it. I will strive to fulfill what he wants me to do.
I Love You!
March 29, 2010
So... I absolutely loved the baptism.
She got baptized and her daughter that has down syndrome she was so happy she started laughing and smiling when she did it.
as she stepped out of the font she said.
TODOS SE FUERON
maybe referring to sins... no se. But it was so cute. Then we went inside and were finishing with the service and she asked if she could offer the prayer. So said... Well of course I have to thank God now.
I have been praying my whole mission to know what it felt like when I was baptized. When she said the prayer I felt the spirit so much stronger than I can remember. I know that Baptism is An ordinance of the Gospel and is only properly done with his authority. I know exactly how I felt when I was baptized. What an amazing feeling. I wish to feel that same way each week at sacrament meeting.
Ok... So This week was crazy. We worked much harder than the other weeks of this transfer. I fly out tonight at 7:50 on Dutch Antilles express to Aruba... =)
This week was a lot of going to members and going trying to invite them to invite friends. That is something that i have committed myself to doing throughout my life. Helping the missionaries not only by teaching with them. But being the finder that i should be as a member of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter day saints. having references for them. We asked and tried but not a whole lot. One of my favorite scriptures for that is first Nephi chapter 4 when Nephi and his brothers go to get the plates. They try two times. Nothing, once going in normal, second with riches and then finally his brothers give up thinking it’s not possible. He gets in and sees that just as the lord has promised he delivers him in their hands. He has promised us many blessings. Many blessings and as we pray and have faith as Nephi. In Spanish I like the words y nefi entro furtivamente. Guided by the spirit. To know where.
In missionary work it’s the same. We never know how much god is doing with a person unless we have faith and try our faith. If someone has rejected us a million times why not talk to him again. Maybe god has helped get him in a position ready to be accept. Awesome!
That is exciting about Mindy. I think names like Emily, Melody, Jennifer, are good ones.
My times up, Love you!
She got baptized and her daughter that has down syndrome she was so happy she started laughing and smiling when she did it.
as she stepped out of the font she said.
TODOS SE FUERON
maybe referring to sins... no se. But it was so cute. Then we went inside and were finishing with the service and she asked if she could offer the prayer. So said... Well of course I have to thank God now.
I have been praying my whole mission to know what it felt like when I was baptized. When she said the prayer I felt the spirit so much stronger than I can remember. I know that Baptism is An ordinance of the Gospel and is only properly done with his authority. I know exactly how I felt when I was baptized. What an amazing feeling. I wish to feel that same way each week at sacrament meeting.
Ok... So This week was crazy. We worked much harder than the other weeks of this transfer. I fly out tonight at 7:50 on Dutch Antilles express to Aruba... =)
This week was a lot of going to members and going trying to invite them to invite friends. That is something that i have committed myself to doing throughout my life. Helping the missionaries not only by teaching with them. But being the finder that i should be as a member of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter day saints. having references for them. We asked and tried but not a whole lot. One of my favorite scriptures for that is first Nephi chapter 4 when Nephi and his brothers go to get the plates. They try two times. Nothing, once going in normal, second with riches and then finally his brothers give up thinking it’s not possible. He gets in and sees that just as the lord has promised he delivers him in their hands. He has promised us many blessings. Many blessings and as we pray and have faith as Nephi. In Spanish I like the words y nefi entro furtivamente. Guided by the spirit. To know where.
In missionary work it’s the same. We never know how much god is doing with a person unless we have faith and try our faith. If someone has rejected us a million times why not talk to him again. Maybe god has helped get him in a position ready to be accept. Awesome!
That is exciting about Mindy. I think names like Emily, Melody, Jennifer, are good ones.
My times up, Love you!
March 22, 2010
Well this week. Half the week i was home in bed. The other half our car was in the shop so we walked all over our area. talked to many people but didn't get to teach hardly anything. Our investigator Jenny will get baptized next week. WoohoO! #2 Her husband doesn't want her to and actually said he doesn't want us at their house anymore. so that might be a little difficult to keep going. But she came to church she asked members what the bus route is so she can come all by herself its great! She is on fire. other than that one saturday we read in the White handbook about apartment and living. It said that preparation day should be the day we clean and then throughout the week as needed. It needed it since i was sick my companion doesn't like to clean. so we came home early on saturday to clean! i went and started cutting the bushes in front all i had was a pair of scissors so that's what i used to do it. it took about 45 minutes and my companion was playing in the back with klothespins or something. Our neighbor walked out and said. YOU WORK HARD! I NEVER SEE MISHONERY WORK HARD LIKE YOU. i replied: "my parents raised me different" She said "I SEE IT" I got a lot done. a lot. and my companion got ...hmm...a few things picked up. =)
well that was about it. nothing special. THis morning i gave the other missionaries haircuts. One i left a big Spot in the back. =) on purpose the other elders were laughing too much though so he found it. Then they tried to cut mine and didn't know what they were doing so i just did it myself. They made me bleed.
Love you! Sorry for a short letter. I'm in curacao but next wednesday go to my final area in ARUBA!
well that was about it. nothing special. THis morning i gave the other missionaries haircuts. One i left a big Spot in the back. =) on purpose the other elders were laughing too much though so he found it. Then they tried to cut mine and didn't know what they were doing so i just did it myself. They made me bleed.
Love you! Sorry for a short letter. I'm in curacao but next wednesday go to my final area in ARUBA!
March 15, 2010
Well this week. I had a pretty hard time. I am a little sick making it not so fun to do anything. I can hardly speak. But this week we had our Zone conference. It was great. I think i've told you this but we are focusing on teaching people as agents instead of as objects. I am trying hard to ask better questions in a way for them to find the answers. I am kind of struggling with my companion. Not that we aren't getting along. he's just not here. He is always talking about the "worldly things" About basketball games about earthquakes. I have no idea where he gets this info. He just randomly tells us that there was another earthquake in some part of the world. I dont understand. But thats not so much the problem. More that we don't start studies on time and he's slow as molasis making it hard to get out on time or when we go home to pick something up he goes to the bathroom and is in there for 45 minutes... ha ha. but the other day we had a good lesson with a guy named Ariel. he had a baptismal date but can't come to church so we had to leave the baptismal date. He is a very cool guy and remembers things very well. While we were there a guy that plays for the CUBS came to draft his brother. Drove up in a huge ford excursion decked out which is not your typical curacao car. His name was simons. or something they call him Chulo Simon. He's not very Chulo big bald wavy head. Tons of bumps.
But that and zone conference. I rode in the car of the new Carribean area doctor. and asked him a lot about medical school and things. He is an obstetrician. He said in medical school he had the choice to explore and thought he would take a stab at OB. He loved it. and continued. his explanation was that a regular doctor helps older people that are sick that have a few more years to live. or he can help a brand new baby come in and be alive for many more years. It was all pretty interesting to me. Who knows. He just said DONT THINK THAT BECAUSE YOU WILL MAKE SO MUCH MONEY YOU CAN QUICKLY PAY OFF ALL YOUR DEBT. ITS NOT LIKE THAT. To be able to pay off your debt you will have to live in a small apartment with a newlywed car. and not act like your a highly paid doctor.
i'm still having problems with becuase... becassue because because because because because becuase because because because becaues becuase because because because because because because because because because because because becaue because because because because because because because because because because because because becuse because because
but yeah it was a good conversation he suggested that majoring in some sience like chemistry would help alot.
So i had that good conversation i was also with Elder Pereira from Australia so i got to practice my australian accent. =) I'm getting good. I CAN'T get the Jamaican accent down. Its hard. Here are a few pictures from our P-Day activity today! woohoO! Mount christoffelberg. My companion didn't want to finish. so we sat at the top waiting for him for 30 minutes finally i went down and talked him into coming up. He made it up and we enjoyed and then had to wait again for him to come down. but we made it and it was beautiful. Really beautiful. well. That was my week.
Oh as well president changed his mind. I will be going to aruba next transfer and will be staying there for the next 6 months. finishing my mission there. My last area. will be San Nicholas again =) i loved that area.
Have a wonderful week! Love you!
But that and zone conference. I rode in the car of the new Carribean area doctor. and asked him a lot about medical school and things. He is an obstetrician. He said in medical school he had the choice to explore and thought he would take a stab at OB. He loved it. and continued. his explanation was that a regular doctor helps older people that are sick that have a few more years to live. or he can help a brand new baby come in and be alive for many more years. It was all pretty interesting to me. Who knows. He just said DONT THINK THAT BECAUSE YOU WILL MAKE SO MUCH MONEY YOU CAN QUICKLY PAY OFF ALL YOUR DEBT. ITS NOT LIKE THAT. To be able to pay off your debt you will have to live in a small apartment with a newlywed car. and not act like your a highly paid doctor.
i'm still having problems with becuase... becassue because because because because because becuase because because because becaues becuase because because because because because because because because because because because becaue because because because because because because because because because because because because becuse because because
but yeah it was a good conversation he suggested that majoring in some sience like chemistry would help alot.
So i had that good conversation i was also with Elder Pereira from Australia so i got to practice my australian accent. =) I'm getting good. I CAN'T get the Jamaican accent down. Its hard. Here are a few pictures from our P-Day activity today! woohoO! Mount christoffelberg. My companion didn't want to finish. so we sat at the top waiting for him for 30 minutes finally i went down and talked him into coming up. He made it up and we enjoyed and then had to wait again for him to come down. but we made it and it was beautiful. Really beautiful. well. That was my week.
Oh as well president changed his mind. I will be going to aruba next transfer and will be staying there for the next 6 months. finishing my mission there. My last area. will be San Nicholas again =) i loved that area.
Have a wonderful week! Love you!
March 8, 2010
Well good week. Not a whole lot of work really another week of making lots of runs to go get a car fixed. Another missionary here got in a car accident and so i have been the one taking it to the insurance and getting everything done. Then on top of that we are having problems with the old landlord he is asking for more and more money. So most of my week this week was spent on car getting quotes to get it fixed. The cheapest quote was 900 nd was from the same guy that hit the car. He owns his own shop and offered to fix it for 900. Toyota wanted 2000 Crazy!
But not only that we also had a crazy experience with the Gas here on the island. Chavez. Is crazy! he saw the US military here in curacao so he stopped gas flow from venezuela to curacao. For three days there was no gas and power was on and off throughout the island. we were driving around getting emergency things water and such for the apartments. that was form monday until wednesday then from wednesday on we were doing the insurance deal till friday with teaching appointments here and there. Then on saturday we did a service project for our branch president and had a missionary activity that night so our saturday was pretty much gone too! but sunday was a day full of missionary work. We got our goals for the day and it was great! Felt good the first day of the week that we had gotten it.
We have several people here in curacao with baptismal dates. and when all the missionaries leave next transfer i will be left here with a lot of baptismal dates. I should get a bunch of baptisms at the end of my mission. Maybe. We will see how well the continue.
The mission is an awesome opportunity. I have learned so much and grown (not physically) but spiritually. Each person is a human being going through struggles and pains and needs direction. My goal is that i can share with them just a little bit of what i have recieved from the book of mormon. ITS A BEAUTIFUL BOOK! Its a True Book.!
But not only that we also had a crazy experience with the Gas here on the island. Chavez. Is crazy! he saw the US military here in curacao so he stopped gas flow from venezuela to curacao. For three days there was no gas and power was on and off throughout the island. we were driving around getting emergency things water and such for the apartments. that was form monday until wednesday then from wednesday on we were doing the insurance deal till friday with teaching appointments here and there. Then on saturday we did a service project for our branch president and had a missionary activity that night so our saturday was pretty much gone too! but sunday was a day full of missionary work. We got our goals for the day and it was great! Felt good the first day of the week that we had gotten it.
We have several people here in curacao with baptismal dates. and when all the missionaries leave next transfer i will be left here with a lot of baptismal dates. I should get a bunch of baptisms at the end of my mission. Maybe. We will see how well the continue.
The mission is an awesome opportunity. I have learned so much and grown (not physically) but spiritually. Each person is a human being going through struggles and pains and needs direction. My goal is that i can share with them just a little bit of what i have recieved from the book of mormon. ITS A BEAUTIFUL BOOK! Its a True Book.!
March 1, 2010
This week was a great week to realize the importance of work. Before the mission i memorized the quote "i have often said one of the greatest secrets of missionary work is work..." I really found the truth in that statement. This week we had to close the apartment that had missionaries in it for 3 years. That involved cleaning three years worth of careless missionary mess. Grease all over the walls hand prints bike tire marks air conditioner that had not been cleaned for about 3 years. Stove top that was covered in grease and caked on foods. As i was cleaning i noticed how important cleaning is on p-day. and as well i also noticed when i was not doing missionary work i really missed it. i was in a bad attitude i didn't want to do anything. Nothing was cheery like it normally is. I have often loved the ability God has blessed me with to enjoy almost any situation i am in. But this week i felt complete opposite...(at first) cleaning all day long was not something that made me feel effective. I was having many homesick thoughts wanting to be with my family or just constantly thinking about life after the mission. Elder Alisa one of the assistants called me and my excitement level was just down in the pits. He told me "elder you should call President Martineau, he's like a Dad for me and helps me a lot" i refused i didn't tell him that but i refused. I knew exaclty what it was...(i had a pretty good idea at least.) So we started working again. You know how much i haven't liked toking. But i missed a good solid two hours trying to talk to people. So we did it. and it felt great! That day got so much better instantly. I felt great! Up until now i feel great. We didn't get our goals but i feel like i did my best with what the week threw at us. It was a good week. Definitely not easy but it was good. I am excited to just have a normal week with only 2 meetings with a dueno. It will be much better! much much better! So that was a part of our week. Work gets rid of homesickness! Thats for sure!
As well found out i will be closing two more apartments this month. That next transfer there will be only one companionship on this island! WoohoO! crazy! so that means more cleaning. But this time not just one apartment two! fun!
My companion...ay... After about 5 hours of cleaning we were riding home to get our things and he said. Elder i don't like cleaning. I'm finding a wife that cleans. I can't clean. It drives me crazy! He just sat and watched us clean all day long. Picking up toys and other things throughout the apartmentand just not doing anything useful. it just made me laugh. Then the next day i had a meeting with the landlord. He came and said it still wasn't clean enough. but we just wanted to hand it over so we gave him the keys then he went through and made an assesment on all the things. He came to a total of 2760 Guilders which is about 1400 dollars. So many things were just missing and others completely broken but still not worth 1400 Then on sunday he called back asking for more money taking it to about $1600. So the offices told me give him the money and tell him if anything else comes up he has to speak with the offices. He is just trying to milk us. New towels. New sheets. All things that after three years you would need to buy new ones anyway. The contract states that normal wear and tear will be exluded. So the office isn't to willing to give him more. Crazy!
Met some cool people though! Through our finding time and guy just stopped us and asked us What do i need to do to become a member of your church? then he went on about how he had a dream that he needed to find another wife and thought we accept plural marriage. We have an appointment with him tonight. =} it will be interesting.
So again i have been translating in church since i got here. Which is kind of cool. There are a bunch of military people here from utah and they took us out to lunch today. But since they got here we have asked and asked what they do. They haven't answered us. We made many guesses. and came to the conclusion that they must be computer geeks. They aren't big buff guys so we were just trying to figure out what they are doing. today at lunch they told us they are linguists. Spanish linguists. Sounds like a cool job but they are always away from their families. i wouldn't like that. But they are pretty much here helping catch the bad guys. They sit in the back of the planes translating the bad guys conversations till they get them. Pretty nifty stuff. Well our week was a lot of cleaning and a lot of not else.
As well found out i will be closing two more apartments this month. That next transfer there will be only one companionship on this island! WoohoO! crazy! so that means more cleaning. But this time not just one apartment two! fun!
My companion...ay... After about 5 hours of cleaning we were riding home to get our things and he said. Elder i don't like cleaning. I'm finding a wife that cleans. I can't clean. It drives me crazy! He just sat and watched us clean all day long. Picking up toys and other things throughout the apartmentand just not doing anything useful. it just made me laugh. Then the next day i had a meeting with the landlord. He came and said it still wasn't clean enough. but we just wanted to hand it over so we gave him the keys then he went through and made an assesment on all the things. He came to a total of 2760 Guilders which is about 1400 dollars. So many things were just missing and others completely broken but still not worth 1400 Then on sunday he called back asking for more money taking it to about $1600. So the offices told me give him the money and tell him if anything else comes up he has to speak with the offices. He is just trying to milk us. New towels. New sheets. All things that after three years you would need to buy new ones anyway. The contract states that normal wear and tear will be exluded. So the office isn't to willing to give him more. Crazy!
Met some cool people though! Through our finding time and guy just stopped us and asked us What do i need to do to become a member of your church? then he went on about how he had a dream that he needed to find another wife and thought we accept plural marriage. We have an appointment with him tonight. =} it will be interesting.
So again i have been translating in church since i got here. Which is kind of cool. There are a bunch of military people here from utah and they took us out to lunch today. But since they got here we have asked and asked what they do. They haven't answered us. We made many guesses. and came to the conclusion that they must be computer geeks. They aren't big buff guys so we were just trying to figure out what they are doing. today at lunch they told us they are linguists. Spanish linguists. Sounds like a cool job but they are always away from their families. i wouldn't like that. But they are pretty much here helping catch the bad guys. They sit in the back of the planes translating the bad guys conversations till they get them. Pretty nifty stuff. Well our week was a lot of cleaning and a lot of not else.
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