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.
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. =)
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