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. =)
NOTICE: This email message is for the sole use of the intended recipient(s) and may contain confidential and privileged information. Any unauthorized review, use, disclosure or distribution is prohibited. If you are not the intended recipient, please contact the sender by reply email and destroy all copies of the original message.
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
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)