Hello family!
I dont have a whole lot to say. Just that i am most likely going to ARUBA again! president came to our ward yesterday and i asked him what he is doing and he said he wants me to be a District leader in ARUBA. SO i may be going there. There is still a week and now president said that three missionaries wont be coming from the MTC becuase of visa problems. So things may change.
But yeah sorry i don't have a whole lot more to say. after christmas we visited more people and ate a whole ton more as well! Now the fridge is full of Candy and Overfilled with Food.
THANKS FOR ALL THAT WAS SENT TO ME THIS CHRISTMAS! I love the Ties books sax playin dogs candy toothbrush and All!
December 21, 2009
So this week hmmmm
This week was good, We had a few days where we went and talked and just out of the blue got 4 or 5 lessons. The Arce Family seemed very excited to come to the ward activity for christmas. Then... the same sisters from before kicked them out of the kitchen, they got offended by that and left without saying a word to us. As they left another member asked what was wrong and he told them that he got kicked out so he didn't want to be there anymore. we didn't know this till sunday afternoon after we noticed that He didn't come to church.
These sisters also the same day offended a member whos son went in to go ask for a hamburger and they said no he had already eaten and they left as well, and they didn't come to church either. There are a few sisters that really just dont have patience nor treat situations with much tact. We are going to speak with the bishop about it but so far nothing has changed. It is the same as it was when we got here.
But other than that we are trying hard to get our goals. This week we had interviews with president martineau and it was great! just being able to talk to him about the work. I wonder if NEPHI had PPI's with his dad... i imagine so. That would be kind of neat to listen in on one of those. This week we also found a way cool cuban guy and he told us so much about cuba that i didn't know! I had no idea how bad it was! It is pretty much Communist. I will tell you more when i call you. Woohoo! i get to call you. Well i will call in the evening for me on christmas eve. At about 9 oclock here. which is about 5 ocklock there. or maybe even a little later. THATS CHRISTMAS EVE. Christmas day Probably in the evening as well. Like 7 here which would be 3 there. i think. We dont have daylight savings time here so i am way confused. But yeah i believe it is four hours in the winter and 3 in the summer but i am not sure.
Also i apologize i didn't send much. i will probably send some puerto rican candy again for Dia De Los Reyes Magos (puerto Rico's Second Christmas) which is the 6th of January. Day of the wise men...
This week as well i made good friends with some security dogs. They are there to protect all these things and they make a lot of noise but they love me! I walked by and petted and they loved me. All but two licked me and wagged their tails. Two just kept barking but never bit me.
We walked a lot and this week we are going to be walking a lot more. We're out of miles. =) so yeah we will be having fun. Contacting more which is good.
President talked to me this morning about the islands. i think im going back now. WOohoo! Letters every three weeks again! Yeah!
Well Talk to you soon!
This week was good, We had a few days where we went and talked and just out of the blue got 4 or 5 lessons. The Arce Family seemed very excited to come to the ward activity for christmas. Then... the same sisters from before kicked them out of the kitchen, they got offended by that and left without saying a word to us. As they left another member asked what was wrong and he told them that he got kicked out so he didn't want to be there anymore. we didn't know this till sunday afternoon after we noticed that He didn't come to church.
These sisters also the same day offended a member whos son went in to go ask for a hamburger and they said no he had already eaten and they left as well, and they didn't come to church either. There are a few sisters that really just dont have patience nor treat situations with much tact. We are going to speak with the bishop about it but so far nothing has changed. It is the same as it was when we got here.
But other than that we are trying hard to get our goals. This week we had interviews with president martineau and it was great! just being able to talk to him about the work. I wonder if NEPHI had PPI's with his dad... i imagine so. That would be kind of neat to listen in on one of those. This week we also found a way cool cuban guy and he told us so much about cuba that i didn't know! I had no idea how bad it was! It is pretty much Communist. I will tell you more when i call you. Woohoo! i get to call you. Well i will call in the evening for me on christmas eve. At about 9 oclock here. which is about 5 ocklock there. or maybe even a little later. THATS CHRISTMAS EVE. Christmas day Probably in the evening as well. Like 7 here which would be 3 there. i think. We dont have daylight savings time here so i am way confused. But yeah i believe it is four hours in the winter and 3 in the summer but i am not sure.
Also i apologize i didn't send much. i will probably send some puerto rican candy again for Dia De Los Reyes Magos (puerto Rico's Second Christmas) which is the 6th of January. Day of the wise men...
This week as well i made good friends with some security dogs. They are there to protect all these things and they make a lot of noise but they love me! I walked by and petted and they loved me. All but two licked me and wagged their tails. Two just kept barking but never bit me.
We walked a lot and this week we are going to be walking a lot more. We're out of miles. =) so yeah we will be having fun. Contacting more which is good.
President talked to me this morning about the islands. i think im going back now. WOohoo! Letters every three weeks again! Yeah!
Well Talk to you soon!
December 14, 2009
This week was great! We didnt get our contacts but we were able to get our hours of finding time. It is definitely a challenge to get them goals. Any extra time we have i feel like we are talking to people. But the funny things is the more and more we talk to people the less people let us into their homes. We are not getting new investigators and spending a whole lot of time dedicated to just talking to people. BUT this week we did have a great experience with the arce family. We went and talked to them about baptism. Asking them if they were ready to make a decision and be baptized. He told us the same thing that he had talked to his pastor and just wanted to stay where he was and continue visiting us. So we asked him a few questions to see what it was that was really stopping him. and we also had a member with us. The member just kind of took over. A little stronger and more brave than we were being. Just said do you want to follow Jesus Christ or not. He asked him. if Jesus Christ was right here and told you to get baptized would you do it. He said of course. Then he asked and do you feel that Joseph Smith was a prophet? he again replied of course. and then he continued to ask if he thought Thomas monson was a prophet. He replied yes. Then he said if Thomas s monson or Joseph smith were here and told you to be baptized would you do it? he replied yes. Then he said well these two young men have been called by thomas monson himself to come here to you to tell you to get baptized. Will you do it? he replied with much hesitation i have already thought about it and just dont know. So we talked a little more and left him with doctrine and covenants 22 to read. He read it and then in church he shared a story in Elders Quorum. We were teaching the young men and didnt hear it but members told us that he said that night after reading what the missionaries had left with him he prayed and then had a dream. he was in a car and asked the chouffer to take him to the True Church of Jesus Christ the chouffer took him directly to the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter Day saints. He stood up and shared this in church and the members assured him with their testimonies that it was the true church. I am very excited to work with them this week. Super!
We also have several appointments this week with some other members which will be great! a few families that we are trying to make into M&M´s (member Missionaries) (a new goal that president has given us 2 M&M´s a week). Tonight we have one and wednesday we have another with another family and the Senior couple the Vickery´s from boise They are a great couple. We are excited. This week i decided to pass around a lunch appointment sign up in relief society so we can try to make more people M&M´s but only one couple signed up and they feed us each week anyway. it made me kind of sad. =( we will do it again next week and hopefully it will improve.
Thats pretty neat that tommy said that. i never would have imagined i would have been an example. I just worked hard and did what i was taught. It makes me kind of wish i would have done a little better though to deserve the compliment.
I get to talk to my family NEXT WEEK! woohoo! well this week we are having our ward christmas party. I am going to be Santa Clause =) this will be fun! WoohoO!
well yeah! we will talk to you later. I will write you next week and call you on christmas eve to schedule the time on christmas day.
We also have several appointments this week with some other members which will be great! a few families that we are trying to make into M&M´s (member Missionaries) (a new goal that president has given us 2 M&M´s a week). Tonight we have one and wednesday we have another with another family and the Senior couple the Vickery´s from boise They are a great couple. We are excited. This week i decided to pass around a lunch appointment sign up in relief society so we can try to make more people M&M´s but only one couple signed up and they feed us each week anyway. it made me kind of sad. =( we will do it again next week and hopefully it will improve.
Thats pretty neat that tommy said that. i never would have imagined i would have been an example. I just worked hard and did what i was taught. It makes me kind of wish i would have done a little better though to deserve the compliment.
I get to talk to my family NEXT WEEK! woohoo! well this week we are having our ward christmas party. I am going to be Santa Clause =) this will be fun! WoohoO!
well yeah! we will talk to you later. I will write you next week and call you on christmas eve to schedule the time on christmas day.
December 7, 2009
Well this week was good. Although i felt like we were trying to catch up the whole week even to the very end. Which wasn´t bad becuase at the end we had far over our goal of 140 contacts (we got 164). Adding up everything there felt pretty good. WOW We did a whole lot more than i thought we did. This week i would really like to get them normally through our every day activities instead of cita falls through and we just talk to everyone and their dogs. which wasn´t bad but we still could have met with other people throughout the week. This week we had many things set up great we were expecting about 9 people to come to church. a whole family all of a sudden fell sick on sunday morning and another slept in and another´s kids were sick. But a family we weren´t expecting did come. My companion´s family had sent a hymn book to give to them because the last name is the same Arce. and it had it printed on the hymn book. so he gave it to them when they arrived and you should have seen how proudly he carried that hymn book. he asked me. Now when i try to take this out they aren´t going to stop me right? =) made me smile. He left singing the hymn Loor Al Profeta (Praise to the Man) with his children.
I Also loved going to the christmas devotional. I Love Handel´s Messiah and especially when its followed by such a strong speaker. I Loved them all!
This week we also worked a lot with our normal investigators and had some really good lessons with them. We did senor heuvo with Solimari. which is to show baptism by water and baptism by fire. Taking an egg marking him all up. Baptizing him (taking off his shell) and then baptizing him by fire...putting a match in a bottle and putting the egg on top PLOP and its in the bottle (Kingdom of God)
It went great they loved it and the son that has never listened to us before asked when we were coming back.
On sunday we went finding for 3:30 hrs. not a single person let us in. and two or three set up appointments. =) woohoO!
This morning our dueña asked me to fix her computer. Some sister missionary that was there before us supposedly showed her how to use her computer and ever since then it hasn´t worked. So i got on and simply fixed it. She was going to go pay to get it fixed and said they wanted just $50 to look at it. in less than 30 minutes i had it running nice and smooth.
Getting closer and closer to christmas. People get colder and colder this time of year. But i´m glad i can help bring them the warmth of the Gospel. today on our way here a man was on the side of the road we went and got him a dollar of gas and put it in his car and he went away offering us lunch. =) Nice guy.
i lOVE YOU ALL VERY MUCH!
tHANKS for the package.. Camera! I did get grandmas card! wrote her a letter the other day. Love you All!
I Also loved going to the christmas devotional. I Love Handel´s Messiah and especially when its followed by such a strong speaker. I Loved them all!
This week we also worked a lot with our normal investigators and had some really good lessons with them. We did senor heuvo with Solimari. which is to show baptism by water and baptism by fire. Taking an egg marking him all up. Baptizing him (taking off his shell) and then baptizing him by fire...putting a match in a bottle and putting the egg on top PLOP and its in the bottle (Kingdom of God)
It went great they loved it and the son that has never listened to us before asked when we were coming back.
On sunday we went finding for 3:30 hrs. not a single person let us in. and two or three set up appointments. =) woohoO!
This morning our dueña asked me to fix her computer. Some sister missionary that was there before us supposedly showed her how to use her computer and ever since then it hasn´t worked. So i got on and simply fixed it. She was going to go pay to get it fixed and said they wanted just $50 to look at it. in less than 30 minutes i had it running nice and smooth.
Getting closer and closer to christmas. People get colder and colder this time of year. But i´m glad i can help bring them the warmth of the Gospel. today on our way here a man was on the side of the road we went and got him a dollar of gas and put it in his car and he went away offering us lunch. =) Nice guy.
i lOVE YOU ALL VERY MUCH!
tHANKS for the package.. Camera! I did get grandmas card! wrote her a letter the other day. Love you All!
November 30, 2009
So this week.......
We had a lesson with the lady we gave the book of mormon to and she was very interested in the book of mormon and Joseph smith. She had even read to 2nd Nephi in the book of mormon. It was a great lesson one where you just sit back and smile becuase you know they are understanding.
For thanks giving we had one family that invited us over and fed us a ton. Then right after that we went to another family who also gave us a ton. They live further out in the nowheres. so we went and swang on some vines while she was finishing the food. =) We went to eat and It was delicious. My favorite of the day. While she was helping serve us i put a fake cockroach on her plate =) she came back and had the most disgusted look on her face. Then smiled and said "elderes yo debo saber ya que siempre me hacen maldades" =) I honestly continue to love these people. I feel like they are my family! I told my companion that i wish she could be my aunt or something. She told me that next year i can come back and go Black friday shopping with her all over puerto rico. She left at 4 in the morning.
We also ahd a ward activity that was great! We did Create a sundae. it turned out great! The ward mission leader was afraid of letting us run it thinking it wouldn't turn out very good. But it turned out great! We had another little talk with the bishop just to update him on our work and things that are happening.
Then on saturday we had a service project to clean someones yard. She also lives way out in the nowheres. it was super! My companion got sick. Way sick that night. His eyes were blood shot and had a fever. Then i gave him a blessing that night and he woke up perfectly fine.
Then sunday morning we both gave talks. I enjoyed it a lot. I learned a lot preparing and giving the talk. Revelation is great. Being able to use scriptures in ways i had never thought about seem to be coming to me much more lately. What a blessing. I have used the same chapter with many members this week and everytime empphasizing on a different principle of the Gospel. Nephi and his brothers getting the plates.
Good Good Good.
We even got a call from president telling us he heard we gave great talks in sacrament meeting.
We had a lesson with the lady we gave the book of mormon to and she was very interested in the book of mormon and Joseph smith. She had even read to 2nd Nephi in the book of mormon. It was a great lesson one where you just sit back and smile becuase you know they are understanding.
For thanks giving we had one family that invited us over and fed us a ton. Then right after that we went to another family who also gave us a ton. They live further out in the nowheres. so we went and swang on some vines while she was finishing the food. =) We went to eat and It was delicious. My favorite of the day. While she was helping serve us i put a fake cockroach on her plate =) she came back and had the most disgusted look on her face. Then smiled and said "elderes yo debo saber ya que siempre me hacen maldades" =) I honestly continue to love these people. I feel like they are my family! I told my companion that i wish she could be my aunt or something. She told me that next year i can come back and go Black friday shopping with her all over puerto rico. She left at 4 in the morning.
We also ahd a ward activity that was great! We did Create a sundae. it turned out great! The ward mission leader was afraid of letting us run it thinking it wouldn't turn out very good. But it turned out great! We had another little talk with the bishop just to update him on our work and things that are happening.
Then on saturday we had a service project to clean someones yard. She also lives way out in the nowheres. it was super! My companion got sick. Way sick that night. His eyes were blood shot and had a fever. Then i gave him a blessing that night and he woke up perfectly fine.
Then sunday morning we both gave talks. I enjoyed it a lot. I learned a lot preparing and giving the talk. Revelation is great. Being able to use scriptures in ways i had never thought about seem to be coming to me much more lately. What a blessing. I have used the same chapter with many members this week and everytime empphasizing on a different principle of the Gospel. Nephi and his brothers getting the plates.
Good Good Good.
We even got a call from president telling us he heard we gave great talks in sacrament meeting.
November 16, 2009
Hello Family.
So we got our contacts this week! Woohoo! And our hours of finding time. This week we also tried pigs feet. MMMMM not! EWWW. I didn’t like it at all! And Flan de pana pen. Which is a flan made out of a big green fruit called bread fruit. We don`t have it in the states. But it is good. I learned you can pretty much make flan out of anything. Pumpkin cheese breadfruit and there are a few others I have heard of. I am going to learn how to do it. This weekend we also had the opportunity to listen to M Russel Ballard. He was in the DR and spoke to the whole caribe (Spanish for Carribbean) He shared many stories about his leadership and being able to open these islands to missionary work. He mentioned one where he was to choose a stake president and he was so concerned. It was one of his first assignments and he went to do the interviews and interviewed all but 2 people. Hadnt felt anything special with any of them. He got to the end and when he went into the hall to shake the hand of the second to last he said. Where do I know you from. He replied I shook your hand in general conference 3 years ago. He immediately knew he was to be the stake president. He was sustained and called his parents after the meeting on Sunday and said Mom quess what. She replied I already know last night when I was washing dishes I felt the impression you would be stake president. he mentioned she felt that at the same time he extended the call. The he told his father dad guess what I was called…I know to be stake president. his dad replied I already know I had a dream the other night that you were called to the stake president. He told elder Ballard about that and elder ballard returned to utah and spoke with Heber J Grant. And told him what had happened. And he started to chuckle. He asked him what was funny. And Heber Replied it's funny how the lord requires us to be confidential but he goes around telling everyone before it happens. =) funny huh
We had a great lesson with this lady named Mari. She has an eight year old daughter that was quoting scriptures in the bible the whole lesson. We talked about Jesus Christ and she said. Did you know it says in John that god so loved the world that he gave his only begotten son. And recited many scriptures. It was an amazing lesson and she told us she would pray. As well this week we had many contacts and one the guy stopped me and said tell me something I don’t know so I said ok well did you know that not only in Jerusalem but jesus also preached in… and he cut me off saying there you go again telling me something I have already read in the bible. We walked away.
We are having a few problems with the ward and their attitudes about preach my gospel and missionary work. I really tried being bold with members and trying different things to get references. I HATE KNOCKING DOORS. So president told me to find a more effective method. So we are having a family home evening at the home of the Bishops second counselor this week with one of their neighbors. =) it was great. I am really trying to work harder with the members here. This week we are focusing on getting the bishopric out with us. Its not so easy as they all work.
This week as well we finally had a good coordination meeting where we made some plans and followed up. We also spoke with the bishop about some concerns we have and overall I really just feel like this last week was how missionary work should be. We worked hard. Although we definitely could have worked better we did what we were supposed to and found new more effective ways to do some things.
Next week is Thanksgiving! CRAZY! We are going to the house of a member for thanksgiving. She told us not to plan anything for that day that the old missionaries have always spent the whole day there. But…nope. We will be obedient.
Wish you all a good week and if I remember more of what we did I will write it.
Hailee How are you? How is life how was your sleep over?
There is a family here that has a daughter that is 11 she acts like she is 16 I bet you will seem the same way when I see you again. And I bet I might seem like an old man when I get back. Guess what… I did jello to my companion this week. He said ´´elder what´s your problem why can you not be normal?´´ I just cant. Just not in my power. =) I hope youre enjoying your time as a kid. Before you know it before mom and dad know it youll be in BYUIDAHO with all the rest of your family. And mom and dad are going to move to utah or Idaho so theyre not lonely. =) That’s only 7 years away 7 years ago I was starting middle school and now I am already on my mission AAAHHHH almost done.
Josh! How are you bud! I haven’t heard from you in a while. Whats going on. What do you like to do most in Rexburg?
So we got our contacts this week! Woohoo! And our hours of finding time. This week we also tried pigs feet. MMMMM not! EWWW. I didn’t like it at all! And Flan de pana pen. Which is a flan made out of a big green fruit called bread fruit. We don`t have it in the states. But it is good. I learned you can pretty much make flan out of anything. Pumpkin cheese breadfruit and there are a few others I have heard of. I am going to learn how to do it. This weekend we also had the opportunity to listen to M Russel Ballard. He was in the DR and spoke to the whole caribe (Spanish for Carribbean) He shared many stories about his leadership and being able to open these islands to missionary work. He mentioned one where he was to choose a stake president and he was so concerned. It was one of his first assignments and he went to do the interviews and interviewed all but 2 people. Hadnt felt anything special with any of them. He got to the end and when he went into the hall to shake the hand of the second to last he said. Where do I know you from. He replied I shook your hand in general conference 3 years ago. He immediately knew he was to be the stake president. He was sustained and called his parents after the meeting on Sunday and said Mom quess what. She replied I already know last night when I was washing dishes I felt the impression you would be stake president. he mentioned she felt that at the same time he extended the call. The he told his father dad guess what I was called…I know to be stake president. his dad replied I already know I had a dream the other night that you were called to the stake president. He told elder Ballard about that and elder ballard returned to utah and spoke with Heber J Grant. And told him what had happened. And he started to chuckle. He asked him what was funny. And Heber Replied it's funny how the lord requires us to be confidential but he goes around telling everyone before it happens. =) funny huh
We had a great lesson with this lady named Mari. She has an eight year old daughter that was quoting scriptures in the bible the whole lesson. We talked about Jesus Christ and she said. Did you know it says in John that god so loved the world that he gave his only begotten son. And recited many scriptures. It was an amazing lesson and she told us she would pray. As well this week we had many contacts and one the guy stopped me and said tell me something I don’t know so I said ok well did you know that not only in Jerusalem but jesus also preached in… and he cut me off saying there you go again telling me something I have already read in the bible. We walked away.
We are having a few problems with the ward and their attitudes about preach my gospel and missionary work. I really tried being bold with members and trying different things to get references. I HATE KNOCKING DOORS. So president told me to find a more effective method. So we are having a family home evening at the home of the Bishops second counselor this week with one of their neighbors. =) it was great. I am really trying to work harder with the members here. This week we are focusing on getting the bishopric out with us. Its not so easy as they all work.
This week as well we finally had a good coordination meeting where we made some plans and followed up. We also spoke with the bishop about some concerns we have and overall I really just feel like this last week was how missionary work should be. We worked hard. Although we definitely could have worked better we did what we were supposed to and found new more effective ways to do some things.
Next week is Thanksgiving! CRAZY! We are going to the house of a member for thanksgiving. She told us not to plan anything for that day that the old missionaries have always spent the whole day there. But…nope. We will be obedient.
Wish you all a good week and if I remember more of what we did I will write it.
Hailee How are you? How is life how was your sleep over?
There is a family here that has a daughter that is 11 she acts like she is 16 I bet you will seem the same way when I see you again. And I bet I might seem like an old man when I get back. Guess what… I did jello to my companion this week. He said ´´elder what´s your problem why can you not be normal?´´ I just cant. Just not in my power. =) I hope youre enjoying your time as a kid. Before you know it before mom and dad know it youll be in BYUIDAHO with all the rest of your family. And mom and dad are going to move to utah or Idaho so theyre not lonely. =) That’s only 7 years away 7 years ago I was starting middle school and now I am already on my mission AAAHHHH almost done.
Josh! How are you bud! I haven’t heard from you in a while. Whats going on. What do you like to do most in Rexburg?
November 9, 2009
by small and simple things great things are brought to pass alma 37:6
SO THIS LAST WEEK WE HAD AN AWESOME LESSON WITH MARISOL! we were at her house and the most amazing thing happened. She Prayed! Then we talked about the plan of salvation. THEN! She said Elders please forgive me i am sorry i didn't accept Joseph Smith as a prophet.
(the week before al ensenarle the restoration she asked us how she could believe he was a prophet because he wasn't in the bible)
She said. I really feel like he could be a prophet. I feel like what i read here is the word of God! It was awesome! We also taught her daughter on saturday. She said i am Half and Half. I understand everyting i just dont really understand The spirit world. then she started talking about how her family loves tatoos and piercings. hmmm... But two really good lessons! Woohoo!
So this week We had interviews with presiden't. A lo mejor i will get a copy of our practices we did. he recorded us... =s and made us watch us teaching. He gave us some good complements. They acted hard for us. WHew. But they were things that usually come up. He also told me in my interview that he wanted to split my area its the biggest area in the mission. But he told me that he was going to becuase it has a lot of potential. But then i talked with him today and he said he wants to close it. Wake the members up. That would be my 3rd time closing an area. Woohoo! He also told me he really wants to change the culture of the mission. He dared me to be the one to change it. He said "Elder Ellis... The missionaries aren't working like they should. All it takes is one missionary to start a change. I want you to be that missionary! I want you to start it. Be completely obedient and more than anything i want you to baptize. I want you to have success. Elder Ellis i am making a promise for you. If you fulfill with the Goals we have set. I Promise you that you will baptize. Try the Lord! Be obedient and watch the blessings. Once you do it the whole mission will want to follow."
We have got our contacts since then and will continue to get them. He talked to me about just not letting myself be a person i don't want to be. I want to be a person that has success and as well one that is obedient so i am going to get my contacts to the best of my ability for the rest of my mission. There is no reason not to. I get scared typing it to you becuase what if i don't do it. BUT NO i want to do it. I will do it!
Woohoo! Missionary work is awesome!
We have about 3 great families right now that could really progress here soon.
But yeah i need to get off! Love You!
SO THIS LAST WEEK WE HAD AN AWESOME LESSON WITH MARISOL! we were at her house and the most amazing thing happened. She Prayed! Then we talked about the plan of salvation. THEN! She said Elders please forgive me i am sorry i didn't accept Joseph Smith as a prophet.
(the week before al ensenarle the restoration she asked us how she could believe he was a prophet because he wasn't in the bible)
She said. I really feel like he could be a prophet. I feel like what i read here is the word of God! It was awesome! We also taught her daughter on saturday. She said i am Half and Half. I understand everyting i just dont really understand The spirit world. then she started talking about how her family loves tatoos and piercings. hmmm... But two really good lessons! Woohoo!
So this week We had interviews with presiden't. A lo mejor i will get a copy of our practices we did. he recorded us... =s and made us watch us teaching. He gave us some good complements. They acted hard for us. WHew. But they were things that usually come up. He also told me in my interview that he wanted to split my area its the biggest area in the mission. But he told me that he was going to becuase it has a lot of potential. But then i talked with him today and he said he wants to close it. Wake the members up. That would be my 3rd time closing an area. Woohoo! He also told me he really wants to change the culture of the mission. He dared me to be the one to change it. He said "Elder Ellis... The missionaries aren't working like they should. All it takes is one missionary to start a change. I want you to be that missionary! I want you to start it. Be completely obedient and more than anything i want you to baptize. I want you to have success. Elder Ellis i am making a promise for you. If you fulfill with the Goals we have set. I Promise you that you will baptize. Try the Lord! Be obedient and watch the blessings. Once you do it the whole mission will want to follow."
We have got our contacts since then and will continue to get them. He talked to me about just not letting myself be a person i don't want to be. I want to be a person that has success and as well one that is obedient so i am going to get my contacts to the best of my ability for the rest of my mission. There is no reason not to. I get scared typing it to you becuase what if i don't do it. BUT NO i want to do it. I will do it!
Woohoo! Missionary work is awesome!
We have about 3 great families right now that could really progress here soon.
But yeah i need to get off! Love You!
November 2, 2009
This week was great! we had another run in with a group of Adventists and handled it much better. Instead of argueing i tried to help him realize that everyone thinks their way of interpreting the Bible is correct. He wouldn't agree saying he has the truth and the scriptures prove it. There was a huge difference. Between my purpose and his purpose. Between the way we went about it and the way he went about it. From the moment he started he talked about the ten commandments and how it says that even the smallest commandments are important. showing us that if we worship on a day other than what it says in the Bible we are worshipping the devil. We were trying to help him understand where the book of mormon came from and inviting him to read it. He just immediately shut it down. Saying he wouldn't waste his time reading something written by Joseph Smith. So we just left it at that and walked out. We did waste our time there. but instead of argueing with his points i agreed with most of them becuase they were true. but i also invited him to think of it from a different point of view. we continued talking and since then i have tried to really not waste my time. Asking people to be honest with us and tell us if they would like to hear or not.
Aside from that we had a great opportunity this week to see the answers of our heavenly father. We had service planned and received a call to find out that the person we were going to do service for was going to the doctor. We decide to go do our backup service and needed string and gasoline for the weedwacker. We went and on the way it started to pour. We said a prayer asking it to stop. As we walked out of the store the rain was gone. The sky still just as grey but not raining at all. Then as we started to work the clouds all disolved and we were able to serve this Brother. Then we went home cleaned up and started to proselyte and the rains started again.
The Lord answers Prayers!
Last night as well we had a great lesson with a family we found a few weeks ago. We have tried to teach them several times. but they always call and cancel but we finally got to talk to them. We started just talking to them and they asked if we wanted anything to drink he offered coffee and she replied "they don't drink coffee, right?" we agreed and started to talk about the Word of Wisdom. We taught them each part and they agreed completely with it. She said she was listening to the radio and heard that if your body hurts or you have headaches when you stop drinking or eating something it means it isn't good for you. She mentioned when she has tried to quit drinking coffee and now knowing god doesn't want us to do it she has more motivation. She encouraged her husband to read the book of mormon (he doesn't like to read) and then at the end without us saying a think they said they were coming to our church next week! Woohoo! and then they invited us over for Dinner! WoohoO!
No more accidents in cars or with machetes for now but im sure you'll hear more before christmas. Now is when people start to paint their houses. so cutting bushes down and many more service projects. =) no...
This week as well we went to talk with a girl that we had taught a few times. She always has like popcorn questions. Just random and pop out of no where. But we went by and her mom was fingering through the book of mormon we left with her. We decided to invite her to listen as well. She stayed and we taught the restoration. In preach my gospel it tells us the importance of using scriptures. Saying it is VITAL. and that the more we use them the more the spirit can be there and the more comfortable the investigator will feel to ask questions and come to church. So we used many scriptures and she started asking us good questions. then asked us why Joseph smith Never appears in the Bible. we explained that it is really just a test of Humility and Faith. If God were to tell us there would be a Joseph smith to come. Where would our faith be. and How many Fake Joseph Smiths would arise. We need to be humble and Ask him.
She understood and said. "Thats the only way i get by in life. I ask God in everything. I will read and ask him if it is true!" She was very humble and i hope and pray that she has recognized and recieved her answer.
So i give candy to the Kids at church if they can tell me an article of faith or quote another scripture. they all come up trying to tell me the Ten commandments or genesis 1:1 they don't say them right and get frustrated when i ask them where they are. I think this week instead of Candy i am going to give them Article of faith cards. so they can start learning them. =) They really attacked me. 4 kids on jumping on my back another pulling my tie another reaching in my pockets and another kicking my shins. AAAAAAHHHHHHH! Kids and Candy don't Mix!
Here the members think its a big sin celebrating Halloween. and a lady in a contact asked us if we celebrate it. we answered well back home its much different. and she quickly replied "But its a pagan holiday" i didn't know what to say.
What does pagan mean? I looked and never found any scriptures saying we can't celebrate holidays.
That was my week.
Well i am learning a ton. Not perfect by working hard. and today we are going Crabbing! Different way of doing it. but yeah! WOohoO!
Aside from that we had a great opportunity this week to see the answers of our heavenly father. We had service planned and received a call to find out that the person we were going to do service for was going to the doctor. We decide to go do our backup service and needed string and gasoline for the weedwacker. We went and on the way it started to pour. We said a prayer asking it to stop. As we walked out of the store the rain was gone. The sky still just as grey but not raining at all. Then as we started to work the clouds all disolved and we were able to serve this Brother. Then we went home cleaned up and started to proselyte and the rains started again.
The Lord answers Prayers!
Last night as well we had a great lesson with a family we found a few weeks ago. We have tried to teach them several times. but they always call and cancel but we finally got to talk to them. We started just talking to them and they asked if we wanted anything to drink he offered coffee and she replied "they don't drink coffee, right?" we agreed and started to talk about the Word of Wisdom. We taught them each part and they agreed completely with it. She said she was listening to the radio and heard that if your body hurts or you have headaches when you stop drinking or eating something it means it isn't good for you. She mentioned when she has tried to quit drinking coffee and now knowing god doesn't want us to do it she has more motivation. She encouraged her husband to read the book of mormon (he doesn't like to read) and then at the end without us saying a think they said they were coming to our church next week! Woohoo! and then they invited us over for Dinner! WoohoO!
No more accidents in cars or with machetes for now but im sure you'll hear more before christmas. Now is when people start to paint their houses. so cutting bushes down and many more service projects. =) no...
This week as well we went to talk with a girl that we had taught a few times. She always has like popcorn questions. Just random and pop out of no where. But we went by and her mom was fingering through the book of mormon we left with her. We decided to invite her to listen as well. She stayed and we taught the restoration. In preach my gospel it tells us the importance of using scriptures. Saying it is VITAL. and that the more we use them the more the spirit can be there and the more comfortable the investigator will feel to ask questions and come to church. So we used many scriptures and she started asking us good questions. then asked us why Joseph smith Never appears in the Bible. we explained that it is really just a test of Humility and Faith. If God were to tell us there would be a Joseph smith to come. Where would our faith be. and How many Fake Joseph Smiths would arise. We need to be humble and Ask him.
She understood and said. "Thats the only way i get by in life. I ask God in everything. I will read and ask him if it is true!" She was very humble and i hope and pray that she has recognized and recieved her answer.
So i give candy to the Kids at church if they can tell me an article of faith or quote another scripture. they all come up trying to tell me the Ten commandments or genesis 1:1 they don't say them right and get frustrated when i ask them where they are. I think this week instead of Candy i am going to give them Article of faith cards. so they can start learning them. =) They really attacked me. 4 kids on jumping on my back another pulling my tie another reaching in my pockets and another kicking my shins. AAAAAAHHHHHHH! Kids and Candy don't Mix!
Here the members think its a big sin celebrating Halloween. and a lady in a contact asked us if we celebrate it. we answered well back home its much different. and she quickly replied "But its a pagan holiday" i didn't know what to say.
What does pagan mean? I looked and never found any scriptures saying we can't celebrate holidays.
That was my week.
Well i am learning a ton. Not perfect by working hard. and today we are going Crabbing! Different way of doing it. but yeah! WOohoO!
October 27, 2009
This week. hmmm hmmm. So that member talked to us forever. then went to members house and she said i had to tell you about my week. Then last week i really tried to contact more people. I really tried hard this week. i talked to people in all places almost even in the bathroom but then i remembered that man show episode. "Dont worry everyone grows up" and decided it might not be an appropriate place to do it. But i tried to contact people everywhere else. Got in an argument with a testigo...(jehovas witness) i dont want to argue it doesn't help anything at all! The spirit can't be there and they don't want to listen. But i was honest with him and we came to some sort of understanding. I think it should say "What the Jehovas Witnesses really teach, using the bible." I read the same Bible you do but have a completely different understanding of what it means. The only person that can tell me what a scripture really means is God himself, or Through a living prophet as he did in the ancient times. but to think that i would follow someone who doesn't believe in the gifts of the spirit, prophecy and revelation, who has put together scriptures that prove his point of view without claiming it was recieved from inspiration from God but by the studies of man is completely strange to me. I thanked him for his time. I invited him to continue reading the bible and always asking God for the inspiration needed to understand What God really Teaches."
last transfer president told us we needed to be bold and show people what they are doing that is against his word. I guess I took it a little too far.
Then yesterday i asked Elder Viñas in our zone conference how i can avoid situations like that. He said. "Well to start i just want you all to know that you should never argue. Never. Especially not with Jehovahs Witnesses." i never even said anything about Jehovahs witnesses in my question. he continued "They know much much more than you all do about the bible. But they key thing you need is The Gift of Discernment. Pray for it seek it study it. and then you will be able to know when you should end a lesson or contact before it is able to turn to something that shouldn't happen, and can't happen for you to keep the spirit"
By telling you this please don't think i am always argueing with people. That was one experience out of many. But this day i too easily accepted his arguement. I am trying hard to improve.
This week we were in the parking lot of Supermax. a grocery store, and we were contacting people. I started talking to a girl about 25 years old. Then from inside the car her mom stated. "We are from such and such a church and we believe We have the holy Ghost and don't need a prophet." So i said "ok so would you be willing to hear our message and let the Holy Ghost tell you whether it is true or not?"
She replied and talked and talked and talked about how we needed to get off the path we were on becAUse God has more for us. becAUse God has so much more and if we would just listen to the holy ghost we could recieve beautiful visions and experiences from God. so i replied "ma'am i came here becAUse i recieved a confirmation of the holy ghost that what i was doing was right and was what god wanted me to do" she quickly said "But you need to come to my church. Just walking into the doors you will feel his holy spirit consume you and will be able to know he has more." she then invited me to pray and ask God where i should go. To read her church program and then ask God if i should go. I acceted her offer and then Continued to contact. an example of what i try to do normally when i recieve opposition to our church. (i did pray... dont worry i'm not coming home anytime soon...)
as we contacted some other people in the same parking lot there was a woman that called us over to her car from the other side of the parking lot. i finished talking to the people we were talking to as my companion went over to her. She said she had received the missionaries before and her sister is the seminary teacher for our ward. We set up a time to call her and pass by and we're pretty excited.
As well we started teaching a woman named ruby. She is the one that doesnt have a whole lot of knowledge of the bible and just wants to follow God. So we taught her yesterday about the apostasy and she understood all of it! we were excited. Her son came in she explained it all to him perfectly. It was a great confirmation of our clarity in teaching. We are always striving for clarity and understanding. There are a few things that impede that here. they like to talk (puerto ricans) and there is always music in the background. ALWAYS! No matter where you are there is someone with a Car or scooter or anything you can put speakers on blasting LOUD! ALWAYS! So it was great that she understood.
That was my week. Trying hard to contact and teach.
last transfer president told us we needed to be bold and show people what they are doing that is against his word. I guess I took it a little too far.
Then yesterday i asked Elder Viñas in our zone conference how i can avoid situations like that. He said. "Well to start i just want you all to know that you should never argue. Never. Especially not with Jehovahs Witnesses." i never even said anything about Jehovahs witnesses in my question. he continued "They know much much more than you all do about the bible. But they key thing you need is The Gift of Discernment. Pray for it seek it study it. and then you will be able to know when you should end a lesson or contact before it is able to turn to something that shouldn't happen, and can't happen for you to keep the spirit"
By telling you this please don't think i am always argueing with people. That was one experience out of many. But this day i too easily accepted his arguement. I am trying hard to improve.
This week we were in the parking lot of Supermax. a grocery store, and we were contacting people. I started talking to a girl about 25 years old. Then from inside the car her mom stated. "We are from such and such a church and we believe We have the holy Ghost and don't need a prophet." So i said "ok so would you be willing to hear our message and let the Holy Ghost tell you whether it is true or not?"
She replied and talked and talked and talked about how we needed to get off the path we were on becAUse God has more for us. becAUse God has so much more and if we would just listen to the holy ghost we could recieve beautiful visions and experiences from God. so i replied "ma'am i came here becAUse i recieved a confirmation of the holy ghost that what i was doing was right and was what god wanted me to do" she quickly said "But you need to come to my church. Just walking into the doors you will feel his holy spirit consume you and will be able to know he has more." she then invited me to pray and ask God where i should go. To read her church program and then ask God if i should go. I acceted her offer and then Continued to contact. an example of what i try to do normally when i recieve opposition to our church. (i did pray... dont worry i'm not coming home anytime soon...)
as we contacted some other people in the same parking lot there was a woman that called us over to her car from the other side of the parking lot. i finished talking to the people we were talking to as my companion went over to her. She said she had received the missionaries before and her sister is the seminary teacher for our ward. We set up a time to call her and pass by and we're pretty excited.
As well we started teaching a woman named ruby. She is the one that doesnt have a whole lot of knowledge of the bible and just wants to follow God. So we taught her yesterday about the apostasy and she understood all of it! we were excited. Her son came in she explained it all to him perfectly. It was a great confirmation of our clarity in teaching. We are always striving for clarity and understanding. There are a few things that impede that here. they like to talk (puerto ricans) and there is always music in the background. ALWAYS! No matter where you are there is someone with a Car or scooter or anything you can put speakers on blasting LOUD! ALWAYS! So it was great that she understood.
That was my week. Trying hard to contact and teach.
October 19, 2009
So Just so you know what happened. Today when I was in the library i was talking to that man and we weren't able to do The email. He talked and Talked and Talked. Then the man at the front of the library logged off my computer becuase i was over an hour. So i was talking to a member and she told me to write you becuase she knows how parents are when they don't hear from their kids. So i am writing a quick note to tell you what happened that i love you and will write you a handwritten letter tonight and send it to you tomorrow morning on the way to district meeting. But yeah Thats what happened and Next week we are not going to that library to do email. That guy stops us every week and i really didn't like how they kicked me off. I didn't even get to write president. He was talking to me and my email kicked me out becuase it took too much time. But yeah! I will write more about my week in a handwritten letter tonight. I Love You! Congratulations Mom and Dad. What a pleasure to know my parents can work through their differences long enough to stay together for more than the world average of 4. I Love You! i wanted mom to read an article that i loved in the ensign. in September the article from Deiter F Uchtdorf. he quoted David O Mckay. I LOVE THAT QUOTE BY DAVID O MCKAY!
"Pues adios, pues adios"
"Pues adios, pues adios"
October 13, 2009
We had interviews with president this week. It was good. It was very good. President told us that he put two clydesdales in an open field so we could start plowing it and...were not doing as he thoguht we would. He kind of chewed us out a little saying that he thought we would have much better results and told us exactly what he wants of us. So we are starting to work. We really started working harder this last week and saw many blessings from it! We started contacting people. Found some old investigators from sister that progressed great but didn't continue and were able to set up appointments with them. It was good. As well we contacted a guy who agreed to let us come by and share with him. So we went and he read all the pamphlet all the definitions and the additional study as well. He was completely prepared to talk about everything and accepted everything we shared. He had no objections and wanted us to come back and share more. It was great! I Loved it!
AS well we are working with a family right now and have tried many times. Many Many Many times to set a baptismal date! They just wouldn't accept. Just kept saying "we will pray and see" so finally we just gave up trying. we just taught them. Then this last week we had a cita with them and had everything planned to share. We got there and for the first time he excitedly told us that he read. So we went over the chapter Alma 32 and asked him what he could do to keep strengthening his Gospel "tree" and explained to him. He turned around and said to his wife. "these guys are smart That is a great example to show with a tree it totally makes sense" Then my companion asked him about baptism. he said you know what. We need to get baptized. we need to keep our trees strong. He chose to be baptized on the 31 of october. =) We were way excited. We still have a few more tings to teach them but they are finally getting somewhere. I was so happy.
This week was good. President really just gave us the wakeup call we needed. and things are turning around.
I wasn't horrible disobedient. But the fact is just wasn't Making my L's look straight like that instead making them a little curved like l that
thats the way president explained it we are trying and will hopefully be seeing the blessings come from being obedient. again i keep all of the big rules no problem. There are tons of things that a missionary just doesn't do. The small ones that don't seem important at times are the ones i have problems with. Going to bed on time. Starting studies on time. (i never sleep in. never have and never will....that one for me is a big one) But things are going to be different this transfer.
AS well we are working with a family right now and have tried many times. Many Many Many times to set a baptismal date! They just wouldn't accept. Just kept saying "we will pray and see" so finally we just gave up trying. we just taught them. Then this last week we had a cita with them and had everything planned to share. We got there and for the first time he excitedly told us that he read. So we went over the chapter Alma 32 and asked him what he could do to keep strengthening his Gospel "tree" and explained to him. He turned around and said to his wife. "these guys are smart That is a great example to show with a tree it totally makes sense" Then my companion asked him about baptism. he said you know what. We need to get baptized. we need to keep our trees strong. He chose to be baptized on the 31 of october. =) We were way excited. We still have a few more tings to teach them but they are finally getting somewhere. I was so happy.
This week was good. President really just gave us the wakeup call we needed. and things are turning around.
I wasn't horrible disobedient. But the fact is just wasn't Making my L's look straight like that instead making them a little curved like l that
thats the way president explained it we are trying and will hopefully be seeing the blessings come from being obedient. again i keep all of the big rules no problem. There are tons of things that a missionary just doesn't do. The small ones that don't seem important at times are the ones i have problems with. Going to bed on time. Starting studies on time. (i never sleep in. never have and never will....that one for me is a big one) But things are going to be different this transfer.
October 5, 2009
It defintiely was a great conference. My third one as a missionary! CRAZY! 1 left. here they broadcast from 12-2 4-6 and 8-10 so we had to just go straight home after the priesthood session. Otherwise we would have gone to wendys. =) i loved it. and i loved watching the videos inbetween. that was neat as well. but yeah we had that tradeoff and then p-day and then conference that not a whole lot really happened. this week we were able to have a great family home evening with a family in our ward. it was awesome we made dinner with them and then washed the gua gua while it was cooking. Their whole fmaily helped us. They are a husbad wife and three kids. Two boys 15 and 14 and then a girl 11 and they all helped us wash the car. we also made the desert for them... better than...almost anything cake. they loved it. She made us what is called pastelon. and its a layer of mashed potatos layer of ground beef layer of more potatos layer of meat and cheese. simple but it was good. Then we shared the story of nephi onthe boat where his brothers tie him up... we had a brick. and all 5 of them had to stand on the brick. its hard to do normally. but we blindfolded on and tied his arms behind his back. The dad. they couldn't do a thing. Then we took it off and read the scripture in 2 nephi 1:21 how lehi blesses them all and tells them to be of one heart and mind. so we tried it again and tried to be more unified and were able to almost do it. the wife kept giving up and didn't want to said it was impossible but the husband was trying to hard. they all learned a lot about unity. it was great! Really made me miss the elder bednar moments of prayer giggling and poking and many other wonderful family home evenings.
Then in conference we were in the english room and there was a woman next to me. She reminding me so much of mom. So much just a warm loving feeling sitting next to her. Just the feeling that whatever happens she is there to help and comfort. I Miss you Mom! You warm heartfilled hugs!
That was my week. Loved conference.
Then in conference we were in the english room and there was a woman next to me. She reminding me so much of mom. So much just a warm loving feeling sitting next to her. Just the feeling that whatever happens she is there to help and comfort. I Miss you Mom! You warm heartfilled hugs!
That was my week. Loved conference.
September 30, 2009
Well we are having pday today becase our zone leaders wanted to got to a science museum like omsi! Woohoo! Excited but we don't have much time till they close so this email is short. I got in another car accident. EVERYTHING IS FINE NO ONE WENT TO THE HOSPITAL NOR HAD ANY PROBLEMS... i will send pictures next week. i was on a trade off. driving a small car my companion was from nicaraguas and cant drive here. So i was driving and pulling into a gas station to meet a member to go teach with at the same time a girl turned the light and was going too fast to stop in time and hit the front right side. Destroyed the bumper bent the fender and started leaking fluids then when we got it to the mission mechanic he said the axel got bent as well. It was a brand new 2009 corolla. Drove nice.... but the police came the girl driving was 18. Sat down and talked to her till the police came talked about church and god and she goes to a pentecostal church because she feels they talk more about christ there than other churches and she liked that. But as soon as it happened there was a towtruck trying to tow our car. We argued a bit because he was all ready to hook up the car and i told him he had to wait until the police came and filled out the report. He told me: Your church might have a prohpet and twelve apostles, you may have pastors you may have anything but you don't have a towtruck.
I just told him to leave us alone. so he went and bought sodas for the other car and they accepted his services. EVERYONE WAS FINE! so we got that all worked out police came and filled everything out and now the offices are working with the insurance. For some reason i slammed on the brakes when i saw her. But realized after if i would have hit the gas to get out of the way like i was thinking of doing we would have had more damage and my companion could have got hurt. So little blessings in a mess. Like finding M&M's in the vaccum filter. =) GROSS! but yeah everything is being worked out. We have to go to the insurance office and explain both sides of the story and then they will decide whose fault it was. As for now i can't drive until president Gives me the OK. But yes we are enjoying driving the Short bus. But it is HUGE! That is mainly what has happened. My mind is not really remembering right now what else we had. but EVERYONE IS FINE!
I just told him to leave us alone. so he went and bought sodas for the other car and they accepted his services. EVERYONE WAS FINE! so we got that all worked out police came and filled everything out and now the offices are working with the insurance. For some reason i slammed on the brakes when i saw her. But realized after if i would have hit the gas to get out of the way like i was thinking of doing we would have had more damage and my companion could have got hurt. So little blessings in a mess. Like finding M&M's in the vaccum filter. =) GROSS! but yeah everything is being worked out. We have to go to the insurance office and explain both sides of the story and then they will decide whose fault it was. As for now i can't drive until president Gives me the OK. But yes we are enjoying driving the Short bus. But it is HUGE! That is mainly what has happened. My mind is not really remembering right now what else we had. but EVERYONE IS FINE!
September 21, 2009
New week!
Well this week wasa great member week. We had over 5 members come out with us. This area is great. Not to mention president martineau ran a meeting after church with the ward missionaries and leaders and it was great! We are really trying to turn this work into more of a member directed work than a missionary directed work. It should have some great results and i am pumped. We have a lady recent convert who's husband didn't get baptized and he doesn't like it when she brings it up but he comes to church this week. I hadn't even met him yet but i still Had a great feeling that we were going to be able to touch him in some way that the sisters hadn't been able to. There are so many great members that want to feed us and everything here in this area. Some are even willing to buy us groceries even though they hardly have money for themselves to eat. The puerto ricans definitely are a kind loving people. They have many weird habits such as stopping on the freeway on-ramp. That is probably one of my biggest pet peeves. They come to a complete dead stop before merging. No matter where they are. The freeway and other roads everywhere, its annoying. There is a little family we found yesterday that seem great and i am way excited to see how far they get. We went finding with a member and it was a great little first lesson. We have another appointment next sunday and i am pumped. My companion is great we get along good but he seems to hog the lessons. I don't know if thats just because he doesn't think i teach good enough or what, but i like switching off more often.
Well this week wasa great member week. We had over 5 members come out with us. This area is great. Not to mention president martineau ran a meeting after church with the ward missionaries and leaders and it was great! We are really trying to turn this work into more of a member directed work than a missionary directed work. It should have some great results and i am pumped. We have a lady recent convert who's husband didn't get baptized and he doesn't like it when she brings it up but he comes to church this week. I hadn't even met him yet but i still Had a great feeling that we were going to be able to touch him in some way that the sisters hadn't been able to. There are so many great members that want to feed us and everything here in this area. Some are even willing to buy us groceries even though they hardly have money for themselves to eat. The puerto ricans definitely are a kind loving people. They have many weird habits such as stopping on the freeway on-ramp. That is probably one of my biggest pet peeves. They come to a complete dead stop before merging. No matter where they are. The freeway and other roads everywhere, its annoying. There is a little family we found yesterday that seem great and i am way excited to see how far they get. We went finding with a member and it was a great little first lesson. We have another appointment next sunday and i am pumped. My companion is great we get along good but he seems to hog the lessons. I don't know if thats just because he doesn't think i teach good enough or what, but i like switching off more often.
September 14, 2009
So no lettersssss....???
Well this week was good. Burned a shirt on the beach for my year mark. i also needed to ask you to send me my august Bank statement please. BEcuase i talked with president and he should be putting the money i spent on groceries from my home card back on. or at least send you a check for it because there was a mistake in the system and i ended up with too much money and wasn't my fault. but if you could send it to me that would be great!the sooner the better. But yea THis week was good we taught many good lessons and had members go out with us for hours on end. It was awesome! we are getting fed a lot. i'm going to get fat! but yeah! Not a whole lot to tell i wrote a letter and will try to send it today! Love You!
Well this week was good. Burned a shirt on the beach for my year mark. i also needed to ask you to send me my august Bank statement please. BEcuase i talked with president and he should be putting the money i spent on groceries from my home card back on. or at least send you a check for it because there was a mistake in the system and i ended up with too much money and wasn't my fault. but if you could send it to me that would be great!the sooner the better. But yea THis week was good we taught many good lessons and had members go out with us for hours on end. It was awesome! we are getting fed a lot. i'm going to get fat! but yeah! Not a whole lot to tell i wrote a letter and will try to send it today! Love You!
September 8, 2009
Well today i am in a funky mood trying to snap out of it. reading about Josh and Galina going to BYU-Idaho made me jealous. but more just what happened this morning has caused me to make my mood different. We are losing our car becuase the sisters crashed it bad right before we got it. So they are taking it to get it fixed. and becuase we are both brand new and know nothing and have 1/8 of our mission in our area we need a car. so they are taking our car and giving us the "Mission Gua Gua" that is puerto rican for HUGE VAN!
Today for p-day i am the chouffer of 7 elders in the mission gua gua. pronounced as in gua-temala gua gua
Crazy! That will be our proselyting car for 2 weeks. its a 17 seater! learning how to drive for my future family! =) but
visitors. The white handbook says no visitors becuase it can distract us for long periods of time. So they cannot come visit me. But they are more than welcome to leave something for me in the mission office. Notes letters cookies money... ) no letters. or whatever. which is just the mail address that you write me at. but yeah! Nothing super exciting. here is what i wrote to my mission president
This week has been kind of strange taking a while to get used to puerto rico again. It is a great place just much different from the islands. I am using papiamento words all over elder arce is too. we catch each other saying them pretty often. This week i noticed the importance of a good branch mission leader. He is probably the ideal ward mission leader. In the sense he knows were the investigators live. He was able to tell us about their challenges and was able to tell us what there needs were. He even told us that when they taught the second lesson the spirit wasn't able to be there so well becuase there were too many distractions. He is on the Ball! Honestly the greatest one i have seen so far. Not only that he only has 3 years in the church. He reads he studies. He takes serious being a member of the church of Jesus Christ of Latter day saints. It is amazing! I Love it in this ward! I just need to completely get used to spanish and puerto rico again!...
it was kind of short becuase dont have a lot of time. This week i am sending you four memory cards...=) i got a new 4G card for $15 so it should last me a while so don't worry about taking a while to send them back. just don't forget to send them back.
The area is great just like i said huge. Half of my zone and about an eighth of the mission. CRAZY!
I Love You! Tell Josh i am excited for him and love him. and Galina the appropriate equivelant.
I miss you and apologize for a not so long or descriptive letter. I will write you a letter with more love and feeling.
WOOHOO!! I am a missionary of Jesus Christ!
Today for p-day i am the chouffer of 7 elders in the mission gua gua. pronounced as in gua-temala gua gua
Crazy! That will be our proselyting car for 2 weeks. its a 17 seater! learning how to drive for my future family! =) but
visitors. The white handbook says no visitors becuase it can distract us for long periods of time. So they cannot come visit me. But they are more than welcome to leave something for me in the mission office. Notes letters cookies money... ) no letters. or whatever. which is just the mail address that you write me at. but yeah! Nothing super exciting. here is what i wrote to my mission president
This week has been kind of strange taking a while to get used to puerto rico again. It is a great place just much different from the islands. I am using papiamento words all over elder arce is too. we catch each other saying them pretty often. This week i noticed the importance of a good branch mission leader. He is probably the ideal ward mission leader. In the sense he knows were the investigators live. He was able to tell us about their challenges and was able to tell us what there needs were. He even told us that when they taught the second lesson the spirit wasn't able to be there so well becuase there were too many distractions. He is on the Ball! Honestly the greatest one i have seen so far. Not only that he only has 3 years in the church. He reads he studies. He takes serious being a member of the church of Jesus Christ of Latter day saints. It is amazing! I Love it in this ward! I just need to completely get used to spanish and puerto rico again!...
it was kind of short becuase dont have a lot of time. This week i am sending you four memory cards...=) i got a new 4G card for $15 so it should last me a while so don't worry about taking a while to send them back. just don't forget to send them back.
The area is great just like i said huge. Half of my zone and about an eighth of the mission. CRAZY!
I Love You! Tell Josh i am excited for him and love him. and Galina the appropriate equivelant.
I miss you and apologize for a not so long or descriptive letter. I will write you a letter with more love and feeling.
WOOHOO!! I am a missionary of Jesus Christ!
September 1, 2009
So this week was good. We picked up some new investigators that were awesome we explained joseph smith and what he experienced and as we explained his question of which one is the true one and she felt the same way she shouted I HAVE THAT SAME QUESTION! and then the next day we taught another lady that said "there can't be as many truths as there are churches. Its not possible but how do i know which one is true? How can i know what baptism works. It was one of those moments you just want to scream it out THIS IS THE ONLY TRUE ONE! but we went about it in a way trying to let her find the answer in the scriptures. My companion said he was glad we had that lesson (on saturday night) because he didn't want to go with the area as dead as it was. So we taught that lesson and last P-day i called president to ask him what was happening and he told me to buy normal food because i was staying. So i did and we enjoyed our food. Then on sunday in church we had a problem. Members started argueing and i tried to calm it down and then the members started telling us that is was our problem and how they didn't feel like anyone even recognized them as members of the church (mission president, the church as a whole) and we just kept explaining to them we come to church to feel the spirit and learn from the scriptures not to see other people or rely on other people. things just kept getting worse. So i called president after church and talked with him for a little while he was very concerned and so just asked me elder ellis...what should we do. i told him my thoughts and he said he would call me back. So we rode our bikes all the way out to westpunt. it was a 45 minute bike ride. and had a lesson and then started to ride back and president called me... "elder ellis. i have decided to close barber." SHABAM blow to the heart. i was excited for next transfer i was excited to keep trying to help the members. "and you have a plane to puerto rico tomorrow morning at ten oclock." SHABAM SHABAM. Two more blows to the heart. i felt like i was in the middle of the desert(i really was) and dying of thirst and tired as all get out. and the only hope for help was a car coming up...and it drove right past (it really did) i just felt like a failure. I know the work here is just as important. but there was just a little sadness getting sent back from the islands so soon. i flew back yesterday and now i will be whitewashing an area with another island elder. i have mixed feelings but ultimately i know it is the same mission and doesn't matter where i am at. The brothers and sisters here need the gospel! I hardley know any of the missionaries here in puerto rico now. Its amazing how many people come and go in a short 5 months. BUT I AM PUMPED FOR REAL AMERICAN FOOD AGAIN! YEAH!
I Love being a missionary!
I Love being a missionary!
August 24, 2009
Woohoo! this is the last full week of this transfer! AAAHHHH! Yeah this week was great, crazy but great. We didn't get a lot of lessons or anything else. we had president interviews and they were great! president asked me if we should close my area. but today he decided that he isn't going to close it but instead he is going to be changing the way i work there. He said i am heading a family/ service approach at missionary work just becuase it has been a while since we have seen success in barber. It is going to be completely different but i am excited. This week i didn't have any accidents but i did have a tradeoff with one of the elders in my district. It was supposed to be a day and a half but ended up being about 4 days. because they made it too late to catch a bus. SO I WENT TO CHUCH HERE and it was awesome. Translating again and with over 100 people in church. next week i will be back in barber with less than 10 people in my front room. Woohoo!
But one more transfer here then i will either go to bonaire or back to puerto rico. becuase we can't get visas. it is just our immigration days and i am up until january when they reset. i have used all my days in aruba and curacaoso until they reset i can't stay. but as soon as they reset president will send me back. Woohoo!
well this letter is a little short and without pictures because i am still up here in punda and don't have my cord. but i love you and wish you all a great week!
But one more transfer here then i will either go to bonaire or back to puerto rico. becuase we can't get visas. it is just our immigration days and i am up until january when they reset. i have used all my days in aruba and curacaoso until they reset i can't stay. but as soon as they reset president will send me back. Woohoo!
well this letter is a little short and without pictures because i am still up here in punda and don't have my cord. but i love you and wish you all a great week!
August 17, 2009
Hello!
So this week we started out and Monday was pretty good! We didn’t get to teach anyone but it was nice walking around and just trying to talk to people. Then Tuesday we had district meeting and since we had another elder go back to Puerto rico because of medical problems it was just the sisters and us. And since our house is the church we did it in our house. It was actually really awkward. Never going to do it again. We got another elder from Australia in our district here. Woohoo! He’s way cool. We were catching crabs here for our P-day activity. Got some good pictures. But as well tomorrow we have president interviews. Before the mission I didn’t like interviews at all. But now I love it because it is a great time to learn to ask questions and to soak up as much gospel and life knowledge as possible. And I will get to report about our district and what I am doing to help them and everything I am excited. So I didn’t cut my self this week. But… I was walking with a candle that was lit. and it spilled down my hand and I dropped it and wax went everywhere. Not to mention down my hand. I have a nice burn mark on my hand. My right hand. Everything has happened on the right hand. I wasn’t even being unsafe this time just taking the candle into the other room. We have candles because the power goes out so frequently. I wasn’t burning anything just walking with a lit candle. But it was funny. Then on Sunday I was trying to close the closet door and took off a little skin on my pinky on my right hand. Bled a little but its good. But the other cuts are fine. The wrist one is all healed up and now just a scar the finger one is started to close up and now I can move my finger normally again. This week we seemed to speak with many Adventists. And I was studying studying and studying to try to prove them wrong. Completely wrong attitude then I read a quote by Ezra Taft Benson. It said. Something like “I am afraid the members underutilize the book of mormon. We don’t have to prove that the book of mormon is true. It proves itself. We just need to learn it and teach it and let people see themselves. It is not on trial. We are on trial. The members of the church. On how well we use this sacred history we have received. I realized instead of trying to prove them wrong with scriptures in there bible Just testify and move on. We had a great lesson with a guy named Theodore and then at the end his wife started talking to us and completely opened up on how she had seen a commercial and wanted the book but couldn’t call to receive it. It was awesome! We are going back this next week. Also our Colombian investigator Alexander came back this week and we have dinner at his house tomorrow. He is great! We had a family home evening this week to try to help the members relationships they don’t get along very well. All 10 of them. =) so for family home evening we wrote letters to other members. One member flat out wouldn’t write a letter. Just sat there and watched the other write. Then another member asked us why we don’t call to ask him to go out with us. It was a big smack in the face. (wake up call) As missionaries we are always afraid of bringing members with us. Maybe they’ll say something weird or take the lesson a different way than we planned. And so we just sometimes don’t even ask. And it just made me think of the quote I heard “if you never ask the answer is almost always no” So I know where I need to improve. One area at least. Its not easy but we are going to do it this week.Woohoo! But other info Somehow I am out of mission money for the month because they haven’t put our island support on yet. So we are waiting on that and I am using my home card until then. So the hundred dollars aren’t 100 anymore. Other clothes can wait.But mom! My shirts are getting dirty! I can’t get my ring around the collar out and my backpack straps are leaving lines on my shoulders. How can I get them out? Is there any secret remedy. I have tried spray and wash and many other things. I soaked them in bleach this week and nothing happened. Back in Puerto rico the Spray and Wash stain stick worked best. But they don’t sell it here. HELP I want white shirts again.
Things are good. Just riding bikes a lot and going from house to house. And then to another house. I met my first german in my mission.
Funny moment. Yesterday we were contacting and talked with a man and he thought we only spoke English so he walked to the houses with us to translate for us. =) it was funny.
I Love you!
Nick Bare got married! Matt told me. I WANT A LETTER IN SPANISH!!! I WANT TO HEAR FROM MY SISTER!!! OR SEE A SINGLE PICTURE FROM HER WEDDING! I HAVE NOTHING !!!
So this week we started out and Monday was pretty good! We didn’t get to teach anyone but it was nice walking around and just trying to talk to people. Then Tuesday we had district meeting and since we had another elder go back to Puerto rico because of medical problems it was just the sisters and us. And since our house is the church we did it in our house. It was actually really awkward. Never going to do it again. We got another elder from Australia in our district here. Woohoo! He’s way cool. We were catching crabs here for our P-day activity. Got some good pictures. But as well tomorrow we have president interviews. Before the mission I didn’t like interviews at all. But now I love it because it is a great time to learn to ask questions and to soak up as much gospel and life knowledge as possible. And I will get to report about our district and what I am doing to help them and everything I am excited. So I didn’t cut my self this week. But… I was walking with a candle that was lit. and it spilled down my hand and I dropped it and wax went everywhere. Not to mention down my hand. I have a nice burn mark on my hand. My right hand. Everything has happened on the right hand. I wasn’t even being unsafe this time just taking the candle into the other room. We have candles because the power goes out so frequently. I wasn’t burning anything just walking with a lit candle. But it was funny. Then on Sunday I was trying to close the closet door and took off a little skin on my pinky on my right hand. Bled a little but its good. But the other cuts are fine. The wrist one is all healed up and now just a scar the finger one is started to close up and now I can move my finger normally again. This week we seemed to speak with many Adventists. And I was studying studying and studying to try to prove them wrong. Completely wrong attitude then I read a quote by Ezra Taft Benson. It said. Something like “I am afraid the members underutilize the book of mormon. We don’t have to prove that the book of mormon is true. It proves itself. We just need to learn it and teach it and let people see themselves. It is not on trial. We are on trial. The members of the church. On how well we use this sacred history we have received. I realized instead of trying to prove them wrong with scriptures in there bible Just testify and move on. We had a great lesson with a guy named Theodore and then at the end his wife started talking to us and completely opened up on how she had seen a commercial and wanted the book but couldn’t call to receive it. It was awesome! We are going back this next week. Also our Colombian investigator Alexander came back this week and we have dinner at his house tomorrow. He is great! We had a family home evening this week to try to help the members relationships they don’t get along very well. All 10 of them. =) so for family home evening we wrote letters to other members. One member flat out wouldn’t write a letter. Just sat there and watched the other write. Then another member asked us why we don’t call to ask him to go out with us. It was a big smack in the face. (wake up call) As missionaries we are always afraid of bringing members with us. Maybe they’ll say something weird or take the lesson a different way than we planned. And so we just sometimes don’t even ask. And it just made me think of the quote I heard “if you never ask the answer is almost always no” So I know where I need to improve. One area at least. Its not easy but we are going to do it this week.Woohoo! But other info Somehow I am out of mission money for the month because they haven’t put our island support on yet. So we are waiting on that and I am using my home card until then. So the hundred dollars aren’t 100 anymore. Other clothes can wait.But mom! My shirts are getting dirty! I can’t get my ring around the collar out and my backpack straps are leaving lines on my shoulders. How can I get them out? Is there any secret remedy. I have tried spray and wash and many other things. I soaked them in bleach this week and nothing happened. Back in Puerto rico the Spray and Wash stain stick worked best. But they don’t sell it here. HELP I want white shirts again.
Things are good. Just riding bikes a lot and going from house to house. And then to another house. I met my first german in my mission.
Funny moment. Yesterday we were contacting and talked with a man and he thought we only spoke English so he walked to the houses with us to translate for us. =) it was funny.
I Love you!
Nick Bare got married! Matt told me. I WANT A LETTER IN SPANISH!!! I WANT TO HEAR FROM MY SISTER!!! OR SEE A SINGLE PICTURE FROM HER WEDDING! I HAVE NOTHING !!!
August 10, 2009
Yay. Some nice stories this week.
This week monday. we just stayed and did nothing in barber for P-day. Way fun! Then tuesday had our district meeting. Pretty good but not as smooth as i planned. then we went to Tera Kora for the rest of the afternoon. It was alright not my favorite but allright. Then we went back home and taught a lesson in barber. Then wednesday. =) we had a Tradeoff with the zone leader. We jsut so happened to have a service project planned as well. So we went to the ladys house to clean up her spiky bushes. We were working hard for about 2 hours. Then as i was cutting down a tree with a machete smack smack smack BOING. The machete bounce back and made a really funny noise then hit the ground and i turned around and looked at elder king. Started laughing then bent down to pick it up and realized it had sliced my arm. right above my right wrist. sliced clean through the leather glove and a good 1/8th inch deep into my arm its only about an inch long. But was open pretty big. So we went to the hopsital and (expecting stitches) they glued it shut. Went home and now i have a cool little scar. Thursday was weekly planning and we finished the day with no lessons and nothing really to show for a days work. Friday we went to tera cora and were behind a bit becuase of our hospital trip on finding hours. So we went finding for 4 and a half hours super D duper. Started talking with a lady that started trying to prove me wrong with the bible and i ended up proving her wrong and she knew it started out as a very defensive conversation and quickly we had control again it actually ended very good they started asking about our missions and then i showed them pictures of you guys and their hearts melted and they listened to us more. Then saturday we started with a nice service project painting our investigators house... it was fun. Then went to our dutch class. WoohoO! and man dutch is not easy. Spanish and papiamento were so much easier. Sunday church was good. ANother 2:30 hours of finding time and not a single lesson. Today...P-Day =) we studied and my companion was waiting for me so we could go to the store. i was trying to make a lizard trap. He went into the other room and before i knew it i had sliced my index finger. Almost down to the bone. blood everywhere. My companion was just shocked that in the same week i had sliced myself twice. So we waited for about 30 minutes for the bus and finally got to the hospital. The nurse laughed at me. He said he would have stayed home and put a bandaid on it. This cut was much worse than my forehead scope injury that took 7 stitches. Deeper at least. Then the doctor looked at it and just put more glue on it. I was kind of shocked that the nurse suggested that i just go home and put a bandaid on it. That would ahve made a much uglier scar and as well would just leave and nice big open wound ready for infection. Big difference in American medicine and island medicine. But other than that this week wasn't super exciting. Almost all our citas fell through and we had a very hard contacting week.
But overall things are good.
This week monday. we just stayed and did nothing in barber for P-day. Way fun! Then tuesday had our district meeting. Pretty good but not as smooth as i planned. then we went to Tera Kora for the rest of the afternoon. It was alright not my favorite but allright. Then we went back home and taught a lesson in barber. Then wednesday. =) we had a Tradeoff with the zone leader. We jsut so happened to have a service project planned as well. So we went to the ladys house to clean up her spiky bushes. We were working hard for about 2 hours. Then as i was cutting down a tree with a machete smack smack smack BOING. The machete bounce back and made a really funny noise then hit the ground and i turned around and looked at elder king. Started laughing then bent down to pick it up and realized it had sliced my arm. right above my right wrist. sliced clean through the leather glove and a good 1/8th inch deep into my arm its only about an inch long. But was open pretty big. So we went to the hopsital and (expecting stitches) they glued it shut. Went home and now i have a cool little scar. Thursday was weekly planning and we finished the day with no lessons and nothing really to show for a days work. Friday we went to tera cora and were behind a bit becuase of our hospital trip on finding hours. So we went finding for 4 and a half hours super D duper. Started talking with a lady that started trying to prove me wrong with the bible and i ended up proving her wrong and she knew it started out as a very defensive conversation and quickly we had control again it actually ended very good they started asking about our missions and then i showed them pictures of you guys and their hearts melted and they listened to us more. Then saturday we started with a nice service project painting our investigators house... it was fun. Then went to our dutch class. WoohoO! and man dutch is not easy. Spanish and papiamento were so much easier. Sunday church was good. ANother 2:30 hours of finding time and not a single lesson. Today...P-Day =) we studied and my companion was waiting for me so we could go to the store. i was trying to make a lizard trap. He went into the other room and before i knew it i had sliced my index finger. Almost down to the bone. blood everywhere. My companion was just shocked that in the same week i had sliced myself twice. So we waited for about 30 minutes for the bus and finally got to the hospital. The nurse laughed at me. He said he would have stayed home and put a bandaid on it. This cut was much worse than my forehead scope injury that took 7 stitches. Deeper at least. Then the doctor looked at it and just put more glue on it. I was kind of shocked that the nurse suggested that i just go home and put a bandaid on it. That would ahve made a much uglier scar and as well would just leave and nice big open wound ready for infection. Big difference in American medicine and island medicine. But other than that this week wasn't super exciting. Almost all our citas fell through and we had a very hard contacting week.
But overall things are good.
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