Blessed To Be Alive Today
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District Pics? More like Missionaries-In-The-Kingsbridge2ndWard Pics! Yes.
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Aloha Family a me Friends,
Haha. Don't worry everyone nothing scary happened. I'm safe. I just feel blessed to be alive today.
I definitely could NOT have lived in the 1800s when the pioneers were crossing the plains. I also definitely could NOT have served a mission without technology (props to all those who did though). Having your area book, planner, google maps, and Mormon Message videos on a phone and tablet is a must and a blessing. I know I know such first-world, 21st-century type of problems. But technology is great and this past week I have seen how awesome technology is in furthering God's work!!
Example: We are teaching an investigator that was found by some missionaries about two years ago. At the end of our lesson this past week, we were able to Facebook video messenger call in BOTH of the missionaries that first start teaching her. Her eyes lit up like a lightbulb and she automatically became more open and willing to learn! (This same investigator also told us that she "loves everyone black, white....chinese" lol glad i'm included)
But....sometimes technology fails you. Like when Google Maps decides not to work. Haha
Yes. It happened once more. We went off of our good ole brains and took the wrong train and ended up in Inwood (upper Manhattan). Got off and just by the subways station I knew we had left the Bronx. Because God loves and watches over all of His missionaries...a miracle happened! Within minutes, out of the hundreds of people on the streets...we ran into the sister missionaries serving there! How amazing. We got home before sun down and all was well :)
OH! And remember that woman who has been looking for the church for 15 years?? Yeah she told us on Sunday: "Nothing makes me more happy than the joy I feel when I read this book" (referring to the Book of Mormon). And then winked several times at us. Hahahahah. I love her.
Randoms:
1) We had FIVE of our investigators and ONE less active at church on Sunday! We were so so busy but as you know a good busy. I love being a busy bee.
2) One of our investigators was telling me how she knows Cardi B. Like whaaat. Agh so cool.
3) Last night Sister Combe and I each were given a good 10 scoops of rice and spicy chicken stew at an appointment we had AFTER we had dinner at our home. We both walked out with some Bronx food babies. It was a long half mile walk home lol. Sister Combe threw up a few times on the side of the road. Memories memories memories. (Note to self: dont eat before teaching this Nigerian family).
4) Our senior couple, Elder and Sister Richards, leave this upcoming week :( To be honest...not too sure how this ward is going to survive without them! They do everything from holding weekly Family Home Evenings for the ward and investigators to ARP (Additction Recovery Program) classes to teaching ward members piano to teaching all of Senior Primary to holding Activity Days for the girls to holding Temple Prep classes to tutoring Pathway students to making treats for our whole Zone every week.
5) Our district has a goal of inviting 200 people to watch General Conference with us at church this weekend. Currently we are at about 130. It's been SO great.
Spiritual Thought:
President Gordon B. Hinckley
"The best antidote I know for worry is work. The best medicine for despair is service. The best cure for weariness is the challenge of helping someone who is even more tired."
What more can I say. President Hinckley says it perfectly. The greatest medicine for anything is work and service. There is no greater joy than the joy of serving your fellow men and God, himself. I know this because I have felt this joy first hand.
Want to hear more inspirational quotes like these?? I'm not even going to let you answer because I know you do. Tune into General Conference THIS weekend (Saturday and Sunday) on lds.org and hear from our LIVING prophet, President Russel M. Nelson, and apostles speak to us! I promise, all of your questions will be answered through the talks given by these people. Trust me.
Me ke aloha,
Sister Ellis
Believe Believe Believe
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| Zone Pics ft. President Smith on the far right!! |
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| That white steeple all the way in the back? Yeah thats our chapel!! |
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| My homeboy Nathan |
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| Split treat with Sister Bandeaux #treatyoself #noregrets (some regrets but....its ok haha) |