All in All Pleased
Technology wasnt being my friend last week and for some reason only my pictures went out...oops. So heres my email from last week because I love my two parentals and I know they would want to hear what went down last week :)
Aloha Family a me Friends,
This past week President Smith (our mission president) has been placing a huge emphasis on being ALL IN for the Lord and for this work. We must be all in physically, spiritually, emotionally, and mentally so that on the last day we may stand accountable to the Lord for all of our actions here on Earth. And so that at the end of the night we may each earn that pillow. When the Savior performed the Atonement He was ALL IN for us and for that reason I will be ALL IN for Him.
On Saturday, Sister Felix and I decided to be a little more creative with some finding. Since people wouldn't let us in to their homes, we went to the people. We went to the busiest road here, Fordham Road. We stood there with Restoration pamphlets and cards and talked to as many people as would stop to hear our message. Yes, it was awkward at first. But hey it was never easy for the Savior now was it? We were down to one last pamphlet and regardless of the hundreds of people we saw...no one would simply take it. It was getting late, it was hot. Then MIRACLE. A woman comes up to us and asks us her opinion about her outfit. We offer a pamphlet. She looks at it and exclaims: "RESTORATION?? This is EXACTLY what I need in my life". Turns out she just came from her own church and actually lost a grandson last year. It was perfect. It was divine. It was simply the Lord's work in action. That day we gave it our all, we were all in.
Yesterday, I had the opportunity to speak in Sacrament Meeting on Fathers. I posed the question to the congrergation : "Think about an influential father figure in your life. How has he shaped you? How would your life be without him? Is he happy with you? Is he proud of who you are?"
I love my father. He is a navigator over the seas but also the navigator of my life. There is one instance that will remain embedded in my memory forever. It was after I crossed the finish line at my last cross country meet. After I had given my ALL. After years of sacrifice and exhaust and giving everything I had physically, emotionally, mentally, spiritually. It was in this moment...he told me he was proud of me and I knew it and couldn't deny it. I was ALL IN and he was proud of me. I love you, Dad.
Each time Heavenly Father introduced his Son, Jesus Christ, he said: "Behold my Beloved Son, in whom I am well pleased...hear ye him" (3 Nephi 11:7).
May we each live our lives in a way that would make our individual father figures in our lives proud. And how much greater will our joy be when we know that our Father in Heaven is proud and pleased with our deeds and desires here on Earth. May we constantly give it our ALL and strive to live for the day when our Heavenly Father will say to each of us:
"You are my beloved child, in whom I am well pleased".
Randoms:
1) Pretty much know our area book. One day this referral for a free Book of Mormon popped up. Turns out to be the coolest 15 year old girl. She and three friends came to church and cheered me on during my talk.
2) Went to Central Park to play frisbee today. A guy comes up and asks to play. Turns out that he went to Kamehameha Schools as well, ran track and xc, I ran with his younger brother, and he is the nephew of a few of my coaches. What are the odds. Divine coincidences.
3) Summers coming in full force over here. It's hot. It's also, apparently, legal to just open fire extinguishers on the road and let them run. (The inner sustAINAbility part of me is concerned about the large waste of water lol #waiwai).
4) After I gave my talk, my Bishop pulled up my track and xc stats. The things you can find online now haha #HiGoogle
5) Walked out of our church building. A Chinese woman stares at me. I say hi and keep walking. Then I turn around and try my best to speak to her. Gave her a card. She becomes filled with joy, kisses the pictures, and hugs me. She got really excited because she thought that we had a Mandarin Ward up here or that I could translate for her ahaha. Luckily we have a ward down in Chinatown :)
6) Happy (early) 15th birthday Kala. Hope you have fun at the beach you kook. Also a very happy 23rd anniversary to my parentals yesterday. Love you two so so much.
Me ke aloha,
Sister Ellis
Believe Believe Believe
