Bronx Child No More

Aloha family a me friends,

You probably know its about time to leave the Bronx when ...

1) You can get around without using area book or google maps to figure out which bus to take or which stop to get off at 

2) People ask you how long you've been here and you tell them "Since February!" and they tell you "oh youre practically a Bronx child already"

3) You start eating all your chicken to the bone like all the Africans here

4) You become friends with the fruit stand and tamale and meat truck and deli guys

5) You can pretty much successfully deduce which African country people are from and they without a doubt guess youre from China

If I had a choice I wouldn't mind serving in the Kingsbridge 2nd Ward in the Bronx for the rest of my mission ha ha. But luckily I don't have a choice and the Lord's plans are so much greater and exactly what I need. Tomorrow I am getting transferred to the big big island of Manhattan and will be serving in Harlem and will be a part of the New York New York City Mission! I am stoked (always gotta #staystoked and #stayoutcheea right Kalai?!)! 

Nonetheless, it's been a pretty bittersweet farewell. Leaving the people and area you've grown to love never was and never will be easy. But that's why I'm so thankful for the simple teaching and example given in 

1 Nephi 3:7 

"And it came to pass that I, Nephi, said unto my father: I will go and do the things which the Lord hath commanded, for I know that the Lord giveth no commandments unto the children of men, save he shall prepare a way for them that they may accomplish the thing which he commandeth them."

I will go and do. I will be like the Nike motto and just do it. I'm excited to go and do the Lord's will and work in Harlem. Our Heavenly Father's will is one of order and reason. And there are so many reasons as to why I started off my mission in this area. So many reasons that become known in the Lord's own timing. I've learned forgivness through listening to stories of mothers who forgave and loved the people who murdered their children. I've learned to be confident and how to love others more than I love myself. I've learned the power of the simple healing truths of the Atonement. 

I will miss my dear companion, Sister Felix, like none other. She has taught me to never say "I think", it's always "I know" because there's no reason to think. She always would say "You can yell at me all you want but there is one thing I know and that is you can't hit me". She is crazy, she is confident, she is fearless, she is the older sister I never had. And I know that one day we shall see each other again (Sidenote: if any of you go to Temple Square go ask for her and bring her chicken ;) )

Sisters of the Bronx #nomess

Randoms:

1) After this transfer, there will only be one set of sisters and one set of elders in the Kingsbridge 2nd Ward. Pretty nuts they've got thousands (maybe even millions) of people to serve now!

2) On our way to help a member move. Saw a woman rocking and crying in the subway. We and another woman passing by stopped. We went and did. We were able to calm her down and fan her off until the paramedics arrived. 

3) This week was bomb diggity. Lessons on lessons on lessons. Bapt dates on bapt dates on bapt dates. We put six people on baptismal date! Super sad to have to leave these people just as they are starting to progress like crazy. But so excited for their journey ahead! 

4) Went to visit a recent convert in a nursing home. Walked into an old people party. They were bumping some hardcore rap. Age is only a number when it comes to partying.

5) Met a guy on the train with dreds. He said "yooo my sistahs i respect the work you do. If Jesus was a rasta too I'd take the card". Why the heck would Jesus be a rasta. 

6) Talked to these guys from Ghana. They look at Sister Felix and are like "Nigeria?" and then they look at me confused and I say "Hawaii!" and one goes "Oh like Obama!? No wonder you look like him" hahaha 

7) The way people talk in the Bronx is pretty broken English. Going to miss being able to just talk small kine pidgin with people on the streets and public transportation lolol. 

Me ke aloha,

Sister Ellis 

Believe Believe Believe 

Me, the Bishops wife, and the relief society president!

Here's a non-frsibee playing picture of our district.