Voices From The Dust

Aloha family a me friends,

"I know...that I am here".

Ahh...the words that literally came out of my mouth during the testimony meeting at Zone Conference this past Thursday. Pretty obvious fact right?Initially I was like wow I shouldve said that I know that I am in the right place or something else. However, what I said is what I know and what I know is not an opinion, it is a fact. I am here mentally, physically, spiritually, emotionally...yeah you get the deal.

Here. I know who I am as a daughter of God. Here. I know the power of the Atonement of Jesus Christ. Here. I know my identity.

Knowing your identity is a topic that has been imprinted on me from a young age. Distractions of the world often clouds one from learning more about one's spiritual and genetic DNA. It is imperative for one to know their identity by first knowing their history.

Yesterday in church, our talks in sacrament meeting and lessons were centralized on the history of black pioneers in The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter Day Saints. Regardless of our race, we stand upon the shoulders of pioneers and prophets of old, people who "labor[ed] diligently to write, to persuade [us and] our children, and also our brethren, to believe in Christ, and to be reconciled to God; for we know that it is by grace that we are saved, after all we can do." (2 Nephi 25:23).

It is in the divine diversity of the world that we find beauty. The mixing of identities brings excitement and joy. It makes the heart rejoice (well at least mines I should say) when we know who we are and where we are. May we each look to our ancestors and their stories. May we head the promptings of prophets of old who sacrificed SO much for the welfare of our souls. May we open our ears and listen to their voices. They speak to us to today and desire for us to follow Christ and His commandments, such commandments that bring us eternal happiness on this life and the life to come.

Randoms:

1) The four sisters of the Kingsbridge 2nd Ward wore head wraps on Tuesday. Sister Felix and I went all out with black tops and colorful skirts (check out me pic below). We got a bunch of stares on the streets. Not everyday you see an Asian trying to be an African ha ha ha.

2) Just about to get to the dentist office, when Sister Felix realizes that she doesnt have her phone. We head all the way back down from Riverdale. Its been an hour, we are in the Bronx, I was pretty convinced that we would NOT find it. MIRACLE. A kind soul was standing with her phone at the first bus stop we went to and said that he knew the owner would come back for it! Wow blessings.

3) Sitting in Zone Conference. President Smith is getting SUPER spiritual and goes: "Sister Felix and Sister Ellis how did it feel when your nineth investigator walked into church on Sunday?". We look at each other and are both like "...Bomb Diggity!". Lolol. You all shouldve seen President's face. Classic.

4) After Zone Conference in Scarsdale we followed our District Leader onto a train. It was an express train, thus the wrong train. We went all the way down to Harlem. *facepalm*

5) Bought a 10 lb bag of Idaho potatoes (@Hermana Patterson hehe ilysm). Bought 2 pineapples for $3. Got a couple free mangos on the street. Life is swell.

6) Got to conduct the music at Zone Conference again. Honestly the sweetest and strongest feeling: standing in front of missionaries and conducting the singing of "Hope of Israel" acapella in the historic mission home.

Me ke aloha,

Sister Ellis

Believe Believe Believe