No Child Left Behind

Glasses x4 

Aloha Family a me Friends,

As humans, as people, as party people...I'm pretty sure we use every single moment and reason to celebrate (and with food). End of the transfer? Let's celebrate with shakes from Harlem Shake. Meeting with a guy for a lesson for the first time? Yeah, he offered to order a pizza. And apparently yesterday was African Day because all of Malcom X Blvd (the avenue the church is on) was blocked off yesterday to celebrate and have a parade. And of course, there was food and boy did it smell good. But I decided to keep the Sabbath Day Holy and didn't buy anything :) 

Last District Pic! Fun Fact: Half the district are converts to the church

As Latter Day Saints...no difference hahaha. In fact, the people Sister Lowe and I are teaching probably think that all we do is have free food. From the NYNY YSA Stake Institute Kick-Off Party on Saturday that had a full on dinner to a waffle bar after church yesterday to going to a baptismal service last night that had cookies. Yep. You know the Church is true when there is food haha.

We wake up alive every day. We wake up blessed every day. We should celebrate every day. And every single one of God's children is important and matters. In fact, "he inviteth them all to come unto him and partake of his goodness; and he denieth none that come unto him, black and white, bond and free, male and female...[for] all are alike unto God" (2 Nephi 26:33). Just like the school program,No Child [is] Left Behind. God wants ALL of His keiki to return to Him. 

That's the cool thing about being out here. I get that opportunity, every day, to love God's children and help them to find the fullness of Christ's Gospel. Even (and especially) the random guy on the side of the street handing out pamphlets for the election who got caught up talking to some crazy dude on a bike and saw us coming and looked at us and mouthed very clearly: "SAVE ME". Haha yes. Yes sir we can surely not just save you from that pyscho man but we can help you be saved in the kingdom of God. 

Went on a split the other week with Sister Muti for finding days. Shes the best.

And for those of you in the church, how much more wonderful is it that God has provided us a way to participate in gathering His children through the program of MINISTERING! God has given each one of us the opportunity and responsibility to feel more fully the love He has for our brothers and sisters. He TRUSTS us that much. It's pretty amazing. I love the concept of ministering because it is just like Christ did as He ministered to people "one by one". So individualized and so specialized. It really magnifies our worth in God's eyes and our place in His family. 

Whether we may be in the church or not. Whether we may be a missionary or not. Whether we may love our neighbor or not. Let us each, decided to celebrate each other and turn outwards. Make those around us feel loved and special. We are all alike unto Him. God doesn't love the homeless person on the street any more or any less than He loves you or me. And thus why do we? 

Just some food for your thoughts to munch on :-) 

Randoms:

1) Sister Lowe and I had the wonderful idea to increase our teaching pool. We decided that we needed to really assimilate into the Harlem culture and practice our basketball skills. For the past four weeks we have been hitting the courts and practicing our free throw skills at 6:30am. Progress has definitely been made lol. We made a video to a LA that hasnt responded: "Kevin if we make this you have to respond" hahah. 

2) Went to the NYNY YSA Stake Institute kickoff with four of the people we are teaching. First YSA dance (on and off the mission). No I did not and do not dance hahahah

3) Helped a member move and was moving off of the penthouse. He was running late and said that we should go upstairs and try bring some stuff down. We couldnt get up in the elevator. So we walked up the stiars, saw an EXIT door to the roof...Sister Lowe opened it up and set the entire alarm off. Hahaha...good times. 

4) We are working with a guy. He told us for the next couple of months he is going into a "cocoon" and not see anyone. Why? I do not know. We told him he can go in the "cocoon" but take the Book of Mormon and respond to us lol. 

5) Went to Olmstead (East side of the Bronx) for exchanges. A much quieter side than Kingsbridge I shall say. Went to their Leadership meeting and District Council. Taught a lady who came riding up to the chapel on her 6 year old daughters mini motorcycle. She said she uses it because its faster than the subway and if we ride it then she will come to church lol. 

6) Last day of the transfer. And...Sister Lowe and I will be over the Harlem YSA and Harlem 1st Ward!! I'm stoked to get all my people back from the other transfer. Its gonna be sweeeet :) 

Me ke aloha,

Sister Ellis

Believe Believe Believe 

Update: Still do not have hand-eye coordination skills.

Just call Sister Lowe and I...Native. 

"God Friended Me" (some CBS show apparently) used our church for a lunchin.
They put this sign up. It was cute haha