The BoM is the Bomb (Dot Com)

Blurry pic of Grand Central station as a representation of how fast everyone moves 

Aloha Family a me Friends,

I. Love. The. Book. Of. Mormon. 

Basically to the point when we are sitting in Sunday School and have to introduce ourselves and say our favorite author/book...I legit have no other answer than the Book of Mormon. Hahah. Then again I was never the biggest reader to begin with sooo...anyways it's a great book. Read it, live it, love it. It is either true or its not. Black or white.  Yes or no. It's from God or it's not. You read, you ask, you find. 

Last week the Union Square Sisters ran into a member who just moved here from Utah in May and she lives in our area. We go up and see her and she hasn't been to church or said her prayers in awhile. She left to NYC just five days after she graduated high school taking a backpack and a carry on. Crazy right?. After much talking, we gave her a Book of Mormon. The moment she got it, she started flipping through it and recalling all these good memories growing up and reading it. There was a new light in her face; it was honestly one the of the sweetest moments :') When we left we got this text: "I can honestly say I haven't felt this good since I remember. When you left I had the most weirdest happiest feeling ever". I can only imagine how happy our Father in heaven must be :) The power of the Book of Mormon. 

Helped this couple move a couple of streets down.
Sister Lowe and I carried suitcases and took pics lol. Documenting. 

Remember the other week when we found someone walking behind us and he came to church? Yeah. Jose. Our bud Jose. He's legit golden. We have the most solid Restoration lesson and after we read from the Book of Mormon he just said "wow". We told him that we would call every night to read some with him and that night at the end of the call we told him to pray to ask God if this book was true. He comes to church the next day and tells us: "Sisters. He spoke to me. He really did and guess what. He told me 'The Book of Mormon is true'. I swear to God I know this book is true and I will not deny it. But I feel bad because I didnt talk back to God I just want to sleep is that bad??". Man. You should've seen our faces. Our eyes were SO big hahah. Ask and ye shall receive right? The power of the Book of Mormon. 

One more one more story from this week. About...you guessed it, the power of the Book of Mormon. When I'm at a lost of words, no worry beef curry, the Book of Mormon speaks truth and gives me tons of words to read and tons of stories to refer back to! So when two crazy old guys chilling on a park bench Friday afternoon ask Sister Lowe and I: "You two are church girls. Help us out over here. We are trying to debate whether or not it is good to kill someone". We whip out our Book of Mormons and read in Alma 37:37 and tell them to go "counsel with the Lord in all thy doings". They were both like "huh thats true, probably should do that". Yes sir. Go to God first before you make that decision. 

Met this one seven months ago!
We also walked seven or so miles this day because our metro cards expired..lol

The Book of Mormon is great. I can testify to you that any and every question will be answered in this book. No, the book will not tell you exactly what major to choose or where to move to. But God WILL put feelings and thoughts in our minds and heats as we read it. These records were preserved for a wise purpose. They were preserved as a way for God to show us His love and guide us. 

Elder Brian K. Taylor said it best as he quote President Nelson this past conference: 

"I invite each of us to seek God and His Beloved Son. “Nowhere,” President Nelson directed, “are those truths taught more clearly and powerfully than in the Book of Mormon.” Open its pages and learn that God does “all things for [our] welfare and happiness”; that He is “merciful and gracious, slow to anger, long-suffering and full of goodness”; and that “all are alike unto [Him].” When you feel hurt, lost, scared, upset, sad, hungry, or hopelessly abandoned in life’s extremities—open the Book of Mormon, and you will come to know that “[God] will never desert us. He never has, and He never will. He cannot do it. It is not His character [to do so].”

Went on splits with ASL Sisters! (ps this is what we look like after a day of walking around in this heat)

Randoms:

1) One day...Went to Flushing, Queens and felt like I was in China. Went to Grand Central Station and felt as if I were in the movie, "Madagascar", as I was in awe by all that was happening and how fast-paced everyone moved. Went upstate to Scarsdale and felt as though I was in a whole different mission. Came back to Harlem and felt at home. Harlem is home. 

2) Had the grand idea of putting my banana in my bag and holding my Book of Mormon in my hand instead. My banana decided to somehow explode and get all over my wallet and phone and notepad. Lol no better smell than a banana. Sister Lowe said "My dislike for bananas has increased since being your companion". Hahaha.

3) We call our friend, Jose, every night to read the Book of Mormon with him. If we are a minute late he will call us and get upset. Its actually the greatest thing. 

4) Columbia students are back! A girl came up to me and asked me if I were "Hi'ilei" haha that threw me off guard by a million. Turns out that she is the younger sister from my friend from BYU! Helena, your sister is the sweetest :) 

5) Two weeks ago we met this guy on the park bench. No matter how persistent we were he wouldn't give us contact information. But we scheduled a return appointment at the park bench. Fast forward two weeks. He shows up on time. Talk about real intent!! 

6) Still on the lookout for deaf people. Helped a member move and after she told us the mover guy was deaf. Literally the saddest thing ever happened. We walk out and see the truck driving away. I was ready to run after it but then I forgot that I can't outrun a truck. Sad day. 

7) One night we were walking home and I felt as though there was no one on the streets. Across the way we see this girl and I was like "She looks YSA lets go talk to her". So we chase her down and turns out shes like 50 lol. But we start talking to her and apparently she used to meet with missionaries three years ago! We go back home and look up her records and she was taught 88% of the principles and didnt get baptized because she felt that God told her it wasnt her time just yet. Well Shawanna I think your time is now! 

8) Super random. But several people this past week on the streets asked me about my cultural identity or soverignty stuff down in HI. I told them "I am Hawaiian now and forever. I am also a daughter of God now and forever. My identity as a Hawaiian and a daughter of God give me hope, comfort, and peace. These are two of the most important truths I know and there is nothing that anyone can do that will take it away from me". It felt good to testify truths.

George Washington Bridge...at night

Me ke aloha,

Sister Ellis

Believe Believe Believe