"If Jesus were a New Yorker"
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| My wonderful Jamaican grandma that only comes to fast and testimony meetings to sing her testimony to everyone haha love her |
Aloha Family and Friends!
Last week, all of the YSA Missionaries had a meeting with the NY NY YSA Stake Presidency and boy did they light the fire under our butts and even burn part of our eyebrows off. Haha. Nonetheless they're some great New Yorkers and made me love the city, the people, and my calling even more.
They told us to "live with a sense of urgency", to "not just be the cute kids with the name tags" and thus to not
"just be there, be bold". Pretty much matches up with the aggressive, fast-paced attitudes of many people here.
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| Trio pics and new hair cuts |
About a month ago, a nice lady on the bus gave me an invitation to her church and on it it said: "If Jesus were a New Yorker". Didn't put much thought into it, until now actually haha. And with that thought, the advice given by the YSA stake presidency matches with the perfect attitude of our Savior as well.
Christ lived with purpose and in a sense of urgency. He knew His time on the earth to do His Father's will was limited and short and thus He spent His everyday serving, teaching, and healing. We, as missionaries, know that at minimum we have six weeks to make an area better than we found it and to really hasten the work.
Christ was bold with his invitations. He knew what was the best for us and He desired for us all to come unto Him. Everything done by Christ was done on time. When I picture Christ, I picture grace and dignity. If He were in Harlem, He probably wouldn't be running down the streets to get to an appointment or catch a bus (lol at us). He would never be too late or too early. Rather He would always be on time and in the right places, at the right time, exactly where Father needed Him to be. He understood that all "things are done in wisdom and order; for it is not requisite that a man should run faster than he has strength. And again, it is expedient that he should be diligent, that thereby he might win the prize; therefore, all things must be done in order" (Mosiah 4:27).
So "if Jesus was a New Yorker". If He were, He would minister to the millions but also to the one. He would know exactly how to help the happy, the sad, the rushed, the unmotivated. And that is because He is. He is a New Yorker. He is a Canadian. He is an African. He is because He understands and emphasizes with us all perfectly because He has already done through it all. He understands the struggles we go through and He wants to heal. He loves us entirely and eternally.
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| Me and the gecko named "Beast". Fears conquered (for a minute) |
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| Went to a members home so that she could cut her hair and this was her view of the city! <3 |
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| Took a selfie next to this sign outside of Jacob's Restaurant. We think its a popular sign or something haha |
I know that He lives. I know that He loves. I know He not only created this earth but continues to create hope. And I know He is right alongside me every single day.
:)
Randoms:
1) Went to a less actives home last night. They breed geckos. They have about 40. And one of them even costs $1000. Lol. If you know me...I'm not a fan of geckos. But I got up the courage to actually pet them and hold them. It was a big deal haha
2) Last night we helped a frantic lady find her cat down the street. In return she gave us a ton of free vegetables from the garden. Plums, lettuce, celery, broccoli, apples, and potatoes for days :)
3) Sister Lowe: "Holy Nuggets!!"
Sister Kurokawa: "...holy nugget?"
Sister Ellis: "You know like the holy ghost? and chicken nuggets? Yep that"
Lol. English language is weird.
4) One night Sister Kurokawa held an umbrella over for a guy getting a select bus ticket. He turned and looked at us and was like "man Heavenly Father is so aware of me". We were all like wait whats your name?? Turns out he got baptized a few years ago, went less active, wanted to start going back to church, saw the Elders on the street the day before, and was about to order a Book of Mormon from mormon.org that night. Crazy, talk about being in the right place at the right time.
5) Winter is quickly approaching and I'm not sure how I feel about it hahaha. We busted out our winter coats. Even though the weather is only from 40s-60s haha.
Me ke aloha,
Sister Ellis
Believe, Love, Do