One Subway Stop of Insane Courage #DanJonesNYC

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Little picture after we decorated Lenox Ave

Aloha Family a me Friends, 

Am I actually trying to reference that Judy Moody movie? Yes. Do I actually know who Dan Jones actually is? No. But did I actually go on a subway and be one of those people who talk super loud for everyone? Yes. 

Last week the finding specialist in our mission came out with this initiative to "#DanJonesNYC" and hop on a train or a soapbox in a crowded area and share a brief message. The goal was not to find people through this and be crazy but simply to spread the good news and build up our confidence! 

Skirts courtesy of the Harlem African market ;) We were a hoot at church for sure

So me, being my "why not" self did it the next day. Haha I was all pumped until the moment before we stepped on the cart and I was like hold up wait what. And when I shouted "Hello hello my name is Sister Ellis" and like all 40 people on the cart looked up I was like well I just gotta commit and follow through. For someone who has never been a fan of public impromptu speaking and naturally has a quiet voice, this was quite the experience to share (or shout lol) my testimony of Jesus Christ and the Book of Mormon to everyone on the cart. Nine streets aka one subway stop has never felt so long (lol im just grateful we didn't get on an express train by accident).But like any experience 100% worth it. 

I've come to the realization that you never know until you try. In all righteous decisions, there will be a benefit. Whether it may be good or something you can laugh about there will always be that benefit. It simply will be our loss when we don't try.

But happens when the benefit isnt good you may ask? Well. Remember that God has confidence in you and that is why He has allowed us all to come to earth and experience our joys and sorrows. He knows us perfectly and has confidence that we will make the right choices. He will always provide us opportunities for growth and it is so important to remember that these are all out of love always. Especially when we feel as though we can not go on, He is there.  

You dont have to go hop on a subway and PREACH but you should REACH out of your comfort zone and REACH up towards God with perfect love. Replace hate with love and fear with hope; "for God hath not given us the spirit of fear; but of power, and of love, and of a sound mind" (2 Timothy 1:7). 

And I know, He is constantly saying: 
"I love you. Do not give up".

Salvation army plus hair nets!


Randoms:
1) Volunteered at Salvation Army! We passed out hot chocolate with these volunteers from Arkansas. You could tell who was and wasn't missionaries haha. The missionaries would go and talk to everyone and the other volunteers just stood there with their hands out hahah
2) The Creole Elders had a baptism for this little boy from Ivory Coast! His older brother baptized him. Literally the cutest thing ever :) 
3) Sister Kurokawa made fried rice. I was in the other room and when she opened up the can of spam, I immediately knew and got super happy. Lol. 
4) Went to eat at a Japanese curry shop! Got chicken katsu curry :) so ono! Sister Lowe tried to order just rice. They wouldn't let her. She paid for the curry as well but just wanted the rice. Funny girl.
5) Got to help decorate Lenox Ave for Halloween! Pumpkin moving and hay barrowing and hanging decorations and all that fun jazz!
6) One morning after personal studies I had the feeling we needed to go look up this member right then and there. So we went over and on the way there we ran into a guy who was like "Latter day Saints"! Talked to him for a bit, got his number. The member wasnt at home...but flash forward. He came to church on Sunday and said the messages were exactly what he needed. It was pretty sweet
7) I was writing a note for a lady. My companion was sitting on the ground and grabbed my calf to tell me something. Due to my super fast cat reflexes, I almost kicked her but instead I kneed the door super hard. Haha. No mess.

Me ke aloha,
Sister Ellis
Believe, Love, Do