To Act or Not To Act (+Jellyfish)

Ready for takeoff..lol #Bermudalove 

Aloha Family a me Friends! 

*Beep Beep*. 6:15 am. Wakeup. 7:00 am. Eat breakfast. 8:30 am. Plan. 9:00am Personal Study. 10:00 am Companion Study. 11:00am-9:00pm Out and about. 10:30pm In Bed. *Beep beep*. And it starts again every single day for months on end. 

I could just run a race to say "I did it" or I could run a race to say "I did it!!!". The difference is not merely just in the puncuation of the exclamation point but rather in the ton. Was this merely a race to get over with and make people happy or did I challenge, push, and stretch myself to reach a goal and enjoy the joy and satisfaction from reaching a goal. Such joy that is greater that triumphs all joy. 

This past week, I witnessed the miracle of daily goals (this is something I witnessed early in my mission but fell out of the practice of making them meaningful). Thus I decided to bring it back again.  We made specific goals that ranged from "being prompt with our time" to "finding Shea at work" to "knocking Dudley Hill" to "listening to the spirit as we teach Sreejith", but all ending with the task to "be happy". And with each day, we accomplished the goal even down to being happy and truly enjoying the work.

Thus we must begin with that end in mind. We can choose to make each step of the race purposeful, each day on the mission purposeful, each day we are given..purposeful. We can take it upon ourselves to not get caught up in the motions and to . Thus we need to active disciples of Christ who go and do. God will not help us beyond what we are capable of accomplishing on our own. However, He will perform the miracle when we are trying our best and putting ourselves out there. He will fill in the rest...as long as we put in the effort ourselves.

It can be easy to get into a monotonous routine. It can be easy to go through the motions, step after step. It can be easy to just be as a jellyfish in the water going where the waves takes you. Unless we choose. Unless we truly understand that we are -by the grace and power of God, we "have become free forever, knowing good from evil; to act for [ourselves] and not to be acted upon" (2 Nephi 2:26). And only then may we exclaim with conviction and joy that we did it !...!...! :) 

One of many jellyfish that we found on the shore!

Moment I have been waiting for my entire life. To preach to a hog family lol

Shmile for the camera 

Randoms:

1) We had a lot of visitors from Utah this past week and one lady took a picture of my companion and I and asked for my companions mom number...later on I learn that she asked my companion "do you think her parents have cell phones in Hawaii". Aiyah. This is almost as bad as the people in NYC (who after they find out that I am from Hawaii) say "How do you like this country?". Funny people. 

2) Studied at Warwick Long Bay this past week and saw SO many jellyfish on the shoreline. They were so pretty and colorful! Check it out :) 

3) One day we basically had lessons from end to end. And with the goal of "being prompt with our time", Heavenly Father provided the miracle and we caught the busses on time! (Which is great because one day we waited an hour for a bus...)

4) Monday evening we could not get anyone to come to our FHE activity to make pretzels and it was pouring rain...we could either stay and fellowship with members or go out and knock in the rain. We decided the best way to fulfill our purpose would be to go out despite it being freezing. The first door we knock into, this cute girl lets us in and we share a verse on faith...and guess what she was just praying to God the night before asking Him to send her a way to strength her faith. She then introduces us to her dad..who is moved to tears as we share the same verse. She then introduces us to her neighbor who is friends with two members in our branch! But hold on. The night doesnt end there..we are waiting for the bus in the rain and its like 8:40pm and all of a sudden our taxi driver friend pulls up and is like "Sisters!! Get it! Why are you out in the rain?!". And we make it home at 8:59. Miracles. 

5) I can make egg drop soup and banana lumpia now....well attempt to. Lol. 

6) Also last week when we were on the go planning at a bench by the beach...we saw a whale. Goal accomplished once more haha 

Me ke aloha,

Sister Ellis

Believe, Love, Do