Got Time For Chicken?
Aloha family a me friends!
In the past three days I got...Seaseme Chicken. Jamaican Jerk Chicken. Fried Chicken. Indian Chicken. Chicken, chicken, chicken. Almost like I'm with Sister Felix again haha. Due to all that meat, I think I'm going to eat lots of vegetables for the next couple of days lol.
A common theme that I have noticed in my life, the sisters that I serve and those that I teach, is that there never seems to be "enough time" as we have items a, b, c, x, y, and z (essentially too many options of good things to do) that we want to accomplish. Give for example. On a normal personal study hour I want to study my Book of Mormon, do Come Follow Me, prepare questions and insights for each of our lessons, study for the Sisters we serve, read "Beliving Christ", and the list goes on. In the day I want to be on time to appointments, go knocking, go street contacting, look up formers and less actives, visit with members, send scriptures to everyone, help people progress towards date, and on top of it, become like Christ (oh and eat and write in my journal and do family history lol). Phew that is quite a list! Thus it is important to boil down to the essentials, without simplifying your life TOO much. "It is only when you are clear in your mind concerning your values that you are free to simplify and reduce without putting at risk what matters most. Until we determine what is of greatest worth, we are caught up in the unrealistic idea that everything is possible." (What Will You Make Room for in Your Wagon?, Ardeth G. Kapp).
We may think that there is not "enough time" but we soon realize that in reality we have ALL the time and it is just how we choose to allocate it. God has given us a time for every season and a way to accomplish that needs to be done.
The cool thing is that we arent alone. Christ, is our literal Savior. He is more than merely a coach and cheerleader on the side. He has saved us from our sins, pains, weaknesses, and inadequacies. He is our literal Savior. We aren't expect to carry the heavy load. In fact, we are physically, mentally, and emotionally, incapable of doing so. But more often than not we try to carry it ourselves (silly human beans arent we?). When put our faith in Christ and sincerely BELIEVE him for ourselves, we can be like the people in the Book of Mormon just as they took "no thought for themselves what they should eat, or what they should drink, or what they should put on...and the Lord provided for them that they should hunger not, neither should they thirst; yea, and he also gave them strength, that they should suffer no manner of afflictions, save it were swallowed up in the joy of Christ" (Alma 31:37-38). Christ's gospel is simple...just look and live and the options will be made clear.
Well this is what I got today. Not sure if I made sense, but thats nothing new lol. No big story to tie into an analogy this week...just some mana'o from Sister Ellis :-)
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| Last p-day with Sister Haws and Sister Murphy |
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| Manhattan temple |
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| Pretty pink flowers nothing special |
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| Just chillin |
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| Selfie. Up close and personal. |
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| Exchanges with Hermana Bean! She has a love to try all these random Chinese Take out places lol |
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| Made stuff for mothers day...smells like love |
Randoms:
1) Its May. Its rainy, foggy, and about 40 degrees outside. Not the weather I was expecting! Pray for warmer, sunnier days ke 'olu'olu :)
2) A few weeks ago we found a less active in the hospital. Last week she passed away. We went to the funeral on Friday night. This was my third funeral that I have been to on my mission. It is amazing to see how when curve balls are thrown at the family, it soften their hearts towards the gospel. We are now teaching the husband and daughter and family. I know Carolyn is watching over us and helping her family find the truth.
3) Friday we were on exchanges with the Woodside Queens STL's and I was with Hermana Bean and we were going to have a member give a blessing to someone we teach. As we are going to the house, he calls up and is like "Sisters! I forgot my oil! I am so sorry!". MIRACLE. Hermana Bean whips out this vile of oil that she has been carrying around her ENTIRE mission and has not used it once. Huge miracle because if Sister Eccles was with me...we both wouldve been in a pickle. The Lord works by divine design
4) Happy happy mother's day to my mother, granny, and tutumommy, and all those who are mothers and have been mother figures in my life (yall know who you are)! Had a swell time talking to my family, the hype isnt as big since of the new rules but nonetheless always hyped to talk to my ohana
5) Updates: Nicky is loving the Book of Mormon and is being a little missionary and inviting all her friends to come to church! Erick knows the church is true and knows he needs to be baptized, we are getting him closer and closer daily. Sandrine is applying the scriptures more and more and wants to be baptized but has a few changes she needs to make. Poco a poco :)
6) I am currently reading this book entitled "Believing Christ" by Stephen E. Robinson and it has changed my life and would encourage all to do the same.
7) This week was a blur. Gonna end it here..sorry!
Me ke aloha,
Sister Ellis
Believe, Love, Do