Week 76 - Sacrifice

May 18, 2015

So this week will be a week of sacrifice.... Lots of hard things ahead, we've got deep, dark mountains to climb.... PSYCH, its just another week. :D I think sacrifice looks really good as a one-word subject line, so there we go.

   Haha this week actually is going to be super exciting! There's always sacrifices in life, but we've got great things planned out, and it's going to be tons of fun. We're helping to teach a Comparative Religions class in the High School tomorrow, that's going to be tons of fun, and we've got a graduation thing that we're helping with Saturday, and a special Youth Sacrament service on Sunday, and a Memorial Day Breakfast/Picnic next Monday! Yeah! Haha what a great week ahead, I'm so excited for it. :D

   Marci and Brittany are doing well, and a few other investigators are coming on board with things, the miracles seem to never cease. They sure never cease to amaze me. We are so blessed, in so many ways. It's been amazing to see the change in the ward and their attitude towards us. Haha the ward is becoming home for us! There is still plenty of work to do though, and helping the members see how missionary work can be very effective in very simple ways. I'm so glad to be sent here. I swear, I've just had the best opportunities on my mission, it has been so wonderful. Know that I love you all, and life is great! Have a good week! :D

-Love, Elder Ellis

p.s. Elder Murdock took pics with my camera when I left it in their car... haha

Week 75 - Happy Mother's Day!!!

May 11, 2015

     Happy Mother's Day to all women that it applies to! That counts birth-mothers, as well as standing-in mothers, cause we've all had a few of those. You are a wonderful blessing to the lives of all those around you, and life would be a dreary wasteland without you. Thank you for all you do.

     Good week, 2 of our investigators are now on Date to be baptized! One in a few weeks, the other in June. They both had a wonderful time at church as well, and we're excited for them. The ward has become very friendly to us, which is good, its been nice to see the change. Everything is just lining up perfectly in this part of the Lord's Vineyard, and we're really excited to see what happens. 

     

     I talked to my family yesterday, and it'll be the last time I see them until I get home!!! So crazy. I just don't think about it, because it's easier to just stay focused, and it's a long time away anyways. Things are going good! Love you all!

-Love, Elder Ellis

P.S. Here's Brittany at the font!! & me & my companion. She's going under June 13th.

Week 74 - Temple Trip!

May 4, 2015

We had a temple trip to Louisville Kentucky Saturday!!! Woohoo!!!! It was fantastic, our RC [Recent Convert] Vickie was able to go. She got baptized right before we got to Centerville, but she is still our good friend. The other pic is me and my companion. I didn't say this before, but my companion is so similar to the actor Michael Cera!!! It's that actor, gospel style. That's my companion. haha those of you who know who that is it will make you laugh a lot. Anyways, things are going well in Centerville! The ward is starting to catch missionary excitement, and things are about to ignite. It's so awesome!!! Miracle after miracle. Life is great! I wish the best of times for you and your children, whether they have been born yet, or not. Love you all!! :D

-Love, Elder Ellis

P.S. All this hardcore biking is paying off. :D   6 months left, that's really weird.

Here are pictures of Erin's baptism!! I got there right after they took these pictures, and I totally forgot to take some with my camera... no idea how I forgot that.  :D

                                                                                       

                                               Elders Ellis & Conterio

                                          Louisville Kentucky Temple

                                           Erin's Baptism in KY

Week 73 - The week of...NKY!!

April 27, 2015

     So guess what!!! Erin got baptized in Northern Kentucky (The girl that I was teaching there) last Friday and President gave me permission to go!!!! Holy cow it was so amazing, and just a great experience. I got to see a bunch of the members there, and my old companions, and it was just great. We have to cut our P-day short to make up the time lost, but its so worth it. I'm grateful for experiences like that. :D Such a fantastic night.

     As for Centerville, things are going great. I don't mean to bag on past missionaries, but they would just go to investigators houses and talk, they wouldn't teach anything. That is... a little frustrating, to say the least. But, its ok, we are building our purpose back up in their minds, and they'll start keeping commitments and it will change their lives. Lots of new people we've started teaching, and that is going great, Brittany is one of them, she is preparing to get baptized at the end of May, and she's started reading the BoM. She's great, we're real excited for her. Marsee is another one, she has MS and will die young so the doctors say, and she's only 15. The friend of a member, we had an amazingly spiritual experience teaching her the Plan of Salvation, and she is thirsting for knowledge so badly. She should be getting baptized in May as well.

     So we've seen miracles, and we're gonna continue to work hard and see more. God definitely has a hand in this work, and nothing happens without Him. I love you all and wish you the best of weeks!!! Stay happy!! :D

-Love, Elder Ellis

P.S. 810 Pimlico Avenue Apt 1B Centerville, Ohio 45459, there's my address, sorry I forgot it last week. Love you guys! :D

                                                Elder Ellis with Elder McVey

Week 72 - Centerville, Ohio!!!

April 20, 2015

Wow, Centerville, Ohio!! Centerville is a suburb of Dayton, in case someone doesn't know where it is. Haha I've now hit every stake in the mission except for Fort Wayne! just finished by 4th 6-week area a week ago, and who knows, maybe this is the 5th 6-week area! Its ok though, its really cool being able to bounce around the entire mission. haha Fort Wayne, here I come!! last stake in the mission to serve in. Lets go!

    Holy guacamole, this week was exhausting. Exhaustingly awesome!!! Me and my companion, Elder Conterio from Orem, Utah, were doubled into the Centerville ward on Tuesday! And holy cow, its been so great. We have been going non-stop for the entire week, just going ham getting everything together. Meeting all the ward members and investigators, as well as building up the teaching pool here. We've already been able to build a lot of trust in the past week, but there's a lot more that needs to be built, and a lot of members that need to get missionary minded. There are a lot of really good members here though, we've already gotten a handful of referrals, and they show a lot of promise. Missionaries have always had the attitude that its a hard area, so we've been put here to change that. No such thing as a bad area, just a bad attitude. God's power is not limited by how many rich people there are, people will still listen, and we've seen that in this past week. Nothing can stop miracles from happening. :D its been great!

    Also, the bishopric got completely revamped yesterday, and that was a great turn for the better. The old bishop wasn't against missionary work, but he wasn't the  most focused on it. This one is wayyyyy better, a complete rockstar. And we helped him with a service project on Saturday before we knew he'd be Bishop, so he really likes us. That helps. We are really excited for everything going on.

   So, all in all, miracles are happening!!! We've seen God's grace this week. Grace is real, there's a lot of things that happened this week that really shouldn't have happened. But they did, because of grace. Its really cool to see God's hand working in people's lives. I am grateful for all the kindness you all have shown me! Thank you for being so great. Keep it real! Love ya!

-Love, Elder Ellis

p.s. Elder Conterio is awesome. Glad to be his companion.

Week 71 Dang it, another 6 week smack down

April 13, 2015

     Dang it!!!!! Like really. I'm getting transferred again!!! only 6 weeks here in Northern Kentucky, the Promised Land. This was the one area out of the entire mission that I really wanted to serve in, so at least I got to be here for 6 weeks. That's a tender mercy. I am sad to be leaving after such a short time though. But I'll get over it, I know that I'm going where God needs me to be.

     We have 2 people getting baptized this month, and 2-3 next month, so I won't be here for that, but maybe if I don't get transferred too far away they'll let me come see the baptism. I've been able to work really closely with them, that kind of stinks. But that's alright, it's just wonderful to see the Spirit change people's lives. So much joy in seeing people come closer to God. I love missionary work.

     Don't really know what else to say. I will send out my new area and address first chance I get though!!! Keep me posted on how everything goes. I love you all!! :D

-Love, Elder Ellis

P.S. 2 pictures from right after zone meeting last Wednesday. Our amazing zone family, and then me and Elder Stepp, one of my good friends.

Oh yeah, part of our zone meeting was really sweet, everyone got blindfolded and set loose, all the lights were off and they got no directions on what to do. Just to "Pray if you don't know what to do." So there were a bunch of obstacles in the halls, and a huge obstacle course in the gym, and they had to just figure it out. The trick was, that you couldn't do by yourself. We'd only help them out if they got on their knees and prayed, and they had to do that every time an obstacle came up if they wanted to get through it. It was very cool, everyone had a very profound experience. We had a testimony meeting in the chapel at the end of it, and it was very spiritual. Way awesome. And I got to set up the obstacle course before Zone Meeting, and that was just super fun. I'm so mad I didn't get to be here longer!!! Grr. The next place will be better though. It always goes uphill. :D

Week 70 - General Conference / Easter

April 6, 2015

Wow, what a powerful General conference!! I think I took the most notes during this one than any other one I've watched. Got lots of really cool advice and guidance, and had a lot of my questions answered. Its always nice to get some guidance when you need it. :D

    My favorite talk was probably Kevin Pearson by the way!!! He just threw down, it was so sweet. Very bold, helping people realize things that they need to do and what's gonna happen if they don't do them. People need the truth in their lives, (Members and non-members) and a lot of times that takes boldness to really get it in their heads. President Porter is very bold, and emphasizes us being bold with our missionaries and investigators, with everyone pretty much. Know what you stand for! And don't move an inch. Its about God and what he wants, its not a popularity contest. President is so real, he just gets down to the core of things. I have learned so much from him, and he has changed my life.

     I'm trying to think of exciting things that happened this week!!! We had a cool specialized training with half the mission, council meeting on Friday, Conference Sat and Sun, its been a very "Meetingish" week. Meetings are very good and productive, I like them. Easter was emphasized a lot on Friday. My gratitude for what the Savior has done for me and the ones I love grows every year, and I'm so grateful that I get to experience His Love and Atonement every day of my mission. Its truly wonderful out here, there's nothing else I would rather be doing.

    We've had some really sweet miracles with a lot of our investigators, and Jaden, this 13 yr. old son of a less-active mother, whose father just passed in November, is getting baptized weekend after this one, on the 18th. And transfers are in a week, so I really hope I get to stay and watch it happen. As well as all the other people that are progressing quite well. I don't think I'll get transferred, I've only been here 5 weeks, but everyone else thinks I'm leaving, so I really hope they're wrong. Cause I just love it here, this place is just fantastic! We'll see what happens, God's will is more important than any of our opinions. :D Life's great!!

    I just want to leave with my testimony of the Savior. I know He is real, and I know that He loves us. The power of His Atonement is strong enough to brake through any barrier, mental or physical, that we have. Nothing will keep His love from us, if we just let it into our lives. There is no sweeter taste than that of the Love of God. Strive for it everyday of your lives, and you'll find meaning in all that you do. I love you all very much, and I say this in the name of Jesus Christ, amen.

-Love, Elder Ellis

                                      With Elder Smith at Zone Fun Day