So this has been a crazy week since we are
working 2 areas. We were in Springfield
the first 3 days and in White House the last 3.
So we did a ton of packing and planning for that. We actually got snow on Sunday and it stayed
on the ground. Not like anything back home
of course, but it was colder than home that day too, which was weird. My ponderize scripture for this week is Alma
38: 5 which reads, "And now my son, Shiblon, I would that ye should
remember, that as much as ye shall put your trust in God even so much ye shall
be delivered out of your trials, and your troubles, and your afflictions, and
ye shall be lifted up at the last day." That scripture really applied to me this week.
Recently I have been trying to learn how
I can put my trust in God more. It comes
with great relief to me that when I do, I will be helped and strengthened
through my trials, troubles, afflictions and will be lifted up at the last day.
I remember one of the talks given in the
last General Conference by a sister whose family motto was "It will all
work out." I know that I am
supposed to and will always go through hard times and challenges, but if I put my
trust in God, then it will be easier and it will all work out in the way He
wants it to. He can shape that trial and
move it in the direction that can help me become better and learn something
that I need to learn.
Monday we just chilled. We then had an awesome Family Home Evening with the whole Cousin family. We taught the Plan of Salvation and then invited all of them to come to church and a few of them did, which was awesome.
Tuesday my dad turned the big old 21......+ 30. So happy birthday! We were in Springfield today and served in the Bishop’s Storehouse for most of it. Later we taught some people the Plan of Salvation. It went well. We then went and bought a bunch of food for the people we had just taught as kind of a Secret Santa thing, but for the new year. Elder Ihler got some money sent to him to spend on one of their investigators, so we chose them. We also found a potential investigator.
Wednesday we had our District Meeting and then tried to catch some people home. We also tracted and found 3 new/potential investigators, which was awesome. We had dinner with a less-active member and an investigator, which was really good. We tried a few more people, but didn’t have any luck. We then packed up our stuff and went back to White House.
Thursday we got our apartment inspected and we passed. We tracted and found a “potential” out of it. We then drove down to the church to wait for the member that took us to Nashville a few weeks ago. He came to take us to the temple because he was going through for the first time. Elder Ihler was his escort and there were 5 of us total. Elders Ihler, Mortensen, McKown, Rock, and me. It was really cool to be able to go. For me, I felt the spirit really strong as I prayed a bunch. I probably said 4 separate prayers. We didn't get back until 1am - oops. I was so exhausted.
Monday we just chilled. We then had an awesome Family Home Evening with the whole Cousin family. We taught the Plan of Salvation and then invited all of them to come to church and a few of them did, which was awesome.
Tuesday my dad turned the big old 21......+ 30. So happy birthday! We were in Springfield today and served in the Bishop’s Storehouse for most of it. Later we taught some people the Plan of Salvation. It went well. We then went and bought a bunch of food for the people we had just taught as kind of a Secret Santa thing, but for the new year. Elder Ihler got some money sent to him to spend on one of their investigators, so we chose them. We also found a potential investigator.
Wednesday we had our District Meeting and then tried to catch some people home. We also tracted and found 3 new/potential investigators, which was awesome. We had dinner with a less-active member and an investigator, which was really good. We tried a few more people, but didn’t have any luck. We then packed up our stuff and went back to White House.
Thursday we got our apartment inspected and we passed. We tracted and found a “potential” out of it. We then drove down to the church to wait for the member that took us to Nashville a few weeks ago. He came to take us to the temple because he was going through for the first time. Elder Ihler was his escort and there were 5 of us total. Elders Ihler, Mortensen, McKown, Rock, and me. It was really cool to be able to go. For me, I felt the spirit really strong as I prayed a bunch. I probably said 4 separate prayers. We didn't get back until 1am - oops. I was so exhausted.
Friday I was able to go to the farm for the
first time. We had breakfast with Sister
Durham and then did some work she needed help with. We then tried to catch some people home, but
had no luck. That night we made a little
campfire that didn't work out too well because the wood was kind of wet. It was mostly just burning cardboard and
paper. So the church has changed the way
transfers are handled world-wide to where we don't have Transfer Meetings anymore.
Now we just arrive, get our new
companion, then leave. I am not too sure
how I feel about that. I was hoping to
hear Elder Wardle’s departing testimony, since he goes home Wednesday. At least I will get to see him and say goodbye.
Transfer results: I am staying here and E. Mortensen is going
to Paducah. I am getting Elder Nimmer as
my new companion - back to a duo. I am really
nervous because I will be taking over the area now. I just hope that we can do good work here and
I won't fail at the plans and stuff like that. That's where my ponderize scripture comes into
play. Although I am nervous, I have been
asking God to help me put my trust in Him more and that is what He has done. I definitely know He answers prayers. I will be leaving this area all up to Him. It is His area and I am just the tool in
building it up as part of His kingdom. It
should be a fun next transfer, even if I'm scared and sad that E. Mortensen is
leaving. I can't believe that I am at 4
1/2 months now. Next transfer will be 6
months, which is weird.
Saturday E. Mortensen packed up a little bit and then we tried some people. We went out with our Ward Mission Leader to see some people too, but no luck, which was a bummer. We went back to his house for dinner and got haircuts from his wife.
Sunday we had church and then helped Sister Durham move some furniture so the painters could paint the walls. We then went to dinner at the Thompson's. He is the Chiropractor in our ward, which is awesome. He was also a tight end for BYU a while ago. We had an awesome dinner and we got some much-needed adjustments. I felt so much better after that. I was deeply in need of one. We then had to go to Springfield for the night so we could drive the car back to White House in the morning in preparation for transfers the next day.
This week I have deeply thought about the importance of testimonies. I used a little game my mom sent me that helps with testimonies. After the game, we extended the commitment for them to share their testimonies with someone this year. They said they would except for one, who said that they were going to work on building theirs up until they could share it. I thought about that and how they were willing to work on it. I also watched a talk by Elder Holland recently called "Lord, I believe." It is a great talk. In there he invites each of us to lean upon his testimony if we do not have one yet or if ours isn't strong enough. I would like to invite each of you as well to share your testimony with people around you whenever the time occurs or, if it isn't strong enough yet, then to work on it. Just by doing that, you are exercising your faith so much that God will help you gain that testimony. My testimony may not be like Elder Hollands, but I hope that it helps some of you find yours and builds yours up. I know this to be true. I know that this church is true. I know that the Book of Mormon is true. I know that God is there and that He lives and hears each of our prayers. I cannot express how much this gospel means to me. If I hadn’t had it in my life, I don't know how I would have gotten through some of the things I went through. It pains me to see people out here who do not have its fullness. It pains me to see people out here reject us to come and teach them so that their own faith can grow from what it is already. I know how much this gospel can bless their lives and can make them so much happier. I love my Heavenly Father and my Brother and Savior, Jesus Christ. I know that He suffered for each of my sins, pains, temptations, and afflictions individually, along with each of yours. I know that because He was resurrected, we also may be resurrected and live with God and our family forever. It is a great blessing to know these things and to know that we can always find mercy and joy through Him. I know that because we all fall short of the glory of God, it is because of repentance that we can again be able to return back to His presence. Put your trust in God and all things will work out in His way. Maybe not the way we want, but that is OK because it is for our good in the long run. I love all of you and can't wait to see how much you all have grown spiritually through these next 2 years. Talk to y'all next week.
Saturday E. Mortensen packed up a little bit and then we tried some people. We went out with our Ward Mission Leader to see some people too, but no luck, which was a bummer. We went back to his house for dinner and got haircuts from his wife.
Sunday we had church and then helped Sister Durham move some furniture so the painters could paint the walls. We then went to dinner at the Thompson's. He is the Chiropractor in our ward, which is awesome. He was also a tight end for BYU a while ago. We had an awesome dinner and we got some much-needed adjustments. I felt so much better after that. I was deeply in need of one. We then had to go to Springfield for the night so we could drive the car back to White House in the morning in preparation for transfers the next day.
This week I have deeply thought about the importance of testimonies. I used a little game my mom sent me that helps with testimonies. After the game, we extended the commitment for them to share their testimonies with someone this year. They said they would except for one, who said that they were going to work on building theirs up until they could share it. I thought about that and how they were willing to work on it. I also watched a talk by Elder Holland recently called "Lord, I believe." It is a great talk. In there he invites each of us to lean upon his testimony if we do not have one yet or if ours isn't strong enough. I would like to invite each of you as well to share your testimony with people around you whenever the time occurs or, if it isn't strong enough yet, then to work on it. Just by doing that, you are exercising your faith so much that God will help you gain that testimony. My testimony may not be like Elder Hollands, but I hope that it helps some of you find yours and builds yours up. I know this to be true. I know that this church is true. I know that the Book of Mormon is true. I know that God is there and that He lives and hears each of our prayers. I cannot express how much this gospel means to me. If I hadn’t had it in my life, I don't know how I would have gotten through some of the things I went through. It pains me to see people out here who do not have its fullness. It pains me to see people out here reject us to come and teach them so that their own faith can grow from what it is already. I know how much this gospel can bless their lives and can make them so much happier. I love my Heavenly Father and my Brother and Savior, Jesus Christ. I know that He suffered for each of my sins, pains, temptations, and afflictions individually, along with each of yours. I know that because He was resurrected, we also may be resurrected and live with God and our family forever. It is a great blessing to know these things and to know that we can always find mercy and joy through Him. I know that because we all fall short of the glory of God, it is because of repentance that we can again be able to return back to His presence. Put your trust in God and all things will work out in His way. Maybe not the way we want, but that is OK because it is for our good in the long run. I love all of you and can't wait to see how much you all have grown spiritually through these next 2 years. Talk to y'all next week.
Elder Ellison
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| Leap of Faith! |
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| We are so cool! |
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| Dinner |
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| Free Haircuts! |
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| What - Snow? |
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| Nashville Temple - Love It! |
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