The tag line is because this is the thrid to last weekly email. Scary.
First of all, Mom, I want to apologize, I won't be sending pictures home today. :( I had a late night last night, and I was really tired leaving the house and left the camera and stuff at home. However next week I'll be sure to remember and send home pictures from the Ellis Island trip and the temple trip.
It's a little weird this week that you are the only one I'm sending the email to. Normally I send the weekly email to yours, Dad's and Nick's email addresses, but since they're off camping I guess you're the only one to send it to this week.
As the final weeks of my mission come closer I still can't quite wraop my head around the fact that I'm almost going home. I've loved my time here in New Jersey, it's been really cool. I have seen a lot of lives changed, and I've loved it a lot. I am detirmined to work hard these last few weeks and go out with a bang.
This week was a really interesting/tough week though. There were conferences all week, training for the leadership, and so we were in a threesome all weeks with Elder Godfrey. I felt really bad for Elder Yates, though. It's tough enough killing a companion, but being all week with 2 departing missionaries, I imagine it was hard for him. We tried to not be trunky and all that, but I think we still were a little. The week was tough, too because the three of us had to work both areas, and unfirtunately we worked in the Heights area more than ours, so our numbers weren't so good this week, but at the same time we did see some miracles.
We set two baptismal dates this week. One of them was Joseph. We sat down last night and I asked him what was holding him back. He said he doesn't know enough. We talked about it a little, and we encouraged him and bore testimony. We set him with a date for August 8th. He is still a little shaky about being baptized, but I know that as he prepares for that date, he'll feel the help of the Lord. I have faith he'll be baptized on that day.
The other date we set was with Katherine. She didn't come to church yesterday, she was babysitting. We are going over today, though. On thursday we set her with a date for the 15th of August. She is really awesome, and things are going well with her. After church we went over to her house to see what was up, she told us to come by today, so we have an appointment tonight at 5:00. I am really excited.
Samuel is also making progress, but slowly. I know he'll be baptized someday, but not while I am here. He's a great guy, and he understands that where he's at is not where he wants to be. Yesterday he shared something interesting with us. On Saturday we had a ward barbeque. Samual came and he had a lot of fun, but then he went out partying that night. He said that the party wasn't worth it at all. We talked about it, and he definitely preferred the barbeque. He wants to change his life, but it'll be difficult he says. This Saturday we have a talent show activity, and we invited him to come to that activity instead of going out dancing. He said he would, and he wanted to.
This week I got my travel plans. I remember that in the MTC when we got our flight info we wree so excited. I'm not excited about this at all. But here's basically how it'll go down.
I leave the Newark International Airport at 10:30 am on August 16th. from there I fly to Atlanta, and I have an hour layover. From there I fly from Atlanta to Salt Lake, and my flight is supposed to arrive in Salt Lake at 4:30 P.M. That's the plan anyways... I'm thinking about purchasing some phone cards before I leave and so I can make some calls in the airport. I don't know what I'll do in the layover in Atlanta for an hour.
By the way, I got the package this week with the Meds. Thank you so much for helping me out with that. Hopefully I can get back to sleeping right and not be so tired all the time. Missionary work is definitely more difficult when you're not sleeping properly.
Also, today I am going to pull out a little more money from my savings. I hate to keep nickel and diming my savings, but I need some money to send some more stuff home, also I think I need a few bucks for the temple trip on Wedneday as well. I want to thank you and Dad for all the help financially you have given me while I've been out here. I couldn't do it without your help. I
Well, I gotta go. I'm almost out of time. I hope that everyone has fun on the trips and I hope Nick gets his mission call soon. It's making me nervous...
Love you,
Elder Isaac Ellsworth
We were called to serve as senior missionaries in the Italy Rome Mission, assigned as YSA specialists to the Puglia Stake in Bari, Italy. Our service is from January 2023 to July 2024.
Wednesday, August 11, 2010
Penultimate P-day
Okay, first of all, here are some picture from the Statue.
The first picture is myself and Elder Godfrey at the top of the pedestal. In the background you can see New Jersey on the Left side and New York on the Right side. The next picture is me in front of the statue, and the last picture is the entire group of departing missionaries.
This week we also went to the temple for our departing trip. I forgot my camera, unfortunately. On the temple trip we had some interesting adventures as well. After the session we had a meeting with a member of the temple presidency. It was really awesome. I learned a lot. After we left the temple we had lunch in the releif society room of the chapel on the third floor. After lunch we went back to the van, only to find that the garage where we left it had left the lights on, and they wanted to charge $20 to jump it. I was their fault, though, so they gave us a jump, and we got on our way. We drove for a while, and then the van dies again. We tried for about 10 minutes unsuccessfully to flag someone down to give us a jump, and finally someone helped us out. It was interesting to say the least. After we got the car jumped again we were waiting for the other van, and president Bahr told me to pull the van up a few feet out of the intersection. (I had been in the drivers seat revving the engine so it could charge the battery a little.) It was the first I've driven a car in 20 months! I was excited.
Side note, I am a little nervous about driving when I get home. I haven't driven in about 20 months or so, I may need to re-learn how to drive.
After that we got on our way, and that was it. We got home safe and sound, though very late...
Tomorrow we have transfers. Neither Elder Yates or I are leaving the area, though we still have no idea what IS happening. I don't know if it'll ne just us and they'll combine areas when I leave or if we'll be in a threesome for almost 2 weeks. Tommorow is transfer conference. At transfer conference tommorow I'll give my "departing testimony", I'm not sure at all what to say... Then I spend the night in the mission home with the other departing missionaries, and then come back to Jersey City on Wednesday.
I still can't beleive that I'm going home in 2 weeks. It's so crazy. I've become so used to the life of a missionary, and I don't know what it will be like to leave it. I think I'm more scared to go home than I was to leave on a mission.
I mean, there is a lot of mixed feelings about it. I am really excited to see you again. I've missed you all so much. And I know that it's time to get on with my life, time to go to college and so forth, but at the same time, it's so hard to leave the people here in New Jersey. I've gotten to know so many people, and grown to love them, it'll be hard to leave.
This week has been a rough week, but we ended it well. We had an activity that I've been working hard to plan that happened on Saturday. It went really well, although it killed most of Saturday setting up and preparing. Yesterday was a really good day. We brought a member named Deybi with us to visit Samuel and Joseph, and it was the perfect choice. Deybi and Samuel clicked instantly, it was a really good apppointment. I know Samuel will get baptized, I'd say in no more than 2 or 3 months more. Joseph is not sure about baptism, I would love to see him get baptized before I leave, but I don't want to push him too hard, because if he gets baptised out of pressure, than it doesn't mean anything.
Quick note: This week and next week I'm going to be sending some stuff home, and I am going to need to cut down on space and weight in my luggage. There'll be some packages coming your way.
Also, I would like to know when I am going to give my homecoming talk and what the topic is, I think you mentioned that you knew a few weeks ago. I also want to give Elder Barker a heads up, he told me he wants to come to it.
I love you so much and miss you all. I'm glad that Dad and Nick got home safe and sound from the trip, and it sounds like it was a blast. I hope you have a great week!
Love,
Elder Isaac Ellsworth.
The first picture is myself and Elder Godfrey at the top of the pedestal. In the background you can see New Jersey on the Left side and New York on the Right side. The next picture is me in front of the statue, and the last picture is the entire group of departing missionaries.
This week we also went to the temple for our departing trip. I forgot my camera, unfortunately. On the temple trip we had some interesting adventures as well. After the session we had a meeting with a member of the temple presidency. It was really awesome. I learned a lot. After we left the temple we had lunch in the releif society room of the chapel on the third floor. After lunch we went back to the van, only to find that the garage where we left it had left the lights on, and they wanted to charge $20 to jump it. I was their fault, though, so they gave us a jump, and we got on our way. We drove for a while, and then the van dies again. We tried for about 10 minutes unsuccessfully to flag someone down to give us a jump, and finally someone helped us out. It was interesting to say the least. After we got the car jumped again we were waiting for the other van, and president Bahr told me to pull the van up a few feet out of the intersection. (I had been in the drivers seat revving the engine so it could charge the battery a little.) It was the first I've driven a car in 20 months! I was excited.
Side note, I am a little nervous about driving when I get home. I haven't driven in about 20 months or so, I may need to re-learn how to drive.
After that we got on our way, and that was it. We got home safe and sound, though very late...
Tomorrow we have transfers. Neither Elder Yates or I are leaving the area, though we still have no idea what IS happening. I don't know if it'll ne just us and they'll combine areas when I leave or if we'll be in a threesome for almost 2 weeks. Tommorow is transfer conference. At transfer conference tommorow I'll give my "departing testimony", I'm not sure at all what to say... Then I spend the night in the mission home with the other departing missionaries, and then come back to Jersey City on Wednesday.
I still can't beleive that I'm going home in 2 weeks. It's so crazy. I've become so used to the life of a missionary, and I don't know what it will be like to leave it. I think I'm more scared to go home than I was to leave on a mission.
I mean, there is a lot of mixed feelings about it. I am really excited to see you again. I've missed you all so much. And I know that it's time to get on with my life, time to go to college and so forth, but at the same time, it's so hard to leave the people here in New Jersey. I've gotten to know so many people, and grown to love them, it'll be hard to leave.
This week has been a rough week, but we ended it well. We had an activity that I've been working hard to plan that happened on Saturday. It went really well, although it killed most of Saturday setting up and preparing. Yesterday was a really good day. We brought a member named Deybi with us to visit Samuel and Joseph, and it was the perfect choice. Deybi and Samuel clicked instantly, it was a really good apppointment. I know Samuel will get baptized, I'd say in no more than 2 or 3 months more. Joseph is not sure about baptism, I would love to see him get baptized before I leave, but I don't want to push him too hard, because if he gets baptised out of pressure, than it doesn't mean anything.
Quick note: This week and next week I'm going to be sending some stuff home, and I am going to need to cut down on space and weight in my luggage. There'll be some packages coming your way.
Also, I would like to know when I am going to give my homecoming talk and what the topic is, I think you mentioned that you knew a few weeks ago. I also want to give Elder Barker a heads up, he told me he wants to come to it.
I love you so much and miss you all. I'm glad that Dad and Nick got home safe and sound from the trip, and it sounds like it was a blast. I hope you have a great week!
Love,
Elder Isaac Ellsworth.
Ellis Island and the Statue of Liberty
We just got back from the Trip. It was awesome. I didn't expect us to get here on time, but we got back in perfect timing. The trip was awesome. We were able to go up to the top of the base of the statue, but not to the crown. It was an awesome trip. I took a lot of pictures, but unfortunately I don't have the little thing to send pics, so I will send some next week.
While I was at Ellis Island I looked at the bog wall that they have of names of Immigrants that went through Ellis Island, I round a couple of Ellsworth Names on the wall, and even a couple of Strachan names (though I'm sure they aren't our family since Mom is from Canada and all that.) It was awesome. Next week on Wednesday we go to the temple, our departing temple trip, I am really excited for that.
I'll say though, the trip did make me a little trunky... Especially since almost everyone on the trip are going home in 2 weeks there was a lot of talk of home, girls, what we'll do after the mission etc. I go home in about 4 weeks, 2 weeks after they do. It was good though. I know a lot of the Elders that were on the trip. It was a huge group, too. We had about 15 of us, 5 from the Cherry Hill mission who recently joined our mission. I would love to go to the crown someday, but I don't know when I'll be back this way. I still hope to return to New Jersey in December, Perhaps I'll have the opportunity to go then.
This week has been a little slow. We are making progress. It's always a little tough when you get a new companion and you have to lead the area until he gets to know it. It's been interesting so far, but I know that we will do well. Joseph finally got back last night. We have been keeping in contact with him via text for the last week, but it was really awesome to see him again. He still is unsure about baptism. We asked him to pray about it, and to let us know. We hope and pray that he will feel like he gets an answer and desires to get baptized.
This week we had a really awesome investigator come to church for the first
time. Her name is Katherine. We have taught her the first two lessons. Tommorow we are going to teach her a third and try and set her with a baptismal date. We are really excited for her. I hope that she will get baptized before I go.
I hope that Nick gets his mission call this week. I know the suspense has been killing me! I can't imagine how he's feeling right now. Hopefully he'll get it soon, and everything will work out. Maybe it's taking a while because he's just so amazing they can't decide which mission needs him more!
I also wanted to say that I am uber-jealous about the West Coast Trail trip. I wish I could go, but then again, I'm needed here still. (could they delay it a few weeks.... haha...) I hope that they have a good time and that Uncle Cliff can go. Hopefully Sidney gets better soon.
Umm in other news, Things are continuiing as normal. I am looking forward to my birthday. Dolores said that we need to go over and celebrate my birthday. I'm excited. I just need to make sure not to visit any Mexican's on my birthday. In Mexico there is a tradition that they will give you a cake and you need to take a bite out of the middle of the cake, and then when you bend down to take the bite, they shove your face into the cake. I've never seen it done, but I've seen some pictures of when it's been done. Also Elder Godfrey and I are planning to go out to eat at some point in the day, we have the same Birthday.
I already have a bunc of stuff I need to send home. The next couple weeks will be busy P-days for me, slowly start to pack up/send home/throw away stuff.
I love the time I've had here in NJ! I know that NJ will always have a special place in my heart. I know that this is the true church!
I hope that everyone has a good week. I know for sure that next weeks email will be on time. I promise I'll send pics next week from my trip today. I love and miss you all a ton.
Love,
Elder Isaac Ellsworth.
While I was at Ellis Island I looked at the bog wall that they have of names of Immigrants that went through Ellis Island, I round a couple of Ellsworth Names on the wall, and even a couple of Strachan names (though I'm sure they aren't our family since Mom is from Canada and all that.) It was awesome. Next week on Wednesday we go to the temple, our departing temple trip, I am really excited for that.
I'll say though, the trip did make me a little trunky... Especially since almost everyone on the trip are going home in 2 weeks there was a lot of talk of home, girls, what we'll do after the mission etc. I go home in about 4 weeks, 2 weeks after they do. It was good though. I know a lot of the Elders that were on the trip. It was a huge group, too. We had about 15 of us, 5 from the Cherry Hill mission who recently joined our mission. I would love to go to the crown someday, but I don't know when I'll be back this way. I still hope to return to New Jersey in December, Perhaps I'll have the opportunity to go then.
This week has been a little slow. We are making progress. It's always a little tough when you get a new companion and you have to lead the area until he gets to know it. It's been interesting so far, but I know that we will do well. Joseph finally got back last night. We have been keeping in contact with him via text for the last week, but it was really awesome to see him again. He still is unsure about baptism. We asked him to pray about it, and to let us know. We hope and pray that he will feel like he gets an answer and desires to get baptized.
This week we had a really awesome investigator come to church for the first
time. Her name is Katherine. We have taught her the first two lessons. Tommorow we are going to teach her a third and try and set her with a baptismal date. We are really excited for her. I hope that she will get baptized before I go.
I hope that Nick gets his mission call this week. I know the suspense has been killing me! I can't imagine how he's feeling right now. Hopefully he'll get it soon, and everything will work out. Maybe it's taking a while because he's just so amazing they can't decide which mission needs him more!
I also wanted to say that I am uber-jealous about the West Coast Trail trip. I wish I could go, but then again, I'm needed here still. (could they delay it a few weeks.... haha...) I hope that they have a good time and that Uncle Cliff can go. Hopefully Sidney gets better soon.
Umm in other news, Things are continuiing as normal. I am looking forward to my birthday. Dolores said that we need to go over and celebrate my birthday. I'm excited. I just need to make sure not to visit any Mexican's on my birthday. In Mexico there is a tradition that they will give you a cake and you need to take a bite out of the middle of the cake, and then when you bend down to take the bite, they shove your face into the cake. I've never seen it done, but I've seen some pictures of when it's been done. Also Elder Godfrey and I are planning to go out to eat at some point in the day, we have the same Birthday.
I already have a bunc of stuff I need to send home. The next couple weeks will be busy P-days for me, slowly start to pack up/send home/throw away stuff.
I love the time I've had here in NJ! I know that NJ will always have a special place in my heart. I know that this is the true church!
I hope that everyone has a good week. I know for sure that next weeks email will be on time. I promise I'll send pics next week from my trip today. I love and miss you all a ton.
Love,
Elder Isaac Ellsworth.
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