Missions are the bomb!

Dear Family and Friends!

Well this transfer is simply the bomb! I don't think that I have ever had such a rewarding transfer thus far on my mission! I feel so blessed, and I am grateful for all of the things I have learned and been able to do.

This week was as you can probably guess awesome. Things started off pretty normal I guess. P-day was fun, I played way too hard, as usual, and Monday just cruised by. Tuesday was a great day. We had District Meeting and during that we had our President Interviews with President Weston. Our district is knocking it out of the park right now. On Tuesday we had 10 total baptism Dates set. During district meeting President pulled out people one at a time, and talked to them. I was the very last one that he talked too, and I had a cool chat with him. He asked me how things were going with my new responsibilities, and we talked about a few of my concerns, he counseled me and gave me advice. He asked how things were with Elder Lee, and we just had a cool talk.

After our meeting I had to run with Elder Talbot (a Hmong missionary) to do a baptism interview in a language I had never heard of before my mission. I mostly just smiled and nodded as Elder Talbot lovingly asked the questions. They both did well and Ma-hur and Chong xang Thao were baptized on Tuesday afternoon! Wednesday was cool as well, I was on exchanges down in Wheatland again, and I really feel bad for those Elders. They simply have a dead area. There is no work, they mostly just go visit less actives and tract all day everyday! I encouraged them to keep their chins up and keep working hard.

We also had to move them. Where they were living was... no longer the best situation... Their neighbors were a bunch of the "whores of Babylon!" So they fled from the Chaldeans!! So now they are living in Olivehurst with the Hmong, and the Zone Leaders. So currently there are 5 Elders in the same house. Next transfer when the trio splits there will be six Elders, so not the best situation... But much better than it was.

Thursday I went on exchanges with the Hmong and Zone Leaders in their area. I stayed three nights at their house and it was really weird to be away from home for so long! Finally on Friday after our meeting I was able to go back to Loma Rica!!

While I was gone Elder Lee took awesome care of this area, and things were still going smooth! So that on Saturday everything was set up and ready for Jason's baptism. I loved the opportunity that I had to baptize this awesome kid. He was all smiling and happy and it was a great service. His two friends, Seth and Ivan who introduced him to us, both spoke at the baptism. On Sunday, Jason had me do his confirmation as well. Now that I was really nervous before, that was a first for me. My legs were shaking the whole time, but it went very well. So not only was Jason baptized and confirmed this week, he also became a missionary! The three of them invited another friend to Church and to the baptism and Sunday at church John Smail who is twelve came up to us and asked when his baptism was! So we set up a lesson and Sunday after church we taught him a lesson, and committed him to be baptized on February 18th! Holy cow how the Lord is blessing us, and what awesome examples those 4 boys are to us. Sharing the Gospel is not scary, it is an act of love!

So next Saturday, we have Will Hill's baptism, so things are really cruising in Loma Rica. We are working hard, and the Lord is blessing us! Missions are the bomb. nuf said

With Love

Elder Ellsworth

What an amazing week!

Dear Family and Friends,

Well this week was probably one of the best of my mission! We worked really hard and found a lot of success! Well actually these past three weeks or so have all been awesome, and I have learned a lot! I am really excited about the work here in Loma Rica, and it is really picking up. I think that it is funny though because the harder I work the more blessed I feel. Even though I am really tired a lot, it is really rewarding and I feel really accomplished. I love that feeling of ending a week on a good note because of the hard work and effort that I have put forth. This week was a great one. I was talking to another missionary who told me a story about one of his companions. They served together for his last six weeks before he went home, and this Elder was freaking out because he felt that he had wasted most of his mission not working hard and not giving the Lord a full effort. So he tried really hard his last transfer to make his mission worth it, and in the end was just a big jerk to his comapanion over the whole thing. How sad is that, I want to live my life out here in such a way that when I come home I will hold my head high and know I have worked hard for two years! I am grateful for this time I have been given to serve the Lord.

This week has been one of hustle, it started off pretty terribly on Tuesday, with three cancelled lessons, and we ended up with none for the day, but it really went up from there. At the end of this week we were able to teach 16 lessons, that is two more than last week which is by far the most we have taught since I have been in this area. It has been really good, we simply went out everyday and did our best to serve the Lord. The best part about it was Elder Lee and I were not even together on Wednesday and Thursday because of exchanges, but both of us when we were in our area worked hard and taught a handful of lessons. Also I think that we are gaining member trust as well. They see and know that we are really working hard to further the work here in Loma Rica. It is really a sweet experience for me! I guess the best part of my week was just yesterday. We were teaching a lesson to Jason, he is getting baptized next Saturday. We finished up all of our lessons so he can be interviewed this week, and after the lesson we asked him who he would like to baptize him, and he asked me if I would. I told him I would be honored. Every time I get this opportunity it is so awesome! I feel the Spirit of the ordinance more abundantly!!

Also things with Elder Lee are going really good. We have been getting along really well, and we are both working hard. He still sleeps in, but I am not going to let that ruin or whole companionship. I also think that going on exchanges often has helped to smooth things over. We really do get along and like to talk as long as we avoid the topic of obedience. I really am learning to love him, and honestly I hope that we stay together for one more transfer.

Well I am just about out of things to say other than I love all y'all. Keep praying for me and being the best you can!

With Love

Elder Ellsworth

Time never seems to slow down!

Holy Cow these weeks are just simply flying away from me! I can't even believe how fast these past 8 weeks with Elder Lee have gone. They have really been good, I have learned a lot about myself, and my personal commitment has really been strengthened! I have really tried recently to simply focus on the things that I can control, and everything that I can't I won't worry about. So I focus on myself, my obedience, my commitment, my study. Then I just rely on the Lord with the faith that his is going to bless me as I strive to be the best I can. At times it has been rough, and I will admit that I have struggled with Elder Lee at times, but I really feel like I am learning to love him. I don't always agree with what he does, and I am not always happy or impressed by him, but I am grateful that Heavenly Father has blessed me with this learning experience! Also I love serving in Loma Rica!! I really have enjoyed my time here, hopefully I have a few more months but who knows!

Not only are things going better with me and Elder Lee, the Lord is pouring out blessings upon us. This week we had a couple miracles that I wanted to tell you guys about. First we had a lesson with William Hill, he has been taught the Restoration and the Plan of Salvation by other missionaries, and this week they handed him off to us! We met with Him, Cindy his Mom, the Marysville Missionaries, and the Greens, at the Green's home, they are fellowshippers. So Cindy has been to every lesson with Will, and she listened intently as Elder Lee, and I taught about the Gospel of Jesus Christ. At the end of the lesson we Elder Thompson invited her to be baptized on February 4th with Will. With tears in her eyes, she said she wanted too, but she was going to pray about it!! It was an awesome experience for me!

Second Miracle. This week we also met with Jason Jorgensen at his home. We went with a member Bro. Pietz, and JJ's mom sat in on the lesson. We found out first of all that she and JJ's two sisters are all members of the Church, and so we ended up at the end of the lesson inviting JJ to be baptized, and he said that he would. So on January 28, Jason will be baptized!

We have also had an amazing week, and it has truly been a testimony to me that as we strive to be obedient the Lord will bless us! He is always just waiting us to do what he has asked, and when we do we will receive the blessing attached to that commandment! I am so grateful to the Lord for the many tender mercies that we have experienced this week. It makes me want to be even better this week!

Also random fact! So one of the Hmong speaking Elders, Elder Talbot, that is in my district went on exchanges this week. We were talking and we found out that he went up to New Fork as a scout. We also discovered that Isaac (my brother) was his troop buddy!! Haha Small world!

I love y'all

Elder Ellsworth

Hello again,

Dearest Family and Friends,

Well I want to apologize for my dismal email last week. I was typing it on a little kindle because the library was closed, and I just got tired of typing on it, so I sent the email! My last few weeks has been nice. We have been working hard for the most part, and I have been trying my best to be Obedient. Actually I have had some amazing experiences, and I am getting into it simply being a habit for me to wake up at 6:30. I have woken up on time for 14 days in a row now. And I have worked out for a majority of them! It has been hard, especially because my companion has gotten up 2 of those days, but I really do feel blessed as I am obedient to the rules. The work has also been picking up lately. We have found some success, so I will tell you about a few of the people we are working with.

Jason is a 14 year old boy, he is a direct descendant of Joseph Smith! Since I am Joseph's first cousin 5 times removed, that makes me and Jason 5th cousins 5 times removed (maybe). He is sweet, two of his best friends are members, and that is where we have been having our lessons, at the Pietz home. They are awesome young family in our ward. With Jason being a descendant of Joseph Smith he knows about the Church a bit. He has been before with his Grandma, and even has his own Quad! He is very receptive, and we are trying to get into his home and meet and teach a lesson to his mother and two sisters.

William is another 14 year old. I have actually never met him, but I have a lesson with him this week! He has been taught by the Marysville Missionaries, and he lives in our ward boundaries, he has a baptism date for February 4th, and I am excited to teach him. We told the Ward Council what we know about him, and actually a bunch of the members, knew who he was! It will be exciting to invite him out to our ward.

Ryan is about 25. He is pretty knowledgeable about the Church, and has studied a couple of Church books. I am not sure how interested he is, but we have a lesson at the church this week as well, so hopefully I will have more to report next week.

Eric is 22. He is married and has a child with an active member in our ward. He is open to what we say, but he doesn't really care to do much about it. He has been taught for almost a year now, but we are still working with him towards baptism. He is an awesome man!

As you can see we are having a lot of success working with young men! I don't know why, but that seems to be most of who I have taught on my mission! I am excited about the work, and I just love to work hard!! I love being beat when I get home for the day! I love hitting the sack, and night always goes way too fast!! I blink and my alarm is calling me out of bed for yet another day.

Well I had better wrap things up! I got places to go, and people to bowl with and play basket ball. Before I leave, I will tell you about my District a little bit. The Wheatland Elders are Elder Newcomb, and Elder Dryer, both awesome hard working Missionaries. The Marysville Elder are Elder Thompson (not my papa), and Elder Simons. We also have the Olivehurst Elders, Elder Moyle, Elder Paramore, and Elder Talbot. They are busy, they have the Hmong people to teach as well as the people in Olivehurst, and also have to do all the Zone Leader stuff! They are busy!

Well I am going to let you guys go now! I love y'all's gutz, and will talk to you next week!

With Love

Elder Ellsworth

P.S. Would you send me a Calendar with pictures of Christ on it? I am stuck with one from the Sikh Temple at the moment!

Wow! 2012!

This year has flown by. Time flies when you are having fun. Well today will be a little short, sorry, next week I will get you a nice long email. I am actually sending this via the Tharps new kindle. So typing stuff is hard for me!!

Well as you can guess transfers have arrived, drum roll please, I will stay in Loma Rica with Elder Lee for six more weeks. Also I will serve as the Marysville District Leader. I am pretty nervous, especially since I am hardly staying sane in my current situation! But I will be going on a bunch of exchanges, so I will get a break.

Well, I am tired of typing on this. Things are good, Elder Lee told me this past week he hoped that one of us would leave. I retaliated and told him the feeling was mutual. Shouldn't have done that! I hope that all is going good at home. Pray for me!!
With love,
Elder Ellsworth