SO, I made it to Rancho Cucamonga safely even with a very bumpy flight, turbulence. I spent the night in the mission home and the very next day I was assigned a father and drove to my first apartment that night. I'm actually in a town called Wright Wood up in the mountains above the high desert where it is really cool. I love it so much I never want to leave this area the entire time I'm here, even if it snows here in the winter and I'll have to do a LOT of shoveling, I wouldn't mind even a little bit. The people are all so inviting every time I talk people want to listen to me because my missionary status. The ward I'm in is so very little and the hearts of the people are so very big. Sister Anderson has already adopted me as her grandson, along with every other missionary, and is so inviting and friendly that I feel as though she were my own grandmother. I have also eaten at a number of members homes since I've been here and they have all been so welcoming to me even though I am a greenie and replacing Elder Golden. My Trainer is Elder Law, he comes home in around 5 weeks and lives in Midway. We are both so very close to each other in home and here. Out of all the wonderful people here I think the Brady's might be my favorite (don't tell anyone I said that!) because Elder Law and I gave 2 blessings the other night and I haven't the spirit so beautifully in such a long time. I have been so blessed to have such an amazing trainer and even if I went home tomorrow my testimony has already been affirmed because of him.
The other night that I spoke of was Friday the 21st. That night we went over to visit them for a while because the second daughter, R., was in a lot of pain from girls camp and we just wanted to visit. R. wanted nothing to do with the church even though the rest of her family are all strong in the church and was converted by Elder Law and Elder Golden. All they did was read the scriptures with her and bore testimony every time they would visit and she became active and even got her patriarchal blessing. At girls camp this last week there was a CPR demonstration where it was explained what to do and the counselor actually accidentally pressed down on her chest as if they were doing it for real. Her sternum didn't break, thankfully, but she was in a lot of pain and wanted a blessing from Elder Law. I did the oil and he gave the blessing in which he spoke about her lasting impact on the hearts of the girls she served while at camp. At the time neither of us knew anything about her experience other than her sternum was nearly broke. Later we found out there was a girl being bullied and she attempted to comfort the bullied girl and felt that she didn't "really" help the girl. This touched R.'s heart and she was crying by the time the blessing was finished. I even had to fill Elder Law in on what he even said because he couldn't remember the contents of the blessing. I had my hands laid on her head along with her father and Elder Law and I felt the spirit so strongly it felt as if I was being pierced in the back by it it was so powerful.
The church is absolutely true!! If it wasn't, then Elder Law would be a liar. If it wasn't I would be lost in California. If it wasn't the world wouldn't be.
So sorry about the radio silence. I have been super sick for close to 3 weeks now and still not getting over this cough. I have plenty of medicine and have access to a doctor so I'll be fine. Last week of MTC the group headed to Rancho Cucamonga left around noon and took us all day to travel to the mission office. My P-day in the MTC was Tuesday and my P-day here in California is Monday so I got he short end of the stick there. I love and promise to always write and email you when I can so you can be assured of my living. Also google chatroom is not allowed in my mission and we really aren't supposed to do the emailing back and forth thing, so yeah. I will still keep in contact but it will be quite slow. As for my scripture for the missionary plaque I have one in mind and any other scripture would be sacrilege to use any other so I can hold off the picture for a little while. Besides even if I gave you one the plaque wouldn't go up at the church for another 3 months anyways so there is no harm waiting right? Also here is the photos of the Moses mural and also another that will receive no context.
Also I gave my first missionary talk on Sunday. (Pday is Monday). It was pretty terrifying but I made it through without anything too horrible happening. I gave a pretty short talk even though I was supposed to go longer I fell short on that part but I lived regardless. I love you peoples so much and will return with honor.
Elder Ellsworth
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