This was an awesome week!! PS I left this out of last weeks email.  WE ARE GETTING SMARTPHONES.  Crazy!  

We had our temple trip today!! That was awesome!  We had our appointment set by the mission for the 8:30 am session.  Which for us is a terrible time to schedule a session an hour away for missionaries that can't drive themselves.  We knew about the trip 3 weeks in advance and even then, we didn't have someone to drive us til Saturday, and he actually forgot all about til we knocked his door!  It was a crazy scenario that almost kept us away from the House of the Lord!!

We had a fairly slow week besides that anyways.  All of our investigators have dropped us except 1, so we have 1 person to teach reliably... and she doesn't want to come to church... or read the Book of Mormon.  In any case we are still working with her and will get a better update this next week hopefully!

Anyways, gotta get going but just wanted to update y'all on my Book of Mormon reading.  I'm currently towards the end of 3rd Nephi.  The part when Christ came and changed game in the Americas.  In my reading this time around, I'm reading about 16 pages a day and I skip the Chapter headings entirely.  For some reason, it reads more like a story book rather than scripture.  Not in a bad way, but I absorb so much more detail reading it like this! Once I'm done with this one I'm gonna do another slow read.

Elder Ellsworth

April 16th


woops!! sorry about last week! I forgot to hit the send button and didn't end up sending anything. This is last weeks email

We had a good week and did a ton of productive work. We doubled down on our tracting efforts and met a less active because of it. It was a tracting Miracle that we found her! We were just out tracting and a door swung open before us and from inside we heard "Elders come on in!". We were just a little apprehensive, a door opened before us and that meant either a member, or a bible basher. Thankfully it was a member! She is not active and hadn't let the ward know she was there and wants to come back to church. We invited her and gave her a blessing before we left. All in all it was a good experience for both of us.  Her name is sis Brown and her son is Danny!  They are both awesome people and are going to come back to Church since we found them!  

Above is last weeks email.  Below is this weeks email.  (Again sorry)

We had a crazy week!!  A lot of weird stuff happened to us.  We had a whole lesson with an atheist, where the entire time he continued to belittle us.  It went on for about 2 hours with us hardly saying anything.  We ended it with giving him a Book of Mormon and our phone number.  Also we had a very interesting conversation with a lady who claimed clairvoyance and being able to speak with spirits.  Interesting, and we were just a little relieved when we found out she was out of our area, because neither of us know much about that.  We also had a lesson with our newest investigator, Lynette, and it was a review of the first lesson.  It went well, and she is awesome!! She actually works at the family history center 3 days a week.  She knows more about genealogy than either of us combined.  Totally out of our depth again!

All in all it was an awesome week!!

Elder Ellsworth

April Fool's

Yesterday was Easter Sunday.

Happy Easter!!

Also we had general conference

Elder Ellsworth

D+C 64:33

That last email was my Late April Fools, my LAF!!

Bad pun that doesn't make sense written.

Anyways, Easter Sunday was yesterday and there were some major changes announced.  Most important.  Layton, Utah Temple!!  No but seriously, there are some big things happening in the Church.  These things are all being brought about during this last conference to hasten the work like never before.  It is amazing to be a missionary during this time especially!  To hear all the rest of the announcements, go to LDS.org and it'll be on the front page.

Anyways, as for me, I'm staying in Apple Valley for 6 months.  It is awesome here and I love it!! No sarcasm.  The Shack is awesome and I love it.  I dislike it at times, but it's all good!  As for the ward, I love it here!  Everything is awesome!!  We spent yesterday with the Osborne family and had a Blast watching general conference.  Life is good in Sunny California.

Elder Ellsworth

Alma 36:3

An email to his dad:

Hey Dad!  Sorry about not writing you in a while.  I try and write every tuesday/wednesday of each week.  The last few letters I wrote were all to my siblings.  I didn't think about the fact that you were expecting letters from me still as I wrote to my siblings.  I just didn't connect the dots in that, while I was writing my brothers and sisters, I wasn't writing home to my parents.  I will write one tonight and have it in tomorrow's mail.  And probably also another one in Wednesdays mail.

Also, the changes to Elders quorum and the whole ministering thing are huge changes.  I thought about it a little, the 2 of us will be in the same quorum together (unless callings take us out).  And the changes made ultimately boil down, at least I think, to the fact that not every family is being visited.  Combining the Elders and High Priests and changing the fact that Relief society visits families instead of just sisters.  This new change is for the unification of the church and each of its members.  The first presidency announcement a few months ago, when President Nelson made the invitation, to all those who have fallen of the covenant path, to please come back.  Everything that they have done is to bring back the fold of God.  

Another of the biggest new announcements that shocked me especially, was when President Nelson something like this, "The Greatest Works of the Father will happen between now and the Second Coming"  I don't know if those were the exact words, this is a huge promise of the Prophet.

Elder Ellsworth

Last Week's Email Was Terrible - March 26

Sorry for a lack luster email last week.  With a couple of sick Elder's we had to run them to medicine and a quick email.  The last few weeks we've needed to drive them around and have not nearly enough miles to drive ourselves to every appointment, so we've been walking quite a bit.  We have had a few really funny stories of just crazy desert people.  It's amazing the people we meet on the mission.  So many of these people have stories that are so interesting where they have all been.  It's amazing to think that they are all children of God, and that he loves each of them!

Elder Craig and I are doing well and are staying together another transfer in the SHACK!! woot.

I'm in a love-hate relationship with the Shack.  It's good though, an awesome experience.  

With my studies lately.  I finished the Book of Mormon last transfer and I am reading it again a little faster this time.  I'm reading at 12 pages a day and are already in Mosiah again.  I'm seriously enjoying it a ton this time as well.  There was a few scriptures that stood out to me on Sunday.

Elder Ellsworth

Mosiah 15: 14-17

Down with the sickness - March 19

This past week was a very cold week.  We have been assigned to drive some other Elder's around in the SVL ward.  They have also been super sick recently.  And because we have limited miles and added extra responsibility.  We needed to walk all week to ensure that we don't go over on miles.  And this last week was frigged!!  California is supposed to be hot right?!

Anyways, transfers are coming up this weekend.  So if my emails are super late next week, don't freak.  Anyways,

We are taking the sick Elder's around this week so I don't get any time today to email so I gotta go.

Sorry for a short email.

Elder Ellsworth

Moroni 7:45-47

March 12

I finished the Book of Mormon this past week!! It took a while for me to get through the whole thing. I got distracted on Jesus the Christ and finished that instead. Once that was out of the way, I flew right through. With finishing the Book of Mormon, I have decided to read it faster this time. I'm reading 12 pages a day and will finish in a transfer. Once finished with this read through, I plan to read again at 6 pages a day, 2 transfers to read it. I'm feasting on the words of Christ!

Zone conference was really good for Elder Craig and I. We were reinvigorated in our efforts and motivation. We are both doing awesome in our morning schedule We are both waking up at 6:00 and getting in a full hour of awesome studies and an hour of workout. I haven't had so much energy in a long time throughout the entire day. 

Stake conference was good this past Sunday.  It was a good opportunity to learn from the experiences of others. President Ebmeyer (the Stake President) gave a very good talk on forgiveness that I thought useful. I'm trying to apply his words to my service.

Elder Ellsworth

Moroni 7:45-47

March 5

Sorry about maybe the cryptic description of my injury. It is a recurring injury on my lower back muscles that I pulled while lifting with Elder Craig. It didn't slow down our missionary work at all. It only prevented me from Zone activity and I took a brake from driving a few days. I'm all better now, just a bit of pain on Monday.

Elder Craig and I had a good week despite a slow P day. On Friday, we were asked by someone in the Granite Hills ward for a blessing. With a little bit of miscommunication, we were able to see the member and perform a priesthood blessing. It was a good experience for me as I hadn't performed a blessing in a while and had some practice. It was a good day that we were able to help some people in their lives.

I'm close to finishing the Book of Mormon. It's the first time to read it all the way through. I've read most of it in non-sequential order. But not from 1 Nephi 1 to Moroni 10. I'm only a few chapters away at this point and will finish it before next Monday. I'm excited to start again. Hopefully a little quicker this time. 

Elder Ellsworth 

Ether 12, note that the word "Faith" is used 34 times

February 26 - Temple Trip

Hello everyone!!!  Sorry for the late email.  Yesterday was President's day and the Library was closed.  But today it isn't!  SO... here I am now, emailing.  This last week was awesome!! I got to spend some time on Saturday going to the temple for sis Erftenbeck's endowment, which was awesome!  The Brady family took Elder Dietrich and I down there and even bought us Cafe Rio!!  LEGENDS!

This past week we did a little rearranging with the Shack.  We didn't feel we had enough space, so Elder Craig and I moved the desks around to fit more.  Since we've done this it feels so much more spacious with what we have.  And we did a lot of cleaning in our area book to be able to find those who were lost in our own records.  We have an appointment set for tomorrow just from looking through old stuff!  Our ward here is doing well.  The Ranchos ward is a fantastic ward that cares for it's members, which makes our job a lot easier.

We don't have too much time to email today, so I want to leave with a cool experience this last week.  The night before the temple trip, there was a change of plans which completely derailed our plans.  With some help from the Lord, we were able to find rides to and from.  Our zone leaders drove us to Phelan, the Brady's drove us to the Redlands temple, and some Elder's from Hesperia drove us back.  Every step of the way we were uncertain if we were gonna make it but never doubted that the Lord would provide a way for his servants.  

Elder Ellsworth

2 Nephi 7:10-11

President's Day

Hello everyone!!!  Sorry for the late email.  Yesterday was President's day and the Library was closed.  But today it isn't!  SO... here I am now, emailing.  This last week was awesome!! I got to spend some time on Saturday going to the temple for sis Erftenbeck's endowment, which was awesome!  The Brady family took Elder Dietrich and I down there and even bought us Cafe Rio!!  LEGENDS!

This past week we did a little rearranging with the Shack.  We didn't feel we had enough space, so Elder Craig and I moved the desks around to fit more.  Since we've done this it feels so much more spacious with what we have.  And we did a lot of cleaning in our area book to be able to find those who were lost in our own records.  We have an appointment set for tomorrow just from looking through old stuff!  Our ward here is doing well.  The Ranchos ward is a fantastic ward that cares for it's members, which makes our job a lot easier.

We don't have too much time to email today, so I want to leave with a cool experience this last week.  The night before the temple trip, there was a change of plans which completely derailed our plans.  With some help from the Lord, we were able to find rides to and from.  Our zone leaders drove us to Phelan, the Brady's drove us to the Redlands temple, and some Elder's from Hesperia drove us back.  Every step of the way we were uncertain if we were gonna make it but never doubted that the Lord would provide a way for his servants.  

Elder Ellsworth

2 Nephi 7:10-11

Elder Ellsworth and Elder Craig

Elder Ellsworth and Elder Dietrich

Transfers

Transfers were today.  I got to see Elder Pooley down in Rancho Cucomonga at the mission office which was a real treat to see him again.  I'm staying up here in the desert and staying in the Shack another transfer with my new companion Elder Craig.  Elder Craig is a bit of a Legend because of his lineage.  He trained Elder Etheridge who is the AP right now, and Etheridge trained Elder's Puzey, and Shenton, who are both ZL's right now.  And Elder Puzey trained Elder Kunz who is a DL and half training.  All this leadership all came from him, my current companion.  It is also impressive that his Great Grandson and him are both still on their missions at the same time.  

Elder Dietrich left and is gone to Phelan, right below my last area which is awesome!!  He is going to thrive there and I send my prayers with him.  Here I am with my new companion and I have a drive to work.  I ask to send your prayers to me for a great new transfer!!

Elder Ellsworth

                                                   "Look I touched snow on my mission"

February 5, 2018

This was a great week for Elder Dietrich and I. We started off with a fun P day and an awesome zone activity! We had almost the whole zone and we all had a great time. On Tuesday I gave my first district meeting training. I was very nervous about taking too much or too little time, but it all worked out great. Elder Dietrich gave me quite a few helpful tips on how to approach it. I gave a training on the subject of "Successful Missionary" from Preach My Gospel. He also gave some really useful feedback on how I could improve and self reflect on how it went. 

We had an awesome lesson on Sunday. There are members in our ward who are hosting 2 Chinese exchange students and they wanted to have us over to give a lesson. We went over and had a very interesting discussion about what God is and what God means. It started with them not having desire to pray, but by the end we had them commit to praying on their own to find out if God is real. It was a very humbling experience and I learned quite a bit on how to communicate.

Also I had exchanges with Elder Johnston this week in the Spring Valley Lake ward.  It's a bizarre lake in the middle of the desert.  It was a nice change of view to see more water than a swimming pool for once.  We had a slow day but had an awesome lesson that night with some members and their less active son.  All in all it was a good evening.

Also Eagles won the super bowl.  CRAZY, this is the first time in NFL history that they won!  Fly Eagles, Fly!

Elder Ellsworth

January 29

I gave a talk this past Sunday!! Not yesterday but the Sunday before that!  It was awesome!!  Seriously, it wasn't a train wreck or anything like usual.  I hit the books and studied and just made some notes for the talk.  Before hand during my preparation, I was pondering the scriptures from section 11 verse 21 from the D&C where it talks about obtaining the word, then my tongue will be loosed.  I pondered this verse and got on my knee's and began to pray.  I asked my Father in Heaven, "I have sought your word from your Holy scriptures, and you have promised to fill my mouth with that which you need me to say."  Those were the words which I spoke in prayer.  That Sunday I got up and felt at peace.  Every talk I've ever given til now, my heart has pumped so loud in my chest just before and during speaking.  But this time, I felt ready and even eager to speak.  It was a profoundly spiritual time for me and just wanted to share it.

Also something else I wanted to share... I've been a missionary for 7 Months now!!!!  Crazy that I've already been out that long.  It hardly feels that long at all.  So much has happened in so little a time that I almost don't feel that's real.  Crazy how fast the mission goes.  

Elder Ellsworth

January 22

First a quick apology.  Last week I wrote a letter, but got distracted towards the end of the email session by the other Elders, (we email at the family history center with the whole zone) and as part of that I got excited and forgot to hit the send button so I did so today.  This is this week's email.

I gave a talk this Sunday!! I only found out about the talk the Thursday before and didn't get much time to prepare.  Oh well   ¯\_(ツ)_/¯

I got to church and checked out the program.  I was one of 2 speakers and HAD to give a full talk.  It worked out just fine so there was nothing to worry about.  I was never really nervous like I usually get before talks.  I kinda just accepted it.  I got up there, gave the talk, got down and sang in the choir.  It was easy this time for some reason.

On Thursday we had zone conference.  But before that, I had a minor surgery on my toe.  During Zone activity I kicked my toe hard enough that my toenail cut into my toe.  An ingrown toenail that caused me a lot of pain and annoyance.  Got it taken care of, but I'm getting it done again in 2 weeks.  yay :P

I also sent out a few photos.  It rained last week in the high desert, the 3rd time on my mission so far.  Also a pretty cool shot from up above the desert.  And a street in our area called.... Gayhead.... sorry for my immaturity but it was too good to be true.  We got a referral on a certain street so we had to check it out.  When we got there, we were so happy and snagged a few photos.

Life is good.  God is good.  Take it easy.

Elder Ellsworth

2 Nephi 25:26

Email from the missed week

So, last week we didn't get an email. A week later we found out that Ian had forgotten to push send. Haha, that is so Ian. This week he sent last week's letter as well as this week's.

January 18, 2018

Sorry for the lackluster email y'all, not much has happened that was super exciting to the point of writing a big whole email.  We had a good time Elder Dietrich and I.  We worked hard and talked to as many as would listen.  We got a referral one night and went to see her at the first opportunity that arose.  Her name is Armela and we taught her and her husband the restoration.  It was a good lesson and her husband sat in and listened for a while.  She hasn't contacted us since so that was a bummer.  We also have another Investigator that we found while tracting.  His name is Robbie and he has a family.  We saw him playing Basketball with his kids outside once and we thought we'd talk to them.  They told us to come back another time, we did, and taught a lesson and gained him as an investigator.  It was a tracting miracle!!  
We have been doing well and keep working hard.  Don't forget us in your prayers.

Elder Ellsworth

2 Timothy 1:7

A Busy Week

A busy week!! One appointment after another.  On Wednesday we left the apartment about  10 am and got back around  8 pm and went from one lesson to the next.  We had a blast with a few new investigators playing basketball as we taught the restoration.  Even got a return appointment.

With the passing of The Prophet, there was a lot of confusion with a few people we work with but it was easy to explain with the spirit on our side to help.  It's a terrible heartache that we feel, but to know that President Monson is passed on like so many before, and is now with his beloved.  

In this life there are many heartaches and forces that persuade us away from our Father in Heaven.  I see that on a daily basis with the people I meet and work with.  Just before Christmas we picked up 2 new golden investigators.  We invited them to read the Book of Mormon and come to church on Sunday the next day, Christmas eve.  We got a text just before Church that said she wasn't interested anymore and wanted nothing to do with us anymore.  Adversity is prevalent in every aspect of life and faces us at every turn.

To hold to Faith is to practice it everyday.  A lesson we teach to children goes like this.  We have 3 cups and 3 knives and a Book of Mormon.  Balance the Book in the middle of the 3 cups using the knives and without the knives touching more than 2 cups.  It's hard to explain but it represents our faith in the middle.  We need to keep doing the faith building exercises if we want to keep faith.  If not than it dies.

Elder Ellsworth

2 Kings 2:23-25

From a paper letter we received on Jan 3

"Missionary work fluctuates quickly and without warning. We got 8 new investigators in a single week, and within 2 days 2 dropped us and we others haven't set a new meeting appointment. One moment we felt as though all the tracting finally paid off. The next we felt back at squar one. It doesn't at all feel in our control, but His.

Alma 5:26 

Black Hole Year

Happy New Year!!

2018 has thus begun!!

In mission culture, the year that you spend entirely on your mission is known as your Black Hole year.  Today is the first day of my Black Hole Year.

I also hit my 6 month mark a few days ago.  I got to burn a tie as per tradition.  It was this horribly ugly tie that I found in Wrightwood on exchanges with Elder Noorlander during my first transfer at a yard sale.  It was silk, so we doused it in hand sanitizer so it would pseudo burn.  It just melted...  That didn't go as planned but it was still a fun evening.  We played Five Crowns with some other Elders and just had a good time.

We have an investigator named Nicole that the Elder's in this ward have been working with for a while. This past Sunday, in Gospel Principles we reflected on the past year and the things we learned. It was a spiritual experience for her and we both (Elder Dietrich and I) felt impressed to set an appointment immediately. She felt the spirit and we hope she was impressed to take action towards baptism.  It was an awesome Sunday all around.

Something happened last night.  Around 12:30 at night, Elder Dietrich and I had fallen asleep already when someone knocked on the door.  It was a few of our friends in the ward who just wanted to wish us a Happy New Year.  We didn't appreciate it at the time but in retrospect it was funny.  All their kids were hyped up on sugar drinks and staying up til midnight so they pranked themselves.

Elder Ellsworth

From a paper letter this week:

"The work hastens once again!" Yesterday, Thursday, we got 2 new investigators who committed to baptism.  We got a message referral for a family in our area and we immediately went out to meet them! We missed the mom and her 4 year old daughter asked if we were kids. "Yeah we're kids! Just really tall ones" Later when we came back and the mom was home the little girl said "The tall kids are back! What the heck!" We taught the restoration lesson and gave her a Book of Mormon which she gladly accepted the challenge to read it. She and her 17 year old daughter both accepted the commitment of baptism if they get a confirmation from the spirit.  

Tonight we saw something awesome! I have included a picture. We heard later that it was the SpaceEx rocket. It happened just as the sun set so it looked incredible. A whole portion of the sky was lit up by the burnt rocket fuel and there were two bright points like stars moving beneath the moon light. It was while were were out tracting.