11/23/2015

Dad, I'm sorry I said anything about your hair... or lack thereof...

2 kings 2:23-24

​My bike seat exploded. I got a used one from a bike shop for 10 bucks. It was like a cloud, then it broke. They had it ziptied to hold it together and didn't see it until it was too late, and the store was closing, so i don't think they'd refund it. So went to good ol Walmart for a new seat,

I think I told everyone but I'm getting transferred on Wednesday. It's just my time to go. I love these people and am sure I will love the new people. I know no matter what, I will go where the Lord needs me and I will be a tool for him, but please keep me in your prayers, for a smooth transition and guidance and companionship of the spirit. They are always stressful, no matter how prepared you are for them, but I'm sure I'll learn even more stuff I never even thought about before.

Something that occurred to me while emailing Kyle (#shoutout) was that we don't always see the good we do until after the trials, and the trials go by slow, especially if we are not committed fully to facing them, but once we commit to do what we can for the right reasons and just go hard, they pass more quickly. We get some heavenly help, and before we know it we are looking back on something half a year later and saying, wow that's really cool how the Lord used me for that, I'm glad I was doing my best, we never regret enduring well our trials.

Recently a missionary who came out at the same time as me went home. It was just to stressful for him, which is understandable, missions are tough but well worth it. The growth is worth the stress, but I was his district leader about 3 or 4 months ago and he was struggling then too, I can't even remember what I said to him but I remember the spirit working through me to help him, he stayed out and had one of the most solid baptisms i've ever seen, but now decided to go home. I'm sure the Lord would have provided a way for that recent convert to be baptized still, but this Elder was the one to help him make that step and I was able to help this Elder stay out just a bit longer. I didn't realize it then, but it's helped me always want to be worthy of and have the spirit and serve where God needs me. We are just a small piece of a much grander picture, just a player on the winning team. I'll play any position the Lord wants me too, after all he is the coach and knows where our talents will be put to the best use.

I love my mission, I love the people of Florida, I love all of you, and I love Jesus Christ.

I've been here for 7.5 months, I love the people here and am truly sad to go, but the Lord needs me somewhere else. This area is near and dear to my heart, I had to basically reboot it and retrain my mtc comp, then got another trainee after that, so I've put my blood sweat and tears into this area just like Elder Holland said to, and we went from 1 shaky investigator and 2-5 lessons a week to a solid teaching pool and over 20 lessons weekly and some incredible recent converts, and some reactivation efforts along the way. I guess it's time to give my all somewhere else now.

I will find out my new area, address, and companion on Wednesday, keep me in your prayers, I will need them, its been awhile since I got transferred and will have to readjust. Hopefully my new area has a Thanksgiving appointment, we will see. I bought some space bags to make the transfer easier haha. The weather is getting cooler, it was beautiful this morning, it actually felt like November!

Thanks for everything, the cotton garments will definitely keep me warm haha, They make morning workouts sticky sometimes, but they are so soft and comfortable when they are dry, they will be perfect for the winter, and I'll be adjusted by the time summer comes back around.

Thanks again for everything, love,

-Elder Ellsworth