Well Hello!

Thanks for your e-mail. It was very nice to talk to all of you on christmas and I still think about it. My mom did get a hold of me she called and I talked to her it was very nice. I cant wait to get the box because I have not gotten any letters besides a letter from my mom the day I got to the mission which was awesome. I really miss getting at least one letter everyday from Cassie. Now I get nothing:( However yesterday my companion and I got a huge box from the branch with a ton of food and candy. Like bread soups noodles and some other stuff. Now we don't really need to go shopping today. Yeah. So we have an awesome branch. All the members are so nice and we went to a few familys for the Christmas time and played games. It was so much fun even though I didn't talk hardly ever. I am usually a big talker and I was in the MTC but here I am super quite just cause I never know what to say. Oh well it will come. We ran into a lady yesterday who had contact with the missionaries a while ago and we are gonna meet with her so hopefully she'll be an investigator. Also we are gonna meet with a guy from thailand. I am so excited because he speaks english and no dutch so I get to teach too. yeah. Today we cleaned some in the apartment. We are gonna go to the centrum of Zwolle and take some pictures and look at some stuff , it'll be fun. Its been pretty cold. but I can take it cause we bike everywhere so I usually sweat. We went to kampen and there was a super old like really tall church tower and its leaning a little off to the side. There were also a bunch of old sail ships. Most of the rivers that they have everywhere are frozen, people iceskate on them haha. Also we went down this tiny hill with a slay and some other thing like a big plate. Its pretty hardcore here and I can't wait to start teaching someone. The food the members have been feeding us has been extremly good so I've put on a couple of kilos. oops. I do work out every morning but I guess its just not enough. I will try harder though. Well there is a lot going on but yet nothing to tell.So I hope that I will have some cool stories to tell soon. I guess I'll talk to alýall next monday.\

Love you all. Bye.

Elder Ellis' First Day in Belgium

You can see photos from Jon's first day in Belgium here on his Mission President's blog.

Hello everyone!

Well first off, flying was interesting and it sure took forever to get to Belgium. First there was something wrong with a "Probe" on the airplane but then they said that they would fix it and after like over an hour they let us get off to get some food while they fix it, two hours after that they said that they can't fix it and that we would be using a new airplane. So we had to go to a gate on the complete other side of the big Atlanta airport. I did have a few chances to talk to people which I did. One older German Couple and we talked about missions. They were very interested and they told me that our group of missionaries looked very happy and nice and that there was something about us..... Duhh...We are the Missionaries. They were nice. Then me and Elder Davies talked to a guy who was very smart. We talked about how bad the world is today and everytime when we said something he would either kindly interrupt or comment on everything we said. We introduced the book of Mormon and like I said before we were even done he interrupted and said "Oh I've already read that and the two other books that come with it. Wow how cool. He said that he new that the book of mormon real scripture is and that it contains the gospel of Jesus Christ. But than he said "but why are you young people out here trying to get people to read this book, What do you know" Elder Davies and I in perfect unity than explained that we were called of god and that we have his spirit and that we let people feel of that spirit to testify of the truth of what we are saying. He was silent the entire time and just listened. We had all his attention till they said we could board the plane. He totally felt the spirit. Well anyways, we got to the Belgium airport and there some missionaries and sister brubaker picked us up. President and Sister Brubaker are soo awesome and cool. He is extremely funny and nice well both of them but he is nice. So just so you know, about two weeks into the MTC we all threw a ball at the belgium/netherlands map to see where everyone was going. I hit Zwolle. So about that time was the time I knew that I was going to Zwolle. I would tell other missionaries even though they could care less. We always joked about it. Elder Davies got the ball somewhere in Belgium. Well at the mission home we were about to find out where we were going and they told us the areas that are open. The place in Belgium that Elder Davies chose was not open so he just said well I'm going to what ever is open in Belgium. Of course I said that I'm going to Zwolle. As my companion was the first to open his call out of us Elders he got Gent which is in Belgium. So Elder Davies was like ahhhh so he said that he would get Zwolle and I was like no you're not cause thats where I am going. Well once it came around for me to open my call I looked at the paper and just burst out into laughter. I said "I'M GOING TO ZWOLLE" withe Elder Wells who aparently is the best trainer. This is his last transfer so it will also be his best. We spent the night at the mission home with about 20 other Elders and a few sisters. In the morning the next day we left for our areas. We all got on one train and than got off at different stations. Time to say goodbye to all my good MTC friends. It will be hard. After switching trains to go to Utrecht its just me and Elder Andrews. When we get off in Utrecht there were no missionaries around to pick us up so we waited around for a while. We got cold so we went upsairs to the main train station. Still no one in sight. We walk around for quit a while going all over. Well we could not find them. So we decided just to wait by the information stand till they find us. ..... and more time... wel all of a sudden Elder Andrews is like I see them. Yeahh finally. I would of had no clue what to do if I didn't find them. Elder wells had to take another train to get to Zwolle which was a long train ride. And so packed that I had to stand the entire time with some really cute girl pretty much all up on me. Anyways it was super awekward like so tight inthere like you would only imagin in like India or Afrika. Oh and all our luggage too. So Zwolle is AWESOME but I am new here obviously and so is my Companion. We are white washing. We found our place and after we go back out to go walk around and do some finding we lock ourselves out. The adventure just keeps on getting better. Even before that we were riding our bikes back from the grocery store and Elder Wells decides to make a quick turn so I was about to hit him so I hit the brakes and I slipped and fell. It was a soft landing but it was super funny. Bytheway its been snowing like they said never before. Well its fun here. The ward is great. We are moving into a new church building from an office to an actuall building. We have no investigators so we have to do alot of finding. I can not understand anything. I'll talk later. 

Safe Arrival to Belgium

We're grateful for the safe arrival of Elder Ellis to Belgium earlier today.  He had a very long layover in Atlanta because of problems with the plane, but we were able to talk to him a few times yesterday! 

His first area of service will be in Zwolle, Nederland and his trainer's name is Elder Wells.  He's very excited to get started!  Thanks for all the support you've shown him, he appreciates it so much.  If you'd like to write him, you can send your letters to the mission home - the address is in the sidebar.

President and Sister Brubaker with Elder Ellis

Well Hello all Y'all

I have had a really good week especially since I've been preparing myself to leave. Its crazy to think about it, reality definatly has not hit me yet. I can't wait to eat some real good food at the airports but I mean the food here is ok. Today I went to the temple at 7 in the morrow. It was soo cool cause it was like the perfect way to start off the day. Broeder Jacobs showed us some stuff from his mission and told us a ton of stories, some which are scary that I will not mention cause it would probably worry you all. Anyways Thanks again for all your letters and boxes and what not. I got some really good treats from grandma Alaine. Man I can't wait. I am still tying to figure out some stuff with my luggage cause it was alittle overweight cause I have so many books. I had to buy like every Dutch book they had and an Arabic BoM. I will miss the MTC and all the Teachers and the people, the awesome gym time where everyone is together. man I played 4 square all the time and its the nerdiest game in the world, I mean not as nerdy as tether ball. Yesterday when I got into the 4 th square I retired so I would leave with the memory of being at my prime. All the Elders and Sisters in my DISTRICT ARE AMAZING I have learned lots from them even though they learned more from me haha. I am so excited to see real people who are not mormon at like the airports and to talk to them and start the mission work. Yes I will call but the Lords work is more important than a too long phone call cause I only have two years to have the authority given to me to be a representitive of Jesus Christ. I talked to some Elders all the time who are from Germany so I am getting back into German. I am also realizing how much I miss Austria and how much I love the German cultur. I am still a full on American Patriot but I'm just saying. Tonight we get to see all the pics from our teachers missions and here the cool stories. Iam super excited. I am a deciple of Christ. I appreciate all the encouragement from all you but I have noticed that I have Jesus Christ and Heavenly father on my side since I am doing their work in a way I sometimes think Ahhh you are all to kind but really you out there fighting every day life are the ones that need the encouragement because I don't have the worldly things distracting me. I have had a lot of time to think and I've realized that me being on a mission is the best thing in the world and so selfless because I am helping people accept Jesus Christ and seek Eternal Life. That is what this life is all about. All money is worthless because We will be judged acording to our deeds and not how much money we have or worked for. The question that we all should be asking ourselves is " What am I doing to help build the kingdom of God, How am I Strengthening the family and the true church of Jesus Christ." I love this work and there is no end to it. We live to receive our bodies and Be tested. We have all already sccepted Jesus Christ as our Savior or else we would not be here on this Earth, as missiononaries its our job to help people remember their decicion they made by letting them feel of the spirit of truth. Anytime someone tries to justify a rule or a commandment its probably wrong. As missionaries we learn to be excactlly Obedient. Obedience is an important principle. Well thats enough of my preaching its just I can feel the spirit testify of the truth all the time its awesome. Oh now some other stuff. I have a cough and I hope to get rid of it before I go but I doubt that that'll happen. I love you all who ever reads this. Man I am so excited to meet people and I already love them and want them to receive the gosple. Thanks again for all the letters and all anyone has done for me.

Hey again!!

Thank you for all the wonderful letters that I have received. I am sorry if I hav not gotten back to everyone yet its just that I don't have that much time. As some of you may already know I received my travel plans to leave on December 16th!!!! I am so stoked right now. Ok so funny story: I was sitting in my class and I was tired of sitting in my chair so I decided to sit in someones elses chair. That chair was right next to the computer where Elder Benson was sitting. About 5 minutes after I sat there studying the scriptures I feel this liquid splashing over me staring from my sleeve working its way up till it sprayed me on the side of my face. I took my hand and wipped down my face to find blue color all over my hand. It turned out that Elder Benson had just opened his blue highlighter marker and it exploded or something all over me. He got a little on him but mostley me. It was really funny and luckely I was able to get it out of my white shirt. Oh man I am leaving in like 8 days its crazy. My dutch is ok but I am gonna be screwed for the first few days. haha. So our district ran into an old man from the netherlands while on a temple walk. We talked to him for a while. Also We talked to the two Ducth Senior couples that were at the MTC and they gave us a bunch o dutch treats. It was so good. We also did an activity with them by teaching eachother so it was good cause we always only teach young elders and sisters who we feel comfortable around. At the TRC we do get to teach returned missionaries and sometimes older people who went there long ago. My companion and I taught a lady who just came back from the netherlands the second lesson in dutch and it went really good. Now obviouslly she already knows the truth but as the spirit directed me I asked her to be baptized and she said yes as soon as she knows that its true.We had a speaker here not to long ago who said that if you want to know that this church is true and you want to have a testimony and want to feel the spirit than you have to work hard. As a missionary its easier cause you don't have all the worldly distractions but still we need to read every day in the scriptures, we need to pray with a sincere heart, we need to have faith that we will receive an answer. Jesus Christ is knocking on our doors. We have to open them and let him in and let the atonement of Jesus Christ the son of God work for us. I can't wait to teach this to people who are searching for this truth in their lives. I am having so much fun here that I can't even imagine leaving this place. Today I ran around with an orange and a green dot on my name tag so orange means your new and green means your international so most likely a non english speaker. So many people fell for it and were all like Welcome Elder. Or some would talk to me and I would act like I could'nt speak english and they believed me it was fun. Anyways. Something sad happened this week. One of the Elders in my District had to go home on short notice for medical reasons it was really sad. Our teacher cam back that night after that Elder left and we prayed together as a district on our knees. It was so powerful. Prayer is so powerfull if you have faith in Jesus Christ. Pray,Pray,Pray. All day when ever you can. Give thanks to he who has givin you all things. Also yesterday I had the oportunity to give a blessing and it was alos very powerful. I was litterally guided by the spirit. At first I thought I would not be able to do it but I opened my mouth with faith that it would be filled by the spirit and it was. It was a very cool blessing.

Elder Ellis

Hello everybody!

Ok so first things first, if I have not replyed to some I am very sorry its just my time is limited and I can only write so many letters and I've written a few but I am still working on replying to everybody. So thank you all for your wonderful letters. I really like getting letters from all of you. So I am also sorry if you asked me any questions and I never answered its just hard to remember everything and I always forget the letters when I write my e-mail or letters. I can't wait to go to europe cause than I am not in such a rush to write my e-mails. We had a huge service project on thanksgiving day where we made school bags for children we made like 33000 and I was one of the trainers and leaders who showed the Missionaries what to do it was really fun. So also for the morning devotional on thanksgiving Elder Jeffrey R. Holland came and talked to us.... It was sooooooo goood like I can't even tell you and all his grandchildren sang to us, it was so cute cause it reminded me of like the primary things at our ward at home. This whole last week has been awesome and I am learning more and more everyday. I feel like home, its gonna be reqally sad when we all leave and we (our district) are split. I mean we are in the same mission but who knows how often we will see eachother. We have a new teacher who is helping out alot his name is Broeder Jacobs and he really likes me and he is way cool (he just got back like 1 year ago). I've been waking up at 5;30 a few times now to work out with an elder who is in the army and there was an elder from the marines. Today the new Dutchies arrived and two of them are brazilian but their english is pretty good. There are 4 new elders and 1 new sister. The brazilians had a hard times getting visas they should have been here on sep 7th. Last night we heard from Sister Beck the general relief society pres it was really good. I mean all the talks are good. Oh also funny story a week or so ago I don't remember,while I was sitting I saw Ruth Ellis walk in with her family and I was like what? She went to Impact. Her husband spoke at one of the firesides. She is the daughter of one of the MTC president counselor or something. weird. So today Mike is here and I have  not seen him yet but I am so excited like the most excited since I have been here. I even walked outside for a while trying to see him get dropped off but I had to go cause we had to go do something. I have grown so much spiritually or maybe its just the MTC Spiritual Prisoneous feeling that we feel here. I am making a lot of friends and they are so cool. So I am learning a lot of new things here. pretty cool. So today I get to go to the temple again finally whooooooho. Oh and I learned a Dutch birthday song cause they don't use Happy Birthday to you .... like we do its a lot longer and way cool. I am still learning it. There is a bird inside the cafetiria and I almost caught it one time but it slipped my suit coat . Yeah it just had babies in the ceiling where the lights are. We have come to really like the Bird and it actually has a lot of names since no one can agree on a single name. Oh for my mission plaque I will send a letter with the photo and the scriptures tommorrow thannk you fro being patiant. Oh so I lost my notebook with all my notes from the wonderful talks and I just found it a week later. I am loving it and I am really coming to realize the fruits of this gospel and I cannot wait to go do the real work. You have no Idea. Oh yeah it snowed so its cold and snowy outside. Oh and that huge storm everyone was talking about did not hit us at all like there was no sign of it besides maybe the snow. I love you all. And I now have to go because my time is up. I love it here. My district is awesome and my teachers are the best and our branch presidency our so the best and you are all the best and thanks for all the letters. I am a deciple of Jesus Christ. I am!!!!!! I am Called from God to do his work!!! I know that now!!!!!!!! I can not express to you the love I have for the work that I have not even started yet. Byeeee