Uhhh

Hello

 

I am doing very good and I hope all is well at homes (Austria and America) (or where ever else anyone may be)

I was asked to tell a little more about me sharing a powerful testimony with some investigators. This is a very special experience I have had and means a lot to me so I can't go into details, however, we were meeting with a couple to tell us that they don't want to keep the BoM ( Book of Mormon) and that we should focus on Christ. SO I shared with them that the reason we use the BoM is to testify of Christ. We read powerful passages and scriptures from the book. The lady got mad and threw the book on the table and said that all we need is Christ and not Mormon, instead of bashing her with Why do you use the bible then? I started baring testimony and told her that many people have told me its false. I know that its true because I have received a witness and an answer from God that it is true and I will not let any human being tell me that its not because I believe that God is the source of all truth and no one else. I held the book up and said "I would not take two years out of my life sharing a book with people that is not true. I stand as a witness that Christ lives and a part of that testimony comes from having read the BoM and having prayed about it. I know that its true." This was all in Dutch of course and I said many other things and felt a little like Abinadi. As I stood I felt the spirit so strong and testifying to me of its truth. I challenge all to see for yourselves and read, ponder and pray about the Book of Mormon with a sincere heart. I know that God answers our prayers and that the Book of Mormon testifies of Christ and that it is a fruit of the restored Gospel.

 Now on another note. Meaning more recent, this last week has been good, really good. One of our investigators is making a lot of progress, someone who did not believe in Jesus Christ now through reading the BoM is starting to accept him as his redeemer. He came to church again and is feeling the Gospel bless his life.

Saturday was also a very good day. We did some finding by the market and talked to some cool people and later found a new investigator who wants her dad to also sit in next time.  We then traveled out to a Branch BBQ. At the Bus station in Assen we talked to 3 people waiting for the Bus and they would ask us what we were doing and why we would come to the Netherlands and so we shared a little. On the Bus we talked to a young guy who had a lot of questions and accidentally took the wrong bus but to be able to go back he had to go all the way where we were going. A Miracle! We shared the Restoration and gave him a BOM and some more info. When we got off the bus I felt that I needed to go back on the bus and give one of the ladies from the Bus Station a card with our number and church website. We then went to the BBQ and had a fun time with the members and later that night we got a text from that lady asking about "The Austrian" so we text her a little and hope that we can meet with her soon. This is the first time that someone has called/texted from me giving out a card. We are truly being blessed and the Mission is awesome. I love my Mission so much and I love the Gospel and Jesus Christ. I am so thankful that I am able to be on a mission and help others find the truth.

Now some other info. I am staying in Assen with Elder Merrill for at least another transfer and I am now also the District Leader. I was born and raised in this District and I get to be the District Leader of it too. I am so happy. Another miracle just happened, we got a text from an investigator and she wants to have dinner with us and give us food to take home. I love this work. Sometimes this work can be discouraging but with an eye single to the glory of God everything is possible to overcome. I love you all and am thankful for your prayers and help. I miss everyone I know.

 

Love Elder Ellis

A Short Message

Hey

First of all I just want to say thanks for all the awesome e-mails from all of you! It has made my day and I am Happy.

I don't have so much time beacause I just got back from a P-day with some members at the Zoo. It was a lot of fun and the Loorbachs are awesome and so nice. They are taking good care of us here. Well all the members are.

Last monday night we had an interesting lesson with a Dutch couple. We had a good discussion but we are obviously not on the same page. Their purpose was to give the Book of Mormon back and to convince us that we don't need the Book of Mormon. I bore such a powerful testimony of the truthfulness of the Book of Mormon and Jesus Christ, The spirit was so strong that I felt like I was on fire (in a good way).

On wednesday I had a really good B-Day and got amazing dinner from the Loorbachs. We also had an awesome Lunch with Matty Dohle. I worked as hard as I could even though it was my birthday. It's crazy how fast time goes by. I am already 20! What happened?

Well I have to go

I love you all

Love Elder Ellis

My Week

Hey everybody,

I am doing so good especially because I am experiencing miracles. I learned that we have to look for the miracles that happen everyday. This week has been good and I have been working pretty hard. My comp Elder Merrill and I get along very well and we are having fun together.

On Wednesday we worked with our Branch mission leader after we ate Lunch with his Family. His mom made really good Lasagna. Aswin (Branch mission leader) then took us back to Assen. Oh really quick before I forget while we were in Appelscha which is were he lives, when my comp and I got off the bus to walk to his house we would usually turn left but for some reason I had the feeling that we needed to keep on going, so we did. Al of a sudden some Hispanic Family said "Elders" we looked at them and they were like"Hallo" so we just smiled and replied and you know members or anyone who knows missionaries always wave to missionaries as if they knew them and we have no clue who they are, if they are members or investigators or whatever. So we of course like always act like we know them and reply " Hey How are you" ( but in Dutch obviously) we then asked do you know the Missionaries and it turns out that they are members from Rotterdam and that they are here for business. They spoke Spanish but the Dad spoke a little Dutch. It was cool that we ran into them.

So back to where I was before. Aswin and we did some finding and then went to McDonald's for Dinner and it was so expensive and I got a meal deal. In Dollars it would have been about 12 $. It was ridicules, I won't go there again. Oh and also I have never seen a McDonald's so busy like this one. The only thing I could compare it to would be an Inn and Out Burger in Utah. It was completely full. After Aswin went back home we had the Zone Leaders show up to get a Romanian BoM ( Book of Mormon) from us. We talked for a while and I just have to say they are so awesome and funny. I love um.

I have to admit that on Thursday we were a little lazy and sat in the apartment a little longer than we should have so we did an exercise to help us focus. We looked at our name tags for a couple of minutes and wrote down what we felt or noticed. It was very Humbling. We then set some goals and went back to work. We went and did a consecrated hour and we experienced a miracle. This is it:

One of the new investigators we found was at the end of our Consecrated hour when we both felt inspired to leave the street we were on to go to this apartment building. We started ringing door bells but then felt as if we were in the wrong place so we walked away from the building and just stood on a lawn and looked around not knowing what to do. I then briefly saw someone walking by his or her window at the end of the building and we felt that that was who we needed to talk to. So we went to the second floor to the door of that apartment where we saw that person and no one opened. We felt a little disappointed but then felt the spirit saying "Knock" so we did and a man opened the door. We started talking about Happiness and he said he is not too happy right now, so we talked a little and made an appointment to come back and exchanged numbers. It was truly a miracle that we were sent to someone who needs the Gospel.

On Friday we worked in a city called Emmen and unfortunatly things did not go as planned so we ende up going back to Assen early.

Sunday I gave a talk and it was really good , well thats what the members said. It was about 17 minutes in Dutch, with notes, I did not read off a paper the whole time. yeah I should be more humble. Sorry I am just happy. Today we cleaned all day and never got tired except my back hurt but I am fine. I love you all and am Happy and excited to be a Missionary. I love the Gospel and the Lord......... more, there is so much more to write but my time is limited.

Love Elder Ellis

Hello Everyone

Last P-day was really fun because we went to a little place called Orvelte which is a very old town with about 83 inhabitants. They had a farm house from 1600 and lots of other cool things. The best thing was the members that took us. Harrie and Mattie Dohle who are twins and have lived in Assen their whole lives. They are very strong in the church and work together and have a very strong bond and apparently never fight. They are examples of Priesthood holders. They spoiled us that P-day.

On Tuesday we had X-changes where I was with Elder Hyer a Greeny. His Dutch however is very good. We had an interesting District meeting because the Van Komens where out of town so we had to go to Subway for Lunch because they could not spoil us. We then went inside the Groningen center and Most of the Missionaries from my district sang Hymns while a few of us including me contacted people. We got to talk to a lot of cool people and I got to talk to so many germans but now that I think about it I might have already writen about this last week.

Well the rest of the wek was great and unfortunatly the Library is closing so that means I have to come to an end.

I love you all and miss you, till next week when I have more time.

 

Love Elder Ellis

Hello and Sorry for Being Late

Hello again

I have had a good week, because of many reasons,

1. I am a full-time Missionary of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints/ representative of Jesus Christ.

2. We talked to some great people and

3. We had Zone Conference which means we got to see some missionaries that I really like and who are good friends, also of course because we got great insight from the President.

It was a very good conference. I have to keep this e-mail short because we have an appointment in a few minutes so I want to share something.We experienced a miracle last Friday when we decided to finally go running in the morning. It was a little past 6:30 when we came across a lady on a bike who needed help to get to the train station. Now we had forgotten to wear our name tags so she just started talking to us as if we were normal guys on a jog. She then started getting emotional and shared with us that she has biked from a little town since 4:30 that morning to go to the train station to go home early because she had a really bad vacation experience with drunk people. She asked us if we drank and rejoiced to our answer of no. She invited us for some tea (rooibos) at the train station and we listened and eventually she asked us questions and we told her that we were from our church and she said that she has heard a lot about Mormons but now she knows that it is a good church because of our example. We received her information for the Elders in her area and she told us that she will read the Book of Mormon. I know that she needed someone to listen to her that morning and we were truly sent to her. We are missionaries 24/7 for two years and in general as members of the church. That really strengthened my testimony. I experienced a few Miracles this week and it really helped me. Also I was in Groningen with all the Elders from my District and we did a finding activity in the centrum where some Elders sang while I and some others went and contacted people, most of the people I talked to were German and only spoke German. I spoke German with and American accent and a really strong Dutch accent. I even talked to a lady from Austria Wels. I have not heard that Austrian dialect for so long that I just embarrassed myself when I attempted to have an Austrian accent. I need to practice my German somehow. It was great. I also met a really col guy who is from Suriname and he gave me all his information so that way I can come visit him and all just because we have the same last name. He is so cool. We do not even look alike I mean big difference in Color. It was a good week. I miss and love you all.

Love Elder Ellis

P.s. Miracles happen every day! We just have to recognize them and be open to experience them.

Here are a few more pics from Jon's mission...

"Me posing in Keukenhof.  Yeah, there were tons of flowers."

"This is in Keukenhof."

"This is near Zwolle in Emmelord.  We are beneath sea level."

"Now that is a real Dutch Windmill.  These are all over the place.  It's pretty cool."

"Elder Johnson and I decided to go to Germany.  No JK... we went with some members who live close to the border."

I'll save more pictures for another post :)