Week 12 -

Where to start. Christmas was great! We worked so hard Christmas Eve visiting everyone possible and reading them the birth of Christ and sharing candy. It was the greatest, I had the best day ever. We visited with the Mendoza Family and they gave us cold oranges and then the dad just started playing the Eagles and I was like am I in heaven, what is this??!!! And then he started playing all this 80's music and then I was like do you have Lady in Red... and he goes chica in rojo, si si! ha and i just about died!!!! and he played it and honestly I felt the spirit super strong and I knew it was my Christmas present from my Heavenly Father, it was perfect. Same thing for Christmas day, I got to Skype my family which was just amazing! You guys are all just a bunch of lookers! hot hot. I'm glad you all had an amazing day. Anyways the point is Christmas on the mission was incredible. Chistmas day we visited with Florencia Moroni my favorite lady ever, picture below, and we just sang her hymns and visited with her, and then as a gift to myself I asked someone to be baptized, they said no, ha. But I poured my soul out to them and I know they wanted to say yes!

  

  Its getting pretty hot here, well hotter, we were in a lesson the other day, our last one of the day and my companion was so sick so I gave the whole lesson and she was just so glazed over, I had no idea.  Then we finished the lesson and realized it was 9:27 and our curfew is 9:30, so my companion thought it would be a good idea to run home! and she is so sick! and im telling her it's fine, it's fine don't run as I eat my brownie haha and she insisted on running and then all the sudden I just see her lean against the wall and she yells sister I can't do it my body is shutting down and she starts falling so I grab her and all her things and we are in a dark street and I have her and I just felt like we couldn't stay there, so I said hermana we have to go, you can do this, put all your weight on me, and she starts crying as I'm carrying her home.  I didn't know what to do so I just said - think of Peter, walk on water hermana, what could you do if Christs hand was stretched out for you. How far could you go and she leaned her head on me and she made it home and we gave her a lot of water. All is well now... healthy as an ox.

    

    My companion and I had our first baptism this week!!!!! And it was amazing. Sweet David. Everyone he wanted to have baptize him was out of town. He asked for Hermano Vidues but he was in cochabomba getting endowed (another great story) but Hermano Vidues is a life long friend of David's father and so he really wanted him. We had a crazy day leading up to his baptism, we visited with David the morning of because he still hadn't told his parents he was getting baptized. So we talked to him and he said that he had told them and they were happy and great. so we believed him.. Later that day we were with a member and she said I saw David and his mom today and asked if they were coming to the party after the baptism and the mom said yeah, who's getting baptized! and the member goes; your son! and the mom goes what! why didn't you tell me this... what are you thinking?  You have to tell me these things, we have to talk to your father, what are you thinking and David goes whatever he says i'm still going to my baptism. haha.  Such a sweet heart. After that Hermano Vidues calls us and says; hey hermanas I'm in town early and I can baptize David! We were just overjoyed and hermano Vidues had the strongest spirit, he had been waiting 13 years to be endowed and now he is endowed and already using his authority. So his baptism rolls around and yep he didn't show up! So the Vidues goes to his house and the brother said he had left with his parents; so we thought the parents were hiding him! So we called the parents and they said they were on their way out, so we told them everyone is waiting for them and they said they would come right now! And i'll tell you what; when David pulled up I've never been so happy. He changed into his white clothes and the spirit was so strong, we took pictures and then Hermano Vidues walked in his white clothes and David just lit up, his dad stood up and gave him a huge hug and with tears in his eyes said, you take care of my son okay. The whole baptism was so beautiful, and  afterwards the dad came up to us and said thank you so much for this, thank you for everything. We were so shocked and so happy. The members were so amazing with him and they all asked when he was next. Theres nothing better then seeing a family all together in church. I love this work.

   Hermana Ellison

WEEK 11 - Two days before CHRISTmas!!

      Navidad is close around the corner! and I cant wait to work harder then I ever have before.  Some people have asked a little about what it is like here, so I will try to explain a little.  Everything is in bags, all drinks and juices are in bags, everyone owns a little store, it seems, so no one has food in their house... they just buy the food they need for that day right before they cook it. They put your soda in bags with a straw.. its funny. Everyone here chews coca leaves, so they all look like they have big golf balls in the side of their cheeks. Toliets dont flush here, you just grab a bucket of dirty water you washed your clothes in(to save water) and raise it up really high and pour it in the toliet to flush it. Some people are lucky and have flushers, I am one of those people! The mission takes good care of us and we have working luxurys such as that. 

 

Its been a great week; Anjelica is officail a rescutata! We were helping her with her roses the other day and she was trying to win this radio contest so she brought her cute little radio player in and while she walked away I turned to Hermana Lopez and I was like; lets pray for her to win! and she was like; uh can we do that??ha. I just wanted her to win so bad. So we started to pray and we just started busting up laughing, we eventually got through it and then it was time to listen.... and the winner is... angelica!!!!! We freaked out haha...not much. She won a magazine and a cd, she was so cute.  I just love her.

 

We have the most wonderrful investigators. WE have a baptism this saturday for David, and he is just my favoirte person, please pray for him and his sweet family, let the spirit guide your words as you pray for them and it will let you know there needs and know the love the Savior has for them. You won't regret it. It's getting hotter and hotter everyday.  Sometimes I feel like I can't breathe, but God is working miracles to help me walk in the heat and not faint.

     With Christmas so close I think of the Savior obviously and Wow, my brother, he really is not just our Savior but our brother. I think about my brother, Trenton and how much I love him and then I think of the Savior as my brother as well, and it gives such a different perspective. Just close your eyes, picture the Savior of the world.  He loves you, yes He loves you. And He loves your brother, so save your brother, that is OUR mission here. Save your family and save your brother.

 

This gospel is everything. Share the light of Christ this Christmas.  Help the missionaries... cheesy I know, but they need you.  They are there to help you with your missionary work.

 

I love you all!   

 

My family -   I got your package for Christmas and I don't deserve a single thing in that box. You have spoiled me beyond belief.   I love you all with all my heart.

 

I love this work with all my heart.

 

Hermana Ellison

Feliz Navidad

 

Random Photos;

 

Angelica and son

Christmas package arrived

earrings, gift from investigator

random street

walking down a street

my District

Hailing a cabina

playing the guitar....my fingers are sore!

Soccer player and Fan now!

 

WEEK 10 -

Day two of being out in the field I ask Angelika to be baptized my first time ever asking someone, and she says yes. She is just amazing, she loves the gospel and was so excited every time we come over. We always give her son candy and when they pray together well its just the cutest thing. So two days before her baptism we go over to her house to walk her to her baptismal interview, we get there and seriously she is just radiating with the spirit and happiness. She says to us hermans I have something I want to show you! she comes back and hands us a piece of paper... it read, certificate of Baptism and Confirmation, Church of Jesus Christ of Latter Day Saints. She was already baptized!

 

Hermana Lopez and I just started laughing, and I was like Hermana este es muy bueno! trying to contain myself... ha-ha. She had been a member for thirteen years! she was baptized in Cochabamba. We told her all she needed was a interview with the bishop and she was good! Her son yells, "I wanted to go to a baptism!"  haha.  Needless to say it was hilarious and Angelika is our first rescutata! which is great cause our focus is menos activos. 

    But life is good here, we got to go to the centro on our p-day! It was so cool and we had great gelato.  We just had one of our investigators have an emergency moving. We went to her house and some new person answered the door and said Carla doesnt live her anymore haha. oh thanks...

 

But we have had so many miracles. An investigator that we left 4 weeks ago, we stopped by her house to drop off a picture and she invited us in and we read a liohana talk with her and she just started talking and we both just knew....I looked at my companion (this investigator is everything to my companion, she has worked so much with her) and I said; ask her to be baptized. She gave me a terrified look and I said don't be afraid.  She asked her to be baptized and before she even finished the question she said yes. The rest of the visit was filled with tears and a beautiful prayer on our knees for the beauitful way that the Lord prepares us for this restored gospel. 

       You would be absolutley amazed if you saw how much I am able to eat... its truly a miracle.

A blessing from God. But guess what; my pensunista loves me the most cause I always eat it all, and the other day she gave us so much food and the dad comes in and was like wow you are such a good eater and the mom was like I know... do you want more?, and I honestly don't know what I was thinking, I just love how good they feel when I eat their food; they get so happy, so I said SURE! She lite up and turned to make me more and I just put my head on the table and said:  Lord give me strength... what have I done??, haha. And guess what! I got sick the next day and was in bed with a fever, But I have apple cider vinegar so I was all better the next day and now I just say; oh sorry hermana I'm still sick and she feeds me less. Don't worry I'm not huge, I walk a ton and whenever your sick you loose a ton. but yeah its all about the people right!! 

   Our days are filled with the spirit and an overwhelming love for these people it hurts. The spirit is amazing. It always keeps us safe. We will often be walking down a street and the spirit tells us to go find another street so we do, it even told us once to just go home, when it was late at night, so we are well taken care of and your prayers make all the difference. Thank you for everything! 

 

He lives, The Tomb is empty,

    A Servant of The Lord

 

 

Photos::

me in the city street

 

Random photo

 

A sweet Bolivian boy... loved his birds

 

WEEK 9 - Dec 9th,2013

I feel like I was just sitting here yesterday  writing emails, we are so busy that the time goes by incredibly fast, yet we get so much done. I can't tell you how much  a blessing members are. We had an investigator who constantly said no to being baptised yet she loved the church so we brought with as a convert to our lesson and her whole heart changed. She had this convert who went exactly what she is going through and made her feel so confortable that she finally said yes to baptism!! what a blessing and she is absolutley amazing. So go out with your missionaries! if you haven't heard it enough, but they truly need how awesome you are.

 

From the moment I met David and Carlos I knew I was here to teach them. I love them so much. They are amzing and there family is amazing too. the mom is a menos activo and the father isnt a member but he is amzing he works so hard for his family and the boys are some of the most respectful, loving young men I\I have ever met.  I think I want to adopt them as my brothers. We had the most amazing lesson yesterday and the spirit was so strong. They all have baptismal dates. I am so honored to be apart of this with them if the holy spirit just lets me be apart of this baptism I'll be so happy. Oh how the "worth of one soul" is so great.

 

Food is good but man they give you so much its like man vs food trying to get it done. So for Christmas I have an idea! If anyone who reads this could just do one nice thing for someone, and I mean really go out of your way to do seomthing thoughtful and kind and then WRITE ME ABOUT IT, I would absolutley love that!! Truly its so cheesy but that's this life. I would love to wake up on Christmas day and have a letter to read of an inspiring stroy and I would love it from everyone even if I hardly know you. Christmas is the Saviors birth... a time for reflection love and family, there are so many people here who have nothing and broken homes. 

This work is so hard,

But when  my body begs for rest, I give to myself this ralying call, REMEMBER HIM!!!

 

I Stand All Amazed,

     Hermana Ellison

 

 

 

 

 

 

WEEK 8 - Happy ThanksGiving!!

Not much to say this week! All is well, getting hotter and hotter everyday. They say you're not a North American missionary in Bolivia till you've gone to the hospital but I'm going strong! I've got apple cider vinegar. Thanksgiving was, well i forgot it was thanksgiving! i just preached the good word. My pensunista made stomach for us two days ago... and that's all i have to say about that. A nice big plate of it. The thought is still pretty fresh in my mind. 

We have another investigator with a baptism date as of yesterday! she is so awesome. We are really excited. We had a lesson with one of our soonest baptisms and we go into the lesson and he goes I've been talking to another church... and they said all this stuff about you guys and he was so confused it was so heart breaking! the whole time in my head i was like; oh my brother my brother please come home with us please. So right then and there we got done on our knees and made him pray and afterwards listen, he sat in silence for like 3 minutes staright; the spirit was so strong! 

A lot of woman here have a lot of marriage problems, its so hard. We often find ourselves holding these sweet woman as the cry with the afflictions, we do our best to console them and spread the love of Christ within there hearts. Our area is really tough but we have three now with a date and they are all so amazing. I love this work i just  want to be as humble as the dust and spiritually wash everyone's feet. Maybe even actually wash someone feet.... just like Christ! He is the best. I pretend while I'm walking I'm walking with him. 

sorry I don't take a lot of pictures, I forget and when I'm out I don't like to take out my camera and we never have time anyways. This work takes the whole of you. 

How beautiful are the feet of those that preach the gospel of peace. 

Hermana Ellison

From her Mission President~   Dear Family,                           

We are so happy to have met your wonderful missionary! We are so honored to work with her here in the Bolivia Santa Cruz Mission. It is obvious in her countenance that she has been prepared to serve the Lord at this time of the hastening of His work.

"And blessed are they who shall seek to bring forth my Zion at that day, for they shall have the gift and the power of the Holy Ghost; and if they endure unto the end they shall be lifted up at the last day, and shall be saved in the everlasting kingdom of the Lamb; and whoso shall publish peace, yea tidings of great joy, how beautiful upon the mountains shall they be."(1 Nephi 13:37)

Every time we look into the face of Sister Ellison we are reminded of the great love that God has for her and also of the great love, that you at home, have for this great missionary. We know that you pray for her every day. We also feel great love for her and pray every day for her well-being, spiritual growth, and happiness. We know that God hears and answers these prayers.

We have two daughters that are serving missions at this time. We also know of the tender feelings that come with having a missionary out in the field. We know that your influence will continue to be a great strength to your missionary. Your favorite scriptures, spiritual experiences, and expressions of love in weekly emails and handwritten letters will help them feel confidence in their ability to do this great work.

We thank you for all you have done and all you will continue to do to bless the work of  the salvation of God's children here in Bolivia. How grateful we are to have Sister Ellison here in the Bolivia Santa Cruz Mission. We love her so much! Please respond to let us know you received this email!

                                                                            With love, 

                                                                            President and Sister Willard

Here she is with her companion Hermana Lopez.

Week 7 - First week serving her mission in Bolivia!

Oh my heavens it is so hot here!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! Its great though. I'm just pretty sweaty and nice all the time. I have no choice but to put my hair up everyday. Im here in the third ring! the city is in the middle and then there are eight rings around it. I'm in the third.  I'm the only one that stayed in the city area from my old district, the rest were flown out to outside areas. I don't even know how to describe it here honestly! Its great though, feels like home already. We walk alot. My companion had only been here for 6 weeks before I got here!

yeah thats unheard of; so she is still finishing her training while she trains me!!! Its crazy. She was so scared at first but she is absolutely amazing. We are so similar and we work so well together.

Her spanish is awesome so she helps me alot and I push her to do things. I'm the more aggressive one. ha I'm like...k ask him to be baptized, talk to me just say do it and she is like okay yeah lets!   Power house team. 

My area is hmmm.. everyone lives in like there own little compound so they have some kind of gate or a brick wall with a iron door thing and you use the lock to bang on the door or just yell and then you go into the compound and its like like rooms inside these brick shacks....I don't know how to describe it. But the people are so kind, seriously amazing. They are just relaxed to the extreme.... so its like i'll totally come to church be baptized why not and then you never hear from them again cause they are always sleeping. and Bolivian time is like you say 4 okay and you really me like 6:30. The members in our ward are just so nice and so loving its amazing! They don't have anyone to play the piano and they don't know the songs so I'm going to start practicing the piano instead of dinner time and they are teaching them how to read music and sing in relief society.... its way cool!!! Supposedly the era of knocking doors is over! and we are supposed to only work with the members and focus on referrals and menos activos but its a new concept that our ward is still working on so we still knock doors but we are trying to get them involved! its hard! we have a pensunista who cooks lunch for us and we make our own breakfast and dinner. The food is good so far! I had some famous Bolivian soup the other day pascata. or something. it was interesting!

I wish I could tell you what was in it!....  hahaha. 

I'm getting pretty dirty here so its going great. I'm working hard. There are lots of chickens and dogs everywhere.  Thanksgiving was fun! ha we celebrated a little by knocking on doors! I just love talking to everyone and praying with everyone we meet. We met this lady who is a Cholita meaning she is like a traditional Bolivian and she is so tiny and 80 years old and we help her carry her bags to this brick she sits on the side of the road and she told us she was in so much pain so I was like we are going to pray for you right now so we got on our knees in the dirt and said a prayer for her.... probably my favorite moment so far. Have hope. Let hope elude from you bones. be made of hope, do everything with hope. May the hope oh his glory and of eternal life rest in our minds forever.

Hermana Ellison

Leaving Bogota MTC

walking the streets of Santa Cruz Bolivia

Here is where i call home

here is my kitchen