Mac And Cheese Is Always A Necessity

Week 10
Area: Olive Branch (Corning)
Companion: Hna Tingey


This week was a week for sure, haha. One of the coolest things that happened was WE MET JOSE!


Backstory: We got a call last weekend from Elders in the San Francisco/Oakland mission about a friend they're teaching (Jose) who actually lives in our area. José met some missionaries while on a trip who referred him to the San Fran Elders who then referred him to us (since we're the missionaries in his home area).


Turns out the San Fran Elders basically almost put him on a baptismal date their first lesson! We did a pass-off lesson with José and the Elders last Tuesday and talked more about baptism. He literally takes notes during lessons and is so excited to learn about Jesus Christ's church!! His only concern with our lessons and baptism is that he's so busy during the week so the only day he could be baptized is on a Sunday. We can work with that ;) Pray for José this week, please!!


Other highlights:
-Spanish is coming along! Still lowkey barely understand Spanish but my speaking has improved tons and the gift of tongues is so real!
-Had my first interview with our mission president!
-Consuelo came to church!!! She's an inactive member who's been to church twice in the last 30 years. She still has a strong testimony but things happened and she just hasn't been active. Missionaries in our area found her not too long ago and we've been visiting/teaching her every week. It's incredible to see her heart changing and how happy she was to be surrounded by so much love at church on Sunday! (She also said that I'm basically her adopted granddaughter and gave me a flower hairpin the other week... what can I say?)


I was also reminded this week of Alma 26:11-12:
11 But Ammon said unto him: I do not boast in my own strength, nor in my own wisdom; but behold, my joy is full, yea, my heart is brim with joy, and I will rejoice in my God.
12 Yea, I know that I am nothing; as to my strength I am weak; therefore I will not boast of myself, but I will boast of my God, for in his strength I can do all things; yea, behold, many mighty miracles we have wrought in this land, for which we will praise his name forever.


Our Heavenly Father is a God of miracles. He protects, He strengthens, and He guides. This week has been rough as far as teaching goes. We dropped the ball a couple of times and lots of things didn't work out how we'd hoped with lessons and contacts. But on Thursday, we had our weekly district council and talked about different perspectives and "hows" of being productive and focused missionaries. Hna Tingey and I took what we learned and hit the ground running with new steam that evening. What had been no new friends in a couple of weeks and unsuccessful contacts turned into us finding 2 new friends & and having some of the most productive, Christ-centered contacts so far in a matter of hours!!


I give full credit for those successes to God. I know that He saw our efforts and desires and gave us motivation and guidance to bless others because of it. Take every opportunity you can to "boast of your God" (Thank Him, share His love, heed His guidance) because our God is an awesome God and He sends us miracles every day. Remember to pray and thank Him for those miracles, even the "tiny" ones!


Have a great week, everyone! God loves you, and I love you.


Hermana Ellis


Quotes:
-(In the voice of the grandma from Crudes) "Still Alive!!!!!!"
-“I feel like you would be really a good actor in a musical if you played a little British boy… specifically an impoverished little British Boy. Especially begging for bread."
-"Was that a gunshot?"
-"You should have a comp counsel." --President Basha to a lot of missionaries at interviews haha
-"It is a necessity?" "Mac and cheese is always a necessity"


Photos!







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