Rooted

This is almost all we did (besides eat and study) in the MTC, bottle flipping and dabbing. ( I didn't dab) That bottle actually landed like that-- I testify that it happened (so now, no one can say it was posed) :) (that was my MTC companion Elder Bambrough-- amazing elder from Salem, Utah (20 minutes from the provo MTC)

On our way to the netherlands we were SUPER lucky to be able to see the northern lights. They are beautiful! Couldn't get a picture of them-- the camera isn't the best quality :)

welcome to hand washing clothes :/

There are also no public restrooms, so people just pee in the gutter in the wide open. (I don't)

My ear doesn't hurt as much. I got a blessing in the MTC, not specifically for that but I'm counting it, so blessings are real! My ear hasn't popped yet witch just adds to the difficulty to understand, not just what people are saying but what language they are speaking. They really should have us learn Twi in the MTC, it would help so much!

I told mom and dad this but I'm totally like dad now. I cry at everything spiritual, he totally got that on his mission, (I also ate beans) so that absolutely proves I'm becoming like dad. Which is a really good thing if you think about it?

We teach a lot of people. People literally walk up to us and ask to be taught. This man who calls himself Teacher (because that’s his job) followed us for two streets my first day to ask us to teach him so we are going to see him tomorrow. It is hard to understand people and to love them but I’m starting with the children. I’m going to love the children first then work to the adults.

Everywhere we go we get called Obroni (oh-bro-knee) which basically means white boy. Really it means “not from Ghana”, but it means white boy. Only the children say it so you just yell back HI!!!! and they giggle and think it’s the coolest thing. They are a loving people and love us. Little kids will come up and touch and stroke your arm because I’m super white. They love it and I think it’s funny.

I’ve been having a rough (terrible) time transitioning out here but Sunday came which was the first Sunday, but also the first time I saw another white person in 3 days!! It was so good for me (that’s not racist but it’s a weird feeling) it was actually stake conference so we saw other elders Saturday so it was two days but it still helped a ton!

At stake conference we had the area 70 speak to us and he is great we also had the Temple president speak to us, but what hit me was the song “How Firm a Foundation”. It says upheld by my righteous Omnipotent hand and I never realized that that means Christ. Because of the atonement he is all knowing. We must remember that we are literally upheld by Christ’s omnipotent hand and that hit me so hard pretty much because I always thought the word was righteousness so it made the song really hard to sing go ahead try singing it with that word :). But also with that word it didn’t make any sense but it clicked and it made me, yes, it made me cry like dad.

It’s hard out here. I have my reasons for staying which make it not an option to leave, but I’m going to enjoy it soon I hope. If I don’t I still won’t go home. I’m rooted. I really am. Thank you all for helping me be rooted. Love you all

Sincerely,
Elder Ellsworth (not Spencer :))

 

I like it here, so don't worry.

Dear Family

This is so crazy! I had this exact assignment back in Seminary Freshman year. Write your family a short letter when you’re in a far off country! Well, I wish I had my Notebook so I could copy that!

I like it here, so don’t worry. I mean, I’ve only been in the mission home so I shouldn’t make judgements yet, but I like it. The first night I got here I did cry, mainly because I was singing the primary song, “I Belong to the Church of Jesus Christ”.

The flight was long. This letter might be the only one you get. Thank you Mom and Dad, I feel like a Pioneer. I mean not as hard as they had it, but I still don’t have indoor plumbing! I mean I do in the apartment and church buildings, but not public restrooms.

Thanks you for raising me so right. I still feel a little sick, but it’s not about me.

Chelsea, Robert, Scott, Andy and no name yet: Thank you for protecting me and making me laugh.

Jordan, Bryttnii and Heidi (how do you spell Heidi?): Thank you for letting me copy you and staying home so I wasn’t ever an only child. Seriously that’s not sarcastic. I didn’t want o be an only child. It doesn’t seem as fun.

Kyle: Thank you for setting a standard of excellence for what I need to strive to be like. Also thanks for letting me follow you so much.

Spencer: Thank you for being y best friend and protecting me so much and looking out for me and doing everything I didn’t know how to do.

Don’t worry, I’m not dying. I’m just so grateful. They told me to find my purpose and that would make this easier, so I did it and my purpose for being here was to do what was needed so I can get back to live with you all. I miss you, but I’m not homesick. I’m scared, but I just need to get situated. I love you all and hope you can keep your head above the water. That’s what I’m trying to do.

President and Sister Simpson and Elder Beall (first companion and trainer)

Elders Ellsworth and Beall

New Missionaries and their trainers

New Missionaries to Ghana Accra West

Love you all!Elder Brandon Ellsworth (the farther away one)

Made it to Africa!

❤️🇬🇭

Cantonments, Accra

Special Priesthood Blessing

Apparently I need another flu shot!!!!!!! Spencer is really blessed to have an IPad because KEYBOARDS SUCK! Wait, I need to repent: keyboards are unfortunate!!!!!!! My flight was good, but I felt pretty sick. I was taking with another missionary the whole time so that’s probably why, but it was also a blessing because it helped to calm me down. After I landed I found the shuttle and GUESS WHAT! The unfortunate collect call thing was being super rude and not working for me!! I also had to wait like 20 minutes for my shuttle so I was freaking out. Like did I really get called on a Mission??? But yes I did thankfully. Let me tell you SO much has happened and I really don’t see how Spencer puts it all so nice in his emails! My P-Day is Thursday in the MTC.

My goodness so much happened. Elder Bednar came to speak to us Tuesday and, as always, he is amazing. He’s probably my favorite if we were allowed to have favorites. My companion is Amazing! My district is amazing. My teachers are amazing. The spirit is literally as thick as Butter when we come together. (That was a quote from one of my teachers). I’ve seen Landon but I’m still searching for Colton. That was really fun to see him for like a minute. He’s amazing! He took a picture of us so maybe you got that. Laundry is weird—it’s better when mom does it. I literally love my district. My companion and I are over Sacrament here in the MTC on Sundays so you can tell Bro Woolfe, he’d be pretty proud lol. We have 4 sister missionaries in my district and 6 elders.

The most special thing that has happened to me throughout my whole mission (kidding aside) was Sister Martinez (a sister in my district) asked me to give her a blessing of comfort. So I said yes of course. So my companion and I, along with her companion and her, go into a separate room from our district and then I asked the questions that dad told me to before offering a blessing. You know; what’s going on, why you feel you need a blessing, and that brought the spirit. Then we placed our hands on her head and started to offer the blessing. The spirit was so strong in that room. Then I was there and it’s hard to think about. It was hard to keep my hands steady. The spirit was there. Plain and simple he was there. I said words that came to my mind and if you said you were going to give me $1000000000000 if I could remember just two things I said I wouldn’t be able to do it. Not that I don’t want to, but I literally cannot remember, because it simply was not me. That is the best thing I’ve ever experienced. I was also asked to give a blessing of the sick an afflicted to Sister Bateman, but I failed. I let my ego get in the way of what would have been an amazing experience and it’s a lesson to me, but also sad because I didn’t do well.

My zone leaders are amazing. We room with them. One is from Arkansas with the best accent ever! The other is from Idaho, he is so funny and spiritual. Our district leader is amazing as well. Seriously my whole district is a blessing.

Thank you dad and mom and Chelsea and Kyle and Jordan and Spencer for raising me, being an example to me, loving me, and being happy with me while I was young so I could tell families were important. So important that we can live together forever. From that and the hard work you put into your specific talents and skills brought me to know I need to work for anything, including truth. I don’t know why I’ve been blessed with these things. I seriously cannot think of any reason why, but I’m so happy I am.

Mom, those letters helped me, but I feel if I share them with my district it might help them even more. Thank you for sending them with me. Bryttnii (I really hope I spelled that right), and Robert, I love you guys, too.


Don’t worry, I love it here and seriously I am confused why I’m not downhearted.

PS. Mom sent me a Dear Elder letter about the dishwasher and I totally laughed.
I love you all and hope Mom goes through my spelling before anyone else reads this. She’s going to need some seer stones. I am loving it here so you can stop worrying about me

Love -Elder Ellsworth (The taller one of the two) (hope this is enough but for me there is so much more to tell, but all that matters is I’m loving my mission)

In the MTC

I’m leaving Monday and it’s like a two day flight! We’re stopping in the Netherlands! I am doing amazing. The letters mom sent me were very helpful not only to me but to the district I’m in right now.

I mean I always want things but I don’t need anything. I mean if you could send me Mom, that would help but I don't think that's allowed lol. What do you need? I mean I’m a missionary and don’t their prayers count for something more? I kid I kid I don’t think that, honestly, but I do want to know because I pray for you all but when I get to you and mom it’s like ummmmmmmmm??? What do I say?

I had a pretty good week. I’m working on diligence this week but I’m not doing very good at it, sadly, but that's why I picked that one!

Did you transform my room yet? My only wish is that Mathew isn't destroyed when I get back and I’ll know if you get me a new one too! But if it does happen I can forgive..... eventually.

I’m a bit anxious to leave but I know I can’t say no now. lol Hopefully I get pictures to you soon!

Love Elder Ellsworth (The faster one without a vehicle)

MTC PICS

10/4/2016

A familiar face and friend, Landon Merrill.

Thought you'd like to see your son. He looks great

Tell Mom I’m sorry because I left without knowing her’s (or anyone's) email except you and Kyle. I did try to call, but as I told Kyle, collect was being very un-smart, but I made it. I definitely love not having down time because if I keep doing things I’ll be focused and not sad. I need to be happy even when I’m sad that’s just being a Mormon I guess. Anyway, I got to go. Tell everyone I’m safe!

Love Elder Ellsworth