10/22/18

(His last email from the Mission Field.) 

I have loved my mission!

I have seen many things!

Yet all I want to say is I know, as King Benjamin did, when he said,

“And he shall be called Jesus Christ, the Son of God, the Father of heaven and earth, 

the Creator of all things from the beginning; and his mother shall be called Mary.” 

He is real! He is my friend!

10/15/18

This week was great! I don’t like typing so I’ll tell you a cool story.

So, I am in Alajo.  It’s in Accra and we are having a great time.

This week I told my companion, I said “Elder, we could contact someone today who could be baptized my last Sunday.”  Guess what happened?!?

Nothing...

But! The day before, we did contact someone and that someone came to church and that same someone also said "Let’s not beat around the bush, when can I be baptized?" ha-ha So it was a miracle! Hopefully (and faithfully) everything will go through.  He wanted to call us but lost his phone and then Saturday he was working and he saw us so then he was convinced this was where God wanted him to be.  So truly, truly miracles have not ceased among the children of men. :)

Love ya!

-Elder Ellsworth

10/8/18

(He is cleaning house and getting ready to come home!!)

It rained this morning, it was crazy!  I was actually scared our house would float away. :)

So, I should give away all my trousers??  That's actually comforting to know.  Also, can I give my camera away to Elder Kouame?  He really needs one.  I'll probably pull a lot of money out so I can buy a lot of things at the art market. :) What do you want from Africa?? 

10/1/19

My mission truly has helped in my Conversion. When I first got my call, I thought they were crazy for sending me to Africa! I also was very prideful and thought I would never learn anything from Africa.  Oh, how foolish was that thought!  Even my first Sunday in the field taught me better.  We were attending a stake conference in Kaneshie and an Area Seventy was there and I was humbled to say the least. But I came to love my mission (relatively quickly) and I have learned to Love God from these people and to truly have pure faith in the Savior Jesus Christ. He is real.

I always believed the church was true but since being in the field and from observing the members and people and reading the Book of Mormon, this religion has become real and is the only true religion and church on the earth. My testimony and Conversion have strengthened and I do not think I could have learned that any other place on the earth. Before I came on my mission, even to say the word God felt like a taboo for me.  Like something was wrong when I said the word God.  But now as I’ve seen the way of life in Ghana, I absolutely know there is no other way to life except to have God front and center in all things and rely wholly upon He who is Mighty to save.  Even our Savior Jesus Christ. Again, He is real! He lives! :)

The Mission asked me to share my conversion so I figured you’d want to hear a small part :)

But this week went well.  There was a flood today.  Crazy stuff but we are safe.  It was huge!  I wouldn’t be surprised if someone died (that sounds sad but I mean it’s just not safe if you aren’t looking) It was cool to see that much water.  I mean it’s always fun to look at a lot of water that’s the point of a beach right?? 

This week did go well we are working hard to help people come to the Sacrament Meeting on time.  It’s a bit difficult but I know they will come and it will be wonderful!

That seems like enough :)

Love you all!

9/24/18

I was transferred for my final 6 weeks in the mission field. (doesn’t feel like it’s that close to home).  I LOVE THIS PLACE.  I love Ghana and I love this new area.   Alajo.  It’s sweet.  It’s like a real city and my companion is sweet!

We had a mission tour with Elder Katcher.  He is a cool guy.  You really feel like he is listening when you speak.

Also, I’ve been really trying to follow the spirit to do the work of the lord and it has led me to talking to a lot of new people which is really, really, really hard for me.  I was able to do it, so it’s great!  We have had great lessons with people this week where they really understood that we need to come unto Christ and follow him and be how he wants us to be.

This area is great and I love the people of Ghana and I just love being a missionary

9/17/18

I got transferred!

Who woulda thunk my last transfer of the mission is in a new area?  It’s all good.  I have a great companion and in a good area.

That’s pretty much it.  We had a good week we did all we needed to do.  The Mission is wonderful! I love Ghana.

My new companion is from Mesa Arizona! His name is Elder Stapley and he is sweet.  I’ve only been here for like 3 hours but it is sweet.

Overall we will have a great transfer and I’m excited to continue on in my service :)

--

"Scott said "I'm so excited" in a very excited voice." -Dad

-Elder Ellsworth

9/10/18

I’ve been reading the chapters in the Liahona.  It’s really good a lot of stuff I did not know about Joseph Smith.  It’s pretty interesting. I’m scared to come home but excited.  How was it for you on your mission.

Our people we are teaching are really good we had a great time doing service for a member.

Other than that, not much happens.  I mean you know how it goes?

Picture Dump today.

9/3/18

This is my weekly.  Only pictures.  No time for letter.  Sorry

8/27/18

This week was great. WE went out and did work so I can’t complain.

I’ll share what I learned in my studies.  In Ether 12 Moroni is basically telling us a prayer he prayed to the Lord and I love what he said because it shows that Moroni wasn’t completely confident, even as a prophet who was called by the Lord, yet that’s not a sin and the lord comforted him in verse 24-25.  In Ether 12 we see that he was really sad and the Lord answered in verse 26, with fools mock but they shall mourn.  It is true in all things that fools mock.  Even nowadays fools mock and they shall mourn for denying the Book of Mormon.  When people mock the Book of Mormon my heart tears because they don’t understand all they are throwing away by not studying it.  There is so much. 

I would not have a testimony of Jesus Christ without the Book of Mormon.

I love it!  There is so much especially about his atoning sacrifice that we learn from it. It is a great book. 

We did good this week going out and serving and helping.  We painted a house this week and that was fun.  I’m no good at it but it was still fun. 

Overall, I’m happy and I love Ghana.

I will say as another testimony of the truth that Jesus is the very Christ. HE IS REAL. It’s not fake it is true He is real

--

"Scott said "I'm so excited" in a very excited voice." -Dad

-Elder Ellsworth

8/20/18

This week was good we were able to have a baptism for some friends here and they are great kids.  Their father should be baptized soon.

But I want to focus on scriptures this week 

D&C 59:9 I thought it was interesting that the point of us coming and offering up our sacraments was just for us to be unspotted from the world. That is the PLAN! That is the GOAL! That we are being commanded to cleanse ourselves.  Every spot from the world. Some people think I’m weird and when I was small I used to like to be called weird, but now I know to be a peculiar person is exactly what we are commanded to be and so when I am considered peculiar I know that’s what the Lord wants and I want to do what the Lord wants. 

Africa is great.

-Elder Ellsworth

biking in Ghana is hard

8/13/18

I took a hammer and I used it on some big rocks and then the big rocks became small rocks and the small rocks became smaller. It was fun. I got blisters.  I also bled quite a bit but it was great.  Ii loved it.

 Other than that, I got a new companion and we did stuff.  Sorry my time is small but the Book of Mormon is true and you learn new things every time you read.  Like this week I learned that Jared the wicked king in the Book of Ether lost his kingdom because his brothers attacked at night. I didn’t know that.  What do we learn from it to help us?  I don’t know yet, but I learned it :)

All is well.  I love you all.  Have a great week

8/6/18

We had a good week.  We had a confirmation for the man Rodrigue and I was asked to do the confirmation so that was different. They didn't ask me to do it again so I’d say I passed? It was great he is a wonderful man.  (there is no z on the end, it’s how I spelled it)

That was the week pretty much.  Oh yea, we had the Russian lady and her daughter come to the Sacrament meeting (they came after the sacrament) but they came so it was fun.  Actually, when they walked in my heart dropped because I was like “Oh shoot, white people!”  but then I remembered who they were.  I don’t like white people.

Transfer came they are taking my companion away so that’s no fun but it’s okay.  The work is the work and we can’t stop it. 

What did I learn this week?

A recent Convert gave an answer in out Gospel principle class. he said "Prayer is the greatest gift of God given to us on this Earth" Pretty powerful statement especially when I am slacking in my own prayers.

Also, it may seem funny that I learned this this week but, the sealing power is different than a prayer. The reason I was confused was D&C 50:28-30. I was like okay, to receive the sealing power you need to be clean completely so that makes sense.  Then I went to Nephi in the book of Helaman 10: 7-10 when he received the sealing power and nowhere there does it say ask.  The sealing power is not a power that you can ask, but that you can do.  You can seal you don’t need to ask. 

So, that’s what my week was like.  Pretty fun.

Also, if anyone has experience teaching Russians or white people in general I’d like some tips :)

Sometimes I forget I’m white.

-Elder Ellsworth

7/30/18

I almost forgot.  I saw a guy on a bike this morning and on the back of his bike there was a lawn mower.  First of all, that guy has skill and second of all, A FLIPPIN LAWN MOWER!  I haven’t seen one of those in a while (unless its owned by the church) but this guy wasn’t church.  (English is hard!)

This week was great we had a lot of fun and took funny pictures.  Unfortunately, my thing to help put them on the computer is broken.  So, when I get home, I guess.

This week it’s been a while I want to share scriptures. Again, English is hard.

First, I like 4th Nephi 1:24-25 this week.  It talked about pride and apparel and it’s not that apparel makes you prideful but because of pride the people wore things to make them look prideful.  It’s good to look good, but always beware of pride.  It can destroy.

Next, Mormon 5:14. This is why I love The Book of Mormon.  It is to help all understand that Jesus is the Christ.  He is the son of God and he is the savior of the world. That’s why I love The Book of Mormon. Because of its testimony of the Savior.

Last is Romans 8:1-4 This scripture is absolutely amazing and the only reason I understand it is because of the book of Mosiah 13:27-32.  Now Romans 8:3 and Mosiah 13:28. Letting us truly understand the law of Moses is swallowed up in Christ and we need to follow the Gospel of Christ to gain the promise of eternal life and salvation from sin and death.  Both deaths, spiritual and physical. The scriptures are great! Also remember the spirit of the law was to point towards Christ and obedience to his commandments as they are revealed.

Anyway, Jesus Christ is real his gospel has been restored and he is the Savior and Messiah even the son of God.

Love you

-Elder Ellsworth

7/23/18

This week was good.  I finally got a shirt tailored and it’s a good thing I’m working out or else it would have looked funny. I didn’t mean to get the shirt tailored.   I only meant to get the sleeves shortened but you know what happens, happens.

Also, this is the last thing because time is finished. Elder Terrence Vincent is a General Authority 70.  He is also (or was also) the Africa West Area President.  He is a cool Elder. He has received a new assignment as one of the Presidents of the Seventy and so they had a farewell devotional for him on Thursday and they (he and his wife) spoke.  It was super sweet and super spiritual.   I learned a lot. but there was one thing his wife said that I want to repeat.

Though I know I still have a couple months left I feel how she now feels.

"It was difficult leaving home, BUT it’s even more difficult leaving Ghana"

and I agree completely.  Ghana is wonderful.  I love this place.

I wish I could send pictures but the thing to do it isn’t working

7/16/18 (I love how he says he was "small" upset instead of "a little". I made me smile.)

This week went really well. We had a baptism on Sunday for a man named Isaac.  He is as tall as me and 2x as muscle and bulk, but don’t worry I still look good ;).

So, the past two weeks we taught a Russian Lady.  She is cool and wants to come to church but her husband is a Muslim so she’s preparing.  It’s fun to teach her.  It is really interesting how nothing I say works to teach the gospel.  It’s interesting how different people react to different doctrines in different places in the world.  Anyway, she’s cool and that was noteworthy :)

We are teaching 2 families and they are so great! They promised to come to Church the next week so let’s hope and pray…

Also on Friday as we were going through our former investigator records (now former people)…anyway, we were going through and I was small upset that they weren’t in the correct place.  When we got to the very last one and I see that it’s from a buddy of mine who was in the area a little less than 2 years ago and so I’m like okay let’s call.  So, we call and the man picks and he actually wants to meet with us so we go and talk to him and there’s a whole story as to why he stopped investigating the church but simplified version he traveled.  There is so much more than that but I’ll talk more about him later but he is cool and I love him already.

The work here is sweet and I got my hair cut and it’s not half bad.  Ghana is wonderful.

love ya all

-Elder Ellsworth

7/9/18

My Companion?  Sorry he’s new.  I should have said it last week.  He is from Ivory Coast and is named Elder Kouame and he is funny! I’m glad I’m his companion.  We work really well together.

Unfortunately, no pictures because cafe is weird.  This area is sweet! There is a lot of things that look to be like converts to the church here.  We started teaching 2 families this week and they seem receptive.

I got hit by a car!  It didn’t hurt but that’s because it was just the mirror of the car and the dude ran into me.  I was just walking and (don’t ask about sidewalks, we don’t have them :) but I’m safe.  The guy had a broken mirror and wanted me to pay for it so he hit me with his mirror and then it broke and he blamed it on me.  It was pretty funny!

We were able to baptize a girl named Marry.  She is really funny and I was the Baptist and the water was low (this my good friends is why we as missionaries are asked to workout everyday:).  This week went well.  I’m in love with being a missionary :)

7/2/18

This week went swimmingly. We had transfers and my companion is sweet the area is sweet and the apartment is bright so I wake up on time (or earlier) which means I’m obedient which is sweet!

I'm in Wejia and my companion is Elder Kouame.  He is from Ivory Coast and is learning French.  I love him! He is funny and loves to work so it’s like we are similar :) Overall I had a good week.

Not much else to report. 

I GOT 5 SKIPS! 5 SKIPS! with a rock on a pond so that’s my week.  Somehow, I was a Missionary so don’t worry but 5 SKIPS!

6/25/18

I ate a snail!

It was gross, but I’m on a mission so I had to eat it all. They took it out of the shell and placed it in a soup.  It wasn’t terrible.  It kind of tasted like the sidewalk after its been rained on..... also, I ate a goat’s small and large intestine. (actually, I can’t prove that, but it looked like a piece of it and was a bit harder to chew through than normal) I’m excited for the day I get to go home and be a picky eater again! But Ghana is wonderful!

Other than that, I don’t remember what we did.  There was the celebration for the 40th anniversary of the revelation on the priesthood.  We watched how the church had grown in West Africa to 100 stakes in 40 years and 75 of them within the last 10 years. Truly a stone cut without hands till it engulfs the whole world. 

The church is true.  It can be hard to remember sometimes but it is Jesus Christ’s church.  He established it and he leads it.  He is the Christ.  

Other than that, not much exciting happened.  I got transferred to Wejia.  It’s in Accra, next to the only mall in the mission…okay one of 2, but still!  Call me a scared boy because that’s too much white people.  I can’t be around white people.  I fear them.  It’s weird, but not really. I get uncomfortable in places that are nicer.  I don’t know but yea that’s my news.  More about it next week I guess

love you all be happy

-Elder Ellsworth

6/18/18

Again, another week with not time for an update.  Must be busy.  Just some pictures to share.

6/11/18

I CHOPPED A FLIGGIN TREE DOWN!

Don’t worry that’s the Ghanaian way to say friggan, because r's are l's and l's are r's.   It’s really funny.   Like let’s fly some fish instead of fry.  Its good.  Ghana’s good:)

I had another story but I forgot.  So, yea, sorry.  

We did Missionary stuff.  In fact, we did a lot because that’s why I’m here.  Haha.  We will be creating a group out in a place called Apam which will be a wonderful help to the members there as its about 30 minutes away from the chapel and a 3-cedi tro ride per person.  So, let’s hope the church grows there :) 

There are a lot of old members here in Winneba.  Like when the church came to Ghana, Winneba was one of the first places to receive the gospel so we have a lot of pioneer stories (I don’t know how to spell that word so I could never use the church Wi-Fi :( ).  It’s so fun to listen to the stories of these people proclaiming the gospel and establishing the church here in Ghana.  It’s pretty sweet:)

ALSO, I went on an exchange and I forgot my trousers! I had to borrow a pair from one of the Elders and it’s funny because he’s shorter, but they still fit me like my gray trousers did back home.  Not very well :) but I was able to go out and do my job :)

All is well here :)