Elder and Sister Ellis: On Our Way to Albuquerque, New Mexico!

MONDAY, DECEMBER 9TH, 2013

Saying goodbye to our little Buddies who were at our home the morning we left.

This is Owen, who just turned 4. I will miss him saying, "Love you too!".

Drew and I will miss going to the carwash together.

Colby and Rockwell. There's just nothing quite like these baby boys!

We're ready to leave. Toby had to say goodbye. We're so excited to be missionaries, but there will be some hard times being without our family.

One last stop at Ray's Auto Body to tell Jackie and Gary goodbye.

We stayed in Moab Monday night. Always have to have some goodies, right?

Some of the sights along the way to Albuquerque.

Love the sky God creates to give us breathtaking beauty and happiness.

Tuesday, December 10th - Our welcoming committee - Sister Dennis, Sister and Elder Cottle on left, and Sister and Elder Yerkes took us to our apartment. It was SO nice to have new friends here to meet us.

They took us to Chick-fil-A to eat.

This is our apartment - our home away from home - and it's really nice.

Elder Ellis thinks it's great, too! The stairs will do us good!

Wednesday, December 11th - President and Sister Miller took us out to dinner. We love them already!

Turning our little apartment into 'Home'.

Saturday December 14th - We were so excited to have Zone Conference right after we arrived. Elder Ellis went early and helped Elder Cottle with vehicle inspection. The Albuquerque mission has the largest fleet in the Church - over 100. Sister Yerkes, and Sister and Elder McBride, also Senior missionaries.

Elder Foster of the Seventies was the visiting authority. There were a lot of missionaries here, and the Elders were very polite to wait for the Sisters to dish up their plates first. The meeting and the meal were wonderful! Our first Zone Conference and we loved it!

Out to dinner at Sadie's, a Mexican restaurant, with our new friends. The Lord blessed us to be able to serve with these wonderful people, and they all feel the same. Imagine - a Mexican restaurant!

Our ward is Academy Heights. It's about 10-15 minutes south and west from our apartment, and covers areas north and east of us. The ward boundaries are very big.

Our first Sunday in Albuquerque. Our ward looks just the same as it would anywhere.

Elder Ellis at the Mission Office.

We were happy to feed the missionaries. Elders Jenson and Weber on the left; Sister Murphy (back) and McShane on the right. This is just one of the many things we love about our mission.

Elders Weber, Ellis, and Jenson

Sisters Murphy, Ellis, and McShane.

After District meeting - Sisters McShane, Murphy, Ellis, England, and Hellickson.

In the Mission Office.

Saturday, December 21st - They took me shopping at Christopher and Banks. I don't think I'll ever learn how to find anything around here. I just won't drive!

A family we visited with the Sister missionaries.

This man was our first miracle story. We met him in a store two days after we got here. They are having the Elders teach them the Gospel. We hope they understand, and love it as much as we do.

This amusement park is right across the street from our apartment complex. Can you believe they would be riding the roller coaster in December? They are!

We love President Steve Miller. He is such a kind, warm, loving man. Another blessing of our call.

Trying to put some Christmas spirit in our little apartment, and make it seem like home. We got our tree two days before Christmas for 70% off at Hobby Lobby. Yup - there's one of those here!

December 24th - Christmas Eve.

This incredible home belongs to two older sisters. They designed it, and had it built years ago.

This miniature village is an actual replica of places the sisters have known in their lives, a lot of them belonging to family.

The detail is incredible, to scale, and amazing!

The Nativities on the table and the decorations all have stories, and most belong to their family. They have two kilns, and have made many things in their home..

This unique wall is in the hallway. They had it built this way so they could put these figures in the cubbies.

Here are the two wonderful sisters with one of their two very loved dogs. We were invited to their home for incredible lasagna, asparagus, and other delicious food. They're such loved ladies.

We drove around in three cars so the sisters could show us what Albuquerque looks like at Christmas time. There were several of these balloons on the golf course. They would light up, then go off, over and over again. What a sight!

This is just one of the many places we drove to see the Luminaries in people's yards. Beautiful!

Christmas Day - The Elders came over to Skype with their families. They were so excited to be able to have some time to talk to them, and see them. It was fun to see them so happy.

Elders Weber, showing his family the new shoes they sent him.

Elder Jenson, showing his family the hat that plays music and jiggles.

Christmas dinner together. If we can't be with family, it's good to be with people we have become such close friends with to celebrate Christmas together.

Our little tree with a few decorations, and 'pass-out' cards (as Elder Ellis calls them) to use to represent the true meaning of Christmas.

Natalie sent the little tree and packages to us that we had sent to her when she was a nanny in New Jersey. It meant a lot to us. We bought the cute little Nativity to help us celebrate His birth.

These are Christmas letters and gifts from Madi's Beehive class in Taylor 1st Ward back home. It all meant so much to us, and their thoughtfulness was very much appreciated.

These are all handmade, and so incredible! A fascinating place to visit, and not too far from us.

You wouldn't know it was December, would you? No snow!

The stagecoach in the background is life-size, and has people in it.

DISTRICT MEETING

December 27th - Elders Beck and Sircable, trying to feed each other popcorn without bending their arms. To represent the need to take care of others, not ourselves, and that we need each other. They are THE BEST Elders! And Elder Beck has a laugh that makes everyone laugh. We love these young missionaries!

December 29th, 2013

Here are my friends, in our cute kitchen - Marilyn Yerkes, Barbara McBride, me, Geri Cottle, and Linda Dennis. Fun, happy women who love the Lord and love being missionaries. They all work in the office.