I'm Baaaaaaack

Hello Blogging world!
I'm Back.
A lot has happened in the 11 months time since I last wrote... haha; but I am currently a full-time student at Brigham Young University studying family life with an emphasis in human development. As such, I am in a family processes class. We learn about how families operate and how to build and sustain healthy relationships within the family unit.

I. Love. It.

I feel enlightened and edified every day that I am in class. I feel like my perspective on the sanctity of the family improves and my desire to share what I know improves.

One of my favorite things we have discussed in this class are current trends in the family. There are shocking statistics about marriage and family rates which have really shifted my perspective on the family and how central the family is to happiness in communities, countys, states, and countries. Not to mention on education systems, individual wellbeing, and religious groups.

The age for first marriage is increasing and thus there is a lack of fertility and fewer children being born. People are becoming too picky! I was interested in learning this statistic and I feel as if a lot of these relationships are being postponed and people are being too picky because of the pressures that social media puts on relationships. In class we talked about simple mindset changes like choosing to date someone even if you don't think they are "hot enough" for you or trying to become the type of person you hope to attract.

It may be surprising to some to know that age, race, and education all play a role in how likely someone is to have a child outside of marriage. If you do not have a high school diploma, you are 61% more likely to have a child out of wedlock. 29% of caucasians have births outside of marriage, 52% of hispanics, and 72% of blacks. We also find that the younger you are when you have a child, the least likely you are to be married.

Looking more into global fertility trends, we find that in 1950, the average number of children a woman would have in her lifetime was 4.92 children where as in 2010 that number was a mere 2.49. Many developed countries are no longer able to replace their population. Why have these changes occurred? Perhaps due to fear of overpopulation, government pressure, decreasing economic value of children, women just not wanting children, or increased contraception and abortion use. Whatever the reason, as depopulation increases, the average age of people everywhere will increase. A greater proportion of population will be elderly. This will cause the numbers of workers in the labor force o decrease, inability to fund pension costs, less economic growth, and less human capital.

In closing, the first commandment God gave to Adam and Ever was the multiply and replenish the earth. It was a call for them to reach their potential as husband and wife. We each have a responsibility to follow this commandment as well, to follow the example of father Adam and mother Eve in bringing God's spirit children to the world to love, to serve, and to bless.

I am grateful for the new and improved perspective I have gained on the family. I know it is sustained by God. I know that as we see these current trends we each have the opportunity and privilege to figure what we are going to do to make our dent on these numbers.  I know that I have gained a greater appreciation for why marriage is so important and why we each have a sacred responsibility to multiply and replenish the earth.

I hope some of this spoke to your soul like it did mine :)

with love,
elli

Happy Day, All is Well!! pt. 2

Hello Hello blogger world 

It's me

elli.

Surprise! 

The last 18 months my sweet momma has been updating my blog with my testimony, pictures, and experiences from my time serving as a full-time missionary in the Washington DC South mission. 

What a miracle that time was for me! Time that I will forever hold sacred and dear to my heart. If you read any of my previous posts, you would know how heartwrenching it was to leave Northern Virginia. A special place filled with special people. An a year and a half long adventure that has shaped and molded me more than any other experience I've ever had in my life. 

And now I'm back.

Everyone warns you about going home. The ups and downs. The fears. The defeat. The anxiety. But yet - you have no idea what you are getting yourself into. 

The transition home has been the strangest thing. Ever. Lots of good, and lots of sad. 

Nothing can compare to the feelings of joy that rush through you when you step off that airplane and run into the arms of those that you adore and hold so dear to your heart. You feel so safe. So excited. And so grateful. 

But just like most emotions you feel in this mortal life, those feelings fade, and suddenly feelings of despair, confusion, and sorrow settle in. 

Something that has engulfed your life and who you are is no longer there. Your purpose seems to have faded and your ability to aid in the work of salvation seems to be dwindling. 

And yet, in the midst of it all, the one thing I have learned to cling to, is the simple knowledge that God is our loving Heavenly Father. His entire work and glory is to bring to pass the immortality and eternal life of man (Moses 1:39) We are still His children. We are still of worth. Our purpose here is the same and He will help is every step of the way as we strive to live our lives in Harmony of His will. 

Although we are not expected to live by the standards in the missionary handbook, many of those truths in that book we should continue to honor. What better way to stay in tune with the spirit than by filling our minds and hearts with music that invites and entices us to do good, to see good, and to be good. 

I can think of no better way to start the day than how we did as full-time missionaries - excercise, prayer, breakfast, and study in the word of God. 

What better way to honor our Lord and Savior than by using refined, dignified language that sets you apart from the world and clearly identifies you as a servant of Jesus Christ.

Brothers and Sisters. I want to testify to you that God still speaks. He LOVES His children. He cares about what we care about and He wants us to find Joy. Every day. "I know that He loveth His children; nevertheless, I do not know the meaning of all things" - 1 Nephi 11:17. 

He blesses us as we do His will and His work. He did not intend for our missions to be the most joyful and fruitful times of our lives. He wants us to continue to progress. And to prepare to live with Him again. Which comes with it's share of trials, but also comes with it's abundance of JOY. 

God is good. 

His work is sweet.

His love is Real.

HALLELUJAH. 

What a glorious time to be alive and a member of His true and living church.

happy day, all is well.

Thanks for reading :) 

elli

God Be With You Til We Meet Again!

Brothers and Sisters! What a perfect week to has been! WOW! I can not
begin to convey my feelings of love and gratitude for the miracles we
have witnessed this week!

John was baptized on Saturday. There were over 50 people there, 10 of
which were his non-member friends that he invited. I LOVE John. Oh my
goodness. It brings tears to my eyes just to think about what a
miracle it has been to teach him. He was taught and baptized in 21
days. And has the most solid testimony of truth. Ever. His faith is
astounding. His role in the church and in bringing souls to Christ
will be HUGE. He is one of the most remarkable men I know and I will
forever cherish the time I had to teach him, and for the friendship
that has been kindled. The light he carries and the love of the Lord
that he radiates can not compare to anything or anyone else. I am so
so grateful.

We get to go to the temple tomorrow with 4 recent converts I have been
blessed to teach to be baptized for their deceased immediate family
members. What a sacred experience that will be and I am SO excited.
The ordinances of the temple are SO miraculous.

I was able to see an investigator, 3 recent converts, and tons of
members from Langley this week that came out to Ashburn for lunch and
who came to a new and returning member fireside last night. I am SO
grateful for those people who will be imprinted in my heart now and
forever. Their love and testimonies will forever be dear to me. I love
those people so so much.

At that same fireside, Peter who just got baptized in Leesburg spoke
and Laura who got baptized in January from Langley spoke. I couldn't
help but cry at the fact that God entrusted me with such sacred and
special people that I LOVE so deeply. At the end of the meeting, the
assistants asked sister Liu and I to come up and bear a departing
testimony. About 1/2-3/4 of the mission comes to this fireside
bringing less actives, recent converts, and investigators. It's such a
tender and special place to be. I stood up there and as I looked out
and saw so so so many people that I love - missionaries I've served
with, companions I've had, people I taught, members I love, and
leaders I cherish - I just wept. I wept for joy and gratitude that God
sent me to northern Virginia. I wept because of the love of the lord
in my heart that I just wanted to radiate to everyone in that
audience. And I wept with a broken heart that I will have to leave
this beautiful place this week.

I have no idea how this is real. It's been 18 months already and there
are no words to describe the depth of my gratitude for this sacred and
holy experience.

I don't have the words to tell you how much my mission means to me,
but I am certain that my mission has been the most life changing
experience of my mortal life. I have never seen so much change in
myself, in those I've taught, and in those I've been blessed to come
in contact with. God is at the head of this church. Christ is at the
core of all that we do and of who we are. And through His love and His
atonement we come to understand who we are and why we are here. I know
that through His love, we are able to stand as His witnesses at all
times and in all places. I know that Joseph Smith was a prophet of God
and that he did translate the Book of Mormon through the power of God.
I know that the Book of Mormon is the convincing evidence of the
restoration of the gospel of Jesus Christ. That book will be the tool
used to gather Israel. There is more power and truth in that book than
in any other book.  I know that God is our is our loving Heavenly
Father.  He knows us perfectly, deeply, and everlastingly. In the
words of one of my favorite hymns "Fear not, I am with thee; oh be not
dismayed. For I am thy God and will still give thee aid... I'll never,
no never. I'll never, no never, I'll never, no never, no never
forsake." He will never fail us. He will never forsake us.  He is
forever. He is eternal. And nothing that we do will ever change that
love that He has for us.

I love the Lord. I love His work. I love His children.

And I love Northern Virginia. God Be With You 'Til We Meet Again

Keep it real and keep the faith

Sister Kennedy

 At the mission office for the last time

 With my favorite senior missionaries!

 John's baptism!

 With Coleman and Caitlin his main fellowshippers!

 With some Cambodian members we are reactivating!

 Lesson with Jake in Shenandoah :)