Week 2

FAMILY!!

2 weeks down here in the MTC and 1 more week to go!! I cant believe it! I also cant believe how much i have learned here in the MTC.. Pretty crazy... I have grown spiritually so much! And also just grown up! hahah.. This week has been filled with the spirit so heavily! We have a branch presidency and the first counselors name is Brother Stice.. He teaches over at BYU and let me tell you... He is a man of God. Everything he says is soo awesome and it makes me want to be a better missionary!

Last night we had our Tuesday night devotional.. A member of the 70 spoke. His name was Kevin Pearson.. I think. His message was soo powerful! He said "our goal as missionaries is to show light to others.. And to do that we MUST have light ourselves.."

I loved that thought! Its soo true you cant just go around pretending to be a missionary.. Because you wont be able to have that light! The light comes through the spirit! And to get the spirit we must be obedient! And to be obedient we MUST have faith! Its soo simple. I love learning from our teachers and speakers! They are so awesome.

We have a teacher named Bro. Bellistan. He is married and going to byu. We have him usually once a day for a couple hours.. and every single time i hear him teach i get the chillls and it pumps me up to get into the field! He makes me want to be a teacher here in the MTC one day.. But you have to go to byu so tahts probably not going to happen.. But anyways.. Life here is great! Im really sick of the food.. I think i ate so much of it in the first 2 weeks that it all tastes like plastic to me! No good.. But my district is probably thee best district in the world. Testimony meetings are soo powerful.. And we study soo hard! And when we have a break or lunch we all sit together.. Tell stories.. And laugh soo hard. I love it. Without these guys my MTC experience would not be nearly as good as what it is! To tell you the truth i think i will be sad to leave this place! haha crazy i kno..

MOM-thank you for the letters! and the valentines package! I got john and marsha's card so tell them thank you so much! i miss you! i love you! Send me brown and tan socks! i think you got my letter from earlier..!

DAD- i loved your letter! Those 16 hour days have gotta be tough.. Thank you for the huge example you've been to me. I hate it so much that its taken me to be out here to realize that you've been my best friend for my whole life. So thank you! I'll work extra hard out here because of your example!

I love you all soo much! And miss you too! im running short on time! Thank you for all the packages and letters! They mean so much to me! Its always a better day when you get letters and packages! hahah next time i write you i could possibly be in DES MOINES IOWA!!!! pretty crazy.. ill let you kno whats upp next week! IM learning so much! And i really do love to be here!

Love Elder Russell!