Week 32

Such a solid week.. So much to tell you.. And so little time.

First off last Friday we went to Nauvoo! And it was great. I love being in the temple. There is no better place. And then after the temple we decided to go to Carthage Jail!! And that was unbelievable! Such an amazing spirit. They play this tape and i envisioned in my mind the mob running up the stairs and the shots fired, and then Joseph jumping out the window and it felt so real!! SO amazing. Loved it! and Dad yes angel moroni is facing west on the Nauvoo temple. and on all the others its facing east. And a temple worker told me that one of the many reasons they did it is because they wanted angel moroni to watch over and protect them on their journey west! Pretty sweet!

Next off.. IM A DADDY!! haha.. So in our mission and probably a lot of others.. When you train a new missionary you become a dad. Haha.. So Elder Ferrin was my dad, and tomorrow im gettin my first boy! Pretty exciting! Our district is a district of 4 missionaries.. And elder Parkinson, the guy who was in the MTC with me, my real good friend, is also training! haha so its gonna be us and the new missionaries and i have been called as the district leader as well. Pretty exciting stuff.

Next off.. The baptisms of Lexy and Marilyn went AWESOME! such a special spirit. i love when hard work pays off. Thats truly missionary work! I also love using the priesthood. Nothing better.

Also.. We found a very solid investigator! Her name is Dorris Miller and she's a 62 year old woman! She is so awesome! And has just searching for the truth! She said back when she was in Colorado, she would see the missionaries and kind of just hide, or not answer the door, and what everyone usually does. But when we found her she said that something was telling her that we had the truth that she was looking for! I was blown away when she told us that.

She told us a little about her and how she has had a really rough life. Her husband is very rude to her and she goes into diabetic coma's everyonce in a while! One time she went into a coma and layed on her kitchen floor,dying, and her husband just walked over her and went to the car races in town. My heart just dropped for her and i felt so bad. I told her that she could find happiness with our message and we also gave her a priesthood blessing and she loved that. She said she felt so good inside. So that was an awesome experience! We talked about baptism and she "well of course!!" haha! Its great to be a tool in the Lords hands! So much happiness can come from it!

I feel like i have more to tell you, but i left my planner at home. Haha.. Thats always a bummer. We played basketball with some branch members this morning for some excersize and that was great. Me and this guy named Peter Thompson here in the branch have become really good friends! And we bring out the best in eachother when it comes to sports! haha!

Anyways.. of to transfer meeting tomorrow morning! im pretty excited! change is a good thing on the mission i have decided. and im definately reaady for a new companion! haha.

I love you all. thanks for the emails and prayers! you all mean so much to me

Love elder russell