Week 35

Hello Fam! Good to talk to you again!
Mom thank you for the emails! I appreciate it! :)
These past few weeks have been so up and down but so great! So many learning experiences and also spiritual ones too!

We've been working with a few new people and its been fun. But its sometimes so hard when i think i am explaining things soo clearly.. But they just dont understand. But its ok! They'll get it! Haha
We have been working with Craig now for a while. And we cant commit him to live the Law of Chastity. He doesnt think that he will ever get married again and he cant agree to that. But he loves church and i think that a HUGE change is taking place inside Craig. Its really cool to watch him not swear.. And sing in sacrament meeting.. And all that good stuff! He's a great guy and he's coming around!

We have also been working with a young couple who are 7th day adventists! And we were showing them scriptures in the bible and they were really suprised to see some of the things that we believe to be right out of the Bible! It was pretty cool! They invited us back for dinner and another lesson Sunday(yesterday) but there baby got sick so we're going over on Thursday night now! Im really excited!

We are also teaching a lady named Francine. She's great. She has just about a billion questions for us everytime we meet up, but thats good! It means that she's searching for the truth! We had a really good lesson with her after church about the Plan of Salvation and she is beginning to understand! So thats good! Things are looking up for her! Im excited!

Well.. The week ended with the Baptism of Doris Miller! She is sooo awesome, and we have become such good friends! She asked me to baptize her and that was an experience ill never forget. She was soo happy when she came out of the water. She began to cry and was at a loss for words! Then we asked her to bear her testimony afterwards and she just couldnt speak! She was so filled with the spirit and all she could say was thank you thank you over and over again!

And also.. The Branch here in Fayette made an awesome missionary effort, and rented out a theatre and played the movie 17 Miracles! And we got it approved to go! It was SOO amazing! I had no idea about all those miracles that took place crossing the plains! Thats amazing and the church is soo true! I love it! There were a ton of non members and it was great for everyone to see. The churches efforts are paying off and things are definately changing! Its great to watch it take place!

Haha so cool story.. Extreme Makeover Home Edition was in our area this last week!! They were re-doing a farm house in a city called West Union. And its going to be on in January! We tried to get on it.. But they said we'd have to take off the white shirts and nametags and we said no thanks!! haha and walked away. The house they built is pretty sweet tho! And the family is definately very deserving!

Mom and Dad i loved your card! It was great! haha i laughed pretty hard when i got it! So thank you! I needed that! haha! :)

Mom i'm glad you got to meet Momma Stone! She's great! haha.. She takes goood care of me and i love her! I knew you guys would be good friends!

Im sorry to hear about the things that are going on in the family... But i couldn't realize what they would be like if we didn't have the church! So im grateful for that! Just remember that the scriptures really do bring true happiness. And in the words of our Prophet, "the atonement of Jesus Christ can raise any hands, that hopelessly hang down." I know that the church is true.. And that we go through our trials for very specific reasons. God loves us so much.

I have got to get going now! Im thankful for all that you do for me! Ill hope to hear from you all next week!

Love Elder Russell