Week 44

Merry Christmas from Ankeny Iowa!!

I'm in a new area of the mission and i'm more excited than ever! Haha i went from a small branch of about 50 active members to the biggest ward in Iowa!! Yesterday was a little over-whelming meeting so many new people! But i LOVED it. I love the small town's and all that Fayette had to offer, but i'll have to admit, it is nice to have a Wal-Mart closer than a 45 minute drive! Haha.. -

Ankeny is a right outisde Des Moines to the North. Its a really neat place

My new companion's name is Elder Harris!! He is the MAN!! He is from American Fork! I'm so happy to have a companion that i can relate to and get along really well with! We will do some great work here in Ankeny! We are already teaching and testifying like its goin out of style..! Haha! I love it and i'm really excited!

Mom and Dad and Family! Thanks for sending those 2 boxes!! :) That made me SO happy! I'll look forward to opening them on Christmas! We will be spending Christmas day with a family here in the ward. We're gonna head over early in the morning to watch all the little kids open their presents! I'm so excited..! I was afraid i was going to miss that the most! But now i don"t have too! Haha!

I am so grateful for this time of year and the time which we have to remember this great gift which we have all recieved. As a missionary, Christmas is exciting. Perhaps more than ever! We have been thinking of creative idea's to get everyone in the spirit of christmas, and to make this Christmas a memorable one! And so far it has been a blast! We have wrapped a few copies of the Book of Mormon and given them to our friends! We have been singing Christmas Hymns to people, and we have been doing everything we can to give everything we have to someone else this Christmas. And its been so memorable.

This Gospel has taught me that watching someone else receive a gift, and giving of myself, is far better than all the presents in the world. Opening presents gives us immediate gratification, but giving of ourselves to others this Christmas gives us an eternal perspective, and the true spirit of Christ in our Christmas. I now know, that this is what Christmas is all about! I hope everyone will give of themselves this Christmas and remember how lucky we have been to receive the amazing gifts that we have.

I love you all so much! I'm so excited to talk to you all on Sunday! Its gonna be a blast! We talked about it last night and we think we're going to call around 5 or 6 o'clock in the afternoon Iowa time. Which means 4 or 5 o'clock Utah time. In the afternoon, not in the morning! Hahha! We have permission to call Christmas Eve for 5 minutes or so as well just to make sure that works for you. So i'll call then either on the house phone or cell phone if your not home! If i can remember them.. Ha i'm pretty sure i can. LOVE YOU ALL! MERRY CHRISTMAS!

Thanks for the Christmas cards and letters that i have got from everyone too! They mean a lot to me!

Love Elder Russell