Week 55

Hello everyone!!

This week has been a good week.. I can't believe how fast time can really go.. It scares me! Haha..

So i've got a new companion! His name is Elder Westmoreland! He's from Meridian IDaho! He's way cool and he is a mechanic. Haha he knows everything about cars i swear! Its pretty cool! Haha! My last companion Elder Harris went all the way over to Peoria IL. Other side of the mission! Pretty crazy.. Hah!

This week has been way fun! A little crazy.. But still really fun! We are working with quite a few people right now who's lives are literally owned by Alcohol. It is the saddest thing that I've ever seen! There is a less active member of the church who hasn't been to church in years because of this problem! He drinks 3-4 quarts a day.. And he recently got a DWI and spent a few days in jail, and is at an all time low. He has allowed us to come over and have lessons with him, but the power of addiction is just to much to handle.. For the first time in 4 years, we got him to go a day without alcohol, and at the end of the day his withdrawals were so bad that he was shaking like crazy.. And all he could do was think about alcohol. It was the saddest thing i've ever seen. But he said that he did something that he never thought that he would be able to do again, and that was go a whole 24 hours without drinking!! Haha.. So our friend is on his way to great things!! Slowly.. But surely! He said he wants to start getting out of the house, so we're going to go on walks with him, and we're going to go fishing with him too! Haha.. (we're not aloud to fish.. so we'll just go with him and make sure he doesn't fall into the lake! Haha!!)

This week we've been setting up return appointments with people like crazy! Which is awesome.. But not a single one has kept their appointment.. Which is NOT awesome! Haha.. People just bailed and didn't show, 1 person at least had the decency to call ahead of time and tell us that he wasn't interested in learning more. Haha so i guess that's better.. But it was the worst! By the end of the week i was so frustrated.. One thing that this area has taught me is that going to Church on Sunday is a literal spiritual and physical boost. Haha! I love church so much. I don't think i would last out here without church. ITs the best 3 hours in a week that anybody could spend!

But the good news is, is that we've found some pretty solid people through knocking doors which is awesome! Our efforts are paying off! Slowly.. But surely! Haha! The Lord is definitely teaching me SO many things. I don't think i've ever had my weaknesses shoved right in my face like they have been these last weeks.. Its been so great. And i truly am learning to overcome my weaknesses. I'm also learning that His grace really is sufficient for all men who humble themselves before him. (Ether 12:27)

Good good memories are being made on the mission.. Sometimes i just think about what I'm doing right now and it's just crazy. Haha.. Dedicating 2 years of my life to help people that i don't even know, walking away from everything i knew, leaving family and friends, spending 24/7 with a companion i never knew before the day i met him, and trying to strengthen everyone's faith in Jesus Christ!! Haha thats madness!!! But i love it so much! And somehow it is so much fun... Don't get me wrong there are definitely hard times.. But at the end of the day, if you've done your best, its a great day!! To me its evidence that God is with his missionaries always! There are things that are far beyond my comprehension that are happening to us, and the people that we talk to! Its the greatest!

I've gotta go now! I hope all is going well! I love you all so much!

Jett Johnson!!! Thanks for the email!! Your my hero little man! Keep shreddin!!

Love Elder Russell