Week 78

Wow.. What a week it has been! :) Hahah! For sure one of the greatest..

The highlight of this week was Saturday.. Me and Elder Wally had a baptism of a girl named April. She is SO awesome. She has seen SOO much adversity the 2 weeks previous to her baptism, and she plugged through and kept the faith. It was so motivating to me to do what is right and to have a good attitude even when opposition hits. And i'm tellin you, if she can keep the faith through what she went through.. So can I! Haha It was amazing. :)

Then after Aprils baptism, we got picked up by a guy named Bro Frame and we headed to ANKENY!!! :) Haha.. The only way that I can describe how it felt was like I was coming home. Haha i'm pretty sure I got a pretty good picture of what its going to feel like in February! :) I love that place SO much.. There are so many good people there, and the baptism of Dee Dee was unbelievably special. The spirit was SO strong throughout the whole service. She asked me to speak on Baptism, and I don't think i've ever felt more guided and directed by the spirit when speaking before. I got to see Sis Decker and Chelsea, Sis Cox, and SOO many others that it would take to long to name. Haha! :) Loved it SO much. Afterwards we went over to Sis Deckers home and had dinner. Her house is where we taught the lessons to Chelsea and the sweetest memories flooded my mind and once again, as every week, an overwhelming sense of gratitude came into my heart. These people mean the world to me. To watch Dee Dee baptized after 4 1/2 months of me leaving was an answer to many many of mine and others prayers. I know the scripture in 3 nephi is real when it says"whatsoever thing ye shall ask the father in My name, which is right , believing that ye shall receive, behold it shall be given unto you." It was oh so sweet to have the opportunity to return to Ankeny.

I had a really neat experience this week with following the spirit. This week, we were in a lesson on someones front porch, and during the lessons we ALWAYS have the phone on silent. During the lesson while Elder Wally was reading a scripture, I had the impression to pull the phone out of my pocket. I knew someone was calling even tho there was no vibration or no ringing. I looked at who was calling, and all of the sudden I stepping off the front porch to answer the phone(which I would never do during a lesson because that would be extremely rude) On the other end of the phone I heard a quiet, wimpering voice whom I immediately recognized as a less active Sister in the branch. I cannot even begin to describe the challenges that she's delt with. She lost her 5 year old to cancer a few years back, and just within this last year she's lost her Father, Step Father, and the reason she was calling was to tell us that her Mother has passed away to cancer as well..

At first I didn't know what to say.. She kept asking questions like "is it ever going to stop? and "is this really God's plan for me to suffer this much" and many others.. I read a few scriptures to her out of D&C 121 and 122 and then we began to talk about the Pre Earth life and how strong she was there. By the end of our conversation I wasn't sure if I had done my part to help her. She was quiet and it left me really quite worried about her. That night I prayed harder than I've ever prayed for someone, and we went over the next day and we talked to her. She said that last night was the first time where she wondered what it would be like to not live on the earth. She said she wanted the pain to go away so badly and she was willing to leave this earth if that would take care of it. But she said after we hung up the phone and she thought about the scriptures I read to her, she said that she KNEW that it would all be ok. And she says that her Faith in God has been re-knewed. It has struggled ever since she lost her son 5 or so years ago. It was amazing. Such a blessing. It made me SO grateful that I was a missionary. Its the greatest calling in the world.

I've gotta go family! Thanks so much for the emails and it sounds like you're all doing good! :)

Mom i'll let you know next week when I want you to send the winter stuff. All I want is the thermals and the sweaters out of the stuff I sent home. I love you guys very much! Thanks for all you do.

Also.. Mom I got your card! :) Thanks!!

Love Elder Russell

 

Week 77

his week.. Has been a good one. Haha! We have had some super funny experiences! Haha!!

 

 

 

We were teaching the Word of Wisdom to these people who's walls are yellow because of SOO much smoking that been done in the house the past 10 years. There are 3 of them and they all AT LEAST smoke a pack a day.. One of them smokes 3 packs a day! hahah! Pretty crazy.. And every lesson that we have with them we walk out smelling like we've been smokers for the past 5 years. But anyways.. We taught the Word of Wisdom, and we started out by reading Moroni 7:16 with them. How we've ALL been given the Spirit of Christ to teach us right from wrong.. Then we started in teaching, and they had all sorts of excuses and complaints.. And they all weren't to excited about this commandment. I asked them to pause a minute and I read another scripture about how our body is a temple.. Then I asked them to take a step back, pause for a minute, and listen to what the Spirit of Christ was trying to teach them at this very minute.. It was silent for close to a minute.. And I asked.. "Do you really think smoking is something that the Lord wants us to be doing??" And they all 3 said No.. And they agreed to work towards quitting. It was such a neat experience to watch someone be taught by the Spirit of Christ.

 

We had some extra time and so we decided to knock some doors. We were in Pella IA. The door on the inside was open and the storm door was shut. We knocked, and what seemed to be a really nice young mother strutted down the hallway towards the door to come and talk to us. In my mind I was excited because it seemed promising and she seemed happy to see us. Next thing that I knew, that nice young mother wasn't so nice anymore.. She yelled at us, and even went to the extent of commanding us in the name of Jesus to get off her porch. She said the worst things about us as a religion and as people.. It was heartbreaking to think that this woman was SO decieved. If she just knew any one mormon in that community, I know that she would change her mind. I am happy that our religion teaches us to love everyone of every kind. I wouldn't be happy with myself if I had that type of hatrid for any one person.

 

We were teaching another lesson.. And the living room had a BIG window that looked out to the front yard. The lady we were teaching just commented on how she had just cleaned the window. We complimented her and told her it looked nice and clean. Haha right in the middle of our lesson as the spirit was really strong.. We all jumped out of our seats at the sound of a huge THUD on the window behind us. Haha a bird nailed the window going full speed. Sadly.. We all laughed for about 10 minutes.. We went outside and the bird was no where to be found. It was SOO funny. Oh man.. I thought you guys would like that story.

 

Anyways.. I've gotta go! We've got a lot of stuff to do today! I get to go back to Ankeny IA this Saturday to witness a baptism. If you remember Chelsea from Ankeny.. Her mom is now going to be baptized and President said that I could go back and watch. SO excited. Haha! Love it!

MOM i'm glad you got my present. Hope you had a good birthday!

OAKLEY FAMILY!! Thank you SOOO much for the package. That made me SO happy. I'll write back sometime here soon! :)

KASH JOHNSON: THanks for the email man.. Your my hero! Keep em coming! SO good to hear from you. I'm glad life is goin good..

I love you all! Thanks for everything!

 

LOVE ELDER RUSSELL

Week 76

The Lord has greatly blessed us this week.. Wow..

 

Today.. I am SO grateful. I'm grateful for my family and friends.. I'm grateful for the knowledge which I have that God loves us! I'm grateful to hear that Zander and Kash are ok.. And that is a miracle that I will never stop giving thanks for.. God was with them.. Thats for sure. Wow.. So happy they are ok.

 

Elder Wally and I have too been blessed this week.. We have seen some great miracles and people have popped into our lives who are ready and who need the Savior in their lives. Its been cool to see..

 

We had another lesson with our investigator Christina, who is AWESOME.. Ahh.. I love her. She has dedicated an hour each morning to a study of the Book of Mormon. Then she goes out and walks her dog.. And she says that ever since she's began her day by reading the Book of Mormon she feels a whole new level of peace as she goes throughout her day. And she's really beginning to have a testimony of it and its changing her life. Its bringing her peace that's she's wanted her whole life. Almost too sweet! :)

 

I've been SO unbelievably tired lately.. I fell asleep writing in my journal the other day and my companion came out later that night and drug me into bed. Haha.. Super funny..

 

We had a great lesson with a less-active Lady this week.. She was baptized a few years back, but slowly has fallen off the face of the earth.. We went to Goodwill on P-Day last week and as we looked at her nametag we knew it sounded familiar. We began talking and she told us she was a member of the church. Pretty cool.. We set up a lesson with her and when we went back she began to tell us how easy it was to not go to church, and how easy it was to rely on coffee to wake her up in the morning, and how easy life is not living the commandments.

I asked her about the day that she was baptized, and she talked for 20 minutes about how she loved that, and how for the first time she felt warmth and comfort in her life.. It was awesome.. Then I asked her If she's experienced those feelings since she's stopped coming to church.. With her tail between her legs, looking down at her feet, she said.. "No I haven't." We asked her if she wanted to have that comfort and warmth once again in her life and she said yes. SO cool.. I told her it wasnt going to be easy.. But it was for sure going to be worth it.

 

One lesson I learned is that we don't do things in this church because they are easy.. Or sometimes even enjoyable.. But we do them because God said so.. We are taught at a very young age to trust in someone who's a little smarter than ourselves. We are taught to live the Gospel, or in other words do the will of the Father. Its that simple. Because its not about this life... ITs about Eternal Life.. Living with God and our family forever.

 

I'm really sorry.. But my computer is going to kick me off..lvoe you guys.. I've gotta go! :) I'm so glad things are ok.

 

Love Elder Russell

Week 75

Wow...

 

Haha I just got an email from my hero Kash.. Thats so weird. He's home! Haha! Dang.. Time has gone by so fast. LOVE HIM!

Well this week has been a sweet week! The town of Knoxville is a funny little town.. But there are a lot of people who are ready for the gospel thats for sure.. We've been focusing on Part-Member families, and thats seemed to really work out for us these last couple days! We've been able to teach about the power and security of an eternal family.. And how wonderful that  reality is.. It made me realize how lucky I am to have the family that I do! Born in the Gospel.. Under the covenant.. Man.. What more could someone ask for??

 

We also spent some time in a town called Pella Iowa.. Its a crazy little town thats for sure.. It was settled by the dutch, and they make the greatest pastries i've ever tasted in my life.. oh goodness.. I would fly all the way back to Pella Iowa just to eat one. Haha.. But its a very clean cut town (which is rare out here.. haha) The streets are very clean, the houses are all in good shape, the grass is green. Pretty cool. But the people are most definitely well off and don't want to do much to do with us. haha.. I can handle the rejections, and the stupid rumors about the church.. Those don't get to me.. But when a car full of people drive by us and point and laugh for some reason it just wells up inside... Grrr... Haha! I didn't say anything don't worry.. But I thought about it! Haha.. My mission is teaching me good things! Like how to be the bigger person! :)

 

Anyways.. We have been working with this Lady's who's husband has been innactive for the last 15 years..  Her name is Christina, and let me tell you, she can knit things like there is no tomorrow.. Its incredible.. I'll have to send some pictures to you guys next week! She seriously does the most amazing things with a ball of yarn. SO coool.. But anyways.. She has been a gem to teach.. So fun. She's got a Scottish English accent, and she grew up in the Northeast of England. She's had some rough experiences in life but the Gospel is bringing her happiness.. And she recognizes that..

When we first met her she said in her accent.. "Now boys.. I want in on your secret" And we asked what secret.. And she said.. "Why are you guys smilin all the time..? Do ya know somethin I don't?" Ha its really cool to see her change when she is learning these things that we know! Love it.

 

Well this last Sunday.. A person who has been investigating the church for 28 years was baptized.. SO cool. The spirit was strong.. The wife of this man, and her kids talked about how every single night they would pray for this day to happen.. Every night they would ask if it were possible to let their husband and their dad jooin the church.. And the prayers paid off.. So cool..

 

Anyways.. Thanks for the emails! They mean a lot. I'm glad things are going good at home.. Its crazy to think that another school year is starting. Wow.. Haha! Hard to believe!  But I look forward to hearing from you next week!

 

Love Elder Russell