Week 82

Hello Family! Wow.. Things are going great out her in the field.. SO many good things are happening I can't even describe them!

Last year at this time in a Zone Leader Cousel Meeting we set a goal of 400 baptisms for the Iowa Des Moines Mission. It is SO cool to see the Lord paving the way for us to have the ability to reach this goal. Right now our mission has reached epic statistics, and we're coming together like there is no tomorrow.. It is SO cool to see. The mission average for baptismal dates on any given week in this past year was usually 30-40 people.. But this morning we each recieved an email that told us that we have 116 people across the mission working to be baptized on a specific day! SO cool! I love it so much. We are unified and holding eachother accountable to obedience, and the good Lord is blessing us. Big Time.

This last week we've had some up's and some down's... But its SO cool to see people's faith push them through challenges that could shake the strongest of all saints.

This last week we heard some sad news.. Brother Briggs, who's been an inactive member for the last 15 years or so, has had a huge trial come up. When the Branch requested his records, our Branch President got a notice saying that somewhere along the lines of his inactivity Brother Briggs had signed a letter in denouncing his membership to the church. He says that he never did it, and that he would have never done it. And I do believe him. He's a great man. He thinks his ex-wife who was VERY anti-mormon might of had something to do with it. It was hard for him to swallow.. And he said that the first thought in his mind was "well if you don't want me, then i'll leave." But he took a step back, and discussed with his wife what would be best. With counsel from us, and church leaders, he decided to stay and push forward to be re-baptized. It was SO cool to see him make that decision.

His wife Sister Briggs who is SOO awesome is going to be baptized this Saturday as well! Way exciting! :) She's asked me to confirm her a member of the church and i'm really excited for this weekend! It should be great.

Yesterday The Bullock family from Ankeny Iowa came down to visit me!! It was SO awesome. They actually have family that are members here in the Knoxville Branch, so i'll hopefully get to see them here more in the future! :)

We witnessed many miracles this week. Its been cool.. Hardships are part of the process too.. But thats just normal.. Haha.. We have got GREAT things going here in the Knoxville Branch. And miracles are going to take place left and right over these next few months. SO excited to see what the Lord has in store for me..

Dad thats way cool about the missionaries! Dang.. Haha i'm excited to see what happens over the next several years. ITs going to be great.

Mom to answer your question, i'm about 45 minutes southeast of Des Moines. So not to far. I'm in the Des Moines Stake. So thats cool. We get to go up there for meetings, and other stuff. So that's fun.. It feels SO weird to go to a big city. Haha i've been in pretty small towns my whole mission, and so when I get to drive on a 4 lane highway its just weird. Haha. And i'm doing good on stuff. I got your letter and the thermals that you sent me so THANK you. I appreciate it. Those will come in handy!

And i'll get that picture to you guys later today I imagine. I'll just send it to your email! So look for it and I hope it works.

Haha and good news.. I haven't killed my companion yet.. So things are great. Looking forward to a new one here soon in a couple weeks.. But i've definitely learned and grown a LOT these last 2-3 months. Haha!

I love you all VERY much. Thanks for everything you do! It means a lot. Thats SO crazy that Lexee is engaged. I'm super sad i'm going to miss the wedding.. But sorry.. i'm NOT coming home any earlier than I have to. Haha. :) I love you guys very much. I've got a great family.

Love Elder Russell

Week 81

Hello Familia!
This week has been a great one.. The Lord has been involved in the lives of our investigators and we are excited to see many many miracles each week!

This last Saturday we had a baptism. It was wonderful.. One day a few weeks back, on P-Day we were looking in a Goodwill for some 25 cent ties.. A lady who was an employee of goodwill walked past us, and something was different. I just knew it wasn't your average ex-change of hello as you walk by. It turned out that she was a member of the church, and that she was baptized 5 or so years ago and had gone inactive. We found her, taught her, and got her coming back to church. Her 9 year old son Toren was not a member, so we were able to teach him and he was baptized yesterday. Such a good kid. SO sharp for his age! :)
As he was baptized, his Mother could not describe the joy that she felt. We asked her to say the closing prayer at the baptism, and she was terrified, but the spirit took over and she gave a very heartfelt and comforting prayer. It was great.
Something that i've learned on my mission is that God never gives up on his children. Time and time again he gives them an opportunity to come back into his fold, and to experience the blessings of His gospel. Sometimes he gives us those opportunities by cutting us down, and compelling us to be humble. He loves us and wants to live with us again SO badly, that he'll cut us down if he has to. Its pretty neat when you think about it!

We've got some fun stuff coming up this week. I'm excited.

Mom to answer a few of your questions.. I don't really know how Gladyis got to come to Des Moines.. She mentioned that she has a person coordinates and schedules where she goes.. So I guess they prayed and Des Moines was the place. She was sweet tho.. Man.. Way fun. Haha I keep singing the songs that were played at her fireside. And no I don't need the coat. I've got the one that I came out with and another. So no worries.. Thanks! :)

We are teaching the Briggs still, and they are facing some opposition, BUT they are tackling it like champions! Its so cool to see how their faith has grown. Yesterday in our Gospel Principles class, we were talking about obedience. There is a section in the manual that talks about being obedient even if you don't know why! Sis Briggs bore a SUPER strong testimony of just doing what the Lord asks. She said she read a quote the other day that said..
"Save yourself some time and some trouble, and just agree with me now!"-God It was so cool. I love it! And its so true.. Part of having Faith is putting your trust in somebody who is a little bit smarter than we are :)

Anyways family.. I love you guys very much. Thanks for everything!

Love Elder Russell

Week 80

Woaaaahhh.. What a sweeet week it was. Man alive.. I'm still SO happy with the way last week turned out.

 

First things first.. Do you all know who Gladyis Knight is?? Well...

She came to the Stake Center in Des Moines Iowa and brought down the house with her, her husband, and her choir.. It was incredible!! Man.. I don't even know what to say about it to do it justice. The whole stake center was FULL of people.. It was awesome. She sang for us and it was one of the most spiritually riveting experiences that i've ever had in my life. We had investigators there, and they literally walked out and pretty much asked us what day they could be baptized. HAHA!! Talk about powerful. They bore the strongest, boldest, and most sincere testimonies of the True Church i've ever heard.. They were SO funny too.. I loved it.

I'm not gonna lie tho... It was pretty wierd to see a stake center from our Church break out into what seemed to be a Southern Baptist Choir. It was so cool tho.. And SO many hearts were touched. Amazing.

 

We brought the Gulley Family to the Fireside with Gladyis Knight. It was great. They have been meeting with missionaries for what seems to be centuries, and now is there time to finally join the church. They have been strong members of the community of Christ church, and they have told there congregation that they will no longer be attending. They have recieved SO many witnesses of the gospel this last 2 months.. And the Fireside topped it off. So sweeeet!! :) Haha! Love it.. They are so determined to get there life in order, and to be baptized. December 15th is the day we picked together! :)

 

Well.. We are still teaching the Briggs! The are some of the funnest people to be friends with. Haha. I get the biggest kick out of them. Bro Briggs is a vietnam vet and he has seen things that people don't even have nightmare's about. Its crazy.. He's such a strong guy tho. He was baptized 12 years ago.. But he went inactive due to some unfortunate circumstances.. Since then he's married a lady from England.. And she is ready to be baptized. And he's going to baptize her! Its going to be a great day. :) Sis Briggs is a HUGE Coffee and Tea drinker. In england 3:00 Tea is a mandatory event. Haha! But this last week, she has given it up. She says that I feel as tho things that I love are being stripped away from me, but I know the thing which is most important will grow in ways that I could never imagine! SO powerful! :)

 

This last Sunday was crazy.. Haha we got a text on Saturday night as 6:30 saying " Elder Russell.. Can you spend 20 minutes speaking to us tomorrow in Sacrament meeting on the Importance of the Priesthood? Thanks!" Haha.. So that Sunday I played the music, passed the sacrament, and was the concluding speaker.. Haha nothing like serving is a tiny little Branch. I think thats why I love the church so much. We always make it work. Whatever we gotta do! :)

 

Bishop Shields! Thanks for the email and the advice! I appreciate it! I'm going to be going to school and hopefully that will keep me plenty busy. Haha thanks for your encouragement and I will definately take that to heart!

 

Momma! Thanks for everything.. I haven't got the winter stuff yet.. But i'm sure its comin soon! Thanks for doing that! I appreciate it!

 

G-Ma Russell! Thanks for the email! Its always great to hear from you!!

 

And my boy Kash Johnson. Your my hero man... Hah! I love you SO much. Thanks for the emails. It means the world. Keep tearin it up there in the real world. I'm gonna have my sister forward an email to you!

 

I love you all! Thanks for the love and support. I've got the greatest group of family and friends a guy could ask for..!

 

Love Elder Russell

Week 79

Hello My Dear Family..

Wow! Life this past week has been wonderful. I can't complain. Each time I listen to our Prophets and Apostles, I feel a sense of urgency to do what is right, to spread the gospel, and to live life to the absolute fullest. We are so lucky to have the knowledge we do. We had a few people come to conference this week who were investigating the church. It was great. They felt the spirit and also realized how the could benefit from having a living prophet. It was really cool. Haha I was able to attend all hours of conference. It was awesome.. 10 hours of Revelation. SO sweet.

During the Sunday session, there was a family in the branch, the Coates, that unexpectedly decided to stay at the church inbetween the morning and afternoon session, due to the 25 minute drive home. It wouldn't have been worth it for them to drive home. But anyways.. We cooked them lunch at the church and it was a blast.. We had breakfast food. They have a little girl that reminds me SO much of Sayler.. ITs crazy.. Haha so she's my best budd here in the Branch. :)

We've been working with quite a few people and seeing great things happen. We have had spiritual lessons with people who are really searching for truth. As i get further and further in my mission I realize that I can't do this forever.. It gives me a drive to seek the spirit in EVERYTHING i do. Its amazing how much the Lord can lift you when you put every ounce of trust you have in HIM! I love it.

We brought a Less-Active father, and his Non-Member 13 year old son to the Priesthood session of conference with us, and as I was watching, I couldn't help but notice how intently this member was listening. It was so cool, and in a few different moments throughout the talk it was as though something was different about him, and I could tell that he was receiving revelation. When the session was ended, he said that he developed a whole new level of Love for his son that he had never felt before.. And you could see it in how happy he was when He walked out of the session. He was hugging his son.. And he even apologized for not being the Father that he should have been these last few years. It was amazing and there were many who were in tears. He said that he had a drive to do more, to make sure that he stays on the straight and narrow. Elder Eyerings talk really hit him to the center. Then I said, if you love you son that much... Just imagine how much the Savior loves the both of you! It was a memorable experience.

Mom if you would.. PLEASE send me my winter stuff asap.. I need the sweaters that I sent home.. Haha.. Not the really thick gray one..But all the other ones!! Also.. please send me all the Long Johns you can find!! Haha Its freezin here.. Its gonna be a gnarly winter i'm pretty sure..

LOVE YOU ALL SO MUCH thanks for everything

Lexee your the BOMB. Thnaks SOOO much for signing me up for school. Don't know what i'd do without ya!

LOVE ELDER RUSSELL