Week 89

Wow.. What a week it has been..

We've seen some great things happen and I think that I've learned the
true meaning of Christmas after all of these years. Haha.. Finally!
We have had SO many opportunities to help and to serve this week its
incredible. And it feels SO good! We have delivered food and presents,
and made plans to help the people who don't have anything for
Christmas. Its been so fun to see it all come together. Its great.

This last week we made some great progress with some people we are
working with. Specifically one investigator is doing great. We were
worried about the law of tithing, because she doesn't live in the
greatest of circumstances. We taught it to her, and shared experiences
and stories, and it was so cool to watch it click for her. She walked
out of the lesson with a determination to pay tithing. She was
convinced that over time it was going to get her out of the place that
she's in now. SO amazing. Such great faith.. Me and Elder Jones were
so worried too.. Haha I learned that we need to have a little more
faith in the ppl we teach! :)

I'm emailing right now from Oskaloosa Iowa. Our Zone Leader Elder
Moore got called to be an assistant last night.. So now for the next
week and 1/2 his companion Elder Purcell will be mine and Elder
Jones's companion too! And we will be covering 2 areas! Pretty
exciting! haha.. Its going to be SO busy.. Everyday we have a
conflicting schedule but it'll be good to see how it all turns out!

For Christmas we are going to be spending some time at members homes,
caroling, eating food, and just stuff that every missionary does on
Christmas. I'm excited really. We've got good members who are taking
care of us! So that's good! I'm not sure what time i'll be calling on
Christmas.. I think it will be around 1 in the afternoon ish.. or 6 or
7 at night..I'll hop on my email and let you know later! I really hope
the whole family will be there!! If not then please tell me ASAP cause
I need permission to make 2 phone calls.But if at all possible I NEED
Mr. Kash Johnson to be there. I need to speak to him. Haha so
hopefully he will read this or mom, call him and tell him to be there
if he can. And my mission president is fine with him being there. I
asked.

Lexee to answer your question.. The scariest thing about being a
missionary, is seeing ppl have a spiritual confirmation of the truth,
then choose to go the other way.. Also.. The idea that your not going
to be a missionary forever is pretty darn scary. Haha.. So its a tie
between those 2 things!

I have been so blessed with so many opportunities to serve and see
service bless the lives of others. I have seen myself be used in the
hands of God to be an answer to someones prayer.. I have seen how
service can soften even the hardest heart. I love this Christmas
season because most everyone is in a mood to serve.. But I hope we can
ALWAYS have the spirit of Christmas in our hearts throughout the
year.. Because as we all know.. Its simply the spirit of Christ that
makes our hearts full this time of year.. And I hope that we don't
have to wait till December each year, to let our hearts be full of the
Spirit of Christ. It can be ours each and every day.

Mom I got the Scriptures for the Lady in our Branch. Thank you SO
much. She is going to love them..
GMa RUssell, I got your package in the mail! I appreciate it. I opened
it, and I can't believe how much the kids have grown and how
different, but yet the same my family looks. Thank you SO much. I
LOVED the picture!
Dad thanks for the email and the thing on intelligence. that was great
and i am going to print it off!
I'm looking forward to talking to you all! Its going to be great.
Hahaha.. I can't believe its already that time.

I'll talk to you soon!
And next week i'll emial on Wednesday!

Love Elder Russell