Hey Everyone-
I do apologise that it has been awhile since I have written a good email, I know you understand how busy I can get. I also want to say Happy Fathers Day yesterday. Dad you will be getting a letter from me tomorrow. I was able to reflect a lot on the influence my Father and Grandfather's have had on my life. I feel so blessed to have wonderful examples of a Father and Grandfathers and will always strive to honor you. I am in awe at how the Saviors Entire Life was centered on pleasing His Father and bringing Honor to him! He was the perfect example in this and I know I have a lot to learn. Transfer weekend is always busy and I have missed the blue skies we had every single day last week! I have loved being able to pick up the new missionaries from the airport and I know exactly what they are feeling, mostly nervous but excited and they don't know what to expect! I have also spent most of the days this week in meetings with the new missionaries, the Zone Leaders and with President. Every other available minute is spent working in our area, striving to find people to teach and working with the members and teaching them how to be missionaries! My Companion is great and I respect his work ethic. So to tell you a little more about him; he has been out about 18 months and is from Arlington, TX. He doesn't really have the Texas accent like I expected, except he says “y’all” a lot. We have gotten along great and I know we were inspired to serve with each other! I have a strong testimony of Praying for Specific blessings and I have been able to see my prayers answered this week in many ways! I have been Praying this week for the Spirit of Commitment to be in my life, That I myself as a missionary can remember my Commitments with my Father in Heaven but also to Commit EVERYONE to come closer to His Son Jesus Christ. I have been able to do this by talking with everyone and to always commit people to read, pray, take the missionary lessons or even as simple as to ask them if they will check out the church website! I have been able to see success as I have prayed for this Spirit of Commitment! I want you all to know that I love you and am so grateful for the Love you show me. Grandma and Grandpa Woods, I want you to know how happy I am that you have been investigating the Church and I wish I had the perfect words to describe how I feel and to help you even more along this process.But I want you to know I have been praying every single day that you wouldnt lose this desire but that you would feel the spirit work in your lives and you would recognize the blessings of Praying, Reading the Scriptures and attending church. I have been praying that there would be great Members in Vegas to also help you and answer your questions! I testify that God Lives and does answer every single plea in our prayers!
Elder Russell
Elder Jason Russell
Site Updated by his parents..
Monday, June 22, 2009
Tuesday, May 19, 2009
May 17th
Hey Everyone-
Well I feel like I don’t have much to say since I just talked to you yesterday but things have been going great! I loved being able to speak with everyone, that was a highlight. I hope everyone had a Happy Mothers day. We had a great church service and I learned a lot. In one of our classes, we learned about one of my favorite sections of the Doctrine and Covenants, Section 121. Bro. Bird who taught the class is amazing and always opens my mind and has great insights! I had no idea that D&C 121 was a letter the Prophet Joseph Smith wrote while in Liberty Jail. It was a letter of his prayer to the Lord, than an Answer and then Prophesy. But the thing that I loved was Bro. Birds insight about adversity, he quoted from last conference.
“The very opportunity for us to face adversity and affliction is part of the evidence of their infinite love.”(Elder Eyring). Trials and hardships in our lives allow us to come closer to our Savior and to become more like our Father in heaven! After church I was able to assist with the Reflections of Christ exhibit for four hours! What a spiritual experience it was for me and to witness countless individuals both members of our church and not, feel the same spirit. Everyone has loved it and I was so glad I was able to be a part of it! The work is going good, we have the same potentials but it seems like they aren’t willing to take simple steps. I know that they have been prepared to receive this message of happiness the Gospel brings. We will continue to visit and encourage them and are going to do some service later this week for one of the families! I know we will need to plead and work harder to see the blessings of baptism and find that individual! But I know that this is the Lords work, and that by small and simple means that Lord is able to accomplish His Work and His Glory and that is to bring his children closer to him! I am blessed to be an instrument in his hands and at the same time the Lord is able to refine me! I love you all and hope you have an amazing week!
Elder Russell
Well I feel like I don’t have much to say since I just talked to you yesterday but things have been going great! I loved being able to speak with everyone, that was a highlight. I hope everyone had a Happy Mothers day. We had a great church service and I learned a lot. In one of our classes, we learned about one of my favorite sections of the Doctrine and Covenants, Section 121. Bro. Bird who taught the class is amazing and always opens my mind and has great insights! I had no idea that D&C 121 was a letter the Prophet Joseph Smith wrote while in Liberty Jail. It was a letter of his prayer to the Lord, than an Answer and then Prophesy. But the thing that I loved was Bro. Birds insight about adversity, he quoted from last conference.
“The very opportunity for us to face adversity and affliction is part of the evidence of their infinite love.”(Elder Eyring). Trials and hardships in our lives allow us to come closer to our Savior and to become more like our Father in heaven! After church I was able to assist with the Reflections of Christ exhibit for four hours! What a spiritual experience it was for me and to witness countless individuals both members of our church and not, feel the same spirit. Everyone has loved it and I was so glad I was able to be a part of it! The work is going good, we have the same potentials but it seems like they aren’t willing to take simple steps. I know that they have been prepared to receive this message of happiness the Gospel brings. We will continue to visit and encourage them and are going to do some service later this week for one of the families! I know we will need to plead and work harder to see the blessings of baptism and find that individual! But I know that this is the Lords work, and that by small and simple means that Lord is able to accomplish His Work and His Glory and that is to bring his children closer to him! I am blessed to be an instrument in his hands and at the same time the Lord is able to refine me! I love you all and hope you have an amazing week!
Elder Russell
Wednesday, May 6, 2009
May 5th
Hey Everyone-
We have had a very busy week and I wish I had more time to tell you all of the details. Well transfers are tomorrow and the Lord has been answering my prayers. It’s funny because I used to get so nervous for transfer calls, but now I am always at peace. I am staying another transfer in the Office!! I was so happy to hear that and my companion and I were practically dancing at the news! Ha. This will be his last 6 weeks and then I will have only one more transfer after that! We have seen so much progress in our area and with our finding efforts. We found a Golden Investigator! Her name is Suzanna (Zanna). She just recently got divorced because he husband cheated on her. She has two children ages five and two year olds. She was a professional Ballet Dancer in Maine and has a friend who is LDS that she is really close to. She loved enrichment night and loves the teachings and importance our church emphasizes on Families! She told us “This would be the perfect time for me to become a Mormon, except that my family would be against it!” I am excited to start teaching her and pray that everything goes well! We have another ten year old girl named Chloe who continues to come to church and came to a fireside last night, she keeps telling her brother she wants to become baptized! Also, we continue to work with another 10 year old girl named Madysen. I couldn’t be more grateful to have such wonderful people to teach. I also love the members of our Ward!
I also wanted to share my thoughts on a photo exhibit that has been at our church! The Reflections of Christ exhibit is here and what an amazing blessing it is. The Photographer did such a wonderful portraying the Savior and capturing his ministry. I was able to walk through the Exhibit by myself a few times and the spirit is so strong! Mark Mabry the Photographer came to our ward yesterday and had classes with us. We got to talk with him and he also put on an amazing fireside for the youth! I was able to record all my thoughts about it in my journal. He had a great influence on me!
I am out of time and I got to run but I love you all and am looking forward to talking to you on Mother’s Day! The work is wonderful and I am blessed!
Elder Russell
We have had a very busy week and I wish I had more time to tell you all of the details. Well transfers are tomorrow and the Lord has been answering my prayers. It’s funny because I used to get so nervous for transfer calls, but now I am always at peace. I am staying another transfer in the Office!! I was so happy to hear that and my companion and I were practically dancing at the news! Ha. This will be his last 6 weeks and then I will have only one more transfer after that! We have seen so much progress in our area and with our finding efforts. We found a Golden Investigator! Her name is Suzanna (Zanna). She just recently got divorced because he husband cheated on her. She has two children ages five and two year olds. She was a professional Ballet Dancer in Maine and has a friend who is LDS that she is really close to. She loved enrichment night and loves the teachings and importance our church emphasizes on Families! She told us “This would be the perfect time for me to become a Mormon, except that my family would be against it!” I am excited to start teaching her and pray that everything goes well! We have another ten year old girl named Chloe who continues to come to church and came to a fireside last night, she keeps telling her brother she wants to become baptized! Also, we continue to work with another 10 year old girl named Madysen. I couldn’t be more grateful to have such wonderful people to teach. I also love the members of our Ward!
I also wanted to share my thoughts on a photo exhibit that has been at our church! The Reflections of Christ exhibit is here and what an amazing blessing it is. The Photographer did such a wonderful portraying the Savior and capturing his ministry. I was able to walk through the Exhibit by myself a few times and the spirit is so strong! Mark Mabry the Photographer came to our ward yesterday and had classes with us. We got to talk with him and he also put on an amazing fireside for the youth! I was able to record all my thoughts about it in my journal. He had a great influence on me!
I am out of time and I got to run but I love you all and am looking forward to talking to you on Mother’s Day! The work is wonderful and I am blessed!
Elder Russell
Monday, April 27, 2009
April 27th
Hey Everyone-
It’s been such a busy week; I hope I can remember all of the stuff we did. The weather has been getting better and I am looking forward to seeing the sun a lot more. Tuesday was a beautiful day and we were also able to go to the Temple. What a wonderful place it is and the spirit was so strong, it was hard to believe that was my last time on my mission. We also had interviews this week, President and I discussed the ward and how much I love it. I pray that I’ll be able to stay another transfer with my companion! I have loved serving in the Office, every day is something new. Wednesday my companion and I were able to go to the Everett mission and pick up two of the new Malibu cars. We meet with their office staff and got to say hi to their mission President and Assistants. We had to make two trips since one of us would drive the van while the other drove behind in the new car! We drove past Bothell and I remembered the Edwards used to live around there! Friday we helped move some Elders into an apartment. Like I said there is always something new going on each day but finding those to teach is always our priority. Saturday we spent most of our day doing yard work at our less active/investigators house (Sister Price and her ten yr old daughter). We shoveled and spread 12 yards of dirt and by the end of it, our muscles were giving out! Ha-ha! It’s been amazing to see how the Lord has softened
Sister Price’s heart. She is now ready and committed for us to teach her daughter. We are going to walk around the Temple grounds this week with them! The work has been going forward and I love my mission! The weeks are flying by and it’s been so fun with my Companion! I am out of time because they are about to kick me off! I love you all and pray that all is well with each of you!!
It’s been such a busy week; I hope I can remember all of the stuff we did. The weather has been getting better and I am looking forward to seeing the sun a lot more. Tuesday was a beautiful day and we were also able to go to the Temple. What a wonderful place it is and the spirit was so strong, it was hard to believe that was my last time on my mission. We also had interviews this week, President and I discussed the ward and how much I love it. I pray that I’ll be able to stay another transfer with my companion! I have loved serving in the Office, every day is something new. Wednesday my companion and I were able to go to the Everett mission and pick up two of the new Malibu cars. We meet with their office staff and got to say hi to their mission President and Assistants. We had to make two trips since one of us would drive the van while the other drove behind in the new car! We drove past Bothell and I remembered the Edwards used to live around there! Friday we helped move some Elders into an apartment. Like I said there is always something new going on each day but finding those to teach is always our priority. Saturday we spent most of our day doing yard work at our less active/investigators house (Sister Price and her ten yr old daughter). We shoveled and spread 12 yards of dirt and by the end of it, our muscles were giving out! Ha-ha! It’s been amazing to see how the Lord has softened
Sister Price’s heart. She is now ready and committed for us to teach her daughter. We are going to walk around the Temple grounds this week with them! The work has been going forward and I love my mission! The weeks are flying by and it’s been so fun with my Companion! I am out of time because they are about to kick me off! I love you all and pray that all is well with each of you!!
Friday, April 17, 2009
Easter Email
Hey Everyone-
I hope everyone had a great Easter. Easter was wonderful for me even though I missed family and friends. I have had two weeks to prepare a talk and I had prayed a lot over what I should speak on. I know I was truly inspired. My talk was only five minutes and I was asked to speak on the Atonement! That topic is so beyond me and I am inadequate to even explain it but I did know a little about what the Atonement means to me as a missionary. So I titled my remarks, “The Atonement to a Missionary and the Mission of the Atonement” I shared the story of a young Discouraged missionary who wrote home to his father, His father gave him very simple words, “Forget yourself and go to Work”. The young Missionary (who happened to be the Prophet Gordon B Hinckley) went into his home and covenanted with the Lord that he would try to forget himself. He immediately felt a new light and joy come into him! It was in that exact moment, that precise minute, that the Atonement was able to comfort him and give him hope. The Atonement meant more to him than it had before! Such is the Power of the Atonement and Such is the experience of every missionary! I explained a little more about what the Atonement means to a missionary and then I testified of the Mission of the Atonement and used scriptures to express what Christ went through. So that was my talk this Easter Sunday! We were able to go to two dinners in which both families had brought “Investigators”. It went well and I am so happy to see the members starting to reach out to their friends. One lady is from China and after we showed the “Finding Faith in Christ” DVD, she wanted one and we’re hoping to start teaching her soon! Well it really was a great week. I hope that Easter was a good experience for everyone and you were able to “Come Unto Him.”
Most of the week was Zone Conferences. So we got to travel to all of the various locations with Elder Wilson and inspect all of the cars and show a power point presentation on “Driving Distractions.” We put some funny video clips in the presentation about being “distracted” and then it got serious when we showed them a lot of severe accidents of missionaries. Elder Wilson is always putting his personality in his presentation and bought an antique sword and told everyone it was the sword of Laban! He compared the Sword to the use of a car and how they both can be deadly. We of course got to be feed very well this past week
I love you all so much and thanks for the support and prayers!
Elder Jason Russell
I hope everyone had a great Easter. Easter was wonderful for me even though I missed family and friends. I have had two weeks to prepare a talk and I had prayed a lot over what I should speak on. I know I was truly inspired. My talk was only five minutes and I was asked to speak on the Atonement! That topic is so beyond me and I am inadequate to even explain it but I did know a little about what the Atonement means to me as a missionary. So I titled my remarks, “The Atonement to a Missionary and the Mission of the Atonement” I shared the story of a young Discouraged missionary who wrote home to his father, His father gave him very simple words, “Forget yourself and go to Work”. The young Missionary (who happened to be the Prophet Gordon B Hinckley) went into his home and covenanted with the Lord that he would try to forget himself. He immediately felt a new light and joy come into him! It was in that exact moment, that precise minute, that the Atonement was able to comfort him and give him hope. The Atonement meant more to him than it had before! Such is the Power of the Atonement and Such is the experience of every missionary! I explained a little more about what the Atonement means to a missionary and then I testified of the Mission of the Atonement and used scriptures to express what Christ went through. So that was my talk this Easter Sunday! We were able to go to two dinners in which both families had brought “Investigators”. It went well and I am so happy to see the members starting to reach out to their friends. One lady is from China and after we showed the “Finding Faith in Christ” DVD, she wanted one and we’re hoping to start teaching her soon! Well it really was a great week. I hope that Easter was a good experience for everyone and you were able to “Come Unto Him.”
Most of the week was Zone Conferences. So we got to travel to all of the various locations with Elder Wilson and inspect all of the cars and show a power point presentation on “Driving Distractions.” We put some funny video clips in the presentation about being “distracted” and then it got serious when we showed them a lot of severe accidents of missionaries. Elder Wilson is always putting his personality in his presentation and bought an antique sword and told everyone it was the sword of Laban! He compared the Sword to the use of a car and how they both can be deadly. We of course got to be feed very well this past week
I love you all so much and thanks for the support and prayers!
Elder Jason Russell
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