November 10

Hey Everyone-
What a fantastic week and I felt like I have been richly blessed. Monday was a lot of fun, we all got together and just chilled at our apartment, I feel like our zone is very united. My companion and a couple of the other Elders went on a hike up to Tiger Mountain, Elder Schaub and I wanted to try and find a watch place since both of our watches batteries have been out for months! I had a lot of fun with him!
Now the only event that I remembered we did on Tuesday was scripture study with the Cahill family! Again I love to visit that family!! We have been doing a lot of work in the May Valley ward, but I always have a huge desire to focus a lot of my efforts in Tiger Mountain Ward. But it is always hard since we are about 15 miles away from this area and we have a restriction on miles! We continue to visit the members and help them become excited about Missionary work and also to show them that they can trust us!
Thursday was interviews with President Moffat, I know that he is such an inspired man and since we met the previous week he didn’t spend as much time with me, but I got the feeling from our brief meeting that I am going to spend another transfer here and continue to work with the members! Now at first I will admit that I wasn’t too happy knowing that I would stay in this area, but I have always had the mind frame that I’ll accept whatever the Lord decides. Even though I do not ask for trials, I have a firm belief that when we are stretched and challenged, that this is when we are the most humble and where the most growth takes place in all aspects of our lives, whether the growth is Spiritually, Emotionally and our overall Character.
Saturday I went on exchanges with Elder Ross, who came out with me. We had a great day and I was able to meet some wonderful people and members! We spent the day in Snoqualmie, which was so much fun since this was the area that bordered my last!!
Sunday was such an amazing day and I will continue to thank my Father in Heaven for the blessings that he lovingly bestows upon us! In May Valleys Sacrament Meeting they did their primary program and following that I had the chance to teach the gospel essentials class, which went very well! Than we headed off to the Tiger Mountain Ward. We had PEC with the Bishop, and the entire time I could sense and feel the desire that Bishop Gordon has to do missionary work, and because of that I had a great motivation to bring success in Tiger Mountain!( 8 years since a convert baptism!) I have found tracting in this area to be very difficult, no one is usually home and when they answer the door they are always too busy to talk to us. They are generally a very rich community and don’t see a need for God in their lives. So with that in mind I know we needed a miracle in this ward and it happened!!! There is a young Family in the ward, The Jacksons, now brother Jackson has always be en a member and he actually baptized his wife on his mission to AZ. Now his wife has a sister, Melissa (age 19), who has been living with her for a couple of months! She has had a rough past with Drugs etc...but came to church last week( I thought she was a member). But this week after sacrament, Bishop was inspired to pull her aside and talk with her! She explained to him that she wanted to change her life and loves coming to church and feels at home! The Bishop found us and introduced us to her! We made small talk with her and set up an appointment with her for that night at 7! Now the lesson in itself will take a long time to explain, but it went very well and we had to depend entirely upon the spirit! The lesson was very spiritual and was very emotional for her and her sister! When the spirit was right, we asked her to be baptized on November 30 which she gladly accepted! I was so thrilled and I know the work that lies ahead and the possible challenges but I am excited to see the gospel change Melissa’s life!! We have another appointment on Tuesday!!! Well I am about out of time but I feel so blessed and want to share how much I love my family and friends. Have a great week and hope all is well.
Elder Jason Russell