November 18

Hey Everyone-
Wow it has been a very busy week. We have been able to teach a lot of lessons which is something I love to do. It has been nice since Melissa doesn’t have a job and so she is free anytime! We met with her on Tuesday and taught her the Gospel of Jesus Christ (Faith, Repentance) I used Enos 1 to teach her about faith and Alma 36 to teach her about repentance. It went very well and she is doing ALL that we ask and more. She is reading at least 3 chapters in the Book of Mormon every day.
On Wednesday we all got a call from the North Bend missionaries (my past companion) and they said that the city of Snoqualmie was flooding! So the entire Zone went down there and packed sand bags for a couple of hours. It was so crazy to see a lot of homes and parking lots under water! I guess this happens every year. Later on that evening we had another scripture study with the Cahill family.
Thursday morning we did some more service for an older gentleman from Germany, he was decked out in the old school German attire and everything. We cleaned up his horse stables and did a lot of little chores. It was fun and he bought us some pizza; which was amazing since we don’t get pizza very often. That night we had another lesson with Melissa, this time we finished teaching the Gospel of Jesus Christ and then I focused a lot of the time on helping her recognize the spirit. I have become very focused on how I can get her that Spiritual Testimony! It is amazing how the Lord works and answers prayers. The night before I couldn’t sleep at all and kept thinking of how I can get Melissa to feel the spirit and recognize it!! So a simple thought came to me and told me to read the Conference Ensign. As I was looking at the subjects, Testimony and Page 13 stood out. As I read that talk, I felt the Spirit very strongly and I knew it would be perfect for her! That’s how the Lord works; it’s usually the still small voice that leads and directs this work.
Friday was great! I was able to go to North Bend on exchanges; apparently IngaLisa didn’t want to take the new member lessons from the new missionary’s ha-ha. I thought it was hilarious. So they got me to come along to teach her! Before I went to teach Ingalisa I wanted to do something special for her, so I bought a beautiful picture of Christ and a little girl (it actually looked like her). Then I bought a cheap frame from Target and wrote my testimony on the back!! She loved it! I felt so blessed to be able to have seen her again and to talk with her and her Mother!
Saturday we had Melissa come to a Baptism so that she could feel the spirit that is always present at baptism and witness how it’s done! It was wonderful for her. After we helped her sister and brother in-law move! Now they have moved into another Stake but they are planning on attending the Tiger Mtn ward until the New Year! So we will be able to continue teaching Melissa and she will be baptized in Tiger Mtn!!
Sunday was great in both wards, we also found out that morning that my companion is getting transferred. So Sunday night and Monday he spent some time saying his goodbyes. Yesterday wasn’t P-day; they have switched our P-day to Tuesday which is also transfer day! I also got a call from President Moffat and he has asked me to be a Trainer! Of course I accepted. I feel a lot of responsibility in this calling and know that how I train my new companion will have a significant effect on what kind of missionary he will be!! I want to be a great trainer for my new companion. It is also wonderful to know the Lord will always be there!! Well thank you so much Mom and Dad for that package!! I was very excited to receive it and thank you everyone else for your letters this week!! They mean a lot to me!! I am actually very organized with all the letters I receive. I put them in a plastic sleeve in a huge binder!! Again I am so grateful for the wonderful week and I always feel blessed!! I hope all is well with everyone!!! Be Strong and Keep the faith!!!
Elder Jason Russell