November 3

Hey Everyone-
Well it has been a great week; things have been getting a little better and I have been starting to see some success in the area! Now I don’t have much time to email today because I am about to go on a hike with everyone in the zone.
During the week we were able to teach a couple of lessons, we had our weekly scripture study with the Cahill family and they actually came to church last Sunday!! Which I was very happy about; they are one of my favorite families. We have been teaching Sister Stanley, who is a recent convert of about a year. We decided to teach her all of the lessons again and it’s been going well. It has been a challenge teaching with my companion because he really doesn’t want to teach. He will only testify which makes it hard on me to do all the lessons. Luckily, I have our Ward Mission Leader to help support what I am teaching. I wish I could depend on my companion a little more, but I am working to build his confidence but what makes it hard is that he often refuses to learn! I am grateful that the Lord makes up for it and I can feel his help in every lesson! I really do love teaching! We have been meeting with a part member family; the wife is not a member and has been i nvestigating for 12 years! She loves the church but she is a devote Catholic!
Now on Thursday I got an unexpected phone call from President Moffat and he wanted to meet with me! I had no idea what it was about, but he really just wanted to follow-up with me and see how I am doing. I know he is so inspired because I really have been having a tough time and I know he could somehow sense it! As you know, sometimes I am not the most open person with my feelings haha and so when President asked me how I was doing and I responded, “I am doing good President.” His response back to me was, “No, How are you REALLY doing?” ha. So I expressed the concerns I have had with the area and how it’s been a challenge trying to get the members motivated and developing their trust in the Missionaries! He was actually very mindful of the circumstances and gave me some great advice. He expressed why he had sent me into this area (which I wrote in my journal), and that this is the hardest area in the mission! I appreciated President Moffat and love him for making t
hat effort to see how I was doing!
Friday was Halloween, it wasn’t a very productive day because everyone was so busy, but we did go to the Wards Trunk-or-Treat Party and we were the judges in the Chili cook-off!! We had a lot of fun, but we had to be in Early at 5! When I got home I received a very amazing package from The Edwards!! I can hardly express how much I appreciated that gift. THANKS so much!! I also received letters from Anna that day and two from the Family! Yea I can’t express how much I love my family and friends for their support!! Saturday was a busy day full of lessons and visits and Sunday was normal! I did enjoy PEC in May Valley; it’s usually not my favorite to attend because they don’t appreciate what we are trying to do and they usually take this time to find fault, but I did get a compliment from the WML on my teaching! I am glad that things have been slowly getting better! Well I love all of you very much and thanks so much for all you do for me!! HAPPY BIRTHDAY DAD las
t week, sorry I didn’t get to send a letter! I hope you enjoyed your day a lot!!!! Wow 51!!! I hope everyone has an amazing week.

Elder Jason Russell