Feb 16, 2009

Hey Everyone-
Well I have had a wonderful week and have the advantage of writing you today even though its Presidents day and all the other missionaries have to wait until tomorrow! I have loved being in the office. We work with two senior couples. The Elders have been serving in this mission for the past seven years. Sister Elder bakes us bread every week and I am eating a fresh slice right now! Then there are the Wilsons, they just got here about two weeks ago and we are helping them get adjusted to all the work and in some cases teaching them to use a computer. I have loved getting to know these amazing couples. They are both hilarious and we have so much fun with them! I know you are all wondering what exactly we do in the Office so I will try and explain some of the things we did last week! We had made a couple of trips around the mission delivering mattresses and bikes etc…We usually work in the office in the morning hours and help with a variety of tasks. Calling missionaries about referrals, calling Zone leaders to update their rosters, and we even put a bike together. We really don’t get much of a break during the day and then at night we go out tracting! Saturday was the first “normal” day as a missionary. We had a great time and had so much success; we found three investigators and one solid potential! I am so excited to be here in the office and love everyone I am serving with! Well I know my family has been wondering about my companion and I have to say I am so blessed to have such an amazing companion to serve with. He is very compassionate towards others but very soft spoken. He has a great personality and we have so much fun. He is always doing nice things for me like buying my food, making breakfast, etc. I find that as he is charitable towards me, I in-return am always looking for ways to serve him. He had a bad headache last night so I ironed his shirts! It is an amazing companionship! We both feel like we aren’t “Office Elder” material, since in the past they used to be the “nerdy” type but we will do our best. Elder Hansen is very athletic and has a great family. His Dad is a Bishop in Indiana and he has four other brothers and sisters!
I love you all so much!! Thanks for all the support and love!! Hope you had a great week
Elder Russell

Feb 9th

ey Everyone-
Well it has been a crazy week and I don’t have too much time to email before Transfer meeting. I might be able to get back on when I am in my new area! So yes, I am getting transferred! It has been hard saying goodbye to everyone and I am going to miss my Companion! I hate packing and I really don’t like being out of my comfort zone. So a new companion and area is always nerve racking! But I actually have felt very peaceful concerning the news! I know that it’s the Lords will. I just pray that I will be blessed with a great companion! I will always love any ward that I serve in! We have had a very busy day today. Members took us to breakfast and lunch and between that I have had to pack! I seem to always gather more stuff every transfer! Last night was great; we said goodbye to all of the families in the ward that have influenced me. We stopped by Bro Tibbits, our Ward mission leader, and then had dinner with Bishop Gordon and his family. We had another “dinner” with the Cahill’s; I will miss them a lot and our weekly scripture studies. We said bye to Bro. Jarman, our high counselor and his family! The final person was Cash. I hope to stay in contact with all of them! I want to thank everyone for all the letters and emails you send! I can’t tell you how happy I get to receive them! I know I am behind in replying but I will catch up! I will hopefully be able to go to the library later on! So I will say goodbye for now!! Love you all.
Elder Russell
Hey Mom and Dad-
Well my new area and assignment came as a huge surprise to me! I am definitely going to need a lot of prayers, because I feel very inadequate. I am now in Bellevue and have been called to be an Office Elder. My new companion is Elder Hansen from Indiana/ Utah. He knows of the Stouts. I am very excited for my new assignment since I will be able to see not only the Assistants on a regular basis but also Pres. Moffat. Well my new address is just the Mission Office address!! I probably will be very busy with everything. I know we have to do a lot tonight and then wake up tomorrow at 4 to send some missionaries off to the airport! Well I have to run!! Tell the family I love them!
Elder Russell

February 1

Hey Everyone-
Well it was a great week. I guess no one knew who Cash was so ill update ya on him first. He was someone we tracted into a couple of weeks ago and he loves us coming over. He is an ex-NFL player for the Cardinals. This week we were able to have dinner at his house; he made some BBQ pork chops with some “collard greens”. He is an amazing cook. Things have been going a little slower than I would like as far as spiritually, but we have developed a great friendship with him and he doesn’t want us to get transferred either. I hope when you all come up that you will get to met him. We were able to meet with the Cahill’s again this week and had a great scripture study. They have been doing so great and my fear is that if we leave that they might lose that motivation! But I will always keep in touch with them. That’s one of the greatest blessings I have enjoyed, having developed a lot of lasting friendships not only with my converts but also with members and investigators. I pray that I will always keep in touch with them because it brings me a lot of joy! So this week we had interviews with President Moffat, I always love his insights and testimony. He shared with us he thoughts on the Prophet Job and related his trying experiences with those of serving a mission. And because of his insights I am now praying not only for the patience of Job but also his other great talents and gifts! Prayer is an amazing thing; God will always answer of prayers and the more meaningful, sincere and specific our pleadings with him the more I feel his presence and spirit. I would encourage all to not only say prayers daily, but to really express the desires of our heart! Anyway I kinda sidetracked a moment there. Back to Interviews, Mine with President went wonderful. He asked me how I was doing and also about my family. We talked about Elder Bogle and his great Faith and endurance. But also about how I can improve his missionary skills! I Expressed I would love to serve another transfer here, but I have no idea what will be decided. I only know that whatever happens that it will be inspired! I don’t have any great success stories this week; I was feeling sick though with a cold for a couple of days. Last night we had a meeting with the Ward Council at a member of the Bishoprics house. We discussed the new Missionary focus that is finally taking place, and I can see the members are excited about it. It deals with a focus of individuals and also being more accountable. (Each quorum and Auxiliary will report to the WML, who reports to the High Councilor who tells the Stake President) While we arrived the Super Bowl was on!! I had totally forgotten about it!! Ha-ha I still don’t have any idea who won, but it’s nice to be focused on the Lords Work! Well I love each of you who read this! I am so grateful for your love and prayers! Until next week-
Be Strong-
Elder Russell