And So It Goes...Another Week!

Whats up? ¿Que Tal?

The time is moving pretty fast, but that doesn't mean I don't live every moment, if that makes sense. It feels like yesterday que yo llegue aqui en el campo de misional (I came here in the mission field.) Transfers are next week, and we get a new mission president. Things are probably going to be super different, but I'm glad the change is happening early in my mission, where I'm not super used to the ways of the old President. 

Anyways, this was a good week. I'm learning to appreciate trials more. I feel like every day, the Lord gives me a unique trial for me to learn from. Its definitely stretching, but I'm grateful for the lessons Ive learned, and the trials I'm going through. Especially because of the language, the country, companions, everything is different here. But its a fantastic experience. Through the powerful power of prayer, we can do anything. I know God is with me, and because of that, I can get through any challenge. No matter our struggles, if we ask God with real intent, having faith in Him, He Will Help Us.

Some interesting things, yesterday, I ate fried pig skin for dinner, super gross. I didn't know what it was before hand, but I knew it was gross. Then after, I asked my companion, and he told me. I'm glad I didn't know before, it was also pretty spicy. The members here always feed us a ton of food, they're super nice and humble. Also, as obvious as it is, my comps tell me I have a baby face, haha. But that's alright, because 50 years from now, I'll still be lookin' great! haha. 

So this morning I asked my comp how he honestly thinks my Spanish is. He said its a lot better, and I'm learning muy rapido! So that's great. Every day, I understand just a little bit more, and I'm starting to speak faster! Also, our mission has a thing called Q News, which is like a weekly bulletin for the entire mission. And I just found out my comp and I made the cover page! Super sweet! Rather rare, hahaha! 

What can I say, the mission is great - not fun all the time, it's the hard times that make the mission great! And that is why everyone treasures their mission for the rest of their lives! Missionary work is the best work upon the earth, and members can do it too, hint, hint, haha! Hope y'all have another fantastic week! Enjoy life especially the people around you!

 

 

Two Months, Time is Flying!

Painting the hermanas new apartment for them.

So yesterday, I hit two months on the mission, pretty sweet. I'm really growing, lots of experiences already, and lots more to learn. Each day I can learn something new, and I know we learn from trials. We have to suffer first before we can grow. Also, every day I can understand a little bit more Spanish. I'm starting to understand more and I can speak faster and better, its slow sometimes, but it's coming. The main problem I have is the language. It is so hard to go day after day not understanding everything, and especially for me, not knowing what in the world we are doing or going. I wish my trainer would tell me more, but estabien. Things are going pretty good, the mission is sweet. But that doesn't mean without hard times. Its the rough times that truly make the mission legit! 
 

The weather here is alright, its like a typical summer. June is most rainy. Its been usually sunny til 5 and then cloudy and rains through out the night for last week, but not so much right now. its probably 80 or 90 here, I sweat, but estabien.

So, I've noticed there is a good amount of signs, products, and what not in English, and English music, kind-a-cool! Also, you can tell how long a missionary has been out by how sun-beaten their name tags are, and how worn their shoes are, haha. 

This past week has been good. Right now I'm in another trio for the rest of the transfer, two weeks left. The new guy is Elder Arroyo, from Guatemala, he's a stud, and he knows a good amount of English, and wants to learn more, we help each other. Pretty much every Latino here wants to learn English. 

Something I thought about this week was, if people don't know where they came from, and they don't know where they're going, how can they succeed? Something to ponder about.

 
Also, if you guys have any opportunities to work with the missionaries, do it! Find the ward or stake missionaries, and let them know your available to help teach. Through members is where we find the actual converts, that goes for anywhere. That's my challenge!

Right now, we have about 15 investigators, mas or menos (more or less.) One family were teaching is the family Gallegos. Super awesome family with 2 sons. They are wonderful, I teared testifying to them twice, and they came to church. They always offer us food and water each time, this is where i got my love for mangos, or found it more so

 

Well, things are going well. Oh, also, on Saturday, a member offered us cooked grasshoppers, and that was one thing I will not eat, everyone else did, ehhhh.  Have a great week, and if y'all have any questions for me, I'd love to answer them, haha! 

 

 

 

Big pack of letters from home!!! Best thing ever to get.

Life is Great!

You know, when you stop and say, 'Life is Great,' no matter what situation you're in, you immediately feel super pumped and happy. Pretty much every day, walking with my latino compañero, I start saying, Man, Life is Sweet! Viva la Vida! Hoy es un bonito día! Ha ha. He says I have a lot of energy. But in all seriousness, if you're having a bad day, just stop and say 'Life is Amazing' with sincere enthusiasm, and you'll feel great. (God loves you, He wants you back, Pray about it, ha ha - a very simple form of the gospel).

Anyway, this week has been good. As y'all probably know, there's a lot to learn on the mission. This past week I struggled a bit with the language, but I knew it was gonna be hard, so estabien. I also want to work harder with my companion. His name is Elder Juarez, he's Latino, and from Chiapas en Mexico. He's been out for 16 months. He teaches really well, but we could work harder to give our absolute all to the Lord and those we serve. In my jumbo casa, there are four of us that permanently live here. The other two are Elder Burbidge, from American Fork, really cool, he's the financial secretary. The other is Elder Villareal, from Mexico, knows no ingles whatsoever. He's funny, unique, and he's also a secretary for the mission. But sometimes we have other Elders that are leaving or arriving to other places in the mission, so were basically home base for them.

Today is P-day obviously, and we always go the Canchas and play soccer and basketball. Mission president always comes and plays aggressively (he gets way into it) its cool. I actually played horse with just him in b-ball and won him, haha. Its gonna be very sad and different when he leaves for the next change of the new mission president. We also walked around the Centro of Queretaro and checked some places out. This past week I went on splits or divisiones with other Elders, that was nice. We taught some more lessons this past week. On the mission, its always important to be obedient, and to give your ALL - heart, might, mind, and strength- its amazing. 

So I've seen a lot of Elders with Rubiks cubes and deacons collars, haha funny. Lately Ive been reading el Libro de Mormon in Spanish a lot. And I can get a pretty good idea of what I'm reading. The Spanish is coming, little by little, day by day. Sometimes I'd like to know what Latinos would feel like if they served an English mission, haha. I understand more from White people speaking Spanish than Latinos with a severe heavy thick accent, haha. But with time, Ill get it, I'm understanding more every day.

So in our mission, we baptize about 15 every week right now. But for June, our mission goal is 100 for the whole month, I hope we can do it. So far, I've seen four baptisms, so that's cool. Its really quick, a few spiritual thoughts, songs, the baptism, and congratulations, and meetings here are hardly ever on time. 

So in a normal day of life right now for me: I wake up, exercise (sometimes go run up the street about 3 fourths of a mile to play B-bal!, shower, eat breakfast, and start personal study, which I love. Then Comp study for 2 hours, and then language study for one hour. Then by 12 we leave, teach or contact people, have lunch with a member about 2:30 or 3. Then we go teach and proselyte more until 9 and we return to the casa. I eat something, write in my journal, hang out, and go to bed before 10:30 most of the time. The 8 hours is the fastest 8 hours of sleep ever, feels like 10 minutes.

So I was thinking, Eternal life is Super Awesome. How incredible of a fact that we can live with our families (which brings the most happiness) and God FoReVeR in complete happiness! Super amazing, my mind can't even wrap around that.

Also, the people down here are like direct descendants of Lehi, and its common for them to have dreams about the gospel, which is really cool. 

Also, if any of you ever want to write me a physical letter, it only needs one American Stamp, send it to this address (always to the mission office for my entire mission):

Avenida Pie de la Cuestra No. 102

Esq. Boulevard Desarrollo San Pablo
Colonia Colinas de San Pablo
C.P. 76125 Querétaro, Queretaro
Mexico

Sometimes it takes like a month for the mail to come, but estabien. 

I KNOW THE CHURCH AND ALL OF ITS TEACHINGS ARE TRUE. Things are great right now, and I'm excited for another great week, and hope y'all have a wonderful week!

From,

Elder Russon

May 30, 2016