Zone Conference

This week we had our zone conference with President. He taught us a lot about the Book of Mormon and that we need to read it daily. We analyzed the talk from President Monson in April about the Book of Mormon and the promises he gave us if we read it daily. Then we saw the talks from President Eyring and Nelson who both followed the challenge from President Monson and studied the Book of Mormon more carefully and how it has changed their lives.

There are four promises given to us if we read it daily. One, we'll hear the voice of the spirit more easily. Two, we'll resist temptation. Three, overcome doubt and fear. And four, we'll receive help from heaven in our personal lives. I focused my studies much more on the Book of Mormon this week and I can testify that these promises are true. We should all study it carefully, because it's honestly super cool!

Other than that, we went to the tianguis this week to help out with a project involving about 10 missionaries. You'll have to look up what a tianguis is, it's like a flee market I think (open air street market.) But we had a stand there with Books of Mormon, pamphlets, cards, and a tv playing church videos. Then the rest of us would go out and contact people directing them to the stand. It was the first time ever done, and in the end, there were about 30 people who signed up for English classes. We'll probably do it again next week and improve a few things for even better results, but that was pretty awesome. We each contacted between 50 and 100 people in a matter of hours.

Love,

Elder Russon

Never Give Up

I think sometimes the hardest thing in life is enduring to the end, whatever it may be. But as the scriptures say, we must have faith in God, that He will provide us a way to obey His commandments, which are many to protect us. I love the scripture in D&C 6:36 that says the words, Doubt not, Fear not. God always knows our needs and how to help us, so we can only trust and rely on Him, and Never, Never give up!

This week went well, we finished the last two divisions with the missionaries in the zone, and they're some great missionaries. We're still working hard with the members, getting to know them and serve them so we can work better with the Ward. Little by little we can see little miracles working in our área.

Right now we're focused on one investigator, Fabiola who came to church for her second time yesterday, and looks like she's starting to progress, which is awesome. We have a few more on the radar, but more than anything need to continue finding new investigators.

I love being a part of the missionary work, and worry when I think about not being in it full time. There truly are so many blessings for doing it, so much happiness, and there aren't any personal worries, it's fantastic. Honestly, Vale la Pena! (worth it)

Love,

Elder Russon

Object Lesson - Serving Others

Being a Missionary

Last Monday night, we had the lesson with Angel, the reference from the member. We arrived and he seemed happy to be with us but nervous or unsteady. So we taught about repentance and the atonement. How it all comes to be part of God's Plan and the process of things. It really helped him. The spirit was strong and I started thinking on my own life. I was filled with happiness and joy to be able to be a full time missionary. To be able to bring happiness to my own brothers and sisters.

I also thought of my own past sins and mistakes I've made. But I see the huge change in my life because of the atonement of Jesus Christ. There is nothing better in life to be able to preach repentance with God's love, so people can change their lives and become so much happier.

As I pondered about it, I worried that I don't have much more time to be able to do this, to preach repentance and baptize converts. I know 5 months is a lot of time, but for misión standards, it's almost nothing. But what really matters in life is that we serve others. They talked about that a lot in General Conference, Service. It's what really makes us happy. I know this is true, and that the purpose of life is for us to be happy so we can return to live with God Forever.

Love, 

Elder Russon

I ate Octopus!

We had Stake Conference this week which was nice, both Saturday night and Sunday morning. And of course after the first sesión, the family that gave us a ride to the chapel invited us to eat. And we arrived and I sat down to a soup bowl of camarones. Which had a clam, octopus legs, shrimp, other things and vegetables. So I ate the vegetables and the octopus and it doesn't taste bad, it's just the thought is weird.

We did divisions with Villas and Valle 2 this week. I went with Elder Gabriel to his área and we walked all over trying to find future investigators, but not much luck. So we contacted. We broke my record of contacts in one day from 101 and we did 136 that day. He's new in the misión and he's doing great. The new guys always have a bunch of motivation and hope!

We've been trying to work better with the members. We're offering service to be able to ask for references to visit. We want to find part member families to be able to baptize. We had a cool thing happen yesterday. A member called me and said his friend was listening to the missionaries before but he lost contact when he moved. So we set up an appointment with him for tonight. He sounds like a good guy and we hope to baptize him! God always brings the miracles right in the perfect momento!

Brothers and Sisters, the Church is true, it is of Jesus Christ!

Love,

Elder Russon

 

General Conference

We worked hard this week and found some great new investigators, 2 of which were going to be baptized a long while ago, and hopefully it's their time now. Elder Morales and I are working hard.

General Conference was super great. We were in the chapel the whole day, sesión to sesión. But we still managed to leave and contact 17 people on the street. I especially loved the talks from Elder Eyring and Uchtdorf. When they spoke about supporting our local church leaders, even when they don't appear to be the most educated or experienced ones in the Ward. But they are called by God, and they receive revelation to serve. Also that God is our loving Heavenly Father, and He knows us personally, He knows our needs.

Both Manuel and Madeck are doing great. Monday night when we went to visit Manuel, he came walking out with a big smile on his face. You can just see a big difference in him, he's real happy. There's nothing better on the misión than to see your own convert receiving and enjoying the blessings of the góspel in his life. It makes everything worth it, Superb!

Love,

Elder Russon

Time for haircuts!

Package from home - yum!