4 MoNtHs!!!...Woot, woot, woot! Haha FOUR MONTHS!!!

Wow, what a week! Last Saturday I completed four months. Can't explain enough how fast the time flies. Tuesday, we met our new district and zone. I love my new zone and district leader. Both Americans as last time, but I like them better than the others, haha. We have a nice district this change. 

On Saturday, Silva and I helped paint a members new house they moved into. We painted in our white shirts and ties, and I was super careful not to get any paint on me, but I got a few spots, not to worry though!

This past week, I've been realizing more the need to first seek the word of God, and then teach it unto the people. I wished I would've studied the doctrine of the gospel more before the mission. All the doctrine, fasting, tithing, praying, church, etc, etc, etc. But I'm learning a lot more as the time goes; lessons, language, doctrine, etc. 

One thing that were struggling with a lot is our investigators and their work. They want to attend church, but they all work, all the days, several hours. It's so hard to visit some people because of their work and they can't attend church, which is really important because in order for someone to be baptized, they need to have 5 assistance's to the church. 

Also, I really love attending church. Its great to be surrounded by solely members, and to chat with them, super cool. Church is awesome! 

My study area

A scripture I want to share with y'all is chapter 3 of 2 Nephi. Talks about the coming forth of the Book of Mormon, through Joseph Smith. How it truly was revelation about the BOM. God has His hand in everything, and the Gospel is True! But, also, we won't see or feel anything unless we put actual faith in the gospel. If we have any doubts, were not going to receive any answers. 

I believe it's the on going question if the church is true or not, but just look back on the times you felt the spirit in your life. We CAN NOT DENY the Holy Ghost, or the feelings we've felt from the church, it's impossible. Satan is super clever and is very deceptive, tries to wash away our memories. But we know its true, and faith is something hard to have, but very necessary in order to know the truth. But if anything, I TESTIFY TO YOU ALL THAT THE CHURCH IS TRUE! I KNOW IT.

This new week, were planning on another baptism for this Thursday, my third baptism! Woo Hoo!

So these legit fotos that I have, let me explain, 'cuz I never usually explain them, haha. One is when I FINALLY solved my rubix cube (just this morning,) such an accomplishment, I felt great. Another is a cool table top pool table I bought today in Tiangis for 25 pesos, pretty cheap (he bartered for it - end value about $1.35) The others are me and my comp with some sweet hats. Silva says I look like a Jehovah's witness, but were allowed to wear them while we proselyte because of the sun, it helps. So far I've worn it two days!

Anyways, have a great week y'all, enjoy all the blessings and trials that you receive from the Lord, because that's the whole purpose of why were here on earth, and we forget that sometimes.

Love,

Elder Russon

Wearing a Member's Fedora

Barter time! Got it for 25 Pesos (about $1.35)

Our new hats!

2 more photos!

Picture of us helping a member paint, and a collage my stake president made for me, pretty cool!

Love,

Elder Russon

August 1, 2016

 

This past week has been good. Ya know, Mondays really roll around a lot faster than I expect, isn't it great! First off, I want to share two videos I saw this past week! The first is called Lift - about a ward who serves a fellow ward member and the struggles, its SUPER GOOD! The second is about SUICIDE, a different perspective and thoughts. Also, REALLY GOOD! Enjoy both of them, they're both from the church!

https://www.mormonchannel.org/watch/series/mormon-messages/lift-the-power-of-service

https://www.mormonchannel.org/watch/series/mormon-messages/sitting-on-the-bench-thoughts-on-suicide-prevention

Also, something very important this past week is...another Baptism! Woo-hoo, this is my second! And that's great for how little time I have. I know another Elder who has 14 months, and only has 5 baptisms, but that's pretty low. The average here is probably about 18 per Elder for 2 years. Anyways, his name is Moises, 9 years old, and a funny, typical 9 year old. I confirmed the Holy Ghost to him yesterday in church.  (Pictures of Moises are in previous post)

Also, yesterday in church, I met a guy that is studying in BYU right now, hes just visiting his family here. I was able to chat with him in English for a while and take a picture with him, hes super cool. 

I have a question for y'all. As missionaries, we walk, and walk, and walk, and walk, and walk, and walk. So, do any of you know any great walking games to do? Whether with one person or my comp as well? Sometimes its rather boring to walk, haha, but I sure appreciate cars A LOT! Haha

Like my new hat?!? We can wear these to help with the heat while we're walking.

Today, I finally finished my training! Its 12 weeks of training in the mission, but I actually only had 11, because of weird timing of changes here. Anyways, I'm done, woohoo! Also, as the title says, changes are today. But my comp and I are staying here in Cortazar for another 6 weeks, it'll be good. Were actually hoping for 3 more baptisms! WooHoo!

Things are going well, the time is going fast, and I continue to learn a lot. This Saturday Ill have 4 months on the mission!!! WOOOOO-HOOOOOO! haha! Have a great upcoming week, until next Monday!

 

Love,

 

Elder Russon 

 

Fwd: ¡[Samsung Smart Camera] le ha enviado archivos!

Pics from the baptism!

Love,

Elder Russon

You know... Missionaries Try to think of Great Titles for their weekly letters, and so do I, so here goes this one...HAHA!

July 25, 2016
 

Pioneer Day Goodies from home!

This was another good and fast week. I almost have four months, woohoo! Twice this week, I battled cockroaches in the shower. The first time I grabbed my towel, and one fell out of my towel on the ground and ran under the door, needless to say, wow, really eehhhhh!!! The other was already on the ground running when I walked in, and I took care of it with a broom, and then dropped him off the third floor of our house, ha-ha! There pretty big actually, close to 2 inches, and their fast.

Anywho, I read from Moroni this past week, and wanted to share two verses with y'all!

Moroni 7:8-9

8 "For behold, if a man being evil giveth a gift, he doeth it grudgingly; wherefore it is counted unto him the same as if he had retained the gift; wherefore he is counted evil before God.

 9 "And likewise also is it counted evil unto a man, if he shall pray and not with real intent of heart; yea, and it profiteth him nothing, for God receiveth none such."

Just a simple thought, that wow, its worse to give a gift with a grudge, than to give nothing. Always give gifts, with full heart intention to benefit someone else. Always give your best effort to help someone else. the rest of this chapter is also really good, and I challenge each one of you to read it!

Last Friday, Elder Silva had his other wisdom tooth taken out, and it really hurt. So we were home all day Friday, most of Saturday, and some Sunday as well. He slept a lot, and I studied, and organized things, it was great! This morning he feels better, hopefully all is well! 

I'm slowly starting to enjoy all from the mission. It's hard, especially the beginning, because everything is so different, and all you can think is yo'ull be doing that for two entire years! But right now, I only have 85 weeks left, and that really isn't a whole lot, but who's counting, right?! ha-ha.

Something I enjoy a lot as a missionary is going to church, what a privilege! I love visiting with all the members, they're fun and cool people. We always teach the gospel principles class, and this time we taught about the spirit world, and as I taught, I learned more, it was great. It's cool how people are called to teach or give talks on certain topics because they are the ones who really learn the most. The Lord works in mysterious ways!

Not much cool, different, or super overwhelmingly exciting happened this week, but it was nice. I really enjoyed my extra extra study time. Hope y'all have a fantastic week to come, and until next Monday!

PS - Happy Pioneer Day!

 

 

First Transfers...WOW!
June 20,  2016

This past week has been fun. Friday, I played 4 games of Basketball against an investigator and won all of them, he's pretty good though. It was super fun. Also, I really like taking buses, for now. It costs 8.50 pesos for a bus ride, pretty cool. On Sunday, our Elders quorum president mentioned that we are all converts to the church, because we all have to gain a testimony of it. We're not just born automatically with a testimony, I though that was pretty cool, think about it.

Time to say goodbye!

The main news is transfers. Last night, I found out I'm going to Cortazar, Celaya, with a new companion named Elder Silva. I did not want to leave the house. Where I lived was with another American and four other Elders. But now, I only live with my companion, and we're far from others. So last night I packed and washed all my clothes, because no more washing machine or dryer, it's by hand now, haha! I didn't get much sleep, but in the morning I got up and finished all packing. Then I took an hour long bus ride with two other Elders to meet my new companion. We arrived, and met a bunch of Elders waiting for us. Then Elder Silva and I took another bus ride to our area. We talked a lot, he's from Peru and has 7 months on the mission. He's obedient and hard working, he's pretty cool, but so far, I'm really missing the socialness of the others being around too. It's just me and him, but estabien. After a while, he told me a couple times that my Spanish is really good, that I've learned a lot. Him and my old companions have all told me I'm learning really fast, which is great. But to be honest, I don't think I've put forth a ton of effort to learn, the Lord has helped. So we arrived to our new house, it's huge for just us, and its not terrible. We have a little porch to look outside. 

So my birthday is next week, I'm wondering whats going to happen, my new companion showed me a video of him on his birthday and he got his face smashed in some cake, haha.

Also, A BIG HAPPY FATHERS DAY OUT THERE YESTERDAY, Y'ALL ARE SPECIAL! Especially you Dad (Randy)! 

Have a great week everyone! Love you all!

 

 

 

 

Feliz 4 de Julio!!!
July 4,2016

What a week! It was my Birthday on Thursday, it was a great day! My companion bought me a gift box, a present (an Indian whistle thing from Ecuador), and wrote me an awesome letter! We bought ice cream, had cake with members, played futbol in the night, etc. It was a really great day! 

This past week we also met our new mission president from Utah. He met us on his second full day here, I just felt the spirit so strong with him and his wife. I was so happy to meet them, hes a really great guy, and he speaks English! I'm super excited to serve with him for 21 more months!

A couple days ago, we taught an investigator in her store. Its hard for her to keep commitments, but this time, I shared two scriptures with her. As I read them, the spirit started flooding me, and my eyes started tearing up. Then  I testified to her that she can receive an answer if the gospel is true or not. If she has real intent, enough faith, only believes, and waits for God to answer her on His time for the perfect time! By then, I shed a few tears, it was hard to speak, but it was amazing, the spirit was so strong!

Also, I thought more this week why people need to be worthy to be baptized. I realized that if they didnt repent beforehand, if they only got baptized without repenting first, it would be very likely they would continue in their old ways and sin again. Repentance is a change of heart, and its amazing!

Saturday and Sunday were pretty challenging with my companion, he doesn't have a lot of patience, and we struggled. But Sunday night, we talked a lot and now were alright. Its so hard sometimes to be out here only with my companion, its lonely sometimes. You learn to really rely on the Lord, because He is always there!

 

 

 In two days I will have 3 months on the mission, 1/8 done! Time flies, its hard to think of the time I have left, but I can do it! Hope you all have a great week!