Jan. 21 2008

Family,
Hey how are you all doing? It sounds like you have been having a lot of fun with the grandkids there.
This week has gone by really quick I had to do exchanges for Tuesday and Thursday and we had president interviews on Friday so it was kind of hard to focus on our teaching pool at least for me. Guillermo isn't getting baptized until he quits smoking and drinking coffee. He will probably take another month or so. He was a little bummed up but he will make a great member. Daisy is making a lot of progress and she just needs to come to church. She has been trying to quit coffee as well and I told her that we give up elevators if she could give up coffee. I was thinking of you mom and how you give a something that you really want. Elevators are so nice!
Also Aureliano came up this Saturday and had a lesson with Guillermo and us. He has made so much progress and you can really see the light in his eyes. After that he took us to eat and a Spanish restaurant I ate a tortia that was way good.
The ward here is crazy there are so many people to work with. We are trying to start working with the members more and this ward is really good about giving us referrals. We just have to work to get them.
I got the garments and thank you so much for getting them for me. I will keep my eyes out for the package with the shoes in it. Once again thank you so much for all the work that you do for me!
Its sounds like you are all going so worldly now with that 42 inch screen! That will be nice for everyone.
I'm glad to hear that grandma is doing so good that makes me really happy to hear that. She is such a sweet lady.
How are dad’s classes going? Is he going to come out with straight a's? How are all of the new missionaries doing? How is Tony and Preston? I should write them a letter some time. How is Emily Sanders and her new baby doing? I told Ashlyn that I’m going to have to make all new friends when I get back. I guess mom will always be my friend!
Well its cold cold cold here and it looks like it's here to stay for a bit and I’m excited to experience Moab weather! I love you all so much and hope that everything is going amazing!
Love Russ

Jan. 14 2008

Hey!
How is everyone doing? My week went by really quick and we had a really effective week. We have a lot of investigators and have a lot of contacts we have to look up. We ride trains all the time and we have been able to contact a good amount through that.
We had two new cool guys come to church yesterday, both I fearlessly approached on the train and I was so surprised that they came. One came from the Bronx! The other one lives around here. People always tell you that they will come to church and it always surprises you when they do. Guillermo is making a lot of progress he is a very intelligent man. He is very friendly and bold and he has a lot of friends in the church already. He hasn't drunk alcohol since the weekend I got here and he still smokes a little and drinks a little of coffee. He will be baptized the 27th of this month. Also we have a part member family that we are working with and the wife Daisy is quitting coffee and has really opened her self to us and we are trying for the 3rd of February for her baptism. There are so many people to work with here.
Santos called me last night to tell me that he was confirmed and I could tell that he was so happy, he is a very bottled up person and at his baptisms he cried and he is so happy now. Also Aureliano is doing good and he wants to come up here to visit so he will come this Saturday and we are planning to have a lesson with him and Guillermo and then after we are going to get lunch. It was really nice to talk to them both last night and it made me really happy. It’s all worth it when you feel the gratitude that they have for the missionaries.
Thank you so much for getting the garments and shoes/socks sent off. It will be nice to have new socks with out holes in them!
It sounds like everyone is staying really busy down there. That means that you all are up to good things I guess. I’m really happy to hear that grandma is doing better! And nice job ashy on your two wins! Preston as well!
I’m sure dad is staying busy with all the classes he is taking, and I’m jealous about no going to the Klondike in mountain shadows! It should be really fun up there. Is there a lot of snow up there? This last week was way nice and warm, but now its getting cold again! I’m enjoying myself and really trying to work hard! I love you all so much!
Love Russ

Jan. 7 2008

Hey! How is everyone doing?
I’m doing great here in Woodside! I can believe that 2008 is here as well its crazy to think that I have been out for almost fifteen months! Josh told me that he is hitting his 18 mark in a couple days! Crazy!! So I have so amazing news. Santos Ramirez from Jamaica got baptized yesterday! Elder Valdez and I set everything up and Elder Valdez and Elder Johnson (he was in the MTC with me) baptized him! It made me really happy and he has wanted to get baptized for a bit! I’m sure his wife and daughter are really happy with him!
So we are working with a guy named Guillermo Holguin and he has a date for the 27th and he has stopped drinking and is quitting smoking. I told him about the story with Aureliano and he really liked it I’m going to see if one of these days he can come up here and talk with him. The ward here is really missionary oriented and they are so amazing with the investigators that we bring; they all are so welcoming and really help us out with our work.
Also we are working with a couple Martin and Daisy. Martin is a less active member and Daisy is investigating the church. Elder War and I had a really powerful lesson with her last week and it was amazing to feel the spirit. We committed her to read and then pray and she did! The next day I called her and asked her how it went and she said she felt so peaceful almost as if we were there! Saturday we committed her to baptism and she felt like she wasn't prepared so we committed her to pray for the 3rd of February, and she said she did and felt really good about it and we are going to pass by this Tuesday night with some members. She has the support of her husband. She didn't come yesterday because she was really sick. I’m really excited for her though she is amazing and always does the assignments we give her. They have two really cute kids as well.
So we were doing some contacting close by the projects and I started talking to this guy, he was some born again Christian or something like that. And we had a conversation and (mostly him talking and not listening to us) and out of no where he starts praying for us and blessing us and saying all these weird things. And afterward I just thought to my self "if he only knew he doesn't have the power to do that”. There are so many crazy beliefs out here. So many people don't even understand the apostasy. I’m so grateful that I some what understand it. The church justs makes so much sense!
It’s good to hear that Grandma is doing better, along with the whole family as well! It sounds like this month is going to be really busy for everyone! That’s way exciting to hear the Call family is growing! Tell them hi for me! Mike should be getting home soon right? Crazy!
There is so much work to do here! There are some people that are ready for the gospel and it’s always the people you never expect. I’m so amazed with Guillermo and the will he has to change his life; he literally is doing just like Aureliano did. The gospel is a gospel of change and if it can straighten out alcoholics and smokers, it can sure help me! I’m so grateful for all that you do I love you all so much and hope that everything goes well!
Love Russ