February 18, 2008

Hey Family!
How is everything going? This week went by really fast and not too much happened this week. This past Wednesday I got up and I was having a huge stomach ache and about ten o clock I threw up, so I went and laid down because we had an appointment at 12. So I laid down and woke in time for that and I really felt sick, so we went to our appointment and he wasn't there and it was raining a lot, so we decided to go back to the apartment because I felt really sick and my companion was starting to get sick as well. So we head back when someone calls us wanting us to teach him about the church and help him learn. His name is Humberto Cruz and so we went to his house and taught him and committed him to baptism on the 9th of next month. So it was a blessing for trying to go out and work and we have a really good investigator from it. That was the highlight of Wednesday. We both feel better now but it was a really miserable day.
Also the day before that we committed Jose Vargas to get baptized on the 2nd and we have another girl that is going to get baptized on the 2nd named Pamela Cruz. The lord is really blessing us here and we have a lot of great people to teach. We also hit president’s goals last week so it feels good to work for something and achieve it.
I’m glad that grandma got my letter. Did she think it was funny? I don't think I have her address, I couldn't find it so I figured you would be able to hand deliver it. Thanks! Also I did get the valentines package with all the chocolate, so thank you for that as well. It is always fun to tease you about chocolate mom:)
Emily Sanders sent me a letter with a picture of her new 4 month old baby girl and I can hardly believe it! I’m starting to get old. It looks like she takes care of her new baby really well.
That’s good that dad is almost done with his classes, that probably keeps him pretty busy with that. The story about Ben is really cute, he is such a smart kid and prayers do get answered. He has really great parents to teach him the gospel.
I’m really enjoying being in this area we have a ward that is really great here and we are well fed. We are actually going to be moving or changing apartments. We will live one street away from the Woodside church and we will be living out side of our area. It’s always a pain to use the subways and buses, I’ll be glad when I can drive myself around.
So eight months from today I’ll be deer hunting! I’m really excited for that and I hope I draw out. It will be a fun way to get used to normal life again. Time is going by quickly and I know I have to work as hard as I can. I’m doing well here, and we are going to play some football in the park so I’m excited for that! I love you all and take care.

Love, Russ

February 11, 2008

Hey Family!

How’s everyone doing? I’m doing well and we have been really busy this week was transfers and last Monday our p-day got cut short because we had to do a greenie street sweep. It’s the first thing they do when they get here. Off the plane to the street sweep and then they stay the night at presidents house. I took Elder Wrigley on a subway and we started contacting people and it was so funny because, I would tell him to talk to some one and he would do it and he would yell “amigo como esta” really nervously and of course at that point he got the attention of every Spanish person on the train. He is going to be a great elder and he was full of enthusiasm to be here. The assistants said they were talking to him after the street sweep and he asked them if he knew me and they said they did and he said, “that kid can speak Spanish perfectly”. I laughed when I heard that and it makes think about how far I have gone. 16 months today! It’s gone by so quick and these last eight months are going to fly by as well.
Its way good to hear that Ashlyn and Preston are doing so well in basketball. They are awesome and I really wish I could make it to their games. I’ll just have to wait till I come back!
Its good to hear that preston Bishoff is still alive. The lord protects us here and its comforting to go in twos. My companion is 240 is and 6'3 so the only problem we have is scaring the little Mexicans when we knock their doors. Elder Imlay is from Riverton Utah and he and I have a lot of fun together.
We have a good teaching pool here and we have a lot of people that could get baptized really soon. We have a lot of work to do but the ward is a lot of help as well. We had 5 investigators in church yesterday three for the first time and there are a lot of people ready to receive us here.
I’m going to go pick up the package today I appreciate all the love and support that you give me! It really helps me keep going.
The new presidency of the church is going to be amazing, we got to watch the funeral and the broadcast when they announced it, and it was a way excited moment! We are part of the true church and we are blessed for it! I love you all so much!
Love, Russ

Feb. 4 2008

Hey Fam!
Hey how are you all? I’m doing good. This last week has been a really good one but it ended disappointingly.
Elder Warr is going to Staten Island and I’ll be going to Rego Park. (that is where the mission office is). I’m sad that I couldn't have stayed here for a while, but I’ll still be in the same zone, and Rego is between Woodside and Jamaica so it’s not a far move. I’m going to be companions with Elder Imlay, and Elder Bailey was his trainer. So I’m excited to serve with him and work hard. Elder bailey served two transfers with me in Jamaica. So I’ll have to write more next week about that. But there are tons of Mexicans over there. So I’m excited.
This last Monday we past by Sandra one of our investigators and then we were headed back to Astoria and, a thought came to my mind that we should knock a certain building so I told Elder Warr that we should should go knock it and that we were going to find someone to baptize in it. So we went to the building and went to the top floor and said a prayer asking for guidance that we can find this person that is going to get baptized. We said the prayer pick a door and knocked it, no one answered, so we prayed and then picked a door to knock and the person was not interested. We did this on the fifth, fourth, third floor with no one opening the door. Then a guy opened the door and we told him where we were from and that we wanted to share a message. He told us that all religions are crocks! Told us to leave and slammed the door. I thought oh man that was the person that needed us! So we went to the 1st floor and prayed and knock...nothing! And we both knew that that building had someone that needed our message. Elder Warr had the idea to go outside through the back door and we proceed through a dark alley and around the corner in the basement was a door and there was some lights on so we staying in this alley said another prayer and knocked. The door opened and this Mexican opens the door. And before we could open our mouths he says come in its cold. And me and Warr were so surprised. We began talking to him and we told him that he was the person that we have been praying about and that we had an important message that God send us here to share. He accepted to hear us and we sat down on and began to teach the first lesson and the spirit was there words flowed out of both our mouths and we told him about the restoration and that he needs to be baptized and become a member of the church and change his life. He asked him to be baptized and he accepted a date for the 17 of February. we passed by the next day gave him a book of Mormon and he immediately started reading it and we talked about the people in the Americas before Christ’s time and he loved it and he said wow this makes so much sense! And it was a powerful lesson again. Elder Warner and Elder Speirs are going to be here and they are going to continue teaching Javier Sanchez (the guy in the story)
So I was really excited for him and all the other great investigators that we found. But we are changing! I know that I will be able to find amazing people in Rego and I’m not going to be district leader too. So I’ll be able to concentrate more on me and my companion. This last transfer I had to go on a lot of exchanges.
I love you all and hope everything is going great!
HAPPY BIRTHDAY PRESTON!
Love Russ

Jan. 28 2008

Hey Family!
How's everything going? This week has flown by so fast to be honest we didn't have that great of a week, we worked hard but didn't have too many lessons, but Sunday we had two investigators in church and I don't know if I told you about Primitivo he came from the Bronx again and he seems to like church, he stayed for all three hours, and he is moving down here so he is going to be in our area so we can now baptize him. Its funny because out of all the people I talk to on the train he was the one I least expected to come. Also Karmen and a friend came yesterday and she actually lives close to us and we have an appointment with her this Tuesday.
So the passing of Gordon B Hinckley was pretty rough for us. Well at least for me. It’s going to be different having another prophet. I can vaguely remember President Hunter. I know that Gordon B Hinckley waited a long time to be able to be with his wife again. He was a great man.
Yesterday was the birthday of my companion so I called up a member that always gives us food and loves having us over and she threw together a party in one days notice and I think he was surprised. It was good because he seemed a little bit bummed.
So I’m going to have a niece! I’m way excited to hear that and I am told being a Walston was a boy thing! I saw the pictures of everyone on the blogspot and it was cute to see all the growth that Ben and Talon and Henry are making. It looked like you had some fun times at the cabin.
I got the missionary mall shoes and socks and I’m very grateful for the work that you put in to get them to me! Transfers are next Tuesday so it will be interesting to see whats going to happen. Oh yeah and I got a call from the zone leaders here and I guess we have to find a new apartment and be moved out and into it in three days! Yeah well I was surprised and we could always live in the gym for a while! I guess we have to start looking for an apartment!
I love you all so much and I hope everything is going great!
Love, Russ