Elder Russell Walston

2008-09-21T21:59:00.000-07:00

2008-09-21T21:03:00.000-07:00

Sharky Sharky!

2008-07-13T21:33:00.000-07:00

Maylee Marie

2008-05-23T21:25:00.001-07:00

Your an uncle AGAIN!!!!!! Go to jameswalston.blogspot.com to see more pictures!
Love you Lots! Ashy

Pictures of Ashy's Prom

2008-04-21T00:09:00.001-07:00

April 14, 2007

2008-04-20T21:59:00.000-07:00

Hey family!
How is everything going? Things have been pretty good here. Yesterday we had the confirmation of Junior and Rumaldo. They were both really happy to be members of the church. They both are amazing people and they have changed a lot since I have met them. This upcoming week we have Luis and Belem planned to get baptized. But he had to work yesterday so he didn’t come. He knows the book of Mormon is true and he prefers to read it than finish his other book that he only has three more chapters left. He understands a lot and he will probably get baptized this week and we will help his wife get baptized after. We can always teach him but it’s hard to teach her because she works from 11 to 9.
We passed by Jose Delgado the kid that elder Imlay and I baptized last transfer and he has already ready 400 pages in the book of Mormon. He reads on the train ride to work, at work and he is doing amazingly he will get the priesthood soon and is such a stud!
I called Kelvin Vargas last night and he is doing amazingly as well he goes to early morning seminary in Jamaica and loves it. He is such a strong convert. He amazes me!
Last week Aureliano came up and visited Elder Valdez and I and he talked to junior and it really helped him. He seemed so happy and the gospel really has helped him so much.
Kerin Freire from Dyker sent me a pillow case that says I love my missionary. It made me laugh, but it was good because I needed another pillow case. Being a missionary is worth it when you can see the changes in the people that you teach and how they love you. Serving a mission has been such a blessing! It’s been one of the best choices of my life.
Thank you all for the support that you give me and I consider myself one of the most blessed kids around.
It has been warming up and we are out of suits now. It’s nice to be able to walk around in slacks and a white shirt. I’m not too excited for the humid summer though. Mom can you send me some mesh garments at least 4-5 tops, and some Frito bean dip I would appreciate that.
It’s always exciting to hear how the family is doing. It sounds like everyone is busy in doing their own little things. Tell Kendall to get married! Ha-ha I’m sure everyone is saying that.
I know this last six months are going to go by way fast. And I’m excited because I feel like they are going to be the most effective of my mission. I’m glad dad taught me how to work, because hard work really does pay off! It’s good that Preston can do wood and learn how to work like his dad.!
How are Grandma Walston and Grandpa Jessup? Tell them hi for me! And that I love them. Tell the whole family hi and I love them. I hope everything is going great and that everyone is safe!
Love, Russ

April 6, 2008

2008-04-20T21:56:00.000-07:00

Hey Family!
How is everything going? Things are great here! Conference was great I watched a majority of it in Spanish but it’s the same in both languages. We had a good amount of investigators show up and Junior or should I say Jose Francisco Zavala Loyola got baptized yesterday!
This week was a week that was very hard for junior. He had a lot of temptation and got in a small fight with his cousin, and he left the house and went and hung out with his friends who are just terrible people. He told us the next day that he hated it. In the month that we have been working with him he noticed a change in himself and he did not want to continue being friends with them so Friday he called us and at this point we didn’t think that the baptism was going to go through. So we were bummed, so we passed by and he had a huge change of heart and attitude and he didn’t want to continue his way and he told us that he wanted to cut his hair and I told him I knew someone that could cut his hair. So we passed by later that night and I cut his hair. His hair was so long I took lots of pictures and I’m going to send that home soon. It was fun just cutting and cutting away.
The baptism service was really good and he was really happy the only bad thing is the warm water ran out and the water was freezing…or at least I’m told, Elder Cosojay baptized him. Ha-ha!
Last night we past by Luis and Belem and we moved their baptism date back one week for the 20th of this month and they have a lot of good desires to change their lives. I’m really excited to work with them.
Conference was amazing and I’m still laughing about what Thomas S. Monson did in the priesthood session! I felt weird telling people that he was a prophet, but since the conference happen I know that he is a true prophet of God and that he will lead us in the path that we need to go. I know that the blessings that come from being a member of this church are huge and the knowledge and guidance that he can offer us is priceless.
I love you all and hope to hear from you soon. How many Hummer tours does dad do a week? How is everyone else? I love you all.

Love, Russ

March 31, 2008

2008-04-20T21:55:00.000-07:00

Hey Family!
How is everything going? This week has passed by really fast. We have doing amazing lately yesterday we had 6 investigators in church and we are going to be having Junior Zavala’s baptism this Sunday in-between the morning and afternoon session.
I’m really excited for him because I have already seen a change in him. He has crazy long hair so it will make for some good pictures. He has been reading a lot and has the best questions. He is nineteen and used to have so many problems its amazing if someone really wants to change they really can.
We had a new investigator come yesterday with her son and she is from Colombia and I think she liked the church, but her kid Michael loved the church and wants to come back for scouts on Tuesday. The ward did a really good job in fellowshipping them.
This week we have a temple trip on Thursday and I’m and it is going to awesome. Its always fun going to Manhattan, and I’m really happy to go to conference. This one is going to be amazing. I’m going to miss the cinnamon rolls, but there is a member here that works at Cinnabon and she always hooks us up with the cinnabons that are almost as good as yours mom!
You said that my cd matured? Is there a way to put it back in to another cd? And also I’ll be looking out for the other memory card. And I’m going to hand write a letter to the Winklers. Dad is now a professional hummer tour guide! That’s great for him.
We have a lot of great people to work with and I’m really excited for this up coming month. I love you all and hope to hear from you soon!
Love Russ

March 24, 2008

2008-04-20T21:51:00.000-07:00

Hey family
Wow the death of Rick Wrinkler has hit me really hard. I can remember a lot of scout trips with him and including the time he took Josh and me to Brighton to go skiing. I would really like to have their address so I can write Geri and their family a letter. Death is hard but the atonement and the plan of salvation really make it a lot easier to understand and deal with it. That’s crazy.
So this last week has been pretty normal we hit goals again and we have bumped Junior’s Baptism for the 6th of April that is a very good day to do it. There have been so many great things that have happened on the 6th of April, the birth, and resurrection of Jesus Christ and the restoration of the church as well. So I think that it would be a good day to get baptized! I’m really excited for him and he is such a stud, his prayers and attitude of life have really changed.
Also we got a date with Luis Rojas and his wife Belem for the 13th of April. And we found this part family that the wife wants to join the church and raise her kids in it. They have to get married but they won’t have any problems with that because both of them have never been married before. I’m really excited for that!
I did get the package and thank you so much I appreciate it and I got it yesterday so it came on time! That’s funny what that guy didn’t say about Jamaica; we actually are going to go down there today to buy some hats. It’s quite the place, if I ever take you all there maybe we could just drive through it!
Bummer about the damage on the truck, built ford tough I guess, one puny little deer isn’t a match for a F250 Ford! The suburban is pretty tough as well! I saw a guy riding a bike get hit by a car and he rolled of the car and laid on the ground for a second got up and picked up his hat and continued on his way. I could imagine how it feels to be hit by a Ford truck!
I’m glad to hear that Kendall is dating someone that’s great for him. He has to watch out for those Parawon girls I hear they are like them Beaver girls :)
That’s too bad about Stephen Harmison, my roommate Eric Panicke use to have huge panic attacks (the last name does go with that) and it was really bad but they got him on some kind of medicine and he is doing fine he is serving in Minnesota. I have faith that Stephen will be able to return on the mission. He is a good kid.
I’m glad to hear that Grandma is doing good. It sounds like you all keep having fun with out me snowboarding and all that fun stuff! You only have about seven more months to be crazy and then you can be normal and boring when I get back!
I love you all and hope that everything is going great. Please give my consolations to the Winkler family.
Love Russ

March 17, 2008

2008-04-20T21:48:00.000-07:00

Hey family!
How is everything going? How has your week been? Ours has past rather quickly! We had the baptism of Rumaldo Sanchez yesterday and he was really calm but happy about it. He is a stud and completely changed his schedule to be able to come to church. We have some good pictures of that so I’ll have to get them to you soon. I’m going to be sending a memory card home and my other one is almost full.
Also the lord keeps blessing us here. Last week we got juked by an investigator and then some kid named Junior called us and wanted us to pass by right then so we said of course. So this kid Junior Zavala is a cousin of a member and he is amazing, he has so many great questions. When we passed by the first time he told us he was down on faith, so we talked about faith and faith in Jesus Christ and in the first lesson we told him that the way he can have more faith is through baptism so we have a date for the 13th of April but we are going to move it up.
Also the blessings continue... Luis our commit for the 30th we couldn't find him for a couple of days so we decided to pass by at night so we passed by at 8:30 and it turns out that he had a wife and she is way interested in the church they are both from Mexico and she use to go to a melodist church and he is catholic, but they love us passing by and they are amazing, we passed by and went with them to church and they really liked it and the services were really good. The members really fellowshipped them so well. I get really nervous bringing people to church in anyplace in New York because the church is still really young here. When we had fast and testimony meeting our Relief Society President got up and shared her testimony and she start talking about how she use to wear immodest clothing and how she gave away all her "sexy clothes" after her baptism. She went off about some other things that we just don't talk about in sacrament meeting. And then another person got up and said that the bishop is the murder of injustice and the hero of standards. Oh and in priesthood there is a guy named Hermano Moron, in Spanish Mooron and he always gets up and starts yelling at who ever is teaching and he threaten to shoot everyone because that’s the way they handle things in his country. Ha-ha the ward is really strong here though they definitely need the missionaries and they still rely on us a lot. The bishop is from Peru and he is amazing and really works hard.
But it is always a fun experience bringing people to church. We had 3 new investigators in church so I was really happy. We have hit goals 4 out of the six weeks here. We will be having more baptisms soon, and it’s a really exciting time to be a missionary.
Transfers are tomorrow and Elder Imlay is going to Patchog and I’m going to be here with Elder Cosajay, he is from Guatemala but grow up in the United States, but I’m excited to really improve my Spanish.
I’m glad that you all are staying so busy. It sounds like real estate will keep dad busy. Ryan Stubbs isn't married? Tell him hi, he is a really good guy. How is the rest of the family? Missionaries from Moab? Tell Grandma Walston and Grandpa Jessup hi! I love you all and have to go!
Love Russ

March 3, 2008

2008-04-20T21:47:00.000-07:00

Hey familia!
How is everything going in good ole Utah? It sounds like things are going great! There was a lot of good news, which makes me happy to hear. Ollie Knutson will be missed he was a good man. I remember going to the Knutson’s shop and he was always there cracking a joke and really made everyone laugh. Yesterday we had two baptisms, and it seems to me that we did it in one the hardest ways possible. We had Pamela Gualdo's baptism in the morning at twelve a clock and then we baptized Jose Delgado after church. We had a big day at church we got there at 10 and left about at six! The services were amazing and our new commit Rumaldo surprised us and came and went to 3 hours of church and then he to the baptism and had a really spiritual time, during one of the songs he started to cry a little bit. And this last week we found this new investigator knocking that is amazing. We have about 10 progressing investigators and we are having a lot of success. Being transferred here was a blessing in disguise and things are really going great.
This past week we had to move from Jackson heights and now we are living one street away from the church in Woodside. So we are living out of our area by two train stops and it’s actually really not as inconvenient as I thought it would be. Our new apartment is smaller but a lot nicer too. And plus we can play basketball in the church since we are so close. Where is Carson Dalton serving? Daniel Johnson? And anyone else? It seems like everyone is going everywhere. That’s amazing that Caitlin is baptized. It’s amazing how much the gospel will help them. It’s what they need.
I’m really happy here and it’s starting to warm up a bit, I love you all sooo much and good luck with everything!
Love, Russ

March 10, 2008

2008-04-20T21:44:00.000-07:00

Hey Family,
I apologize that my last week email didn't get to you. I re-sent it so hopefully you get it. And I wrote it before Ashlyn’s and Preston's, mom!
So this week has been really good like the last week, we had the confirmations of Pamela and Jose yesterday and they were both extremely happy. It took some work to get them baptized but it was worth all the effort we put in. Rumaldo Sanchez is going to get baptized this Sunday and on the the 30th we have Luis Rojas who will get baptized as well. Rumaldo (Guatamalteco) ordered a video from the church and use to work on Sundays. We asked him to ask his boss for Sundays off and he said no! And so we told him that he needed to ask once more or quit. After that we lost contact with him for a week and he finally got Sundays off and it's his only day off during the whole week. And to teach him we have been passing by his house in the mornings and riding the train with him to work. He came yesterday and really likes the church and he always has the biggest smile when he sees us. He told me yesterday that he want us to send the book of Mormon to his old pastor and congregation in Guatemala. We told him we can. So he is going try to get the addresses of everyone down there.
Luis Rojas, we found him knocking and he is a 26year old (Mexican) he is amazing and really loves us passing by, he use to drive buses in Mexico in a lot of different places and he told us that he would be in the furtherest weirdest places and he would always see missionaries walking or riding bikes and he saw them everywhere in Mexico. He always thought they were students and always wanted to ask them who they were. So we came to his door he wanted to know who we were and let us in and we had a very powerful first lesson and he has been reading the book of Mormon and he told me that it has a power that keeps his attention. He will make an amazing priesthood holder. I’m really excited for him and Rumaldo.
Last night we went to look up a lady that I contacted on the street, so we passed by her house and we found Florida’s number one investigator. When we knocked on the door a Dominican lady answered holding a copy of the Book of Mormon in Spanish with her finger marking the spot where she was reading. And we were shocked at first and then we got really excited because, who anwsers the door reading the book of Mormon? We started to ask her how she likes the book and if she lives here. We found out that she is from Florida and she is planning on getting baptized and she said she really likes our church and she keep saying "it's cool", it was funny to us so anyways we are going back to teach the friend that I contacted and she is going to have to join the church because her friend is getting baptized in Florida and she has a sister that is already a member. So she is getting attacked by every direction. It’s exciting to know that the gospel is being taught in every place and that the Lord is preparing people in every place to hear us.
This next Tuesday is transfers and I think Elder Imlay will be leaving but it would be cool to leave him here for one more. I really hope I don't get transferred so quick like last time. I still get to see a lot of the members here because we live so close to the church, I saw a less active on the train the other day. It’s a small world even in New York. I have even seen some investigators from Jamaica two weeks ago.
I got the letter with the announcement, thanks for sending it. Tell them congratulations and good luck with everything. This week I’ll hit 7 months left! Time is flying!
I love you all!
Love Russ

February 25, 2008

2008-04-20T21:42:00.000-07:00

Hey!
This week went by really quick, every week it seems like it just goes faster and faster! This last week we hit president’s goals again. (Not too many missionaries hit them) so we have two baptisms for this next Sunday, Jose Vargas and Pamela Cruz. Next week we have Humberto Cruz that could be baptized and the week after we have Rumaldo Sanchez that wants to get baptized. Humberto and Rumaldo need a lot of work but I have the faith that they will make great members.
The story with Rumaldo is that he works like crazy and has his free day on Wednesday and he could only meet with us on Wednesday. So the week before we taught him and tried committing him for baptism he said no because he had to work Sundays and couldn't make it to church. So we had a great lesson on keeping the Sabbath day holy and having faith to ask his boss for Sundays off and he said he would try and he did! He has a lot of faith and is very willing. For an immigrant to ask for work off when work for them is very scarce takes a lot of faith! He is going to need to be taught a lot but I’m sure that he can take the right steps to get baptized.
Last night I called Giovanni Luna and he is now 10 and I talked to him for a long time and told me that I’m his favorite missionary and when I called he was reading his scriptures. Which made me super happy, also I talked to his mom and she and her husband since the baptism have completely reactivated and they are planning to be sealed in the temple soon. If they go I could go to that as well. It made me really happy to talk to them and I know that I had an affect in their lives. I've been seeing the blessings from my labors. The church can change the lives of so many people. It’s such an exciting time to be a missionary. Thank you for all the support you gave me to go on a mission.
The Lord has been blessing us so much here. We have so many great people to work with we started to teach a huge Mexican family and they are so excited to hear us.
It sounds like you all have been having fun. Ashy with her basketball game and all the grandbabies make it worth it! I’m excited to see all them in 8 months! I bought some Jordan basketball sures so I’m going to be practicing so I can beat Ashlyn when I get home.!!
That’s so crazy that Mike is home already! I can't believe it some people from my grade will be coming home!
I'm glad I'm not getting married for a while! I’m going to have to live in the garage for at least 10 years and now that you have that big screen I'm sure I’ll feel right at home! :)
That is awesome that Kendall is Elder Quorum President! He will do a great job! That should help him to know his ward and I’m sure all the relief society girls will want to date him! I love you all ! I appreciate all the letters and everything.
Love, Russ

February 18, 2008

2008-02-24T21:20:00.000-08:00

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

2008-02-24T18:54:00.000-08:00

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

2008-02-07T21:05:00.000-08:00

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

2008-02-07T21:04:00.001-08:00

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

2008-01-21T13:08:00.001-08:00

Jan. 21 2008

2008-01-21T11:08:00.000-08:00

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

2008-01-16T14:02:00.000-08:00

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

2008-01-08T18:16:00.000-08:00

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

Dec. 31 2007

2007-12-31T14:04:00.000-08:00

Family!

Transfers were a little hectic and it’s always crazy to get to a new area and try to start over again. Woodside is amazing the church is huge and they have a huge gym. There are so many members here its crazy and there are definitely a lot more Spanish people. A lot!

It was hard saying goodbye to a lot of the members in Jamaica, but it will be good to see them, because every now and then there are big stake activities and the members from the whole stake come.

A little more about my area, we live right next to Manhattan and we have a good view of all the huge buildings, the area that I live in is Astoria and the church we have to take two trains to get down to the church but it gives a lot of time to talk to people on the trains. my second day here I was standing on the train stop and I met a persons that was investigating the church in dyer and she use to live exactly in front of the church there, but she moved away and we never heard anything about her. Anyways she lives here in Astoria with a friend and I got here address and phone number and we are going to pass by this week. It’s crazy out of 9 million people you can run into someone you know, she was impressed because I still remembered her name.

We are working with a guy called Guillermo Holguin he is in his sixties and he is a recovering alcoholic and he should get baptized on the 27th of January and he is going to need a lot of work. We have some other families and pretty good investigators to work with here as well.

It’s good that everyone got to go to powder horn, that is a fun place and I bet everyone had a blast.

I send off the memory card and you should have already received it, I took some pictures of my socks and shoes to get the warrantee. That would be nice to get that.

It was great to talk to you all I hope everything is still well and that you are all safe!

Love Russ