June 9, 2014

Mom, Dad, and Family,

This week has been pretty stellar.  We did some tracting, some less-active tracting, a lot of visiting potentials, contacting, and stuff like that.  Overall, we just tried our best to work hard during the week.  It wasn't the best week for teaching lessons-the work is a little slow right now.  But the work is good nonetheless.

We tried our best to stay out as long as possible and to talk to more people on the street.  We did pretty well at it, but fortunately there's room to improve.  I think my favorite situation is a situation in which we can help someone on the spot with something.  Like just on Saturday we helped this lady named Sylvia with moving some mattresses from her garage to the side of her house.  It was a really neat experience and we talked to her for about a half an hour after.  She said we could come back and teach her and that's what we plan to do.  She was really nice and has had some killer awesome experiences with faith.  Like having four kids to raise and feed on her own and going to the store with 81 cents in her hand and somehow having enough to feed her family.  She's really cool.

That reminds me of the reason we were over in that location of our area in the first place!  Last week we had Zone Conference, right?  And I don't know if I told you, but I ripped about a foot-long hole in the back of my suit pants.  None of us know where or how it happened but it was super depressing.  But it was along the seam.  So there's this less-active lady in our ward who know's how to hem and repair and what not.  So we were actually picking up my pants from her when we ran into Sylvia.  Moral of the story, always rip your pants at Zone Conference if there is a less-active seamstress in your ward.

We also had this conversation with a guy named Mustafa.  Yeah, how cool is that name?  He could be in the Lion King.  He's Muslim and we were heading back to our house on bikes when he stopped us.  He's a trucker and had driven through Utah a lot and had seen a lot of temples and wanted to know more about our religion.  He said that although sometimes (a lot of the time) religion separates people from one another, he's always found Mormons to be faithful people.  So we talked to him, gave him our number and a mormon.org card, and told him we'd be back to see him.  He's gone 6 days outta 7 so it's going to be hard to catch him...but the Spirit knows when he's home.  And that makes it easier for us.

I managed to nail two flat tires in one day this week...that was pretty cool.  Do you know how hard it is to pop two tires in one day?  Actually, it was the inner tubes.  The tires themselves were fine.  Which makes it even more awesome.  I popped two inner tubes without damaging the tires in one day.  It was a good day.  ...Okay so it didn't feel like it at the time.

I think this week has probably been the most fulfilling feeling week, even though we didn't do a lot of teaching or finding or what have you.  It was successful and satisfying.  Preach My Gospel says that our success is measured by our commitment to serve the Lord and share His gospel.  Which is true, and this week I felt it.

Which brings me to the point that I always come to.  How was PMG study this week?  That book is amazing and truly written by Prophets of God.  This week you should all study Chapter 9.  Especially the working with members part.  And ask yourselves what more you can do as members to help others obtain Eternal Life.

We had Stake Conference on Sunday and a new Stake President was called.  It was a really cool experience to have.  We're excited for our new Stake President, too.  Two members of the Seventy were there (Elder Johnson and Elder Biserra).  Elder Biserra is actually one of the newly called Seventy.  He was one of the ones who couldn't take his place on the stand during General Conference because he was serving as a Mission President.  Guess that mission he is serving as President in?  The California Arcadia mission.  The mission just south of mine.  He was actually my ward-mate's mission president before the mission split.  Fancy that.  It was pretty cool.  Especially the Saturday night adult session of conference.

It's good to hear about the vacation.  Sounds like a blast.  I bet y'all are having fun.  It looks that way even if you're not.  ;)  Either way, I'm having more fun...so ha.

I love you all and thank you for all that you do.  This truly is God's work and my testimony grows more every day.

Elder Russell

P.S.  I'm serious about the PMG Study thing though.  And I'll pester you guys till I hear back from you on how it's going.