Weekly Email February 29, 2016

This week felt like all the days blended together and it was hard but it was a good week. Sometimes i feel guilty because i don't LOVE some aspects of missionary work at times but I know the lord knows that i love him and that i will do it despite if i like it or not.  For PDay we went to goodwill and we went to target and went shopping! It was super fun! I got a cute banner and found sticky letters and put one of my favorite sayings on it! We taught this adorable couple and they read the pamphlet and were super interested in learning more. They had a hard time understanding why we need the book of Mormon. 

 District meeting was super awesome! It was exactly what i needed to hear, heavenly father hears my prayers even the ones i don't vocalize. I love the spirit that testifies to me of what i need to hear... i love that the person could be talking about one thing but the spirit testifies of another. We met with the couple again and they said they didn't have any questions but then they all came out and I'm not sure how open they are to what we say. I am just going to continue to pray that i will know what i can do better as a missionary and that they will be able to receive answers to their prayers.

I got rained on multiple times because i couldn't find my umbrella and i seriously looked like a wet dog! it was crazy! its always a little slower with the work when it pours...i am really excited for summer. i know it will be gross and humid but at least people will be home and out and about! 

  We had waffles at the merlings and that was super fun. i love that family so much! they are all about missionary work. i love that they are all so kind to each other!! They are such great examples to me! We are going to go over there and milk their cow and jam out on ukuleles.. well I'm going to attempt (: WE went finding and not very many people opened their doors because it was pouring but that's okay, i felt the spirit.  There is a sweet lady in our ward who is stuck at home and we had the opportunity to  go read scriptures with her and that was so precious. The gospel really does incredible things to each of us as we seek the lord he will manifest himself unto us through the holy ghost! I got to go to new beginnings for the young women and it was a fun treat to do that when my sister just did the same!! (: 

I had sister girardins famous bean burritos and they were delish!!! I had two and i had the biggest realest FOOD baby ever. IT was legit! also sister girardin had never heard of the play hairspray and at the school she works at they were rehearsing for it and she walked by and a kid said " its the white kids turn on stage" and she was like "WHAT?!?!" WHat is going on!?!? It was hilarious for her to describe her confusion! :) I am really loving the members of the ensign ward, they really are sweet!  i got a priesthood blessing from elder herring and it was exactly what i needed to hear. I really just needed to know that heavenly father was proud of us and the work that we had done so far in this area which hasn't been too much but its been my best. I am very grateful for the mission and how it has helped me grow as an individual. I am so grateful for the eternal friends i am making and have yet to make. I have been impacted and I will continue to work hard to impact others lives with the gospel as others have for me!  

Sister Russell

Weekly Update February 22, 2016

Hey y'all!

This week was a complete transformation. We talked to so many people!! Monday we didn't have pday because of presidents day but we didn't go out because i was sick. I don't know what i ate or what was going on but i was just not up for going out. I continued to work on things i could do in the apartment because i didn't just not want to do any work that day. we ended up going out that night to teach a family and it went quite well. sister hansen and i are still trying to figure out our niche..is that the right word to use? idk anything other than the gospel now haha! 

pday was super fun! the zone leaders elder warren and elder hope made us sisters lunch and went all out! They made fried chicken, mashed potatoes, corn, biscuits, sauce to dip the chicken in and brownies. also they provided drinks and napkins and utensils. They will make their future wives VERY happy !  We played chair soccer and that is super fun! lila we are playing it when i get home... write it down because I'll forget!! Then we went to the Wood family's home and oh boy! i love them! they are super funny and sister wood has the CUTEST HOUSE ive ever seen. her home is beyond pintrest worthy. 

Wednesday we went to district meeting and it went well! elder warren was in my district in atl so its a constant prank war all over again and he's hilarious! fun fact his family moved to mesa while he was on his mission and i always tease im going to go home and be best friends with his family so he'll have to see me at holidays! LOL We talked to so many people this week and man it was awesome! I found a man named Robert Jones in the potentials book and he is black and he said he would love to meet with us! I told him my grandpas name is robert jones and he said " haha its a popular name sweetheart"...kind of a kill joy but thats okay (: i ate 5 slices of pizza all in one sitting! also sister malone in the ward has sneezed over 20 times....coolest thing ever! we went to sister stouts for breakfast and had olaf and mickey mouse pancakes! we taught her the restoration and it was incredible! i started crying and she started crying and she said "wow that is so amazing, as i sit here i know that my son on a mission is doing the same thing and the spirit is so strong!"  I met my soul sister Pam Boyd! She loves goodwill, loves cross stitching and hates to cook! we're going to coordinate outfits next Sunday. (: haha  I have an incredible ward and an awesome ward mission leader! I love this work and im very grateful for the opportunity i have to serve. I have lots more to say but just not enough time.. I know that heavenly father answers prayed the ones we vocalize and the ones that are internal, from our hearts. I know that he is aware of you even when you dont believe you are worthy or special enough to be recognized. I testify that as we seek him he will manifest himself to us in ways only we will recognize. Do you know your purpose here on earth? Do you believe God would send his son so that you could live with him again? Pray and ask him and listen for him to respond. Mosiah 4:9 ( look it up! in the book of Mormon or online www.lds.org)

Have a blessed week y'all! 

Sister Russell

Weekly Update February 16, 2016

Well folks this week was super long and quite frankly i had a really bad attitude and perspective most of the week but i learned a lot. I learned that i don't know how to cope with stress very well on my mission that has been my number one struggle since day 1, i have a hard time being okat with the things i cant control but as i read my scriptures and remind myself of my father in heaven i can do it more easily and lastly this work is NOT about me! it is about his children, his work and him!
   

This week we were able to go to the temple and it SNOWED!!!! I know heavenly father is aware of me for sure! I got to help a lady in the temple and that was a highlight for me. I got to see sister Lawson and oh how i love her! (: she is so awesome! she updated me on the area and everyone is doing well!
   

We went to mutual with the young women and that was good! i really love the youth! I have been praying very fervently to figure out what i need to do career wise and this week we had the opportunity to go visit some members in the hospital and when a nurse walked in i felt the spirit so strongly! It confirmed that amongst all the careers i would love to have that i am suppose to work at a hospital and be a nurse! :) I was so thrilled! SIDE NOTE: I  peed my pants this week because of sister jones! she is hilarious and cracks me up!

I broke down on Thursday because i just got so overwhelmed but i pulled myself together. sometimes its hard for me to remember that i am human and that i cant know an area that well in 2 weeks and that i cant be bffs with everyone in the ward in that short of time. i just have to be paitent with myself and strive to do whats right and have great hope he will assist me in the process! :) we did service for sister Malone and sister Johnson this week! it was awesome! i read in james 1:22-27 it talks about when we serve others were really serving jesus Christ! I think that's pretty awesome! i love that i continue to learn so much each day!! (:

I LOOOOOVE VALENTINES DAY! I got to speak in sacrament meeting about the love our father in heaven has for each of us. I hope it went well...honestly i kinda felt like i wasn't even there it was all a blur. the ward had linger longer and that was super awesome! i love free food & good company! My valentine this year was a little girl named Cali Wilcox and she gave me the cutest little valentine OH AND SISTER JONES! She got me flowers and chocolate! what a doll face!

Pray that sister Russell will have more reminders to be patient with herself and the lords timing. (: I love you all! don't forget to read your scriptures and don't make those petty excuses...just think of you telling those excuses to the lord...what would he say?!

Love Sister Russell

No weekly email but a few fun pics! February 8, 2016