I am here in Anchorage!

Well Mom I only have 30 minutes, I just want to let you know that I am here in Anchorage, I just flew in an hour ago! I will be driving down to Soldotna at 1:30 and while we will be driving we are going to stop and go on a beautiful hike with the Assistants to the President! I'm excited! Sorry this is so short! I just want to say I love you and thank you for your support and the things that you do! Love ya!

I will tell you one day about this week!

Thank you soooo much for the pictures! Week was pretty great! I will tell you one day about this week. Haha that probably really bugs you. but I know you can wait. :) hmmmm probably not but your going to have to! haha Sorry im so mean. Yeah theirs not a lot of people here but more than Delta. Man I miss Delta Junction. Well the bears are out and so are the Killer whales and Hump backs. But We still have not seen them.

My studies in the morning!



Lacrosse!!!

Well thank goodnees Exchanges are over!!!

Well Thank goodness Exchanges are over!!! I can now breath! The 2 missionaries arrived Tuesday and left Friday Night. Pretty much all we did was go tracting. We handed out 50 Because He lives cards. Its awesome but now we are out of cards. haha We got Transfer Calls Friday night and Well, Im staying for another 6 weeks and that will add up to 6 months. Foo thats a long time. But President said that he knows that I have Island Fever and he said that I am getting off the Island 2 times this transfer, And sister Robinson said that this is my last transfer here. Haha I cant wait to get off this island! Its hard but I am glad to be here.

Easter Dinner!

So For our Easter dinner we went over to a members home and the father of the house had to go to work because he was called in. So we walked up to the door and saw a propain heater and a table with plates, knifes, forks, spoons, and cups. She told us that her husband is not home and so she cannot let us in, so we are eating outside. So we did and it was snowing! Haha it was awesome!

Book of Mormon Alma 47 (part two)

   Now, that Amalickiah has his army he marched back to the city of the Lamanities, and Amalickiah marries the queen and becomes king of the Lamanites, as he had desired.  All of this would not of happened if Lehonti didn't come down from his mountain.
  Lehonti had the high ground.  Lehonti had the advantage.  Lehonti was fixed in his mind that he would not give into Amalickiah's (Satan's) temptations.

  Do not leave your high ground, don't even take a couple steps down the mountain because that is what Satan desires us to do.  He knows that if we give in just a little bit then he knows he has us.  Satan is good at what he does.  But we have the advantage.  we have God on our side.

  So now read this note again, and replace Lehonti with your name and replace Amalickiah's name with Satan.  As you read it again by replacing the names.  Think of ways how this story can relate to us and strengthen us.

  I know that God loves us.  He loves us so much that he gave us a Savior.  His only begotten son so that if we make mistakes we can be forgiven!  In the name of Jesus Christ, Amen.


     -Love
                Elder Chad Russell

Book of Mormon Alma 47 (part one)

This week Elder Russell sent out some personal e-mails so I don't have one to post.  But as his mom I want to thank him for his strength and obedience to serve and share the gospel with Alaska. He has built my testimony by his example and his love. He sent a letter to us and he's teaching us from the Book of Mormon in Alma 47.

  So Amalickiah wants to become King of the Lamanites but the Lamanites did not know this, because Amalickiah has a secret plan.  So Amalickiah being an Apostate Nephite who was angry at the Nephites went to the Lamanite King and convinced him to Battle the Nephites. So the King sends out a Proclamation to the people saying that they should gather themselves together again to go to battle against the Nephites.  When the people read this they feared to displease the King, and they also feared to go to battle against the Nephites because they don't want to lose there lives.  so most of them would not fight, but the rest of them obeyed the command and Amalickiah was appointed by the King to be there commander over this army.  The people that did not accept the command of the king ran away to a place called Onidan and they gathered themselves on top of a mountain called Antipas.  They appointed a man to be their leader named Lehonti.
  Amalickiah and his army decide to go after Lehenti and convince him and his people to join his army so that he will have a better chance to take over the Nephites.  So Amalickiah and his army march to mount Antipas and they pitch their tents near mount Anitpas.
  Amalickiah sends a secret embassy in the night into the mount Antipas, desiring that Lehenti should come down to the foot (bottom) of the mountain so that Amalickiah can speak to him and try to convince him to join his army.  But Lehonti  said no, because he was fixed in his mind with a determined resolution that he will not be subjected to go against the Nephites.  So Amalickiah sends them a second time, desiring him to come down.  Lehonti responded, No! Amalickiah sends them a third time and Lehonit says, No! When Amalickiah saw that this was not working Amalickiah went up into the mountain, nearly to Lehonit's camp and he sends his message for the forth time desiring that Lehonti would come down, and he can even bring his guards with him.  Lehonti gives in.
(Verse 13 of Alma 47) " and it came to pass that when the Lehonti had come with his guards to Amalickiah, that Amalickiah desired him to come down with his army in the night-time, and surround those men in their camps over whom the king had given him command, and that he would deliver them up into Lehonti's hands, if he would make him (Amalickiah) a second leader over the whole army."
14." And it came to pass that Lehonti came down with his men and surrounded the men of Amalickiah, so that before they awoke at the dawn of day they were surrounded by the armies of Lehonti."
15."And it came to pass that when they saw that they were surrounded, they pled with Amalickiah that he would suffer them to fall in with their brethren, that they might not be destroyed.  Now this was the very thing which Amalickiah desired."
16."And it came to pass that he delivered his men, contrary to the commands of the king, now this was the thing that amalickiah desired, that he might accomplish his designs in dethroning the King." 
17."Now it was custom among the Lamanites, If their chief leader was killed, to appoint the second leader to be their chief leader." 
18." And it came to pass that Amalickiah caused that one of his servants shoul administer Poison By Degrees to Lehonti, that he died."
19." Now when Lehonti was dead, the Lamanites appointed Amalickiah to be their leader and their chief commander."     ( please read the next post to get the rest of the story )

    

Happy Birthday To Elder Russell!

 

Monday- Was Elder Villegas' first actually p-day on the mission! After we emailed our friends and families we went shopping. Elder Villegas went crazy on his shopping! He spent $140. That's pretty much his whole months allotment. I hope he will learn his lesson! :) For P-day we played basketball and ping pong because he wanted to, so we did. It snowed and he was pretty excited about that. He made his first snow ball ever. But he was freezing! After P-day and dinner we went and contacted a referral that we received from a member in our ward, Sister Pagaduan, The referral was one of the people that she worked with. Their name is the Barogas family. We taught them the Restoration and it was super spiritual! At the End of the lesson we invited the father to say the closing prayer, he first said no but then we showed him how to pray and then we asked again and he said yes. After the Beautiful prayer that he said he told us that that was his first time praying in his life! 

Tuesday- We helped out at the Senior Center, we helped them bowl! After that we just have a good time with them and crack some jokes make them laugh! haha its fun! Had dinner with our bishop and we just talked about hunting the whole time over the dinner table! When I brought up hunting his wife rolled her eyes and said "Here we go" haha and bishop and I were talking a lot about hunting! haha It was funny! Then of course we shared a message and talked to him about what has been going on lately in the work! Nobody was home today... they were either asleep because of work or they were working or just did not want to see us! It was tough but After planning we got a call from the Assistants to the President and they told me that they loved me and were thinking about me. The work is just getting harder and harder, and I was getting down and I really needed that phone call from them! Just reminding me that the Lord is there! 

Wednesday- We had our lovely district meeting today!  Elder villegas' first one! Man me and him are to much alike! Its weird! He told me that his bishop told him that every companion that he will serve with will be the opposite of him. He told me that, that was not true because me and him are like the exact same, except he is Filipino and I am white. haha. Helped out at the Animal Shelter. We had a lesson with Sister Grothe (Less active) and the Gray family came with us. we taught about Prayer and Scripture study. And how not only do we need to feed ourselves physically to survive, but the same thing is spiritually, we need to spiritually feed ourselves everyday! Lesson with our investigators Tim and Teresita, They have been reading the Book of Mormon everyday! Which is awesome because they have not read it in a while! 

Thursday- We had a trainers trainee training that no body told us about until it started. People just forget about us out here in Kodiak. We had nobody for dinner today so Elder Villegas wanted to go to Mcdonalds so we went and the Burnside Family (active) were there and they paid for us! I don't like it when people do that. But Im Grateful. 

Friday- My 20th Birthday! Goodbye Teenager, Hello Old. So to start off my wonderful Birthday we had our Weekly 2 hour planning! Yippy...  We then went to the Old Power House for lunch and we had sushi. I had ill, red Salmon, and Pink Salmon. We then went and drove out to Bells Flats and Helped out a less active member named Larry Evans and he finally opened the door to us and it turns out that he really likes us! So we helped him unload a semi trailer of Animal feed and straw. That was fun! After we got done planning I received a ton of Phone calls from the missionaries singing happy birthday! The only person that knew about or I told about my Birthday was my companion. haha So it was nice, not having all of these people saying happy Birthday to me, because its not about me. haha 

Saturday- All we did today was go to Omar Stratmens Funeral. That was sad. We then helped out at the Women's Shelter by setting up Bunk beads for them! We set up 3 today! They call us to help out with stuff because they trust us. haha they love it when we come and help. They always cry. haha nice people. 

Sunday- Had church and the topic for the speakers was on unity. High councilman was there and gave a talk. We then went and gave the Sacrament to the Morris family at the Hospital. We went and finished the last 2 bunk beds at the women's shelter because they needed them done by Monday because more women were coming in and they needed a place to sleep. 

Well that was my week! Love you guys! Thank you for all the Birthday Wishes!

Old Power House in Kodiak



Went and had Sushi for my Birthday Lunch!

I Flew to Anchorage Monday and picked up my Boy!

So this week! Wow! Well I Flew to Anchorage Monday and picked up my Boy! He came strait from the Philippines! His name is Elder Villegas (Ve-le-ye-gus)! He Looks just like a Filipino version of my Friend Dalton Whatcott! He is excited to get to work! And he is super funny! We flew out of Anchorage Wednesday morning back to Kodiak! We went and taught a lot of people! This week was pretty good! Our mission President got an email last week from church head quarters that we will be getting I-pads in the month of May of this year, the only missionaries that need to pay for them and keep them are the ones that live in the US or Canada and. But if they go home before the month of November then we dont get to keep them and dont need to pay for them! Yippy! So I dont have much to say because I forgot my Journal back at the Apartment but I will tell you a quote and I will tell you the Alaska Anchorage Mission (AAM) Code that me and Elder Modlick made when we were together in Delta Junction!

Quote-

" Stick to your task till it sticks to you. Beginners are many, but enders are few. Honor, power, place and praise will always come to the one who stays. Stick to your task till it sticks to you. Bend at it, sweat at it, smile at it too, for out of the bend and the sweat and the smile will come life's victories after awhile."

- Thomas S Monson quoting an unknown author

This quote motivates me to Stick to my tasks every time I read it!

AAM Mission Code-

"Been around the world once, talked to everyone twice

Seen two whales rutt,

Eaten 3 grizzly bears

And I even know a guy in Whitehorse that thinks hes a fox

I put my shoulder to the wheel more sweeter and more completer, than any other 

Wheel pusher around

I'm a cold blooded, badge chested, testifying, magnifying, prophesying, dignifying, till

I'm dying Snowman

There aint nothing I cant do, no snow too high, no road too rough, no tract too tough

On base enough to be on a first name basis

Earthquakes follow me everywhere I go

I grow when I'm up to my knees in 50 below

Not afraid of dog bites, frostbites but don't let the bed bugs bite

I'm a brighter light and a better sight than the Northern Lights on the clearest night

I'm a fearless, tearless, facial hairless, grizzly near miss, comfort careless, Snowman

Learned a lotta lessons in my life

Never hit a large caliber man with a small caliber testimony

'Avalanche' is just a fancy word for quick prayer

Mustard is good for two things, hot dogs and moving mountains

Drive all kinds of trucks, 2X's, 4X's, NoX's and those seaplanes that bank and go 'kish

kish' when you step on the lake

Anything in life worth doing is worth overdoing, moderations for cowards

I'm a lover, I'm a fighter, I'm a double-AM LDS Missionary

I'll find then dine then covenant bind, and sneak out the back door when the re-

schooling is done

So if your feeling frosty then you better jump, because this Snowman's been there, 

Done that, and is going back for more, Cheers boys."

The Trainers and Trainees and President.  Picture in front of the Anchorage Alaska Temple. 

All the Asian friends in our Mission.

Elder Modlick- ( I trained him and he is training the same time I am training ) I cant remember his comps name, Elder Villegas ( My Boy ) then Me.

The plane that we fly on to Anchorage from Kodiak to Anchorage.

Elder Modlick & Elder Russell

Kodiak Island

I'll be training a new missionary!

Glad you had an awesome week and that you guys are staying busy! President Robinson called Bishop Black and talked about the Ward in Kodiak and Then President called us and we talked to him for a good 30 minutes and he wanted to tell him about Kodiak, and President Pretty much told me that I am training the New Filipino coming in. Well I hope he likes Tracting because that's what we have been doing lately and I hope he likes walking to! Haha Should be fun! That means If I train him, I will be in Kodiak for the rest of my mission! Elder Casia is going home to the Philippines next Wednesday Morning, we will be flying out of Kodiak Next Monday! We found out that this one girl named Brittney who is 15 and has been attending church for 2 years wants to be baptized, but she needs to talk to her parents first! we will see how that goes! But we will be fishing today again! People are starting to take out there boats to go fish, I wish that we could go on the boat with them! haha But this week was pretty good! Well I love you mom! Have a great week!

Wonderful Pictures of Kodiak Island!!!

Pink Salmon! YUMM!

That's why we are not catching anything because the sea lion is there!



Fishing!!!

Elder Ballard and Elder Rasband speaking to us on our mission, on there layover to Asia, they will be in Asia for a couple of weeks!

Tatonka!!!

Me at Surfers Beach!

Elder Casia at Surfers Beach! This is his last week on the mission!

Another bald Eagle!!!

A picture that I am drawing.  The women shelter asked me to draw something for there T-Shirt and if they like it then they will make there T-Shirt out of it! If not oh well!

Happy Valentines day!

To mom...Happy valentines Day! I did receive your wonderful box that you guys sent to me! Thank you and Elder Casia said thank you to! I am almost done with a letter that I am sending to the Family that contains my week, so I wont be sharing anything about last week with yall! sorry, but it will be in a letter. Yeah its raining and raining some more! Thanks for the Pictures! Trevor is pretty cool, Me and him are emailing each other. Haha So you guys are working on the basement I hear? Can you send me a picture? I'm glad Deb is okay! And that Eric is doing good! And Izzy and Chloe! I plan on making this Cheese cake Recipe that this one lady named Sis. Jenson gave to me when I was in Homer. Best cheese cake I have ever tasted! She has only given the recipe to two people, Elder Leotoua and Me.! Should be interesting. Going Fishing today! Hope Everything is going well for you! Love you!

Elder Russell!

To dad...Hmmm whats up? Its raining and we are planning on going fishing today, again.... haha We did not catch anything, but hopefully today! They were not running last week in the rivers, but we hope today. The Ferry Ride was Awesome! I am writing a letter that explains my whole trip to you guys and I will get it off to you this week! I am almost done with it. It was nice to get off the Island for a little bit though! Me and Elder Casia have the whole Island to ourselves! so we can do whatever we want.... Haha just kidding! Man this has really been super weird winter everywhere! haha Its like the Poles of the earth are moving! So Dad our High priest group leader is Named Bob Stanford and I have been talking to him and his son in law lately. Bro. Stanford is a bush pilot and he owns Island air and he is the number one pilot on the Island, He has trained every pilot on the Island, and his Son in Law lives in Logan Utah and he is a Helicopter Instructor there.  And He told me to hit him up when I get home and Brother Stanford and they will help me get my Pilots license. That"s what I want to do, I want to work hard back at home and save up money maybe take out a couple of loans and go to Flight school, Getting my Bush Pilots license and My Helicopter License, First I want to get my Helicopter License.  They said its a lot of work but it is worth, and I can get it done pretty quick if I work hard at it,  Its something that they enjoy and they make pretty good money. And its something that I know I would Enjoy doing. They told me that they have flying classes in College but they said dont do that because they are not really good trainers and you end up spending more money and it is stretched out for a long period of time, They said go to a Flight School, And I plan on Contacting His son in law that is a helicopter instructor and go to his classes and have him train me because he said he will. He said that there is more job options with Helicopters and you are more likely to make more, You are especially going to make more he said if you have your bush pilots license and your Helicopter license. And that's what he has! You might think this is crazy but this is what I desire to do. Email me back as soon as you can if you can today. Love ya!

Elder Russell

My week has been good but, lots of trials!

My week has been good! Lots of trials but its good, I am getting through them and I keep on climbing! Yeah its snowed 2 feet last night but now its raining and its supposed to rain for the rest of this week! I have hardly slept this week! I lay in bed at 10:30 pm and I don't sleep until 1 in the morning! If I don't fall asleep before Elder Casia does then there is like no way I will be sleeping that night. He snores super loud! Even when I fall asleep I wake up to his snoring and I have ear plugs in! I am very tired. I bang on the wall for him to wake up and try to fall asleep but he falls a sleep literally 3 seconds later, I sometimes go and plug his nose so he does not breath and then he wakes up and then falls asleep 3 seconds later. I hope to send your Christmas package soon :) haha So there is this Filipino family the Barco's that have been returning back to activity to the church and they said that they are going down to Utah July 8 or 9 or 10th, of this year and they don't have much money and they plan on staying in Utah for a couple weeks, and I told them that they can stay at Our place for a week or so while they are in Utah, so that they can actually have a nice vacation. They want me to take them to fun things in Utah. I don't really know much about Utah because I have forgot it, the only things I really know now is Alaska haha! So I hope that's okay, They want to stay with us, Just don't want them spending a ton of money on a Hotel and not be able to spend it on fun things to do in Utah. They are still talking about it. They want to see the Salt Lake Temple really bad, and she would like to go through it. But it will be nice if they get a temple recommend to go do Baptisms for the Dead. We will see. On Wednesday at 9:45 pm. we will be ferrying from Kodiak to Homer, we will arrive in homer at 7:30 am Thursday morning. 10 hour ferry! Elder Casia is excited but I'm not, I have been on to many ferries all ready, and its going to be dark so we wont be able to see anything. We will be going on Exchanges in Homer and then drive up Friday morning to zone Conference in Soldotna and then Saturday morning we will be riding up with the Assistants to the President to Anchorage and then we will fly from Anchorage at 1:30 and arrive in Kodiak at 2:45. Busy Busy busy! Oh and our Mission President just received a text from M Russell Ballard and he said that he will be heading to Asia and his lay over is in Anchorage for a couple hours and he would like to have a meeting with the Missionaries and then after the Meeting he will get on the plane with the other 70's and fly to Asia! We will be Skyping in. He will be here on the 18th of this month! Should be fun. Well I Love you guys! Love you Mom!

This week was tough....

This week was tough.... Every Appointment canceling on us, people at work, people not wanting the missionaries to stop by any more, people that want there names taken off the records... Its been tough I hate not having a lot of lessons, especially with Investigators, but we keep on going. I know why this is happening. Before this last week started I Asked Heavenly Father to please give me mountains to climb but mountains that are possible to climb with His help. I said that I need to be more humble, so that I can love the people more. And I wanted to exercise more faith, because it is easy to exercise faith when things are all going good but its not so easy when we are facing trials. Haha praying for that was ether really smart or really stupid. Haha We will see. Sorry this is short. Just nothing much to talk about this week. Going fishing today. Love you guys! Salamat! (Thank you)

Elder Russell

Alaska Anchorage Mission

Kodiak Island

Soldotna Zone

I'm sending pictures for my email this week!

Decided to through a Kodiak snowball at you! Haha

Kodiak Island!

Panoramic of  Kodiak in the snow!

Driving down Pillar Mountain!

Elder Casia being weird! Haha Nerd!

Fort Abercrombe! Old Army bunkers and guns! The hike that we went on!

Miller Point

Eagle!!!

The cliff that I hiked down! Yeahhhhhh that was SCARY! I wont do that again! I didn't  realize how dumb it was until I got to the bottom! SORRY MOM! Haha I wanted to get closer to the Eagles that's why  I hiked down! Haha 

Buoy stuck in between the cliff's! Haha

See the Eagle!

Star Fish!!!

Elder Casia made the chicken and I made the Biscuits! You should be so proud!Haha

Pinewood derby car Kodiak pinewood derby! No rule competition! I carved it with mp pocket knife and I put a ton of thumb tacks and its not finished in the picture but toward the back end I put a Angle Moroni! Believe it or not I  took 4th place out of 32 racers! Haha All the adults had blank surprised faces! Haha It was awesome! I gave my car to the little kid that wanted it! Haha!    ( Snow P-day )

Church was awesome! We had 3 investigators attend church!

Monday- We went on a hike on Near Island! In the middle of the Hike you come up to this cliff and off course the ocean is right below you and while I was walking up to the edge of it to jump off.... Jk. To look over the edge. Right when I got up to the Edge I spooked a Bald Eagle and scared the Crap out of me because it was only 2 feet away from me! While we were looking out at the ocean there were tons of sea otters! It was another Typhoon this day. We got Lost on the Island and it was getting dark, but of course we prayed and felt prompted to follow this stream and of course we found a road and it was right by our truck!

Tuesday- Went and Helped brother Catubig throwaway a fridge and a few other things! I tell you what, if you want to see thousands of Bald Eagles, go to the Manashka Bay Dump! I have seen so many bald eagles here in Kodiak. I mean while you are driving on the road you look to your left and you see 5 and then you look to the right and you see 3 more! haha Everywhere! Brother Catubig (filipino) fed us lunch and he fed us Octopus!!! mmmmmm! 

Wednesday- just saw a ton of people

Thursday- Went and helped out at the animal shelter! We went and tried Carmin Rivera, a lady that we have tracted into and she is super catholic but this was like our 3rd time meeting with her and we have not taught her the Restoration because we were nervous but this time we were just like, no matter what we are teaching it! haha She liked it a lot! We gave her a Book of Mormon and invited her to read and she said that she would! She is a teacher at the St. Marrys Catholic School. hehe. We also got our Transfer calls.... Me and Elder Casia are staying! This is Elder Casias last Transfer! I hope he works hard to the end!

Friday- tracted, saw people.

Saturday- We tried a less active guy and his name is Anthoney and when we saw him his Girlfriend was there and her name is Emily! She is super Catholic but recently she told us that when she went to mass she was super frustrated because the catholic church has been changing everything and it is so confusing for her! So we shared the Restoration and to her to Bring all the truth that she has and to come and receive more. We gave her a Book of Mormon and she said that she will definitely read it! Had two dinners, one with a Dominican family, named the Maldonado's, and the other was with the Catubigs and they fed us Chocolate Rice with Dried Fish...... yumm...... 

Sunday- Went to church! Church was awesome! We had 3 Investigators attend church! And a Less active family! After Church we went and administered the Sacrament to the Moris's and gave sister Moris a blessing! Had dinner with our Ward mission leader and his family the Ariss's. It was brother Ariss's birthday! So we made him a cake and He loved it! We gave his son a blessing!

Well that was my crazy but awesome week! Love you Guys!

Elder Russell

Alaska Anchorage Mission

Kodiak Island

Soldotna Zone  

Here is a personal letter from Elder Russell to Mom. How grateful I am for his teachings:)

Well Mom I am not really going to send a big email today to everyone, I am just going to answer peoples questions and comment. I hope that's Okay!  Well I am doing Great! Its raining right now and blowing like crazy again! It always happens on our P-Days! haha Its a good thing you guys took down those trees! They were pretty much dead and it looked like it could blow over any minute! IT could of Landed our our house and maybe even landed on Someone. So I am grateful that those skyscrapers are down.  Man Dad is the man! I wish I was there to hear him speak! But I know that he did good, because he has the Spirit with him. It doesn't matter if we are Eloquent or not, if the Spirit is there then that is all that matters. Ahhh the Nelsons! A bunch of Goof Balls! I heard that Eric and Rachel have puppies! Chuck a Rama! We ate there before I went to the MTC! Crazy! And about your calling. Mom... This is the Lords work and you are a part of it, He did not say, all ye that are perfect come and labor in my vineyard. He is looking for people that try, those are the people that he lets work in his vineyard. You receiving this calling shows that you have been trying and you are found worthy to do His work. You Don't need to look great in the sight of man, don't worry about that. All that matters is what God thinks of you. And do you know that God loves you and is grateful for your service? Look around you... look at what year we are in... look at your family... look at your Righteous friends... look at Gods creations... and then most importantly go to a mirror and look at it, who are you looking at? You, you are looking at one of the most greatest of Gods creations. Everything that he does is for us! Become not what the world wants you to become but become what the Lord knows you can become. Put your trust and faith in God that what you are doing is right and don't let anybody tell you different! I love you Mom and Remember that God sent his Only Begotten Son for you. I love you mom and I hope you have an awesome week!

Love, Elder Russell

Remember Lots wife and dont look behind thee!

Monday Monday Monday..... Was P-Day and we went Hiking to a beach in a Typhoon.... yeah we didn't want to sit in the apartment all of P-Day. While we were hiking on the trail to Monashka Bay Beach, the trail was flooded, and I mean it was a river! And the Beach was just over the Hill, soooo we were already drenched because of the Down poor of rain, so we decided to cross it, the water came up to our knees! When we got to the beach I found a purple 16 legged star fish! And a ton of sea Shells! We then went and had Family Home Evening with the Filipino group, we taught them about Lots wife, and how in the beginning of the new year or adventure, dont look back!

Tuesday- We went and helped out at the senior center (old people), We helped them with bowling! Setting up the pins when they get knocked down and keeping score! haha They love us! We tell simple little Jokes while they eat snacks and they laugh so hard, and they are not even that funny! haha Then went and gave Brother Catubig a Priesthood blessing! We met with a potential Investigator, John Lovic. We went over and his wife was there along with John, and we taught the Restoration, focusing on the Book of Mormon and Invited them to read and pray about it and we gave them each one and they look forward to reading it! And they fed us a ton of food when we were not even exposed to eat at there house, (its because they are Filipino). Dinner with the Barcos (Filipino) and they fed us Sinigang (see-nee-gaw-ng) It was soooo goood! Its like a Radish with Meat soup, With rice on the bottom! 

Wednesday-New Years Eve!!! And guess what!? I woke up at 5:30 in the morning with the Flew! I threw up every 30 minutes starting at 5:30 in the morning to like 6 pm oh and a fever! The Mission president wife (Sis. Robinson) Told me to go to the ER. But Instead of doing that I wanted a Priesthood Blessing! So the Second councilor in the bishopric, Brother Jones came over and helped Elder Casia (kaw-sha) give me a blessing! He brought over bread and a ton of water, and crackers! The bishops wife gave me Pepto Bismal! UHHHHHH!!!!!!!!! I hate Pepto! It just made me puke more! haha But I was grateful for her trying to help! So that was my last day of the year 2014! 

Thursday- I felt better but I was super super weak! But we went out anyways because I hated being in the apartment doing nothing! We taught 5 lessons today! Boo YEAH!

Friday- Today we had Zone- Meeting over Skype! We got trained on setting goals! We went and taught sister Growthy about Family History because that is what got her Interested in the church! She is Less active, we brought the Grays with us! It went really well! 

Saturday- We spent half the day with our investigator Roy Chace on fixing the truck because the past missionaries liked to take it Rallying! We talked to our vehicle coordinator and he approved it! We had to fill every fluid thing you can think of on that car! Some break cylinders are leaking break fluid and so many other things! Ugh! haha And we saw a ton of people today though! 

Sunday- Fast Sunday!!! It was awesome to be able to bare my testimony about the Savior! A couple less active showed up to church today! Sister Growthy showed up! and the Hadalas!  That deserves a BOO YEAH!  

Well that was my awesome week! Puked out my guts and taught a lot of people! haha what more can you ask for? Haha Well I love you guys! Quick update on Early Rhodes- We have been trying to meet with here and she has not been answering her phone calls and her door! Its Pretty upsetting but we will keep on trying! And an update on the little girl Bristle that we gave a blessing to! We saw them yesterday (Sunday) and they invited us in and we got to know them even more and we didn't share anything yet but we hopefully will next time! There Daughter Bristle is doing amazing! Love you guys! Happy New Years! Remember Lots wife and Don't look behind thee! Bye bye! 

Elder Russell

Kodiak Island

Anchorage Alaska Mission