Transfers!!!!!!!!
Monday- Well we did our Usual p day stuff, except I really did not get
a p day! People say that P day is a day off but its not, and every
missionary can testify to that!
Tuesday- We tracted alllllllllllllllllllll day and got nothing! :)
Wednesday- We had zone conference from 9 in the morning until 11:30 at
night and it was in Wasilla! It was presidents last zone conference! I
will talk about the Details later!
Thursday- So during comp study we felt prompted to ask Jada to be
baptized and we were like, what day? and so we looked at the Calendar
and we were like well the 5th wont work so lets shoot for the 12th and
I was like hey we should probably pray about it and we did not really
get an answer and so we thought it was super weird but we still had
this prompting to ask her to be baptized, so we go over there and
invite her and we said the 5th and I was so confused on why I said
that but I just rolled with it! haha She said yes! She wants to be
baptized in the ocean in Sewerd!
Friday- We met with Jada and talked more about the baptism!
Saturday- TRANSFER CALLS!!!!!! Well Elder Loy is going to be with the
biggest brown bears in the world and that is in Kodiak Island! I will
be staying and I will be getting Elder Bratt! Oh and get this I will
also be the District Leader for the Turnagan district! Thanks
President, thanks a lot! Ugh So fun.... It will be a good growing
experience! I pray that I don't totally trash the district! haha JK!
We then went to the Mayors Marathon and we helped out and it started
at 8 and ended at 4!
Sunday- Well we had an awesome Sacrament meeting! Jada and Everest and
Amanda came to church! I will talk about them more later! We then
received a call from the kids and it was on speaker phone and I pulled
over to the side of the road and They said that they want to be
baptized this Thursday! both of them Jada (10 years old) and Everest
(8 years old)! I will be baptizing Everest and Elder Loy will be
confirming him on Sunday and Elder Loy will be baptizing Jada and I
will be confirming her on Sunday! Super Exciting! This ward has not
had a baptism in 2 YEARS! I am so grateful!
Well I love you guys! Sorry this was so short, I don't have much time!
Love Elder Russell
Alaska Anchorage Mission
O'Malley Ward (DL)
Monday, June 23, 2014
Monday, June 16, 2014
A BLACK BEAR!
Monday- Well we got our hair cut! We looooookkkkkk gggooooooooooodddddd!!! haha
Tuesday- So we had district meeting and Me and Elder Loy biked there.
Half way there it pored!!! we were soked! Then we went and saw Ron, I
am not going to tell you his last name because, well you will see! He
is buddies with the hells angels gang! Why did we go over to his
house, well because an investigator asked us about freemasonry and Ron
is a Freemason, so we had a pretty good talk! I thought he was going
to shoot me while we were having a conversation but I am good! A
missionaries got to do what a missionaries got to do! Haha
Wednesday- We went and did some service for the NCAI, it is a native
thing! They make some awesome Jewelry! They are not cheap they are a
few hundred bucks even thousands!
Thursday- I went on Exchanges with one of the Zone Leaders, and I was
on Exchanges with Elder Landon, does that name sound familiar? He is
the one who trained me! We had a blast! We tracted alllllll
ddddaaaaaayyyy!
Friday the 13th- Well we went to our investigators house and I walk
out onto the deck to see his awesome view of the ocean and I Look down
and I see garbage scattered all over the place! I look right below me
and guess what was there! A BLACK BEAR! I scared the crap out of that
thing and he like jumped into the air to like try to bite my face off!
What the bear didn't know is that it scared the crap out of me! And it
was a cub, not a small cub, like a big cub and the mom was close by!
So we called the State Troopers and they came out and stood by us with
there shot guns while we went and picked up the trash so that the bear
wont come back! It was pretty intense! They just sat up in there trees
like right above us! Fun fun!
Saturday- Since the ward wont do missionary work we just tracted
alllllll daaaayyyy! Fun!
Sunday- Well we went to church and somebody stole our meal calendar
again! Some people just don't like us missionaries! Haha we tracted
some more and some more! Then we went to President Beesley's fairwell!
:'( Don't go President! Well he is leaving on the June 30th! So even
though this week was mentally and spiritually tough, we picked up 8
new investigators! The Church is true everybody and don't forget it!
Transfers next Saturday! I love you guys!
Love Elder Russell
Anchorage Alaska
O'Malley Ward
Tuesday- So we had district meeting and Me and Elder Loy biked there.
Half way there it pored!!! we were soked! Then we went and saw Ron, I
am not going to tell you his last name because, well you will see! He
is buddies with the hells angels gang! Why did we go over to his
house, well because an investigator asked us about freemasonry and Ron
is a Freemason, so we had a pretty good talk! I thought he was going
to shoot me while we were having a conversation but I am good! A
missionaries got to do what a missionaries got to do! Haha
Wednesday- We went and did some service for the NCAI, it is a native
thing! They make some awesome Jewelry! They are not cheap they are a
few hundred bucks even thousands!
Thursday- I went on Exchanges with one of the Zone Leaders, and I was
on Exchanges with Elder Landon, does that name sound familiar? He is
the one who trained me! We had a blast! We tracted alllllll
ddddaaaaaayyyy!
Friday the 13th- Well we went to our investigators house and I walk
out onto the deck to see his awesome view of the ocean and I Look down
and I see garbage scattered all over the place! I look right below me
and guess what was there! A BLACK BEAR! I scared the crap out of that
thing and he like jumped into the air to like try to bite my face off!
What the bear didn't know is that it scared the crap out of me! And it
was a cub, not a small cub, like a big cub and the mom was close by!
So we called the State Troopers and they came out and stood by us with
there shot guns while we went and picked up the trash so that the bear
wont come back! It was pretty intense! They just sat up in there trees
like right above us! Fun fun!
Saturday- Since the ward wont do missionary work we just tracted
alllllll daaaayyyy! Fun!
Sunday- Well we went to church and somebody stole our meal calendar
again! Some people just don't like us missionaries! Haha we tracted
some more and some more! Then we went to President Beesley's fairwell!
:'( Don't go President! Well he is leaving on the June 30th! So even
though this week was mentally and spiritually tough, we picked up 8
new investigators! The Church is true everybody and don't forget it!
Transfers next Saturday! I love you guys!
Love Elder Russell
Anchorage Alaska
O'Malley Ward
Monday, June 9, 2014
It has been 77 degrees in our apartment! To HOOOTTTTTT!!!!
Monday- Today we spent all day in Wasilla, Why? Because there was a
missionary who died that was from Willow serving in Vancouver
Washington Mission, so we sang at the funeral! Elder Gay from the
Seventy was there! After the funeral we went and surprised Janessa at
her work! She almost jumped out of her chair (Not the first time) She
gave us free food and she surprised me with Horchata! I was able to
talk to her and get to know her family more. Her grandpa was F.L.D.S.
and he had 14 wives! She has 1 brother and he is 17 and he does not
talk to her much. Her dad ignores her and they live in Idaho! I gave
her a true to the faith book before we left!
Tuesday- Today we had district meeting and we did a district talent
show! And we then saw a whole bunch of Active members! And that was
pretty much my day!
Wednesday- We went and took the bishops son Landon and he came with us
to a couple of lessons with a few single ladies! He will be leaving on
his mission to somewhere in Europe in August! We then went over to
this one ladies house and gave her a blessing and Landon gave the
blessing and that was his first blessing that he has ever given! What
a stud!
Thursday- Well we asked the Office if we could get a fan and they said
yes!!!! It has been 77 degrees in our apartment! To HOOOTTTTTT!!!! We
then went to sis. Whitehouses house and we gave her a blessing!
Friday- We went and tried to see so many people but nobody was home,
they were all going fishing. But for dinner we were at the Stoners
home and She invited one of our investigators and we taught the
Restoration and after the lesson while we were walking away sis.
Stoner ran up to us and she told us that we were the first
missionaries ever to teach him one of the lessons! And she said that
they have met so many times for the past 5 years and nobody has shared
a lesson with him until today!
Saturday- Today was the huge yard sale!!! I mean we were all holding
up big big signs saying HUGE YARD SALE! The scouts made $2,600! And we
provided everything for that yard sale! Because well every time we
went over to somebodies house we would ask them at the end of the
lesson if they had anything that they would like to donate! And of
course they cant say no to the missionaries! Haha!
Sunday- So we taught Sunday school and it was about women and men and
the priesthood! That was fun! We were teaching the 16 year olds! And
guess who came to church! The Leach's and the dad was crying because
of the power of the Atonement and how much it meant to him! And guess
who else! Wolf Gang and his little Brother Ian! They are now going on
the Denali hike with the young men! They have not been to church since
they were 10 and Wolf Gang is 17 and Ian is 16! Sooo Cool! We taught 6
lessons today!
Well that was my week! I love you guys!
Elder Russell
O'Malley Ward
Alaska Anchorage Mission
missionary who died that was from Willow serving in Vancouver
Washington Mission, so we sang at the funeral! Elder Gay from the
Seventy was there! After the funeral we went and surprised Janessa at
her work! She almost jumped out of her chair (Not the first time) She
gave us free food and she surprised me with Horchata! I was able to
talk to her and get to know her family more. Her grandpa was F.L.D.S.
and he had 14 wives! She has 1 brother and he is 17 and he does not
talk to her much. Her dad ignores her and they live in Idaho! I gave
her a true to the faith book before we left!
Tuesday- Today we had district meeting and we did a district talent
show! And we then saw a whole bunch of Active members! And that was
pretty much my day!
Wednesday- We went and took the bishops son Landon and he came with us
to a couple of lessons with a few single ladies! He will be leaving on
his mission to somewhere in Europe in August! We then went over to
this one ladies house and gave her a blessing and Landon gave the
blessing and that was his first blessing that he has ever given! What
a stud!
Thursday- Well we asked the Office if we could get a fan and they said
yes!!!! It has been 77 degrees in our apartment! To HOOOTTTTTT!!!! We
then went to sis. Whitehouses house and we gave her a blessing!
Friday- We went and tried to see so many people but nobody was home,
they were all going fishing. But for dinner we were at the Stoners
home and She invited one of our investigators and we taught the
Restoration and after the lesson while we were walking away sis.
Stoner ran up to us and she told us that we were the first
missionaries ever to teach him one of the lessons! And she said that
they have met so many times for the past 5 years and nobody has shared
a lesson with him until today!
Saturday- Today was the huge yard sale!!! I mean we were all holding
up big big signs saying HUGE YARD SALE! The scouts made $2,600! And we
provided everything for that yard sale! Because well every time we
went over to somebodies house we would ask them at the end of the
lesson if they had anything that they would like to donate! And of
course they cant say no to the missionaries! Haha!
Sunday- So we taught Sunday school and it was about women and men and
the priesthood! That was fun! We were teaching the 16 year olds! And
guess who came to church! The Leach's and the dad was crying because
of the power of the Atonement and how much it meant to him! And guess
who else! Wolf Gang and his little Brother Ian! They are now going on
the Denali hike with the young men! They have not been to church since
they were 10 and Wolf Gang is 17 and Ian is 16! Sooo Cool! We taught 6
lessons today!
Well that was my week! I love you guys!
Elder Russell
O'Malley Ward
Alaska Anchorage Mission
Tuesday, June 3, 2014
We felt prompted to share Helaman 5:12
Monday- We went and had ribs
with Terrance for our Memorial Day dinner! And we taught him the Plan
of Salvation after that! He is a stud!
Wednesday- All we did was see a bunch of less actives! but its
all good though!
Thursday- Well I went on Exchanges with my district leader Elder
Micusker and we trackted alllllll daaaaaayyyyy loooonnnnngggg! And so
no body was letting us in, I don't know if I stunk or that I Looked
ugly that day but they just would not let us in! So when you are
tracking all day occasionally you have to go pee and when I was in
Wasilla you could just walk into the forest and go pee but not in
Anchorage because it is city!!! So I told Elder M that I really have
to pee and I am going to do everything that I can to get into the next
door, so we walk up to the door and we were talking about Jesus Christ
and he was like no thanks but then I was like so how did you come to
know about Jesus Christ? And we ended up talking to him for a couple
more minutes and we started to laugh and have a good conversation and
then after we bore testimony I said " Okay Tommy I have a series
question to ask you..... Can I use your restroom?" He said yes and boy
what a relief, Literally! Haha!
Friday- It was cool we helped this one lady who is less active and our
investigator Terrance was there and after we helped with the service
we felt really prompted to share Helaman 5:12 and we did and the Less
active lady was like no way that was my favorite scripture in seminary
way back when!!! And she bore her testimony about it and it was so
cool because she is making her way back to church and we are meeting
with there kids and she kind of wants them to get baptized!
Saturday- We helped Terrance build or put together a basketball hoop
for the less active ladies boy because it was his birthday and when we
put it together we played a game with them and boy did the
missionaries kick butt!!!! Don't mess with Mormons! They love us so
much! Then we taught Terrance the Gospel of Jesus Christ!
Sunday- Well let me just say that Testimony meeting was not so good
for the missionaries, why because a guy went up there and told the
ward that the missionaries in this ward are not doing there job, we
have not had a baptism in 2 years! Me and Elder Loys chin dropped like
6 feet ( you might not think it is possible that it would dropped that
far but it did) and most of the Members agreed! Ugh!!!! I just wanted
to stand up there at the pulpit and just rebuke them all!!!!! But when
I became a man I put away all foolishness and childish things! ahhhh
that made us so mad but what did we do, we just went back to work! Now
you know why there has not been a baptism in 2 years in that ward, its
not the missionaries, its the members! President was pretty upset!
Well the church is still true even though the people might not be
perfect! ;) haha
Love you guys!
Elder Russell
Tuesday, May 27, 2014
Today is a day that I will never forget and neither will Heavenly Father!
I am doing awesome! We get the Ensign every week so that's good! This
week has been tuff, we have been sick everyday this last week and I am
still sick! There is a fire in the Kenai and missionaries have been
evacuated, because the fire is burning peoples houses now, we wake up
every morning to ashes on our car and the air is really bad so that is
probably why I am sick! Canada is helping us with the fire, how sweet
of them Haha! so mom this is my week!
Monday- We met with our new investigator Terence and we taught him
the Restoration and boy does he know a lot! He has a lot of questions
because all he does to study religion is he googles it! Yeah no good,
but we warned him about it and he is now reading the scriptures
instead of going to the Internet for things!
Tuesday- Honestly nothing really happened except District meeting we
had a barbecue and almost burnt down the church. Me and Elder Loy have
been super sick.
Wednesday- So we did some service and what we did was put in Fiber
glass isolation stuff! OUCH especially because I was In a short
sleeve shirt and had some shorts on. Yeah it hurt really bad! But
guess who was there!? Janessa a Fellowshiper back when I was serving
in Wasilla and when she saw me she was like NOOOOO WAAAYYYY!!!! And
she was crying and I asked why she was crying, she was like you will
understand later! I need your number. So I gave her my number and then
she left!
Thursday- I finally feel better but now Elder Loy is sick and so He
slept for 15 hours! With President permission of course! He was sicker
than I was when I was sick! So I just had an awesome time studying but
during my studying I got a text and this is what it said!
(Janessa = +) (Me *)
+Hi Elder Russell, this is Janessa!
* Janessa! Wow how are you!?
+Doing Amazing and so excited! I want to officially ask you, would you
be the one to baptize me on Saturday?? :)
*Sorry that it took me so long to reply I was dancing and while I was
dancing I realized that I have to reply back. Haha I am speechless!
YES I would love to baptize you! Thank you so much! Oh my goodness you
are awesome!
+YAY!!:) I'm so happy!! you were dancing?? haha
* Yeah don't try to picture me dancing it's not a pretty picture! ;)
Etc.
Friday- We Helped Brother Chavez do some Landscaping!
Saturday- So today was Janessa's baptism and boy was I nervous! I
cannot explain the feeling that I felt when she went into the water!
Not only did she change but I changed as well! I pulled her off to the
side before the baptism to explain to her how this goes and how she
was doing/feeling. She told me that she thought that it was just going
to be me and her and the witnesses and her family! but her friends
came as well and she told me that she is now super nervous! I calmed
her down kind of haha. I don't think it helped when I told her that
she is my first actual baptism! haha! Woops! When it was time for the
actual baptism I walked into my door and she walked into hers and we
looked at each other across from the font waiting to go in and she was
telling me that she was so nervous but she was happy that this is
actually happening! And I was on the other side sticking my thumbs up
in the air saying WOOOOOOOO! But softly and I said this is it Janessa,
this is what you have been waiting for! The curtains open and we both
walked down into the water and we kind of danced around a little bit
trying to get into the right spot, and I grabbed her hand and put it
on my wrist and then I grabbed her right wrist with my left hand and I
said are you Ready? She took a deep breath and almost in tears said
yes! I said "Janessa Estella Ruf, having been commissioned of Jesus
Christ I baptize you in the name of the Father and of the Son and of
the Holy Ghost, Amen! I then waited for her to plug her nose and then
I DUNKED HER!!!! Hahaha It was so awesome! When she came out of the
water she smiled so big and so did I! I then came to realize that when
she came out of the water, she was perfect! And then I realized that I
was holding a perfect human being for that split second! Boy did the
spirit fill my soul! I will never forget this day! And she told me,
neither will she! She is getting an Interview tomorrow after church
for a temple recommend! And for a calling! Hehehe! I told her that I
cannot make it to the conformation tomorrow and she was pretty bummed
about that and so I called president tonight and he told me to Go! I
have not told her yet, but she will see me tomorrow! I will hold
strong to that feeling that I felt today and today is a day that I
will never forget and neither will Heavenly Father!
Sunday- Well I went to the confirmation and she liked jumped up in the
air when she saw me! haha it was awesome!
Well that was my crazy week!
Love you Guys!
Elder Russell
week has been tuff, we have been sick everyday this last week and I am
still sick! There is a fire in the Kenai and missionaries have been
evacuated, because the fire is burning peoples houses now, we wake up
every morning to ashes on our car and the air is really bad so that is
probably why I am sick! Canada is helping us with the fire, how sweet
of them Haha! so mom this is my week!
Monday- We met with our new investigator Terence and we taught him
the Restoration and boy does he know a lot! He has a lot of questions
because all he does to study religion is he googles it! Yeah no good,
but we warned him about it and he is now reading the scriptures
instead of going to the Internet for things!
Tuesday- Honestly nothing really happened except District meeting we
had a barbecue and almost burnt down the church. Me and Elder Loy have
been super sick.
Wednesday- So we did some service and what we did was put in Fiber
glass isolation stuff! OUCH especially because I was In a short
sleeve shirt and had some shorts on. Yeah it hurt really bad! But
guess who was there!? Janessa a Fellowshiper back when I was serving
in Wasilla and when she saw me she was like NOOOOO WAAAYYYY!!!! And
she was crying and I asked why she was crying, she was like you will
understand later! I need your number. So I gave her my number and then
she left!
Thursday- I finally feel better but now Elder Loy is sick and so He
slept for 15 hours! With President permission of course! He was sicker
than I was when I was sick! So I just had an awesome time studying but
during my studying I got a text and this is what it said!
(Janessa = +) (Me *)
+Hi Elder Russell, this is Janessa!
* Janessa! Wow how are you!?
+Doing Amazing and so excited! I want to officially ask you, would you
be the one to baptize me on Saturday?? :)
*Sorry that it took me so long to reply I was dancing and while I was
dancing I realized that I have to reply back. Haha I am speechless!
YES I would love to baptize you! Thank you so much! Oh my goodness you
are awesome!
+YAY!!:) I'm so happy!! you were dancing?? haha
* Yeah don't try to picture me dancing it's not a pretty picture! ;)
Etc.
Friday- We Helped Brother Chavez do some Landscaping!
Saturday- So today was Janessa's baptism and boy was I nervous! I
cannot explain the feeling that I felt when she went into the water!
Not only did she change but I changed as well! I pulled her off to the
side before the baptism to explain to her how this goes and how she
was doing/feeling. She told me that she thought that it was just going
to be me and her and the witnesses and her family! but her friends
came as well and she told me that she is now super nervous! I calmed
her down kind of haha. I don't think it helped when I told her that
she is my first actual baptism! haha! Woops! When it was time for the
actual baptism I walked into my door and she walked into hers and we
looked at each other across from the font waiting to go in and she was
telling me that she was so nervous but she was happy that this is
actually happening! And I was on the other side sticking my thumbs up
in the air saying WOOOOOOOO! But softly and I said this is it Janessa,
this is what you have been waiting for! The curtains open and we both
walked down into the water and we kind of danced around a little bit
trying to get into the right spot, and I grabbed her hand and put it
on my wrist and then I grabbed her right wrist with my left hand and I
said are you Ready? She took a deep breath and almost in tears said
yes! I said "Janessa Estella Ruf, having been commissioned of Jesus
Christ I baptize you in the name of the Father and of the Son and of
the Holy Ghost, Amen! I then waited for her to plug her nose and then
I DUNKED HER!!!! Hahaha It was so awesome! When she came out of the
water she smiled so big and so did I! I then came to realize that when
she came out of the water, she was perfect! And then I realized that I
was holding a perfect human being for that split second! Boy did the
spirit fill my soul! I will never forget this day! And she told me,
neither will she! She is getting an Interview tomorrow after church
for a temple recommend! And for a calling! Hehehe! I told her that I
cannot make it to the conformation tomorrow and she was pretty bummed
about that and so I called president tonight and he told me to Go! I
have not told her yet, but she will see me tomorrow! I will hold
strong to that feeling that I felt today and today is a day that I
will never forget and neither will Heavenly Father!
Sunday- Well I went to the confirmation and she liked jumped up in the
air when she saw me! haha it was awesome!
Well that was my crazy week!
Love you Guys!
Elder Russell
.jpg)
A note from Janessa to Elder Russell!
Just want to say thank you for everything!! :) for baptizing me and
for being so amazing!! You're one of the coolest people I've ever met!
:) I'll never forget this! I'll definitely come visit the O'malley
ward soon and say hi. I hope everything is going well for you. Miss
you!
Instagram post! Haha
Sincerely,
Janessa
for being so amazing!! You're one of the coolest people I've ever met!
:) I'll never forget this! I'll definitely come visit the O'malley
ward soon and say hi. I hope everything is going well for you. Miss
you!
Instagram post! Haha
Sincerely,
Janessa
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