Be Filled to the Brim with the Spirit

Dear Family,

Well, all is well here in Zarumilla!! Another week come and gone!

Well, as for what's been happening here, J won't make it for his baptismal date, he missed the Sacrament this Sunday showing up late. But we are at least thrilled he showed up! It is great progress and we will be continuing to work with him. And please pray that his wife will sit down and take part of the visits as well! 

One thing that was like a highlight of the week was with J at church. He loooves to participate!! It is so so awesome, he is always putting in his word. haha During priesthood meeting the 3rd hour, I was sitting next to him. And one of the councilors as part of his lesson was talking about Home Teaching. He was explaining the importance of doing your visits. He explained there are those members less active who will not accept anyone into their home to listen! "But there is always one. Always one that can get to them." One that can get to their heart. Then J calls out "Like Elder Russell!!" The councilor didn't say much to that but a sound of affirmation and continued with the lesson, but I was on cloud 9 from that comment! haha that was so awesome, then Elder Moses secretly gave me a fist bump. But man, I love teaching him, he is such a good man going through such trials. I hope we can keep blessing his life. But seriously, he is the best.

This week we also found a lot of couples in the street. We are now trying to contact EVERY couple or family we see in the street. And it is starting to bring forth good fruit. We found a couple who are accepting the visits, who will be interesting to see how it goes. They used to be super super involved in the Catholic church, even leadership, but fell inactive about 4 years ago for the gossipy culture of the inner groups or something like that. We will see how it goes like them, they are very accepting. We've just got to help them get a testimony of the Book of Mormon.

The Zone meeting was so awesome!! The spirit was so strong. We talked about the role of the spirit and sitting there full of all this spirit, I was thinking, why can't I feel like this all the time?! The truth is, you totally can. You just gotta dedicate yourself more fully. So that is my goal. Just be filled to the brim with the spirit. Stuffed to the rafters. Like a fat man after Thanksgiving. It's just gotta radiate, and that is really what the people need. Also I learned this week if we want more baptisms, we need to be more consecrated, more obedient, and more diligent. As a companionship. So there is the homework there. And let's get rolling!!

This week I got to have exchanges with Elder Wilson! This was his 3rd week in the mission field, so that was awesome being able to help out a gringo with Spanish a little bit! We even got him to invite a couple to baptism! They didn't quite accept, but we did some pretty great miracles together that day. He is from Meridian Idaho! He too is going to BYU after. He is a sport superstar too. Lacrosse and football mostly. So it was a lot of fun conversations.

Well, that is all I've got for now! Thank you all for your love and letters! Keep up the great work and keep being missionaries over there!!

Atte:

Elder Russell

All Is Well Here in Zarumilla!

Hello family of mine!!

Well this week sounds like it went very well for you all back home! I am super excited to go to the Ogden Temple when I get back, that needs to be one of the first things we do. I am so glad that the ceremony went well, I thought about that quite a bit and how strong of a blessing that is for all you guys to take part in that. You will truly never forget those times of practicing and that night of performance. And to have Apostles and the Prophet there, what an amazing deal.

As for us here in Zarumilla, Tumbes, Peru, we are doing pretty well!! A busy week, traveling to and from Piura is never fun.

so, to answer your question mom;

What was the best thing you experienced on your long bus ride to and from Piura last week?

I slept actually really well on the ride back to Tumbes! I was only awake for like 45 minutes of the whole 5 hour ride! So that was very impressive. haha Also I filmed a fantastic video with my camera. So you know that picture of the Desert of Judeo and the Dead Sea? Maybe this photo is just in the Spanish version, but I now have a video. It shows this image from the scriptures, then shows the view from the window. Identical. Barren desertous mountains. That is what you get between Talara and Mancora. hahah so I got a kick out of that.

So for P Day today we went to the beach and played frisbee, volleyball, and soccer as a district, that was really fun. We have a well knit district and we know how to have a good time.

to answer more questions:

What do you see when you look outside of your apartment?

Here, our apartment is adjoined with our Pensionista's house. So when I look out, I get to see our neat little fence and a MANGO TREE! (have I not told you about the mango tree?) They are starting to ripen now so that is super exciting, the penionista tells us they are very sweet.

What are some of the tender mercies you have noticed in your life most recently?

Well, Elder Bednar explained a tender mercy as this.

the Lord’s tender mercies are the very personal and individualized blessings, strength, protection, assurances, guidance, loving-kindnesses, consolation, support, and spiritual gifts which we receive from and because of and through the Lord Jesus Christ.

As for this week, I think the revelations and teachings and lifted understanding from my reading of Jesus the Christ this week have been spectacular. I will be frankly honest. I don't think I really understood the true importance and value of Jesus Christ's life, atonement, and teachings. I thought it was important we went to church and prayed to God and just do what good kids should do. But I am now learning that this church is true and WHY and I am beginning to understand why we call this the Church of JESUS CHRIST of Latter-day Saints. I don't really know how to put to words all the thoughts and feelings that have come to me, but I am really growing to learn what matter of man Jesus of Nazareth truly is. He is the Son of God. I hope to keep learning and receive greater understanding. This has also been helping a lot with my Bible studies.

Great news, J now has a baptismal date! It is set for the 18th of October! We have to work really really hard for that one though... and we might be changing it so both him and his wife can set a common goal. He told us that he wants his wife to support and take part, and we are totally on board for that!! The thing is, right now they are teaching us in a temporary home with very little room until they finish the construction of their real home (which should be the end of the month). Right now they are teaching us in the doorway with us sitting outside in the street, and I think she is a little embarrassed by the situation, but she still always listens and we are always inviting her to sit down, so we will be working on her. Also J has a habit or two we gotta cut. But we are getting some good progress with him!!

As for R and family, they are very receptive and we are really helping them create a healthy home setting. It seems like they have a lot going on there, it sounds like the father is almost constantly drinking, and the parents don't know how to establish or enforce boundaries in the family. So we are helping them create the family foundation on Jesus Christ, first focusing on the principle of prayer. So slowly but surely.

We are contacting and focusing a LOAD more on families right now, but the majority of our following up visits didn't follow through this week.... better luck this time around! We are finding though, and that is spectacular!!!

This week we have a Multi Zone conference, so I am very excited for that!! Those are also amazing meetings we get to have. It looks like we are going to be talking a lot about the Holy Ghost, and it should be a very powerful meeting.

Well, all is well here in Zarumilla! It is quite the area, very different from Sechura and Tambo Grande, and I am growing greatly from my time here.

Well, I wish you all a fantastic week full of blessings and spiritual experiences! Pray as a family. DAILY. and read the scriptures as a family. DAILY. Will y'all do that for me? :)

You are all the best, have a wonder week! Thank you all for your letters and love!! Take luck!

Atte:

Elder Russell

Salta Gringo!

Hello family of mine!!

Well, this week was AWESOME!! But super slow honestly... the weeks were like days with Elder Corpona and now they shot back to normal a bit. haha but things are going super well.

This next week will be an interesting one. Today I am off to Piura for a District Leader Training, my favorite meetings in the mission so far, and also I need to start doing a little bit of training about the weekly planning session with my district. But I love the work here!!

Elder Encarnacion is seriously the coolest. He talks really really fast, but that is helping me with my Spanish. Right now I honestly feel like I can understand 95% of everything. Well, then there are those days where Spanish just doesn't come out of my mouth and I turn super Gringo. haha but with Elder Encarnacion I am growing to understand more and more and also talk with more fluency.

But he is just a fireball for finding new people. This week we found a spectacular family!! They live real close to our apartment and just understand everything! So we are going to really start working with them. In that famly, there are the parents, with their three children 18, 13, and 6. So we will be working with them.

R. never attended church. And now she is studying in the afternoons in college. And so after this being like her 4th time with a baptismal date falling, and 3 or 4 years as an investigator I've been told, yeah we are going to put her on hold for a little bit. A great family, but right now we need to find the chosen ones for right now. Their time will come.

J. is doing real great. He wants us to talk to his wife, who is always busy doing stuff when we visit. She is having a real rough time with all that's going on. So that is the goal for this week. We really think they could progress super fast. And his wife already loves it when we pass by.

Now in our district we got ELDER WILSON!!! He is fresh out from Meridian, Idaho!! He now has one week in the mission field and we are helping him out with his Spanish. He is the man, seriously. He worked on the farm, loves to hunt, played linebacker in football, he is so great. And for never having studied Spanish before, he is learning real fast.

One of the big laughs this week was when the 6 of us missionaries were invited to lunch on Saturday. Here there is something called Aceituna. It is an olive, but they call it the death of Gringos. It is nasty. Suuuuuuper bitter and just gross. But we show up and they serve us this meal with an aceituna on top. And we were all like "Hey, Elder Wilson, do you like Aceituna?"

"Wha-?"

"It's like an olive. It's suuuper delicious!! Try it! Try it!"

"Ok." and he puts a whole aceituna in his mouth, then we watch him fight to swallow it down and we are all laughing, it was quite comical. We shouldn't take advantage of the greenies like that, but I'm sure one day he will get a laugh out of that. Every North American passes through it.

Another fun thing was during proselyting. In our area they are always doing huge plumbing jobs, so the dirt roads always have their trenches and massive dirt mounds and such. And a couple times this week Elder Encarnacion and I talk about jumping the gap of these deep holes. And there was one time where he went and jumped it. Then I am getting all ready, backing up to get some space, game face, then I run but chicken out in the last moment. All the people in the street start laughing at me. A couple days later, the same thing happens. But this time I am backing up and getting ready, and this guy repairing a roof a couple houses down starts yelling "Salta Gringo! Salta Gringo! Salta Salta!!" (Salta means Jump) so then I was determined. I had to make it. So then I jump and stumblingly land on the other side. But I made it. The crowds here sure get a kick out of the Utah boy. But Elder Encarnacion and I were always laughing this week.

What was the most difficult thing you experienced this past week?

The most difficult? Hmm... probably the usual. Visits falling through. Here the people tell you they are going to do something then they never do. I just get frustrated. But we just keep working hard, I am growing and learning from them. One of the biggest and greatest lessons I have learned in the mission is the law of obedience and the law of sacrifice. Now I am working hard to help these wonderful people learn as well.

Well, all is going well! I am also now teaching Family History classes in the ward, man I love that topic now so much! It is so awesome. Approximating dates, how to find, it is all so fun! You should all get a hold of that stuff! And I think Mom, you mentioned indexing! That is the best!!! I cannot wait until Tumbes gets it's indexing done... we need it here.

Well, that is a couple things about what it happening in my neck of the woods! Hope all is going well back home!! I love you all, keep being awesome!

Atte:

Elder Russell

(Collin downloaded these pictures a couple of weeks ago … there were 20 similar shots. It makes me smile to see their enthusiasm and to think of Collin getting everyone lined up for jumping -- he's a funny boy! :)

Transfers and Service

Well, this week flew by!!                                     

Some things new, we had transfers! I am still in Zarumilla, but I now have a new companion! His name is Elder Encarnacion, he is originally from Ecuador, but he has been living in Arequipa, Peru, for the past 3 years. I actually knew him while I was in Tambo Grande, he was serving in my zone. He now has about 8 months, this is his 3rd area, and he is quite awesome! He is a funny guy, I am excited to see how things go.

This morning Elder Moses and I spent the morning reorganizing my apartment, now it is organized much better, lots more space. And cleaner. Elder Moses seriously is a saint for helping me. He is part of my District, and he is from California! I will get around to sending pictures soon of the apartment.

And so the 3 companionships in the district got transfers. Elder Rollins is off to SECHURA! I am so so pumped for him. But it isn't my area, but his pensionista will be Hermana Mara!! So awesome. So his companion Elder Orellana will now be training a new missionary here! And Elder Ponce (Elder Moses' companion) is off to Paita. Elder Moses will be here with Elder Cisneros, a very loving missionary, he seems super awesome. He is in the same group as Elder Plata. Elder Corpona left to Piura, in San Pedro. That is the same part of Piura that Elder Encarnacion was in before he came here!

This week, as you can see in the pictures I'm sending, was full of service! Painting and cleaning windows, and cleaning a water tank, it was quite enjoyable!!

As for investigators, R's baptismal date fell, she hasn't been attending church. We just gotta help her get support from her family. J is doing super well, but this past week has been really, really hard for him with some tragic family events. I won't go into detail, but his daughter passed away quite abruptly, so this week he has been busy with family and other appointments and such, but we have been passing by quite often to offer a hand of help and we are teaching the plan of salvation. Hopefully we can help him through these rough times.

Congrats Uncle Bryan!! I will be honest, last week when I heard that the Stake Presidency was going to change, I too, like many of the family it sounds like, thought you were one fit for the job. Knee pads might be a good investment, you are gonna be such a great Stake President!

Well I am growing and doing well! Honestly this week I have learned that Satan is playing super serious hard ball. He is 100% out to destroy God's plan. He is day and night after us, and we've got to be full time working to build God's kingdom and have the Holy Ghost to guide us. This week I had a serious desire to find more power as a missionary and I learned a little more this week that it comes through principles of righteousness, as it explains in D&C 121:36. I loved that scripture this week.

Well, sorry that isn't too much information this week, but I will be sure to write more next week!! haha Love you all!! Keep up the good work!

Elder Collin Russell

To answer mom's questions:

When was a time that you felt the spirit most strongly this past week?

Really, this week I came to realize how seriously Satan is taking his work, and how fallen the world has become. I will be honest, this mission has been showing me a LOT about the true state the world is in. And this week I searched in how I, as a missionary, could receive more power. And it all came down to D&C 121:36. This week I felt the drive from the spirit exhorting me to be better. And that was great, this week I honestly feel like my power as a missionary and priesthood holder has grown and better understood personally. Now I just gotta keep this up every week!

What was the best thing you ate recently?

Yesterday I once again realized that I love Seco de Cabrito. Cabrito is like goat or sheep or something. But I quite like it. Also my favorite foods these days are Pescado Sudado (Fish that is cooked like in a broth that they serve with a separate plate of plain rice) and Arroz con Mariscos (rice mixed with shrimp, clams, octopus, and such sea food)

How are your District Leader responsibilities helping you to grow?

I am learning to work on my feet and focus on the needs of others. I just get to learn lots from a lot of other missionaries and just always help out in this and that. More than anything I am learning the importance to serve and the constant companionship of the spirit to guide the work. And having this position has been helping me recognize the spirit and improve my teaching skills a super bunch.

There ya go!! Have a great week :)

Elder Collin Russell

Another Great Week!

Hello family of mine!                                           

This week was good! I had exchanges with the Zone Leaders one day in Tumbes and that was really fun to learn from Elder Bradshaw. He is from Alpine Utah and really cool! They also have "Happy Burger" in their area, which has the Burger King sign but says Happy Burger and they sell delicious hamburgers! So I took advantage of that opportunity. Quality Hamburgers here in Peru are hard to come by. And also when I got back to Zarumilla, Elder Romero, the other Zone Leader, and my companion got one of the investigators with a Baptismal date!! So that was a real treat! Her baptism is set for the 27th of September. Honestly, we are going to have to work reeeeeally hard for that one. This is her 4th time with a baptismal date, and her parents are currently opposed to missionaries. She is 18, she knows the church is true, but we gotta work hard for her to get truly prepared. So that’s the homework.

Also J. is progressing great! We finally got to his house Saturday when someone was home and they were like "What a miracle you guys showed up!" And he has been waiting for us to come and help him prepare for the next Gospel Principles class at church! He was so set on attending and also in the lesson he understood everything super well!!! The weird thing is he actually didn’t show up for Church, so we gotta go see what happened there. But I think he could be one of our next baptisms.

Church was interesting. All the people we expected to come, didn’t. But the good part is that all the people we DIDN’T expect to come, DID!!! We showed up at like 8:45 (we start at 9) and there were 3 people sitting there in the sacrament hall. A middle aged woman and two teenage boys. I had met one of the boys about a month ago, the 17 year old, we knocked on his door about a month ago to share a message but never made the follow-up visit. And now he was at church with his aunt and cousin whom we didn’t recognize! Apparently she works in the store next door to us, but I never made any notice to that honestly... But they just showed up!! Then during the 3 hour church, Elder Orellana got to know them best, sitting with them chatting between all the meetings, and now Elder Corpona and I have the visit set for Tuesday! And Elder Orellana said they were asking about Baptism!! Now, let's not count the chickens before they hatch, but I am very, very excited to see what comes from this family. It was really a miracle they showed up! I'll keep you posted.

Also this week we helped Bishop Pastor in his chacra (plantation is the translation, more or less I think...) of Bananas. We got machetes and cleared off the dead leaves and all that. Super awesome experience, I will send photos soon.

Well, I have lots to tell you, but I seriously lack time... man. Sorry!! But this week was great and another great week to come!! We have a bunch of service planned, new investigators coming up (finally we are finding!!) but we also have transfers coming up next week so we will see what that brings,

Love you all!!

Elder Collin Russell

I sent some mustaches in his birthday package… 

it looks like he put them to good use at a District Meeting :)