Monday, November 16, 2009
Sunday, November 15, 2009
Saturday, November 14, 2009
Monday, November 9, 2009
A BIG FAMILY........week 26
¡Buenos días familia! Me hace sentir feliz escuchar que todos están bien y espero que el Señor siga bendiciéndoles por su fidelidad and obediencia.
So another week has passed and well, it is a thing of the past. This week was a very good one for our companionship as we have made significant progress with many investigators.
I think I forgot to fill you in last week, but we had a baptism. Carlos, the 12 year old son of Margionie and sister of Sidney (both recent converts of a month) was baptized and it was a nice service. Simple, short, but powerful. I will try to attach photos in this email along with a few other things I have been up to…
We have been working all this week with the Narbaes-Sanchez-Espinoza-who knows else family haha. They are about 11 in the immediate and extended family. We started teaching the Narbaes family which consisted of Victor and Ester and their second oldest daughter and son. Then we met the husband of the daughter. Then we met the brother of the sister and his family. Then we met the other daughters and their husbands and boyfriends. It is quite a big group and it is kind of funny how we ended up teaching all of progressing investigators at the same time…productive if you ask me.
Anyway, we watched several church films this week with the families and we focused our messages on Eternal families and the Restoration. I can testify that the spirit was present in each of our meetings and I know that each of the families left the lessons edified and better people. Now that is not to say that we had no problems or that they had no doubts. They are a very catholic family and have several BIG traditions that we must help them overcome. But there is no challenge that the Lord cant overcome. I can promise that.
One lesson this week, we were blessed in a very special way. The family favored us with one of their prayers and ways of worship. Sure, it was very different than what we do in the church for prayer. But as they each gave thanks to us for having visited them and taught them, they testified that they had felt something that was indescribable, something they had never felt before or at least not in the same way. As we thanked them for having shared this prayer with us, our gratitude was full and the spirit lifted our hearts. Throughout this past week, all accepted the invitation to pray and ponder about be baptized this coming week. We could potentially baptize 3 families and about 10 individuals in one day! It would be quite the way to finish the mission for my companion, this week being the last. He leaves the 17th for Honduras after serving faithfully for 2 years in Nicaragua.
I stand all amazed at the miracles that God works across the world. I see firsthand the growth of the church here in Nicaragua. People have so much faith to accept such a dramatic change. The family after a life of living one way is willing to change and accept baptism as a renewal of the faith in the Savior and covenant with Him to serve Him and keep His commandments. They have repeatedly commented on the power of the Sacrament as they have partaken of it, I and I know too of its cleansing power. I feel it every time that I partake.
I can testify of the reality of the Atonement of Jesus Christ. I know that when we repent of the wrongs we have done in our life and bring about fruits of repentance, the Lord forgives us completely. It is a full forgiveness and He doesn´t remember more what we have done. I have felt this in my life and I see it in so many lives here. I know that the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter day Saints IS the TRUE church of Christ on the earth today. They fruits are many that testify are many, the testimonies greater, but not one testimony is as a great as the personal testimony gained by a humble son or daughter who asks the Eternal Father if it is all true. I have that personal witness. It is true and I know it! Even Ester, the matriarch of the family said, “if it weren’t true, the church wouldn´t grow like it is!”
I love all of you. I thank you for your prayers. I can testify that throughout the day I walk and suddenly the spirit tells me and reminds me that friends and family are praying for me. I feel the strength. Thank you.
May the Lord bless you always,
Elder Grant Russell
P.S. Brittany Blue is getting married!? Wow! Tell her congrats for me. Camilla too!? That is such good news and I am so happy for them. Please tell them that I wish I could be there to celebrate but I am currently a bit occupied ha ha. I think they will understand.
About the package, the brownies and cookies were great even though they had been sitting for so long. The vacuum package helped. Both were a little airy, the cookies were stuck together but they tasted good. I am willing to accept another batch ha ha. The pants fit fine, a little tighter than my other ones…I don’t know if I am getting fat or if they are just smaller…but they work out thanks.
If you want to send another package, go ahead and do it, but I don’t know if it is a financial burden? It looked liked the other package cost a lot to send. Maybe you could send in an envelope if it is cheaper. My favorite were the photos. In the next set if you could send more photos and maybe even include some photos of my friends from home and school. In the rush of the mission prep, I didn´t bring any photos of my friends from school. Maybe you could look on facebook and print of a few pages of my friends. Sean could help with that during Thanksgiving break maybe. Also a few email addresses from my friends would be great! What ever you can do.
Sending letters is a little slow these days plus it is more expensive.
Facebook friends that I would like their email addresses (or mission addresses):
Carson Bennett (serving a mission in Brazil), Daniel Brown (in Thailand), Nathan Zabriski (Cambodia), Mark Vomicil (don’t know if he got his mission call yet), Cherry Quist, Sini…(hard name…from Finland). With those, I can get the rest. Thanks.
Monday, November 2, 2009
The Spirit gives Correction as a Form of Direction........week 25
Well family…it was another week and I will fill you in.
First of all, I wanted to thank you for your letter and for sharing the experiences you are having. I really enjoyed hearing about Arick Christopher and his experiences in the mission. I too am trying to change and be more obedient. I have a testimony that by obeying the mission rules, God blesses us with miracles as well. I know that not only is He more willing to bless us but that we have the spirit in greater abundance as well to teach with power and authority. I know that He really desires that we obey in all things, no matter how small or “insignificant” the rule might seem.
This week we had several very spiritual experiences. We have continued to teach a Catholic family this week that we had previously stopped teaching due to a lack of interest. But upon teaching them again, the interest was rekindled and they are really enjoying the lessons and have come to church twice now as a family and have invited their extended family to listen.
We spent the entire lesson talking about how families can be eternal. It is one of those topics that always brings such awe and amazement. It is one of the truths of the gospel that was lost in the Apostasy and is truly singular to our religion because of the restoration. As we talked about how children in this life aren't temporary but that they can be eternally our children, the mothers in the room (there were three) were truly intrigued and touched. It is as if the truth rung clear and true in their hearts. I have seen in the mission how the truths of the gospel have a way of just feeling right to people, as if they had always known them! It is because they are true. It is because they use to know those things! The spirit helps us remember the truths that we once knew.
As a missionary, one of the sweetest experiences is to know that the spirit is testifying of these truths. I am still an inexperienced and weak missionary, but when I testify of the truth the investigators feel it. I know it because I can see how they listen to my testimony intently. The spirit tells me that it has testified to them that it is true. I testified that my family is eternal and all of us can be eternal if we but live worthily. I testified that the church is really restored along with all of its powers and rights such as the right to seal in the heavens what has been sealed on earth. I said, “for me, Heaven wouldn´t be Heaven if I weren't there with my family.” It is true! I feel so blessed to have the family that I have. Thank you for being an eternal family and I will do my part so that we can all be together forever.
This week I have also learned a valuable lesson about valuing my companion. My companion has many weaknesses and for some time I was so focused on them that I began to judge. I think I fell into a trap laid by Satan so that we would have contention in our companionship. Don't get me wrong…we haven't fought or anything but I have had feelings of resentment towards him from time to time. I have now been shown that I was wrong to ever think badly of him. In silent moments of contemplation, the spirit has shown me how Heavenly Father views him: a child of God and a set apart servant of Him. At one point this week, my companion shared with me an experience of how he had repented after a time of rebellion in the mission. He said, “I am not perfect and I have many weaknesses, but I have tried to do my best and I have made an effort to change for the better.” I was humbled in this moment. That night, I thanked my companion for all of the work he had done in the mission and for all of the things he has taught me up to this point. I realized and testified to him that we were companions for a reason and that I had been helped by his example. He gave a short thank you but the best feeling I had was that the spirit testified to me that I had done rightly in forgiving him and thanking him for his efforts. Satan is the father of contention. Heavenly Father teaches us that we should love everyone, including those who may disagree with you. I hope I can change and apply these things in my future mission and life.
I can truly testify that God loves me and knows my desires as a missionary. I know that I am not perfect and never will be in this life but I work and do my best. I know that the Lord is happy with what I am trying to do and I hope and pray that He will continue to guide and direct me.
May God always give you direction and correction in your life so that you can grow and improve.
The church is true. God lives. He knows us personally.
Elder Grant Russell
P.S. I got the package :-) I liked the food and everything. Thanks! The package arrived in about 2 weeks from when you sent it but sat in the mission office for 3 weeks. Cookies were great! Almost gone…not so good ha ha.
First of all, I wanted to thank you for your letter and for sharing the experiences you are having. I really enjoyed hearing about Arick Christopher and his experiences in the mission. I too am trying to change and be more obedient. I have a testimony that by obeying the mission rules, God blesses us with miracles as well. I know that not only is He more willing to bless us but that we have the spirit in greater abundance as well to teach with power and authority. I know that He really desires that we obey in all things, no matter how small or “insignificant” the rule might seem.
This week we had several very spiritual experiences. We have continued to teach a Catholic family this week that we had previously stopped teaching due to a lack of interest. But upon teaching them again, the interest was rekindled and they are really enjoying the lessons and have come to church twice now as a family and have invited their extended family to listen.
We spent the entire lesson talking about how families can be eternal. It is one of those topics that always brings such awe and amazement. It is one of the truths of the gospel that was lost in the Apostasy and is truly singular to our religion because of the restoration. As we talked about how children in this life aren't temporary but that they can be eternally our children, the mothers in the room (there were three) were truly intrigued and touched. It is as if the truth rung clear and true in their hearts. I have seen in the mission how the truths of the gospel have a way of just feeling right to people, as if they had always known them! It is because they are true. It is because they use to know those things! The spirit helps us remember the truths that we once knew.
As a missionary, one of the sweetest experiences is to know that the spirit is testifying of these truths. I am still an inexperienced and weak missionary, but when I testify of the truth the investigators feel it. I know it because I can see how they listen to my testimony intently. The spirit tells me that it has testified to them that it is true. I testified that my family is eternal and all of us can be eternal if we but live worthily. I testified that the church is really restored along with all of its powers and rights such as the right to seal in the heavens what has been sealed on earth. I said, “for me, Heaven wouldn´t be Heaven if I weren't there with my family.” It is true! I feel so blessed to have the family that I have. Thank you for being an eternal family and I will do my part so that we can all be together forever.
This week I have also learned a valuable lesson about valuing my companion. My companion has many weaknesses and for some time I was so focused on them that I began to judge. I think I fell into a trap laid by Satan so that we would have contention in our companionship. Don't get me wrong…we haven't fought or anything but I have had feelings of resentment towards him from time to time. I have now been shown that I was wrong to ever think badly of him. In silent moments of contemplation, the spirit has shown me how Heavenly Father views him: a child of God and a set apart servant of Him. At one point this week, my companion shared with me an experience of how he had repented after a time of rebellion in the mission. He said, “I am not perfect and I have many weaknesses, but I have tried to do my best and I have made an effort to change for the better.” I was humbled in this moment. That night, I thanked my companion for all of the work he had done in the mission and for all of the things he has taught me up to this point. I realized and testified to him that we were companions for a reason and that I had been helped by his example. He gave a short thank you but the best feeling I had was that the spirit testified to me that I had done rightly in forgiving him and thanking him for his efforts. Satan is the father of contention. Heavenly Father teaches us that we should love everyone, including those who may disagree with you. I hope I can change and apply these things in my future mission and life.
I can truly testify that God loves me and knows my desires as a missionary. I know that I am not perfect and never will be in this life but I work and do my best. I know that the Lord is happy with what I am trying to do and I hope and pray that He will continue to guide and direct me.
May God always give you direction and correction in your life so that you can grow and improve.
The church is true. God lives. He knows us personally.
Elder Grant Russell
P.S. I got the package :-) I liked the food and everything. Thanks! The package arrived in about 2 weeks from when you sent it but sat in the mission office for 3 weeks. Cookies were great! Almost gone…not so good ha ha.
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