July 27, 2015 Howdy Ya'll

How is life going for ya'll?

Last night we got a call from a woman who gave me a huge testimony builder.

A month ago we met someone who was really excited to meet us. She comes from a strictly catholic family but she stayed with a LDS couple in Oklahoma. She was going to be baptized into our church but her parents wouldnt let her. So it was truly a miracle when we found her. She moved back to Alpine, Texas where her family lives and we cant meet with her because her family wont let us. She is so strong and we are praying to get to meet with her. The lady who called us is the lady who took care of her in oklahoma. Sorry leave a cliff hanger but i ran out of time. I will tell ya'll the full story next time! Have a great week! and Shine so bright that everyone can see that light of christ in you!

Daddy don't worry I got my pepper spray. One of our investigators made my companion and I go buy one.

July 20, 2015 God Bless Ya'll

Howdy,

Well turns out no one really says howdy here. That's ok because i still am going to say it.

So life as a missionary just gets better and better. The more i learn the more i grow closer to Heavenly Father and Jesus Christ. 

My companion and I spoke in sacrament meeting this past Sunday. I was the first to speak and i was so scared but it wasn't bad at all. The third person speaking was Tyler Curtis who is leaving on Friday to serve his mission in Argentina! He is a great kid and he will be a great missionary. It was cool because we all spoke about the Atonement. When I first got up to speak he said he was worried because he didn't want to repeat anything. But it all worked out because we shared a lot of different things. It was just perfect.

One of our investigators came to church that day too! It was awesome because we have been praying for him to come and he did! We were actually really surprised. His name is James and he is such a great guy.

I also looked over and saw a less active who has been having a hard time but he showed up! He hasn't come to church in awhile but he decided to make his mom happy by coming. It was perfect. Then we saw another less active who hasn't come in awhile because his wife has been sick. So we were so surprised to see him and it was super great:) We went and visited him and his wife and they said they will be attending next week as well because the wife feels a lot better. Miracles!!!! I truly just love being a missionary. I wouldn't change it for the world. You learn so much and yes its hard but what in life isn't hard. Life is hard period.

Someone actually told us in the MTC that this is probably the easiest time of your life. You don't have to worry about bills, a car, and someone is managing all your money for you. Its so true. 

I love you all so much and hope all is well! God Bless! Hasta luego.

Ill send pictures next week.

Chao and Love you ALL,

Hermana Russell

Visitor From Alpine, Texas

This week we received a visit from Rene the mission leader in the Branch from Alpine, Texas. He is here in Utah for a mission reunion from his Maryland mission  He says for this being her first area, Rachel is very motivated and a great missionary.

July 13, 2015 Staying in Alpine!

Hey ya'll!

This week was transfers and I get to stay in Alpine with my companion Hermana Nicholson! It has been the best here in Alpine and I did not want to leave. The assistants to the President call if you are being transferred and text if you aren't. So they actually called us and we were freaking out. But they just wanted to scare us which was pretty mean.

Alpine is so beautiful and the people here are great. Even though everyone has their own different religion they still are so willing to learn something new. I hope we can find those who are ready for the Gospel soon. We are working with a few less-active people at the moment and they are really progressing:) Once they start working hard spiritually then they remember the feeling of the spirit and they are so much stronger than the adversary. There are actually a lot of less-actives here but we are really working on them. Harder than the adversary! This week something really stood out to me. How hard the Adversary is working hard on people. It is horrible and i feel so lucky to have grown up the way i have. I have always been so lucky to have the gospel in my family and i sometimes think, "Why did i get so lucky?"

Be grateful for the things you have and for the family that you have. it could be worse. Seriously people are going through the hardest things and i always have to remind myself that there is always someone else that is in a worse state than i am right now.

Motto for the week: FORGET YOURSELF AND GO TO WORK!

This gospel is truly amazing. I am so grateful for the things that we have to protect us from the world. This life is truly amazing and knowing what are purpose here on earth is, helps us to keep progressing in this amazing adventure. Moses 1:39 "Behold this is my work and my Glory....." I read this scripture this morning and it truly is HIS work and HIS Glory. We have the opportunity to take part in it. I love ya'll so much and don't ever forget your purpose here on earth! It is so interesting to meet so many who don't know their purpose. 

Be grateful and Be kind. Even though there are so many different religions out there, we are all children of God. Be that Example to those who haven't received that true knowledge yet. "For they know not where to find it" Somewhere in D&C.

Tenga una buena semana!!

Chao and Love you ALL,

Hermana Russell

July 6, 2015 Transfers Next Week! The Prompting

Howdy!

HAPPY 4TH OF JULY!! This week has gone by so fast. This whole transfer has gone by so fast.

I have really been working hard on following any promptings from the Spirit:) It may seem crazy until you do it and then you see so many blessings that come from it. I love it so much. You are unstoppable as a missionary. I am so grateful for the opportunity to be a missionary.

On the 4th of July we had the most amazing experience, my companion and I both had a prompting to go to Fort Davis which is a half an hour away from Alpine. When we realized that we both had the same prompting we left right then and there to Fort Davis. I felt prompted to find one of our in-active members and guess what, we found him. At the parade. We parked and walked past his house a couple times because we aren't aloud to knock on the door. The dad despises missionaries. And he is super scary so we choose to keep our distance. We then walked down a random road towards the parade and then prayed to know what to do next. We talked to a lady who was nice but wasn't interested. We turned our backs and there he was; walking straight towards us. It was absolutely perfect. We walked until our paths met perfectly and i reached out my hand for a hand shake. He was a little shocked. He told us he was sick of these dumb parades and was heading home. We said, "perfect may we walk with you?" He replied yes and we talked with him the entire way home. He also invited us to sit down and we had a lesson with him. It was awesome. He is going through some pretty tough things and one is getting over cigarettes which he is highly addicted to. Please pray for him. We ended the lesson and his brother came walking down the road. Perfect. We went and talked to him and the father never showed up to kick us out. It was just absolutely perfect. The Holy Ghost is real:) I am so grateful for this gospel. Please follow any promptings that you receive because it is for a specific reason. Those promptings are so important to follow. The Holy Ghost is our teacher. Moroni 3-5. Hope ya'll have a great week. God Bless!!!!

Love the buildings in fort davis

took a lunch break and got Mexican Smoothies which are amazing. Mango with chili powder

July 1, 2015 Phone Call from Karen Hahni of Orem

Sister Karen Hahni called from Orem tonight.  She is the sister to President Heaps wife, Mary Heap.  Karen was visiting in Lubbock last week and met Rachel in the temple there.  She says she is a darling girl!!  She was glad to get to meet her. While visiting in Texas she was told by President Heap the mission is 11 hours from the North end of the Mission to the South end, and 8 hours from East to West.

June 29, 2015 Just a thank you note this week!

 Rachel was invited to Big Bend National Park by someone there in Alpine, Texas.  Mission President said, "Why not?"  So we are guessing Rachel went, because we didn't get a letter!  She did get her trail mix and sent a big thank you!

Thank you!

I totally made some fish. 

Ya i know i am the best cook ever. seriously cookin' is so easy.