Week 9 - S...N...O...W (12/27/2016)

Well after this week, I'm tired of seeing snow. This week we really didn't see much of success due to the holidays and people being gone or celebrating the holidays. We did get to teach a lesson to a girl who wasn't quite understanding the gospel very well and so we taught the Restoration in a much more simpler and visual form. We taught this girl who is 11 the Restoration with a piece of paper. Elder Sarabia pretended that he was Heavenly Father and that we were all his children. The piece of paper represented the priesthood and some of us were prophets. He would hand down the paper to each one of his choice servants aka Prophets, and we'd have that power to baptize, preach the gospel, and share it with everyone. It was awesome. She understood it and we definitely feel that she was touched by the spirit. Later this week we sadly didn't get to Baptize Homero but for sure this Saturday he is. Everything is set in motion and we are excited for it. Now on the other hand we did get two new possible investigators, which is always a good thing. They were people we had contacted and they seem really open and willing to hear what we have to say about the Gospel. So on Christmas day I got to Skype my family home which was really awesome to hear how they are doing and see how it is back home versus here. After Skyping with them we ran to a dinner appointment with the English Elders that live in our apartment and it was really good. We then ran over to talk with Homero and see how he's doing and his family fed us while we were there. We had two dinners that night which was awesome. Afterwards we went caroling as a district. We didn't get to do it on Saturday because the mission grounded all the cars so we couldn't go caroling at all. We definitely had fun doing that and getting to bring the Christmas spirit to others who needed it. Now Yesterday since it wasn't our P-Day we went out to contact people again and we actually had success. We were able to leave some really good spiritual thoughts with people and hopefully have them want to come to church this week. Well that pretty much sums up my week. Holidays are busy here. Oh wait I did forget something. We did have our talent show last week which was really awesome. With both acts we brought the spirit. It was fun doing it and we found out that some changes will be occurring here in the mission and just about everywhere else. This will be fun to find out with the new year coming around. Well Happy New Year to everyone and I'll be hearing from you all next year!! 

Snow

and more snow

and still more snow

Elder Ruesch and his District

Week 8 - Depression...(12/19/2016)

Well not much to talk about in this week. This week was just a little downhill. This week we mainly focused on less actives and getting them to come back to church and we actually got a family to come back which has been really great!! We also have been working with Homero getting to his baptism, but it may not happen due to scheduling conflicts with time and everything. We had it all planned out and something came into the way. We are still hoping it can happen, but we shall see. He has been the best investigator ever and if he doesn't get baptized this week, there is still next week!! This week was rocky so there really isn't much to talk about. The only things I would like to mention is our spiritual experience last night. The institute choir here in Boise was having a concert and we decided as an apartment to go and watch this concert and my gosh was it the best concert ever. The music invited the spirit so amazingly and it was just so strong. Also we our having our talent show tomorrow as a mission and we have another talent that we will be doing. We have two things prepared and not next week, but in like three weeks there will be something to watch. Next week we won't be able to email home and the week after that so this will be the last y'all will hear from me. But the second experience we would like to share is that our car battery died!! So today we had to waste half of our P-Day to get it jumped and then get a new battery. This week has just been crazy, but hopefully we will have a better week to come with more finding! This will be interesting, but I love you all and I hope you have a very Merry Christmas!! Oh and one last thing, we did get snow again this week and this time in the form of a blizzard. That was quite interesting to see. No driving and no leaving the apartment haha, but anyways bye bye!

Week 7 - I'm Still in BOISE (12/12/2016)

So I didn't get transferred so I get to stay here in Boise!! Wahoo!! This area is just so amazing I don't want to leave it. Hopefully I'll be here quite some time. Anyways, this week has just been full of amazing spiritual experiences that I can't describe. Starting off with the spiritual highlight, yesterday the stake had a Christmas program where a choir from every ward would participate. Our branch participated and it was only like 10 of us at most. But we definitely brought the spirit being such a small choir. Then the program proceeded with other such amazing songs as well and it was great. This week Elder Sarabia came up to me and said, " So I have an idea, but you may hate me for it." I was so confused, but I agreed to hear and he wants to enter into our missionary talent show that we have going on as a mission. I was alright sure, what do you want me to do. And he had mentioned that there is this song that he really likes that is approved by the church and I was like uhhh is there sheet music for it and he had said no. So...we ended up listening to it in the car for quite a bit and I picked it out and wrote my own version for it in three days. It is such an amazing song and will be sent after the talent show is over. Aside from that, we had snow this past week!! And I learned to drive in it!! Don't worry, no one is dead and we still have a car to drive. I also got some winter boots too, which are awesome!! I never thought I'd say that about boots, but they are magnificent. This has been a week to definitely remember. Umm we had few lessons this week, primarily with Less Actives and with Homero. Homero finally came to church, now he just needs to come one more time and he can be baptized!! This week has been tearful to because we had to give up one of our investigators to the Nampa mission which made us cry cause he totally was prepared to be taught. But the work is the work, it doesn't matter. I've learned some things this week as to how I can progress at being a better missionary and it is great. One thing in closing that I would like to leave with, is a scripture that I found in my personal study a few days ago. It has really helped in teaching some of our Less Actives so it really does work.  This scripture is found in the Book of Mormon 2 Nephi Chapter 2 verse 4 and it reads, " 4 And thou hast beheld in thy youth his glory; wherefore,thou art blessed even as they unto whom he shall ministerin the flesh; for the Spirit is the same, yesterday, today,and forever. And the way is prepared from the fall of man,and salvation is free."

Week 6 - First Transfer (12/5/2016)

Well I really don't have a lot to talk about except for the fact we got two new investigators this week. Which was really awesome, BUT we have to possibly give them to the Nampa mission cause they live in Caldwell...Which makes us sad. :'( But that was a real blessing to teach him because he felt the spirit so strong and he couldn't figure out what it was that he was feeling. He was raised Catholic all his life, but he felt that something was missing when he went there. And when he attended our church, he felt complete, full. It was the most greatest thing ever to hear that. We taught him the first two lessons and he felt the spirit greatly. Other than that that was pretty much the highlight of our week. 

We taught Antonio another lesson, but he doesn't want to pay tithing and he isn't keeping our commitments so we think he won't be baptized this week. Homero is progressing a lot, but he only has two more opportunities to go to church before his baptism. So yea that was pretty much our week summed up. We did go on exchanges this week and I got to lead the area which was awesome. Elder Jensen (who is our district leader and an English speaking Elder) came with me and we went and taught some lessons with Part Member Families and other people which was cool.

We taught Homero a lesson that night which I mainly led cause I was the only one who could speak Spanish... It's awesome that I had the opportunity to do so cause when Elder Sarabia leaves, the area is in my hands and whoever the Lord sees fit to give me as a companion. For now, this Christmas season is a good time to Light the World. Punny...

Anyways we had zone conference this week which was awesome and there was one thing that one of our Zone Leaders said that really caught my attention about my mission call. He said " This is the front lines. We've been placed somewhere, where people know God and what we are going to teach, before we teach it. God has trusted us here in this place, to teach those who are His lost sheep. He has specifically trusted us, to do the hard work. It won't be easy, but we can do it". I thought that was really awesome to hear because a lot of people aren't usually excited to serve in a place that is close to home. The work is hard, but it is really rewarding. Seeing others want to learn about Christ is such a blessing to see in the work here in Boise. It brings joy to my heart seeing others want to learn and come unto Christ. We are doing the hard work, but people want to listen cause they are ready to receive the word. 

This has been my week and I hope you all have a great week this week. I love you, I love you, I love you!! Take care

Love, 

Elder Ruesch

Week 5 - Roller Coaster Ride (11/28/2016)

So this week was a bit of lows and highs. We were able to get a lot of work done in the first few days of the week and successfully launch the new Christmas initiative of Ilumina al Mundo (Light the World). 

[Monday] So last P-Day we had a fun day of playing games at the church basically like Capture the Flag which was really fun. Then we were able to visit with a less active family and get to know them a little bit better. We then had dinner given to us cause the husband couldn't be home at the time and took it back to our apartment and ate it. Then it was about 8 and we decided to go do some contacting which didn't have any success in it. 

Tuesday came a long and we went to go meet with some people which came to no success and have a lesson with one of our investigators, but he wasn't home. So we did our progress record and sent it out to the branch. Dinner at 5 back at our apartment and then we had a lesson with Antonio about how to prepare for baptism. That was one of the things he was worried about so we taught him how to prepare and how to keep our commitments. He seemed to take things out of it and we are hoping that our next lesson with him will be good too. We then taught our Platinum investigator Homero about Christ like Attributes. He really wants to improve his life and be more like Christ and that is what we are trying to help him with. 

Wednesday came around and we didn't have our first lesson until 4. Wednesday is our day of service at a Idaho Youth Ranch. It's almost like a Deseret Industries and we were handling clothes...yay allergies. We got back from that had lunch, then 12 week cause I new, language study, then off we went to our lesson. At our lesson, we read the introduction to the Book of Mormon with our investigator and he seemed interested and he can't read on his own so we have to. We then finished and went to have dinner. Then we tried having a lesson with a Part Member Family, but they weren't home so we met with a member family and talked about the light the world initiative. We then had a great lesson with Cinthia (the daughter of Olga) and how she can recognize the spirit. We had a friend come with us named Rossalyn and is actually the sister of Homero which has been really great to have her help us with her brother any time we need it. We then had a nice opportunity to speak with a Less Active family about coming back to church. We basically kind of scared them into it. We told them basically that the time is now and we can't procrastinate our time here on Earth. The time we have is so little compared to eternity. That was a really good way to end our day.

Thursday was quite a different day. We only had one lesson actually fall through and that was with Homero. We taught him the Sermon on the Mount and how to apply these things in our lives. We had lunch with Olga and her family at one which was quite delicious if I may say so. We then had dinner with a family that we didn't know. They were in the branch just before the two of us and it was really great getting to know them and sharing a message with them about the gospel. They are a really nice family and fed us really well. We ended up staying there till like 8:30 or something like that cause when we initially arrived the food wasn't done yet. So it gave us time to talk with them and get to know them. 

Friday came and the release of Light the World. We were able to get familiar with the website (http://www.mormon.org) and how to help members and non-members navigate it, but in English. So I now need to learn how to do it in Spanish. But after that we had a district meeting till about lunch and then we came back to have our comp study, 12 week, language, then we went out to do some contacting. To no success, no contacting made. Then we had dinner and tried to contact again, but then we had an appointment with a less active family and showed them the Light the World video, but it took us awhile to find it cause one we don't have tablets and two they were trying to search for it via the Xbox. But we found it and explained it to them and how it's supposed to be and what we can do on our behalf to be like the savior. We did the same thing with another member family, but this time showed it via a phone. This is when we wish we had tablets. We then tried showing the video to other families but nothing...again. 

Saturday came around and we tried doing the same thing. Time to make contact with other people. Saturday we definitely got discouraged cause no one answered us. So we gave up and called it a little early. And I wasn't feeling all that great to begin with on Saturday so we called it a night.

Sunday morning rolled around. I woke up and wasn't feeling great at all. Couldn't keep anything down so we decided it was a day for me to rest. We went to sacrament meeting and then went home and rested. We canceled our dinner appointment for that night, but thankfully the branch members had the food for us and all we had to do was pick it up. I rested all day long and I could feel my body fighting whatever I have. I rested till about 8 or 9 Sunday night. Slept from 12-4:30 then from 6-9. While taking medicine and resting. 

This morning I feel a lot better than I was yesterday and I'm thankful for my companion and being able to help me recover. Hopefully whatever I have leaves me so I can get back to work and help others come unto Christ. This will be interesting.
Elder Ruesch

Week 4 (11/21/2016)

So this week has been rather different than the rest. But needless to say, a busy one. We got down to work starting Tuesday after P-Day.
We decided to go out contacting and talking with some of our referrals that we got and inactives, but needless to say, nobody wanted to talk with us. Came to dinner time and we talked with Hermano Soto who is on the Branch presidency. We had tacos for dinner on the street, which were amazing, and we talked to him a little bit more about the missionary work that we need help with in the ward. Cause the branch also needs to help expand the branch. Then afterwards we went back to contacting and nobody until we finally got to a members house. We got to know them a lot better and share a quick spiritual thought with them. Then later that night we went and taught a lesson with our Platinum investigator Homero. He is really amazing and he just wants to learn more about the gospel and he has his own goals himself to like get sealed in the temple!! It's amazing how much he has changed from when I met him the first day I was here. So that was a good day for us.
Wednesday came and we had our three week meeting cause I'm new and everything, and we got to learn up on some new skills and fine tune some of the ones we have. We later got back that night at like 5 and we had a quick dinner and off to teach a lesson. We taught a lesson with another one of our progressing investigators named Antonio. He is a really great guy and he can retain the stuff we teach. We had a really good lesson with him and the member that we had with us helped a lot too. Members are really essential in our work here. After our lesson with hims we went off and taught Homero again and we were able to just read a chapter from the Book of Mormon. We opened up our scriptures to 1 Nephi and started reading then he asked us where we were. We told him where we were and he said I'm past that point. We were shocked because he read all the way to 2 Nephi. We were just blown away and we started asking questions about what he read and what he understood and he understood the Isaiah Chapters that are in Nephi. We were just blown. Like I said he is Platinum.
Thursday came around and that was a day of contacting like crazy. To no success were we able to contact anyone. Which sucked a lot. We only got one lesson and that was with Homero again. Cause we went over to do some service for his sister who wanted a desk installed in her room. Which was awesome.
Friday we had District meeting and we learned about our secret stuff here in the mission field. Then we went out to invite investigators to our Branch dinner that day. We were able to do that till we had to go and set up for the activity that night. We set up all by ourselves about 200 chairs and 26 tables. It is estimate cause we just set up and no one complained to us which was nice. We had our thanksgiving dinner there and talked to some of our members and investigators and got to know some new people. It was really cool, but we had to leave cause we have to be back into our apartments by 9. So we were off and made it back and planned for the next day.
Saturday we went out to do some more contacting between some Less Actives in the Branch and Members as well for referrals. No one wanted to talk to us, but the members. We did have a bad thing happen though. Elder Sarabia lost his planner... And we didn't know what to do cause he had the address for our dinner appointment that night cause I was off talking to investigators when he got it the previous day. We went and retraced every step we took and couldn't find it anywhere. So we went off of my planner to do our contacting. We then had a lesson with Homero which went really well since he learned some new things about the commandments. He is Platinum. Then we had dinner and we were able to get to the location thanks to a cell phone that we have. Afterwards we tried contacting again and no one yet again until we got to a part member family. We were able to talk with the daughter who is a member and who is really wanting to come back to church. We left her with a challenge to read the Book of Mormon and have any questions about what she read next time we come over. Then we returned to our apartments and planned the next day.
Sunday we woke up and had to dart over to a 7:30 meeting that we had with our stake. Even though we cover all of Boise, we are assigned to the Boise Central stake since that is where we live. We talked about our most progressing investigators and how the stake can help out with them or our missionary work here. We then went to church right after and had a really good day at church. We learned some new things and were also able to help out Antonio who came to church. We then had choir practice afterwards and were able to sing some of the songs that we will be singing for Christmas time. We then did contacting as much as we could but to no avail. We then later pulled out a list we were given that day about Part Member Families that we didn't know about. We went and visited them and we were able to talk to two cause that was all time would give us. And they were some really nice families and we will be visiting them more often. We were supposed to have a lesson with Homero that night, but he canceled on us so we went and decided to do some calls and hopefully get in contact with some of the people we can't door contact. And we were able to get a hold of them. We talked with them and have a return appointment set with them. That was basically my week cause now I'm here.
Oh and before I forget, last P-Day we had a NERF war which was so much fun. I ended up buying a NERF gun here so I have one now along with my companion and we dominate. Heheh, but that is my week for you and I'm hoping for a better week this week. Farewell 

Elder Ruesch

Week 3 in the Field - New Stress High.... (11/14/2016)

So this week was pretty much a week to learn patience. We only taught like maybe 4 lessons this week cause we were doing a lot of contacting and fixing our area book. So on P-Day last week we went and hiked Table of Rock which is a really nice view of the Boise area and everything within a distance. A really cool trail and hike which didn't take us that long even though we are in a car most of the day. 

Tuesday we had Zone Conference and learned of some secret stuff, which is going to be really awesome. And we had Zone Olympics. It's something that our President started to motivate us to stay in shape. Which was really fun and I set some new personal records for myself which made me really happy. Throughout the week we had joined dinners with the English Elders in our zone cause since we got Hermana's we decided to give them the most part of the Branch dinners so that they can gain the confidence of the Branch. Then we went after that to go teach one of our investigators Homero, and he is just golden. Understands everything and we are really excited for his baptismal date on the 24th of December. 

Wednesday came around and we did service a few lessons, dinner, got a lesson canceled on us, and then we had a joint lesson with two investigators. So we took Homero with us to a lesson with Olga, Cinthia, and Angel (remember these people for they will show up again). And he just blew us away. he bore his testimony of how he did a 180 turn and is now focused on the gospel and how it can help him and his change to want to be married in the temple and how the world tries to bring us down, but if we rely on God and look towards him, he will help us. And not only that but he shared a scripture that has helped him and that is the scripture in 1 Nephi 3:7. He was just amazing during that lesson. 

Thursday came and went. We went and did weekly planning which took a lot of our day and time. We also needed a little stress reducer so we went and played some piano and went out contacting and to no avail cause nobody was there. Then we went to dinner and tried to do some more contacting but nothing...again. Patience this week wahoo. 

So Friday came and this is where things get interesting. We went over the area book, to see if we had some people for the Hermanas and we did so we gave them the names and we got rid of some of our area book. But enough to still work. So we went out and did some contacting and see if we can visit with investigators, but only members let us in. Patience for a miracle. So all this week we have been praying for a miracle, so we had time left in our day so we went to go Pray with Olga. And as we did we prayed and started talking with her, her kids were asleep so we were out on the porch(and also she is single). So we were talking and she asked, is it possible for me and Angel to get baptized tomorrow? We were just thrown back because we were expecting next week  and we were just thrown this at 9:00 PM and we had to be back in our apartment by then. So we said yea we'll see what we can do. So all night until 10:30, we were calling people and our President to see if we can get something approved or even some help with this, but we never got a call back. 

So Saturday we pretty much wiped our schedule to set up a baptism for 5:30. We didn't have any time to waste. That morning we made a lot of calls to see if we can get a font ready, a place, members to go, a translator for the baptismal interview and someone to give it. Since we are the only Spanish missionaries, we can't give the baptismal interview. We got permission to have the Branch President do it, but he couldn't because of work. So we had our Zone Leaders do it with a translator. All day we didn't rest until we made the impossible, possible. Which to some surprise we did. We were freaking out all day cause we needed things done and we didn't know how to do them, but we did. Thanks to the Lord and our Heavenly Father. And at 5:30 I got to participate in my first baptism. These past two days were crazy. 

The following day (Sunday) we were able to give them the Gift of the Holy Ghost and Elder Sarabia was able to do that which was awesome. We then had our normal Sunday and we got to teach Gospel Principles last minute and we did pretty well and then do some contacting which yet again, no one answered us. 

So we had a long week with patience and stress on a new level. It was crazy. We are hoping that no more surprises like that happen this week. But now it's searching for some new investigators. 

YAY!! LET"S DO THIS!!

Week 2 in the Field (11/7/2016)

So this week was quite an amazing one. We got so much work done and I personally feel accomplished. Elder Sarabia on the other hand would say I'm spoiled. We already have two baptismal dates and hopefully tonight, three more!! That's awesome!! Anyways on Tuesday we did some service digging the rest of the hole which was at this point 6-7 feet deep and about 5 feet wide. We were digging this hole for a nest to house supplies for the winter in the ground. It's pretty cool. Afterwards we went and met with one of our investigators and taught him about the restoration of the gospel and how it could unite his family and a little bit about the priesthood. It was a great lesson and we also got him to commit to come to church with us yesterday, but he couldn't make it. That's what next week is for. To keep asking until they come. After that we saw another investigator who is really stuck on his own beliefs and just cares to bash with us a little. Something that night that I learned from my companion is about when it is going nowhere and the spirit isn't felt in the conversation, leave. We didn't bash, all we tried to do was show how the bible and Book of Mormon support each other and are one in the same, to unite and testify of Christ. So we left and did some "tracting" that night till our last appointment. We got to our last appointment and it's one of the investigators that we were able to commit to baptism. We were reading in the Book of Mormon in 2nd Nephi 31. Famous for baptism. And we explained a little what it really means and a little about the restoration of the gospel. We popped the question and he said yes. Which was awesome. We had about an hour and a half lesson, don't care that is was long cause the spirit was soo there, and we left to go back to our apartment. Wednesday came around and we had service for the Idaho Youth Ranch in the morning. That went great, but my allergies kicked in which was terrible. Afterwards we went and taught a less active in our area. She was really open to us and everyday this week we've been sending her quotes to inspire her and give her the desire to come back to church. She took our challenge to read the Book of Mormon again and pray about it, that she may know again that what she's reading is true and have a better understanding of it. After that we went and had another lesson with one of our other investigators. We finished up all the lessons we had left, which was tithing and fasting, and now we're praying to see if we can receive a baptismal date for them. We know they are ready and we feel it strongly. We just need them to feel that they are ready to take on this step. After that we had one more lesson with our other investigator. We taught a little bit about baptism and what it is. As well a little bit about the priesthood. We taught him with a member which really helped and it was awesome!! We asked him to be baptized and he said yes! Two baptisms back to back! I love my companion. He's helped me learn so much and we're both involved in the lessons. Him more so than me, but I'm starting to learn to jump in. Thursday was a day of planning. Lots of planning... We had planned for almost the entire week up until dinner. Long planning. We then finished our night with a lesson with our investigator who accepted baptism on Tuesday. We just read the Book of Mormon with him and he was asking questions about what we were reading and it was awesome. We didn't have to ask any questions or at least as many. Friday was a slow day. We had a Zone Meeting which consumed half of our day and the rest of our day after that was studies. We tried to do some visits, but no one was home. Saturday came along and as Elder Sarabia put it, Diligence day. It was so slow up until 7:30 when we had a lesson with our investigator. We taught him lesson 2 and he was yet again asking questions like crazy. He was awesome. We're excited for him and the progress that he is making. Sunday was church and it was awesome, except for what happened before church. We were in comp study and we were role playing. I was teaching about baptism and I got completely frustrated cause I couldn't express myself in two languages. I just was frustrated at myself. I took time to regather myself and by that time it was church. I was able to get back into the mood and feel the spirit and just in time for our lesson for the night. We had our lesson and we taught tithing and the logistics of it. We were able to teach a little more about the commitments of baptism and what they exactly are and that was cool. But the best lesson was the unexpected one we had that night. We went over to an investigators house pray with them. When we got there we started talking about all the misconceptions of the church. Cause the daughter was told all of these and she freaked out. We told her that she can still be who she is and do all of the normal things and all that stuff. And also that we aren't crazy Mormons who just talk about the gospel all day. It's only missionaries that do that haha... and that's because we want to feel the spirit all the time so we seclude ourselves from the world. That was the basics of my week and it was amazing.  A quote that I would love to share with you all is from a talk and I feel bad for not writing who it was by but anyways here it is, "Salvation is not a cheap experience and not easy. It wasn't easy for Christ and it won't be for us. We are not the first persons to ask if there's another way. When we suffer, are afflicted, rejected, spat upon, and turned away, we stand with Christ. THE BEST MISSIONARY!!" I love you all and I hope you week goes great!!

Elder Ruesch 

Week 1 in the Field (10/31/2016)

So my first week flew by (technically 5 days). So when I arrived in Boise the first day we had to stay in a hotel because we arrived late that night, which is pretty weird if you ask me. Thursday though I met my trainer and we got right down to business. He is so awesome I love how enthusiastic he is!! On Thursday we got right down to business and had a few lessons to go and teach which was really amazing. Friday we had comp study and personal study which I learned a few new things in it. But we went out and did some lessons again and I actually spoke!! I didn't just sit there and look dumb hahah! A lot of times in these lessons I feel the spirit and it's really great to feel that spirit. There was a party later that day and we went to it and it's funny when people ask about my companion cause they start to wonder where his other companion went to...lol... But the even funnier part of this is when we were at the party, some of the investigators were there, which is awesome, and they asked me if I could speak Spanish (in English) and I just started to speak back to them in Spanish and they seemed shell shocked. A white boy can speak Spanish. It's hilarious in my eyes. Any ways the best part is that I actually get to stay in Boise, well for at least 2 transfers. I'm the only Spanish Elder that stayed here in Boise out of the 7 of us that arrived. This week was really spiritual and heart breaking. So it's only like my 2nd or 3rd day out, and we get a call saying that we are having Sisters in our mission. Sister missionaries! My companion, Elder Sarabia, started to freak out cause we were told we would have to split up the area with the sisters so that way they have stuff to do. Which wasn't a bad thing, just a lot of stress to divide the area book and talk things over with them about boundaries. It was tough on my companion, but I feel that a lot of work will get done here in Boise and we don't have to do the work alone. Saturday was another good day for us because we did some service and that was pretty fun. We got to dig a hole. And haul dirt from that hole. Right now it is about 6 feet deep and we still need to go another 8 feet for it. But our backs hurt!! But that means we did a great service. Sunday I have to say was the best part of our week. So we were meeting with an investigator and we were talking to him about baptism. And his family all our members except for him. So we were getting talking and we felt like he was ready for baptism so we popped the question........and he said yes!! We have a baptismal date for December 24th (what a great Christmas Present lol) and we are so excited for it. My companion/trainer is a really great guy who is filled with knowledge and the spirit. I feel so honored to be his "son"  (missionary talk). It's been a real pleasure to serve him. And here's where it gets interesting. So one of his companions back in Twin Falls, was Elder Hansen from Apple Valley. That is sooo funny how he knows him and how I know him. All is well here in the mission field and I'm so happy to serve. It's something I love to do. Today is P-Day and we actually get a full day off because of Halloween. Once in a lifetime thing haha. But it's a day to prepare and get ready for this week and that is exactly what I will do. I send love and hope from Boise!! Hasta luego!!

 

MTC District

MTC District

My companion Elder Sarabia

The other Elders in our apartment

-Elder Ruesch

Elder Ruesch's Arrival in Boise - Letter from the Mission President

How thrilled Sister Bartlett and I were to greet your son and to welcome him as a full-time missionary in the Idaho Boise Mission.  What a blessing it will be to our mission to have him serving here to the assigned field of labor.

After arriving at the mission office and conducting a brief orientation of the mission, I had the opportunity of interviewing your son in an effort to become better acquainted with him and to feel of his spirit.  As a result of this interview, I felt impressed to assign your son, as a companion, to one of the most obedient, most skilled, and hardest working missionary in the mission.  You can be assured that this companion is one of our mission’s very best.  His trainer is Elder Sarabia and they are currently serving in Boise, Idaho

We are confident that your son will have a very positive experience while serving in the Idaho Boise Mission.  We know he will strengthen his skills, increase his knowledge and testimony of the gospel, and establish an increased measure of love for all of our Heavenly Father’s children he will assist in teaching.

We have attached a picture of your missionary with Sister Bartlett and myself, Assistants to the President and other new missionaries.

May the Lord’s choicest blessings be with you as you sustain your son and pray for his continued welfare.

Faithfully yours,

President Randall D. Bartlett

Idaho Boise Mission

Elder Ruesch and his companion Elder Sarabia

Final week at MTC

So this week was pretty interesting if I say so myself. I got sick and was just totally not into it at all. I couldn't even teach a lesson without passing out during it or staying awake in class. It was awful, but I learned some things from it. Being in a high position (zone leader for this instance) can be pretty tiring, but as long as you put your faith forward to have it tried, the Lord will bless you and he did bless me later in the week. We had the opportunity this past week to teach our investigator and it was the hardest thing to say goodbye to her. She was really getting comfortable with us and she actually started to read the Book of Mormon. There was a scripture that I had shared with her and another scripture that another pair of companions shared with her that caught her interest which was really amazing and she loved them. The scripture that the other companionship had shared was 2 Nephi 2:25 which reads "Adam fell that men might be, and men are that they may have joy" and she just loved that scripture. To serve with the two Elders that shared that scripture was really wonderful. The scripture that I had shared with her can be found in Moroni 10: 29. I don't recall exactly what it says, but it really caught her eye. As our lesson went on she had told us something that intrigued me at the moment. She had said she was with a Baptist Pastor and he conveniently had a BoM with him and had said (cause she shared she was meeting with the Missionaries) that men are saved by their own actions and not by the grace of God. Which struck me a little bit because that is not at all true. And I had a thought in my head "I know a scripture that talks about the grace of God and that we are saved through that." So I pull out my scriptures and flip to Moroni 7:45 and 47, but I felt an impression to look somewhere else. So I pulled out my English scriptures and as I started skimming them I came across a photo that I had received from my seminary teacher my sophomore year. It was a picture of the Christus and a scripture in the BoM. As I read it in English, I flipped to it in Spanish and read it to her. The scripture Moroni 10:32 changed how she looked at the Book of Mormon. She asked me if I could write it down for her and she said she would read it when she had the chance. It was a really spiritual moment and my companion was just in awe. I love him so much and we work really well together. I'm sad he won't be my companion in the field, but only time will tell. We were able to host some of the new missionaries this week and that was really fun. I actually got to host two of the new Elders in our zone out of the four. It was really amazing. The opportunity that I have to serve a mission is a tremendous experience and I wouldn't trade it for the world. Being able to serve is one of the best things I could ever think of. This will be the best two years for my life right here and I would like to thank everybody who has helped me get here in this moment of my time. 

Second week at MTC

Okay so second week did hit some highs and lows here. I got released as District leader last night which was sad, but I was called be Zone Leader with my companion, Elder Saunders. We have been a really great companionship and I hate to leave him when we head to Boise. We had an investigator drop us which made us really sad and down ,but we've kept our spirits high and we teach by a spirit so incredible that I have never felt before. We've been teaching so well that one of our teacher investigators, accepted the invitation to be baptized (all fake, but still feels great lol). Being here in the MTC has been slow especially in class like I get so bored I start to fall asleep so I end up doodling. My Spanish has gotten a ton better just within the weeks that I have been here that I know can carry on full conversations in Spanish. I love it here, but I'm ready to get into the field. It's tooo long being here. 

 

With regards,

Elder Ruesch

Jeffrey's First District (he was the District Leader). His companion is Elder Saunders.

First week MTC - 10/10/2016

Hello friends and family, I'm here comfortably in the MTC and it has been such an amazing experience here!! I'm loving it!! First day here and you know what I did, show up late to class cause I got lost....go figure lol. But I met my companion and he is one of the best guys that I know. He has such an amazing heart and he has the nicest attitude about things, especially when it comes to teaching others about the gospel. While my first two days was a struggle getting into the whole Spanish mode, after that I was doing a lot better and can actually carry on full conversations and think on the fly in Spanish. The whole zone that I was placed in, has been so loving and caring that they made it feel like home and it was the best feeling ever. I honestly felt so much love that it was not comprehendable. Friday night we met our Branch Presidency and they are sooo loving and caring and they teach with the spirit. Just these first few days and I've cried a lot because I have felt the spirit sooo much. I honestly love it here and am excited to get in the field already. I also got the opportunity to serve as the District leader for the district I was assigned to. And man do I love my district. They are some of the nicest people ever and it's just so loving that I can't ever explain it. They are the greatest missionaries I have ever met. Since my time is short on the computer, I will end with saying that I love you all and I miss you guys a lot. I'm hoping to hear back from you next week!!

Con amor,

Elder Ruesch

MTC Arrival

Hey I made it to the MTC safely and everything is going well. I'll be looking forward to talking to you on my PDay which conveniently is Monday. Hope all is well and nos vemos en dos años. (Dated 10/6/2016 at 8:23 PM)

Curb-side drop-off at the MTC on 10/5/2016