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