Week 57 - Light of the World (11/27/2017)

Elder Farr and I

So this week has been a good week. So last week we hit a quick Emergency Room Visit which everything is okay. My companion is alright he is currently wearing a brace to prevent any further damage to his wrist. Went on Exchanges that night to fulfill some appointments we had which were all really good. We did a lot of Light the World things cause we were preparing for the grand event that happened that night. 

Elder Farr and I

Tuesday to Thursday were really slow days just cause it was the Holidays and hardly anyone let us in the door. Quite remarkable how many "no's" we got this week. I lost count after the 10th one lol. We did a lot of work preparing for Friday night though which was really fun. We got a call saying the Mission President will be coming down for the event and we were kicking into high gear making it the best event ever. I also started working on a song for our Zone Conference Christmas Program. I'm currently in the process of writing one and I'll let you know how that goes probably in two weeks. We also did a lot of planning, like I said for the Light the World. Cause every year here in Rupert, since they are Christmas City, has a big kick off for Christmas! It was pretty awesome. They have a chili feed and then music going. And later, Santa rides in on a firetruck and turns on all the lights in the square. It was pretty fun.

Rupert Square/Light the World Event

Friday it was all getting ready for the event. We had interviews with our President and I had a very short interview. Pretty remarkable. Then Elder Farr and I went running around getting this event all ready!! It was great to see as the night finished, that it was a huge success, As a Zone, we handed our 301 invitations to watch Light the World. We had 4 TVs set up around the Square playing the video and we even had a tree that we put up with service ideas. It was a huge success and a huge blessing seeing it all take place. That night we went on exchanges and rolled into Saturday.

Rupert Square/Light the World Event

Saturday we spent a whole day contacting a lot of people. It was quite amazing, yet again, how many people could say no to us. But they did invite us to come back another day. 

Sunday we had a lot of meetings and visits that we did into wards. We were tired by like 12. We did a lot of good visits that day and even had some good lessons. Still getting to know the area a little bit better, but I'm doing pretty good on that.

Well that is my week for all of you! I love you all and I hope you have a great holiday season!! And please, check out the Light the World video that can be found on mormon.org It is a really good video and will make your Holiday season tons better than it already is. I promise you that!!! Well I love you all and miss you all!!! Enjoy your week!!

Elder Ruesch Sosa 

Week 56 - Sickness Strikes Back (11/20/2017)

So this week has been a fun filled week for sure. Last week on Preparation Day we just went at trying to find people home and share our message. It was quite incredible as we caught one family home and they didn't let us in the door. It sucked, but it works out that we have another chance to visit them tonight hopefully. 

Tuesday came and we both woke up just sick. It sucked. Downed a whole bunch of medicine after staying up most of the night cause I wasn't feeling well, and we went and did some service. After service we came home and I crashed...for 16 hours... I was sick... It sucked...

Wednesday was feeling a little bit better and good enough to go and work. Took some more medicine and just went at it. We worked our tails off just trying to see anyone and everyone that we could. We had a really good lesson that night with the Gutierrez family. They are an amazing family and have been meeting with the Elders for 3 weeks. We taught the Gospel of Jesus Christ, simply, plainly, and with the Spirit. As we did so we both felt impressed to ask them about Baptism. Elder Farr, apparently had asked them twice before, but the Spirit was telling us both to ask them. We asked and they said, "You know, I think one day we'll be baptized into the Church. Not today, but one day." It was quite amazing hearing that as we testified to them to read and ask God if this is for them.

 Thursday was a good day of planning. We planned out our day and then our week and got to work. We had a slow afternoon of contacting and setting up appointments which isn't a bad thing (oh and it was also raining). We went through a lot of names, just trying to contact them and we were going at it. We had a great lesson that night to as we met this new family, the Jaquez family. They are really prepared as we got to know them and talk with them about the Gospel and religion in their life. They have been surrounded by it for so long and they love it! They even went to church for awhile! Until the job got a little more hectic. We committed them to read from the Book of Mormon, of course after explaining what it was, and told them to ask God to see if it's true. It was great as we walked out of there saying that they are prepared.

Friday we went on exchanges and I stayed in the area. I was with an English Elder and being a pure Spanish area, was kinda tough for him. It was pretty wild. We just went and worked all afternoon. We had an amazing lesson with a lady named Angela. We had asked her if she read from the Book of Mormon and she told us no that she hadn't. I was kinda surprised when she had and quickly changed our lesson plan. We read with her from the Book of Mormon from Helaman 5:1-20. As we read through those verses and explained to her why having a foundation on Christ is so important and also how he can give us so much happiness and joy in this life. As we further explained that we want that for her, the Spirit was there in that lesson. We committed her to read, pray, and go to church. It was amazing. We had some other good visits that night and had received some referrals that we handed off to those in that area, but it was a good night none of the less.

Saturday morning was a good start. Did some service and I destroyed my allergies big time. We did service and then we went and unexchanged. We went and had lunch and it was so good!! We had tacos al pastor and they were amazing!!! I really miss good Mexican food. We then did a lot of running around preparing for the Light the World initiative and it was awesome. We are getting things going in good gear and hoping this will be a good kick off. In Rupert, they are known as Christmas city and they have a whole celebration after Thanksgiving, and that is coincidentally the kick off for Light the World... This will be awesome. 

Sunday was just supreme. We had a correlation to kick off our day, then we went to the Meridian Idaho Temple Dedication and that was awesome!! The Spirit was so strongly there!! We then had lunch and kicked off trying to visit some people. We contacted this potential investigator and she invited us to come back when we've got time. We were pretty hyped cause we feel she's got a lot of potential. We then had dinner and then the  great Face 2 Face event. It was awesome as some really good questions were answered and hopefully something we can use as we help ourselves and our investigators fully use the Atonement of Jesus Christ. 

This week has been great and a little hectic. I love being here in Rupert and it is awesome what we have going on here!! A lot of good things are happening and we are excited!! I love you all a ton and I miss you all!! Enjoy your week!!

Elder Ruesch Sosa

Week 55 - Spanish Grind (11/13/2017)

Elder Farr and I

​So this has been a pretty good week this week as we had transfers. I did get transferred out of Malta and I am now in Rupert. Didn't go to far and the crazy thing is, I'm still in the same Zone. I may be in this Zone for quite a long time. Pretty crazy, but I know the Lord needs me here. So last week was pretty fun as we got to visit with some families in Elba and got ourselves introduced to some non-members.

Elder Farr and I

Tuesday we had a good day as we went and visited some families in Malta before heading over to Raft River for the night. Had a lot of good visits and set some returns for service and teaching. We went to Raft River and had a really good time out there. We had some wonderful teaching as we taught CPR to a progressing family called the Lopez family. They are amazing and have been progressing so well! We then visited with another family after that and taught the Gospel of Jesus Christ. It was pretty incredible. Then that night, we got the call about transfers and that I will be going to Rupert to be with Elder Farr. Pretty sad to leave Malta, but I know that I must be needed in Rupert.

Saulito and I

Wednesday we went and did some service and had a good time. It was pretty cold outside, but it was alright once we got moving around. We then changed and went to Seminary so I can start saying goodbye to some of the youth. Apparently I picked a good time to go cause they were having a missionary lesson. Was able to bare testimony of missionary work specific to Jacob Chapter 5 in the Book of Mormon. We were asked to come back and talk with the next class about the same thing. We went and I said a few more goodbyes, then back to Seminary, then I went and started packing. Said some more goodbyes and then went up to Elba. Said goodbye up there to some people and then went on some visits.

Snow on the Mtns

Transfer day!! Got ready and all packed. Had lunch then made our way to the apartment where I'll be staying and dropped off all my stuff. Then made our way to Twin for transfers. Got there and it was awesome seeing a whole bunch of familiar faces!! It was pretty exciting!! Got Elder Farr and made our way back down to Rupert. Rained pretty hard that night as we went out proselyting, but it was all good!! Enjoyed the night and had some pretty good visits!

Friday and Saturday, was a lot of getting introduced to people and correlation meetings. We cover the entire Stake of Rupert in Spanish which is really nice. I miss just covering all Spanish. I love it so far and I'm excited to be here in Rupert. 

Sunday was a pretty good day! We hit up every sacrament meeting that we cover and we were exhausted. It was pretty cool. We then just went right to work trying everyone and anyone. Had some good visits and a lot of return appointments set up for this week. Pretty awesome. I really don't have any more to say. It's crazy.

Well I hope you all have a great week and enjoy life!! I love you all and miss you all!!! Enjoy!!

Elder Ruesch Sosa

Playing the piano in the Malta Apartment

Week 54 - Remember When It Rained (11/6/2017)

So this week has been a very thrilling, exciting, emotional week. To start with Monday, we went to this Straw Maze just outside of Declo and we had a blast in it. We all got lost in the maze a few times, but we made our way out and we all enjoyed it! We then went a spent a lot of time just meeting members in the Elba ward to close the night!

Tuesday was Halloween and we had to be in by 7 that night, which we did. We went and tried meeting with some of our investigators that morning and we had no luck catching any one home. Was kinda disappointing, but oh well. We then went and did some service for this Less Active in one of the wards we covered. And I'll say, we definitely got down and dirty. We put hot wire on his piped underneath his trailer home so they wouldn't freeze in the winter. It was pretty fun, but required a shower after doing that. We then went and tried to meet some people at one of the dairies here and we met a new family. They have met with missionaries in the past and they love having the missionaries over. We talked with them for a bit and we shared Alma 32 about faith and the experiment of our faith. It was really great and you could definitely feel the spirit in that lesson. We then had the Raft River Halloween party where we attended and talked to a lot of our investigators that showed up to that activity. It was pretty cool. We then made our way home and did some studies for the next day of District Meeting. 

Wednesday we had district meeting and we talked a lot about using technology. Don't know if that means will be getting some, but I'll tell you when we do. We then went to Almo and stayed the entire day up there. We did some service for a family stacking wood and all that nice stuff. We just basically did a lot of service and then we came back to our place. 

Thursday we had our great weekly planning and then from there we tried to meet with some people. We had some success in the cold and we were able to talk to someone new and give him a copy of the Book of Mormon to read. He invited us to come back and he was just genuinely nice. We then had dinner and we went and met with so many people that night. We met with our progressing investigators Luis y Maricruz and talked to them about the Plan of Salvation and it's divine purpose for us.We then met with another family to close the night, talking about the Book of Mormon and how it can help us in our lives better come closer to our Heavenly Father. They took our challenge to read the Book of Mormon and it's pretty exciting. 

Friday we had snow start to fall. It was pretty intense. That day was just so hard cause we couldn't find hardly anyone home. So we went with the spirit and it took us to a house we know who lives there and it was a member. We knocked and they were surprised to see us, but so glad to. The wife was in need of a blessing and the husband was gone getting medicine. The older sons were home, but they couldn't give their mom a Priesthood blessing. So we show up and are more than willing to give that blessing. We gave the blessing and then we went to our dinner/service project appointment all the way to the border of our mission/area. Had a really good time and some really good dinner!

Saturday it snowed even more. We did some correlating with our ward mission leader in Malta and then tried a family we haven't seen in awhile and had a good visit with them. We then made our way to dinner and this is when sadness happens. Our appointment for that night, the Miller Family, called us and had to cancel cause they just got fired and are being kicked out of their home. So they were packing up and leaving. We couldn't get ahold of them after that conversation we had with them. But I was so torn and I just couldn't see them leave. It made me so sad.... We replanned our day and then just went with the spirit on a lot of things. Ran into an investigator pulled over on the side of the road and we stopped and talked with them. They were out for a drink and they were drunk. We talked with them and had a really good conversation about what they need and it really helped us. We then made our way back home cause it was late and freezing.

Sunday was a good day. We had church which is always amazing. We then caught some of the families home that we wanted to see. We studied for a bit and then just before dinner, we were asked to go give an emergency blessing to someone in the ward and so we hurried over and gave the blessing and talked with the man for a bit. Got some referrals from them to try. We then had dinner and had really good appointments right after that. We closed the night with the Taylor family and they are so prepared!! They just want to dive in and be baptized and it is so awesome working with them. It truly is an honor to be working with them. They have had a lot of good friends fellowship them and genuinely love them, which is always amazing to see. 

Well this week has been fun and a really good one. Transfers are this week and I'm a little nervous that I may be transferred, but I'll go wherever I'm needed. I love you all and hope you have a great week!!

Love,

Elder Ruesch Sosa

Week 53 - O Remember, Remember (10/30/2017)

This has been a really interesting and fun week. To start of with Preparation Day, this time I didn't forget my shoes, so there was no injuries to report! We played some sports and then we went out on visits with our Ward Mission Leader in Elba and had some good results yield there. 

Temple Last Week

Tuesday we held our District Meeting and it was pretty good. We talked a lot about setting goals and putting our all into everything that we do. It was pretty cool to see the District get so involved in this meeting. After District Meeting we went on exchanges and I stayed in our area and came with Elder Jones to work in Raft River. We had some good finds that day as we just went around trying new places that were just put in. We met a really awesome family that are just prepared as well. They were talking about coming to church this Sunday (and they did) and it was pretty awesome! We then had dinner with our Ward Mission Leader in Raft River and went to visit the Millers. We talked a lot about getting them ready for marriage. That is their next step into progressing back into activity and to baptism. It was pretty cool to see how determined they were to get married. 

Wednesday came and we exchanged back and we went to Almo and did some service for a sister splitting wood. It was pretty fun we got an entire pile split and stacked. It was awesome! We then had dinner with a member from the Bishopric in Elba and later went to a mutual activity that was hosted by 4 wards. We found a lot of Less Active Youth and non-members there and we just started talking with everyone. They dragged us onto the Spook Alley that they were having and everyone was laughing cause the missionaries were on it. Even the workers... But hey it was fun. I actually got to use my Spanish with a foreign exchange student from Spain. She was asking us questions about the church and we were more than willing to answer these questions. 

Hot Cocoa during Planning

Thursday we got to business and did our great weekly planning session. We planned a great deal of work for our area. We then visited with a less active member and shared with him the Gospel of Jesus Christ. He loved it and loves having us over. He has a literal library and every time we have came by, he gives us a new book to read. All of the books of course are Gospel related. We then had dinner and we got to see Ellissa, Ethan, and Erik. We went over the Restoration and even watched the Restoration video with them. These kids are intelligent. They knew a whole lot and taught themselves the lesson. It was awesome. We then met the Zone Leaders and went on Exchanges that night. I went in their area and it was fun!

Exchanges

Friday on exchanges I got to be with Elder Farr and I've been on exchanges with him before and we just had a blast. We went and did service that morning for the Harry Potter experience and it was pretty cool. We just cleaned and helped them get read. They told us if we have time, to stop by and we could get in for free and get a tour of it. We then had lunch at this great hole in the wall restaurant owned by a member family. We talked and then got to work. We met a whole bunch of Hispanics that day and it felt so good to speak in Spanish. We talked with this guy named Julio and we were talking with him about the right path. He had this book that he has been studying from and just started to talk about what he read from it. We told him that his best way to find out if this is true is to read the Book of Mormon and to ask God, for he won't tell you a lie. It was neat seeing him take our challenge to read. We then tried a whole bunch of others, but no answer. 

Exchanges

We had dinner and then after dinner, we went to the Harry Potter Experience with the other District Leader and his companion. Got a tour and we got free scarves!! It was cool. We then talked with some members and then got a new investigator just before we had to exchange back. It was pretty fun!!

Saturday we had some things fall through. We went and tried contacting some people and had some good results. We met with this guy outside and started talking with him. We then went and did some service for a less active member and he really was grateful for it. We really didn't do much at all, just stack some wood. We then changed and had dinner. Then after dinner we went and invited so many people to church, to the primary program, and to the Halloween activity that Raft River was having. It was pretty awesome!

Sunday we went to Almo and had a pretty good primary program. I just love seeing the kids bare testimony of the Gospel. We did some studies after church and then tried seeing some people, but a lot of return appointments. We then had dinner and went from their to our appointment with the Taylor family. We waited a little bit since the guys were out hunting and trying to catch a deer before the season ends. They came back with a pretty good catch. We then talked with them a little bit about the Plan of Salvation and the Gospel of Jesus Christ. It was really amazing to see how receptive they were to our message. They are definitely considering Baptism. 

This week has been so amazing and so fast! This has been awesome!! I love you all and I hope you have a great week this week!!

Elder Ruesch Sosa