Week 94 - That's not Fair (8/13/2018)

Well this week has been a really good week. Another week that has flown by for sure. Last week Monday was really nice. Had a good activity and had some good lessons that night. We had Family Home Evening with a family and we talked about burying our bad habits and it was pretty cool seeing the little kids get involved in it and having everyone bury a bad habit. We had an appointment with a Spanish guy that was referred to us by some Sisters in the SLC Mission and he wasn't there so I talked with the guy that answered and it was funny the story he gave me. He told me his friend moved out like 2 hours ago. I was like, yea right. So I called and talked with the guy and he told me that he forgot our appointment and left for the night. Pretty funny. We tried some other people and had some good success there. Came home and got a call for a quick exchange to do with the Assistants. So we changed our plans so that could be made possible. 

Tuesday we went through the routine and everything and we made the drive to meet with the assistants. We exchanged and the Elder I was with had a ton of packages so we made a mail run and delivered all the packages. Came home and unloaded his stuff and we went to the parade that they were having in town to kick off Fair week. We walked a long the parade and met some pretty cool people as we talked and walked. We then had dinner back at our place and went to the Fair. It was pretty full of people, but still relatively small compared to what everyone was saying it would be. We walked around and met a lot of people which was really cool. Came home that night and we got a text saying we can't go the Fair. That sucked! It was fun while it lasted haha.

Wednesday we had a District Council and it was really good. Had lunch, contacted, sang, did some more contacting and made the drive to exchange back. Had some good car conversation. Re-exchanged and drove back to Jerome. Stopped in Wendell to give some copies of the Book of Mormon then went to Jerome. Had dinner and it was a miracle the time that we went to dinner. We had dinner and we were out and as we were leaving, we saw someone that we've been trying to work with!! It was such a cool miracle!! We had some other appointments that night which were phenomenal. 

Thursday, we started out with a bunch of service which was nice, but we both got sick with something after our lunch. It was terrible. We crashed and just completely out of it. We eventually started to feel better and got to work, but wow we were hurting. We had some good attempts at visiting people that night, but didn't have much of luck with things we planned.

Friday was a good day. We felt better and we took off for Shoshone for their District Council and it was really good. We did another exchange and I stayed in Jerome with one of the Elders from Shoshone. We made our way back just in time for our shift at the food pantry which is always fun. Had a comp study and it was good. Dropped the Spanish Elders off at their dinner and made our way to ours. Got their late, but it worked out for everyone. We then had a really good appointment with someone that we are working with and as we taught the Gospel of Jesus Christ, you could totally feel the spirit there!! It was awesome!!! We tried some people after that to end the night and it was good.

Saturday we got up and had a correlation meeting. We then tried some people and it was really good too. We then drove back to Shoshone to re-exchange. Came back and we did Weekly Planning. It was a good planning session. Had a member invite us over for dinner last minute which was really cool. And it was really good too. We then went to an appointment way out there and it was a really good appointment as well. It fluctuated every now and again. Came back and had another visit in town which was good. 

Sunday was a spiritually filled day. We had a Member of the Seventy and his wife along with our Mission President and his wife, speak to our Stake here in Jerome!! It was really cool!! They talked a lot about listening to the Spirit and how we can receive revelation for ourselves and in our lives!! It was really cool. We tried some things and had some studies. Went and had an awesome dinner which is always great. Went and tried some people and met a whole family that lives on one lane. Pretty cool!! Closed the night with a part member family which was cool talking with them and getting to know them as well. 

Things are great here in the mission field. I love the work and the Gospel and I know it's true!! I'm excited to continue working here for the remaining time that I have left. It's going to be fun!! I love you all and I hope you all have a great week!!

Elder Ruesch

Week 93 - The Unexpected (8/6/2018)

 So this was a week full of surprises!! It's always fun when weeks like that happen. Last Monday we had a crazy Preparation Day. We went into Twin and we got stuck there. But my companion bought some Cowboy boots. He's assimilating into the culture really well. Had some good sports and then out we went to work. Everything that we had planned, of course didn't happen, but that's because we had some things come up. Pretty nice.

Tuesday we got to go to Boise for Mission Leadership Council and it was nice being back in my first area (considering the fact that I covered everything in Boise). It was a long meeting and it was cool seeing all the old familiar faces of missionaries. We made our way back and had a great lesson that night with one of our Recent Converts which was awesome! We also waited with an Elder cause his companion was doing a Baptismal Interview. 

Wednesday was a jam packed day. We had one of our District Council meetings which was great. Had a lunch and then we went and sang for a bit. Then the rest of that day was planning out things for interviews and exchanges with other missionaries. Had a dinner and it was bombtastic. Then we hauled over to Wendell to go give a Baptismal Interview. It was pretty nice, Elder Tauanu'u gave his first baptismal interview. We then helped the Elders out with moving hand lines to close the night. We were practically swimming. Luckily they gave us some old clothes to wear for the service otherwise our proselyting clothes would've been soaked. 

Thursday was a hectic day. We woke up and right at 9 we left to go help out with this huge event the food pantry was doing. It was crazy with all the unloading and handing out food we did. We had to do an exchange cause my companion needed to go with one of the other Elders to Boise for a doctors appointment. So I stayed with his companion for that time. We did some good hard work and boy was it crazy!! We did some tracting and it was fun. Met some really nice people. They finally made it back and we went and had dinner. Then tried some people. We got a referral for a Spanish Speaker which I have been waiting to receive and we tried finding where he lived and couldn't find it, so we called and set up an appointment for tonight! The Sister Missionaries from the Salt Lake City Mission that referred him to us, are going to join in with us in a Skype call in the lesson. It'll be so cool!

Friday was just another busy day. We had another District Council and interviews. We were supposed to be interviewed in Shoshone, but it got to jam packed so we were going to be interviewed in Jerome after everyone else. We went to Jerome and made it just in time to our shift at the food pantry. It was a good shift and we went to the church for interviews and they were behind so, we did some planning and then my companion had his interview then I had mine right after. We had dinner right after that and we then closed the night seeing someone that we are teaching. It was a really good lesson and the spirit was definitely there as we shared what she needed. She is so prepared!!

Saturday was a long day. Since we didn't weekly plan, we got stuck doing that on Saturday over a prolonged period of time. We started at 12 cause we had some things planned that morning and we didn't finish until dinner time. Things came up that we needed to go and do and we got stuck doing those things. Funny story. We had received a box of copies of The Book of Mormon. We took it with us to District Council on Friday and it was gone. So we called around and found out that the farthest companionship from us, took it. Lucky enough they were on exchanges and they were going to re-exchange back that afternoon. The Sisters met us and we got a box. They told us it was an unopened box of English Copies. We were like sweet and they took the open box. We get back to Jerome and we find out it's Spanish... We gave them a call and met them in Twin and got the box back from them. Probably doesn't make the most sense right now, but that's as good as it'll get for know. We had a good dinner that evening and then we had a surprise Birthday Party for one of the Elders!! IT was pretty fun!!

Sunday was a long day!! 7:30-3:00 for church. Gets tiring. It was a good day though. Just don't remember much between all the church meetings and trying to stay awake. 

This week has been pretty dang unexpecting. It came to a fast close for sure. I love what I do, but I do miss home. Soon, I'll be back. It scares me to think about it. I hit my 22 month mark yesterday and it's pretty insane. I love you all and I do miss you all. Hope you enjoy your week!!

Elder Ruesch

Week 92 - All the Little Things (7/30/2018)

So this past week has been full of amazing miracles, both big and small!! I've loved it!! Last Monday we had a great lesson with one of the families that we are working with and the husband was set to be baptized this weekend and he was!! It was amazing!! Just now have to wait a year so the family can be sealed in the temple (united for all of eternity)!! 

Tuesday was just jam packed! We had two lessons right off the bat to go to that morning. Both of which were really good. We then had a lunch with one of the members that came with us to our appointment before lunch. We darted to the church building for the man that I mentioned earlier, for his baptismal interview! It was awesome!! We planned his baptismal service and got it all arranged! We then got caught up in some things that we had to do, but it was all right. Had some people cancel on us cause of things they forgot were happening that day. Tried some things out and we tracted. Door knocking. Haven't done that in awhile. 

Wednesday was a good day. We were on exchanges and I was with a new missionary. It was pretty cool being with him. He was just so on to things about the work being brand new. We had a District Council that morning. Grabbed lunch and then went tracting. What a perfect way to break in a new missionary. Met some people that weren't interested which is always a sad thing. Had some service then we went back into studies. Cool little miracle here. We got a text from our dinner asking if it was going to be 4 of us. The Spanish Elders told us that they didn't have a dinner so we explained the situation to them and they told us to all come and that they planned on having 4 missionaries!! That was a cool miracle for all of us. After dinner we moved a car and went contacting. Made some awesome contacts and got in touch with someone that went on a vacation but is back. Re-exchanged and we shared about our days and it was pretty cool.

Thursday was a good day, but not at first. Woke up and I was just dead. Literally out of it. I haven't been having the best sleep for quite awhile. Made it through the routine and all that fun stuff. Went and helped move a fridge and clean under it. Put it back and went and changed to start our weekly planning. Got called away to do some things which postponed our weekly planning session. Got things done and had a great lunch with the man we helped move the fridge for. Went to the church and started our weekly planning. It went pretty well. Had to help out missionaries get places and to get things. Cool miracle there. As we were wrapping up our weekly planning, we were looking for a video to share for a discussion we were going to have that Sunday at church. We were watching and watching when the Elders came in and asked if we could take them to get something from one of their members. We asked if they could wait a bit and we watched the video and it wasn't the one we were feeling. So we loaded another, then another and then we said after this one, we'll go. That was the video we felt we should use and we left to take the Elders to get what they needed. We got there and as we pull in and park, two more cars pull in and it was the members!! Perfect timing or a coincidence? I think not! Came back into town and finished off our studies and tried some people. Had a great appointment to end the night which was awesome!

Friday was also a good day. District Council, to lunch, and then to service. Tried some people then had our studies. Had a pizza dinner which is always appreciated. Had a great appointment afterwards with the lady we contacted on Wednesday that came back from vacation. It was such a beautiful spirit that was in the home! You could not deny the feelings that were there!!

Saturday was a blessed day!! Had to do some early morning errands and then we got prepped for the baptism we were going to have. It was such a beautiful spirit that was there!! It was a small turn out, but a huge spirit that was in the room. It was awesome!! We then did some inviting to a ward party that was going to be that night and we went and invited! We invited a lot of people and one of the places we went and invited, we ended up being there for quite a long time outside that we were beat from the heat! After all the inviting we did some studies and then saw another baptism and then went to the ward party. Had a lot of people there and talked to quite a few people. It was pretty cool.

Sunday was also a really good day. Had meetings from 8-3:30. Had some surprises there!! One of the people that we were teaching disappeared for quite a long time, but he returned!! He came back!! It was awesome to see him just walk into church and stay all three hours!! Also, one of our recent converts challenged us to a 90 Day Book of Mormon reading challenge. That'll be fun. We did some studies and drove around the Spanish Missionaries. Had our dinner, drove them back, and then tried some people. Had really good visits. We even got to give a blessing which was really cool. It was definitely a good day!!

This week has been awesome and I have loved every minute of it!! Time is flying! I can't believe it!! I love you all and I hope you all have a great week!!

Elder Ruesch