So this week has been a bombtastic week!! We've had tons of opportunities to share the Gospel with others it's been awesome!! So last week, we had a really fun District Activity and we even had the Assistants come down and play some ball with us. That was pretty cool. After our activity we came back and I got news about my departure and my departing interview and my interview was scheduled for the next day and I didn't quite have everything finished for it!! So I panicked for a split second then sent a text to our Mission President asking if I should have all my stuff finished before the interview. Waited a bit then the Mission President's wife called us and I asked then and she told me that I should finish it all. So that's exactly what I did in between appointments scheduled for that night. Luckily I finished.
Tuesday was our Zone Conference and Zone Olympics!! It was so cool!! So we got in for the conference and usually those that are departing, share their testimony's at the end of the meeting. Our Mission President gets up and has me and my MTC companion Elder Saunders, share our testimonies at the beginning. I was in for a shock. But it went super well. We then had some good training's about things and what we could do to better find people that are ready for the Gospel. We then had a lunch and then the games began. It was all super fun between, free throws, jump rope, push-ups, sit-ups, curls, volleyball!! It was so much fun!! The best part is, so when I first came out into the mission, we had Zone Olympics and we did free throws, jump rope, push-ups, sit-ups, curls, and tug-o-war. Then the next one we had we did Volleyball. This one, my last one, we combined it all together. It was fun!! We all got flu shots or something like that afterwords which was nice. I then had my departing interview and it was a long one. It was a very good one too. I'm definitely going to miss my Mission President. He's helped me through a lot and has gotten me through a lot too. I definitely know he was meant to be my Mission President.
Wednesday was a good day hitting the ground and finding people. So we started early and tracted down a street real fast, then we saw someone that we are working with. We then had a really good visit with another person that we are working with. We were able to read the Book of Mormon with him and he liked what we read and totally sees how the principle applies to him. It was awesome!! We then had lunch and tried a few more people before we went to Jerome to go sing! We sang then got some ice cream from a little place here in Jerome. Went back to Wendell and had a quick study before some appointments. Had dinner, then we booked our way to Gooding for an appointment. It was a super good appointment with a family that is prepared!! It was awesome!! We then tried a few more people and then made our way back to Wendell.
Thursday, the laborious weekly planning day. We made some good plans and then had a lunch break. Then finished right after lunch the rest of our planning. We then got to work and tried a lot of people. Had no luck sadly. We then did some studies. Then went back to the pavement. We met some pretty cool people and we were even able to get some appointments set with some of them. We then did a language study. Had dinner. Then went out with our Ward Mission Leader to go and try some people. We had some good appointments with people and we were even able to give a Priesthood Blessing to the spouse of someone that we are working with.
Friday, was a straight working day. We tracted, we contacted, we called, we texted. We did a lot of stuff to find people.The biggest miracle of it all was when we tracted out a trailer park. We were able to talk to a lot of people. Almost every door we knocked on, answered. That was pretty exciting. We were able to have some good chats with a few of the people and we were even able to set some return appointments with a few of the people. It was awesome!! We then tried out a few more people before we had dinner. We had a good dinner and then we tried some more people. We then closed out with our language study.
Saturday was similar to Friday. A lot of contacting there.
Sunday was awesome!! So we had a good sacrament meeting in the first ward. We texted someone to remind them about church and they replied back asking what time and things like that. We were feeling like he probably wouldn't come. BUT HE CAME!!!! IT WAS A HUGE SHOCKER FOR THE BOTH OF US!!!! We were so surprised when he said he was outside. We got him and came in side and wen to the second ward sacrament meeting. He thoroughly enjoyed it and knew a lot of the members. It was awesome!! We then had a good appointment after church with this new move in family and it was super awesome!! They are so prepared and so ready for the Gospel. It's amazing!! We then had some other things fall through then had dinner. Then more appointments fall through. Then we closed with all the studies we didn't do. It happens. Got a call from our Mission President's wife and Elder Cox got his Visa!! He's going to Ecuador!! That's so crazy!! Wendell is getting white washed, again!! Poor Wendell. This is crazy!! He leaves next Sunday and I'm going with him!! At least that's what our Mission President's wife said.
Time has flown by and it's so crazy to see that. This Friday I hit my 2 year mark. That's so weird. I've loved every minute of my mission and it has been something that I did need. I don't know what I would do without it. I love you all and I miss you all!! Can't wait to see you in a few weeks!!
Elder Ruesch
