March 30th

Hey guys,
So It sounds like you all are doing great except for being a little
sick. Everything over here is great. This week I hit my six month
mark, which is kinda weird, because it feels like I got here
yesterday. We are going into town where they have a place that sells
ice cream to celebrate with some of my friends from the MTC. That
should be fun. Also, our zone is scheduled to play soccer with the
young single adults again on Friday. This time the ref comes from our
team so I'm sure that we will win. :-) Ive been a little sick this
week, we had to buy some more tp, but we still are having a lot of
fun. Sorry that some of you guys are sick. Derek congrats on the
driving, and yes I have turned red, with white hair. I was going for a
mix between Steve Martin and Ry. And Jon, we all know that I'm
Grandma's favorite. I'm not sure if I was able to get an e-mail off
last week, the computers are kinda bad, but in case that I didn't, mom
I would love a package with pictures, to answer your question.
Pictures of home, pictures of you and the rest of the family. When we
go to town this week, I'm sending you and dad your mothers day and
fathers day presents. Don't get to excited, but it's the best I can
get for you at this time. It will be much better when I come home. We
have an interesting problem that is actually way cool. The member in
the ward want to come out with us so bad that they are kinda fighting
each other to come with us. Its a nice problem to have. Virtually
every lesson that we teach is with a member, and that helps a lot with
getting solid investigators. This week, Pres. Sabey came out with a
new way of teaching where instead of teaching from the basic lessons
right away, you start with the first lesson being on promise making
and keeping. It actually has been way sweet and seems to be going
really well. It first helps us to know within the first few lessons
who is serious or not because they have followed what we said. There
is no way for someone that wants to bible bash to argue, because that
would meant that they don't believe that they should be honest, and
most importantly, it helps them to realize that this is a church of
commitment and covenant making and keeping and that they cant just
come some times and sit in the back and not do anything to be saved. I
love it and its really helped with the teaching. Every time that we
see them we are supposed to give them something to promise to do,
whether it be to read something or to pray, or to got to church, and
with that we also promise that we will teach them if they Keep their
promise, and if they do not we promise to not teach them. Again, its
really effective.On top of all that, mango's have started to come out
and they taste soooooooooo good. You can buy about five small ones for
fifty sense. The only problem is that they seem to give me gas. I feel
bad for my companions, but not bad enough to stop eating them. The
fruit here is so good and so cheap. I think that is one thing that Im
going to miss in a year and a half when I go home. Well, my time is
up, I think that Ive rambled enough to please Jon and Nate so Ill let
you guys go. Love you all, and hope everything is good.
Love Elder Russell
P.S. Mom I think that I'm going to buy it. Ive talked with another
missionary who is a major computer nerd and he told me it was such a
good deal that he wanted in on it. We checked on all of the things
that you warned me about. Thanks. Ty