October 9^th, 2017 What I am Thankful for.,. Being back in Bergland

Happy Thanksgiving!!!!

Wow this has been an eventful week to say the least!

Monday- We helped someone clean her home and then she fed us supper :) Then I went over to Sister Varey`s and so I could say good bye to her. I am really going to miss her and Gateway I have really grown to love it!

Tuesday- I said goodbye to Peggy and then Sister Patac had a meeting at the mission office so I got to be an office missionary for an hour or two that was nice :) Then after we had to move. So we shoved as much stuff as we could into both our vehicle and the other missionaries. We had help from both the London elders and sisters and the gateway elders and we did a few trips....It was a very interesting move to say the least ;) 

Wednesday- We had district meeting and then we went to the Griffiths and raked leaves! It was so much fun. It was Sister Patac`s first time raking leaves! Then we cleaned the old apartment and then we went to the ward correlation meeting. After that I started packing...

Thursday- We had apartment inspections. Then we went over so I could visit Sister Antonio before I left and she made us  lunch. The we headed to the church for transfers.... And I got to go to Bergland!!! It is great to be back and we now have a different place to live. So now we are staying at a cabin it is beautiful!!!! We are right on the lake it is so pretty we have one of those wood stove heater things that Uncle Donald and Aunt Vicki have so I get to build fires and I will be cutting wood soon. It feels like I’m camping! MY companion sister Thompson is from Ottawa! 

Friday- Weekly planning and we got to do some stop bys!!!! Had supper at the Fisks !

Saturday- We did some more stop by did some tracting. We saw a guy with a gun so we went to a different street. Then we got to teach a guy named Jorty! He is great we met him that day and we got a member with us in the evening to teach him!

Sunday-We had church and there was a lot of people there we had 29 people so it was a lot (must have been because of thanksgiving ) Then we got a member with us and we had a lesson with a guy named Braden and had a book of Mormon read with him. Did some more tracting and then had supper at the Larson a big thanksgiving feast!

I hope you all have had a great week and Happy Thanksgiving!

Love,

Sister Russell

​Ether 12:4 

 Hope is the anchor of the soul

October 2, 2017: Transfers are here

Hey Everyone,

 I hope you had a good week! I am getting transferred out to Bergland, Ontario again!!!!! I am so excited!!!! My companion`s name is sister Thomson! I am sad to leave Gateway but I am so excited to go back to Bergland!!!! Sister Kostiuk (My companion when I was in Bergland last time) did tell me that it is really cold there in the winter

This has been an exciting week for me.  We have done a lot of tracting but we’ve also had some good experiences with both our church members and in teaching some who have not yet chosen to join the church.  I’m starting to pick up a bit more Tagalong which I have been enjoying. 

Wasn’t general conference fantastic?  If you haven’t seen it yet you really need to take the time to watch it. 

​I love you! And hope you have a great week!​

--

​Ether 12:4 

 Hope is the anchor of the soul

September 25^th, 2017 There are Geese everywhere.

Hello Everyone,

Monday- We played round the world ping pong. I never knew how intense ping pong could be :) We had a supper appointment with the Cormacks and we join them for FHE and then we helped a member move more things to her new house.

Tuesday- We got to teach Alexandre and Caroline ( we taught them the first day Sister Patac got here and we helped them move into our area) It was a really good lesson you could see on their faces they have a true desire to learn the truth! They are great! Then we had supper at Sister Mentita! I love Philippine food! 

Wednesday-We had district meeting. We had lunch with a member and she took us to Empress of China for lunch and then we helped her move some things around to help her for her move to BC.  And then we had ward correlation meeting!

Thursday-We helped an old man move boxes around with the Elders so he could throw things away. Then we had a lesson with Ru she is a new investigator she is from China and wants to learn how to speak English. Our lesson was mostly through google translate so we typed what we wanted to say and it showed it in Chinese so she could understand it . She is so sweet though!  We had a lesson with Jamie it was a really good lesson the only thing is I think he is too scared of his wife to act on what he is feeling.

Friday- We did weekly planning 

Saturday- I got to attend the first funeral on my mission. We got asked on Thursday night if we could sing with the elders so we sang I am a Child of God and Teach me to walk in the light. And we also prepped food and then we got left to clean up the food and wash the dishes so we were at the church all morning. I am so happy that the members trusted us to get it done and that they can count on us! There was a stake Relief society thing at a different chapel so that is the reason everyone left.  After that we had a lesson with one of our less active members. Then we drove to Ru`s place and taught her how to pray in English.  And she also fed us Chinese food. Then we headed to the R.S. activity to have supper and watch the broadcast. Which was AMAZING! 

Sunday- We went to church. Had ward council then we had a lesson with Fred. Then we had a rescue instruction meeting with all the ward council members in the stake .

I hope you had a great week! 

Love,

Sister Russell

There are so many Canadian Geese 

After a crazy Saturday

September 18, 2017 How Much Watermelon can you eat?

Hello Po!

I hope you week has been good. Mine has gone by super quick.

​Monday- We had a meal appointment with the ​Famini`s it was really good they cooked Philippine food it was a great way to star t the mission fast!

​Tuesday- We help a member hang up curtains and then were able to do some tracting and it was 35 degrees out super hot we had someone let us in Fred and Sheila so we taught them about the Book of Mormon and to do some visiting teaching 

Wednesday- ​ We visited a less active member and then a member took us out for Chinese food and I got to read about being an ox because it was the year I was born.  Then we got a call from a less active asking if we could help her move some stuff from her old house to her new one so we did that till we had to go to our ward correlation meeting. Then we had supper and we had a watermelon that a member gave us 3ish weeks ago and I figured we had to eat it so we cut the watermelon in half and had a contest. I won. Sister Patac is slow when it comes to cooled things. I have never eaten a half of a watermelon before that was a lot!

Thursday- We visited a less active. Then we started Weekly planning because we could not do it on Friday this week. Then we went to the Bishop and Sister Dimelalun`s house and pulled weeds and they fed us supper. The elders in our ward and the Fort France’s distinct elders were there because of exchanges and I got to meet one of the new elders. His name is Elder Russell from Cardston. 

Friday- we had zone conference! It was a tri-zone conference so there were lots of missionaries there. I have never seen so many missionaries in the same place since the MTC. Elder and sister Anderson of the 70 came and spoke to us it was really nice! Then we had supper at Sister Varey`s.  Sister Patac was shaking she has never experienced anything cooler than plus 15 degrees and it was 9 so she was really cold.

Saturday- we got to give service to the Wahl`s so we weeded for them. Then we did more tracting like always

Sunday- we had church and then it was ward potluck. Gateway has pot luck every 3rd Sunday of the month. After that we took Karen, she is preparing to go on a mission, and had another lesson with Fred and Shelia then did some stop bys. And ended the night by tracting.

I hope you all will have a great week!

Love,

Sister Russell

September 11, 2017; Its Monday already, where did the week go?

Hello po!

Wow this week has flown by.

Well here in Winnipeg on Labor Day nothing is open not even Wal-Mart that`s saying something so we got permission to do shopping on Tuesday all the missionaries for a hour. On Monday we got a text at 5:45 pm from our bishop to see if we could come  help a family who moved to another house set up beds. So we went the there right away. Well IKEA beds can be hard to make. So we got there and the first step was really good. the second step not so easy. We worked on getting the  bed frame made. so we got the head board and the long side thing on one side it took about 15 minutes. Well I thought that the one side took a long time to put together. Well the other side we were working on it for a hour and I was so frustrated with it so we texted the elders to help so they were close by and they came to see if they could but that piece together we I started putting a few things back and the pole that had the nuts I realized that it had two sides and the side that we had it on was the opposite side so I fixed it so we didn't need the Elders after all so they went down stair to build another bed and we finished that one... That was our Monday night.

Tuesday we went to a Family home evening it was a lot of fun! With lots of Philippine food :)

​Wednesday we had a member lesson with an orderly lady she is so sweet then she made us supper :) !!

Thursday I got to cut a lady in our wards hair so I am glad I could do that service for her! Late that night we went and helped at the soup kitchen! I love giving service!!!

Friday we got rid of the keys to our old apartment on Jefferson with bed bugs to the Elders so they could move all the furniture out and throw it away so we are officially done with that apartment which I am happy about!!!

Saturday The Elders had a baptism and I got to give the talk on the Gift of the Holy Ghost and after that we went to a Philippine members house and we had supper! I love Philippine food!!

Sunday we had church and then ward council then we went over to the ward mission leaders house and they fed us lunch!!! Then we went to a different Philippine member’s house and they fed us supper!!!! 

This has been a fast week and we got fed lots which is great!!!!! I hope you all have a great week!

Love,

Sister Russell

We are matching!

Member present lessons are the way to go! :)

soaked after the car wash we are more wet then the car :)

September 3^rd, 2017  25 perogies later

Sorry for all the pictures but that pretty much explains my week. The top three is Sister Patac and I tracting and we decided we were going to knock on every door even if they don't have steps to them! Then guess what we found. And then it is a picture we took because it was pretty outside just like how wonder the gospel of Jesus Christ is! A picture of my skirt before I burnt it for my one year mark. I one year picture and a cake to celebrate. The shirt while it was burning. The district photo for after district meet.  perogies because we had a perogies eating contest and I ate 25 perogies in 20 minutes because I did not one to do the punishment. (the most  someone ate was 55) And no one puked so that is good right. I felt like I was going to but I didn't.

The picture of the skirt after it was burned 

I got to see Sister Smith this week! It was great seeing her! 

Sister Patac made me a sign for my year mark 

I had an exchange this week with Sister Jimenez and we came out together. It was a lot of fun!

I saw this sign on my exchange and thought it was funny 

Well I hope you have a great week!

Love,

Sister Russell

August 28, 2017 I am losing my marbles!

Hello Po!

I hope you are all doing well and got to see the eclipse sadly I didn't it rained all day :( 

A year ago today I gave my farewell talk in sacrament meeting. It has been memory lane this week. 

Well, we got a media referral on Monday and she pretty much wanted to know the plan of salvation. So we taught that to her twice and we are planning to see her again this week! We got to teach a little bit to a former investigator and we will see her again this week. On Thursday morning we got a text from a member in another ward giving us a referral to his friends and he asked us to come to their place so we could introduce ourselfs to the friends and we got to teach with him to his friends on Thursday night so it was after transfer that day so I had Sister Patac with me so it was a really spiritual  lesson. The reason why we taught them is because on Saturday they moved in to our ward boundaries! I am so excited to teach them again!!!! Helping them move was a lot of fun to!!! Well this family’s old apartment was by these giant marbles and Sister Dungan and I always wanted to take a picture with the will I got to take pictures after try a few times and it never working!  Sister Dungan is in Regina she is happy to be close to the temple for her last transfer. Sister Patac has been out 9 months. She served 6 months in the Phippines waiting for her visa. And she has been in Canada for 3 months! 

Well I hope you have a great week! 

Mahal Kita!

Sister Russell​

August 21^st, 2017   First FHE on the mission! Boy I have truly missed out

Hello,

Well this has been a busy week I think it’s because it is already Monday and I don't know where the time went so it must have been busy.

​I cut an elder`s hair on last P-day I don't think he will ask me again because, well.- . ya.  We met up with one of our investigators Aaron and we just went over what he was reading in the book of Mormon chapter 8-11 .Tuesday we had district meeting. We also met up with a less active family. Wednesday we did tracting and did some stop bye’s nothing exciting. Thursday we visited with another less active. We helped with the relief society activity for bit. We went to a Filipino’s house that evening and had a family home evening with them and the bishop`s family (so that is the picture with the lots of people I felt really white (I really need to work on my tan)) It was so much fun even though it was mostly in Tagalog I am starting to pick out a few words! And there was so much great food there!!! Friday we did weekly planning   and then we went over to a less actives. We got fed by a member Friday and that was a lot of fun too! After that we went over to the church so we could meet Aaron our investigator and give him a church tour! The church has such a spirit and we had a member with us who is an RM actually from his mission! So it was fantastic! Saturday We able to have a lesson with the recent converts from Thompson and their Grandma! It was super nice being able to have the grandma involved a little bit! Sunday we had church. So Sister Dungan and I had to make sure we got the Thompson Kids to church so we waited for them to get down and in the car with the members. So we came into church just as they were saying well good morning starting the meeting. Then as they were announcing they said Sister Russell can you help with the music so I had to be chorister for sacrament meeting. I was a little off beat but people seemed happy that I did it even so much I was the chorister in Relief society Meeting. We had pot luck after church! It was great! We also had a supper appointment  with another Filipino family super good!

Well it is transfer day again..... I am staying here and sadly Sister Dungan is not going to be my companion. My new companion is Sister Patac she is also from the Philippines! So I will still be learning Tagalog. 

I hope you have a great week! 

Love,

Sister Russell 

-- ​Ether 12:4 

 Hope is the anchor of the soul

August 6^th, 2017 – Terry fox Day

Hello Hello,

Well I hope all of you had great week! This week has been a good one for me! I had my interview this transfer with President Craig. I made it the first 5 minutes of the interview without crying! I am pretty proud about that. I love the interviews they always make me feel so much better! On Wednesday we had supper at our Bishops house! It was a party we had 5 sets of missionaries there. I am learning a little bit of Tagalog.! On Saturday we got to teach a lady that another set of missionaries have been teaching (they only taught her once or twice and then found out where she lives and she lives in our area!!!!) and She is from the Philippines she does not speak a lot of English so sister Dungan taught her in Tagalog. We invited her to baptism for Sept 11!!!! It has been a long time since I have taught someone with a baptism dates so we are hopeful that it will stick. And that day to make it even better we got a media referral!!!!!!!! The last media referral I got was in Winnipeg in February so it has been a while!!!! And she referred herself!!!!! I will let you know more about it next week!! We had 3 supper appointments this week and that was great!!!!!!!! We don't get fed a lot here :( So today is a holiday Terry Fox day so this morning there was like no traffic and the Walmart was like deserted! It was so nice! This afternoon we went to the Forks! I recommend it if you are ever in Winnipeg! Well I hope you have a fantastic week! 

I talked in church yesterday.  I had a half page of notes but talked for 11 minutes.  Sister Dungan said it was a good talk.

Love,

Sister Russell

mustaches;)

self on a bench  with Sister Dungan

 I only put a few pictures on my wall 

siting at the Forks hanging out with bears