So once again we couldn't wait to get another letter from our boy. As you'll read below he is doing incredibly well and is challenged in all the right places. The language is hard for him as we felt it would be, but he is exercising such great faith and has such an amazing attitude. You know Ty he has a smile on at all times and goes at everything with love and excitement. It gives us more joy than we can express for the love and support you have shown him. He greatly appreciates the cards, letters and goodies you've sent him. Thank you. Enjoy.
Ola family. How are you? I’m doing fantastic. I am having a blast down here. This week has been such an amazing experience. I have felt the spirit so strongly in this week then any time before. I can feel my Heavenly Fathers love towards me every day. There have been lots of things going on this week. So this week our zone leaders got their visas and are now in Brazil. I was so excited for them they will be amazing missionaries. So because they left we had to get new zone leaders so 2 Elders from the other district became the new zone leaders. We also changed our district leader as well. And guess who it is, my companion Elder Lee. He is going to be a great district leader and I’m going to help and make sure he is successful. I don’t know if I told you this in my last e-mail, but we have two new teachers. They are just absolutely amazing. Their names our Irmao Read, and Irmao Belchiore. Irmao means brother in Portuguese. Irmao Belchiore is a native and he is from Mozambique. They are such good teachers. I know that they really do care and love me. They know I’m struggling with the language and are working one-on-one with me so that I can learn it faster. They are amazing people and I am very grateful for them. So we have gym every day and every other day we go and play soccer out in the field across from the temple. It’s so pretty. Soccer is so much fun and the other day I had the sickest shot ever! Jordan would have been jealous. So I kicked the ball from about the middle of the field and it went top 90 to the left of the goal and the keeper missed it and it went in. Is was so awesome. I also go to gym every other day and workout. Elder Lee was on his school’s football team so he is showing me some workout techniques which will get you "big and strong". Elder Lee is just awesome. He is a big example to me in my life and I am to him. We are basically best friends now. Last Sunday was my first Fast Sunday in the MTC. It felt like torture! They didn't have any breakfast or lunch, all that they had was dinner that day. And you know what made it even worse? I was stupid enough the night before to only have an apple. I had totally forgotten that it was Fast Sunday the next day. But I survived, I always survive. During our sacrament meeting we had our fast and testimony meeting which was amazing. I was able to share my testimony with everyone and it felt great. I was also able to bless the bread during the sacrament and the prayer was in Portuguese. My branch president came up to me after sacrament was over and told me that I did an amazing job on the prayer and that he was very proud of me. That put a huge smile on my face. Yesterday was Elder Littlefield and Elder Knight’s last day. They left this morning. They were amazing zone leaders. They were such an inspiration to me and made the MTC so fun. Hey thank you guys so much for the letters and packages I really do appreciate them. It’s just such an amazing feeling when I get mail, it lets me know that people are thinking about me and love me so much. I also got a package from Bappa & Nana Rusnell. They gave me lots of yummy treats and Nana gave me some art supplies so I can draw. I’m really happy about that. I’m having such a great time in the MTC I’m learning lots and I’m coming closer to my Heavenly Father every day. I love and miss you guys so much and think about you all the time. I can’t wait till next P-day to tell you more of the amazing things in my life. I love you guys with all my heart.
Love,
Elder Rusnell