Hello family and Friends!!
This week has been full of adventures haha. This week I have been getting to know the area of Guimarães a lot more. Every day we walk in different parts of the city. We try to talk with everyone on the street so we can find new people to teach. Pretty much most of the time we get rejected, but that’s alright because that only leads us closer to the one who will accept our message. Here in Guimarães we have a Branch. A Branch is one step smaller than a Ward. Our Branch President is really awesome. He has only been a member for 3 years and he has spent 2 of those years as the Branch President. He has such a strong spirit with him and he is an amazing man. Our Branch Mission Leader is 28 years old and he is such a stud. He knows everything about this gospel and I think he could be an Apostle one day. He speaks perfect English and Portuguese. Actually a lot of people in our Branch speak English. Our Branch is a little smaller than the one in Beja but that’s ok we will help it grow.
So this week we had a lesson with a less active that has been less active for about 5 months. His whole family is members except his little daughter. When we talked with him he was cool and loves talking with the missionaries. We don’t really know why he went inactive but we are now starting to work with him and his family to start coming back to church and soon to baptize his daughter.
This week we also had the opportunity to go over to another less actives house and give him a blessing. The reason that he is considered less active is because he hasn’t been to church in a long time. The reason why is because he has been having some medical problems with his legs. He told us that when he was working one day he somehow fell over on his side while he was holding something heavy and it landed on him and temporarily paralyzed his legs so he can’t do much. He is still trying to recover from his accident. He asked President Bruno if the missionaries could come over and give him a blessing. After President told us this we went over to go and give him a blessing. When we got there his Granddaughter answered the door. She then shouted out “THE MISSIONARIES ARE HERE!” We then entered the house and saw the old man on the couch with a huge smile on his face. We then talked about his life and what he did in the past for the church and what happened to his legs. After we had our conversation we then gave him a blessing. Elder Hansen had the honor of doing this and he gave a BEAUTIFUL blessing. Right after the blessing the old man stared to cry tears of joy. He then grabbed our hands one at a time and thanked us so much and kissed our hands. He told us that he needed to hear that. In the blessing Elder Hansen told him that he needs to remember to read the Book of Mormon and pray to God. He told us that he hasn’t been doing that and that he knew that he should be. His family started to cry as well and then we almost started to cry. I know that the Spirit was present during the visit and that it touched their lives and they will always remember that moment. It was such a blessing that we were able to be there and give him that blessing.
I love the feeling that we as missionaries give other people through service and to see their lives just fill up with joy and happiness. It makes me feel like I’m doing my job right and that this is why I am here, to bring others closer to Christ and help them feel joy in their lives.
This Sunday I gave a talk in church. Now in our Branch we have sacrament first and then we have our classes. Anyway, if you guys think it’s hard giving a talk in church try giving a talk in church in a different language, that’s even harder!!! But I was willing a excited. My topic was on how missionaries and members can work together to bring more people unto Christ. Some scriptures I used in my talk where in D&C 24:12
12. And at all times, and in all places, he shall open his mouth and declare my gospel as with the voice of a trump, both day and night. And I will give unto him strength such as is not known among men.
I love this scripture, It tells us that we need to open our mouths and share this gospel. But some people don’t do this and that is where D&C 60:2-3 comes in:
2 But with some I am not well pleased, for they will not open their mouths, but they hide the talent which I have given unto them, because of the fear of man. Wo unto such, for mine angeris kindled against them.3. And it shall come to pass, if they are not more faithful unto me, it shall be taken away, even that which they have.
God has given us talents and we need to use those talents to share this gospel and happiness with everyone on this earth. If we are not doing this then we need to go to God in prayer and REPENT! We need to remember that through Christ our sins can be forgiven. In D&C 60:7 it talks about this.
7. And in this place let them lift up their voice and declare my word with loud voices, without wrath or doubting, lifting up holy hands upon them. For I am able to make you holy, and your sins are forgiven you.
I’m so grateful for this gospel and for everything it has done for me in my life. I know that through God ANYTHING is possible. We are his children and he loves us so very much. I love you all and wish that you will always go to God in prayer and thank him for all the many blessing that he has given to you in your lives.
With all my love,
Elder Rusnell
This week has been full of adventures haha. This week I have been getting to know the area of Guimarães a lot more. Every day we walk in different parts of the city. We try to talk with everyone on the street so we can find new people to teach. Pretty much most of the time we get rejected, but that’s alright because that only leads us closer to the one who will accept our message. Here in Guimarães we have a Branch. A Branch is one step smaller than a Ward. Our Branch President is really awesome. He has only been a member for 3 years and he has spent 2 of those years as the Branch President. He has such a strong spirit with him and he is an amazing man. Our Branch Mission Leader is 28 years old and he is such a stud. He knows everything about this gospel and I think he could be an Apostle one day. He speaks perfect English and Portuguese. Actually a lot of people in our Branch speak English. Our Branch is a little smaller than the one in Beja but that’s ok we will help it grow.
So this week we had a lesson with a less active that has been less active for about 5 months. His whole family is members except his little daughter. When we talked with him he was cool and loves talking with the missionaries. We don’t really know why he went inactive but we are now starting to work with him and his family to start coming back to church and soon to baptize his daughter.
This week we also had the opportunity to go over to another less actives house and give him a blessing. The reason that he is considered less active is because he hasn’t been to church in a long time. The reason why is because he has been having some medical problems with his legs. He told us that when he was working one day he somehow fell over on his side while he was holding something heavy and it landed on him and temporarily paralyzed his legs so he can’t do much. He is still trying to recover from his accident. He asked President Bruno if the missionaries could come over and give him a blessing. After President told us this we went over to go and give him a blessing. When we got there his Granddaughter answered the door. She then shouted out “THE MISSIONARIES ARE HERE!” We then entered the house and saw the old man on the couch with a huge smile on his face. We then talked about his life and what he did in the past for the church and what happened to his legs. After we had our conversation we then gave him a blessing. Elder Hansen had the honor of doing this and he gave a BEAUTIFUL blessing. Right after the blessing the old man stared to cry tears of joy. He then grabbed our hands one at a time and thanked us so much and kissed our hands. He told us that he needed to hear that. In the blessing Elder Hansen told him that he needs to remember to read the Book of Mormon and pray to God. He told us that he hasn’t been doing that and that he knew that he should be. His family started to cry as well and then we almost started to cry. I know that the Spirit was present during the visit and that it touched their lives and they will always remember that moment. It was such a blessing that we were able to be there and give him that blessing.
I love the feeling that we as missionaries give other people through service and to see their lives just fill up with joy and happiness. It makes me feel like I’m doing my job right and that this is why I am here, to bring others closer to Christ and help them feel joy in their lives.
This Sunday I gave a talk in church. Now in our Branch we have sacrament first and then we have our classes. Anyway, if you guys think it’s hard giving a talk in church try giving a talk in church in a different language, that’s even harder!!! But I was willing a excited. My topic was on how missionaries and members can work together to bring more people unto Christ. Some scriptures I used in my talk where in D&C 24:12
12. And at all times, and in all places, he shall open his mouth and declare my gospel as with the voice of a trump, both day and night. And I will give unto him strength such as is not known among men.
I love this scripture, It tells us that we need to open our mouths and share this gospel. But some people don’t do this and that is where D&C 60:2-3 comes in:
2 But with some I am not well pleased, for they will not open their mouths, but they hide the talent which I have given unto them, because of the fear of man. Wo unto such, for mine angeris kindled against them.3. And it shall come to pass, if they are not more faithful unto me, it shall be taken away, even that which they have.
God has given us talents and we need to use those talents to share this gospel and happiness with everyone on this earth. If we are not doing this then we need to go to God in prayer and REPENT! We need to remember that through Christ our sins can be forgiven. In D&C 60:7 it talks about this.
7. And in this place let them lift up their voice and declare my word with loud voices, without wrath or doubting, lifting up holy hands upon them. For I am able to make you holy, and your sins are forgiven you.
I’m so grateful for this gospel and for everything it has done for me in my life. I know that through God ANYTHING is possible. We are his children and he loves us so very much. I love you all and wish that you will always go to God in prayer and thank him for all the many blessing that he has given to you in your lives.
With all my love,
Elder Rusnell