February 23, 2009

This week was pretty amazing these people are amazing . We had another baptism this week and it was awesome it was a part member family and she put her self on date about a week and a half a go it was awesome and we taught her in english so it was good because shes not that fluent in samoan shes lived here most of her life it was an amazing baptism lady. It was amazing being able to teach this lady and the Elder that baptized her was the elder that actually found her almost 2 years ago is was an amazing expierience just to see the joy on the families face and the spirit was amazing. then afterwards the samoan single adults did a musical fireside on the first vision it was amazing they can sing pretty good. it was funny this week i wasnt the only white person in church were teaching another soon to be partmember family and shes american to soo its nice but she knows samoan to so it works out but tonight were going to talk about marriage and help them set a date they want to get married they just have to do it and then after that were going to put her on date to be baptized shes pretty soild she knows a lot of members allready and grew up around the church and she already has a testimony of joseph smith. Its crazy how much my testimony has grown just being here a couple of weeks these people are amazing there faith is amazing and they seem like they dont take very many things for granted. Our ward mission leader is awesome to he come out with us almost every night. we also have another baptism on the 14 ill have to tell you the story next week im running out of time were supposed to be somewhere right now. Thanks for all of the love and support. Tell the stevensons ill remember them in my prayers. Hows the priest quorum doing well have a good week Love Elder Rushton

4 Generations on the Rushton side of the family

Grandpa and Grandma Rushton, Boyd, Cassie and Kamery

David's letter February 16, 2009

HeyThats pretty cool that Steven got his call isn't that the same place where bryce is if that is that would be pretty cool. well everything is still going good here the Samoan people are amazing. Were seeing so many miracles and im pretty sure its because of the faith and prayers of the member we pretty much just show up to the lessons and the ward takes care of the rest its awesome i still dont understand to much other than eat elders or the regular greetings but its allright ill get there. We had a baptism this saturday it was awesome the service was in somaon and they had me be the chorister but i only did one song cause i butchered it was pretty funny it was acaupella which was funny because i didnt know what song it was in the first place so my companion took over after me it was fun though. it was also pretty crazy we went to a lesson last week and taught a first and the lady put her self on date for this sunday so we were super excited. Every thing is going well its crazy how many miracles you can see in a day if you just look for them and once you recognize them its seems like more come its awesome. well thanks for all of the love and support. By the way its pretty crazy i got on the scale the other day and i now way 170 its pretty funny in the last twelve days i gained 15 pounds i told sister Dance and she just laughed and reminded me that that was over a pound a day. well have a good week love Elder Rushton

David's letter(s) February 11, 2009

hey hows everything going our pday got changed this week because we got to go to the Temple today it was pretty cool the Anchorage temple is pretty small though but its nice. The new ward is awesome its crazy I think ive already gained ten pounds samoans love to feed the missionaries. After every teaching appointment we eat even if its right before dinner and its like a full blown meal its crazy. Its funny all of our meetings at church are in somoan and all of our teaching appointments so i have no idea whats going on most of the time im starting to pick up some of the language we have language study everymorning so i can learn it quicker but for now i just sit and bear my testimony and some of them understand english so i teach a couple principles but not much elder sooaloo teaches most of it. It was pretty funny in sacrament meeting i said the closing prayer but i didnt know it in somoan so i said it in english i dont think they cared but that was the only part in english. We also have two baptisms this weekend its a partmember family but there pretty awesome they speak some english so its good they talk to me a little bit. We also put another guy on date on monday it was pretty cool his date isnt till the 14 of march but ill tell you more next week and ill get you my address also i dont know it now thanks for all of the love and support love elder rushton

Sorry that last letter was so quick the computers are on a limited time limit here and i was about to get cut off. My new companion is pretty awesome hes samoan sometimes i dont quite understand his english but ive gotten used to it now we have a good time the work in this ward is amazing. These people have amazing testimonies and there not afraid to share it most all of the people were teaching are from member referals its awesome. Its funny they have a phrase they say they love to feed the missionaries everywhere we go even if its just a quick visit they try and feed us a meal or give us food or money and when we eat they always say the more you eat the more blessings we get so eat up and in there culture the guest eats first before they do so they just sit and watch at first it was kind of intimidating but its cool ive never been so full though i almost never eat anything at the appartment anymore so we give the other missionaries our food. I like it hear in anchorage to i have to drive to its pretty fun but we have a little car and it doesnt have snow tires so we slide alot but you get used to it. It also alot warmer here which is nice i don't have to use much of my winter gear anymore so its good. Its good to hear that katies wedding went good and that you guys were able to see grandpa. ill get you my address next week thanks for all the love and support hopefully next week i can write you my testimony in samoan have a good week. Love Elder Rushton

Happy Birthday Boyd!

Marissa made the lovely "It's my birthday" button for her dad. We sang Happy Birthday, Rushton style, and then celebrated by going to the movie and getting in on a Senior citizen discount.

January 25th letter

Dear Fam, Its good to hear everyone is doing well keep me updated on taylor and his condition and where hes going. its good to hear that maggies doing good too. it stinks to hear that sister maxwell is gone too.Everything is going good hear in Fairbanks Transfers are this week and i think i might be getting transfered but i wont know till sat. Things are Starting to pick up a little more the lord is truely blessing us. every week we are finding more and more people which is awesome we got a call from a guy about two weeks ago it was a miracle how we found him we taught him but it turns out hes not in our area which stinks allot of people weve been finding are in the singles ward which is all right it doesnt matter who teaches them. We havent been able to go ice fishing again yet but thats okay because it would have cost me 50 more bucks for a new licsense but thats okay cause i spent it on food. It was crrazy we had about a 90 degree flip in a couple of daysit was around negative 45 then it jumped to over fourty degrees it was crazy it was weird i was actually pretty hot we went to chop wood and i was just wearing jeans and a tshirt and i was sweating like crazy it was fun. The work is going good still no baptisms but people are getting closer i wrote you guys letters a couple of weeks ago and i forgot to send them so ill send them today Have fun tell the driesels thanks for the letters. Oh by the way just a funny fact i got on the scale the other day and i decided i better start working out better because ive already gained 20 pounds but you can't tell i hope well have a good week tell Katie Congrats. Love Elder Rushton