David's letter March 8, 2010

Dear Family,
This week was way good it was kind of weird but in a good way. Thats good to hear that everything is going well and that things are warming up. We had Zone conference this week and a guy from the missionary department of the church came and gave some training which was pretty cool i learned alot. One of the girls that we are teaching in Talkeetna is on date to be baptized her name is Mckenzie her older sister Hayley says she wants to be baptized but that she wants to wait so she will be baptized later on but Mckenzie is on date for the 27 of this month which will be fun. We also were able to have a lesson with the Barrens this week it was way cool the only problem was that it was on the same day we taught the girls in Talkeetna so we put 180 milles on the car that day because they live about 50 miles apart but the lessons were way awesome. Brother Barren and his Wife are really fun to teach you can almost see the light come on in the lesson we gave them a soft baptismal committment which is when you find out these things are true will you be baptized. And Jeff bore his testimony that he is feeling that it is true but that he won't leave his wife behind, and the only hangup for sister Barren is that her mom doesn't like the church that much, but they said that they would talk to her, and they also said that they were praying alot to soften her heart. They are an awesome family and the boys are starting to come out to play ball with us to which is way fun. We taught them the plan of salvation and the lord truely prepared them for this lesson and the members the Taylor family helped out alot by bearing testimony and sister Taylor is a convert as well and bore her testimony of the plan of salvation the spirit was way strong. Brother Barren came to Brother Taylor before we started teaching and said that he was missing something in his life and told brother Taylor that he thinks he had the answers. And at the lesson it was cool he said that the emptiness was being filled he is a way spirtual guy and has a true desire. I have learned a ton from these families it just cool to see how the spirit leads and prepares people and how much our example means. The whole week has been full of great spiritual experience we got some random calls to help people which was super cool because it was on the days where all of the plans were falling through so you ask where do we go now and then you get the call. I've learned alot this week and throughout my time here to better trust in the spirit. Well i hope you have a wonderful week Love Elder Rushton

Annual Smith girls gathering in Salt Lake

We had our annual "girls" gathering in Salt Lake. We had a fun time staying at the Kimball. We shopped, ate, shopped, made greeting cards and bead watches, shopped and then ate.

Susan

Mom

I think one "crazy" picture has become a tradition

120ish cards

Wendy

Carolyn's birthday dinner

Our server's name was Odd. He had a twin sister whos name was Even. FOR REAL!! I would have loved to meet his mother and father.

Rushton get-together in Salt Lake

We enjoyed a family gathering in Salt Lake on February 20. Boyds Mom, Dad and all of his brothers, Sisters and their spouses were there. An enjoyable time was had by all.

Visiting is actually very tiring. A nap was enjoyed by many.

The King and I

Marissa is part of the High School play. They are doing the King and I. She has enjoyed every minute of it.



Doesn't she make a cute little prince?

Catching up David's letters

I haven't been very good at posting David's letters lately so here are a few to get me caught up.



February 22, 2010

Dear Family
My new companion is Elder Greenwell from south Jordan Utah. He is a good guy and very excited to work. We had a good week last this last week for the first of the week i was with an elder who was also training till our companions got here on thursday thats how i got down to Anchorage he had to drive. We are starting to get alot more opportunities to teach Last night we started teaching a family of four the father called one of our members and said he wanted whatever he had and he that he was willing to do whatever to get it. It was a pretty awesome lesson he had alot of great questions and the spirit was strong his 17 year old son asked some way good questions to we are very excited to continue to work with them. tonight we have a lesson with another family of 6 but two of the kids are already baptized but the mom and father agreed to take the lessons and so did the other kids. Our other investigators are doing okay one lady we are teaching is struggling with the book of mormon and the girl in Talkeetna is doing really good we just haven't been able to get up there for two weeks but this week we will be teaching her and putting her on date her mom is home this week so we will be able to talk to her about a baptisimal date for the kids. We also have had some great opportunities to do more service and will be chopping more wood this week as well as working with a family that raises pigs im pretty excited for that. Well thanks for all of the love and support hopefully you have a good week Love Elder Rushton


March 1, 2010

Dear Family,Thats exciting to hear that the play is this week Marissa good luck and have fun. Thats cool to hear you had a good time at Salt Lake with your mom and sisters how are they doing how is Steven and Taylor Doing. And I also got grandmas letter for christmas and Brother Mcgrew tell them sorry I Didn't Write them back yet. This weeks seem to be getting busier and busier but that is also a good thing for out here. This Week we went to Talkeetna again and were able to teach Hayley and her mom was also there so we were able to ask her permission if we could give Hayley a date for baptism she said yes so this week were gonna try going up again to put her and her little sister on date who wants to be baptized to. We also were able to start teaching another family this week which is always exciting. The Barren family who we started teaching last week is doing awesome Jeff the dad is starting to find his answers and better understand the workings of the spirit it been a great learning experience for me to There boys are also way cool we play basketball with them every thusday which is way fun they have some great questions to you can really see how the lord prepares people to except the gospel. The Reese family the ones we picked up this last are an awesome family two of the kids are members but the mom and the boyfriend and two of the kids are not they are a good family and are excited to study the book of mormon as a family the boyfriend mike is the one who seems to want to know the most I think Sister Reese already has a testimony but wants to wait for the family were not to sure yet but she is a great lady. We were also able to start teaching and do alot of service for some lessactive families. This week we are going to get to help build a barn for this family who raises pigs and help them with the pigs i'm pretty excited they got some pretty big pigs. We are also going to help chop some more wood this week, but all is going well its weird it seems like i get more exhausted in a day full of lessons compared to a day full of service but it all feels good at the end of the day. Its pretty funny Elder Greenwell is doing good he is starting to settle in I think it was a pretty big shock for him but all is well. Thanks mom for taking care of the college thing BYUI looks good but what track am i on if possible i don't want to start till Jan. but i also don't want to go to school in the summer, but at the same time your the one doing the work so whatever you feel is good. Well have a good week Thanks alot Love Elder Rushton