Monday, January 27, 2014

Houston - January 27, 2014

I am TOO glad I got called to Texas! I really wasn't expecting it but I am loving it here. The people are the greatest part!

I really like fall weather. Not too hot and not too cold; right now though I am missing the snow.

I am starting to get really used to the warmth. It was super cold on Thursday and Friday but then it went all of the way up to the 50s this last week! This place is kind of strange like that. It goes from being super cold to hot. I feel like it switches practically every other day.

This week was a great week! I was able to watch Carlos baptize his dad! It was an amazing experience. Carlos did a great job! I've really come to love that family. When I'm done with my mission we'll have to head back to Houston to meet them! They are awesome people. Carlos also invited two of his best friends and his older brother Pablo. We're going to try to teach the older brother sometime this week and I can't wait to see what happens.  Carlos is a great young man and when we told him about what we do on our mission he said that he thought that it would be really cool to do. Hopefully he decides to serve! I do have pictures for you but I just realized that I left my camera in the car. I promise to get them to you next week! I'll have a lot more by then too.

This week we tracked a LOT. We're still working on getting this area going. It's a little tough sometimes but we're seeing a lot of success. I love working here.  We were able to teach this lady who seems really interested.

Elder Ek and I are doing great though this is probably our last week together. I can't imagine that we'll stay together for another transfer. I'll know by next week who's staying and who's leaving. It's been a lot of fun with him and he's a great guy.

I'm actually not too nervous for transfers this time. I'm all right to stay or leave. We've got a lot of really cool things going on and I'd love to see what happens but I also wouldn't mind going. Maybe my work here is finished and it's time for me to head off somewhere else. I'll let you know what happens.

The best thing that members can do is to share their testimonies with people! You should watch the Mormon Message “The Same Jersey”. Really, it's just trying to be a good person and sharing your testimony with others!

Hey I love you a ton and hope that everything is going all right! Talk to you guys next week!

Love,

Elderito Ressler

Tuesday, January 21, 2014

Houston - January 21, 2014



I'm doing great! This week was fantastic and I loved every second of it. We are working a lot with one particular man this week. He's getting baptized this Saturday and his son is performing the baptism! I am almost TOO happy. I was the one who got to baptize his son and now I will be able to see him be the one to baptize his father. He is doing awesome and seems really excited for the baptism. He's a little quieter but he seems like he really is excited and ready.

We actually had another investigator show up to church. The son is pretty much already a missionary and he invited his best friend to church. He said that he told him, "Man how you going to be my best friend and not be my religion!" We're going to try and start teaching him soon and we're super proud of him. He's pretty much the superman of recent converts.

This week I don't have any pictures but will make sure to get you some next week. I saw some pictures of Jacob though. He looks super fit.

That's awesome how you were able to have that blessing with the computer! It's kind of interesting how the Lord works. I'm happy that you are still doing genealogy and it is something that the mission really is pushing for. We are going to try to tell more people about it. I will let you know how it goes.

I really do have a great mission president. He was really concerned about us and he has an amazing spirit about him. He really cares about each one of us and he works really hard to make sure we are all doing all right. It's crazy how fast everything is going! Elder Woodruff reminded me a couple of weeks ago that soon we are hitting our 6 month mark. That means I'm almost a fourth of the way done. Weird I feel like I just got here.

Funny that you asked about the piano; yesterday I was feeling really bored so I went into the other room and started playing hymns. I didn't realize how much I'd missed it and I'm happy that I'm not too rusty. Give me a couple of weeks and I'll be pro.

There are things that we have to do. Everyone needs to be baptized. Everyone needs to keep the commandments. Simply reading the Bible every once in a while is not good enough. The more I am out here the more I understand the importance of doing my best. I may not be the greatest missionary in the world or know the most scriptures but as long as I am doing my very best to be obedient and follow the spirit that is enough. I love the quote by Joseph B. Wirthlin when he said, "Do your best and leave the rest to Him". 

I also have come to realize the importance of the Holy Ghost too. Here on the mission you have to have it otherwise it is really hard to know what to do. We are trying something called Purify Yourself which is a 40 day fast from five things that keep the spirit from being with you. I have noticed a huge difference already. I have felt the spirit stronger and I seem to know exactly what to say when I need to say it. I have truly been blessed out here and I am coming to see these people how Christ sees them. 

I love every second that I have here on my mission. It's got its ups and downs but no matter what I am able to grow and learn about serving those around me. Serving others is becoming something very important to me and I hope that I can do it for the rest of my life.

I love you all very much and I hope that you guys are all right. Have a great week!

Elderito Ressler

Monday, January 13, 2014

Houston - January 13, 2014

We had a really great week this week! We were able to get back in contact with a lot of people! We also taught a whole bunch of new people too. We only had one person show up to church but that's okay. It will just take time. This week we are also beginning a fast from all things that distract from having the spirit with us.

Time here is going by really fast so I feel like I'll be home before I know it. I was talking with my companion from the MTC, Elder Woodruff, and he told me that next month we are hitting our 6th month mark and I couldn't believe it! I feel like I've just barely gotten out of the MTC. I guess that when I think about it though it does feel like that long. I've been working really hard and have made a lot of progress.

I've seen so many blessings on my mission and we've had so many crazy experiences. President asked me in interviews what I feel that I have learned from this experience and I told him that I feel God was trying to let me know that there are a lot of bad things out in the world and that is why we need to serve missions. We need to rescue these people and help them to experience the change the gospel brings.

Some other foods that I'd recommend are tostados, homemade tortillas, gorditas and tortas. They are really good. Elder Ek says there are a lot of taco trucks where he is from where you can get a lot of these kinds of foods. Also you should try different kinds of peppers. There are these tiny peppers that grown on this bush thing that you usually have to eat with food in your mouth because they are SUPER spicy. I think that they are called chile pequenos or something like that. I and Elder were walking by one of those bushes a couple of weeks ago and we dared each other to eat one. I don't know what we were thinking because neither of us had water.

You know I always thought that family history work was missionary work too. It's like the number of names that you take to the temple are the number of baptisms that you have. A lot of people know of the church through family search. We hear a lot of people tell us "Oh yeah you guys have the family search thing. I've used that before.” Kind of cool to think it is doing missionary work in more ways than one.

I am doing great as far as health goes! Sister Crawford is really pushing us to eat better and so I've been cutting down on junk food. When we don't have any appointments we usually eat top roman. We've started to grill some of these really good Italian sausages and brats though. Doesn't take too long and they are actually pretty cheap.

I hope you have a great week!

Love

Elder Ressler

Monday, January 6, 2014

Houston - January 6, 2014

It's actually been really cold here too! This morning it was around 25 degrees!!! Houston is making me weak. I don't know what I am going to do when I get to Utah.

We've got a couple people close to baptism. One is really close and I am really proud of one of our new converts! He is doing missionary work! His three best friends are getting interested in the gospel and their mom's told his hermana that they want them to take the discussions because they've seen the difference that it has made in her son. He was talking to a couple of his friends and joking around with them said, "How you going to be my best friend and not be my religion?" He's an awesome guy and I am definitely keeping in contact with him after the mission. We've even got our own handshake between us three.

I've heard that every year or so we all go to NASA so I hope that I'll see it. Elder Ek said that it was really cool.  I'm excited for this next week. I know that it's going to be a great one.

Well this week really was a crazy week.  Me and Elder Ek are both fine and we really were protected by the Lord. I am reminded of the scripture "In the world ye shall have tribulation, but be of good cheer, I have overcome the world". It's a messed up world out there but as long as we are doing what is right then we will be safe. I am VERY happy to be out here and no matter what happens I am going to serve God with all of my heart might mind and strength.

There is no way that we can know the Big Picture right now. Remember the scripture that says, "Ye cannot behold with your natural eyes [the meaning of God's designs]... be still and know that I am God". That's really how it is. We are all God's children even if we don't realize it.

Our investigators are doing great but unfortunately we didn't have any at church. We were a little disappointed but that's okay. God is going to bless us. We had some really good lessons and we are going to get these guys baptized!

Dad, I know that you spend a lot of time away from the family on Sundays but I think it's great how you always do it without ever complaining or anything. You've always been a great example to me.

God is really watching out for us and I'm happy to know that he will always be there. I don't know exactly what will happen in my life but I know that whatever happens will be good because I have God on my side. Don't worry about me I am having a blast here! Got to love the ghetto!

Love,

Elder Ressler