March 30, 2009

Taylor had a great week as they had Zone leader council to discuss all the mission details. Afterwards Sister Pugh feeds all the leaders, and Taylor enjoys it so much! He is traveling all over the mission weekly training and going on exchanged with different companionship's and getting a feel for what is working, and what is not. They had a baptism of a cute 82 year old woman who has been taught many time, but finally committed to be baptized. She is only 4 feet 10 inches, but a powerhouse of a woman! It was a great week!

Last week he had the opportunity to go to dinner with President Dunford to Texas Roadhouse! President treated them to the biggest steak they had, and then fed them spiritually while they ate. Taylor loves President Dunford, and always is taught so much when he is with him. He challenged them to some powerful commitments that will be life changing. (As a mother, I am grateful for these powerful men and the examples they are in Taylor's life. I know he is not the same young man he was when he left, and I am thrilled to see him grow and raise the bar in his life and the life of those he is influencing!)

He told of a great story of a family who had them to dinner, and really wanted their teenage son who plays on the High School team to attend church. Whenever the missionaries come, he slips out with his friends. After dinner, Taylor and his companion Elder Carter (who played high school basket ball like Taylor) went looking for this young man. They found him and challenged him to a round of ball...with a challenge that if they lost, he would come to church on Sunday. (They didn't realize these two white boys in church cloths could really ball it up, so they took the challenge!) No surprise, but the Elders won, and hope they follow through and come to church on Sunday. Taylor was feeling pretty good, that he hadn't lost his touch!

He is growing and doing well. He loves to get mail, so if you get a chance, please write him at:
Elder Taylor Russell
Harrisburg Mission
3903 Hartzdale Drive Suite 303
Harrisburg, Penn 17011

what a Week

This week Taylor drove all over the mission visiting and working with the Zone leaders to make sure the mission was running well. For his first exchange...he got to go back to Scranton where he just came from! He loved going back! He had the opportunity to work with some great South American missionaries who are speaking English as a second language. They taught a great Spanish family who only spoke Spanish and Taylor had the opportunity to read the Book of Mormon in Spanish for them. He said the spirit was so strong and it was a great blessing! He said he feels so blessed to work with the best missionaries in the mission and to work with President Pugh in all the behind the scenes details. He got to see one of his recent baptisms who has fallen away from the Church. He felt so badly, and said he has learned so much about Agency. He said every new member needs a friend and mentor to help them, and she did not get that and it made him feel so badly. He said he is learning a lot, and knows that the Church is true and will bring wonderful blessings. We need to do better to share it with others! So there is a challenge for all of us! He is really busy, and has limited time to write. He would love to hear from anyone! You can e-mail him at: trussell@myldsmail.net.

Back in the Mission Home

Taylor got a big surprise, when 2 weeks before transfers, President Pugh called and transferred Taylor back to the Mission Home as the new AP! Brother Shinner, the mission leader in the Scranton area called Shauna to wish her a Happy Birthday from her missionary son! He told us of Taylor's new call, and said he was supposed to speak in their Stake Priesthood meeting the next day, but the AP's showed up to move him back to the mission home! (He went from the fryng pan into the fire!) He was sad to leave this wonderful area and people who he loves so much, but is excited to work closely with President Pugh, and loves the Smiths who work in the mission office! He said there is allot to learn, and he needs our prayers in his behalf, but feels humbled and honored for this new assignment. Taylor has been so blessed to work with wonderful companions, and Priesthood leaders who have impacted his life for the better. He has been taught, tutored and instructed in such positive ways, that his life will be forever changed! He loves President Dunford who is the Stake President in the Scranton Stake. He always looked forward to his personal time when he was taught by President Dunford. Some of Taylor's most prized possessions from his mission are personal ties of President Dunford, and President Pugh. He cherishes theses ties and has one from each of these great mentors! He also loves the Shinner family. Sister Shinner always made a huge breakfast for all the missionaries on transfer day. Taylor missed out, and will miss them and all the great things he learned from them as well. No wonder the work is going so well in that part of the mission! These great devoted people who are serving with all their hearts! Thank You!!!