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!!!

News from Scranton PA

It was wonderful to talk to Taylor on Christmas! He sounded happy and "Tired". He claims next year on Christmas he doesn't want to do anything but chill on the couch! That was sounding pretty fun after the rush pace of an active missionary. He rattled off question and answers for about an hour with the family...but we never have enough time to really "Talk"! His holiday season has been busy, but eventful! They are working with a wonderful "Ray" family. He loves this family, and especially has connected with the teenage boys who love sports, and love to play a little with him! They were able to go up to the "Restoration site" together and said it was a fantastic experience that he will never forget! They baptized 3 of the kids a few weeks ago, and the other will be baptized at the end of the month. He said this family was really prepared for their message. He is also baptizing a mother and her daughter at the end of the week. They were led to this great family as well, and have a great love for those they are teaching!
The primary children brought the missionaries a Christmas tree which was so appreciated! They have a great Stake President "Duncan" who Taylor loves and admires and is so supportive in the missionary work.
Because he is the Zone leader, he has increased responsibilities that never give him time to rest, but he is learning alot and seeing great success.
He sure appreciates those of you who have sent letters, and packages. He wishes he had time to personally thank you, but his time is so limited, we are lucky to get much news! He asked me to express his love and appreciation for all you do to remember him. He feels your love and prayers.
His address is still:
Elder Taylor Russell
1234 Main street apt #3
Peckville, Pa 18452

December 8th update

Taylor had a great day, as he took some of his investigators to the place of the restoration of the priesthood. He said it was a powerful experience as they had a prayer, and the spirit was so strong. He said they really felt the spirit and it made him think how special it was to be able to take their investigators to the exact spot where the priesthood was restored. It was a great day!

The primary children brought them a Christmas tree, and they were touched by this sweet jesture. His whole district is going to his place for a sleep over on Christmas Eve. He said it will be a Christmas to Remember!

He said he has seen more miracles this last couple of months then he has seen in his whole mission. He is loving the work, and seeing the hand of the Lord in the work.

His address is Elder Taylor Russell
1234 Main Street apt. #3
Peckville, PA 18452
Thanks for all your love and support!

Scranton News from Dec. 1st

Taylor writes that they had another productive and sucessful week. they had their first Stake President Correlation meeting with President Dunford. He said it was an awesome meeting and he learned so much about how the Church really works. He thinks President Dunford and President Pugh are some of the finest men he has ever had the opportunity to know.

They were fortunate enough to be invited to the Petersons for Thanksgiving, who are an older couple that have a beautiful home up in the mountains. During dinner, there were 10 deer and 10 wild turkeys that showed up and stood right up next to the house. He said they played a little football with the other 6 missionaries from his area and the investigators the "Rays". They are still working towards their baptismal date on the 20th of December.

He went out on exchange with the zone leaders up in Montrose...(which is up on the New York border). He said that part of the mission really struggles, as there are few people to teach. This is where the restoration site is. After their work, they had set a family with a date and taught 6 other lessons, and found 6 new gators!!! He said they were really blessed and excited about the progress.

He gets to call in 3 weeks, and we are really excited to hear his voice, and hopefully share in some more sweet experiences. He sounds like a changed man, and is actively involved in a great cause. He would love to hear from everyone for Christmas.

His address is: Elder Taylor Russell
1234 Main St apt. 3
Peckville, Pa 18452

News from Scratton, PA

Taylor has had an exciting 2 weeks, as he was transfered to Scratton as the new Zone leader. He is feeling a little over whelmed going from managing a district, to managing a Zone! He is the youngest Zone leader, and he said it gets hard telling the Elders what they need to do, to be productive missionaries. President Pugh has high expectations, and as a result, they are working hard and having great sucess. President Pugh gives each new Zone leader one of his personal ties. He had Taylor open it in front of all the Zone leaders at their conference, and it was a very RED tie!!! There was a little bantering over the Utah/BYU football game! (You guesssed it, President Pugh is a big Utah Fan!) They had a little bet on the game, and unfortunately, they didn't get to hear or watch the game and had been in interviews all day. At the end of the day, President Pugh called to inform Taylor of the score, and their little bet! Taylor needs to wear the RED tie for the remainder of this transfer!!! What a blow!!! I told him at least he will be "Festive" for the Christmas holidays!!! That's what he get's for betting!!!

They had a tremendous week with 3 huge highlights!
1. They are woking with the Rae family They are teaching 4 high school age kids, who Taylor just loves. They gave some great lessons, and they all came to church on Sunday and filled the entire Pew! He said it was a great blessing to see this entire family at church, and they are all committed to be baptized on December 20th.
2. He said he felt impressed to tract a street named Mott Street. They were unsucessful to find one investigator on the street. At the end of the day, he saw a woman walking across the street to the Beauty Salon. He ran across the street and began talking to her. She said she was late for work, and couldn't talk, but he persisted! She said.."Are you one of those Mormons?" When he said yes, she said...Come tonight to my home, and I will talk with you. He found out her son lives in Washington State, and is a member and has been sealed in the Washington Temple. She said she talked with her son and he said, he prayed everyday she would find the missionaries and become a memeber. Her husband just passed away, and she has commited to be baptized on Dec. 20th as well ! He said it is going to be a white Christmas!!!! You think????
3. They recieved a call from the Church call center from someone seeking more information about the church. When he called, it was a Baptist misister who was teaching a class of 30 graduating students from the Ministry. They were learning about the Mormons, and asked if they would attend the class and teach theses students about the church? He was really worried, as most often they want to Bible bash, so he called President, and he told them to go. It was an amazing experience. They taught for 2 hours, and then they fed them lunch, and asked them back the next week for another 2 hour discussion. He said it was an amzaing experience, and the question of the day was...Can a Baptist inherit the Celestial Kingdom? He said it was awesome...and they really felt blessed, and learned alot!

This is all in a two week time period...and we are excited to get our update on Monday to see what else is going on. Needless to say...we feel blessed and great ful for the wonderful missionary experiences he is experiencing.

He would love to hear from all of you. Please write him, or drop him a Christmas note. It keeps him going, and we apprecaite all your love and suport.

His address is: Elder Taylor Russell
1234 Main St. apt #3
Peckville, Pa 18452

Or you can e-mail him at trussell@myldsmail.net

News from Elder Russell

Taylor is currently serving in the Waynesboro, PA area. It is about 15 miles from the Gettysburg area, and very close to the Maryland border. He is still the district leader, and training a new missionary which is keeping him busy! They were thrilled to have 4 baptisms the middle of September. A darling mother and Father, and son, and another young man in his 20's. It truly was a highlight to expeience, and Taylor was very greatful for the opportunity to teach these wonderful people. He is haveing some great teaching experiences as he trains and works with the missionaries of his district, and has seen profound blessing as they have been led to 6 new gators in 2 days!!! The Lord truly blesses those who work hard! Taylor spent his 20th birthday on a mission tour with Elder Zwick who had come to observe their mission. He said Elder Zwick was awesome and told some funny stories about President Hinkley. He said he was on a spiritual high, and it was a special birthday...unlike any he had ever experienced before! His letters are getting smaller and smaller, and he claims he has little or no computer time to write, but promises to send a tape soon to fill us in on all the details. His family sent him a birthday box with a huge birthday banner. All of the nieces and nephews and even the dog, put their hand prints, footprints, and paw prints on it with a few fun comments! He also received some updated family pictures to see how big the kids were getting! (He loved the note about our future Hawaii family reunion December of 2009...He said it was his favorite part!!!) Time flys when your having fun....so I guess we are!! Taylor loves letters from home: If you get a chance, please write him a note at:
Elder Taylor Russell
300 West 5th St. Apt #8
Waynesboro, PA 17268
Or you can send him an e-mail at : trussell@myldsmail.net