Russell's Email 2-11-10

Picture- my new cuff link shirt (ross 16$) and my new cuff links an investigator gave me, and also my new tie. Love it!

This week has been good. The vision of the mission right now is to have members at every lesson and for every companionship to baptize every transfer. We didn't think that would happen, but then we met m. M. fell through, and so we were sure we wouldn't baptize this transfer.

Then we set K., a nine year old I have been teaching for about 4 1/2 months. Didn't think we could do it, because his father is in prison and he wanted to wait till his dad got out, but we invited him and he accepted and will be baptized this weekend. We will baptize this transfer!

I'm really excited for this weekend and I will send pictures. Miracles are happening here in Las Vegas and I know it is the blessing of the Lord for the work that we do.

I love you all and I am thankful for all that you do!

Elder Hitchcock

Some Random Pictures

Russell's Email 1-28-10

Hey! So this is a parable I wrote for zone conference!

My parable is about missionaries on bikes! (hope that's not a surprise)
Two missionaries were riding home after an LTM at the end of their day. The weather was less than ideal and they faced a head wind as they rode back to their apartment after a long day.
One of the missionaries was larger than the other, and his companion, seeing him struggle against the wind, began to ride in front of him. Even though he offered only a little protection, by working together they made it home just before 9:30.

This parable is about working together and relying on each other and on the spirit. This is the Lord's work, and without his help we cannot make it home.

Things are going sooo good here in las vegas! I love being here!
My district is amazing, and I love serving with the missionaries that are with me.
This week rained a little more, but that's okay. We still had a lot of fun, and we found some awesome new investigators. One of those is M. He was a referral from the media, and we just couldn't get in touch with him. As we were riding to another home, we stopped at his house for one last attempt. We finally caught him! and now he is our awesome new investigator! I really loved getting to meet him, I'll tell you what happens later!

Russell's Email 1-21-10

t's raining it's pouring Elder Hitchcock is snoring, went to bed, bumped his head and still got up at six AM to go play morning sports! I love the rain :) Actually, I HATE it (as a missionary), but then once I get in it I have a lot of fun. It's been a crazy week. Friday-Sunday I was wearing short sleeve shirts and loving the 60's and then it's been raining since Monday. I've been having fun though!
This week has been fun. I've been working hard with Elder V. B. and doing my best to work with my district, but it's funny because I don't really know what I am doing. I went on exchanges with Elder H. yesterday (my second companion) and we had a really fun day. We were in the rain for a big part of it.
Elder H. and Elder B. also have an investigator that I got to teach yesterday. She really wants to get baptized, but she won't come to church and she tried to tell us yesterday that the spirit was making her to struggle to wake up for 9 am church.
Hm, ya'll might find this exciting. The family that had us over for Christmas Brunch had something exciting happen last week! They heard this bang noise outside (the Sister thought the neighbor had dropped something heavy because they had been moving furtiure.) She oppened the door a crack and her daughter yelled "MOM SHUT THE DOOR!!!" Then they heard a couple more bangs, and the Sister opened the curtains on the front window just to see a kid run by and then fall right at her door stop. He was grazed by a bullet on his ear and on his side, but wasn't killed. We had eaten dinner over in that area about 2 hours before. exciting!!!!
Other than stuff like that, life is continuing the same as usual. We are teaching some awesome investigators, we are always looking for more, and things are just awsome. I love being here.
Thanks for all the letters and support that I get, I hope that all is going well for everyone else! Happy rainy days!

Russell's Email 1-14-10

This week has been fun!!!! We had a really good district meeting where we talked about finding new people to teach! I pretty much have the most amazing missionaries in my tiny district!
We had one lesson this week that has really stuck in my mind over the past few days. We took one of our investigators up to the temple and we started on the north side of the building, walked around the west, to the south, and finished at the front door of the temple. The Las Vegas temple has some really neat architecture which includes little amphitheaters (that would seat like 10 people). We had two members, us, and our investigator. We would stop at each little amphitheater and read our favorite scripture. The concluding spot, up in front of the front door as a dome with amazing acoustics (like the Tabernacle on Temple Square) We had our investigator read Matt 3:13-17 about the baptism of Jesus. The spirit was amazing at that time, and I think that's my new most favorite lesson.
The mission is really great, and I love serving so much. I am very thankful for the opportunity to serve here as a district leader, because I have learned to rely so much more on the Savior and on my Heavenly Father. I'm very thankful to the Lord for that blessing and chance. I would also be very thankful for your prayers to help me in this assignment...
Thanks and I love you all!

Elder Hitchcock

Russell's Email 1-7-10

We had transfers, and Elder B. left the 3 pack, and he is now serving with Elder H. (my second companion) and we are all in the same ward . I will be here with Elder V. B. another transfer, and I am really excited about that.
With transfers came a special phone call from President. I answered and he said, "Elder Hitchcock, the Lord wants you to serve as a district leader in a new district and I want you to have this experience." For the next 6 weeks, I'm district leader over my companionship and Elder B. and Elder H. I'm excited for this opportunity, but wonder what's in store for the future. "I want you to have this experience" lingers in my mind lol
Things are going really well, and I am happy. Life couldn't be better for me right now. I have had so much joy working with our investigators and working with the members of the ward. I love being a missionary!
The other day we gave about 4 blessings, and then the following day we gave 2 or 3. I am so thankful for the power of the Priesthood and the opportunity to serve. I love it.
We have some good people that are progressing, but we always need more people to teach. I would really be grateful if everyone could pray specifically that we can find people to teach. Thanks so much!