Russell's Email 5-27-10

Hey

this week has been so eventful. Elder P. and I have been going on exchanges with other missionaries almost constantly. I have had some very wonderful experiences and some very great opportunities in working with other missionaries over the past few weeks.

Being a missionary is so great and there are so many wonderful experiences that strengthen my faith each day.

I want to share something that President shared with me in my interview with him last week. I share this because I know that every day, people have challenges they experience. President shared this with me about keeping low points as short as possible and keeping the lows from getting to low.

He said, First count your blessings. For one, you're healthy. You can breathe without being stuck on a respirator. Second, have something to look forward to (baptism, church, teaching appointment, exchange, etc.) and third, work work work. Accomplish something that will be of great benefit.

I hope that someone who reads this can apply these things in their life. I know how important they have been to me in the past week when I have reflected on these things.

I'll try to work harder on telling you some epic story or something next week. Love everyone, have a great week.

Russell's Email 5-20-10

Things have been going so well this week. Elder P. and I haven't hardly been together at all, which is tough on the area but it's something that has to happen occasionally. North Las Vegas continues to move forward in an amazing way that is strengthening my faith so much. Nothing is better than sitting through a lesson and having my faith strengthened as we teach the restored gospel to those who need it. I love being a missionary.

This next zone conference (on June 1) we will be talking about "The Law of the Harvest." President wanted us to study and think about this law in 4 aspects. 1 temporal 2 spiritual 3 mission 4 post mission. To help me better understand, I would invite everyone to also review this law and share any insights. Thanks!

Other than that, I really don't have loads to report on. Things are going very well, the work is moving forward, and I'm happy. I'm completely exhausted, but I'm happy and those around me are also. I love serving in this assignment because it has given me such a great opportunity to love as the Savior loves and to be more Christlike. I can't think of a bigger or better blessing than that.

Thanks so much, I love you all!

Russell's Email 5-13-10

Howdy,

This begins a new transfer in the mission life of Elder Russell Hitchcock, and already I have experienced a range of emotions.

Elder B. received a transfer call on Monday, and now I am training a new zone leader. He's an awesome missionary and I really look forward to this transfer. My new companion is Elder P. from Tonga. He was the stepdad (second companion) to Elder V. B. that I trained. It's been awesome so far. I love the opportunity to work with other missionaries and do my best to help them come closer to the Savior.

Not to much has happened this week besides transfers and being crazy busy. I really am having a great time and I am enjoying myself. Please do pray for me though, I am feeling the weight of the assignment I am serving in and also the stresses of mission life. I love ya'll and I hope you have a great week!

Russell's Email 5-6-10

*Sister's note: Elder Hitchcock wanted me to add some pictures from the baptism he talks about in this email, but due to "privacy issues" I am not posting them. If it is you that is in them (and you are reading this), let me know that it is okay and I will put them on here!

This week was incredible. the zone made a goal to be 100% obedient to the morning schedule (wake up before 6:30 and exercise for a 1/2 hour, get ready and be praying no later than 7:30, 8:30 eat breakfast, 9-10 comp study and then out the door at 10) and we made them a promise that if they were 100% obedient, we would pass our goal of 113 LTM's (lessons taught to investigators with members present). Well, we were 99.8% and we taught 134 LTM's, the highest I have ever seen in the mission. Not to brag or be prideful, but it's so humbling to see these blessings that come as a result of obedience and dedicated service. I love being a part of this zone with these fantastic missionaries.

This week there were also 104 people who accepted return appointments with our missionaries. The zone, in a very real sense, has never been better.

While the zone is experiencing these great blessings, Elder B. and I continue to do well. We are teaching several people and working really hard to find more and more people to teach. Being a missionary, in the Nevada Las Vegas mission, in the North zone, has been such a rewarding experience! I love it!

We had 2 baptisms for some youths named K. and J. Amazing baptisms and now we are working with their parents. They are also so ready to hear to the gospel. Truly, this message is "Good News."

Thanks so much for everything and I hope everyone has an amazing week!

Elder Hitchcock

Russell's Email 4-29-10

This week was awesome. The zone dropped a little bit in their dedication and they felt that at district meeting when we reported to them. After that we made them a promise that if they got 100% obedience to the morning schedule that we would surpass the zone goal of 115 LTM's. Week to date everyone is 100% and we are destroying the numbers that we have had at any other time this transfer. I know that if we are 100% obedient, we will achieve that goal.

We had a really neat experience on Tuesday night when we went out with a member of the Elders Quorum Presidency. Our appointment fell through and so we went to see a family the bishop had asked the EQP to go and see. We knocked on the door and we were met by someone we didn't expect. The address on the ward list was wrong, but we met a part member family who welcomed us in. "When I heard the doorbell, I thought it was going to be you all." Talk about divine intervention, I love being obedient and seeking to do the Lord's will and the blessings that come from trying to help. We have a return appointment with them next week. I'm really excited for it.

We also have two baptisms coming up this weekend. I will send pictures home and tell you all about it. The blessings that are coming out on the zone are just so amazing and we are so blessed. I really can't describe the miracles that are happening. I love being a missionary.

I hope that you all are having missionary experiences while you are going about your daily lives. I hope you seek for those because there is a joy that is unmatched as we see souls come unto Christ. I love you all and I miss you all.

Elder Hitchcock

Russell's Email 4-22-10

Tower built during Zone Conference
Elder Hitchcock with Elders D., and V.B.


Elder Hitchcock with Elder J. (If you know Elder Hitchcock, you know he loves his sunglasses about as much as he loves his bikes!)

Elder Hitchcock with Elders L. and F.

Okay, so this week was sweet. Two weeks ago we taught 107 LTM's and that was the highest in the mission. This past week we taught 111 LTM's and between those two weeks 12 people were baptized. This zone is doing amazing and the Lord's blessing is upon these members and missionaries as they put their shoulder to the wheel.

Personally, for me this week has been great. The mission had another zone conference centered around the spirit and receiving personal revelation. We focused on Preach My Gospel ch 4 about recognize the promptings of the spirit and also around Mosiah 1-7. We were instructed to read it and identify 3 places where king benjamin helps people resolve their concerns, 3 effective questions king benjamin asks, and also 3 places where king benjamin quotes someone else. Will ya'll do this and email me your answers? I would love to hear other peoples perspectives.

At zone conference we built a 25+ foot tower. President Christensen got up (that was brave of him) and shared what he felt was one of the most important parts of king Benjamin's sermon. It was amazing.

I also had a really fun exchange with Elder J., a missionary I live with. He's the one in the picture with our sun glasses. A member photographer told us to do that, I Don't know what it's all about lol. Another picture is a mission 3 generation picture. Grandpa d., me, and grandson V. B. I also included a picture of Elder L. and Elder F. (the two who came to vegas from my first MTC group).

Things are going great and I love being a missionary. Life couldn't be better, and I couldn't be happier as I have this opportunity to help others come unto Christ.

Love ya'll

Elder Hitchcock

Russell's Email 4-15-10

By special request, the caption for this picture is supposed to be "Las Vegas Missionaries vs. LV West Missionaries."(although the Las Vegas missionaries are on the right...)

Elder B. and I are doing wonderful. Transfer to date we have 6 baptisms, with 4 for set up for the remainder of the transfer and the zone is doing amazing as well. Again, the mission goal is to teach 20 lessons a week with members present. For 10 companionships, week one we taught 71 LTM's, and then week 2 we taught 107, the highest this zone has seen on record. There are super amazing blessings being poured out upon this zone. I don't know if I can think of something more humbling than reflecting on a day or week and seeing how the Lord had his hand in our work. I want to share a few examples of that.

First, and in my opinion the best, is a guy named B. Over the last year or so, {he has encountered great struggles}, and just having a way tuff time. He went to a carpentery class and the instructor is a member. Well, B. moved in with Brother C. and the family shared the gospel with them. Since then, we have seen him every night and he says, "I'm past my investigation stage, I'm believing, I just need to learn more." this guy is amazing and has built my faith so much! Because of his work situation we haven't set him for baptism, but that event is right around the corner for B.

Second, how many times have you seen missionaries take up the entire sacrament meeting? Last sunday we had 6 confirmations that allowed for about 5 people to share their testimonies and that was about it. It was awsome!

Third, is the blessings of teaching. In two weeks we have had 6 baptisms. A family of 3, a family of 2 (mother and son) and a single guy named W. Their conversions are all ones that have strengthened my testimony of member missionary work. The family of three, the husband is a music teacher at the school across from my house in my last area. Well, about 1/2 of his students are members of the church, his teachers assistant is a member. Their goal was to share this gospel with him, and his whole family came to know of the truth of the gospel. The mother and son were introduced to the church through her friend that they worked with. W. lives with his friends from high school who are members of the church.

Surely this statement is true, "When we experience the blessings of gospel living, we naturally want to share those blessings with others... the most powerful missionary message you can send is your own example of living a happy Latter-day Saint live. Remember that people do not join the Church only because of the gospel principles they learn. They join because they feel something that begins to satisfy their spirutal needs. If you are sincere in your relationship with them, they will be able to feel of your spirit and happiness.

In addition to setting a good example, you can "be ready always to give an answer to every man that asketh you a reason of the hope that is in you." (1 Peter 3:15) You can pray for opportunities to tell others about the restored gospel. Then you can be alert, because many people yearn for the truth."

What an opportunity it is to serve in a mission that is experiencing the blessings that the Nevada Las Vegas Mission is having. I couldn't say anything more to express my gratitude or my excitement concerning my mission. It's to much to send in an email or write in a letter, or even to speak with words.

Thanks for all that ya'll do. I love you very much.

Elder Russell Hitchcock

Russell's Email 4-1-10

Elder F. called me last friday and talked to me. If I had not gone home, I would be coming home today or yesterday. I had a really hard time on Monday and Tuesday. Tuesday during transfer conference, I cried like a baby as I saw guys that had become men, who I looked up to and loved, that were and are my brothers as they bore their testimony for the last time in the NV Las Vegas Mission. I made eye contact with President several times and I even saw him crying a few times. I'm so glad for a loving mission President and I am glad to know that he loves me.

Well, after testimonies were born, President stood up to read off the new assignments. I am now serving with Elder B. I flew to Las Vegas with him, but he is a transfer older than I am because he spent 9 weeks in the MTC. Anyway, we are serving as Zone Leaders over a zone of 20 missionaries (ourselves included.) I'm really excited about this transfer, and I look forward to really doing my best. Being a zone leader I am seeing that I really won't have enough time to dwell on seeing my friends leave, instead I can focus on helping other missionaries and the people we are teaching come unto the Savior.

Things are going way awesome. I really love serving where I am, and I love my new zone. I am back in North Las Vegas.

Thanks so much for all the love and support. I hope ya'll have a great week.

Russell's Email 3-25-10

things here are going so well. We have a baptism lined up for Saturday and we have people set for almost every weekend of next transfer. This area is on fire. Stop Drop and Roll doesn't apply to LTM's and baptisms!

I think the most amazing thing (for me) this week was a phone call to our single mom investigator. I called her to set up a temple lesson and I felt prompted to follow up on her reading and prayer.

I asked her about her reading and she said it was so so and told me why she hadn't been able to read every day this week. I then followed up on her prayer and she told me how great that was going. She said she really felt good about what she was learning and I asked her, "Do you feel like you have your answer?" "Yes. I want to keep learning, but I feel like this is right and I want to get baptized." I love this gospel!!

Yesterday we also set two people for baptism. This area is just doing so great and I love it!

I think next week I will be on a computer that's not junky and I can send pictures from this transfer and from the baptisms. I hope so at least. Love ya'll and have a great day!

Russell's Email 3-18-10

This week has been awesome! I tried to email some pictures, but the computer I am using is lame... Oh well, you'll get them sooner or later.

I had that baptism two weeks ago over in my last area. Tonight there are two more, a grandmother and 11 year old that I taught, and then next saturday I am having another baptism. In addition to that, our single mother investigator is progressing amazingly and she is being prepared, and we have our other investigator. The Lord is richly blessing this area and is pouring down all these wonderful blessings. I love being here and sharing this gospel with others. I really don't think I could type or write words that would describe how amazing things are going. I love being here, and I look forward to these next weeks.

It's already almost another transfer finished, and soon some changes will be made most likely. President hinted we could stay together, but it's not likely. That means I have something new ahead and we shall see what that is.

Time is short, thanks so much for the support and for the prayers. I'll try to get pictures next week. Love ya'll

Russell's Email 3-11-10

Sister's note: I don't know what happened to the text in this post! I just copy and paste from Russell's emails and this one was this way in the email and I don't know how to fix it. Sorry!



Dang it, we lost another investigator! He's my second person that I have lost to Las Vegas Metro Police Department!

This week has gone so great, and we had our baptism. I will send a picture next week! The girl that got baptized, her name is S. She has been meeting with the missionaries since December, and she wanted to get baptized around the beginning of the year. Since Janurary she has had 5 baptismal dates that all fell through, but last week her mother signed the baptismal record and Saturday she was baptized. Her baptism was a great experience and the spirit was really strong. I love those experiences when "time touches eternity."

We also have another girl who is set for baptism. Her boyfriend is a member and we have had the awesome opportunity to teach her in their home and to share the gospel with her. Her mom is going to start coming to the lessons (which is awesome!!!) We were talking to her the other day about what we could share with her mom and she got worked up about having to review one of the lessons because she thought it might slow her down in being prepared for her baptism. I love the devotion of those who are truly becoming converted to the restored gospel.

Another person we are teaching is a single mom whose boyfriend is a less active member. She accidently sent him a text and said something about with the missionaries, and he kinda took that bad. She could use your prayers. But in our appointment the next day, we asked her if she came to know the church was true if she would be baptized. She said she would. I love how the gospel can bless the lives of those who embrace it.

We have had a lot of success in working with the members of the wards here. What President Hinckley taught is no doubt true, "Many of us look upon missionary work as simply tracting. Everyone who is familiar with the work knows there is a better way. That way is through the members of the Church." Family, have you told the missionaries they can teach in your home? Have you told them you will go to lessons with them when you are available? If you haven't, I pray that you will. If you help with the missionary work, it blesses the lives of those that are being taught, but it will bless your life to.

I love you all and I really hope that ya'll have a wonderful day and week!

Russell's Email 3-4-10

Dang this week has been so awesome!!!! Elder V. are righteously destroying this area! Last week we taught 22 lessons with members present (the mission vision is that each companionship teach 20 lessons a week with members present) and we are well on our way to teaching at least 20 again this week!

We also had a great zone conference with President C. where we talked about receiving personal revelation. ah it's so great to be a missionary in this mission. I wish I could include moer and more of my notes, but I can't due to time.

We have a baptism set up for this saturday with more on the way for this transfer and the transfers following. We got an awesome new investigator this week. She was picking one of her daughters up from school and they stopped us. They were both wearing BYU football shirts so we didn't think they were not members but then she held up a book of mormon and told us she was trying to read it and didn't udnerstand it. "I think we can help some with that, we understand a little bit of it." Well, she's well on her way now! She was surfing www.mormon.org and saw that smoking was against the word of wisdom so she went and bought patches to help her stop smoking. Golden....

This week was just so good and so inspiring. I love being a missionary and doing this work. No doubt it's true...

Elder V. and I fasted every day last week, from 10 pm till dinner the following day. Each day we fasted for a specific reason, and the Lord has heard those prayers and fasts. Since this sunday is fast sunday, I Want to invite ya'll to take part in the challenge we have been sharing with the members of our area. The scripture comes from 3 Nephi 27:1 " And it came to pass that as the disciples of Jesus were journeying and were preaching the things which they had both heard and seen, and were baptizing in the name of Jesus, it came to pass that the disciples were gathered together and were united in mighty prayer and fasting." Think of a specific missionary experience (right now) and then this sunday, fast and pray that you will have that missionary experience. Then you have to be ready for when it comes, because it will.

Russell's Email 2-25-10

The area that I am in is on fire. We have 5 people set for baptism, I love my companion and the work is awesome. The members here are so missionary minded and ready and eager to share the gospel. We have about 10 people that we are having appointments with and working with consistently and things are just going so awesome.

I'm also in a hilly area so I'm getting some good bike riding in. Each day here is a new adventure and a new opportunity. the people here are so prepared to hear the gospel and the prayers of the members and of everyone at home are allowing this area to progress faster than any area I have seen.

One thing I have gained a testimony of is the importance of members at lessons. This is such a blessing to those that we teach, but of equal importance it is a great and wonderful blessing to the members who accompany us to the lessons. I want to encourage, even challenge everyone, to attend a lesson with the missionaries, or better yet tell the missionaries you want them to come and teach a lesson in YOUR home to someone they are teaching. It's so worth it!

Thanks for all that ya'll do and I hope that you have a great and blessed week!

Elder Hitchcock

Russell's Email 2 -18-10

Some pictures and the explanations:

Then you get a picture of my new house! and my new companion! Okay, so it's not really my new house, but it's just a little smaller. Elder V. and I live in the pool house of a member of the stake presidency. Sadly, I parted ways with Elder V. B. on Tuesday, but I really look forward to this next transfer. Elder V. and I have served around each other a lot, which makes me really excited to serve with him.


This is E., the guy who gave me the sweet cuff links! We started taking him on a short bike ride every other day to help him with his health. E. is awesome!


This is a picture of Elder F. and I. Elder F. was in the MTC with me the first time, he has 41 days left on his mission (his last transfer). I don't know how I feel about seeing him leave, but we shall see. I've been lucky to serve around him for almost half my mission so far.



This picture is the former Elder H. When I got to the baptism on Saturday morning, he was there! He's one of my favorites, even with his nasty 'stach.