This is my District
Dear friends and family,
This week has been another exciting one, but I mean when is it not? You have to make it good, and you have to make it fun, or life is gonna go on without you. The Saviour won't ever leave you behind, but he sure likes it when you enjoy that which you sow and reap, especially in the business of missionary work. We contact all day and all the time, anywhere we can go to huge social events to give cards, testify and invite others to learn the good word. Sometime soon the blessings will come. Our district is amazing and we are so full of miracles and good missionaries. I love this district we have it goin' on right now, and transfers is coming up and 6 months have passed since I got here so I might have to leave, but oh well, I guess. At least, I have all these memories now, always remember the good times, so that when hard times come you can hold on to the good to lift you back up.
Our District with the Baton Rouge Temple
I will let you know that our p-day surprise birthday party for Sister Bible turned out perfectly this last Monday, and I can't remember what we did the p-day before that because everything just blends together when you're a missionary, but I can't complain because it's a great work to live. I have been wondering how it is the challenge of a mission always stays at it's peak. I come to find that it's the principle that both Alma and Paul teach about the work, Alma 1:25 "25 Now this was a great trial to those that did stand fast in the faith; nevertheless, they were steadfast and immovable in keeping the commandments of God, and they bore withpatience the persecution which was heaped upon them."and 2 Cor 4:17-18 " 17 For our light affliction, which is but for a moment, worketh for us a far more exceeding and eternal weight of glory;
18 While we look not at the things which are seen, but at the things which are not seen: for the things which are seen are temporal; but the things which are not seen are eternal." The reward is far greater than that which we can earn. That is why our mortal limits must be pushed to the very potential that causes us great discomfort. It is only by this, do we qualify for the eternal glory. It was a nice insight I had about why things never seem to get easier.
Party
Party cupcakes
This is Sister Kelsie Abercrombie(she is training Sister Thomblin in Deridder and she and I are the only members of the original districts.) and this picture is for her mother! :D (somehow I hope she sees it haha)
The nicest thing about not only this week, but the past few, is Brother Rick Jones has been taking us out to dinner and giving us service and helping us contact and all around being our most solid member missionary right now. He taught me the importance and power behind fasting, he has us fast to help one of the members of our branch so that he could heal, because that is all the help we could offer, and it worked just as faith always works.
black dood in mamou, playin cajun music
Elder Whitmarsh in the right, huge ginger, and Elder Pederson on the left and they are Spanish elders in Eunice, Louisisana, where we went to a parade to help them out and to have a good time being servants
Funny story time, so we went to Philip and Lois Veazay's house, they are an older couple who just got sealed in the temple and they are as Cajun as it gets, and we decided to visit them to first of all see them because we love them, second they need it, third I helped them set up their new printer, and finally fourth because Phil's truck broke down yet again and that bums us out. Turns out installing a printer and sharing a lesson takes a little bit of time, and the longer you are around Bro. Veazay, the more he gets hilarious. Anyway, he was talking about all this stuff when he was a kid and all these funny things and joking about how I am/look like a redbone (Native American/French) and just being all around a hoot. He then proceeds to teach us french as he learned it from his parents, and along this adventure we learned this phrase, and when and if you translate it, just know that the way you say it is very important as to the meaning. "Faire l'amour" It is to court in Cajun. Anywho, we laughed for days when he told us what it meant.
Sister Kay, she's Tongan
(Sister Thomblin in the front) Sisters "borrowed" my camera for these pics
One more of Sister Abercrombie
As a district, we have been trying to find a lot of contacting situations and it seems as we pray and search as a district, and try to do what Elder Kapishke told us to do, by contacting 10 people per day per person by testifying and inviting and then asking for referrals/appointments from everyone we see and to talk to everyone we see. This is not that hard when it comes to talking to them, now when trying to get info or having people agree with you or set up an appointment that tends to be the hardest part. We are told if we keep at it we will have more lessons, so we do it and have as much fun as we can. The fun part comes in when we go to a Rodeo in DeRidder. Everyone looked at us funny like they always do, but we talked and gave cards to a bunch of people so it was a great success. The more people see us, and the more we speak, the more likely it is that people will come into our path that will be ready for the gospel.
Rodeo with me, Sarge, Barker and Olsen
Sunday was such a special day, a fasting day and the day before p-day!!! (imagine singing that sentence). We had some amazing testimonies that truly lifted me up to a new happy plane of existence. I mean when Sister Porter gets up and sings, it is hard to not feel the Spirit as she testifies through her powerful voice. It is a really baptist style song, but the power and conviction is backed by the Holy Ghost. We taught Lil' J. again on Sunday and we have been able to teach him more often recently so we are hoping baptism is coming soon. Our little Vietnamese woman, Nene, is coming along nicely and also should be close to baptism, I may not see it, but what really matters is that it happens.
love you all so so much, keep in touch, don't be shy, drop me a line. :D
-Elder Joshua Dean Rush
District meeting attire...when you get "snowwed out" in Deridder and have to stay overnight, to the next day and have no proselyting clothes
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