Another Email from Hermana Russell

Dear Trujillo Family,

Saturday night, President and I were on our way to attend a baptism in Masatepe on and we saw two of our missionaries walking along the side of the road, Elder Trujillo and Elder Chicas.  I thought you might enjoy seeing Elder Trujillo happy and working hard until the very last moment.

Thank you for sharing Elder Trujillo with us.  We appreciate him and his efforts. 

(And I like his great smile!)

Hermana Russell

March 10, 2014 (He comes home in 10 DAYS!!!!!)

  As far as the area is going we have 5 investigators who are really positive. They should be getting baptized in this month but my companion is going to be sending me the pictures because they will be getting baptized the 22nd and the 29th so I wont be here. But I will be able to see the pictures of my fruits.  Yes I am working so very hard to Endure to the end! haha  This area has taught me so many great lessons and I will never forget all that I have learned. The greatest lesson I have learned is that I can choose to be happy despise those around me or my situation.  God allows us to choose to be happy through his plan, as we exercise faith. We may have to do what seems scary or not normal to the world however I have come to understand that I am not from this world. I am but a stranger and mine is one greater then this.  I have come to understand as a disciple of Jesus Christ we are sons and daughters of a Father in Heaven and he is our joy, the reason we are happy, knowing he is there and is waiting for our great return with him once again after this mission on earth.  I have learned that even though things dont seem to look great at the start we must hold strong to the gospel principles and what happens doesnt matter because its the will of God.  If we are doing what we know is right and all we can we can sit back and know that God knows us more then ourselves and is there to help us.  I have learned of the importance to TALK WITH ALL.  This knowledge has brought me the greatest joy in my life.  Learning that as we talk with everyone we are better able to  find peace and joy in our lives its so important that we  TALK  if we don't do it we will get caught up in our own lives and our own worries and will lose sight of what really matters in this life.  There are things that matter like work, money, house, food. However there is something even more important than these which is our integrity, our worthiness, and our relationship with our Father in Heaven.  Just as it says in Matthew 16 what does it profit a man to gain all the world and lose his soul?  I have come to understand what it means to lose yourself in Christ, to become enveloped in his love and his arms. For all those who choose to gain there souls will lose it but those who lose their lives in Christ shall find it.  I have come to learn many things here in the concepcion and its impossible to explain all that I have learned but I feel like I am in a dream. Just like many of the prophets they were but of little knowledge of God as they went to sleep however after there dream they knew exactly who God was, who is his son Jesus Christ, and their relationship with us.  I have come to this knowledge and I know they live, that through his son we are made clean, perfected and empowered.  I know that all that I teach is true and know it with a surety and I know that god knows I know.  I have come to know him and I love him.

Its been so very fast this time and its so crazy how fast time does by, its but a short moment just as God told his son Joseph.  However it can bring some of the greatest joys in the whole universe.  I feel so very happy :)  Its gonna be weird coming home. I am nervous, scared, enjoyed however most of all I am happy to be able to return with those I love.  You all are so amazing and I love each and everyone of you. I do miss you and care so very much for you all!  I'm glad to know you are all progressing, happy and doing well.  

Love,

Elder Trujillo

Pictures!

March 3, 2014

Ok that's fine I just want to make sure I can go. I do have my recommend but not too sure when it expires so I will see about that and next week let you know so you can talk with Bishop Barker! :)  That is awesome that you did so well on your test I am very proud of you!  Hopefully I will be able to be just as smart as you when I get back, I guess lots of studying and working hard!  Oh wow well its good to know that president is worrying that I will have a good homecoming! haha he is such a great president I truly feel like they are my parents.  Who all is going to be there at the airport?  Geez mom you need to get your spanish going so then you can talk with the latins! haha  When I get home I will show you how it works and how to talk so then we can have conversations without anyone knowing what we say! muahahahahaha :)

As for me things here are going very well. I have been able to learn so very much each and every week here in the Concha. This week something funny happened because a guy from another church tried to give me a blessing! haha He told us he was a deacon from another church and asked to give me a blessing and I told him he couldn't even bless the sacrament how would he bless me! haha super funny he just looked at me all confused. I told him I am an Elder with the Melchizedek Priesthood and if he would like a blessing, he was even more confused he asked what power I held. We explained about the priesthood and he just looked at us saying how we obtained it, and how he could get it! We explained what he needed to do but he wasn't too happy with that answer!  However as I taught I felt the spirit so very strong testifying to him as well as me the power I truly possess.  It made me very humble to feel that power being testified to me. I was able to feel the trust that God has in me to have this power.  Through that feeling I have been able to hold it even that more sacred and to live worthy of it always.  I am testifying each week of its power and how much blessings flood from living worthy of that power.  I don't know exactly why God trusts us so much being so imperfect. However, I know he sees so much more in us then we can see in ourselves.

It is something I was able to learn this week which is to live worthy ALWAYS of that power because God trusts in us with it.  Its power can bless millions of his children and expects us to do just that bless those around us!  I am humbled to know this and know I can be God's hands here to bring this joy to those around.  I have learned as we live righteous and follow what is right we can have the full assurance that what else happens is for our own good and for our own benefit.  That God does know how we feel and what we are going through. I now understand that the atonement of Jesus Christ makes everything better and can lift and guide us in the light.

I hope all is going well and that you guys are able to learn and grow each day.I love you all!  I am happy to see you too, its a weird feeling is all!  Thank you for your support I love you all so much!  

Love, Elder Trujillo

February 23, 2014

Yes,  it is my first priority to endure to the end and to keep progressing and learning and growing even to the end!  The plans are perfect but  I NEED one thing, and before I tell you it's the something I have been dreaming of doing for the last couple of nights now and so I have it in my mind and I am determined to do it.  I  absolutely need to go to the temple first thing and if possible right as I get off the plane, don't know how possible it is but I want to be a missionary and go.  So can I go right as I get off the plane or later that night?  Its something very important to me.  

This week was very awesome and I was able to learn so very much and to be able to grow as a missionary.  My companion is such an awesome guy and is teaching me so very much!    

Well it's something strange to be ending the mission.  I love these people so very much and I don't know what is going to be like to return and not have them there.  Not being able to have these people that have taught me so much.  Its the same feeling that I got when I left for the mission in the MTC.  Its a good thing, I know, but its also one that I feel happy sad.  But sorry I didn't write very much I was just crying pretty much the whole time... I'm a cry baby... I promise to write more next week 

I LOVE YOU ALL

Elder Trujillo

February 17, 2014

Wow lots is going on!  Well as far as the whole 18 year old thing is going, it's actually good, he's an awesome companion and he has a lot of energy so thats good because it makes the work exciting, just because I feel sometimes it's the same but it's good because each day we are having fun different experiences and the work is joyous and truly amazing. Some days I don't even feel it go by we just leave and without realizing it we are getting back to the house to plan and it's something else.  The days feel so short and I just am like noooo but it's good and we are having a lot of joy.  As far as valentines goes for here in Nicaragua it was good we just got to go teach and find some couples in the street it was funny asking them how their day was because they always light up like a light and I could just see the joy that radiated from their faces!  It was a good day as ALL the families where in the street and we were able to contact lots of them!

Yes prayer is something so very important. I have come to better know my Heavenly Father and as I pray I feel as though he can help me with whatever challenge I have.  This week I have been doing something that has really helped me to have a change of mind.  I have been thinking "in what ways can I pray to bless others?" It makes prayer more heartfelt and I am able to see the lives of others be blessed. It has helped me find a even greater love for those I teach and for those around me knowing that God is willing to bless ALL his children.  I have come to better understand that with a willing heart to obey without any fuss we are more likely to recieve the answers to our prayers. God truly does answer in remarkable ways and it sometimes isn't always the way we think! 

Wow I can't believe how fast time is going. Seems like everyone is getting home and time to start the next mission.  

Well as for me things here are going very well. I am learning so much. This work is very fulfilling and it brings a joy like none other. I mean sometimes it's hard and wearying but I love it so much and I know its the work of the Lord!  I have been able to look at things in a whole new different way and to be able to apply the doctrine of Christ has been what has helped me to better understand the purposes of God!  I know that he does love us and that he is our redeemer and savior. I've learned that not always my thoughts are his and that sometimes the ways I think he will do things aren't just as he does. I have come to be more patient in learning His ways and finding out how he wants things done, which in turn helps me to better trust in him and know he will be there to guide me.  I have had times to ask why things are the way they are, but now I ask what is it that God wants me to understand so then I can come unto Him.  Thinking this way has helped me see more clearly what God wants for me and not what I want for myself.  Its helped me be more loving to those around me and to better lose myself.  I know as we will focus on others and do as He would do we are better able to come unto him. I have started this week to ask myself before I do anything is: What Would Jesus Do?  Thinking this has helped me to better see and be a better disciple of Jesus Christ.  Even though I'm not perfect slowly but surely I am finding new ways to become better and better apply the gospel which in turns brings great joy and happiness!  Lose your life in Christ and you find it!  I testify of this.  I love this gospel and it fills me with joy!  I know its true!  I love each and everyone of you!  How much you do for me is infinite and I thank you for all that you do!! I love you all!!

Love Elder Trujillo

It's Official, Let the countdown begin

On February 17, Peggy received the following email from the Mission President's wife:

Sister Trujillo,

I am not sure if Elder Trujillo has emailed you his return home date but, as a mother, I know it is a very important date! Elder Trujillo will be departing the Nicaragua Managua South Mission for home on Thursday, March 20, 2014. 

I hope knowing the date will help you make all your upcoming family plans.  Until then, we are counting on Elder Trujillo to continue to work hard for the Lord. (He may not brag much about himself, but I want you to know that, as District Leader,  Elder Trujillo has twice helped Hermanas with serious medical issues.  One Hermana was bit by a dog and needed to get assistance quickly.  And just this Saturday night, another Hermana in his district experienced heart pains. He helped make sure everything was taken care of. We can always count on Elder Trujillo!)

We have not received Elder Trujillo's return flight itinerary from Salt Lake City yet, so I have no other specifics I can give you.  The mission office and the missionary's family receives the flight information at the same time. 

All the best, 

Hermana Russell 

Nicaragua Managua South