Happy Birthday Elder Rush

Hello!
This last week was crazy busy!
Monday we had the chance to play broom hockey but I actually used a
crutch. Elder Earley, one of our district leaders, had surgery on his
knee and he is 6'10" so his crutches were too tall for me. That was a
weird first experience. We have been going door to door trying to find
people to teach. As most people know, tracting is not very effective.
Everyone we have met is not interested at this time but we did meet
this one guy named John. He is a sports hypnotist. He travels the
world helping people overcome their fears, especially gymnasts. He
talked to us a lot about the brain and how it works. I was quite
fascinated.
This week's missionary work was pretty similar everyday. We have spend
most of our time tracting because our investigators are either moving
or do not want to learn anymore.
The administrative side of things was a little more exciting. We had
interviews with President Brinkerhoff on Thursday. Wednesday night the
assistants to the president called us and told us we had to hold zone
training on May 1 instead of May 8 so we did not get much sleep since
we had 1 day to prepare it. It was awesome anyways.
We are slowly transitioning from the Taylor Mountain Stake to the
Idaho Falls Central Stake. It is sad having to say good bye to people.
It will be really exciting serving in the Central Stake!

Lately I have been pondering about how I can more fully serve God and
those around me. I came across this scripture.
JAMES 4:10 Humble yourselves in the sight of the Lord, and he shall lift you up.I have come to realized that as we become like Christ, develop similar
attributes, miracles in our lives increase. What better humble example
do we have to follow then Christ. I plead that we all can strive to be
more Christ-like and come unto Him so that He may heal us!
I love you all! 
Take care.
Elder Rush

Email time! Elder Rush with his infamous photos!

Mitchell's cousin Heather ran into him at a grocery store in Idaho Falls. It made this "mama missing her boy" heart sing!

Happy 20th birthday to my Mitchell! Thanks to Sister Karen Smith Elder Rush had a happy surprise! Angels amount us!

Happy Mother's Day!

Hello Wonderful People!

Hope you are doing well!

This week was pretty similar to the last couple of weeks except we went to the ZZOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOO!

I forgot how much I do not like the Zoo. It is sad to see all the animals in cages. It was awesome though seeing a Tiger and Lion and PENGUIN in Idaho! Who would of thought of that!!!!!

Anyway, we have been knocking random doors, trying to find people to teach. This week we actually found 8 new people. They work crazy hours so hopefully we will be able to teach them consistently. We took a recent convert, Bryan Brown, out tracting with us. It was FANTASTIC!

He was running up to doors and talking to everyone. It was entertaining to watch!:) I also had the chance to speak in church this week. I prepared a 20 minute talk and had to give it in 7 minutes!

This week we get transfer information so we will see if I will be staying or shipped off!

Oh and HAPPY LATE MOTHERS DAY!

I am grateful for mothers especially my mom!

Love 

Elder Rush

Inspiration Quote and Scripture for the day!

May we all look to Christ as an example of what we need to become!

D&C 68:6  

Wherefore, be of good cheer, and do not fear, for I the Lord am with you, and will stand by you; and ye shall bear record of me, even Jesus Christ, that I am the Son of the living God, that I was, that I am, and that I am to come.

Happy Birthday to Elder Rush! Thanks Sister Karen Smith for surprising my Mitchell with a birthday peanut buttercup yummy cupcake!

Elder Rush taming the Lion!

Zone P-Day at the zoo.

Elder Rush found a new friend!

Best Day Ever! Talking with my Mitchell on Mother's Day!

Field Trip to Yellowstone National Park

Hello!
I can't belive it has already been 8 months!
Sorry for the lack of an update last week but Yellowstone Nation Park
was really cool!
We saw a Bald Eagle, a wolf, some bison, elk, ants, squirrels,
chipmunks, and DUCKS!
It was a beautiful place. My favorite part of the whole day was
waiting for Old Faithful to be faithful. There was a crow just hopping
around and it was getting quite annoying. But it was putting on a show
for the tourists from Asia and Europe. They all gathered around taking
pictures of it. It made me laugh how interested they were in it.
Just want to say Thank you to the Christensens for taking us!

This last week of missionary work has been tough. As the Idaho
Pocatello Mission each companionship is striving to help two people
enter the waters of baptism in May. It was a goal issued to us by
Elder Martino of the Second Quorum the Seventy back in November. We
have been trying to find people to teach but most people like to hide
behind their doors or talk to us because they want to be nice. Anyway
we are still seeing miracles.

We went out to lunch on Thursday with Brother Van Kampen. We got
fortune cookies and mine said "This next month will bring you much
happiness" I though that was awesome and I am grateful for the
miracles and blessings that are in my future!

Our stake was realigned this last week so we will be moving to the
Idaho Falls Central Stake. I am bummed to be leaving the Taylor
Mountain Stake and the wonderful people but there are many miracles
coming our way!

Random Thought: We witnessed a car accident while walking down the
street! It was crazy! But everyone is okay and alive!

Spiritual Thought for the week:
I have been studying a lot lately on the importance of being obedient
to God's commandments and the blessings that come from doing so. I came
across these verses in 1 John 3:21-24

21 Beloved, if our heart condemn us not, then have we confidence toward God.
22 And whatsoever we ask, we receive of him, because we keep his
commandments, and do those things that are pleasing in his sight.
23 And this is his commandment, That we should believe on the name of
his Son Jesus Christ, and love one another, as he gave us commandment.
24 And he that keepeth his commandments dwelleth in him, and he in
him. And hereby we know that he abidethin us, by the Spirit which he
hath given us.
Obedience ensures us an answer to our prayers. FANTASTIC!
I am now speechless...

Love
Elder Rush
P.s. Have a miraculous week!

The tourists that Elder Rush was referring to fasinated with the crow!

The Christensens, the kind people Elder Rush lives with and fabulous tour guides!

Yellowstone Park with my favoite 

Elder Rush.

Elder Dalling and Elder Rush with a geyser. Love these Elders!

I'm guessing Elder Dalling has come up with a way to carry his sandwich and have stylish head attire?

what is your guess

Our precious Kate Elizabeth Packard born on 4-25-2015. Weighing in at 7lbs 14oz and 20" long. Oh how her Uncle Mitchell would love to cuddle her.

Elder Rush is Looking Pretty Tiny

Hello!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

How are you doing?

This last week was nice. The weather was hot at the beginning of the week. I said hot, it was only 65 degrees. Never thought I would say that is hot!!!! Then it got really cold because the wind was ridiculous.

We had transfers on Wednesday. It was sad saying good bye to four members of our zone!

 Friday and Saturday Elder Dalling was sick. I had a lot of time to study though, so that was awesome!

We found a new investigator by the name of Shannon Mitchel and that was weird because that is my name =) But she is awesome. We had our first lesson with her on Sunday and I felt that she was one of the reasons why I am in Idaho Falls. She said if we had stopped by 2 months earlier she would have kicked us off her door step. That was pretty cool.

I have been listening to this talk from General Conference lately it is awesome! All about enduring to the end and becoming converted!!!

Stay by the Tree by Elder Kevin W. Pearson

I love you all and hope you are doing well!

Love, Elder Rush

6'6" Elder Rush is looking really tiny! But not as tiny as Sister Wooten!

I spy crazy things!

Elmo, oh my!

It's not everyday you see a license plate like this!

Oh they make me smile! Love our Elders!

This Last Week was Pretty Interesting!

Hello!

How are you all doing? I hope you are doing well and were able to

celebrate our Savior's resurrection.

This last week was pretty interesting. We have been dedicating our
time to finding new people. Yes that includes tracting. We knocked on 
many random doors and had a great variety of responses. It is funny
how people act when they open their door and see missionaries standing
there. HEHE:) This last week was General Conference. I really enjoy
the opportunity we have to listen to the voice of the prophet of God

and his apostles! I love how they testify of Christ and I would like

to add my witness of Christ.

" And now, after the many testimonies which have been given of him,

this is the testimony, last of all, which we give of him: That he

lives!" Doctrine and Covenants 76:22

Jesus Christ is the savior and redeemer of the world. He loves us all

and He is risen!

I love you all, hope you have a great week!

Love,

Elder Rush

Studly bunny-eared Elders with their baby chick friends. 

                                  My goofy Mitchell playing with his Easter goodies. Love my boy!

Matchy Easter ties for my boys!

Happy Easter

Hello!

Hope all is going well! I miss you I really do, so I would love to hear from you!
This last week was once again crazy!  We had to prep lessons and trainings out the wazooooooo!
That is okay though it allowed me to learn many new things. I was facing the normal missionary struggles but we had Mission Leadership Counsel on Friday. That includes all the Zone Leaders, Sister Training Leaders, the Assistants, President and Sister Brinkerhoff. It was a very uplifting experience and I needed it to get re-juiced! There is this weird pattern that miracles always happen the last week of the month and the last week of the transfer and those two are very close to each other so we have had many miracles in the past couple of days! I enjoy missionary work but it is difficult. I have seen a change already and can't wait to see what else happens! 

One funny experience about talking to people in Idaho about The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-Day Saints is how often the first thing they say is "I already know everything, no need to talk to me." Then you get to know them and they do not know quite as much as they think :) Also if you ever run into missionaries remember they are people not just religious robots. We do have feelings :) 

Happy Easter! I am grateful for the infinite sacrafice that Christ made that allows us to return to our Heavenly Father one day. I know that Christ rose on the 3rd day and that He lives. Here is a link to a video about Easter that made me cry!

http://www.mormon.org/easter

I would like to share a quick experience about seeking after Jesus Christ. We have been given, by our Father in Heaven, the perfect example to follow in this life. It is our job to learn of Christ, rejoice in Christ and follow His example. 

Ether 12:41  And now, I would commend you to seek this Jesus of whom the prophets and apostles have written, that the grace of God the Father, and also the Lord Jesus Christ, and the Holy Ghost, which beareth record of them, may be and abide in you forever. Amen. 

As we follow Christ we will experience joy and happiness we've never known before.

Love, 

Elder Rush

    Serious emailing session today! Love my boy!

This Last Week was Quite a Handful!

Some pretty sweet shades Elder Rush

Hello Everyone! 

How are you all doing? Hopefully life is not too crazy!

This last week was quite a handful! 

We had planned to go on exchanges with the district leaders in the zone this week! They are all serving in Shelley, a small town that covers a LOT of farm Land! Monday night I went down to Shelley and was with Elder Tidwell for the day. I was suppose to return home that night but decided to stay in Shelley for 2 more days due to more exchanges and district meetings so I missed my bed. Finally I got to sleep in it on Thursday night! YES! Since we were not really able to do work in our area in Idaho Falls most of the week, we were lacking in lessons. SO over the weekend we worked extra extra hard and taught 16 lessons in 3 days. Usually we are able to teach 20 to 25 lessons a week! It was pretty amazing.

Yesterday we took a recent convert, named Brian, with us to some lessons. We were in his house talking about missionary experiences and how people treat us. As we walked out to our car, this guy tried to scare us as we crossed the street so we just smiled and waved. He drove away and came back, rolled down his window and just goes off on us. Yelling and cursing up a storm. Typical experience for us but Brian was pretty surprised. SO that was what made it bad. Next we were able to give a sick sister in one of our wards a priesthood blessing and you could see how appreciative she was. It was a good experience.

Spiritual thought for the day is from my sister Kristalyne!

Really read and ponder this one!

"In other words, true and perfect worship consists in following in the steps of the Son of God; it consists in keeping the commandments and obeying the will of the Father to that degree that we advance from grace to grace until we are glorified in Christ as he is in his Father. It is far more than prayer and sermon and song. It is living and doing and obeying. It is emulating the life of the great Exemplar."

Bruce R. McKonkie!

Love you all take care!

Elder Rush

Elder Rush on exchanges with Elder Tidwell in Shelley, Idaho

Shelley Idaho  (flat and more flat)

Idaho Falls South Zone.

Elder Dalling trying out a new style