okay sooooo here it is!!!! i got called to the office as the executive secretary. so my p days have now changed to Saturday so im just sending you a really quick email just to let you know that im all good and i will send you a better email on Saturday.
just really quickly im going to be serving here for at least the next 6 months!!!!!! haha its crazy!!
but i love you all!!!
Elder Ruesch
ps now that im in the office dont have to wait for packages like i used to the address you all have is straight to where im at now so you all can send packeges now!! yayayaya
Monday, April 15, 2013
A Letter from a Fellow Mother
This is a letter from a Mom who picked up her missionary (someone Chris was serving with) in Brazil and got to meet Chris! She sent this message and picture along to us!
"Hi Michelle
I wanted to send you this email of a pic of your son and my son elder Brodi
Bateman. Our son is being released on Tuesday. And we traveled down to
Brazil to pick him up!!! We are going to tour around the country for a
couple of weeks. Before returning home to Seattle. Your son is a wonderful
missionary. It was so fun to see my son as well as those missionaries he
serves along side. I know my son, elder Bateman had nothing but praise for
your son. I told him I would send this pic to his mother!! I remember
exactly what my feelings were when my son first left. I am truly amazed at
how fast it goes. Believe me before you know it the time has come for your
missionary to come home. Take care and find comfort in knowing your son is
doing a wonderful job.
Sincerely
Sis Joyce Bateman
Buckley 2nd
Seattle washington mission."
.JPG)
"Hi Michelle
I wanted to send you this email of a pic of your son and my son elder Brodi
Bateman. Our son is being released on Tuesday. And we traveled down to
Brazil to pick him up!!! We are going to tour around the country for a
couple of weeks. Before returning home to Seattle. Your son is a wonderful
missionary. It was so fun to see my son as well as those missionaries he
serves along side. I know my son, elder Bateman had nothing but praise for
your son. I told him I would send this pic to his mother!! I remember
exactly what my feelings were when my son first left. I am truly amazed at
how fast it goes. Believe me before you know it the time has come for your
missionary to come home. Take care and find comfort in knowing your son is
doing a wonderful job.
Sincerely
Sis Joyce Bateman
Buckley 2nd
Seattle washington mission."
.JPG)
Tuesday, April 9, 2013
Video-Log
Chris has started sending us little video-logs! We love to see his beautiful face and hear his voice! I miss this kid like none other - but his testimony continues to grow and bring tears to my eyes! How neat to see such growth!
Easter Video From Chris!
This is a video Chris sent for Mom to use in her Easter Sunday Program at The Deaf Branch.
Week 24
April 8th, 2013
one thing ive always like to do is take all the talks and put them together and see what is the big picture..... so what do you guys think??
for me it is as follows.....
today, this time that we are in is so very close to the last day. but we have alot a head of us. they talked about misisonary work like crazy! i take that as hello!!!!!! there are millions of our brothers and sisters out there that have not had the oppertunity to hear this presious gift that we have been so lucky to have in our life. so what about missionary work?? what we need more more missionaries??? well sure that would help... but if we take a look at the last page of the first chapter in preach my gospel there is two pages of quotes from past profets that talk only about how all members are missionaries. we are all missionaries with our without a tag. we all have friends and family, coworkers or just people that we see everyday that are spritually dying to hear the message of the restored gospel!!!! you have that message! the scriptures say how great will be your joy if you bring but one sole unto me!!! this is our job as members of the church of jesus christ of letter day saints to share this message to the whole world!! i have always had the thought that god doesnt plan on only saving a few of his children. that means the end cannot come until the greater part of the everybody living on the world right now or who has lived in the world has had an oppertunity to hear and accept the gospel of jesus christ.
next yes we are very close to the end! what does that mean. well the scritures say that in the end there will be wars and rumors of wars. ya we see that every day! one of the talks in confrence he talked about how the churches standerds have never and will never change. but now the standerds of the world cant even be seen. they have fallen so far that it is unbelivable. we see it evey day. so what does this mean for the members of the church. we have to do all we can to keep our selfes strong..... how can we do that.
1. it all starts in the home. it doesnt matter as much whats going on in the outside world as whats going on inside our houses. our houses need to be steadfast and centered on christ! we need to get back to the basics. reading praying family home evening every day and every week if we arent strong inside our own homes how are we going to be strong in the outside world were the devil is the strongest.
2. jeffery R Holland nailed this one!! our faith and our testimony is our biggest ally! dont you dare second guess your faith. thats ground that you have faught for. dont retreat and give up that precious truth you have come to learn and belive. and with that faith belive that you can and will do miricles!
because we are in the last days we have more and more need to be the strongest we can be. one gift we have been givin in our lifes is the 10 commandments. just like we have laws to keep us safe in this world but the god has given us commandments to keep our spirits safe! we need to hang on tightly to these commandments and make sure we are living our lifes the way that god has asked us and commanded us to live them.
and lastly god is our loving heavenly father! HE LOVES YOU! many times we put ourselves in this dark place and then ask god why am i here! we all have to remember god cant move a parked car. if you want to be happy god is more then willing to help you! actually thats all he wants to do but you still have your part! remember ......Oh what a beautiful morning!!!! even if we have hardships in our life we still have the oppertunity to see the bright side! its hard i know it is but the more you look at the bright side they easiser it gets to keep doing it! i have learned this first hand here on the mish! honestly i think i was a bit of a down person before the mission. i kinda sulked alot. but know ive never been happier! ya this is hard. i miss my family like crazy! but i have a better attidude then ever in my life! i enjoy my days. im thankful for the joy im able to find every single day. the scriptures say we need to become as a child.... i think this is very fitting for this topic. let your inner child out a little. honstly thats how i find joy is having fun with the oppertunities i have. we dont have to be serious all the time. joke have fun sing. yes we are in the last days. yes there is alot of bad in the world but we have the gospel of jesus christ in our lifes and nothing should bring more joy to our hearts then that.
well thats my quick review of what i learned this conference. i hope you guys loved it just as much as i did!!
quickly yes i watch it at the stake center in joinville. the first session was in portuguese so it was very hard to understand but then all the rest were in english so i was able to get more out of it! it was amazing. i honestly can i say i know that thomas s monson is a prophet of god! and that he and many others recived revelations specificaly for my questions that i had.
i love you all
Elder ruesch
Week 23
April 1st, 2013
so hows the fam?
me ohhh you know just fine and dandy. nothing to crazy this week. it was our first week this transfer that weve stayed in our área the whole week. so it was good but very long!!!! but im starting to get anxious becaus the end of the transfer is coming and im almost 100 perent positive that i will get transfered. i pretty much need it. like you said im starting to get a little tired of little ole Itapoá. but you never know the lord has a plan Always!!
but somthing thats kinda cool. im my email from the president today he finished it off with .... i know that lord has something very special planned for you...... um okay you know i feel president fernandez is a man worthy of reciveing reveleation... and you konw ive Always belived i had something special for me in my life but know im positive. president frenandez said it!! im really exiceted to see where i will be in a few months from know. as soon as i get the language a little more under control i know i will be able to do some amazing things here in santa catarina.
so today we were walking to go get our hair cut and some car pulled up to the side of us and they started to ask us if we had eaten yet. we said no and that we were going to eat in our house a little later. they then procede to tell us to get in there freaking nice car and that they were members and wanted to take us out to eat. so we get in and eat at a buffet. it was really good. better then what we normally eat. so as were eating they start to tell us about themselves..... he then tells us ohhh ya im just an área athourity. okay thats cool i just ate lunch with a member of the 70!!!!! haha so that was pretty cool!!!
but i love you guys so much!!! thanks for your prayers and support!!
love Elder Ruesch
so hows the fam?
me ohhh you know just fine and dandy. nothing to crazy this week. it was our first week this transfer that weve stayed in our área the whole week. so it was good but very long!!!! but im starting to get anxious becaus the end of the transfer is coming and im almost 100 perent positive that i will get transfered. i pretty much need it. like you said im starting to get a little tired of little ole Itapoá. but you never know the lord has a plan Always!!
but somthing thats kinda cool. im my email from the president today he finished it off with .... i know that lord has something very special planned for you...... um okay you know i feel president fernandez is a man worthy of reciveing reveleation... and you konw ive Always belived i had something special for me in my life but know im positive. president frenandez said it!! im really exiceted to see where i will be in a few months from know. as soon as i get the language a little more under control i know i will be able to do some amazing things here in santa catarina.
so today we were walking to go get our hair cut and some car pulled up to the side of us and they started to ask us if we had eaten yet. we said no and that we were going to eat in our house a little later. they then procede to tell us to get in there freaking nice car and that they were members and wanted to take us out to eat. so we get in and eat at a buffet. it was really good. better then what we normally eat. so as were eating they start to tell us about themselves..... he then tells us ohhh ya im just an área athourity. okay thats cool i just ate lunch with a member of the 70!!!!! haha so that was pretty cool!!!
but i love you guys so much!!! thanks for your prayers and support!!
love Elder Ruesch
Week 22
March 25th 2013
well this week.... not a whole lot.. most exciting part was probably our lesson with the twins Brothers i talked a little about them in my vídeo. but ya they are so dang smart!! i honestly dont know whats going no half the time we are there because there using words i wont know proablaly for another 6 months haha but they really like me because im american and they speak a little english so we talk a little bit in english also while were there. so thats Always good!
well were half way through this transfer.. ive been talking to on of the elders that Works in the mission office in florianopolis and he said he thinks i would do really good there in the office. it would give me some time to study more and i would get to work on a computor so thats alwasys a plus so he put my name in to president to conisder calling me to work there for the next transfer. but usually when you get called to the office you stay there for atleat 6 months so that might be kinda long but i still think i would enjoy it. bucause that is what im used to doing every day..
i started to do more contacts this week. i got to work with Elder bateman for a day this week. it was very good. hes my favorite Elder here in the mission. to bad hes going home at the end of this transfer. but he said he was a little worried about my language skills. he said im a little behind..... but you know thats normal for me. i was behind in english when i was younger and know im behind in my portuguese hahaha but he said he would talk to president for me and make sure we get me a companion that can really help me with the language!!
but i really do love you! i miss you like crazy!
love Elder Ruesch
well this week.... not a whole lot.. most exciting part was probably our lesson with the twins Brothers i talked a little about them in my vídeo. but ya they are so dang smart!! i honestly dont know whats going no half the time we are there because there using words i wont know proablaly for another 6 months haha but they really like me because im american and they speak a little english so we talk a little bit in english also while were there. so thats Always good!
well were half way through this transfer.. ive been talking to on of the elders that Works in the mission office in florianopolis and he said he thinks i would do really good there in the office. it would give me some time to study more and i would get to work on a computor so thats alwasys a plus so he put my name in to president to conisder calling me to work there for the next transfer. but usually when you get called to the office you stay there for atleat 6 months so that might be kinda long but i still think i would enjoy it. bucause that is what im used to doing every day..
i started to do more contacts this week. i got to work with Elder bateman for a day this week. it was very good. hes my favorite Elder here in the mission. to bad hes going home at the end of this transfer. but he said he was a little worried about my language skills. he said im a little behind..... but you know thats normal for me. i was behind in english when i was younger and know im behind in my portuguese hahaha but he said he would talk to president for me and make sure we get me a companion that can really help me with the language!!
but i really do love you! i miss you like crazy!
love Elder Ruesch
Week 21
March 18th, 2013
so this week..... lets see.... oh gosh ya i rembember now. so lets just say for the last little while here in itapoá all the rules hadnt been by the missionaries. but now that elder meza is here he is cracking the whip and it is amazing. but over time people get acustomed to not following the rules perfectly and when somebody tries to change that those people arent very happy. now saying that i will explain what i am talking about.
so last week i think we had a member that had a referal for us. when we went by her house to receive that referal she said she cant give it to us because some people in our branch of 10 people has some problems with us. well she countinues to go on and tell us that its becuase my new companion doesnt like children. well one good thing about a small branch is its not very hard to figure out who is frustrated with us. so we talked with our branch president about what he would like us to do. and we came to the conclusion that we would talk to everybody on sunday about the importance of following the rules in all things. and how if the missionaries dont follow the rules it is hard for our little branch here in itapoá to grow because the lord wont bless unrighteous people.. so we explain all this then one of the members storms out. very frustrated and tell the branch president she was never coming back.....
so last night we went over to here house to try and explain ourselve better to her and try to help her understand.. i was very worried it was just going to get worse. but luckly it didnt. everything turned out fine. we were lauging and having a good ole time by the end. so ya thats kinda the only big thing this week.
i love you guys very much!! thanks for all you do!!
so last week i think we had a member that had a referal for us. when we went by her house to receive that referal she said she cant give it to us because some people in our branch of 10 people has some problems with us. well she countinues to go on and tell us that its becuase my new companion doesnt like children. well one good thing about a small branch is its not very hard to figure out who is frustrated with us. so we talked with our branch president about what he would like us to do. and we came to the conclusion that we would talk to everybody on sunday about the importance of following the rules in all things. and how if the missionaries dont follow the rules it is hard for our little branch here in itapoá to grow because the lord wont bless unrighteous people.. so we explain all this then one of the members storms out. very frustrated and tell the branch president she was never coming back.....
so last night we went over to here house to try and explain ourselve better to her and try to help her understand.. i was very worried it was just going to get worse. but luckly it didnt. everything turned out fine. we were lauging and having a good ole time by the end. so ya thats kinda the only big thing this week.
i love you guys very much!! thanks for all you do!!
love Elder Ruesch
Week 20
March 11th, 2013
okay so this week was kinda long... first i we had to go to joinville for transfers. so elder talvane went home and i stayed there for my new companion. Elder Meza. but he had a meeting in florianopolis so he didnt get to joinville until thursday. so i just hung out with some of the missionaries and worked with them for a few days. but i dont like being away from my area. its kinda like my home now and i hate being away. so on friday morning we had a zone conference then after we went home to itapoa. saturday the work started. wow let me tell you. Elder Meza blows me away. he is a freaking work aholic... we work non stop. even when we have absolutly nothing to do he still can find a way to do something productive. so the last two days its rained like crazy!!! like water up to our shins in some areas. but does that mean we stop... nope. we just keep on working. so the last two days ive been working soaked... ya im not a very big fan of that. the natural man in me says how i want to tell him we should go back and wait out the rain. but first i know god will bless us for our diligence. and second i know he will say no haha so we just keep on going.
haha i can tell this will be a really good transfer. i can see my portuguese improving also. i mean thats the only way i can cominicate with him so i end up using it alot. so it is starting to get a little better. but definetally have alot more to go.
haha i can tell this will be a really good transfer. i can see my portuguese improving also. i mean thats the only way i can cominicate with him so i end up using it alot. so it is starting to get a little better. but definetally have alot more to go.
but hey i love you all family!! thanks for your prayer in my behalf!!
Elder Ruesch
Week 19
March 4th, 2013
soo.... this week was pretty normal. not a whole lot going on. Elder Talvane went home today.. crazy the thought of going home is a weird one. i think about it often. i think every body does. i would love to be sitting at home and being with the fam right now but there is always two thoughts that come into my head....
1. nobody at home wants me to be there right now. you guys are all so great and even though you miss me ( i think ) none of you want me to be at home in the good ol US of A.
2. if i was to go home right now i would not be able to live with the thought of not knowing what i could have learned. what type of a person i could or would have been if i would have finished the full two years.
its so crazy!!! becuase honestly i would love to be in my nice air conditioned house. without worrying about all the things in a mission. all of the uncomfterable feelings. all of the hot nasty sweaty days. but i just cant do it. i have to stay here. God has a plan for me. he has things he wants me to learn. things that i can only learn on my misson..
so enough of that.... so i have some crazy news about this next transfer.... i get my new companion on wednesday. hes from paraguay. yes that does mean he speaks spanish.... ill have you know that is not the language we speak here in brasil. we speak portuguese. i think he has about the same amount of time as me and last i anybody knew that ive spoken to is he still hadnt figures out the whole new language so yes that should be fun. and intersting. but think this will be a good oppertunity to finaly figure out the dang languge. becuase is dont have anybody to speak english to.. it was just to easy to speak english when my companions could understand me. but i dont think he knows any english so now i will be forced to learn the language better if i want to be able to comunicate.
okay just a little update on things that have happened in the passed...
i have had 2 companions elder alison and elder talvene. next is elder maza. i am still in itapoá yes for the third transfer. yes i am one of the onlly missionaries to do that. because it is said that any missonary that stays in itapoá for more then 2 transfers will go insane.... so i guess we will see.. um thats it for right now...
um a couple things that i am in need of here....
deoderant
gel (got to be glued) yellow container. ask jamie she knows
flash drives ( one filled with classical music... president just approved classical music in the mission)
lint rollers
peanut butter
pictures ( printed so i can put them in my photo album)
i think thats about it probably more but thats all i can think of.
well family... you are all wonderful! i think about you often and i love you very much!!
Love Elder Ruesch
1. nobody at home wants me to be there right now. you guys are all so great and even though you miss me ( i think ) none of you want me to be at home in the good ol US of A.
2. if i was to go home right now i would not be able to live with the thought of not knowing what i could have learned. what type of a person i could or would have been if i would have finished the full two years.
its so crazy!!! becuase honestly i would love to be in my nice air conditioned house. without worrying about all the things in a mission. all of the uncomfterable feelings. all of the hot nasty sweaty days. but i just cant do it. i have to stay here. God has a plan for me. he has things he wants me to learn. things that i can only learn on my misson..
so enough of that.... so i have some crazy news about this next transfer.... i get my new companion on wednesday. hes from paraguay. yes that does mean he speaks spanish.... ill have you know that is not the language we speak here in brasil. we speak portuguese. i think he has about the same amount of time as me and last i anybody knew that ive spoken to is he still hadnt figures out the whole new language so yes that should be fun. and intersting. but think this will be a good oppertunity to finaly figure out the dang languge. becuase is dont have anybody to speak english to.. it was just to easy to speak english when my companions could understand me. but i dont think he knows any english so now i will be forced to learn the language better if i want to be able to comunicate.
okay just a little update on things that have happened in the passed...
i have had 2 companions elder alison and elder talvene. next is elder maza. i am still in itapoá yes for the third transfer. yes i am one of the onlly missionaries to do that. because it is said that any missonary that stays in itapoá for more then 2 transfers will go insane.... so i guess we will see.. um thats it for right now...
um a couple things that i am in need of here....
deoderant
gel (got to be glued) yellow container. ask jamie she knows
flash drives ( one filled with classical music... president just approved classical music in the mission)
lint rollers
peanut butter
pictures ( printed so i can put them in my photo album)
i think thats about it probably more but thats all i can think of.
well family... you are all wonderful! i think about you often and i love you very much!!
Love Elder Ruesch
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