Dec 30-Jan 6

Here we are again as another P-day begins! I hope everyone has had great holidays and HAPPY NEW YEAR!!! Thank you so much to everyone who's sent me emails! They mean so much to me and I've read them all! I will do my best to respond to them today! The weekly recap will commence now so enjoy 
😁 Monday was such a fun p-day where we got to hang out at the church building and got into an intense spikeball and volleyball tournament with the Elders. There were brackets, blood, sweat, tears, Popeyes chicken, and croissants so you know it was quite serious. It was so fun though and a great way to start the week off! Plus we have a family activity at the ward on Monday nights where we play games with friends so it's the perfect start to a week! New years eve was pretty normal but there were some highlights! Dinner was great where a member was so kind to take us out to eat at Nandos! This was my first time trying it and I was definitely not disappointed, only ashamed when they came to the table and said they had to check our spice level because they knew we were American… (So fair but wooooww). After dinner the golden arches called as we went down the street to grab some mcflurries! The chocolate orange one is so good and if you don't like Orange Creamsicles, I'll mourn for your sense of taste… We got back and watched our mission talent show on zoom and then I got to call my family until midnight to celebrate the new year and was able to watch all of the fireworks being set off in the city which was so cool!! 
🥳 The days after New Years had a lot of fun things happen! 
 ☀️We had some great dinner appointments and got sent home with chocolate Tiramisu which was such a highlight for the week. 
 ☀️We started off the New Year with a day full of rain and had the pleasure of walking through it for 30 minutes each way, getting absolutely drenched, to go teach a lesson with someone who we quickly realized was not interested in learning more so we began our journey back! 
 ☀️I got to experience the miracle of seeing the sun for a full day which included seeing the blue sky, watching the sunset, and that night I saw the stars (I didn't think they still existed)! 
 ☀️I was asked to do the training lesson at our district council… and of course I didn't panic or anything and no matter what anyone tells you, it was a fantastic, jawdropping, spectacular experience for every person there! The Elders were also kind enough to provide a dinner that will definitely not give me nightmares… 
☀️Great game of volleyball and I realize how much I am like my mom as I couldn't keep it together when a friend was teaching us about boxing terms which include fun phrases such as 'breaking the wind' and 'gassing out'.... the jokes write themselves people I am just the mouthpiece 🙏 
☀️ We got to go to a preview performance of the Lamb of God which is a musical performance about the miracles of the last week of Christ's life leading to his death. It's such a powerful performance and I would highly recommend looking up the whole thing because we only saw a snippet and it really brings such a strong spirit and gave a lot of reflection on how important the ministry of Christ is for each one of us! Plus the music is phenomenal!! 
 ☀️We had so many people come to church with us on Sunday which was amazing! It was so great getting to talk with everyone and seeing my church family who has definitely been taking care of me over here! Being able to watch as my friends take these first steps to rebuilding their faith brings me so much joy and I am so honored to help as much as I can!
 ☀️ Now the highlight, the pinnacle, and answer to my prayers… SNOOOWWWW!! Keep in mind I was devastated as I found out that the day I flew out for the MTC, the snow that I had been hoping to see came that night. I was so sad I missed it and I was praying that I could see the snow at least once over here and prayers were indeed answered! It was so beautiful we chose to ignore the fact that when we got home, we realized our window was still open and the snow had blown in and drenched everything leaving a massive puddle on the floor and soaking everything underneath the window… Still a good snow though, so no regrets! There's so much more I could write about, but I have to leave my avid readers wanting more so I will leave it here! I truly hope everyone has had a great start to the new year and have set some great new years resolutions that will last longer than the week I usually make it for mine! I am so grateful for the opportunity to devote this entire year to serving the Lord and bringing people closer to God including myself. In these past couple weeks, I have already seen so many instances where our Heavenly Father has protected, guided, and comforted me and I am so grateful for the knowledge I have that He loves each and every one of us! This new year, I hope everyone chooses to remember each day that they are loved by their Father in Heaven and that they truly matter so much and they are enough for the Savior’s sacrifice! Try to remember the love we have felt in our lives and share it with those around us who need that reminder too! And one more time, HAPPY NEW YEAR!! 🎆🎉🥳 
 Also just so everyone knows if you're ever traveling to England, a peace sign with the back of your hand facing someone is a very rude gesture and if you're in a habit of doing said sign, you might accidentally 'flip off' a ward member when playing rock, paper, scissors, see the expression of horror on said members face, and need to apologize profusely for your actions... I would only assume, not that I would know... 
 XOXO, gossip girl (aka) Sister Russell

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