Jan 6-Jan 20

So it begins… Hello everyone!! I hope you are all having a great week and staying warm! It has been so cold over here in England and as most of you know, I am not a fan of the cold. England loves to do this funny thing where if you can see the beautiful sun, you can expect it to be freezing cold. It is warmer on cloudy days so I guess there truly is opposition in all things. I have more layers on than an onion yet it is unrelenting but I will survive. Fortunately, My family sent me a Celsius to Fahrenheit conversion chart so I know the exact degree to which I'm suffering 

😊 This past week started strong with a great P-day of exploring the shops, watching movies, and having activities with the ward members! Also getting some Popeyes which is the closest thing I have to feeding my Chick-fil-A cravings so it was literally a tender mercy (pun intended). Some more highlights for the week, 

☀️We've started an English class at the church building! So each week we're able to help anyone who's interested in learning more English and giving them opportunities to practice! It's been so cool to see the joy it's been bringing people and to watch their progress is amazing!

 ☀️A member made us an African dish called Peanut soup which is a soup with chicken and peanut butter, and y'all…. It's so good! I was a little worried at first but it's actually so amazing and especially with the rice, I will be getting the recipe! 

☀️We had exchanges this week and it was so much fun! I feel like I was able to learn so much and each day it gets a little easier to live that missionary life! Exchanges are a blessing for sure and I had such a great time! 

 ☀️I won a drawing contest for the district (I don't know how because my frog looked like a boiled peanut) and got the reward of a Darth Vader keychain… Lesss gooooo 

 ☀️When we were out finding, we had so many Miracles! We met so many people who wanted to learn more about what we were teaching and even had an experience of people who had been to our church before in different countries who wanted to come back! There was also this really cool lady who ran back down the street to find us because she said she was thinking about it and wanted to come to church with us! We found someone who was really struggling with direction in his life too and he said that our message gave him a lot of peace and he wanted to learn more about it! It just been so amazing to see the light that Christ brings into all of our lives how powerful His gospel is. It has a lasting impression on us all and it gives peace and joy like nothing else can! Last but certainly not least, an experience I will never forget. They put this brand new, terrified, dissociated American behind the wheel of a completely backwards car, and sent her out into the streets of central London… FOR. WHAT. REASON!? I can testify that the Lord protects His missionaries because the fact there was not at least 15 and a half collisions is a true miracle. That experience was indescribable but that will not stop me from trying. Imagine a game of chicken, but instead of people running at each other, it's two full size cars, driving full speed towards one another, and just hoping that one of you has the space to move over just enough so the other car can squeeze through a gap like the bus from Harry Potter… and did I mention everything is backwards? But it's fine, everything's fine, and I will ask/beg for prayers on my behalf and the people who have the misfortune of being on the road at the same time as me. Other than that, this week really has been so great and I feel like I've been able to learn so much but I still also know I have so much more to learn! One thing the London Mission is doing is focusing on one attribute of Christ to work on for each transfer (6 weeks) and the attribute for this transfer is Diligence. It's been so cool to study and being able to see the blessings that start to reveal after I've worked on applying the things I've learned! One verse that really stood out to me this week was 1 Peter 1:10 10 Wherefore the rather, brethren, give diligence to make your calling and election sure: for if ye do these things, ye shall never fall: I love the promise He gives in this verse that as we become aware of our individual purposes and put in the effort to follow the calls He gives us, we will never fall! He gives us all the support we need to follow the plans He has made for us, and it's up to us to take those steps forward with faith to act on the revelations He sends! I am so grateful for this Gospel to help give me the outline to follow, and I'm eternally grateful for the Savior and the answers He has provided to all of my many questions! He truly has so much love for each and everyone of us and I know the plan for each of our lives is exactly what will bring us happiness for all eternity! I love you all so much and I hope you guys have such a wonderful week ahead! I know that as we remember God's love for us and remember our eternal purpose, we will see the small and simple miracles and blessings that let us grow into the person our Heavenly Father knows we can be! Have a blessed day and remember the pedestrians of London in your prayers as I continue my practice… 

 And may the force be with you, Sister Russell