Boze Cialo in Bydgoszcz :)‏

My family how beautiful it is to write once again :)How fun is that having the fam down there! I can only imagine you all are having a blast. Spencer, I'm way glad you rocked Chamber and I have no doubt you rocked the ACT- thanks for the update brosef :) You be safe down there ok? Furreals, don't do anything redonk or I will destroy you. :P Love you bro. Girls, hope all is going so well- sounds like you guys are amazing per usual.Last night as I was getting ready for bed, it just started DUMPING rain- this morning when I got up I thought that there is no way on earth it is still raining like that. But it was. Luckily it has let up, so we can play a little soccer today too; hearing about you guys play so much makes me want to play all the time! The weather lately here has been perfect though-sunny as can be. My arms are considerably darker than other parts of my white body lol- I'm wearing some sunscreen though, no worries momma :) It certainly is nice though. It certainly sets the mood for preaching the Gospel, which, while i'm on the topic, has been completely amazing this week. :)First the bad news, so I can burn into the good, but Marek doesn't have a baptismal date anymore. The man struggles in an intense way to keep his commitments to come to church, baptisms and such. Aside from that, E. Hughes taught him while I was exchagnes and told him that he needs to text or call us if he can't come to a meeting, cos he sometimes just randomly flakes us. So since then he's been sending random text messages that don't really make to much sense, and last meeting, we had to explain that we are not Jesus Christ....yes, all very depressing moments. But we're trying not to give up on him. I don't understand him completely, but maybe another missionary will. I have hope :) He is a good guy, good heart. Just really simple. On the other side though, last P-day, after coming back to Bydgoszcz we headed to the Chapel, where E. Kalian and I (E.Hughes was still in Gdansk, and Elder Allred hadn't made it down to Bydgoszcz yet for our exchange) taught this young guy I set up with real quick named Michal (Mee-how). He's 19, has a bit of a euro-hawk/punk-rock haircut and is nice as can be. He started the lesson asking why we have the Word of Wisdom, he had researched a bit. We told him that it's a lot easier to understand why, once we understand that there's a living Prophet today. And we taught him. He said at one point "It just seems that there needs to be some sort of reformation...to the way the church was." There's this word in Polish that means "Precisely" but doesnt' sound so formal. I used it right at that moment with a smile on my face :) We were stoked at the end of the Lesson- we're teaching him tonight again. Elder Hughes can't wait to meet him. Go Michal! Right after that I taught English alone to these two little Gangster-ish kids who are legit! I met one of them Damian on a tramwaj, invited him to English, saw him again with his friend, Bartek, and again invited them and they come now! I taught English, but eventually we kind of just slipped into conversation and they said "Our friends laugh at us for coming here...but we don't care. You guys are serving God. That's cool." I taught about prayer and at the end the really promising, pondering one, Bartek, prayed. I hope we can teach them soon...at the least that they keep coming to English! Their my little G brothers. The Step Up 2 Soundtrack is their favorite. :PMy exchange with Elder Allred was amazing! We set a goal to get 5 solid contacts, we had no meetings set up, and so had all day to contact. And we worked hard- it was one of the few times I've been Senior companion and It is so tiring to talk so much! He can't really speak Polish yet, but he was learning some good phrases and got to practice them. We, through a series of amazing miracles, got our 5 contacts. The most miraculous part of the day was at 7 o clock, we had not taken our dinner break yet and were catching a bus home, and I decided to try to talk to this lady- she rode the bus with us and gave us her number when I asked her if we could share a message with her fam. When we got off the bus, another man on the bus practically threw his number at us. So that put us at 4- walking to our house, we stopped this amazing guy and he was number 5. And Elder Allred said, "I've never been part of something like this...reaching goals and whatnot." It was a good feeling :)Elder Rassmussen (Elder Schoenrock, the district leader's companion) and I exchanged too and that was amazing as well! When we planned the night before, we didn't have a single meeting planned, but a girl that E.Allred and I contacted, but didn't get her number, called us! We set up and taught her and she is legit! She's a nurse at this hospital close to their house. We taught two other lessons that day- one being a random one to this AMAZINGLY cool girl, Marta, who we contacted literally walking into our walk way for dinner. She didn't want to talk to much at first, but we talked a bit and ended up finding a bench and teaching her a full on lesson and by the end she really wanted the book of Mormon. She's a way unique personality and would be an amazing addition to the Branch. An amazing member to have on lessons. I had a pioneer experience that evening at the District LEader apartment. In a bunch of apartments, they have these sit-down showers- no shower curtain, and it's basically a bath but you just have to spray yourself down. It was kind of insane lol. I love those pioneer moments :P Boze Cialo was also this week. Corpus Cristi in the states? Anyway, here they do these intense processions through town, chanting and whatnot. I saw it upclose. Interesting stuff lol. I'm not quite sure what it's about...I don't know if any missionary knows what it's about lol.I've been reading the new testament a lot lately and completely loving it. It's amazing how Christ teaches and all the doctrine and interactions with the Apostles. I've loved learning about the Aposlte Paul as well. He is amazing. I'll talk more about this later. lol. My time is running out :)We're working hard to find those kingdom builders. This transfer is a short one so I only have two more "for sure" weeks here in Bydgoszcz. I'm praying I get to stay longer, cos I love this place and I love all these new and amazing potential investigators we have, but we will see. The Lord always knows what's best. E.Hughes is still the man. Such a good missionary lol. He's teaching me a lot and I'm learning tons. O! We had another district leader meeting this week, with all the district leaders. It was a good one. We emphasized all that was taught from Elder Causse, I made everyone Biscuits and Gravy. And it was great :)President Engbjerg's son just came back from his mission in Greece today. So nuts! Lol. Well family, I love you more than I can tell. I love this work and know how important it is that everyone understands this beautiful plan that our Father in heaven has given us. The Book of Mormon is undoubtedly the word of God and I know that if someone takes the time to really investigate and see for themselves, with true intent, they will find out of it's truth. Jakey boy speaks intense truth when he talks about member work. That's been something we;ve really been working on. It's tougher in these smaller branches but if these people would help us teach their friends, this Branch would double! Ok really got to go! But i will write a gain next week, can't wait to hear about the trip. BE SAFE> I love you so and I love this work. :) It is a pleasure to be involved in the most true work that ever will be. Much Love! Starszy MIchael Rushton :)

Gold Baby

Dearest Fam ;)So good to hear from you all per usual- It always adds that boost to my week ; ) Ma, I'm so sorry you're letter got deleted. I love to hear from you everyweek, and that smaller e-mail was perfect as can be ;) I always love the Long ones, but don't worry. I know how frustrating that is. I'l just look forward a bit extra to hearing about everyone next week :) I can't believe, Pa and Spence, you guys are going to The Grand canyon! I am so darn jealous lol. We have to do all these things when I come back! I demand it lol :P I write to you from Torun today. After a bunch of confusing and difficult circumstances, E.Hughes rode on a train this morning to Gdansk for Exchanges, and I rode by the means of an autobus to Torun to spend P-day here with the rest of the Bydgoszcz District. We went on top of the clock tower again, it really is one of the prettiest sites I've ever seen. We are most definitely going there. This week was amazing. I feel like it went by pretty fast for some reason. I'll try to pick out the highlights and throw in a good story or two lol.We've been really focusing on finding younger people who will build the Gospel here, who will by the Kingdom builders of Poland. For some reason we;ve been talking about other missions lately- E. Hughes served for 6 months in this city called Zgorzelec, which is on the German Border- he was part of a Berlin, Germany Mission district and what not, so he had lots of insight to the difference between our two missions- either way, this mission here in Poland has a different set of difficulties, because it is so relatively new . It's only been here since 1989 I think, and since several Kingdom builders - youngish people who know this is true and are committed to it, helping missionaries all the time etc.- have been added to the church and it is in large because of these people that the Church is growing. And the church is growing here, steadily, but the way to get it to grow faster, is to find more of these Kingdom builders. More complete branches that have people of all ages in them, that feel like the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints. Bydgoszcz has such a solid foundation with members like Tomek and Karolina, and a couple big families, we just need to find more people to get these already solid people excited and pumped up. SO......that has been our focus. And it's been going good :) lol. We have some really promising people. Maybe I'll talk about them in a sec if I have time :)I went to Szczecin this last Thursday on exchanges. Szczecin was opened when i started my mission in July of last year and as of now has 1 really strong member. It is very young lol. The missionary force up there right now though is Ridiculous with a capital R if you did not notice lol- E.Daly is the Branch President, and his companion is E.Guthrie, who is pretty fresh. But the other two companionships are Old as dirt, and are dying in the next 4 months, and they are really doing some amazing things. The exchange was way strange- I was with E.Daly half the time, which was rockin, and then with E.Bean half the time. Also rockin. The day I got there, I taught a lesson with E.Daly, contacted an hour with E.Bean, taught English with E.Daly and then went with E.Bean to conduct two Baptismal interviews. I was a tad terrfied to conduct such an interview, but it went so well. The first candidate, Agnieszka, is sincerely one of the most prepared investigators i have ever met. She has such a powerful testimony as an investigator and is prepared to help the church grow here in Szczecin, and I have no doubt she will do an amazing job. She's very personable and let's say she's good-enough looking that E.Bean is having to talk himself of coming back to Poland to marry her. That's a joke lol but she' really is solid as can be. The other candidate is amazing too. Lol not as ridiculously cool as Agnieszka but ready nonetheless. He is a cop and he had just got shot in the arm the week before. He showed me the bullet. lol. And he likes to talk in English, but doesn't know when to use "the' in conjunction with names. So he wold always say, 'the Bean taught me lots of good stuff. Yah, the Bean'll tell me more about that. The Bean is a really good guy." It was hard for me not to laugh :PWe stayed at E.Daly's apartment that night- the place is a mansion. The next day I took the 4 hour train ride back to Bydgoszcz- got to teach a student girl a first lesson which was very cool. Hopefully she get s in touch with the Szczecin Elders. We've met a lot of people who stick out in my mind. A couple, because they are amazing, like this Couple. Romiliusz- which is Romulus in English (I couldn't stop thinking about Sufjan Stevens right about then) and his wife and their baby, Romiliusz Jr. We're meeting with them tommorrow. Very normal amazing people, who if they catch fire of the Gospel, will be kingdom builders! Other people we met stick out in my mind because of how strange they are. We stopped one man and asked him if he believed in God. He said yes and asked us what we thought about abortion. We told him what we thought. He asked what we thought about eating eggs. We said they were tasty. He asked if that was not abortion. We said of course not! He then proceeded to tell us how it is just as horrible of an offence to eat an omlet (didn't even want to ask him about a ham omlet...he might of lost it) as it is to perform a human abortion. Crazy - sauce lol. E.HUghes and I chuckled a bit lol.We visited Fabian yesterday and taught him about the Priesthood. He is so darn amazing. He's like my brother. He is doing so well and we were blessed with some beautiful weather. I will never ever get bored of that Lake-side teaching scenario. It's too perfect. :)The 3 hour bus ride home was beautiful as can be. I love the Polish country side. It;s got a real natural feel to it, like it's never ever been touched. This road just curves and rolls with the hills and the forests look just thick as could be. I would love to play capture the flag out there with the siblings and buddies. Marek is doing good. He has some strange ideas, and we're working with him. Sometimes I feel he's not all there, that he doesn't completely understand the beauty of it all. But he'll get there. I'll give a better update on him next week.Natalia is our most promising investigaor right now. She is so rad. A young student who would also be a kindgdom builder. We had a lesson with Ewa, another amazing young member(one of the cooles) and it was brilliant. Hopefully she gets a solid answer soon ;) r Running out of time!Jus twant to let you know that I love you all. And I'm so sorry your letter was deleted mama, but I loved the one you sent so much :) You, my family are amazing. Have a brilliant week! I'll be praying for you and i ask the same :) The Gospel is the way to happiness, I know we've seen it and will only continue to see it; love you so much :) !

French Wisdom. E.Causse and our boy Fabian!‏

Family!!!Holy smokes this week has been one amazing one to say the very least. So many amazing, mission-making experiences. :) But before I shoot into the letter, you guys sound like your doing so darn good, as usual. Solid as a rock, the family is. :P I can only imagine how amazing you girls look out on the soccer field, scoring goals left and right, and Spencer, your song is RIDICULOUS. I was crying listening to it, cos you just rock lol. How cool is that my brother? I so look forward to rocking out with you when I get home. I'll e-mail you about the chamber thing seperately :) Well, can you believe it? Today marks 11 months on the mish. That's almost 12. And 12 is a year lol. To be very honest, I am so grateful that I have another year left. I feel like I'm barely getting a hang of being a missionary and there is still so much left to learn and so much more I'm supposed to do. More and more I realize the perfection of the Lord's plan for us, and his principles. There's a reason he calls 19 year old boys out on a mission. I don't think I've ever felt to inadequate in my whole life. Not in a way that "I can't do this,"but in a subtle way that keeps me focused and always trying. I know I can't do this, can't teach these poeple and help them have spiritual experiences, become a master of doctrine and scriptures, without the Lord's help. Inadequacy is a blessing to me these days lol. It keeps me learning everyday. And there is so much to learn. Polish is a deep deep subject and The Gospel is even deeper and I'm still wading in from the shore. A couple steps more every day. There are a couple highlights that I look forward to trying to relate lol. The first one comes from Zone Conference, with Elder Causse. Three of the four Zones were combined in the Warsaw 1 chapel and it was a brilliant day! Elder Causse, President Engbjerg and Sister Engbjerg taught us for the day. Elder Causse stressed his comments on planning, on the practicality of missionary work- how we need to not be afraid of talking about baptism with these people. And it's true-E.Hughes and I talked about how if we explain to these true investigators of truth what baptism is, then there's no reason to fear it. He taught about planning for the lasting conversion of investigators, cos not all investigators who get baptized are like you Ma lol :) Talked about planning in general how it is a spiritual matter and it's true. E.Hughes and I have really been trying to plan like we should and give the Lord the opportunity to guide us to those who are ready. lol It's honestly not that exciting to anyone who's not on a mission, but it was pretty amazing for us lol :PThe day after Zone Conference, all the Zone Leaders stayed or came to the Mission Office in Warsaw where we had the Mission Council with Elder Causse. That was one amazing experience, to say the least. We all sat down at this big table, facing eachother - E.McRae, Antczak, Mehner were all there :) - and then it started. Elder Causse explained to us that this was a mission COUNCIL, just like other council's, the Branch Council, High Council, Council of the 12, and Mission Council. He explained to us that we were to, during this council, discuss what this mission needs to do to move onward, and upward, to make movements to where we are baptizing quality, kingdom-building people to help the church grow here in Poland. He explained how he had sat on a council of the 12 Apostles- Elder Perry started it, giving the topic of discussion, what needed to be resolved, etc, and that the council started. It was free, when an Apostle wanted to talk, he raised his hand, and spoke, and others could add onto it, all until it funneled to a conclusion. E.Causse said,"we're going to do it like it's done there. We will begin." And we did. And it was amazing lol. Again, nothign life-chaning for those not on a mission, even in this mission lol, but we discussed what we can do as a mission, and what steps need to be taken, and it was neat. I felt, again, inadequate to be there. All these missionaries I look up to were there, and so many good insights were given. I felt blessed to be there :)Fabian Kierzkowski was baptized this Saturday! In a pool near the Church, he was baptized. It was probably the strangest baptism I have ever attended, and there was some disrest here and there, it was warm in the room, but the moments surroundign the actual baptism were beautiful. E.Hughes and I were the witnesses, and as he was baptized, it was calm and the Spirit was there. I sang a solo=- no one else knows how to sing, or play piano here lol- and he bore his testimony. It was solid, simply and exactly what a testimony should be. I'm so proud of the boy. He's in a tough family situation, but we're going out to meet his parents this week, and see what we can do to help. He was confirmed on Sunday, and also recieved the Aaronic Priesthood! The boy is a kingdom builder. I feel blessed to be part of his life and conversion. :)Goodness! So much to write! but no time at all! We achieved the Companionship Standard of Excellence. We worked hard, contacted all day Sunday in the pouring rain, and it felt good lol. The Lord blessed us indeed.I made 4 loaves of banana bread with chocolate chunks in it for teh baptism - it's a rarity here and the Poles go bonkers over that stuff. We handed out to members and investigators - definitely a good way of reaching out to people. We made this one rather depressed investigators' lady's day :) Always a great feeling :)Fam, I'm sorry I've got to jet - I'll have time to share all these stories I can't write here with you another time, no doubt :) I love you all so much and I know this Gospel, this Plan God has for us, is amazing. I've got so much left to learn, but I'm trying my best :) I love you so. Elder Michael :) p.s. Grandma Rushton-I got both of your letters :) ANd i thank you for them so very much :) I will write you soon! p.p.s. I got Christine's package in the mail when I went to Zone Conference! , and it was rockin :) Such an amazing CD (Sufjan! :) ) and a way cool tape- birthday present. I loved it so much :) If you could let her know. Thank you :) SO much love family. :)