Week 34: Elder Russo

27 April, 2026 eli 0 Comments 1 category

Hi guys!!!!

Last week was transfer week! Transfer week is always hard for me… since we don’t get to do much work, it’s a lot slower. But I got a new companion and even along the way I was able to get new teaching friends! Always a blessed week in Abeno😁 We also taught our friend Yoshida tonight after we had a blast of a P day which was awesome! (We went to see the Egyptian museum at Harukas, which if you have the opportunity, you have to go😱 of course… it’s all in Japanese but if you can read it it’s awesome!! I was actually able to read like 70% of the japanese, kanji and all, so I was super proud heheh)

Every day my Japanese gets better and I have more opportunities to use it. I really feel confident in it now. I finished my original language goals at the end of last transfer for the first four transfers and I need to make a new one now. Probably this transfer, I’m gonna grind my Japanese PMG [Preach My Gospel] and read the whole thing through, memorizing all the words I don’t know. I also had some awesome personal studies and comp studies with my new companion!

Speaking of new companion, my new companion is Elder Russo! He’s from Missouri and likes sports and computer science. It feels really good to have a relatively younger companion in the mission. It means I actively have to help my companion in teaching and finding which honestly will be such a good opportunity for growth for me!! He is such a diligent missionary and I’m excited to learn! One thing that we already decided on is, for my sake, we will go on a small walk at 6:45 every day! That way I can work on getting my mornings more in order (I am a chronic alarm snoozer).

Last week, I was in a trio with Elder Evenson and Elder Kosaka. They’re awesome and I miss Elder Jenkins and Elder Evenson a lot. It was a lot of packing last week but sitting in the lessons together was good practice. I learned a lot from the way Elder Kosaka teaches lessons and hope to be more interactive, use drawings, and the flipbook more. The simpler you can explain things the better.

I think just with every companion that I’ve had, I’ve realized that there’s a reason why I’ve had them. It’s a blessing that I sometimes take for granted, but I really have had some GREAT trainers! Elder Campbell taught me how to work really hard and the joy that comes from it. Elder Seegmiller taught me the skill, diligence, and love that goes into the work. Elder Jenkins taught me the importance of working with other missionaries to achieve your purpose here on the mission but also throughout life. And I’m really feeling that Elder Russo is gonna teach me that I can actually do it, not just sit back and watch other super skilled people take my turn for me. [Check out the picture below with Elder Jenkins and his awesome family his last day in the mission.]

It’s a bit selfish, but I often take for granted the Lord’s larger purpose for me, since it can be easier for me to doubt things while I’m actually struggling in the moment. But always, when I look back at where I was compared to where I am, I see the Lord’s hand in my life always. It doesn’t mean that I’m seeing some miracle every day, per se. Nor does it mean that I get every result I want (even despite my prayers, I was rejected to Harvard out of high school, and I still hold it personal. ha ha ha😐) But rather that when I put forth the work consistently and work towards my goals, even for months or years at a time, I can clearly see the Lord’s guiding influence in my life. The Lord has helped me change in so many miraculous ways that I am forever indebted to His greatness. The idea that you cannot change (in any way) is false. No matter the circumstances, no matter the pain, nor no matter the sin, Christ laid the pathway for each of us to one day return to live with Him and God the Father through His atoning sacrifice. I testify of this changing and sanctifying power. Jesus Christ died for our sins and rose the third day so that one day we may return to live with Him and God the Father. I have learned of His truth through diligent prayer and obedience to His commandments. I testify in the name of Jesus Christ, amen!

Anyways, I love you all. Thanks for reading to the end always.