17 Sept., 2012 - Transfer to Tucuman

Hey how are you because I am sweating sooooo bad!!!! I got transfered today to be in my last area on my mission and I am so excited!!! The mission president called me to tell me my specific mission to do in this area.  I am now in TUCUMAN!!!! Another province and the hottest one with the best work there is!!!! President Levrino called and said Elder Darby, I have a really special job for you!!!!( my heart dropped!!!) You are going to Tucuman to open an area that will be the best baptizing area on the mission!!! 

He said years ago it was the best but there is an elder there right now that doesn't want to be obedient and he doesn't know how to work well.  The Lord and I trust in you and want you to go and not have a responsability as a leader but just be the best missionary ever. Show this elder how to work and get him excited because he isn't excited at all. Work with the members and I guarantee you will have sucess that not even you can imagine!!!! 

Danielle, I am so excited, I have never been so willing to accept something so great as this calling To work!!! I am ready to just baptize like CRAZY!!!!! There are so many people that are gonna be ready and I know and of course God knows I am the one who can do it!!!  He trusts me so much that he has sent me to an area that will either be closed or stay open. He said you will work till the end of your mission and you need to lift that area up, get it baptizing like crazy and I will send 4 missionaries to your area to keep working there.  If not, it will be closed and no more elders will work there!!!! Talk about trust huh? 

We need to baptize enough so we can split the ward!!!! What a call right? Do  you think I can accomplish such a task? I ask you to pray for me to be able to find the prepared people here so we can enter their houses and baptize family after family!!!! I honestly believe I can baptize a ton here . I have that Darby determination and I will be informing you every week about the progress!!!!

I love being here in Argentina I am honestly gonna make the biggest step in missionary work here in this area.  We have a meeting with the bishop tonight and I am so excited to meet him and just get to work. I am pumped out of my mind. 

I will see you all in a few months, but for now I am with Elder Ipsen from Utah and we are gonna baptize like crazy. 

It is hot here in Tucuman but either way it means I will be losing some weight off my stomach finally haha Love Elder Darby

10 September 2012 - Buenos Aires temple dedication

That best 2 years movie isnt quite the real thing it is a lot different but yeah some parts will be a lot funnier. So success is on the table and I am so happy!!!! This last week was a real tester and ended up just great!!!! So saturday WE BAPTIZED AGAIN!!! Meaning we are baptizing every week. Completting with the goal set for the mission. 

Last weekend the Buenos Aires temple was rededicated and we went to the stake center to watch it and WOW!!!! I MISS THE TEMPLE!!!! But it was incredible to hear Elder Eyring, Christofferson, and Ballard who totally has my same name, Russell.  Each one had such a powerful testimony.  I would have to say the best line was"THIS IS THE WORK, THIS IS WHY WE HAVE THE CHURCH, THIS IS WHY CHRIST LIVES, THE WORK HERE IS GROWING THANKS TO THE MISSIONARIES WHO ARE HERE LISTENING THEY ARE THE REASON WHY SO MANY CHILDREN OF OUR FATHER IN HEAVEN HAVE ACCEPTED THIS GOSPEL." It was so great to hear an apostle talk about us as missionaries!  I had the best feeling inside, I just wanted to explode. I have never felt the spirit so strong in my life till the mission and I realize it is something so crucial. Ok so I wont just testify in my email because it seems like that is what I always do. 

But things are great the rededication was awesome and 12 of my converts here in this area went so it was a great sight to know that if I wasn't here or if I didn't serve the mission, they might not have made it here to the temple rededication. Each one came up to me after and thanked me. I honestly had tears streaming from my face to feel the love that God has for his children and to realize it wasn't me - it was merely the spirtit that guided me. There is no better Joy than bringing someone to the gospel of Christ, to witness the change in them and to see what it truly means in their life. 

I am so grateful everyday to have known this church my whole life because I am so blessed for it. I love it out here and hopefully by this next email I might be in a new area. MY LAST AREA!!!! i THOUGHT  I WAS GONNA FINSIH HERE BUT THIS COMING SUNDAY I WILL KNOW WHERE GOD WANTS ME TO DIE ON THE MISSION!!!! Really sad but hey you will all be waiting back home for me.  I am sad to leave but excited to see you all again. I love you all Elder Darby

3 September 2012

This week was great we BAPTIZED AGAIN!!!  This little boy was a boss, he told us that he was ready because God answered his prayers. Then sunday we found a 16 yr old and we will baptize him in 2 weeks.  The attendance of the ward is going up like crazy so things are looking great here in miracle city!!! I love the name and i love the faith me and my comp. have now. I mean we are so focused and honestly we have been teaching like crazy passing almost evereyone in lessons and our baptisms are continuing to happen. 

I love the line from the warriors because we are in Cuidad del Milagros and this is WHERE MIRACLES HAPPEN!!!!! There are so many people to teach and so many more to baptize, we are gonna call 10 ward missionaries and our ward mission leader has a car so we always are driven around it is just the best!!!! I realize a car sounds normal in the states but here, 1 family in every 56 or more has a car, it is rare. 

The members just love us and we have the best lunches with them. I am loving the food the work and of course the baptisms every week truly make for a great bonus!!!! I love this place and i think my comp. now hates dogs because one bit him the other day in the pinky and it is a gnarly scar haha. I got lucky!!! 

The weather changed there goes the cold and now it is hot so i am still debating what to do with all my warm weather clothing if I leave them or not. I love you all and i will see you in 3 months!!!! I have not one doubt that this is the Lords work and there is no better joy than hearing someone want to be baptized and now it is happening a ton to us so i couldn't be any happier or sadder to go home. haha Love you alll Elder Darby

27 August 2012 Best Testimony!

Honestly don't feel bad for what you write because there is no way that I could walk into a non funcioning family and say it can't be fixed!!!! Mom we "better" families everyday. We commit people to throw their drunk boyfriends out of the house and they do it. I know that there are bad families but it is normal. The prophets teachings say that this will happen in the last days. 

Satan entered the heart of one and that one WOLF as the prophets say, influenced the others to fall as well.  The gospel can heal the worst house in the world. I have seen so many miracles and families of 20 come back to church after so many heart aches. The best part is that you all go to church.  There are so many things that will be changed and now I have learned every single method there is to better a family that has had any type of problem. Mom if you want to feel better look up the talk by DALLIN H. OAKS ON DIVORCE!!! It is so great and he just explains it all. Also look up the talk NOBODY WAS WITH HIM, JEFFEREY R. HOLLAND!!! They will change you in so many ways.  I download talks every monday to listen during the week. 

I testify to you all that no matter how alone, no matter how afflicted or painful or difficult a situation is IT CAN BE WORSE but God is aware of you and he is ready to help!!! God doesn't bless us if we murmur to him and give when times are hard and he doesn't only bless us when times are good, great and jolly. He blesses us when we feel like there is no hope, when there is nothing left, when the days or situation can't get better. You can imagine Jesus Christ when he was alone in the garden of getsemani and came back to see his friends his disciples sleeping more than once. He was alone in the worst moment of his life. Taking upon all the pains of the people who have ever lived are living and those who will live. 

Now think of yourself. Don't ever be like Nephis brothers or even his Dad Lehi who only complained once. Be the younger brother that he was and like the scriptures say RISE AND SHINE!!!! Dont ask God where are you but find him. I can promise you that this mission has not been easy that I came not knowing even 4 words of spanish and left lessons crying.  I kneeled down every night to beg my Father in Heaven to bless my tongue so I could just speak. I didn't realize in that time but I was sinning. I was telling God to free me of this pain and trial when I realized that that is not what He wanted me to do. 

He wanted me to smile and just have patience to be able to wait and apply myself to better. I now after more than a year kneel every night thanking my Father in Heaven for the trials I have, thanking him for the family I was given. Not because it is broken or separated but because I am who I am because God gave me this path. I accepted this even before I came here to this earth. I have been woken up and it took me a day flight and being in an unknown place dedicating 2 years to him. If I complain, I am not bettering the situation but just letting satan discourage me. 

I ask you all to choose who you will serve because the scriptures say this day choose who you will serve!!! Not every change takes time but know that every journey or trip begins with one STEP!! Take that step not to satan but to God. Satan desires that we are all miserable like him that he can drag us down make us complian feel hatred for each other.  God is right now preparing A MANSION for his saints that stay strong that forgive one another that love and help. All he asks is that we have no other Gods or anything that becomes more important than him and his commandments. Keep the commandments. Follow him and i know he will have a reward so sweet so great that we aren't even capable of imagining. 

My favorite hymn is Love One Another. We sing it in almost every lesson because if we do it in the home, we will have peace and the best line of that song is LOVE ONE ANOTHER AS I HAVE LOVED YOU!!! So I ask: do you love your brother or sister or Mom or Dad as much as God loves you? Would you be willing to give up everything as God gave up his son to suffer for us? I see so many companionships who struggle to get along. I see so many families who are split and hurt. I see all the sins the wickedness and lies in the world and it hurts my heart. I am not perfect but stop comparing yourself to others. Stop thinking that oh it is normal or everyone does it. Because God's saints, God's true disciples don't. 

I love you all and I promise to always be a support in every moment whether you are getting married like Alix or moving away like Mom and Dad just put your faith and trust in God and nothing that is TOO HARD OR IMPOSSIBLE TO DEFEAT will happen. We are given the gospel in its fullness and that is all we need to endure. Dont just follow the gospel but truly live it. I love you all Elder Darby

20 August 2012

6 August 2012 MIRACLE OF ANGELA

BAPTISM AFTER BAPTISM AFTER BAPTISM!!!!  MIRACLE AFTER MIRACLE AFTER MIRACLE!!! 

2 weeks ago we passed by a sister that is inactive, she is 56 and told us she needed help. So we respond. She said "you all know I believe in blessing the sick and know a family that asked me for help and they have a daughter. She is 12 and she is in the hospital and the problem is that she isn't eating, can't walk, can barely even talks and is ready to give up". "The doctors said that they don't know what is wrong and were ready to send her to Buenos Aires and it would put the family in a real debt".  

We were called and on tuesday, which was 2 weeks ago, we went to see her in the hospital.  For 2 days I was prayed for a healing miracle but not really believing that it would make a change for this little girl.  We show up to give this girl the blessing and seeing her brought tears to my eyes as she was so young, so lifeless in bed with no hope in her eyes. We greeted her and talked a little bit and explained the blessing to her and she chose me to give her the blessing. As my comp. blessed the oil, I remembered in matthew, Jesus Christ was asked from his disciples"who is the best in the glory of God" Jesus Christ put a young child in front of them and said if a man doesn't humble himself and come unto me like this child in no way will he be received in the glory of God!!! 

I honestly was overcome with so much love for this child that laid there so sick and helpless. We placed our hands on her sweet little head and I saw her close her eyes and smile!! This was the best smile I have ever seen in my life and as I gave this blessing; "Angela, you will rise from this bed but for now just wait and with your faith you will be free to walk and smile and share your light with the world around. Don't let discouragement fill your mind but rather hope and love for your family and your Father in Heaven."

When i finished she looked up at me and said thank you as the tears were just rushing out of my eyes. So this last week we got news from her family. Angela wasnt sent to Buenos Aires to be checked. The doctors couldn't find anything wrong with her!!  Angela got out of bed by herself, walked, ate and just the other day we talked with her grandma and she thanked us and told us we were "angels sent from God to heal her". 

Kinda amazing to experience and witness this for myself!!

This last week changed everything for me. I knew she would get better and as she was in bed in the hospital she read the book of mormon, prayed just like we told her and we promised her she would get better with her faith!!  

This wasn't just luck or just a small thing that happened but a true miracle from God. 

I have prayed for many testimony building experiences but to witness this was amazing.  I am so grateful to be here working for the Lord my savior doing his work and holding His priesthood. 

Don't get lost in the things that aren't important in life and focus on the things that are and that will last forever. I love you all Elder Darby

30 July 2012

WE have 2 baptisms for this saturday so as long as everything goes smoothly my comp. will be able to baptize his last week on his mission!!!! His going home has made me think alot and it is really starting to become something real!!!! THE MISSION WILL END!!!! Right now it hurts but I have to admit this whole talk about so many activities that I haven't done in 2 years is making me feel a little better about going home. My next transfer starting monday will be interesting because I will stay here without a doubt but after this next one, I will either stay in my area to DIE!!! Or i will be switched out to go somewhere else so we will find out what happens!!! 

I love this area and we are having a lot of success, I know there is so much more to do. So lets see, oh yeah this week was quite a week.  Saturday I got hit with something just terrible and all day Saturday i was bed bound.  My comp. made me tea and tried to help me. I kept telling him I am not a child and I want to work so after the sixth time at about 5pm I got up to go work and made it to the door and then ran to the bathroom and yeah lets just say i threw up quite a bit. I kept leaving the door open so he could hear and giving him thumbs up. It was honestly hilarious!!!! I would have to say it brought back many memories of going to San Francisco with the Danielle, the buffet in Sacramento with all the cars around and other choice times I got sick. It was nice though because I got to relax for a day and take it easy, we watched every church movie and read every liahona. 

When the others elders came back Saturday night, they forced me to get a blessing and sunday I woke up happier than ever. Sunday went great and today we even climbed a huge hill in a beautiful little town. It was a blast. 

As you can all tell I am always excited and happy, these trials are just a short time frame in the scheme of everything. The stake president here now plans activities for the stake and works with the bishop as much as possible. 

I now i have the vision and have set goals and know what I need to do to be successful. It gets me excited because I can ONLY do it all with the help from my Savior. I love him and he lives me. I love what pres. Thomas Monson has said, What a sweet sentence this is I KNOW THAT MY REDEEMER LIVES!!! I can just feel the spirit everyday and the way it works through some of the hardest or closed people. It enlightens the minds of so many and is something i will strive to always have. I love you all Elder Darby