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 Elder Rushton and Elder Sanders. It snowed for the second time since I’ve been in Eugene. This is very uncommon for Eugene. They, again, cancelled school, and the mission told everyone to park their cars for the duration. We had investigators cancel lessons because of the weather, but of course we were still out and about!
After it snowed, it freezing rained….and that was destructive. As we were walking around, tree limbs were breaking off all over the place. When all was said and done, there were lots of smashed fences, and quite a few people with downed power lines. We weren’t met with any success during the storm, unfortunately, but the Sisters were let into a few homes! We can try to deny it all we want but the world is still as sexist as ever. We did, however, get the chance to help an old man shovel a path out to his mailbox! And then we found out he was a Doctor of Missions and a Baptist Minister…so that was pretty cool. He was grateful to us for the help though.
Even church got cancelled. They combined three wards for just sacrament meeting at one o’clock. It was pretty cool because it was actually our ward’s sacrament officially, and we had four nonmembers there. Plus there were about eight other missionaries there besides ourselves, so there was a line of us greeting people as they came in.
Our mission is in the process of rolling out iPads right now. Everyone’s excitement has kind of died by now though, since we’ve been waiting so long. Oh well, they’re here now.
Love you all, thanks for all of the encouraging letters support!
Elder Rushton
 Austin takes a mission selfie. A man in the Santa Clara 6th Ward passed away last week of a massive heart attack. He was in his 30s and left behind a wife and three small children with a massive mortgage on their newly-built home and no life insurance to cover it. The whole ward was in mourning for this family, and Fast and Testimony meeting had many testimonies on the Atonement.
Even so, there was one testimony born that is reflective of an attitude I’ve heard expressed many times in dealing with death. It is the attitude that it is simply no consolation to tell someone in the event that they have lost someone that God had a bigger purpose for them, or that He needed them on the other side. This is simply of no comfort.
I wish to base my few words of comfort to all those who have lost someone in the Resurrection and Atonement of Jesus Christ. Through His sacrifice, we may all see those we have lost again in the flesh, glorified and perfected. Through the Atonement, we gain the comfort of knowing that we will never lose them again when that time comes. Can there be any greater source of comfort than knowing that the dead will be renewed and redeemed; that we will see one another once more and never again be separated? This is the truth. I know it, and am bent on fully embracing the Atonement so that this promise will be fulfilled to me.
We received Sisters Stirling and Call to our ward this week. They have been a great addition and have already found much success. This is clearly a big part in the hastening of the work of salvation to have so many wonderful young women serving in the mission field.
We are close to having a baptism for a seventeen-year-old girl we’ve been teaching. All that’s left is to set the date and do it! We’re hoping we can get her family involved too!
I apologize for the short length of this letter, but hope the message is clear. I love you all, and wish you the best,
Elder Rushton
 Elder Rushton and Elder Sanders Get Ready To Work in Oregon When I used to run back home, my goal every time at the end of a run was twofold: I wanted to run farther than anyone else I was with, and get there faster than them. Most times, I would just use this to just push myself faster and farther than I had gone the day before, but occasionally I would use the mantra to get me to the end of a hard run.
Every day we go out running in the mission field, that’s still my goal! If we’re at a track, I catch myself trying to go farther than my companion faster than him; if he runs a mile, I try to finish two before he knocks out the one! Granted I’m not always successful in that endeavor, but it definitely keeps my pace from slowing down!
While I learned it running, the principle behind “farther faster” is universal. In a world where we are surrounded by people trying to cut corners, it is all too easy to just try “hard enough” or be “good enough”. Often our goal is only to do this, and no more! While it’s good to be satisfied with the things we have done well, we should never stop trying to be better.
A music director I had at Weber State University explained this concept as the difference between “Playing to Win” and “Playing Not to Lose”. Personally, I want to do much more than just not lose, I want to win. I want to win in this mission, and in my life. I want to go farther faster.
The other night, I got the opportunity to attend a multi-eagle court of honor. There were six boys receiving the award, and the cultural hall was standing-room-only for the audience. When the time came for them to repeat the Eagle Oath, it was immensely gratifying for me to be able to stand with the other eagles in the room and repeat it.
Had I not gone farther faster to obtain the award years earlier, I would have been deprived of that experience. I was ahead of most scouts at the rank of Life, but, with the help of loving parents and great leaders, I pushed just a little harder and obtained the eagle award, and now it is hard to imagine my life without it!
When we play to win and help others to do the same, everyone wins. There really is no disadvantage, and any mistakes along the way can and will be forgiven.
When the plan of salvation was first presented in Heaven’s grand council, there were two plans presented: Jesus Christ’s and Lucifer’s. Lucifer wanted to make it impossible for us to lose. Christ wanted us to win; to go farther faster than Lucifer ever could have taken us.
I promise everyone who sees or reads this email that as they strive to go “farther faster” in all aspects of their lives, they will be successful. It is impossible to fail when you find it in yourself to do your best in Christ.
Know that you have my vote of confidence. You can win. You can be better, and you can eventually become perfected. It is possible, and it is a promise.
Love you all,
Elder Rushton
 Austin and the Oregon missionaries. In the past several weeks, I have had to overcome many trials. I’ve had to endure criticisms and doubts from nonmembers, members, and missionaries alike. I’ve had to witness many give up, and resign themselves to failure. Members have stopped trying, and missionaries I have become close with have gone home. Yet I have not become dragged down by it. I am passing through the fiery furnace unscathed.
How is it that this is possible? How is it that there exists all this sadness, depression, and lack of resolve, even within the church? I myself suffered these symptoms and it has taken me all these months to overcome it; it has taken me all this time to turn to my Heavenly Father.
The secret is simple. Do the basics. I prayed a lot, studied a lot, and even fasted on more than one occasion. In pursuit of what? To know my Heavenly Father’s will for me. When I did so, He revealed it to me, and that has made all the difference. This is the great secret to missionary work and to life. We are here to prove to God that we will do all things whatsoever He will command us. If we do, we shall have glory added upon our heads forever; we shall have eternal life
*And this is life eternal, to know thee the only true and living God, and Jesus Christ whom thou hast sent.”
I know and understand more now about my Father in Heaven than ever. He is my hope, my faith, and my anchor. I know that I can do no better thing than to subject myself to His will wholly, unshakably, and without doubting. I have had to do this by questioning Him. He beckons to all to ask, seek, and knock, and He promises we shall find. As I have come to know Him, I have become stronger, steadfast and immovable, and have grown in my faith that I might, through His power, overcome all obstacles.
Every lesson we have is great, however few they may be. This cannot change, except my Heavenly Father shall will it to be so, and this for the purpose of turning me closer unto Him.
I am coming to know Him. I invite all to do so. I am His son and He is my Father. This is the testimony which is in me, and the one I must have to become successful. Only through His Son is this possible. And I know now that with God, nothing shall be impossible. Even so, He is with only those who are with Him.
Love you all,
-Elder Rushton
 Elder Rushton Takes a Selfie. This past week has been probably the biggest week of my life in terms of change. Every aspect of my life has changed, and it is not the same as it was last week! The oddest thing is that it’s actually better than it was. I suppose that’s what happens when you follow the Spirit without trying to debate with it.
In our last Ward Council, we had a very great discussion that was exemplary of everything I experienced this past week. We were discussing Home and Visiting Teaching, and how important it is in the grand perspective of things. We talked about how it is missionary work. We talked about what is to be done about the low percentage their was in the Ward, and how many members with a low teaching percentage may just be hesitant to go teach certain families because they’ve neglected them for so long. The solution, I suggested, was Jesus Christ.
Through Jesus Christ, our mistakes can be forgiven. That means that even now, if you have sins that you have been committing for years upon years, you need not be afraid to forsake them. Because Christ has atoned. I have a strong testimony now that if we will pray and ask God for help to do this–no matter what it is–he will make all things work together for our good. Repentance of sins does not bring misery, not even for a moment. Not if we follow the spirit and do it appropriately. Jesus Christ will forgive you. The people you have wronged will forgive you. God will forgive you.
I saw this all week. My resolve now is to strive to be perfect every day, and when I fall short, to not stop trying or let it hold me back. The Atonement really is the great equalizer. It will raise us and it will bring anyone who exercises its power through repentance everlasting happiness.
Love you all, and I hope to write more next week,
Elder Rushton
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