July 2021 Vol . 269

Community Springs Healthcare Facility is an affiliate of Citizens Memorial Health Care Foundation , Bolivar , Mo . PH : 417-326-6000 Facility Location : 400 E . Hospital Rd ., El Dorado Springs , MO 64744 , 417-876-2531

INSIDE THIS ISSUE Mr . Leland Trussell is our featured resident this month . He was born and raised in DeWitt , Arkansas where his family had a farming operation . The family raised mostly rice , soybeans and cotton . Picking cotton by hand was not his idea of a good time , but , he did his share of the work along with his brother and sister .

After high school Mr . Trussell traveled to Westfield , Indiana where he attended Bible

College and received his degree in ministry . It was while at College that he met his dear wife , Mary . The story was told that while they worked together in the kitchen washing dishes , they would sneak a moment of holding hands under the dish water so they didn ’ t get caught . Together the couple raised their family of one daughter and two sons . They shared missionary work in Bolivia for nearly 20 years and celebrated 53 years of marriage prior to her passing in 2011 . Currently Leland has six grandchildren and five great-grandchildren .

During his tenure in Bolivia he experienced political upheaval , rioting , persecution , and threats to his life . Through it all he remained steadfast in his faith and to the missionary cause . Many times he hiked 10-12 hours across the Continental Divide to reach remote churches to bring the gospel to those who were hungry for the Word . Other times he had access to an old Willys Jeep and could travel farther and faster . At the end of their work there , he moved back to his home town to help care for his aging mother . He then answered the call to Ava , Missouri to pastor a church and was there for nearly 10 years before settling here in El Dorado Springs and serving as Minister for Senior Adults at the Church of God Holiness . He had the privilege to work alongside his son , Joe Trussell in this church and they shared many good times together .

Leland ’ s main hobby did not stray far from his farming roots . He loved raising vegetables in his garden to provide for his family . He mainly grew corn , okra , green beans and tomatoes , no cotton !

The family legacy of working in the mission field has been handed down from Leland , to his daughter Lois and her husband Paul , to his son Joe and his wife , Faith , and to Joe ’ s daughter Erica and son-in-law Gabe . The 4 ^th generation is still in their formative years so only time will tell whether it is carried on farther .

Thank you for sharing your story with us Leland . Congratulations on being our resident of the month .