# 50

Dear President,

I can't express how grateful I am that you spent the day with our investigators in Alaverdi. I know it meant a lot to them to meet you and interact with you. It meant a lot to me as well that you would take a day out of your busy schedule to come with us to meetings and hold interviews. I know that you and Sister Carlson really love all of the missionaries and their investigators. 

Misa with a former Armenian elder who went back to visit (he also taught her in the MTC).

Our investigators in Alaverdi were troopers this week! They braved the snow storm on Sunday and came to church. Everyone (the investigators and members) who we visited made it to church this Sunday (except for one who was sick) and stayed for the baptism which was held immediately after. The mother and her son and daughter were both baptized and confirmed. It was a wonderful experience. The ward members and investigators friendshipped with each other and all seemed to go home very happy. One investigator (who you met at our baptizee's house) now has a baptismal date after watching her friend be baptized.

You know were our Alaverdi investigators are right now, and with regard to the Vanadzor investigators we are still working with them on increasing their faith in particular.

We have been calling the taxi driver's wife to meet with her. She does not have a marriage license and has been having trouble quitting the last cup of coffee. We are going to be meeting and focusing on faith and obedience and the blessings that come from trusting in the Lord.

We also have tried meeting with the single mother, but she still has been busy taking care of her grandfather who is ill. She is continuing to read from the Book of Mormon however. We hope to find time to meet with her this week so that she can be interviewed for baptism.

We also picked up a man we met while finding on the street. He invited us over and we went with a member and began teaching him and his son. They are very nice and seem sincerely interested. The father just went to Yerevan for a few days this week, but we will be meeting with them both when he returns.

We also began teaching a lady who was a referral from a member. She has been taught by the missionaries years ago, but has asked to be baptized and wants to learn again. We taught her the Restoration and a tripod and plan on continuing in the order of the lessons. 

                                                                      With a member of the church.

We also participated in some service this week with the ward by cleaning a local park. I enjoy spending time with the members serving and quite a few of them have referrals for us actually. We hope to meet with them this week and begin teaching their friends.

I've felt very blessed to be in Vanadzor last transfer and this transfer. I know that the work being done here is just what the Lord would be doing if He were here. A scripture that meant a lot to me in the MTC was brought to my rememberence this week and it think it applies so well with missionary work. D&C 6:33-34, 36-37 33: "Fear not to do good, my sons, for whatsoever ye sow, that shall ye also reap; therefore, if ye sow good ye shall also reap good for your reward. Therefore, fear not, little flock; do good; let earth and hell combine against you, for if ye are built upon my rock, they cannot prevail. Look unto me in every thought; doubt not, fear not. Behold the wounds which pierced my side, and also the prints of the nails in my hands and feet; be faithful, keep my commandments, and ye shall inherit the kingdom of heaven. Amen."

We're just His little flock here in Armenia going about doing good. If we sow good, we will reap good. And the Savior is with us every step of the way. 

Thank you for your love and time this week.

I love you and Sister Carlson!

Love,

Sister Morreall

# 50

Dear President,

This week was a good week. I think you summed it up best in your letter by saying that things are progressing, but there are definitely quite a few challenges. 

Our guardian puppy who follows us around after appointments until we make it home. He waits for us between appointments and stops scary people from approaching us.

We were finally able to meet with the single mother (who has been busy taking care of a sick grandfather) and tried setting up a time for her baptismal interview. Unfortunately, she does not know when she will be free, so we are going to be patient, but persistent in meeting with her. She really is so great. I hope she will be baptized. 

We also met with the taxi driver's wife and read from the Book of Mormon with her. She had a read a bit on her own and had come to the baptism that the elders had last week. Hopefully, we can still work with her. We are still open and inviting to the father, but we feel that he isn't as open yet.

We also met with the 12 year old girl and her grandmother this week. Both of them had been out of town for a few days in a village. We called them to follow up with them everyday, and when we finally met with them. Both of them were discouraged. They told us that they want to wait to be baptized until the grandmother's health is better and when they don't have any family opposition. We read from the Book of Mormon with them a bit, but they expressed no desire to act right now or in the immediate future (by reading, praying or coming to church). It's very sad, but we felt like it was time to give them back to the Lord for a little bit. We will continue to call and check on them however. 

Our investigators in Alaverdi seem to be doing very well. The mother and children who are closest to baptism just need to keep reading from the Book of Mormon. The mother also needs an interview with you. We have hopes that they will be baptized this Sunday. 

The other investigator closest to baptism also needs to keep reading and she needs to get a zogs (marriage license) with her husband. Hopefully this week we will be going with them to get one. 

After Pres. Bennett's meeting I've started using time in my mealtimes to read from Ensigns so I don't in personal study and I read an article this week on happiness. There was a quote in the article of Elder Scott which says "Your joy in life depends upon your trust in Heavenly Father and His holy Son, your conviction that their plan of happiness truly can bring you joy." I love that quote! The atonement is the center of everything we teach, and when we believe what we teach and we know this plan to be true, how can we not be happy? President Hinckley was also quoted saying "I am an optimist!...My plea is that we stop seeking out the storms and enjoy more fully the sunlight. I am suggesting that as we go through life, we 'accentuate the positive'." This is my goal this week: accentuate the positive! 

I hope you have a wonderful happy week!

Love,

Sister Morreall

# 49

Dear President,

I really enjoyed the special Mission Conference that we had this week. President and Sister Bennett were great. I really learned a lot about teaching, as well as finding the elect. I had never thought of someone being elect at a certain moment based on the choices he made. I think it so amazing to think that everyone on the earth has the opportunity to choose to be elect!

This week was quite a busy one for us. Exchanges went very well. I'm grateful for the opportunity I had to serve in Gyumri for a day. The sisters there are doing a great job. The whole district is really. They are working through some challenges, but are diligently working well! It was a great example to me. I had the chance to meet with a few of the elders' and sisters' investigators there and they seem to be doing very well spiritually. They have been prepared to hear the gospel!

In Vanadzor this week we were able to meet with a few of our investigators. The single mother we are teaching hasn't been able to meet with us this week because her grandfather is ill and she is taking care of him. We haven't seen her since last week, but have been making daily contact with her. She took her Book of Mormon to her grandfather's house to read and she told us that she still wants to be baptized. So the next time we meet with her we want to set a new date. 

The older grandmother that we are meeting with has told us that it would be better to meet in April, when her son is working in Russia. Her son has been against us coming over so I think it will be a little easier for her to meet then.

In regard sto the grandmother and 12 year old girl we are meeting with, they have been having a lot of problems with family members lately who do not want them to meet with us. One family member is threatening to stop paying for their utilities if our investigators get baptized, so that has made them very nervous. It has been quite discouraging for the grandmother as well. We have been trying to strengthen their testimonies by reading from the Book of Mormon and reviewing prayer. We had a great lesson on prayer yesterday, which I think brought them some hope. 

All of our investigators in Alaverdi are doing well. They are reading from the Book of Mormon, and actually this week we called them to check up on their commitments and one of our investigators told us that she had a dream where an angel dressed in white visited her and told her that she needed to read from the Book of Mormon. She had been struggling with reading in the past, but I think that will no longer be a problem :) She does, however, still need to get a zoks with her husband and so we will probably go with her to do that next time we are in Alaverdi. We also talked with the mother and two children that we are teaching up there. They actually told us that they thought about calling us because they were talking about the ten commandments and wanted to figure out which order they were in again. So that was cute to hear them recite it over the phone! They also have been reading from the Book of Mormon together and the mother has quite coffee cold turkey. 

This week we held a missoinary firesied for the ward. I think it went really well! We talked about why we do missionary work, how we do missionary work and the blessings that come from doing missionary work. We had many examples of how to do missionary work, including roleplays. We also had two members at the end who were baptized as a result of ward member efforts. Throughout the whole night the spirit was felt, but I think that brought the spirit the most when the Armenian members saw their friends who they love share their testimonies and express their appreciation for the people that help brought them to the church. 

As a companionship we're going through Christlike attributes and this week we are studying about patience. I haven't had an investigator reach baptism since November and so that's been weighing on my mind, but something I read this week in Mosiah has really helped me to recognize that things are done in the Lord's time. In Mosiah 24, Alma's people are under Amulon's rule and are not allowed to pray vocally. The Lord comforts the people by saying "Lift up your heads and be of good comfort, for I know of the covenant which ye have made unto me; and I will covenant with my people and deliver them out of bondage. And I will also ease the aburdens which are put upon your shoulders, that even you cannot feel them upon your backs, even while you are in bondage; and this will I do that ye may stand as witnesses for me hereafter, and that ye may know of a surety that I, the Lord God, do visit my people in their afflictions. And now it came to pass that the burdens which were laid upon Alma and his brethren were made light; yea, the Lord did strengthen them that they could bear up their burdens with ease, and they did submit cheerfully and with patience to all the will of the Lord." I just know that the Lord has helped me so much with this work and that He is continuing to do so. I know that I covenanted with him to help bring His children back to Him. And I just find it such a huge tender mercy that is giving me His help with the work that I promised to do. He is lifting the budrens and giving me strength to continue on. I just need to sumbit cheerfully to ALL of His will and continue to be patient. He's the Master Planner...It will all work out! 

Thank you so much for your love and for your time. I really do love you and Sister Carlson and I pray for you both every day. 

Love,

Sister Morreall

# 48

President usually writes nice letters to me every week, and I;m sorry I don't send them always, but I thought you'd like this one from last week.

Thank you Sister Morreall.

I was noticing you in zone conference last week. You have changed. Your countenance, your looks. I can indeed see his image in your countenance. You have grown up. Not that you were immature or childish, don't get me wrong. You just look different. You look good. Your mission has been good for you in more ways than one. 

I'm sorry about your crazy weekend last week. I hope this one was better.

Talk to the Elders and decide how best to take care of the teaching in Alaverdi. They seem a little confused.

Keep up the good work.

We love you.

Be safe!

Dear President,

Thank you so much for your kind letter. Your words really mean a lot to me. 

I loved Zone Conference this past week. Thank you so much for your preparation and time in teaching. I value and treasure your input and counsel. I've had a concern this week from the meeting that I've been thinking about and contemplating a lot. It's about our taxi driver and his family. Their situation was mentioned in Zone Conference, and in review after the meeting, my companion and I felt that it might have seemed like we weren't trying to meet with them. We did call them throughout the week and had been praying for them. Lately, they have just been making choices on their own that are not in line with the doctrine and principles we have taught them. It has really been hard for me to see this family struggle. It has been a constant experience throughout my mission...seeing people that I love make incorrect choices and it breaks my heart. But as Joseph Smith taught, we teach them correct principles and let them govern themselves. It was their choice to break the Word of Wisdom and to decide not to meet with us anymore. I can't help but think if this is how Noah, Nephi and even Christ Himself felt after they had taught their people the truths of the gospel and then watched their people make incorrect choices. Jesus Christ, the greatest person to ever have and ever will have walk to the earth, established his gospel and then a few hundred years later watched his people fall into apostacy! 

It hurts me to know that he labored for all of His children, but not all of His children will accept Him. That's a lot like what we're doing now I suppose, as was mentioned in the conference. I was reading in Preach My Gospel on charity a few days ago and a sentence really stuck out to me. Talking about the people we teach, it said "You will see them as children of God with the potential of becoming like our Heavenly Father, and you will labor in their behalf." We are truly doing the Lord's work here in Armenia and of course we are going to feel as He did for His people here. 

The story about the highest baptizing missionary is great. I love hearing about it. It motivates me to do better. But I think the success in the story is not that he baptized so many people, but rather he pictured them as Christ pictures them and he made his will the God's will.

I hold myself accountable to the Lord often, as I mentioned in the meeting. I admit some days are better than others, but Heavenly Father always lets me know how He feels about my work...actually, His work. I feel at peace. 

I know that He loves me. I know that you and Sister C love all of us missionaries and I am grateful for your inspired teachings at Zone Conference. Elder Holland visited a mission in Mexico last year and he said "It is one thing for leaders to have to worry about the sheep, but having to worry about the shepherds? It simply should not be." Please let me know of the ways I can improve in my missionary work. 

With our investigators this week, there is much to tell. Despite being told not to meet with them anymore, we were thinking about our taxi driver and his family. We called and invited them to the Women's Day activity at the church. The wife and the kids came! The father was busy at work, but when he picked him up he was very cordial and invited us to call him and return to visit him again this week. We will be going back this week to meet with them. 

We also met with the grandmother and our little angel this week. We had another miracle this week with them as well. Their family is against them coming to church, but despite the family pressure, the 12 year old came to church. We had a little scare at church when we thought that the family members were going to come and take her home, but they never came. The grandmother also signed the permission slip for the 12 year old to be baptized and they both plan on being baptized (probably in Gyumri) on March 29th. We do have one concern with them though. The grandmother has been watching the granddaughter for 12 years, and is technically the guardian because the mother is away in England and hasn't been sending any financial support for the 12 years, but we will be working with our bishop this week to try and and get the documentation from the government. Would you come up to Vanadzor or interview via skype or telephone?

We also met with the single mother and her relative this past week. They plan on being baptized this week together, although we will probably move the relative's date back because she has not been attending church. We have hopes that the single mother will be baptized this week though. We  do have a concern about the Word of Wisdom however. She has told us that she does not smoke and we haven't actually seen her smoke, but with circumstantial evidence we believe that she does. We will be reviewing the baptismal interview with her today in hopes about addressing that problem. If she says that there is no problem even after all we've tried, and we feel good about it, we will still schedule her interview for this week. (We are hoping there really is no smoking issue and that she is honest and will pass her interview to be baptized). If everything goes well, she will be baptized this Saturday.

We met with an older woman investigator this week as well who would like to be baptized (she has a date for March 29th), but because her son is against the church, she is waiting until he leaves for Russia to make further decisions on her progress towards baptism. 

We went to Alaverdi this week with our Bishop and met with the mother, her friend and the two children we are teaching there. They have been keeping commitments and are excited to be baptized! We taught about the Word of Wisdom and the mother is a coffee drinking, but we challenged her to reduce her coffee intake daily and hopefully by this week she will be done. She wants to stop drinking, so hopefully her desire will  help her to overcome this challenge. We met the father this week as well and he had many questions, but at this time is not looking to be baptized with his family. We will continue to keep friendly relations with him though. The parents also signed the permission slips for thieir children to be baptized, so the only concern we have now with them is whether they have a zoks (marriage license). We will address that at our next meeting with them.

We also met with a member in Alaverdi who has two grandchildren (one girl -11- and one boy - 8) who want to be baptized. We began teaching them and gave them Books of Mormon and baptismal dates as well. 

We also met with a twenty year old mother who has been a long time investigator of the church, but has recently expressed interest in being baptized. Her husband is a less-active member and her mother-in-law is a strong member. Her siblings also have all been baptized. We have hopes that this investigator and her mother will be baptized and complete their family. She has been reading and praying when we visit, and our only concern is that she and her husband do not have a zoks, so we will also address that will them this week when we visit. 

All of the investigators in Alaverdi have baptismal dates for March 30th.

The senior couple and all of the elders have been such a great support with everything, especially all of our investigators. My companion has been a great support as well. I love them all! 

Sorry, my letter was so long this week. Thank you for your love and for your time!

I love you,

Sister Morreall

Fun/cool facts:

I went to a funeral this week. A long time investigator's mom died. In Armenia they leave the body in the house for days and display it in a coffin with mirrors around and a bowl of blood underneath the person's head. Usually only women enter the room and mourn (wailing and crying). It was an interesting experience... especially since this was my first time ever seeing a dead person. 

# 47

Dear President, 

We went to Alaverdi this week with our Bishop and met with a lot of members. We also introduced the Bishop to our investigators and picked up many new investigators as well, who are completing families. We were able to teach many lessons and will be trading them off with the elders when then visit Alaverdi, so that our investigators will get a double dose of lessons a week, because there is nothing wrong with a little more gospel happiness every week :)

Well this week was very...dramatic. Is that the right word? I think it is. We found out that our 12 year old investigator and her grandmother and not allowed to attended church anymore or be baptized, because of family matters. Our 12 year old's father (who is divorced from her mother) is a new convert here. So our investigator is under instruction from her mother to not associate with him or the same church as him. It's hard...especially watching her cry because she wanted to be baptized so bad. But the brightside is that we are still allowed to come visit and meet with her, so we plan on teaching her the rest of the lessons and just focus on strengthening her and her grandmother's testimony of the gospel. One day, whether it is in the near future or when she is 18, she'll be able to be baptized and we want to her to have a strong foundation. 

We also met with the taxi driver and his family and there was a bit of drama there as well. He came and picked us up from the church and we thought we smelled alcohol, but weren't entirely sure, but when we got to his house, he said he had other work to do and left us to talk with his wife. We couldn't tell entirely if he had been drinking or not, but we began our lesson and halfway through he came in, and was obviously drunk. After, his kids came in from playing and one of them was crying and he began to hit his son. So we decided to leave and as we were walking out, he wanted to drive us home, but Sister H (who was with us for the lesson) found another taxi and we took that home. But our investigator got in his car anyway, and cut in front of us started driving wrecklessly. He also started smoking in his car and slowed up in front of us so we could see. We later got separated from him, but found out that he went to the church and told our Bishop that he did not want to learn from us anymore. Anyway, our Bishop talked to us and Sister H talked with us and it was clear that he was drunk. We are not sure why all of a sudden he chose to start drinking, but we are unforunately going to hold off on meeting with him and his family for a bit. This concludes the soap opera for the week :)

On a brighter note, we've been meeting with the single mother and her family members and they are an absolute joy! She came to church again for all three hours this week and we have taught her all of the lessons, except for baptism and confirmation. She still has a date in March and we are praying that she will make it with no problems. 

This week during studies, I read the last chapter of 2 Nephi and I can honestly say that I relate to Nephi when he says he "pray continually for them by day, and mine eyes water my pillow by night, because of them; and I cry unto my God in faith, and I know that he will hear my cry." I have to remind myself often that I am not a perfect missionary, but that I'm doing the best that I can and I have to let others use their agengy. I admire Nephi's boldness in his temimony at the end of the chapter. He says "and you and I shall stand face to face before his bar; and ye shall know that I have been commanded of him to write these things, notwithstanding my weakness." The Lord uses the weak things of the earth to testify of Him and share his gospel. I am a weak thing. But I have felt the Spirit testify through me, and I can't deny this gospel. I know it to be true. I just wish others would strengthen their testimonies and act accordingly as well!

I hope you have a wonderful week.

Love,

Sister Morreall

Dear Family,

I love and miss you all and hope you are enjoying your week!!!!

Love,

Misa :)

Fun/cool facts: 

Women's month begins March 8-until April 7. Women get gifts or treats and everyone is nice to them for a whole month. Yay!! I hope this applies to crazy foreigner girls who want to share the gospel and convert them all!!

Also, last month the day before Valentines Day they have a holiday (salty cracker day) where an old widowed woman makes salty crackers and young single women eat the cracker and don't drink any water right before bed. Apparently, in their dreams that night if they see a boy and he hands them a glass of water in their sleep, that is the boy they are going to marry. So natuarally, I tested out this legend. Don't worry dad, no one handed me a glass of water.