# 17

This week on Monday, for Prep-day we went to Grand Candy, an Armenian candy store and had a fun time trying different candies and ice creams here. The ice cream here is so much creamier and better than in America! We then met with Shohik, Knarik, and Anahit (members). The Reeses came with us. We got to know them and shared a message on family with them. We also had a fun time because she showed us traditional Armenian dances and sang for us.

During District Meeting on Tuesday, we discussed the importance of improvement and progression. I really feel that our mission is so great at setting goals and re-setting goals and improving ourselves so that we can reach our potential. I think missionaries in our mission come and contribute a lot and leave the mission and the missionaries better than they were before, and they go home better people as well. 

Our meetings fell through on Tuesday, so we ended up OYMing on the streets. We ran into Hasmik (member) on the streets and she invited us over. Her daughter-in-law is a non-member, so we were able to teach about families and the temple. I think it was a blessing in a way that our meetings fell through and we were about to meet with Ayda (the daughter-in-law). We are going to try and start meeting with her regularly. On our way home, we met Armen and Anush, a couple who have talked with the missionaries before. They are very interested in what we have to say and were very friendly. We are going to try meeting with them as well.

On Wednesday, we went with Elder Woolley and Elder Kopsa to Grigor's (member) house to do service and help him pick his apricots in his garden. He gave us a ton to take home too, so we froze seven ziploc bags for smoothies and even had some left over to make dried apricots! Armenian style of course...sun dried with a little bit of sugar. On the bus to Grigor's house, a lady leaned over to me and asked if I worked for the CIA haha. She thinks all Americans in Armenia are spies hahaha. After helping Grigor, we met with Marine and challenged her to read more in the Book of Mormon. Our lesson with her went well. She works odd jobs to make ends meet and so it is hard for her to find time to read though. We are working on reading with her. We also met with Ellen and Emalia (members). Ellen is 19 and has plans on serving a mission. We brought her a Preach My Gospel and White Handbook and talked to her about preparing for a mission. She has two less active sisters that were present, so we involved them and talked to them about missionary work and how it blesses families. 

On Thursday, Sister Clove and I planned for the week. It was her one year anniversary in Armenia, so I made her breakfast and we celebrated. Then we met with Alvina (less active). We talked to her about hope and faith in our Savior Jesus Christ. She has been coming to church more often, but she has been struggling with finding inner peace. We talked to her about how Christ's atonement is for everyone and that through it, we will find peace. We then met with Rita (investigator) and her family. We taught the tripod - Book of Mormon, Prayer, and coming to church. Rita prayed at the close of the meeting and we left them with Books of Mormon and invited them to church. 

Thursday night was when we had an incident with some boys on the street, I probably won't ever say what happened, but we are safe and that's all that matters :)  ** Mom's note**  WHAT?!

On Friday, we met with Bishop Melcumyan to discuss our investigators. Then we met with Ashken (investigator) and taught her the Law of Chastity and the 10 Commandments. We then met with Lala (investigator) and taught her the 10 Commandments and the Law of Chastity as well. They both are progressing very well and committed to keeping the Law of Chastity and should be able to be baptized this month. We also met with Alisa (new investigator). We invited Ellen to the meeting so she can start better preparing for a mission. She was great! We established expectations and did How To Begin Teachings and Ellen bore her testimony on the Book of Mormon and the church. The Spirit was so strong! 

We also got a call from Marine and she said that her landlord raised the rent and she was getting kicked out of her house in three days. We brought her some brownies and told her we would fast for her and keep her in our prayers. On the way home...I got pooped on by a bird...sorry, not very spiritually uplifting, I know. But that was the first time that's ever happened to me and it was gross.

On Saturday, we went with the Nork elders and met with Gayane (investigator) for a pass-off lesson. She has had a very hard life and so we taught her the Gospel of Jesus Christ and how we can use the atonement in our lives. We can repent of our sins, forgive others and learn to follow Christ as we follow in His footsteps and come unto Him. Gayane has a light about her. Even though she has gone through many difficulties, she sees the light in others and I think that's why others can see the light in her...she has a lot of faith. We also met with Lala again and brought Anahit (member). We taught her about tithing and how it is a commandment that we obey because we love our Heavenly Father. Anahit bore her testimony on the importance of tithing and the blessings it brings and Lala committed to pay tithes after being baptized and confirmed. Later, we met with the Bishop and his wife, Luda, and talked to them about families and the temple. We invited them to bring their daughter-in-law and their grandsons to church and we are going to begin working with them and their family.

On Sunday, Alvina, Gayana and Anahit came to church. We are going to be meeting with them this week. Our Stake President, President Hovik, came and taught for Sunday School. He is so nice! He knows a little bit of English and every time he sees either me or Sister Clove he comes up to us and says "Ah, it is good to see you my pretty daughter." Haha. We love him! President Malm, from the Area Presidency also came and spoke to us about D&C 123:17. That scripture keeps coming up! After church, we OYMed on the way to our investigator's home and we smiled and said "barev dzez" to Nina on the street. She told us that lately she had been feeling like she needed to go to church, but that her husband was very abusive and would not let her. She told us that while she was out walking, she had been praying in her heart for someone to stop and say hello so that she could know that God was listening to her. Not long after, we ran into her! We told her that God knows her individually and that he is happy that she wants to learn more about Him. We are hoping to follow up with her this week to see if we can meet with her. We also met with Ruzan (new investigator) and her three daughters. We taught them about the Plan of Salvation and taught them how to pray. Later at night, Marine called and told us that her landlord changed her mind and that Marine will be able to continue living in Arabkir and can continue meeting with us! What a miracle! Fasting and praying works! I have a huge testimony on fasting and prayer

This week has been a great week! I am still working on memorizing all of my How to Begin Teachings and now all the 10 Commandments by heart. In my personal study, I have been reading in the war chapters in Alma - those are some of my favorite chapters in the Book of Mormon! I have been trying to set goals for myself to become the type of person that Moroni was. Imagine if the devil had no power over anyone on the earth today! It would be a Heaven on Earth. I want to marry a man like Moroni someday...because that's how I want my life to be like and my home to be like for my future family...a Heaven on Earth.

How is the family doing? I love and miss you all!

Sister Morreall

** Mom's note"

Captain Moroni:  http://www.lds.org/scriptures/bofm/alma/48.11-17?lang=eng#10