# 18

Dear Family,

HAPPY BELATED BIRTHDAY ASIA!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! 15 YEARS OLD!!!! WHOA! AND HAPPY EARLY BIRTHDAY MOM!!!!!!!!!!!! (I won't say how old you are.) You two should look up "Happy Birthday Song" by Armen Chick, an Armenian...it's a birthday song they sing in Armenian with random "It's your birthday party" lyrics in English haha.

On Monday of this week we met with Gayane (investigator), who the Nork elders passed us. She has been taught the discussions before in Russia. So we are planning on reteaching and reviewing them with her and setting a baptismal date with her. We then visited with Emma (member), and shared a lesson with her about coming unto Christ. 

On Tuesday, during zone conference I learned so much! The theme was being bolder. in our missionary work. That is something that I have been working on since getting into the mission field. I have been studying having that balance of love and boldness with investigators. I also really loved the stress on the importance of being diligent and obedient. I feel like since I am so new to the country that I cannot afford to waste time and forgo any blessings that would have been given me. Sister Clove and I since day 1 have set goals concerning obedience and diligence and I really have seen the blessings that come from applying and living these principles. We also talked about obedience, diligence, unity and consecration. I have come to love John 21 when Christ asks Peter "Lovest thou me?...Follow thou me." If we truly love the Savior, we will devote all of our time and our soul to Him. Our obedience to Him will bring great light and knowledge to us. Obedience is greater than sacrifice. We discussed the urgency to spread the gospel and we have a new goal of 250 baptisms total by the end of this year. After the zone conference, we were able to go out and OYM.

On Wednesday, we visited Lala (investigator in Abovian) and helped her manage her garden. We then shared a message about the Book of Mormon and left her with a book and a challenge to read. We then met with Lala (investigator preparing for baptism). We reviewed the baptismal questions with her and discussed the details of a baptismal service. She is so excited to take this step in her life! Afterwards, we met with Gayane. The Nork elders came and participated in giving her a priesthood blessing and then we watched "Finding Faith in Christ" with her. We discussed following Christ and having faith in Him. We then visited with Colleen (newly baptized member) and celebrated her birthday with her. We were able to receive referrals from her and the Filipinos and were so pleased to see a picture of missionaries with her family back in the Philippines...the referral we had sent online was contacted and now her family has the opportunity to learn the gospel!

                                                                           Beating wool from a mattress.

On Thursday, we planned for the week and then visited Marine (investigator). We talked to her about priorities and the steps towards baptism. She is still working on finding a job that lets her not work on Sundays. We also talked to her about tithing and fasting and she committed to living the Law of Tithing after baptism. We also met with our Ward Council (for the first time!) and discussed plans for member-missionary work within the ward. There are plans to call a ward mission leader and ward missionaries soon. 

On Friday, we taught Gayane about the Word of Wisdom and following the prophet. She told us she would commit to living the Word of Wisdom. We then met with Lala and read from the Book of Mormon with her. We planned to meet with Ruzan (new investigator), but the meeting fell through and we ended up talking to her mother-in-law, Armik, about families and the temple. We then met with Marine and reviewed all of the commandments with her. She is ready for baptism, the only thing holding her back is finding a job so that she can come to church every week. She is also very interested in serving a mission when she is older. 

On Saturday, we attended the baptism of a family of five with Gayane. She is very interested in being baptized and we plan on talking about that in more detail with her in our next meeting with her. We then attended another baptism with Lala. She was so excited about it, that she had us call the mission president right then and there to schedule her interview! We are so excited for her. After the baptism, we met with Rita (investigator). Her daughter-in-law just had a baby, so we served and helped her around the house. We are going to go back this week and see if we can do anything else to serve and follow up on previous commitments. 

On Sunday, Marine, Lala and Gayane all attended church. We also met with Marine and read the Book of Mormon with her. We also met with Gayane (member) and discussed coming unto Christ with her. We shared D&C 84:88 with her and talked to her about receiving divine guidance and help as we strive to follow the Lord.

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

Have a wonderful week,

Misa

Random facts about Armenia:

They have no word for "please"

My name means "the meat" in Armenian...pretty right? I told one of the members that my last name is a type of mushroom in French and she said "Well aren't you just delicious then?!" Haha

They think that if you take a cold shower with a headache or a "hot head" your heart will stop.

They tell me that Dad looks Armenian from pictures, and so do I...but that I look the most like Mom...tell me how that works?

The Russian Bible has a book of Nathaniel...I never knew that. Did you?

They have different versions of the story of Adam and Eve haha...

Armenia is in the Bible!!! 2 Kings 19:37 and Mt. Ararat in Genesis 8:4. Awesome huh?

Dear family,

This week I have been working on strengthening my testimony and becoming re-converted to Christ and His gospel.

I know that God is my Heavenly Father. I am His daughter. He knows me. my thoughts and my feelings. He loves me. Because He is a kind and loving father, He wants me to become like Him and to live with Him for eternity. I know that He created a plan and provided a way for me to do so. I know that His plan and His way is a tough way, but it is the only way to progress and to return to be with Him. Because I am not perfect, He provided me with a Savior, who is central to God's plan for me. I know that God's son - my older brother- Jesus Christ, is my Savior. He atoned for my sins and He died for me. I know that He also was resurrected, so that I one day will be able to be resurrected and made perfect like Him and my Father in Heaven. I know that Christ lives. I know that I have been given my family, so that I can have joy in this life and in the next. I love you all very much. I know that God has given the world scriptures, the Bible and the Book of Mormon, so that we can learn of, follow, and come closer to Him and His son. I know that there are prophets and apostles today, who receive revelation and continue to guide and direct us with the proper priesthood authority restored to the earth by Joseph Smith. I know and I love my Heavenly Father and my Savior. 

                                                                                                 Water Day.

I am so grateful for the opportunity to be a missionary and to serve Heavenly Father and Jesus Christ. I love serving in Armenia and I love the people I have met here. I love and miss you all so much!

Have a wonderful week,

Misa