# 25

*note from Mom*

She's using initials now rather than full names of investigators and members.

Dear family, 

Thank you for all of the birthday wishes! I sure love and miss you all.

This week was a challenging, but rewarding week.

On Monday, we had Family Home Evening with Bishop and L. We are working with them to try and get their grandson, G, baptized. We read The Family: Proclamation to the World with them and talked about the roles of family members and how we can be together forever with our families. (I love that!)

On Tuesday, we had District Meeting which was conducted by the assistants. We talked about becoming more need based missionaries and using the Spirit more in our daily activities. We talked about inviting and listening to the Spirit. Sometimes I get down on myself after an OYM (open your mouth) that goes bad or when someone just completely rejects what we say, but I need to remember to cheer up and continue to be led by the Spirit.

After the meeting, we met with R and read from the Book of Mormon with her. She really wants to be baptized, but is having a hard time keeping commitments. We then met with L, and taught a lesson on the atonement. We really tried to bring the Spirit into the lesson. We invited her husband (who is usually against us being there) into the lesson and he stayed! We also brought him a Book of Mormon because he has read it and says that it is a good book, along with some figs. I think that softened him up a little bit. 

On Wednesday, we met with M and read the Book of Mormon with her. We also helped her clean up her house. I like doing service, it shows people that we really care about them. We next met with R and brought G (a member) with us. We had a good lesson review about Joseph Smith and the Book of Mormon. Hopefully, she will begin reading. After that lesson, we went to S and G's house and taught the Plan of Salvation Unfortunately, we didn't get much of a lesson in though, because they kept trying to feed us dinner. Armenians are so hospitable! But sometimes they force you to eat haha Usually in a loving way. 

On Thursday, we met with N and S, new investigators and did How To Begin Teachings with them. Sister M and I have been practicing our How To Begin Teachings together so that we can whip them off and it flows naturally. After, we met with L and helped her carry her bags of fruit home. There, we helped her wash, cut and start to dry them. Service is such a good opportunity to show love for others.

On Friday, we met with R, who invited us over for dolma. (Mom, I just sent a letter home with a dolma recipe in it...let me know when you get it.) She invited her friend, N, and we did some How To Begin Teachings with her and talked to her a little bit about the church. Hopefully, we can pick her up as a new investigator and teach her and R together. After that lesson, we met with M and A, members, and talked to them about charity. We invited them to bring friends to church this week, but I guess this past Sunday was an Armenian holiday, so most people are at the cemeteries on that day. We are still working with our members to try and bring more people into the church though. That is the best way! I think back home if people would just invite, share the gospel and work with one friend, the Binghamton Ward could be double the size it is back home. How awesome would that be?!

On Saturday, we met with A, who is leaving for Georgia for a few weeks. She wanted to say goodbye to us, so we went out for ice cream and helped her get ready to leave. She had a lot of questions about prophets and apostles and so we talked a lot about the priesthood authority and the Restoration. After we went to L's house and served her by putting up her curtains, ironing, and cleaning.  Her granddaughters were there so we talked about the church while we were cleaning with them. We then visited S and her family. We started teaching the Plan of Salvation with them, but they had so many questions (which is good), that we will have to finish it next time.

On Sunday, we helped M after church find the Bishop so that she could pay her tithing and ask for a calling. We then went to the Family History center and A helped her start her family history search. After, we went to L's house and had another spiritual experience. We came and taught her and her granddaughters about the Plan of Salvation. We really focused on the atonement and how we can use the atonement by being baptized. L and her granddaughters have had really hard lives, so I think that sunk into their hearts. They really want to be baptized, but L's husband won't let them go to church. We prayed with her about it and told her that it might take sometime, but that she would be able to be baptized one day. As we were discussing this, L's husband came into the room. We invited him to a baptism (along with L and the girls). He said no and left, but after a little bit, he came back in the room and asked us about the baptism again. He said he would like to go and that he would even let L and the girls start coming to church and that he might come one day! We were so excited. I felt so strongly that Heavenly Father helped us get through to L's husband and had immediately answered our prayer. That was such a strong experience to me of how God does really answers prayers. I know that was a strong testimony builder for L too. She even told us that she felt the Spirit so strongly answer her. It was an amazing experience that I'm grateful I had!

This week was definitely focused on service and teaching to others' needs. It really brings the Spirit in, which testifies of the truthfulness of our message. 

So how was everyone's week this week? I bet the Yankees/Baltimore game was fun. And I heard the back-to-school Stake activity was great! Mom, I am sorry to hear about the muscle weakness, but I am glad it is getting better. I am glad you are having a fun time planning for Halloween! Please keep telling the boys not to put Utah and Redsox decals in the toilet...as funny as that is...it's also gross. Also, I hope everyone enjoys the icecream cake and the seminary kids enjoy the donuts for my birthday. Thanks again for all of the birthday wishes!

I love and miss you all!

Misa :)