# 39

Last week's letter to president,

It was great to be reminded this week of Christ and His love for me. We had a great week this week working with our investigators. We have been working with the two families who are interested in our message. One family was going to come to church this week, but the father got in a car accident and wrecked his car (he is a taxi driver and so that is affecting his family's income). This is the same family whose father was in an explosion and has grafted skin, and whose son is blind in one eye. They showed us that the pipes in their home have all frozen with ice as well. They have no running water. My hert hurts for this family. We visited them this week to help them around the house and I could just see the stress and the pain they are going through right now. My heart hurts for them. 

We also met with our investigator who has been learning from missionaries for several years. He admitted that he is nervous about what his family will think about being baptized. We scheduled a time when we could meet with him and his family together. When we first arrived, his father, mother and sister were all skeptical, but by the end of the night I felt like their hearts had opened up to our message. We later met with our investigator indivually and challenged him to talk to his family about him being baptized. We invited him to pray for the Spirit to be with him when he talks to them and for courage to be a "light on a hill that cannot be hid." Hopefully, he has talked to his family already. We have hopes that he will be baptized this week.

Thank you for the mission donation to the kindergarden! We were able to visit the kindergarden this week and everyone there is just so grateful for the many hours of service and funds donated and for the dishware.

Thank you for your love and support. 

Love,

Sister Morreall

This week's letter to the president:

Happy belated birthday! 

This week was very hard. I don't know if it was just because of the New Year or what, but Sister Tenguerian and I have really learned how to manage stress...I think on paper it looks like we had a pretty decent week, but it was so stressful trying to teach our investigators and even new members...especially when one of them drank for the New Years right in front of us. It was disappointing, but we are just trying to correct him with love and remind him of the doctrine he has been taught and the covenant he made while at baptism.

We decided together that we were going to focus on the positive things that happen with our investigators. It's really helped our stress levels go down.

This week we went to Alaverdi and committed a family to baptism. We also served another family we are teaching (with the father with grafted skin) by bringing cookies and working around their house. We were able to get lessons in this week with other single investigators, most of whom have baptismal dates. 

I've been reading a lot from Moses this week and I really love chapter 7. It's where Enoch sees the Lord weeping for His children. He asked why he's crying and the Lord responds "Behold these thy brethren; they are the workmanship of mine own hands, and I gave unto them their knowledge, in the day I created them; and in the Garden of Eden, gave I unto man his agency; And unto thy brethren have I said, and also given commandment, that they should love one another, and that they should choose me their Father; but behold, they are without affection, and they hate their own blood. (v. 32-33)" The Lord then choose Enoch everything that ever will be and Enoch begins to understand and "wept and stretched forth his arms, and his heart swelled wide as eternity; and his bowels yearned; and all eternity shook. (v. 41)" I've felt a lot like tht this week. But I've learned that we can only do what's in our power, everyone has their own agency and we can't force others to choose right. We just need to focus on the positive and have faith that miracles will happen! I just see the potential in this area and I wish so badly that people choose to follow God's plan and be baptized!

I hope you had a great New Years and a great birthday!!!

Love,

Sister Morreall

Dear Family,

I hope you all had a great New Years...It's Armenia's biggest holiday. They celebrate it all week (Jan 1-5) and then on Jan 6 is the Armenian Christmas! So Merry Christmas again! I spent all week eating food at peoples' homes. And after 7 appointments in one day....I felt like I was going to die. Trev, the 15 y.o. girl you're friends with on fb showed me your senior pics on her phone...how come you never told me you got your senior pics?!?! You stud muffin. Anyway, I hope you all are doing well. I was happy to hear that mom is doing better this week! I love and miss you all so much! I will write you a letter and send you last week's email to president.

Love,

Misa :)

Fun/cool facts:

I ate dolma 11 times this past week.

They don't salt their sidewalks often, so people use ashes from fires and throw them on the ice to make it easier to walk.

Santa showed up at church this week...basically some guy in a santa outfit showed up and it was crazy......

Dear Mom,

I am so glad that your headaches have gone and the swelling is going down. As for the hair, I'll cut mine when I get home so you can use it :) I'm trying to grow it out better. Keep me updated on how you're doing...I smile when I think about how strong you are! And all the missionaries here keep you in theiprayers and always ask about you. They are rallied behind you 100%!

I think the members here are catching the picture, but of course there are still some things we have to help them along with. But we're working on it! I've mostly just been struggling and having a hard time with our investigastors though. Missionary work is hard. I've been emotionally exhuasted lately. Sis T has been too. Yesterday after church we just broke down in the kitchen crying. But it felt good afterward to relieve the stress. We are just going to keep working our hardest this week and see what miracles are in store. 

Yes, the word of wisdom seems to be the hardest thing here and also many people were baptized as infants and they always refer to the scripture "One God one fath one baptism" and so it's hard for them to accept a date...even after we teach them about true authority. Any suggestions from you or dad on that? That would really really help.

I hope you and Dad are doing well this week. It makes my heart happy to know you are doing well and you all are working together and the family (in NY and in Utah) is unified in supporting you, Mom. 

I love you all!

Love,

Misa :)