# 43

Dear President, 

Thank you for your letter. I love reading your support and assurance. And you better believe that you and Sister C will be invited to my wedding one day!

This week was another great week! We picked up the rest of our investigator's family and were able to teach them about the Restoration. We spent two lessons teaching them the Restoration and watching the Joseph Smith video. THEY love Joseph Smith! The elders who met with them before left a Joseph Smith pamphlet that they kept on their hutch, so when we showed them a picture of Joseph Smith they said "Hey we recognize him!" And brought us the pamphlet from off their hutch. They had many questions and listened intently to our answers. The wife told us that she got the chills when we were talking and we explained that it was the Holy Ghost testifying to her that what we were saying is true. They accepted a baptismal date as well. We then had another lesson with them on the tripod and we read the Book of Mormon with them. (They actually asked in the lesson to read a few chapters.) They also willingly pray for us and volunteer to do so every lesson. They also came over to Elder and Sister H's apartment and learned about the Plan of Salvation and temples. We read a little bit from The Family Proclamation as well and talked about the role of families. They have a few challenges regarding reaching their date, but we are confident that they can overcome them. The husband may be leaving for Russia in a few weeks for work, but he doesn't have a definite date yet. We also learned that the husband and wife are not technically married (they receive more money from the government if they are not legally married). We have talked to them about a marriage license and they are happy and want to receive. It may take time, but we are hopeful they will receive one. (We really want to get it before the husband goes to Russia.) We plan on teaching them all the discussions before he leaves so he can continue to live the laws while he is away.

We are also working with the family whose father was burned in the explosion. They have been reading from the Book of Mormon as a family (in the regular Book of Mormon and the children's version) and are now in 1 Nephi 15. We reviewed the tripod with their family and with their friends who they invited to stay for the lesson. They are consistently praying each lesson as well. Elder and Sister H shared a lesson on agency as well. They focused on the happiness that comes from choosing the right and keeping God's commandments. We all have a purpose here on this earth and what we choose to do shapes who we are and who we become. They shared a video they found of Stephanie (an airplane crash survivor from utah who was burned and is now a popular "mommy blogger".) We watched her story and how she chooses to make everyday a happy day and to never waste a moment. I think that was very encouraging for the father with all of the challenges he goes through everyday. They are progressing nicely and he is still working on quitting smoking. They were unable to make it to church this week because his sister went to the hospital in Yerevan, but they are going to come next week. 

We also went to Alaverdi this week and met with the grandmother there. We reviewed the gospel of Jesus Christ and talked about baptism. She really wants to be baptized in a few weeks. In regards to your question, I believe that the grandmother and the family there are still worth visiting. At the moment it is hard, because the mother and father are in different areas of the country (the mother is in Gyumri for medical treatment for their daughter and the father is in Kharapa - the contested area - working). We call them to check on them and they tell us that they are praying. When we visit the grandmother she prays as well and has been reading. They all say that they really want to be baptized, but they won't be back in Alaverdi together until March when we can teach them as a family, so we haven't set a date yet for the mother and father because we do not know when they will be back in March. 

We have also been meeting a lot with our Bishop and ward leaders this week and have been focusing on less actives and new members this week. We visited a few this week and retaught the new member lessons and shared our thoughts on hope.

Sister T and I have really loved serving together this transfer. I don't know what transfers has in store for me, but I want to thank you for the opportunity I've had to be here in Vanadzor with my companion and the missionaries here. I love them all.

This week I've been really grateful to study from the Ensigns and Liahonas. How awesome is it reading talks and addresses from past and current prophets and General Authorites who receive revelation from God. I read an awesome poem this week by Gordon B. Hinckley entitled "Put Your Trust in God". He writes "It isn't as bad as you sometimes think it is. It all works out. Don't worry."  I say that to myself every morning. It will all work out. Put your trust in God and move forward with faith and confidence in the future. The Lord will not forsake us. He will not forsake us. If we will put our trust in Him. if we will pray to Him, if we will live worthy of His blessings, He will hear our prayers." I love how he says that he has to tell himself that every morning. Often, I think we need little reminders that everything is going to work out...as long as we try out best. I think my favorite part of the poem is that he tells us to "move forward in faith and confidence in the future...live worthy of His blessings." As we are faithful, hopeful and obedient, we have the opportunity and the right to recieve blessings. Because the Lord is always bound when we do what He says. I realized this week that I probably won't see any of my investigators be baptized this transfer, but I know that as I continue to have faith, hope and work hard, they will reach baptism. 

Thanks for all of your encouragement and happiness! It means a lot to me! 

I love you and Sister C and hope you have a great week!

Love,

Sister Morreall

Dear Family,

I happy to hear you are all doing well. I hope you had a great week and enjoyed the Super Bowl! I am especially glad mom is feeling well. Let me know about your recent MRI. Trev, you should hear from BYU  soon right? Let me know! I hope you all have fun at the Outer Banks and in NC and Virginia! So you'll take me to OB when I get home right? ;) 

Please tell Kearsten Cook congrats for me and I'm super happy for her baptism! It sounds like you all have been super good to the missionaries (trust me, they appreciate the dinners and member presents.) Keep it up!

Love and miss you all!

Love, 

Misa :)

Random things:

My companion has dimples and so people tell her all the time that her mom stole an egg when she was pregnant with her and that's why she has dimples. 

I ate khorovats this week (kababs) and the lady pulled out a chicken and cut it right there and then roasted it! I was like what the...

Our power and water have been going out a lot this week so we had some candle lit dinners (mostly just cereal or soup)...it's funny we'll be eating and the power goes out and we're like dang it "Dang it we have to shower in the dark tonight" and then the water shuts off so that's not even a problem any more.