# 49

Dear President,

I really enjoyed the special Mission Conference that we had this week. President and Sister Bennett were great. I really learned a lot about teaching, as well as finding the elect. I had never thought of someone being elect at a certain moment based on the choices he made. I think it so amazing to think that everyone on the earth has the opportunity to choose to be elect!

This week was quite a busy one for us. Exchanges went very well. I'm grateful for the opportunity I had to serve in Gyumri for a day. The sisters there are doing a great job. The whole district is really. They are working through some challenges, but are diligently working well! It was a great example to me. I had the chance to meet with a few of the elders' and sisters' investigators there and they seem to be doing very well spiritually. They have been prepared to hear the gospel!

In Vanadzor this week we were able to meet with a few of our investigators. The single mother we are teaching hasn't been able to meet with us this week because her grandfather is ill and she is taking care of him. We haven't seen her since last week, but have been making daily contact with her. She took her Book of Mormon to her grandfather's house to read and she told us that she still wants to be baptized. So the next time we meet with her we want to set a new date. 

The older grandmother that we are meeting with has told us that it would be better to meet in April, when her son is working in Russia. Her son has been against us coming over so I think it will be a little easier for her to meet then.

In regard sto the grandmother and 12 year old girl we are meeting with, they have been having a lot of problems with family members lately who do not want them to meet with us. One family member is threatening to stop paying for their utilities if our investigators get baptized, so that has made them very nervous. It has been quite discouraging for the grandmother as well. We have been trying to strengthen their testimonies by reading from the Book of Mormon and reviewing prayer. We had a great lesson on prayer yesterday, which I think brought them some hope. 

All of our investigators in Alaverdi are doing well. They are reading from the Book of Mormon, and actually this week we called them to check up on their commitments and one of our investigators told us that she had a dream where an angel dressed in white visited her and told her that she needed to read from the Book of Mormon. She had been struggling with reading in the past, but I think that will no longer be a problem :) She does, however, still need to get a zoks with her husband and so we will probably go with her to do that next time we are in Alaverdi. We also talked with the mother and two children that we are teaching up there. They actually told us that they thought about calling us because they were talking about the ten commandments and wanted to figure out which order they were in again. So that was cute to hear them recite it over the phone! They also have been reading from the Book of Mormon together and the mother has quite coffee cold turkey. 

This week we held a missoinary firesied for the ward. I think it went really well! We talked about why we do missionary work, how we do missionary work and the blessings that come from doing missionary work. We had many examples of how to do missionary work, including roleplays. We also had two members at the end who were baptized as a result of ward member efforts. Throughout the whole night the spirit was felt, but I think that brought the spirit the most when the Armenian members saw their friends who they love share their testimonies and express their appreciation for the people that help brought them to the church. 

As a companionship we're going through Christlike attributes and this week we are studying about patience. I haven't had an investigator reach baptism since November and so that's been weighing on my mind, but something I read this week in Mosiah has really helped me to recognize that things are done in the Lord's time. In Mosiah 24, Alma's people are under Amulon's rule and are not allowed to pray vocally. The Lord comforts the people by saying "Lift up your heads and be of good comfort, for I know of the covenant which ye have made unto me; and I will covenant with my people and deliver them out of bondage. And I will also ease the aburdens which are put upon your shoulders, that even you cannot feel them upon your backs, even while you are in bondage; and this will I do that ye may stand as witnesses for me hereafter, and that ye may know of a surety that I, the Lord God, do visit my people in their afflictions. And now it came to pass that the burdens which were laid upon Alma and his brethren were made light; yea, the Lord did strengthen them that they could bear up their burdens with ease, and they did submit cheerfully and with patience to all the will of the Lord." I just know that the Lord has helped me so much with this work and that He is continuing to do so. I know that I covenanted with him to help bring His children back to Him. And I just find it such a huge tender mercy that is giving me His help with the work that I promised to do. He is lifting the budrens and giving me strength to continue on. I just need to sumbit cheerfully to ALL of His will and continue to be patient. He's the Master Planner...It will all work out! 

Thank you so much for your love and for your time. I really do love you and Sister Carlson and I pray for you both every day. 

Love,

Sister Morreall