Well, I think I have said this a hundred times already, but missions are such roller coasters! This week alone was a bit of an intense ride. The beginning of the week I was still with Sister Deaver and we were super busy with her seeing the people she wanted to see before leaving and trying to pack and take care of business. By the time we would get home at night we were super tired, but also wanted to spend as much time together as possible so we had a couple of late nights just talking and laughing and then feeling sad. Eugh. I hate saying goodbye. It wouldn't be so bad except that she goes home in 2 months and she will be in Vanadzor for the rest of her time here (most likely) so we will not really see each other again. Tear. Oh my heart. Missions.... they just tear your heart to pieces.
So, on Wednesday I spent the better part of the day in the transfer van driving to Vanadzor to drop Sister Deaver off and pick Sister Burnham up (she was transfered to yerevan and is serving with my current companion's old companion... if that makes sense). We also picked up Elders Strader and Peterson from Vanadzor because all us babies had to renew our visa stuff so we got to have a bit of a reunion. We finally got home by 4 or so (we left at 8:30am) and then went out so I could start showing Sister Brower around her new area. The first couple of days together were hard for me. Adjusting to change is not my forte and it was stressful and scary. But after a few days of not feeling 100% I finally got over myself and got over feeling sorry for myself and just decided to be happy. I am glad I did too. I feel so much better for it.
So far, together Sister Brower and I have done a lot of exploring in our area to get a feel for it. It is so big that there's no way to know it perfectly, but we're trying to know it as best we can. We started by wandering around in one of our villages, Kharbert when one of our appointments fell through. It's such a pretty little village so that was fun. Although, we discovered that it's not as little as I thought... we really need to find a map for that place. Haha. Then on Saturday we had *J's* baptismal interview!!! It went well. She hasn't for sure passed yet because she has some things that she has to clear up with President Carter (actually, she's there doing that right now!). If all goes well she will be baptized a week from today! We're working things out so that Sister Deaver will be able to come because she is supposed to be in Yerevan next pday. So! We're really excited about that! After that we had more meetings fall through, so we went to our backup plan which was looking for less actives and exploring! So we went to an area that I have been to only a couple of times, and then we went a little further to a place I have never been to before, called Karmir blur, which means red hill. We quickly discovered the origins of its name. There is a hill with poppies all over it! Along with other flowers too! It is an ancient ruins site from 700 BC! Gosh I love this country. SO, that was fun discovering. Oh, when we were over in that area we started talking to a man about the Book of Mormon and stuff. Generally we don't give our number to men before we know for sure that they're not creepers, so we invited him to church for the next day. I couldn't remember the address so we got his number and called him that night to give him the address. I didn't expect for him to come at all and completely forgot about it, but he totally showed up at church! And he stayed for all 3 hours. He seems really cool, so we're excited to start teaching him.
I have lots more about church yesterday.... where to start? Well, to begin with there was an old member of the 70 visiting our branch (I actually have no idea why or what his name was or anything). It was fast Sunday so it was testimony meeting which is always a little bit interesting.... but it was going pretty well, pretty normal. Our Branch President called *M* our new baptizee up to give her her baptismal certificate so she stayed up to bear her testimony. As she was doing so this CRAZY woman in our branch started freaking out and yelling (I have no idea what) because for some unknown reason she has something against *M*. They finally got crazy lady out of there, but I could tell that *M* was pretty shaken up about it. She has had issues with crazy lady before - like when her baptism was announced she freaked out then too. Its hard for *M* though because her husband told her not to go because of crazy lady, but *M* is just so solid and knows its true and doesn't want to let anything get in the way. Anyway, so she had a rough day yesterday, and yet she still volunteered to help clean the chapel next week, and then reminded me to show her how to pay her fast offering. I just love this woman so much! She is so awesome! She is going to make it through all of the difficulties she is facing and is going to be a great strength to the church here. I just know it!
After church yesterday we were waiting around to meet with the branch president when this 20 year old kid walked in and apparently told one of our elders that he wants to get baptized and that he lives in our area! Saweet. Apparently he was taught 5 years ago and was coming to church and stuff then. So, between him and the man that showed up unexpectedly at church, we were able to miraculously reach our goal of 2 new investigators this week, even though I thought it would be impossible. The Lord works in mysterious ways and I need to learn to not limit Him!
Well, this week we are anticipating to be busy. We need to find a lot more investigators and we want to continue getting our area organized really well and getting working more with less active members cause there are a lot! Oh, I just found out that Julietta has passed! So her baptism will be about this time next week!!! SWEET!
SO! Last item of business - next week is mothers' day! Shnorhavor to all my sisters and adopted sisters and my Mommy and all the women out there!
As part of that I will be calling home! SO, organize yourselves. I will be calling Saturday morning at 8:40 my time, which means Friday night at 9:40 for ya'll. Don't miss out by going out to do less important things!
I love you! Have a good week and enjoy the beginnings of spring!
Sister Smith
Tuesday, June 14, 2011
week 18
...transfers!
That is right. This weekend my heart was broken. Probably in about 100 pieces... maybe more, I can't tell. I will start at the beginning of the week just to keep you all on your toes and paying attention :)
So Monday we did a legit P-day and went to get Sister Deaver's hairs did. On our way home a man tried to kiss Sister Deaver and I was very prepared to hurt him. He's lucky he let go of her face when she pulled away and I approached. Freaking creep. Don't worry parents, we're totally safe here. Haha. But really, it was on a main street in the middle of the day so nothing would have happened and we don't talk to men alone at night when it's dark. Anyway, we gave that guy as a referral to the missionaries in his area who happened to be the assistants and he may or may not have yelled at them. Really I think they should have been the ones yelling at him.
A lot of this week was spent helping *Z* (a preparing missionary) get the rest of the things she needs for her mission and then ummm.... I don't even know what else. This week was a little rough. We had a hard time getting meetings and then the meetings we did have were not awesome.
In lighter news, our investigator *J* seems to be doing really well. We meet with her several times a week, and she ALWAYS feeds us so much way good food. I think she is probably the best cook in the country, that I have encountered so far at least. *J* is keeping the word of wisdom so far (which is a miracle because the norm is for people to drink wine over Easter), and should be ready for her baptism in a couple of weeks. We are excited for it and for her. Now we just want her to get further into the Book of Mormon. That will be our focus the next couple of weeks I think. *M* is still doing well. She was sick this weekend so she didn't make it to church, but we saw her yesterday and will see her again tonight and she's still doing well. I love her and her girls so much.
Alright, I guess we're getting to the big news now since I can't think of any other news. Ugh. So, on Saturday we had a rough day. We had a really hard time getting meetings, and then we had to go shopping again for *Z's* mission, but right before we left for that President Carter asked if he could talk to Sister Deaver at our church building for a few minutes later. So, we shopped in suspension, and then met with him. He told us that there is a bit of a surprise transfer and that Sister Deaver is getting transfered up to Vanadzor. My heart sunk and then the tears started flowing. We had all last week just been talking about how much we love each other, about how well we work together, and how we wanted to just stay together here in Shengavit until she goes home. We have finally got to the point where we can teach 50:50 because I can follow whats going on much better and because we just finally got into our groove with teaching together. So, of course things were too good to be true. I am still really really sad. Anyway, that was all we knew on Saturday night, and on Sunday morning we got the official transfer call. I will be staying in Shengavit and Sister Brower will be coming to me here. It is really overwhelming that I have to teach this HUGE area to her. Sometimes I feel like I can do it, but other times I feel like its going to be impossible. And its just going to be so weird teaching with someone else. And I want to make sure that our investigators are still well-taken care of. So, I am stressed and sad. Sister Deaver leaves tomorrow morning. So this is our last day.
Yesterday was a fun day though. We went with the Carters and the 4 other missionaries in our branch to our branch president's house out in Kharbert (a village south of Yerevan) to do yard work for him. It was a gorgeous day and he has baby bunnies.... sooo.... yeah. Even the elders were acting ridiculous about the bunnies. More so than us sisters. They were giving like eskimo kisses and rubbing them on their faces.... it was pretty entertaining. They also had a ton of chickens just hanging out in their yard so one of the elders was chasing them around all day. We had to break tiles at one point to make into concrete or something? (I'm not really sure how that works), so we were tossing those things around and punching them. I may or may not have broken one on my head. And punched a couple. I was successful at breaking one, but now my knuckle is a little bruised. Woops. It was fun though and now I have a bit of a tan/almost sun burn. I am going to die this summer, its already super nice out.
So, that was my week. Every one is a new adventure and a roller coaster. It is kind of exhausting. Actually, completely exhausting. Especially because we never want to go to bed at night because our time together is so short now so we just want to talk and play our Armenian Monopoly. Haha. That's right, we have an Armenian Monopoly board. It is so rad. (Mom have you noticed yet that I am trying to avoid the word amazing after you mom-burned me? haha. good one.) This next week should be really interesting too. I will have a new companion which will bring new challenges and experiences, but I am also hoping that I will learn a lot from her and that we will have fun together and do some really good work together.
So, the message for the week is, don't get too content with life, because then it will change. But when it does change, don't be a wimp and break down like me... be a champ and face it head-on. I just have to keep telling myself that I can do hard things. I can, and I will. That is why I am here.
I really am so grateful for this gospel. I know that Christ is our Saviour and that He atoned for us. I know that He was resurrected and that He lives again and can and will help you through each trial of your life as YOU make the effort to turn to Him and follow Him. That is why I am here!
I love you all!
Sister Smith
ps I am really really really sad that I missed out on Ukrainian easter eggs.... and that I'm gonna miss out again next year. Freak. When I get home (even though it'll be the middle of the summer) we are pulling that stuff out and I am doing an egg!
That is right. This weekend my heart was broken. Probably in about 100 pieces... maybe more, I can't tell. I will start at the beginning of the week just to keep you all on your toes and paying attention :)
So Monday we did a legit P-day and went to get Sister Deaver's hairs did. On our way home a man tried to kiss Sister Deaver and I was very prepared to hurt him. He's lucky he let go of her face when she pulled away and I approached. Freaking creep. Don't worry parents, we're totally safe here. Haha. But really, it was on a main street in the middle of the day so nothing would have happened and we don't talk to men alone at night when it's dark. Anyway, we gave that guy as a referral to the missionaries in his area who happened to be the assistants and he may or may not have yelled at them. Really I think they should have been the ones yelling at him.
A lot of this week was spent helping *Z* (a preparing missionary) get the rest of the things she needs for her mission and then ummm.... I don't even know what else. This week was a little rough. We had a hard time getting meetings and then the meetings we did have were not awesome.
In lighter news, our investigator *J* seems to be doing really well. We meet with her several times a week, and she ALWAYS feeds us so much way good food. I think she is probably the best cook in the country, that I have encountered so far at least. *J* is keeping the word of wisdom so far (which is a miracle because the norm is for people to drink wine over Easter), and should be ready for her baptism in a couple of weeks. We are excited for it and for her. Now we just want her to get further into the Book of Mormon. That will be our focus the next couple of weeks I think. *M* is still doing well. She was sick this weekend so she didn't make it to church, but we saw her yesterday and will see her again tonight and she's still doing well. I love her and her girls so much.
Alright, I guess we're getting to the big news now since I can't think of any other news. Ugh. So, on Saturday we had a rough day. We had a really hard time getting meetings, and then we had to go shopping again for *Z's* mission, but right before we left for that President Carter asked if he could talk to Sister Deaver at our church building for a few minutes later. So, we shopped in suspension, and then met with him. He told us that there is a bit of a surprise transfer and that Sister Deaver is getting transfered up to Vanadzor. My heart sunk and then the tears started flowing. We had all last week just been talking about how much we love each other, about how well we work together, and how we wanted to just stay together here in Shengavit until she goes home. We have finally got to the point where we can teach 50:50 because I can follow whats going on much better and because we just finally got into our groove with teaching together. So, of course things were too good to be true. I am still really really sad. Anyway, that was all we knew on Saturday night, and on Sunday morning we got the official transfer call. I will be staying in Shengavit and Sister Brower will be coming to me here. It is really overwhelming that I have to teach this HUGE area to her. Sometimes I feel like I can do it, but other times I feel like its going to be impossible. And its just going to be so weird teaching with someone else. And I want to make sure that our investigators are still well-taken care of. So, I am stressed and sad. Sister Deaver leaves tomorrow morning. So this is our last day.
Yesterday was a fun day though. We went with the Carters and the 4 other missionaries in our branch to our branch president's house out in Kharbert (a village south of Yerevan) to do yard work for him. It was a gorgeous day and he has baby bunnies.... sooo.... yeah. Even the elders were acting ridiculous about the bunnies. More so than us sisters. They were giving like eskimo kisses and rubbing them on their faces.... it was pretty entertaining. They also had a ton of chickens just hanging out in their yard so one of the elders was chasing them around all day. We had to break tiles at one point to make into concrete or something? (I'm not really sure how that works), so we were tossing those things around and punching them. I may or may not have broken one on my head. And punched a couple. I was successful at breaking one, but now my knuckle is a little bruised. Woops. It was fun though and now I have a bit of a tan/almost sun burn. I am going to die this summer, its already super nice out.
So, that was my week. Every one is a new adventure and a roller coaster. It is kind of exhausting. Actually, completely exhausting. Especially because we never want to go to bed at night because our time together is so short now so we just want to talk and play our Armenian Monopoly. Haha. That's right, we have an Armenian Monopoly board. It is so rad. (Mom have you noticed yet that I am trying to avoid the word amazing after you mom-burned me? haha. good one.) This next week should be really interesting too. I will have a new companion which will bring new challenges and experiences, but I am also hoping that I will learn a lot from her and that we will have fun together and do some really good work together.
So, the message for the week is, don't get too content with life, because then it will change. But when it does change, don't be a wimp and break down like me... be a champ and face it head-on. I just have to keep telling myself that I can do hard things. I can, and I will. That is why I am here.
I really am so grateful for this gospel. I know that Christ is our Saviour and that He atoned for us. I know that He was resurrected and that He lives again and can and will help you through each trial of your life as YOU make the effort to turn to Him and follow Him. That is why I am here!
I love you all!
Sister Smith
ps I am really really really sad that I missed out on Ukrainian easter eggs.... and that I'm gonna miss out again next year. Freak. When I get home (even though it'll be the middle of the summer) we are pulling that stuff out and I am doing an egg!
week 17
Barev Barev,
This week was crazy and busy but so good! Where to begin? I guess at the beginning. As you know I went up to Vanadzor on Monday. Sister Burnham and I have a great time up there. I understood SO much more than I usually do and I think it can be attributed to God's help, and the fact that speak more slowly up there. I wish that was the case here. So I feel pretty good about the work we did up there. We managed to make a few good contacts and we actually picked up a new investigator in our last meeting. So it was a cool experience and it taught me to trust in the Lord more and depend more on Him instead of on Sister Deaver haha. Usually I just let her deal with things when I am confused or tired or frustrated, but in Vanadzor I was kinda the person that was looked to... so I looked to God and it all worked out. Our lessons were not amazing. That I will openly admit to, and we had help from members and the senior couple for much of it, but it was still a good experience. The members there are so amazing! I love them already. The Branch President said that he received revelation that I will be serving there, so I guess I will be going back haha.
We came back to Yerevan on Wednesday evening. The drive down in the marshutni was really interesting. There was a guy that spoke perfect english on there, so we ended up talking to him about the gospel for the majority of the trip down, as well as some other people on there. It was really weird teaching the gospel in emglish actually. I jjust have a set way that I normally say things in Armenian, and they are comfortable for me to say in Armenian, so it was different doing it in english. It was really cool though having an intelligent discussion with a very intelligent person.
By the time we met back up with out mothers I was exhausted. Like as soon as I saw Sister Deaver I was felt like collapsing, but up till that point I had felt fine haha. I loved my splits, it was fun and I learned a lot and was pushed a lot, but I am so grateful to be back at home in my area and with my companion. Plus, the weather is just so much nicer here! It's already spring here and the trees are green and blooming, whereas it snowed a ton while I was in Vanadzor. It had all melted by 2 the next day, but still. I prefer green trees. It is super beautiful in Vanadzor though. I hope I will get to serve there in the summer or something. I don't want to be here in the hottest area for that.
Up until Saturday we were kept busy helping a girl, *Z*, prepare for her mission. She will be serving on Temple Square and needed help getting everything in order and getting her clothes and everything. So we had to go shopping. I hate shopping. But it wasn't too bad. We have to do it again this week though. But I am excited for her. Missions are so awesome. So if anyone is going to temple square relatively soon look for some Armenian sisters! There's *Z*, and then there's another one there named Sister Hart or Heart or something (her real last name is harootsyoonyan, but who wants to say that? slash who CAN say that? haha I mean other than Armenians and those of us that know Armenian... kinda).
Saturday!!! Saturday was so awesome. Mariam's baptism was amazing. Her husband came, which was awesome, but we're still not too sure how interested he is. When we asked what he thought about it he said it was just normal. IT WAS NOT NORMAL, haha. I think he just doesn't know how to recognize the spirit yet haha. Sister Deaver and I talked a little bit about Mariam for the baptismal service, which was terrifying, but one of my favourite children in the country, Benyamin (like Benjamin without the j) came and held my hand when I was nervous. He's about 2. It was so cute. I will send you a pic of him.
Sister Deaver and I watched Mariam's baptism from the side so we got to be facing her. She was nervous going in, but the Spirit was so strong. I got a little emotional... I just can't help it, I get it from Dad! When she came up out of the water she kept her eyes closed for a few seconds, just soaking it all up. It was SO GOOD! And then we got to get wet kisses on the cheek from her. I have been to a few baptisms since being here, but there is just something so different about having your own baptism. You are so much more invested in the person, and value their decision so much more. Mariam is SUCH and amazing woman and she really understood what she was doing. She is going to be such an awesome member of the church here! After her baptism her girls were supposed to sing I am a Child of God (we taught them... its so cute and so off key), but they got too nervous. Mariam bore her testimony at the baptismal service. She is so solid! Overall, it was just awesome. I got a better glimps at what I am doing here and the value of my work here. I did so little to help her prepare, but I did what was needed of me. And thats all we really can do. Its just a matter of finding the people who are ready and pointing the way. It's easy really, but so rewarding.
After Mariam's baptism there was another service for 4 women, who were the sister, mother and neices of our investigator *J*. She came for their baptisms and got to see her family enter the waters. Julietta still has some way to go, but she is definitely on the right path and we're excited for her baptism which should be in a few weeks.
Yesterday Mariam was confirmed and then was asked to bear her testimony again. She is seriously just so solid! I know I have said that a lot, but we are just so excited about her. And for her kids. They are going to get to be raised in the gospel. Her older daughter *A* is almost 8 so we're hoping to start teaching her soon. She and I are basically best friends. I will try to send pics of her too. (ps Irena I am not sure that I am allowed to put pics on the blog so you prob shouldn't if there are more than just missionaries in them). All the missionaries were also asked to bear their testimonies... so I got to speak in front of a huge group of people AGAIN. Its really just inevitable... I should really stop getting so nervous. No body booed at me or anything, so it couldn't have been too bad.
Overall it has been a crazy but amazing week. I feel so blessed to be here and so be involved in such amazing work and to be making friends with such amazing people. It took me a long time to finally feel at peace with my decision to serve a mission, but now that I am here I can't imagine not being here. Sometimes you have to just make a choice and then you find out after the trial of your faith that it was the right thing to do.
I love you all and I love this gospel!
Sister Smith
This week was crazy and busy but so good! Where to begin? I guess at the beginning. As you know I went up to Vanadzor on Monday. Sister Burnham and I have a great time up there. I understood SO much more than I usually do and I think it can be attributed to God's help, and the fact that speak more slowly up there. I wish that was the case here. So I feel pretty good about the work we did up there. We managed to make a few good contacts and we actually picked up a new investigator in our last meeting. So it was a cool experience and it taught me to trust in the Lord more and depend more on Him instead of on Sister Deaver haha. Usually I just let her deal with things when I am confused or tired or frustrated, but in Vanadzor I was kinda the person that was looked to... so I looked to God and it all worked out. Our lessons were not amazing. That I will openly admit to, and we had help from members and the senior couple for much of it, but it was still a good experience. The members there are so amazing! I love them already. The Branch President said that he received revelation that I will be serving there, so I guess I will be going back haha.
We came back to Yerevan on Wednesday evening. The drive down in the marshutni was really interesting. There was a guy that spoke perfect english on there, so we ended up talking to him about the gospel for the majority of the trip down, as well as some other people on there. It was really weird teaching the gospel in emglish actually. I jjust have a set way that I normally say things in Armenian, and they are comfortable for me to say in Armenian, so it was different doing it in english. It was really cool though having an intelligent discussion with a very intelligent person.
By the time we met back up with out mothers I was exhausted. Like as soon as I saw Sister Deaver I was felt like collapsing, but up till that point I had felt fine haha. I loved my splits, it was fun and I learned a lot and was pushed a lot, but I am so grateful to be back at home in my area and with my companion. Plus, the weather is just so much nicer here! It's already spring here and the trees are green and blooming, whereas it snowed a ton while I was in Vanadzor. It had all melted by 2 the next day, but still. I prefer green trees. It is super beautiful in Vanadzor though. I hope I will get to serve there in the summer or something. I don't want to be here in the hottest area for that.
Up until Saturday we were kept busy helping a girl, *Z*, prepare for her mission. She will be serving on Temple Square and needed help getting everything in order and getting her clothes and everything. So we had to go shopping. I hate shopping. But it wasn't too bad. We have to do it again this week though. But I am excited for her. Missions are so awesome. So if anyone is going to temple square relatively soon look for some Armenian sisters! There's *Z*, and then there's another one there named Sister Hart or Heart or something (her real last name is harootsyoonyan, but who wants to say that? slash who CAN say that? haha I mean other than Armenians and those of us that know Armenian... kinda).
Saturday!!! Saturday was so awesome. Mariam's baptism was amazing. Her husband came, which was awesome, but we're still not too sure how interested he is. When we asked what he thought about it he said it was just normal. IT WAS NOT NORMAL, haha. I think he just doesn't know how to recognize the spirit yet haha. Sister Deaver and I talked a little bit about Mariam for the baptismal service, which was terrifying, but one of my favourite children in the country, Benyamin (like Benjamin without the j) came and held my hand when I was nervous. He's about 2. It was so cute. I will send you a pic of him.
Sister Deaver and I watched Mariam's baptism from the side so we got to be facing her. She was nervous going in, but the Spirit was so strong. I got a little emotional... I just can't help it, I get it from Dad! When she came up out of the water she kept her eyes closed for a few seconds, just soaking it all up. It was SO GOOD! And then we got to get wet kisses on the cheek from her. I have been to a few baptisms since being here, but there is just something so different about having your own baptism. You are so much more invested in the person, and value their decision so much more. Mariam is SUCH and amazing woman and she really understood what she was doing. She is going to be such an awesome member of the church here! After her baptism her girls were supposed to sing I am a Child of God (we taught them... its so cute and so off key), but they got too nervous. Mariam bore her testimony at the baptismal service. She is so solid! Overall, it was just awesome. I got a better glimps at what I am doing here and the value of my work here. I did so little to help her prepare, but I did what was needed of me. And thats all we really can do. Its just a matter of finding the people who are ready and pointing the way. It's easy really, but so rewarding.
After Mariam's baptism there was another service for 4 women, who were the sister, mother and neices of our investigator *J*. She came for their baptisms and got to see her family enter the waters. Julietta still has some way to go, but she is definitely on the right path and we're excited for her baptism which should be in a few weeks.
Yesterday Mariam was confirmed and then was asked to bear her testimony again. She is seriously just so solid! I know I have said that a lot, but we are just so excited about her. And for her kids. They are going to get to be raised in the gospel. Her older daughter *A* is almost 8 so we're hoping to start teaching her soon. She and I are basically best friends. I will try to send pics of her too. (ps Irena I am not sure that I am allowed to put pics on the blog so you prob shouldn't if there are more than just missionaries in them). All the missionaries were also asked to bear their testimonies... so I got to speak in front of a huge group of people AGAIN. Its really just inevitable... I should really stop getting so nervous. No body booed at me or anything, so it couldn't have been too bad.
Overall it has been a crazy but amazing week. I feel so blessed to be here and so be involved in such amazing work and to be making friends with such amazing people. It took me a long time to finally feel at peace with my decision to serve a mission, but now that I am here I can't imagine not being here. Sometimes you have to just make a choice and then you find out after the trial of your faith that it was the right thing to do.
I love you all and I love this gospel!
Sister Smith
week 16
Hello!
I am sitting in a basement internet cafe in the cute little mountain city, Vanadzor. There are picturesque snowy peaks surrounding us while huge, slushy snow flakes quickly rush down.... Sometimes I try being poetic but it just doesn't go over so well. Oh well. So, yeah. I am in Vanadzor with Sister Burnham. How President thought it was a good idea to put two new missionaries together for 3 days is beyond me, but here we are, and we have survived so far. The real test will be later on today though in our appointments. We had an appointment last night, and it was a little heinous (I finally learned how to spell that word! Go me go). We were teaching a less active woman but she wouldn't let us teach her because she already "knows everything". But then she didn't understand why Mormon wasn't in the bible. I did my best to clear that one up and leave a spiritual thought. In the end she said she wouldn't come back to church because she's going to another church and according to her there's no difference. But she did say she would read the Book of Mormon every day.... we'll see about that one haha. It was weird, I couldn't really understand her, but at the same time i could. Basically the Lord enables you to do what you have to do. I just pray that that will continue for the remainder of the day. And tomorrow. And my mission haha. It's kind of nice being motherless though. I am being pushed to say and do more than I would normally do. And I think it is really good for Sister Burnham too, to be in control of her area for a couple of days and to see that she is capable and a great missionary. She was awesome last night... I may or may not have started raising my voice a little in the appointment last night (not angrily, but just so that the lady would hear me over her own voice haha), and Sister Burnham reminded me who I was and brought the Spirit haha. My bad.
This last week has been really good. Having General Conference this weekend was so great. I needed it so much. I love the Prophet! And the apostles and general authorities! They are so inspiring and so inspiring. There were SO many amazing talks. Did you all notice the shoutout to Armenia? I believe someone told a story about an Armenian boy... I haven't heard that talk yet though, we had to go check on our investigator right then. I can't even remember what all I loved from conference. Elder Bednar's, E. Scott's, and then that one about taking correction were all so good. I am going to watch them all again cause we have them on DVD.
So, the big exciting news for this week is that out investigator, *M*, is getting baptized this Saturday!!!!!! I AM SO EXCITED! Her second baptismal interview went so well. Before hand we showed a short video called Healing Waters (Irena, I bet you know what that is), and I almost started bawling. We are so excited for her and we just keep praying that her husband will be ablet to follow in her footsteps. He is a good man, he just always has to work. We're hoping he'll be able to make it to the baptism though. We have a couple of other new investigators too. I will just tell you about one of them. When we first met with *J* we were very skeptical. I think she mostly just liked having two American (/Canadian) girls over to feed and talk to. It took us forever to get her to finally start reading the Book of Mormon on her own, but once she did she has just changed so much. It seriously is miraculous. The transformation that the gospel makes is so amazing. She just has a different light about her. She is less apathetic, she is happier. She came to conference this Sunday and then when we met with her that night she was like quoting it to us and applying it to our lesson! Ah! SO good! She also invited her friend over to learn from us too, so now they're both investigating! It's so cool!
Well, I can't think of anything else to tell you, so I guess that's it for today. I love you all! You are in my prayers! Samantha, Chelsea and Aleksandra ya'll better be sending me packages or something to make up for the SERIOUS lack of love in the form of emails lately.
Love,
Sister Smith
I am sitting in a basement internet cafe in the cute little mountain city, Vanadzor. There are picturesque snowy peaks surrounding us while huge, slushy snow flakes quickly rush down.... Sometimes I try being poetic but it just doesn't go over so well. Oh well. So, yeah. I am in Vanadzor with Sister Burnham. How President thought it was a good idea to put two new missionaries together for 3 days is beyond me, but here we are, and we have survived so far. The real test will be later on today though in our appointments. We had an appointment last night, and it was a little heinous (I finally learned how to spell that word! Go me go). We were teaching a less active woman but she wouldn't let us teach her because she already "knows everything". But then she didn't understand why Mormon wasn't in the bible. I did my best to clear that one up and leave a spiritual thought. In the end she said she wouldn't come back to church because she's going to another church and according to her there's no difference. But she did say she would read the Book of Mormon every day.... we'll see about that one haha. It was weird, I couldn't really understand her, but at the same time i could. Basically the Lord enables you to do what you have to do. I just pray that that will continue for the remainder of the day. And tomorrow. And my mission haha. It's kind of nice being motherless though. I am being pushed to say and do more than I would normally do. And I think it is really good for Sister Burnham too, to be in control of her area for a couple of days and to see that she is capable and a great missionary. She was awesome last night... I may or may not have started raising my voice a little in the appointment last night (not angrily, but just so that the lady would hear me over her own voice haha), and Sister Burnham reminded me who I was and brought the Spirit haha. My bad.
This last week has been really good. Having General Conference this weekend was so great. I needed it so much. I love the Prophet! And the apostles and general authorities! They are so inspiring and so inspiring. There were SO many amazing talks. Did you all notice the shoutout to Armenia? I believe someone told a story about an Armenian boy... I haven't heard that talk yet though, we had to go check on our investigator right then. I can't even remember what all I loved from conference. Elder Bednar's, E. Scott's, and then that one about taking correction were all so good. I am going to watch them all again cause we have them on DVD.
So, the big exciting news for this week is that out investigator, *M*, is getting baptized this Saturday!!!!!! I AM SO EXCITED! Her second baptismal interview went so well. Before hand we showed a short video called Healing Waters (Irena, I bet you know what that is), and I almost started bawling. We are so excited for her and we just keep praying that her husband will be ablet to follow in her footsteps. He is a good man, he just always has to work. We're hoping he'll be able to make it to the baptism though. We have a couple of other new investigators too. I will just tell you about one of them. When we first met with *J* we were very skeptical. I think she mostly just liked having two American (/Canadian) girls over to feed and talk to. It took us forever to get her to finally start reading the Book of Mormon on her own, but once she did she has just changed so much. It seriously is miraculous. The transformation that the gospel makes is so amazing. She just has a different light about her. She is less apathetic, she is happier. She came to conference this Sunday and then when we met with her that night she was like quoting it to us and applying it to our lesson! Ah! SO good! She also invited her friend over to learn from us too, so now they're both investigating! It's so cool!
Well, I can't think of anything else to tell you, so I guess that's it for today. I love you all! You are in my prayers! Samantha, Chelsea and Aleksandra ya'll better be sending me packages or something to make up for the SERIOUS lack of love in the form of emails lately.
Love,
Sister Smith
Week 15
Greetings!
How is everybody doing this fine day?! I am doing wonderfully. This week was good and busy and very eventful. I wish I could attach a video that we made cause it would explain the kinds of things that happen here. Basically, this place is crazy and some days are even more crazy. The week started off pretty normally, but then on Wednesday morning we got put into a threesome with Sister Ferguson (AKA Sister Fergie cause no Armenians can say Ferguson). She was finishing up her mission and had been serving with Sister Corny (Cornwell, but thats close to a BAD swear in Armenian haha) who was also finishing and whose parents had already come and met up with her. So SIster Fergie was waiting for her family to come a few days later and so we got her. She is hilarious and super fun to be with so it was a fun few days. We got a lot of good work done. And then on Saturday we had the busiest and craziest day ever. Sis Fergie's parents were supposed to come Friday night but their flight got cancelled so they were stuck in Paris and no one had any way of getting into contact with them. So Sister Fergie just had to stick with us until we found out what was going on. So Saturday we had to go to a blood lab to get Sister Deaver's blood drawn for some tests. On our way there at about noon Sis Fergie's parents called finally and said they were here. They had flown in at 4 that morning and had no idea where they were staying (they had rented an apartment for the time they will be here and the tourist company they went through get them there that morning). They promptly went to sleep and didn't bother calling until they woke up haha. So we had to go on a wild goose chase trying to find them. It was not easy. The street we were trying to find was called Tumanyan, but the way Sis Fergie's mom heard it was 2 manya, so then we were translating and saying yerkoo manya... it caused some problems until a genius taxi driver figured it out. Then we went to the wrong building, then to the wrong entrance, then to the wrong floor ( a couple of times) and then FINALLY we found her family with 5 minutes to get to our baptismal interview! It was crazy. But we made it. We literally ran to get a taxi. Good times.
The baptismal interview then didn't go so well. She didn't pass it, but she is totally ready. The Elders didn't feel about passing her because she hadn't read the Book of Mormon at all that week because she was so busy and in another village taking care of a friend who was sick. They said themselves that she is ready, but there has been SUCH a huge emphasis on reading the Book of Mormon daily lately that they just didn't feel good about passing her at that point. But she has another interview set up for this week and we are all pretty sure that she will pass, so we should have a baptism in a couple of weeks! My first one!!! I am so excited. I love this woman so much, she is so amazing. (It's Mariam if you are confused, but you can't put her name on the blog). We were kind of worried about her after the interview because she seemed really upset and didn't stay for the branch party after which she had said she would come to, but she came to church yesterday and we got to talk to her again and its going to all be ok.
SO, there was a branch activity on Saturday to celebrate the merging of the branches that occurred yesterday. It was so cool to be there for it. President Carter explained very well, but very simply the importance of the action that was being taken. Merging the branches is the first step to creating a ward in Armenia. Creating wards is the first step to creating a stake here. And a stake is necessary to be able to build a temple here! It is SO cool to be involved in laying the foundations for the church here. It is definitely still in the beginning phases, but there are steps being made. The branch members are still pretty unsure about it all, but I am so excited for the branch. So my branch is now called the Yerevan branch. It covers a HUGE area, the whole southern half of Yerevan and there are so many more people there now. Mind you more showed up this week because of the merge, but there were close to 100 people there.... that is quite the change from our usual 35-45 people. So it is exciting. I think it will help in the work a lot too. And our branch presidency is AWESOME. Also there are now 6 of us missionaries in the branch AND a senior couple. I think having elders in my branch will be a challenge, but it will be good too. President Carter talked us up a lot to the branch, so we're hoping to really get the members involved in missionary work. The missionaries had to teach combined priesthood/relief society... so I had to speak in front of a very large group of people. I didn't really do too much for it, but I showed a demonstration thing about reading the Book of Mormon every day and bore my testimony. I thought I was going to be more nervous than I was, so it was good.
Oh, so for April Fool's day I HAD to do something. So Sister Fergie and I got Sister Deaver. We woke her up and told her it was 10 and that she needed to hurry up and great ready because we had to leave in 30 minutes. I told her it was cloudy and thats why it was still a little dark out. She was like "oh crap!" So she hurried to the shower. When she came out she was like " Dang, I feel so good. Sleeping in until 10 is the best!" Baha. We were dying laughing so hard. I passed her the phone to call someone back and she was like "wait, why is the time wrong on here" haha. So good!
We haven't gotten to watch General conference yet, but we will get to next weekend. I am super excited for it. It sounds like it was pretty dang good. I read the Ensign and stuff way more than I ever used to, so I am excited to hear it from the mouths of the prophets. It is so important to watch/read general conference. Those who speak are saying what the Lord would say to us if He were in our midst. So basically.... listen up. It's important.
I love you all like crazy and I think about you here and there when I have spare moments. I am so blessed to have so many wonderful people in my life who support and love me. I feel your prayers and love.
Love, Sister Smith
How is everybody doing this fine day?! I am doing wonderfully. This week was good and busy and very eventful. I wish I could attach a video that we made cause it would explain the kinds of things that happen here. Basically, this place is crazy and some days are even more crazy. The week started off pretty normally, but then on Wednesday morning we got put into a threesome with Sister Ferguson (AKA Sister Fergie cause no Armenians can say Ferguson). She was finishing up her mission and had been serving with Sister Corny (Cornwell, but thats close to a BAD swear in Armenian haha) who was also finishing and whose parents had already come and met up with her. So SIster Fergie was waiting for her family to come a few days later and so we got her. She is hilarious and super fun to be with so it was a fun few days. We got a lot of good work done. And then on Saturday we had the busiest and craziest day ever. Sis Fergie's parents were supposed to come Friday night but their flight got cancelled so they were stuck in Paris and no one had any way of getting into contact with them. So Sister Fergie just had to stick with us until we found out what was going on. So Saturday we had to go to a blood lab to get Sister Deaver's blood drawn for some tests. On our way there at about noon Sis Fergie's parents called finally and said they were here. They had flown in at 4 that morning and had no idea where they were staying (they had rented an apartment for the time they will be here and the tourist company they went through get them there that morning). They promptly went to sleep and didn't bother calling until they woke up haha. So we had to go on a wild goose chase trying to find them. It was not easy. The street we were trying to find was called Tumanyan, but the way Sis Fergie's mom heard it was 2 manya, so then we were translating and saying yerkoo manya... it caused some problems until a genius taxi driver figured it out. Then we went to the wrong building, then to the wrong entrance, then to the wrong floor ( a couple of times) and then FINALLY we found her family with 5 minutes to get to our baptismal interview! It was crazy. But we made it. We literally ran to get a taxi. Good times.
The baptismal interview then didn't go so well. She didn't pass it, but she is totally ready. The Elders didn't feel about passing her because she hadn't read the Book of Mormon at all that week because she was so busy and in another village taking care of a friend who was sick. They said themselves that she is ready, but there has been SUCH a huge emphasis on reading the Book of Mormon daily lately that they just didn't feel good about passing her at that point. But she has another interview set up for this week and we are all pretty sure that she will pass, so we should have a baptism in a couple of weeks! My first one!!! I am so excited. I love this woman so much, she is so amazing. (It's Mariam if you are confused, but you can't put her name on the blog). We were kind of worried about her after the interview because she seemed really upset and didn't stay for the branch party after which she had said she would come to, but she came to church yesterday and we got to talk to her again and its going to all be ok.
SO, there was a branch activity on Saturday to celebrate the merging of the branches that occurred yesterday. It was so cool to be there for it. President Carter explained very well, but very simply the importance of the action that was being taken. Merging the branches is the first step to creating a ward in Armenia. Creating wards is the first step to creating a stake here. And a stake is necessary to be able to build a temple here! It is SO cool to be involved in laying the foundations for the church here. It is definitely still in the beginning phases, but there are steps being made. The branch members are still pretty unsure about it all, but I am so excited for the branch. So my branch is now called the Yerevan branch. It covers a HUGE area, the whole southern half of Yerevan and there are so many more people there now. Mind you more showed up this week because of the merge, but there were close to 100 people there.... that is quite the change from our usual 35-45 people. So it is exciting. I think it will help in the work a lot too. And our branch presidency is AWESOME. Also there are now 6 of us missionaries in the branch AND a senior couple. I think having elders in my branch will be a challenge, but it will be good too. President Carter talked us up a lot to the branch, so we're hoping to really get the members involved in missionary work. The missionaries had to teach combined priesthood/relief society... so I had to speak in front of a very large group of people. I didn't really do too much for it, but I showed a demonstration thing about reading the Book of Mormon every day and bore my testimony. I thought I was going to be more nervous than I was, so it was good.
Oh, so for April Fool's day I HAD to do something. So Sister Fergie and I got Sister Deaver. We woke her up and told her it was 10 and that she needed to hurry up and great ready because we had to leave in 30 minutes. I told her it was cloudy and thats why it was still a little dark out. She was like "oh crap!" So she hurried to the shower. When she came out she was like " Dang, I feel so good. Sleeping in until 10 is the best!" Baha. We were dying laughing so hard. I passed her the phone to call someone back and she was like "wait, why is the time wrong on here" haha. So good!
We haven't gotten to watch General conference yet, but we will get to next weekend. I am super excited for it. It sounds like it was pretty dang good. I read the Ensign and stuff way more than I ever used to, so I am excited to hear it from the mouths of the prophets. It is so important to watch/read general conference. Those who speak are saying what the Lord would say to us if He were in our midst. So basically.... listen up. It's important.
I love you all like crazy and I think about you here and there when I have spare moments. I am so blessed to have so many wonderful people in my life who support and love me. I feel your prayers and love.
Love, Sister Smith
Friday, April 1, 2011
week 14
Hello!!!
I have already written most of you little emails of your own so now I don't have much time remaining to write a big letter so you get pictures instead, which are probably better anyway!
This week was a little slow owing to sickness (not mine) and hence a little discouraging. But its all good. We just keep working to find what we call our "Robles Family". That is a family that is on the PMG DVD's - they are just a golden family, so we are looking for our Golden Family. While we're out contacting and stuff we'll see a cute little family and say "Robles, dook ek?" which means Robles? is that you? We think we're funny. But really, that is our goal right now. To find a good, strong family to add to the church here. Its hard work, but so worthwhile.
So, one of our potential Robles' families is ********* and his family. He is the man that knocked on our door saying he wanted to be baptized. So we went and taught them this week.... it was a little hanous (I have no idea how to spell that word) to say the least. We're pretty sure that he was drunk, and he was continually smoking during our meeting until we asked him to stop and the tv was on until we asked them to turn it off and it took a good 30 min to even start teaching cause they kept giving us tea (don't worry, just mint tea) and things to eat. It was ridiculous. And then when we started trying to teach he kept interrupting. This man is from Iraq and speaks Western Armenian, which is really different from Eastern, so I just didn't understand much at all, and then he kept tryign to translate to english, but his english is great either, so overall, it was not our best meeting ever haha. It was stressful.... but we need to go back. His kids and wife were all so cute, so we're going to keep working. Hopefully he'll be sober next time and a little more chill. He is super nice, and he is always saying how much he loves Jesus, so hopefully it'll all work out.
Um, one other highlight from the week was the best marshutni ride ever. Actually, it wasn't even the ride that was good, it was waiting for it to start. Frist we were waiting on the street for the marshutni and these crazy old people kept coming up to us. One man took Sister Deaver's Book of Mormon and walked away to sit down and steal things from it (pamphlets and things) and the lady made sister deaver give her candy for her grandkids. Oh this country! So amazing. And then once the marshutni got there it emptied out and the driver parked it to wait for passengers with the music blaring. Sister Deaver and I were the only ones in there and the music was SO GOOD! I'm just saying, its not wrong to listen to it if you have no control over it. It was sweet Armenian music - some from California (like the mini Armenia of America) and some from here. So, we had a dance party. And then we did some service for a member in Kharbert in the beautiful sunshine.
Ok, transfer news. Transfers are this week, but sister deaver and I are staying put in Shengavit. Meanwhile almost everything is changing around us. They are making a new zone, changing our district and there are new assistants and zone leaders. It's crazy! It should be interesting to see how things go with all the changes.
I am out of time! I love you all. Sorry I have no uplifiting/spiritual thought for the day. Go read your scriptures and make up a thought of your own to share with a friend!
LOVE,
Sister Smith
I have already written most of you little emails of your own so now I don't have much time remaining to write a big letter so you get pictures instead, which are probably better anyway!
This week was a little slow owing to sickness (not mine) and hence a little discouraging. But its all good. We just keep working to find what we call our "Robles Family". That is a family that is on the PMG DVD's - they are just a golden family, so we are looking for our Golden Family. While we're out contacting and stuff we'll see a cute little family and say "Robles, dook ek?" which means Robles? is that you? We think we're funny. But really, that is our goal right now. To find a good, strong family to add to the church here. Its hard work, but so worthwhile.
So, one of our potential Robles' families is ********* and his family. He is the man that knocked on our door saying he wanted to be baptized. So we went and taught them this week.... it was a little hanous (I have no idea how to spell that word) to say the least. We're pretty sure that he was drunk, and he was continually smoking during our meeting until we asked him to stop and the tv was on until we asked them to turn it off and it took a good 30 min to even start teaching cause they kept giving us tea (don't worry, just mint tea) and things to eat. It was ridiculous. And then when we started trying to teach he kept interrupting. This man is from Iraq and speaks Western Armenian, which is really different from Eastern, so I just didn't understand much at all, and then he kept tryign to translate to english, but his english is great either, so overall, it was not our best meeting ever haha. It was stressful.... but we need to go back. His kids and wife were all so cute, so we're going to keep working. Hopefully he'll be sober next time and a little more chill. He is super nice, and he is always saying how much he loves Jesus, so hopefully it'll all work out.
Um, one other highlight from the week was the best marshutni ride ever. Actually, it wasn't even the ride that was good, it was waiting for it to start. Frist we were waiting on the street for the marshutni and these crazy old people kept coming up to us. One man took Sister Deaver's Book of Mormon and walked away to sit down and steal things from it (pamphlets and things) and the lady made sister deaver give her candy for her grandkids. Oh this country! So amazing. And then once the marshutni got there it emptied out and the driver parked it to wait for passengers with the music blaring. Sister Deaver and I were the only ones in there and the music was SO GOOD! I'm just saying, its not wrong to listen to it if you have no control over it. It was sweet Armenian music - some from California (like the mini Armenia of America) and some from here. So, we had a dance party. And then we did some service for a member in Kharbert in the beautiful sunshine.
Ok, transfer news. Transfers are this week, but sister deaver and I are staying put in Shengavit. Meanwhile almost everything is changing around us. They are making a new zone, changing our district and there are new assistants and zone leaders. It's crazy! It should be interesting to see how things go with all the changes.
I am out of time! I love you all. Sorry I have no uplifiting/spiritual thought for the day. Go read your scriptures and make up a thought of your own to share with a friend!
LOVE,
Sister Smith
week 13
Well, it has been an interesting week. It started off really good. We were excited for the week and the work ahead of us. We started planning last week a movie night for our branch to invite friends and family to and we were really pumped for that because we felt like it would be effective at getting people more involved in missionary work. We also spent some good quality time with members (one of whom made us the BEST dolma I have ever had and probably ever will have in my life). So, the week was going well, and we had one new investigator and then it all just came to an abrupt pause. On Wednesday night we had to go stay with 2 other sisters in Arabkir (Northern Yerevan) because there were going to be “demonstrations” close to our area the next day and so they just wanted to make extra sure we wouldn’t be around for those. So we had a “slumber party” (or as close to a slumber party as you can get on a mission) and the next day we had planning so we stayed in for hours to do that. In the afternoon/evening we went on splits and I went with Sister Cornwell and we visited a less-active lady and read the Book of Mormon with her for a bit and then we went to a sick member’s house and the Assistants came too to give her a blessing. She has the cutest grandkids – so I enjoyed the evening. It was weird being with someone else too. I guess it wasn’t really that different, but just being in a different area threw me off a little. We thought we would be able to go home that night, but then we were advised to stay one more night there and go home after studies the next day. It was fun and all, but I was so happy to go home after. Back to Little America. And back to Shengavit. I appreciate my area more now and I am glad that I am in with the members and know where we’re going and where we are – more or less. So anyway, because we were gone from our area we didn’t get the chance to get meetings in with our investigators and potential investigators, and we didn’t get to visit the members as we had planned to really talk it up and get people there. We worked hard Friday and Saturday, but still didn’t get a ton of meetings in because we just have soooo far to travel to get to our meetings, and then Saturday night we had our movie night and 5 people came. Boo urns. And 2 of them were our branch presidency – but at least we know they support us I guess. So that was pretty unfortunate and a bit of a let-down, but we are just gonna keep on trucking and keep working at getting members involved!
So, all was fine and well Saturday evening. Sister Deaver said she felt a little nauseous before we went to bed, but I didn’t really think too much of it because she often feels nauseous from her mono (ps did I tell you she had mono? She is pretty well recovered by now, but just gets tired and needs to sleep more and sometimes feels a little nauseous). Anyway, I should’ve been more concerned because we had eaten some sharmas (like the shwarmas we have in Calgary, but smaller and less-packed with stuff, but still really delicious) from a street vendor really quickly that evening. Anyway, I woke up at almost 3 and Sister Deaver was out of her bed and the bathroom light was on, so I knew something was wrong. She had been up really sick since around 12 and I hadn’t heard a thing. I sleep so deeply, it is ridiculous. Anyway, she was not doing well, so we called the Carters and President Carter came about an hour later with the Zone Leaders to give her a blessing. That helped, but she was still sick the rest of the night, and all day yesterday. She wasn’t as sick, but just really weak and tired with some residual problems haha. Poor girl! I felt so bad for her and wished I could do more to help her. She was still joking around about it all though – she was talking to president and said “She’s the new one, she’s the one that’s supposed to be sick, not me!” My bad. I didn’t know. And I don’t think it was from the food either cause we ate the same thing and I have felt fine. Hopefully I won’t catch whatever she had. It did not look like fun.
So, we got CRAZY news from President when he came over. Our branch, the Shengavit branch, and Yerevan branch are being merged! INSANE! We knew something was up because President had called a couple of times asking about priesthood in our branch, but we just thought that our branch presidency was going to change or something. But nope, in two weeks our branches our merging, which means that there we be 6 of us missionaries in the same branch. Yuck. We liked having it to ourselves. And the branch boundaries are huge! The whole southern half of Yerevan and some of the villages. I was talking to Sister Carter about it yesterday and she said that merging the branches is one of the steps to creating a ward eventually, so it’s really exciting. It makes sense too, we will have a much larger branch now, so that will help with missionary work and support within the branch and I just think it’s going to be great. Crazy, but great. Also, transfers are in two weeks, so maybe there won’t be 6 of us in there anymore…? Who knows? No one can ever really predict what will happen. President Carter said himself that he usually doesn’t really know either, until it’s time to find out. So that’s my exciting news of the week. Yesterday we stayed home all day and I did everything I could think of to keep from dying of boredom while Sister Deaver tried to get some much needed rest. I ended up reading and marking scriptures for a long time, and then I watched some church movies about Joseph Smith, and then these super old movies with biographies of the presidents of the church. They are really really cheesy, but pretty good. I didn’t really know anything about anyone other than Joseph Smith, Gordon B Hinckley and Thomas S Monson (and the only reason I know much about the last two is because we have two really good movies about them). So that was yesterday. Oh, I also had to make my first phone calls in Armenian to cancel our meetings. I didn’t really understand what they said, but I got my point across so it’s all good.
I’m in Alma in the book of Mormon right now, and I have been reading about Ammon and his brethren and their missions among the Lamanites. I was reading chapters 17-20 and on and it was so cool really being able to relate it to myself. Armenians are not as “wild and ferocious” as the Lamanites I don’t think, but there are definitely differences between how I am used to living and how they live. Ammon does such a great job of explaining the gospel (from the creation of the world and from Adam to the atonement of Christ) in a way that Lamoni would understand and relate to, and Lamoni was ready to learn and so the Spirit taught him powerfully. I hope I can become that good one day! And one day soon so that I can be a more effective tool in God’s hand. It’s just a matter of finding the people who are ready and then relying on the Spirit while teaching. Especially when I am still struggling understanding what is going on and expressing myself. I am talking more and more in lessons though. This week I gave my first baptismal invitation – she said yes, but then wouldn’t commit to coming to church every week… so that failed a little bit, but we gave her the opportunity to act, which is our job. That’s all we can do really. That’s all the Lord does too. He gives us commandments and then allows us to govern ourselves. We have the tools and ability to choose what’s right, and then it’s up to us to do with that what we want. If we choose what is right, we are blessed. If not, then we’re not. In fact, our knowledge and testimonies work against us if we choose what is wrong. That is why it is so vital to follow through with impressions from the Spirit – if you don’t then you lose the Spirit. Look at me; I went off on another tangent again. I just can’t help myself sometimes.
Alright, it’s time to publicly call people out again for not writing to me. Chelsea, Vicki, Aleks (I still haven’t heard from you once!) and Alex. It is time. Show me the love. It’s not hard. Just send me a quick little note. Vicki and Chelsea, I don’t even have your emails yet so I CAN’T write you, otherwise I would have already.
I love you all a ton. Keep being great. Keep being diligent and hard-working and charitable and all those other wonderful attributes that you possess.
Love,
Sister Smith
PS I forgot one other story. We were at home for our lunch break on Friday and someone knocked on our door – which is weird and scary every time. Anyway, we answered it and it was this man that Sister Deaver knew that used to own a falafel place near our house. He knew where we lived because a senior couple had lived there before us and he knew them. He basically just asked us if he could get baptized… so the Lord answers prayers. Sometimes He just sends contacts to you. Haha. We were supposed to meet with him yesterday, but couldn’t, so we hopefully will sometime this week
So, all was fine and well Saturday evening. Sister Deaver said she felt a little nauseous before we went to bed, but I didn’t really think too much of it because she often feels nauseous from her mono (ps did I tell you she had mono? She is pretty well recovered by now, but just gets tired and needs to sleep more and sometimes feels a little nauseous). Anyway, I should’ve been more concerned because we had eaten some sharmas (like the shwarmas we have in Calgary, but smaller and less-packed with stuff, but still really delicious) from a street vendor really quickly that evening. Anyway, I woke up at almost 3 and Sister Deaver was out of her bed and the bathroom light was on, so I knew something was wrong. She had been up really sick since around 12 and I hadn’t heard a thing. I sleep so deeply, it is ridiculous. Anyway, she was not doing well, so we called the Carters and President Carter came about an hour later with the Zone Leaders to give her a blessing. That helped, but she was still sick the rest of the night, and all day yesterday. She wasn’t as sick, but just really weak and tired with some residual problems haha. Poor girl! I felt so bad for her and wished I could do more to help her. She was still joking around about it all though – she was talking to president and said “She’s the new one, she’s the one that’s supposed to be sick, not me!” My bad. I didn’t know. And I don’t think it was from the food either cause we ate the same thing and I have felt fine. Hopefully I won’t catch whatever she had. It did not look like fun.
So, we got CRAZY news from President when he came over. Our branch, the Shengavit branch, and Yerevan branch are being merged! INSANE! We knew something was up because President had called a couple of times asking about priesthood in our branch, but we just thought that our branch presidency was going to change or something. But nope, in two weeks our branches our merging, which means that there we be 6 of us missionaries in the same branch. Yuck. We liked having it to ourselves. And the branch boundaries are huge! The whole southern half of Yerevan and some of the villages. I was talking to Sister Carter about it yesterday and she said that merging the branches is one of the steps to creating a ward eventually, so it’s really exciting. It makes sense too, we will have a much larger branch now, so that will help with missionary work and support within the branch and I just think it’s going to be great. Crazy, but great. Also, transfers are in two weeks, so maybe there won’t be 6 of us in there anymore…? Who knows? No one can ever really predict what will happen. President Carter said himself that he usually doesn’t really know either, until it’s time to find out. So that’s my exciting news of the week. Yesterday we stayed home all day and I did everything I could think of to keep from dying of boredom while Sister Deaver tried to get some much needed rest. I ended up reading and marking scriptures for a long time, and then I watched some church movies about Joseph Smith, and then these super old movies with biographies of the presidents of the church. They are really really cheesy, but pretty good. I didn’t really know anything about anyone other than Joseph Smith, Gordon B Hinckley and Thomas S Monson (and the only reason I know much about the last two is because we have two really good movies about them). So that was yesterday. Oh, I also had to make my first phone calls in Armenian to cancel our meetings. I didn’t really understand what they said, but I got my point across so it’s all good.
I’m in Alma in the book of Mormon right now, and I have been reading about Ammon and his brethren and their missions among the Lamanites. I was reading chapters 17-20 and on and it was so cool really being able to relate it to myself. Armenians are not as “wild and ferocious” as the Lamanites I don’t think, but there are definitely differences between how I am used to living and how they live. Ammon does such a great job of explaining the gospel (from the creation of the world and from Adam to the atonement of Christ) in a way that Lamoni would understand and relate to, and Lamoni was ready to learn and so the Spirit taught him powerfully. I hope I can become that good one day! And one day soon so that I can be a more effective tool in God’s hand. It’s just a matter of finding the people who are ready and then relying on the Spirit while teaching. Especially when I am still struggling understanding what is going on and expressing myself. I am talking more and more in lessons though. This week I gave my first baptismal invitation – she said yes, but then wouldn’t commit to coming to church every week… so that failed a little bit, but we gave her the opportunity to act, which is our job. That’s all we can do really. That’s all the Lord does too. He gives us commandments and then allows us to govern ourselves. We have the tools and ability to choose what’s right, and then it’s up to us to do with that what we want. If we choose what is right, we are blessed. If not, then we’re not. In fact, our knowledge and testimonies work against us if we choose what is wrong. That is why it is so vital to follow through with impressions from the Spirit – if you don’t then you lose the Spirit. Look at me; I went off on another tangent again. I just can’t help myself sometimes.
Alright, it’s time to publicly call people out again for not writing to me. Chelsea, Vicki, Aleks (I still haven’t heard from you once!) and Alex. It is time. Show me the love. It’s not hard. Just send me a quick little note. Vicki and Chelsea, I don’t even have your emails yet so I CAN’T write you, otherwise I would have already.
I love you all a ton. Keep being great. Keep being diligent and hard-working and charitable and all those other wonderful attributes that you possess.
Love,
Sister Smith
PS I forgot one other story. We were at home for our lunch break on Friday and someone knocked on our door – which is weird and scary every time. Anyway, we answered it and it was this man that Sister Deaver knew that used to own a falafel place near our house. He knew where we lived because a senior couple had lived there before us and he knew them. He basically just asked us if he could get baptized… so the Lord answers prayers. Sometimes He just sends contacts to you. Haha. We were supposed to meet with him yesterday, but couldn’t, so we hopefully will sometime this week
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