Well this week was super hectic.  We had meetings upon meetings in Yerevan for the stake and with the area presidency.  I learned a lot this week about being prepared to receive answers and also learned about trusting and being trusted by the Lord.  

 

I can honestly say I’ve felt the Spirit more strongly because of learning and studying about those.  Sometimes we ask for answers that we aren’t ready to receive or counsel we are not ready to hear.  The Lord knows best and one of my favorite quotes is from Elder Holland, “Faith in the Lord is also having faith in His timing."  

 

It’s fun to actually study scripture and gospel topics.  We become closer to the Savior through them and it’s made a big impact on my life.  So, "feast upon the words of Christ!"  

 

Just a couple fun things we are doing.  We are building a pig house for a member which is super fun and I’m getting really good chopping wood! Ha-ha.  Missions are amazing and I’m grateful for it! I also know that we are here to find true happiness! I hope you are all grateful for many things in your life that you can let other people know and the Lord.  The more we are grateful for the things we have, the more blessings we will have and notice! Be happy and smile! 

 

The new group comes in 16 days.  They will be here for Christmas, they get here Dec 11.   It will be fun.  

 

I also have an idea that I really don’t know if I told you last week.  But, instead of coming and picking me up or coming the next summer, I want to wait until I’m married and come back with you guys and her.  I think that would be really fun and interesting.  Just a suggestion.  

 

We had a lot of conferences this week, too many.  I’ve never gone to Yerevan so much on my mission in a week.  Elder Jowers came down and did a split with me and we talked for a little bit.  He answered a lot of my prayers.  I’ve learned a lot about being prepared for answers.  A lot of the times we aren’t ready for certain things that we want and have to wait and humble ourselves to be receptive.  We’ve been doing a lot of good stuff the past couple of days and the Spirit has actually been in our lessons.  I’ve learned a lot this week that’s been great! Thanks for the package.  Love you lots! 

Elder Porcelli

found this picture on Facebook!  I love it when that happens... Elder Porcelli doesn't send many pictures my way, so thank you to the members in Armenia!

This week was super fun.  We did a lot of service and it was awesome.  I chopped wood for my first time in my life and luckily I’ve got the companion nicknamed "kacin" which means axe in Armenian.  I worked out a lot at home, but I haven’t had that good of a work out in a long time, so dad, I think we are going to become mountain men.  And we have matching shirts to do it, so why not?

I’ve been becoming very good friends with some guys my age here in Artashat.  It’s been an amazing transition from the start of my mission till now. I’ve been learning how to just look at them as friends, not "Armenians."  It’s changed my perspective and helped a lot lately.  

Hey mom, I was talking with an Armenian girl about you and how beautiful and awesome you are! I miss you a lot! Hope you know I love you and have prayed for you every day. This week was really good with my companion. We talked and everything went by the Spirit so it was awesome. I’ve already received the hump day package, yesterday, and am almost out of tootsie rolls ha-ha. I shared some with the members and they didn’t like them.  Me and our ward clerk corrected a lot of errors in the church records for 4 hours last night, it was super fun and he is one of the keys to Armenia.  He is also the stake clerk and does a lot for the church.  Super funny guy.  Really smart too.  I’m getting along really well with Armenians right now and I’m just figuring out how to help them. I figured out that they first need a friend who cares about them, so I’m doing that! That’s awesome for Chris! No better place that he could be working at.  Spencer, wow.  Tell him to email me.  I’ve heard about the terrorist attacks and it’s sad, but we still need to press forward and do the Lord's work.  

I’ve been comforted a lot on my mission because I wanted you all to come closer to Christ and I thought it was my job to help you do that, and then I left.  But I’ve seen I big change in the family and it’s been bringing peace to my soul every day that you are all strengthening your testimonies.  I know that Heavenly Father is watching over you every day and that you are being blessed because of your obedience and desire to be obedience.  I love reading all of the emails from you guys every week.  Especially when you are happy.  We’re changing the church in Armenia now.  It’s amazing.  Love you mom!! Thanks for everything

We had Elder and Sister Kacher from the area presidency come down for our zone conference yesterday and our goal is to establish the church in Armenia.  73% of our members are in-active or less active, so we are super excited to help this place.  I feel very confident that we can help. It’s going to take 5-10 years because the church is still young here, but it’s going to be amazing.

I also had the opportunity to bear my testimony of the Savior.  I’ve realized throughout my life that I have to be the one to allow Him into my life. He will not force His way in.  It’s given me the confidence that no matter what happens He will always be by my side if I call on His name.  I hope we all recognize how loving He is and how much He wants us to succeed in this life and the next.  I love you all!!!

This week was great! We had a great first two days and had some good interviews with President.  Had some lunch with him at our disgustingly amazing apartment and then got sick, for two days.  There is one up side to that, I am learning how to play the piano and its coming along pretty nicely.  Ha-ha, we have been doing a lot of less-active/inactive work here because finding here has been the hardest thing so far.  We have been having so much fun with these less-actives because they are all amazing people! It really makes a difference when you decide to just love them for who they are and who they can become.  On Saturday, we got waved over to a guy’s house, who we never met, and he showed us some hospitality..... A lot.  We talked with him and one of the first things he said was this, “Is Christ really going to come?" and we assured him that He will.  I could tell it is something he deeply cares about and we struck up a great friendship between him and his wife.  We ate more honey than I can handle, plain and he showed us his bee farm! We got to wear the awesome bee hats and he said we can come back in a week when he is home! We’ve been having great experiences with talking to people and having heartfelt lessons.  We had 40 more people at church on Sunday than usual which was great! We had about 7 less-actives come back, including one from Salt Lake here with the peace core.  In all we had a great week here.  We aren’t teaching any investigators, yet.  Mainly because they will never meet with us and the people who do, cant for another week.  Count your blessings! Life is great if you make it great! Love you all!