Sorry I don't have a lot to say, because there wasn't much that happened.  got sick a couple of times and did service a lot.  went up to Yerevan for a day and shopped at Vernisage.  Yerevan is a little too big and confusing.  we had to deal with a drunk guy bothering the sisters for a couple days, turns out he was one of our investigators, hes getting some time off because he doesn't want to do anything about his problems.  also had a couple teenagers try to get in a fight with us and we just stood there and starred them down and they left.  we still don't have any solid investigators yet and haven't figured out a ton yet.  Hopefully next week I will have more to talk about.

I got transferred down to a place called Artashat, which is right next
to Ararat.  its the southern most part you can serve in.  I wont see
snow this winter, it stays relatively warm down here but it will get
cold.  I am pretty close to Yerevan.  I am  with Elder Potter right now, I
served around him for 6 months so we know each other really well.  its
really interesting because we are pretty much white washing again.  he
served here for 3 weeks about a year ago and we are both coming from our
areas.  its been a fun week so far.  we've gotten to know a couple
members of the ward and this city is very small compared to other
places.  also I got my package a couple weeks ago, I don't know if I
told you.  thanks a ton! I have already eaten it all.  it was really good.
I don't have a ton to tell about. it was pretty hard to leave Gyumri,
we had some really awesome people up there.  I am sure that next week I
will have more to tell about! love you!

Elder Porcelli

Well this week was one of the best! We have zone meeting and I got to do a couple day split in Vanadzor to show some of my buddies around. I got to meet with lots of people that I absolutely love to death! It’s really important to keep in touch with them because they will remember the feelings they felt with you.  When I came back I and my bro talked.  The thing that is great about having mission companions is willing to cut someone down to build them back up. We are super great friends and I’m super grateful I got to serve with him! Transfers are this week and things point to change.  I am super going to miss him.  I’ve been blessed through my mission to have good companions and every transfer they get better.  I was reading in the scriptures today and I read  a verse in Alma that has made a great impact on me. Alma 4:19  19 And this he did that he himself might go forth among his people, or among the people of Nephi, that he might preach the word of God unto them, to stir them up in remembrance of their duty, and that he might pull down, by the word of God, all the pride and craftiness and all the contentions which were among his people, seeing no way that he might reclaim them save it were in bearing down in pure testimony against them.

All we can really do, not just as missionaries but as a church body, is just bear testimony.  Testimony is the quickest way to invite the Spirit and if the Spirit is there, the people will be able to choose clearly to reject or accept.  Also, beware pride.  President Benson mentioned that a couple times in his ministry.... sorry this isn’t super interesting but I love you all and hope you are all happy! Happiness exists!

Elder Porcelli

Armenia is Home

There’s not tons of news from here everything is going pretty well. Transfers are next week so that will be interesting! I am getting my package on Tuesday! Thanks for sending it! How’s everything going there with work? In already accepting Armenia as my home....... I also have decided that in going to wait until fall 2017 to start school, I don’t have time on my mission to worry about the future because God will help out! Also you seem to be dodging my questions or aren’t reading my emails (or both) but when we skype in December I would like for you to address whether you want to come to Armenia or not, just think about it. Don’t worry about it either. It’s a simple thing.  Also, I love you guys a lot! I honestly don’t know how to express in words how grateful I am for this! You are sacrificing a lot for MY wellbeing and I am super impressed and humbled because of that. Some people say, well you were raised in this gospel and you’ve lived it your whole life so of course you’re going to believe it.  I always think and tell them, you know that’s a good point, but, I felt something and I have  also had experiences throughout my life, prayers answered, direction given, seen the blessings IMMEDIATELY after trying, so at this point I can confidently say that this is the true church of Christ and I know of the truthfulness.  I don’t need to see God to KNOW that He is here, I can see the evidence right in front of my eyes. Pretty much want to say thank you! You helped save a soul.  And I say that because I will always be a part of this! SERVE A MISSION WITH DAD! I think it would be super cool! Love you! 

Well this week was really fun.
 We had zone conference and hiked up Aragats as a mission.  It is
funny how small of a mission we have because I know every one of them. It was
fun to hike in the snow! Super foggy and cold but super fun.  We focused
on pondering and how it is important to do it sincerely.  Pondering is one
of the keys to revelation in my opinion.  It has helped me out on my
mission a lot and I know that that is how people can become truly
converted.  This week was another really good week in terms of happiness.
 We did not have tons of meetings but the ones we had were really
good.  The people are starting to acknowledge that we are making a
difference in their lives.  One of the less active women that we often
visit told us this yesterday.  "Before you guys, the missionaries
would come and once they found out that my husband does not want me to come to
church, they would stop visiting, but you guys are different.  You keep on
coming back and you have completely changed my life" she was tearing up
and I could see the gratitude that she had for Heavenly Father for always being
there for her.  I know that we receive answers to prayers through others
and that we really do make a difference in other people'€™s lives and can, if we
have our lives in line with Heavenly Father's will.  No matter where you
are, be a disciple of Christ. We all are and that'€™s the covenant we make with
Him at baptism.  Be unified as well! There are a lot of things we need to
figure out on our own and that'€™s what makes this life great! Love you all
thanks for your love support!

 

First of all I just want to tell all of you that I love you ALL! Especially my parents! Everyone has the best parents ever and we are in our families for a reason.  This week was amazing! I wish I could tell everything, we had tons of fun things we did like: get pulled over by an army man because we were taking pictures 100 yards away from turkey so he asked if he could take a picture of us, and we kindly agreed so we might be on wanted posters.  We also stacked tons of hay for 3 hours on Friday and it was the best ever, got super cut up and also sat on top of the truck on the way back and had to dodge trees.  We felt the Spirit a lot in our lessons, we didn’t have a lot of them but we made the ones we had count.  Not everyone wants this message right now but there will come a time when they will need it! I’ve never been happier, full of joy and love, had more charity in my entire life! Heavenly Father wants us to be happy and it all starts in our minds and hearts! In short we had the best week ever, tons of progressing investigators and lots of blessings and spiritual experiences. It’s amazing what heartfelt prayer can do for you! I love you all tons! Also shout out to one of my best friends ever, Dawson Hardy.  Ah I love you all! Be happy! We have the gospel and a prophet, what else do we need to be happy? Also, be kind to one another, you’ll be filled with Christ's love!

Elder Porcelli

Well, this week was really fun.   We had a baptism and i had the opportunity to baptize her. 

We had lots of experiences to help us out.  I'm doing pretty good right now.  It's still been rough with investigators not answering or meeting with us. but, we will overcome the problems. lots of answers to prayers and its been magical.  we had a baptism this week and we made a new key indicator, "the right place at the right time" the requirements are you need to do what you are supposed to do, and then you randomly meet awesome people. we've been learning tons of patience, but we think that the ball will start rolling quickly.  missions are a super blessing because you get to spend two years along side the Lord, all day, every day.  i was reading Moroni 7:45-48 and also 1 Corinthians 13, all it talks about is charity, which is the greatest of all.  it doesn't just mean giving to the poor or caring for the needy, its a lot more than that.  It says in PMG that we follow the commandments because of charity. what? i started thinking about it and charity has to do with everything, why do you think it says charity is the pure love of Christ? because He gave up everything that He had, for us.  i still don't know a ton about charity but that is something that is essential for the kingdom of heaven.  I hope all the missionaries that are in the field, leaving or are preparing to leave are prepared for the greatest time of their lives! shout out to my buddies who hit the year mark last week! love you all

 

Edward and Bella in Armenia... ha ha!