Armenian Time

Sunday, March 28, 2010

3-21-10

Hey Mom,

Thank you for the wonderful letter. I loved all of your thoughts and I really appreciate that you put those things in your letters. It makes them mean a lot to me.

I'm excited for Josh and Grant. I hope they both have wonderful experiences. I hope Matt is doing alright as well. You'll have to let me know how he's doing. Do you actually have his email? That has to be a hard challenge for him. I wonder how Kyle is adjusting being back as well.

I like my new area a lot and the branch too. The branch here is less developed as in Gyumri, though. The people here are quite different than in Gyumri. One down side is that they aren't as interested in talking to us and are generally more apposed to us being here, but a plus is that there are more people who are educated and some sort of job. For example, I can't remember if I told you, but Adam our new investigator is a script-writer for tv, and I think he sells ad spaces for magazines or something when he can't do the other. He's a way good kid, and already wants to serve a mission before he gets married. We also got another older man and a women to teach this week. Something that has been hard for me this week, though, is talking to people on the streets. It's not easy, and I think I started having some fears in the back of my mind, like peopling thinking we're Jehovah's Witnesses or making them uncomfortable. It was good to realize I had those fears, so that I can exercise my faith and overcome them. I never want to be afraid to do the Lord's will, and I know don't have to if I am being obedient. The Holy Ghost is also an amazing gift, and I want to be able to better recognize its promptings. Something I'm trying to work on is being positive and going out of my comfort zone like you were talking about. I've already seen that it's a lot better and I have learned a lot.

The branch has very few priesthood, which is sad. It's got a lot of work, but I'm excited. The city is very beautiful as well. There is an opera house here, and we might be able to go see one if there's something good showing. That'd be pretty cool. There's one metro in Yerevan that just goes in a straight line. I like riding that, but we don't ride it often. I don't know what else to say about it. I like it better than I thought I would, though, which is nice.

Yesterday we ate dinner with the Shulz's who work in the institute building below our church and that was way nice. The new couple the Pincock's were also there. We had roast beef, Deseret instant potatoes, green beens, fruit salad, and cheese cake! It felt like we were in America again, but they assured us that that's not always how they eat. They're both great couples, as well as the Blunks who are from Santa Clara. They probably are related to the McDermitt's or whoever it was in the neighboring ward. Speaking of the McDermitts, I never got the package that Summer sent. I hope it didn't get lost. That's too bad, though.

So after all that hassle with the water in Gyumri, pretty much the same thing is happening again here. I hope they figure it out. There's not really much we can do about it. It's pretty funny though. Renting is a rough thing, especially in apartments.

Well I'm doing good. I love all the things that I learning and how much I am growing. I hope that I can become the son and servant that God wants me to become. I know he loves me and is watching out for me and leading me. I also know that the Savior atoned for me so that I would be able to learn all the things I have learned, and have an opportunity to become like Him. I'm so excited to hear from God's prophets in a couple weeks. I'm so glad I was born at this time. I'm glad I can serve these people as well, and I hope I can think of some better ways I can do that. Dad has always been a great example to me of selfless service and being aware of opportunities to serve. I'll have to keep my eye out. Have a great week. I love you all.

Sincerely,
Elder Wainwright

Wednesday, March 17, 2010

3-15-10 Yerevan

Wow Mom,

Thank you for your wonderful letter. I really appreciate hearing from your testimony, lessons, and experiences from the week. It's like a little mana to keep me going. Our district meetings are like that too. I'm glad that Dad has some work. I prayed that he would. This week I am trying to strengthen my faith in God and make sure my prayers are sincere, as in listening for the promptings of the Spirit as well. I've already started to notice a difference. When Elder Schwietzer from the 70 came, he told us that two things we should gain from this mission is spiritual sanctification and an ability to recognize the promptings of the Spirit. I know that if I do those things that I will be able to continue to serve the Lord for the rest of my life, which is what I really want.

Something that is really hard for me is trying to communitcate that thought with others. People seem to have a hard time believing that is my only motive for being here. I'm not saying that my motives for doing things are always pure, but I know that's why I'm here. I want others to experience the same blessings, knowledge, peace, satisfaction, hope, and joy that I have experienced from this gospel. I know the Savior atoned for me so that I could have an opportunity to become like God. I hope I can help a few people realize those same things.

So my mission has just changed quite a bit again. Wednesday morning the Assistants called me and told me I was going to the Center Area in Yeravan on Thursday morning. It was a quick change, but I already feel comfortable and have almost forgotten about Gyumri. I really loved my time there and the things I learned. Elder Larson and I had a wonderful companionship, and I got to teach some wonderful people. Narine and her Sister-in-law Yerazik both have baptismal dates and should be baptized soon. They're wonderful ladies and I hope the best for them. Yervand's mother should be getting a baptismal date soon too. She is also a wonderful woman and mother. She actually felt like a mother to me as well ( that's a good thing:). The branch there is a way good branch.

I already feel comfortable in Yerevan, even though it is completely different than Gyumri. Not only is the area different, but the people as well. I'm right in the middle of Yerevan and it is a very pretty city. I love the buildings and things. The people are a little harder to talk to here, but it should get better soon. Elder Jonas and I really want to talk not only to a lot of people, but those who God has prepared us to talk to. That's our goal anyway. It can be pretty uncomfortable sometimes, but we're trying.

Elder Jonas is an amazing missionary and a way good guy. We both feel comfortable with each other and are trying to work hard together. We also already teach pretty well together, even though we teach pretty differently.

Well I have to go soon. There are some cool people here that I already love as well. The Branch President, for example, is an amazing man. We also have a sweet 19 year old named Adam that we're teaching. I'm excited for these changes.

Yes, I'm trying to be obedient and bleach my eggs and vegetables. The blossoms just came out, so we should be getting some amazing fruits and vegetables soon. I got here just after the season, so I have only heard about them.

I love you Mom and Dad. Thanks for all you do. Have a great week. Good luck with work and the house. I know God is guiding you.
Love,
Your son Elder Wainwright

Monday, March 8, 2010

3-8-10

Hey Mom,

Thanks for the info. Sounds like a pretty busy week. That's weird that Dad isn't the Bishop anymore. It seems like a good time to be released though. That will be a good Bishopric. Who's the new Young Men's presidency? Oh, and do you know who Keaton Bale married? Maybe I know her. Are Josh and Cody already gone? That's crazy and way cool. We really are blessed to be a part of this special work. How's Eric doing? I hope he's happy. He's a really good kid.

Hey, Shnorhavor! Congratulations! Today is kind of like mother's day. I actually think it is just women's day, though. They actually cellebrate it for a month as far as I know. It should be like that in America, right?

That's too bad no one has come to look at the house. I'll keep praying for you. That's awesome you got a fund for our missions. I wish so badly I could have contributed more. I hate being a burden. Money is such a stressful part of this life, it's really kind of sad. I know God doesn't want us to focus on that, but he did tell us to earn our food by the sweat of our brows. I hope that I can always be a hard worker like Dad and like I should be. I really enjoy working hard, and like I said to Brandon, I think, that is really the secret to this work. It says in Preach My Gospel that we know how successful we are by the level of our commitment. Brother Schroeder from the MTC told us to never draw any lines in our lives and to be willing to do whatever the Lord asks us to do. I feel like you and Dad understand that concept and I hope that I can learn to be able to have that kind of confidence in the Lord. That was actually what the Assistants to the President talked about in our last Zone Conference; Confidence in the Lord. I feel like that's how we can overcome pride and the pride cycle, is by putting our confidence in the Lord and not in ourselves.

The house should look good with the tile, you'll have to send me a picture. If you put pictures on your picasa, I should be able to see them. I'll try to put on a few of my apartment that I took this week if I have time. It sounds like soon they might not let us even do things like that on the internet, but I hope not. I like being able to show you a little bit of what it's like here, although it doesn't do it justice and I can't take nearly as many pictures as I would like.

We've been riding the train to Artik lately, which is pretty fun. It's about a 45 min ride. I think they converted the coal train into electric. All the cars here are basically bio fuel and use natural gas. It's a lot cheaper for them too.

I have also always been amazed at both Abraham and Isaac and don't fully understand how that worked. I'm glad your finding some good things from the Old Testament. I think it would have been hard for them to have strong faith in Christ's sacrifice when it hadn't even happened yet. Maybe that's why they needed a more physical sacrifice, so they could relate better or something.

I hope you're doing well. I also hope you know how much I love you, dad, and the rest of our family. I love so much reading from your letters. They give me strength. It's helped me realize how precious you all are and how blessed I am. I love my God and Savior as well, and am blessed to have this opportunity to not only help others recognize them, but my relationship with them is also growing a lot. I love my companions, district, and this branch and city. I hope you have a good week, Mom.

Love,
Elder Wainwright