Dear family and friends,
Well, time is up. It's been an amazing and humbling two years. I will be ever indebted to the Lord for all the ways he has blessed me, led me, and taught me. As much as we try and give to God, he always gives us more in return. I'm so grateful for this life that he has blessed me with, and I hope that I can use it in such a way that I will be ready to live in his presence and with all of you. I'm grateful for good examples in this life. They make life a lot easier and strengthen our hope. I'm grateful to have been able to serve the Lord amongst the humble people of Armenia. I have a lot of hope for the people here. I know that happiness and success in life only come from following Jesus Christ. He is our Savior and will show us the way. Any other way leads to misery and captivity. I'm so grateful that we have living prophets who are called of God and will help us find our way in the darkness of these days. God's works are so amazing and I hope I can continue to be a part of that as I stay worthy of the Spirit throughout my life.
I will never forget the people I was able to serve and to serve with. I wish all of you peace and happiness. I'm excited to be back with you, but I will also miss this work. Take care.
Love,
Monday, July 18, 2011
Tuesday, July 12, 2011
7-4-11
The work is going alright. I went on exchanges this week and I think it went well. We're still trying to find people who are ready to progress, but our teaching pool is getting larger.
The sisters had an wonderful baptism before they left. The man, Harut, is a wonderful, humble man who knows the bible very well. He has great faith and has learned much through revelation already. I think he really wanted to be baptized in a river and God wanted to give him that, because that's what happened. We got up early to fill the baptismal font and halfway through I realized the water was pretty dirty. So we drained it and started again. When it was about a foot high again the water stopped. Water is very rarely on 100% of the time here. The meeting was about to start and President Carter had even came up from Yerevan to see the Sisters' last baptism. President Carter suggested to drive to Gyumri, but Harut said "I know where some water is." We went to the stream and there was just about enough water to make it happen. The service was very nice and everything worked out. It seemed like that was how God wanted it to be.
Well, I don't know of anything I need. We're going to visit a nearby town for Prep-Day today. I'm so excited to see all the family. I miss you so much. It doesn't even seem real yet. I hope you know how much I love you and am grateful for all you and Dad, and everyone has done for me in my life. Take care.
Love,
Elder Bruce Wainwright
The next two weeks are going to fly by. Elder Lowe and I are going up to Alaverdi again to see how the members are doing. A few of them have been making it to church lately. I also have to go to Yerevan for some District Leader Training. The work is going pretty well. We had to drop a few investigators, but we started teaching two old investigators. One is a really good kid named Herbert. He's seventeen, so we need to get permission from his parents (he's living with a member grandmother who actually just went through the temple). It sounded like the six that went to the temple had a great experience. I'm way excited to be able to go again. It has been so long. How blessed we are to have a temple five minutes away, let alone thirteen in one state. We have another investigator woman that the sisters were teaching before they left that should have a baptismal interview right after I leave.
I feel a little bad for Elder Smith right now. All the missionaries around him are going home. The two sisters that were here went home together three weeks ago, and now Elder Lowe and I are leaving. He's a great missionary and super hard worker. I hope I have been a good companion and trainer for him. I haven't even had to push him because he does it all by himself. Both missionaries I trained were like that. They made me want to be better. I think that's what a true friend should do, is help you be the best you.
Well, I'm excited to see everyone. I'm sad to leave as well. I hope I can remember all that I have learned here. I'm really going to miss the people I've been able to work with. I trust the hands that they're being left in.
Love Elder Bruce Wainwright
The sisters had an wonderful baptism before they left. The man, Harut, is a wonderful, humble man who knows the bible very well. He has great faith and has learned much through revelation already. I think he really wanted to be baptized in a river and God wanted to give him that, because that's what happened. We got up early to fill the baptismal font and halfway through I realized the water was pretty dirty. So we drained it and started again. When it was about a foot high again the water stopped. Water is very rarely on 100% of the time here. The meeting was about to start and President Carter had even came up from Yerevan to see the Sisters' last baptism. President Carter suggested to drive to Gyumri, but Harut said "I know where some water is." We went to the stream and there was just about enough water to make it happen. The service was very nice and everything worked out. It seemed like that was how God wanted it to be.
Well, I don't know of anything I need. We're going to visit a nearby town for Prep-Day today. I'm so excited to see all the family. I miss you so much. It doesn't even seem real yet. I hope you know how much I love you and am grateful for all you and Dad, and everyone has done for me in my life. Take care.
Love,
Elder Bruce Wainwright
The next two weeks are going to fly by. Elder Lowe and I are going up to Alaverdi again to see how the members are doing. A few of them have been making it to church lately. I also have to go to Yerevan for some District Leader Training. The work is going pretty well. We had to drop a few investigators, but we started teaching two old investigators. One is a really good kid named Herbert. He's seventeen, so we need to get permission from his parents (he's living with a member grandmother who actually just went through the temple). It sounded like the six that went to the temple had a great experience. I'm way excited to be able to go again. It has been so long. How blessed we are to have a temple five minutes away, let alone thirteen in one state. We have another investigator woman that the sisters were teaching before they left that should have a baptismal interview right after I leave.
I feel a little bad for Elder Smith right now. All the missionaries around him are going home. The two sisters that were here went home together three weeks ago, and now Elder Lowe and I are leaving. He's a great missionary and super hard worker. I hope I have been a good companion and trainer for him. I haven't even had to push him because he does it all by himself. Both missionaries I trained were like that. They made me want to be better. I think that's what a true friend should do, is help you be the best you.
Well, I'm excited to see everyone. I'm sad to leave as well. I hope I can remember all that I have learned here. I'm really going to miss the people I've been able to work with. I trust the hands that they're being left in.
Love Elder Bruce Wainwright
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