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
Wednesday, March 17, 2010
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
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
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