August 10, 2015- A Million Barevel's‏

So "barev" is hello. And I haven't kept count, but I'm pretty sure I've said it over a million times now... ...I'm just gonna start spitting out some experiences

This week was great!! A lot of awesome things happened! I went on splits in Center this week which is like the richy-rich part of Armenia and I was just in awe the whole time. It was super fun though and HOT. I'm glad I'm in the mountains right now. I love my area.

So about a month ago, we were sitting at a bus stop and it had been a really rough week. Sister K had started crying a little after this lady wasn't very nice. And this one-legged man sits next to her to comfort her. He was a really nice guy. And last week, we saw him with his family by the church! And they invited us over! He has a wife and a 13 yr old boy and 10 yr old girl. They are an awesome family. It's amazing how the Lord works. Who would have thought that the one-legged man from the bus stop a month ago would have a family prepared to hear the Gospel.

One day we had an appointment cancel on us and Sis K felt like we should go see one of our newer converts. This young woman's brother just got back from serving in the army and doesn't let his sister do ANYTHING. She can't come to church, talk to anyone, and she had to quit her job! She just sits at home, alone and depressed and we don't know how to help her. We started feeling pretty discouraged, but when we went that day, her whole family was home and we got to answer some of her brother's questions. He's apparently heard some things about the church. He still doesn't believe us really, but I'm glad we got to talk to him. And we found out her parents are on our side so HA HA!

We have some really great investigators right now. I am just surrounded by some amazing people. I have been praying like nobody's business for more charity. Because, like Moroni says, we are nothing without it. And I truly can feel that God has opened my eyes to see people the way He does. God's love is real and powerful. It strengthens and purifies us. And helps us to do the things that our Savior would do. Well, we just got a call and have to go down to Yerevan now... So I guess that's all you get from me this week!

 Love you all, Sister Blanchard

After a rain storm, we had to stop on the way home and get some Georgian bread of course. Everyone thought we were crazy. 

We ran home in this rain. I honesty thought we were going to get struck by lightening. 

Our transport to district meeting. They shove almost 30 people in these things haha. 

This yummy little thing we ate. 

A yummy little restaurant. 

Someone hanging there doll out to dry. 

Our member's car got into a bit of an accindent. So glad I don't drive here. 

August 2, 2015

Another great week! I'm so happy. I can't believe it's already August...

We are working really hard to love everybody right now! Here's what I've learned lately... When things are hard, and you don't feel like you are accomplishing anything, when you are trying you hardest and things just don't seem to be working out, remember Him. Jesus Christ did the impossible for literally every person on this earth now and throughout eternity. And yet, they rejected Him. Would you still call His great work a success? I would. And when it comes down to it, we are here to serve Him. Keep going, rely on His grace and infinite mercy and allow Him to be your joy and success. He makes our small efforts enough, even when we don't think so. I love my Savior. And although it is hard, I am eternally grateful for this opportunity to understand Him better.

I testify that He lives and loves us ALL. If we rely on Him, He can make us enough. Have a wonderful week.

Sister Blanchard

July 27, 2015- Ah No Time!

I never have enough time to talk about all the exciting things that are happening dang it!!

This week was good. Things have been slow moving I feel likem, but still good. I've learned a lot this transfer. I know that the Lord works by small and simple means to bring about His work. I've always known that I think. But after this past month I feel like I understand it and believe it even more. It's true, no effort ever goes wasted.

We met an awesome investigator this week. She lives in another member's building and we met her there. She is an older woman with a son that has some disabilities. He's 8 years old and can't walk. She is pretty fed up with the fact that she can't get her son any help here. I'm sure I would feel that way too. We went over to their house on Saturday and the family really liked us. She really loves Sister K... which is fine haha. They live in one of those dormatories with only one room. The son is super sweet. Aside from not being able to walk, he seems pretty smart and capable. And he is very sweet. I felt a lot of love for them and really want them to understand the Plan of Salvation!! I obviously don't fully understand their lives, but because of Keeley, I feel a little connection with them. And I have a firm knowledge that this gospel will give them the eternal perspective that brings an assurance of peace and hope throughout everything. She loved talking with us and wanted to come to church with her son! We were going to go get her and when we went, Anahit had been called into work... At church we started out with 5 members there. The branch president wasn't even there... It was slightly disappointing. But people started coming in as the meeting went on and by the end we had about 15 people. But from having our investigator not be able to come, to having so few members at church, I was pretty sad. I caught a small glimpse at that time of what Heavenly Father must feel when His children make mistakes or are disobedient. Particularly, how He must feel when I am ignorant, or lazy, or rebellious. It helped me to understand God's love and patience for us. And through His mercy, I was able to feel a little more patience for everyone else. We have a family that left for the temple!! I am so so happy for them. And pretty jealous too honestly. They are very excited and I know it will be an amazing experience. We got them a little journal to take with them so that they could record their feelings. I can't imagine having so many close family names to take to the temple!!!

Anyways, we have been thinking about that a lot this week and trying to get our members excited about the temple, since they are all so new. I think it will be good motivation for them to keep active and even do missionary and family history work so we can get a temple here soon!! It's been making me miss the temple though.

Everything else is pretty normal. On friday we spoke in armenian the whole day. Even in the appartment. It was exhausting a little, but super helpful. I can't believe I can even do that!!! I love the language a lot and I've learned a lot with Sister K. A couple funny moments... We got charged by a sheep this week. One day we had an appointment with a new investigator and went to there house, knocked on the door, and no one seemed to be there. So we called them from the doorway and the dad is talking to us on the phone. And we hear him yelling on the other side of the door. Telling us he's not home... haha We try to always ask people if they know anyone who would want us to teach them. So were on the street one day talking to an older woman and she doesn't seem too interested in listening to us. So Sister K asks her if she knows anyone who would want to meet with us. And the lady thinks that we were asking for people to date us! So she proceeds to tell us that we are young and beautiful and shouldn't worry about that, we will fuind someone. And then she leaves...

I love you all!! Have a great week! Sister Blanchard

July 20, 2015- WA-DA-MALON

So we have this member whos an old grandma, probably in her 60's, and we taught her how to say watermelon this week. Armenians speaking english is probably one of my greatest joys. This same member gave one of our elders a head massage before church this week. He gets really bad migraines and she was rubbing his eyes and squeezing the heck out of his head. It was so funny. But sad to say, we haven't found the cure to migraines. Sorry folks.

Armenians have all these great little quirks and as missionaries, we are pretty stoked when we can consider ourselves like the armenians, լրիվ հայ, if you will. For one, they have revelation through dreams a lot. We have an investigator who has a lot of potential, but she is SO busy. We've been meeting with her forever and she hasn't been reading the Book of Mormon at all. So I had a dream one night. In which, she read the Book of Mormon. We called her that morning. Guess who read the Book of Mormon? Yup. And guess who had a dance party during companion study? Yup.

Armenians also have all these sayings. So one day, we're at another members house and a little fuzzy thing flies around my head, and our member tells us that means I'm going to get mail. The elders just happened to be in Yerevan that day and picked up mail for both me and Sister K! Yeah, it was my bday package... already. Props to postal services for that quick delivery. And yes... I already opened it. Whoops! It was so amazing though!! I loved everyone. Thanks to all my friends for the letters you gave me. Love you all so much. Everything is all hung up by my bed :) and ps to everyone reading this, I have the coolest family. EVER

One day we met this lady n the street. She didn't seem very interested but we set up an appointment to see her the next day. So on our way to her house we stopped to say hi to a member and this lady comes up and says basically "do you have any business here?" We're like uhh yeah we're just saying hi to a friend. And we're like super confused and so we just ask her name. Turns out it was the lady we were about to go meet... Totally forgot. So awkward.

So that's about all my fun stories. I wish I had some more time. But I just gotta say. I learned this week how bad Satan is trying to destroy our families! Everything he does is to attack our families and if we aren't careful, he could do it. However, in God's mercy, He has provided a perfect plan for us to protect and strengthen our families now and throughout eternity. It is called the Gospel of Jesus Christ. If we rely on His teachings and His infinite grace, we will be safe from all the bad in the world. That is a promise from our loving Father in Heaven.

I love you all! Sister Blanchard