Mary's Mission 29 July 2013

Barev im sireliner!!!!

Oh how I love you!! YOU ARE THE BEST!!! Thank you for being who you are! I could not feel more grateful to have you! Kind of funny, the other day I was chatting with one of our other sisters and she was talking about how she feels that she loved her family before her mission, but she has gained a more deep and real love for them since being here.  I couldn't agree more.  I can't begin to explain how much I love and appreciate you! 

I feel I am in denial that I am going home.  I know it's coming.  I know it has to, that the Lord has alotted us a specific time to serve, and it's all a part of His timing, but I can't believe that it is actually coming.  It doesn't feel real.  I read a scripture this morning from Moroni that reminded me about diligence in preaching repentance, that is what I am seeking.  I look around at these people, these precious children of God, whom I love so much, and my heart just feels like it will burst!  They need this gospel and they have no idea what they are missing out on!  It is such a privilege to bear the name of our Savior, even more of a privilege to have it engrained in our hearts.  I hope His name is engrained in my heart.  Is it engrained in yours?

I don't know what to say about the week, it was so good! As always, the Lord blesses us so much!  We had a couple of beautiful girls baptized and they are so anxious to do good! Both have already expressed desires to serve missions!  We are hoping and praying that their mother, Nelli, will come too.  We've been working with her for a while and she is just struggling.  Sometimes agency is such a challenge, yet such a blessing.  I know the Lord is a part of this work. It is His.  We are each His children and He loves us so much and is so merciful! Sister Henriquez and I were just talking about gifts of the spirit and how the Lord blesses us each with gifts of the spirit, and then allows us to seek more.  So neat.  He sets no boundaries on what we can become, with His help.  

  All of the Aunts and Uncles look so great! It must have been wonderful to be all together! Congrats to Ali, Jodi, and Nicole as well as to Melissa! So exciting! And that is so neat about the great family history work that Josh and Beth have been doing! There is nothing better than doing their work and binding them to family for eternity!  The temple is such a miracle! 

Have a great week! I hope Joe and Dad have a great time :)

Thank you for all your love and support! Be sure to give my love and gratitude to all family and friends! You are the BEST!!!!!!

I LOVE YOU!!!

Metz sirov, 

Quyr Broadbent

Barev Marev Family Jan!

Aroghjutyun Dad! I hope everything is OK! I am SO happy that you were able to go to the Carters' and that you were able to talk with them.  Now you've seen a small glimpse of how wonderful they are.  I can only imagine the amount of people there.  The Carters are special people! I love them and miss them! 

As Sister Henriquez and I were going through our actuals and goals last night, I was just filled with an overwhelming gratitude for the Work of the Lord.  He blesses us so much.  I can honestly say that anything that was accomplished this week was because of Him, I feel like we do so little and somehow miracles happen!  He is so good to us.  Now that I am sitting here, I'm not sure what else to say.  This may be a short one.

We had Zone Conference this week and it was wonderful.  I love how the Lord constantly teaches us and molds us.  I hope and pray that I can be all that He wants me to be.  Pres. and Sis. Carlson shared a story about the pioneers at Hole in the Rock and they shared with us how there are round marbles formed in that area through weathering and time.  Like the refiner's fire.  Often times I think we get caught up in the difficulty of the moment or the misery of it, instead of remembering the joy that the Lord wants each of us to have in that moment as well as remembering how the Lord is sanctifying and purifying us through the experiences we are having.  I feel I've learned, both through experience and observation of others, that what we face and how we feel about it is all dependent on US.  On our attitudes.  I love the end of D&C 122, how we are reminded that all things are for our good and that we are not alone.  And we are not exempt when it comes to facing trials and living the commandments.  Christ has descended below it all.  I feel that we often think, "oh, I'm me, no one else is like me, so I'm an exception to this rule"  But it's not like that.  We are ALL God's children.  He loves each and every one of us.  Individually.  His commandments apply to all (no matter where we are or how busy we may be).  As does the need for each of us to walk by faith in this life, even when we do not understand or see.  Sometimes it's not for us to understand, it's for us to press forward, joyfully doing what the Lord asks, with the knowledge that He knows best.  He loves us.  His hand is a part of our daily lives.  This is His work.  I know it.  

I love you!!!! You are the BEST!!!  Have a great and safe week!

LOVE YOU!!!!

Metz sirov, 

Quyr Broadbent

Mary's Mission July 8 2013

FAMILY!!!!

I LOVE YOU!! 

I am SO happy that Josh was able to go through the temple and that all of you were able to be there! You better believe I was there in Spirit :) I am slightly jealous that I wasn't able to be there in body, but that time will come all too soon.  Besides, whether here or there, we are doing the work of salvation and it is such a sacred privilege.  Everyone, and I mean everyone, always asks how long we are here and when we are going home.  I always say that I'm not going home and that I'll just stay here forever. I sure hope you don't mind.  It's just that everything about being in Armenia and being a missionary feels right.  And normal.  And natural.  It is my life.  And I don't want to leave it.  I can't.  

We had an experience this week that has reached the depths of my heart.  And I feel that in the smallest degree I have a glimpse of how Heavenly Father must feel about all of us.  He sees our great potential, sees the good we are doing and are capable of, loves us, and is sorrowed and pained when we are struggling or when we make choices that distance us from Him and take away our ability to feel His presence in our lives.  I have also felt so strongly the power of the Atonement.  I know I understand so little of all that Christ took upon Himself in our behalf, but I know He has felt all that we feel.  And He doens't just sympathize with us, rather He truly feels what we feel, in the way we feel it.  No wonder it is through His grace and we can and do overcome all things.  I feel so blessed to be His witness.  I can't begin to express how I wish that the people we teach and talk with could feel this in some degree! There is so much Work to do! So much good in front of us!  We only have 1 stake here.  There is so much more to come.  

I know I always say that we had a miracle, it just seems that the Lord always blesses us with miracles.  I don't know if you'll remember, but last month we had a woman named Alvard baptized.  She is the sister of two of our wonderful members here, she lives in Russia and is here for the summer.  This last week the fourth sister of these other three sisters also came from Russia.  Her son will be leaving on a mission to England next week.  Our wonderful Bishop called us the day she arrived and said that she wanted to be baptized.  She was here last year, took all the lessons, but left before she could be baptized.  She has since read the Book of Mormon three times and has regularly attended church in Russia.  She was baptized this morning.  The youngest of the four and the last of the children in this family to make baptismal covenants with our Father.  Our Stake President said it well when he said, "God willing, you will all meet in the temple and be sealed to your parents"  Such a miracle.  God is merciful and He is a God of miracles.  He is our Father and He loves us.  He loves us so much that He sent His Son in our behalf.  This is His work and I know it is true.  Who can you share His love with this week?

I hope you all have a wonderful week! Keep your smiles on! Don't burn up in the heat of the summer! You are the best! I love you!

Metz sirov, 

Quyr Broadbent

Mary with 3 of her companions - Sister Henriquez, Sister Nelson, Sister Ledingham and Mary!

Mary's Mission 8 July 2013

Hello Family jan!

  I am beyond excited with the news that Marinda and Kris are expecting! I have secretly been waiting for months, trying to be patient, and I am SO happy! :) There is nothing better than family.

(due in Jan!)

It sounds like your little camping trip was fun! I'm glad the racoon didn't cause you any more trouble! Congrats to Trevor! That is great! Callee emailed and said that Amy, her neice, is also engaged! I'm glad Sister Beal came and said hi, we always talked about all of the random connections that she and I have, that we had no idea about until we served together.  What a good Sister.  Is she adjusting well?

We said goodbye to President and Sister Carter with tears, they are so much a part of my heart and work! I love them.  We also welcomed President and Sister Carlson with open arms, smiles, and a readiness to push forward.  They are from Price and have a great love for the Manti temple.  I don't know how to describe them, they are different, but are great! And I know they will carry the work forward here; that they are called of God to be here at this time.  There is no time to pause, to let the work falter.  Sister Henriquez and I have talked a lot this last week about many of the signs that Christ is coming again.  There is no time to waste-we just need to keep going forward, with urgency, to help prepare His children.  It is such a miracle to see how the Lord's work always carries on-even more of a miracle that He allows each of us to be a part of it, if we only have the desire to serve, He will use us as His hands no matter where we are found and no matter what our current calling may be.  

We had a pretty great week-Our Heavenly Father is always so merciful and kind, He always blesses us with so many tender mercies and miracles.  Hripsime was baptized Saturday and it was so wonderful!  One of the best baptisms I have ever participated in.  Powerful and filled with the spirit.  She is such a special woman, with so much understanding of the gospel, and a wonderful testimony.  She shared her testimony at the baptism and in church-wow.  She is wise beyond her years and I feel like her testimony is so powerful.  I'm not sure why the Lord saw fit for us to teach her, but I am beyond grateful.  She will do so much good in the coming years.  The Elders' investigators were also baptized on Tuesday, Arpi and Seda, I love that family so much!  

Yesterday was also water day in Armenia-I think I told you about it last year, how people go around throwing water on each other.  So fun.  One of our members said it started because when Noah found land, he threw water on all those that were with him, and the tradition continues.  Who knew? :) A fun celebration and remembrance of the rich heritage that this area of the world has.  

I love you all! I hope you have a great week!  

Metz sirov, 

Quyr Broadbent

How are Steve and Julie? Did you give them a hug for me? When is Josh going through the temple?

LOVE YOU!!  YOU ARE THE BEST!!

We did an exchange with all our Armenian Sisters-the result-a beautiful picture full of glowing Sisters.

Mary's Mission July 1, 2013

Barev marev im sireliner! 

I hope you all had a GREAT week! We sure did. 

Sister Henriquez and I were able to go to Georgia this week and spend a couple of days with our wonderful Georgian Sisters.  They are walking miracles. And the Lord is just blessing them in so many ways.  

We drove through the beautiful, green, mountainous, northern area of Armenia-I'm positive I've said it before, but Armenia and Utah are so similiar.  I was thinking about how blessed I am, because I feel so at home here and because our Utah mountains will always be a beautiful reminder of my Armenian mountians and the many blessings we have here.    

One of our investigators, Hripsime, will be getting baptized on Saturday.  I just love her; I feel we are sisters and I am postive that we were close in the premortal world.  She has such a wonderful understanding of the gospel, she already has so much light and is so humble and I am so grateful our Heavenly Father has blessed us with her! 

We have a couple of other investigators who are progressing towards baptism, who should be ready with in the next couple of weeks.  As I look at the last few months, I am humbled and amazed at the many blessings that the Lord has poured out upon us.  He truly is a God of miracles and He truly does love us. I know it.  It was kind of neat to go to Georgia and continue to see how the Lord blesses all of His children everywhere.  It was especially neat to be in a place where I don't understand or speak the language, but my heart was so full of love for those people, like the Lord wanted to remind me that we are all His children and that His love is unconditional and equal for all of us.  Then this morning as I was studying a little from Preach My Gospel and some of the coordinating scriptures, I felt such immense love again, as I thought about our Father sacrificing His Son in our behalf.  Wow.  It is uncomprehensible to me.  And I am beyond grateful to be apart of this Great Work, to be able to testify about the living reality of Jesus Christ and His living church.  I know the Lord has prepared many of His children here to accept His gospel.  In every way, this is the work of the Lord.

Pres. and Sis. Carter go home this week and we get to meet our new mission President, Pres. and Sis. Carlson.  It'll be different, but I already feel so great about it, I feel so much peace in my heart with the change and I know that the Lord will continue to do His work through them, the way He has through Pres. and Sis. Carter.    

I hope you'll share my love with Sister Horspool and of course give Steve and Julie a huge hug for me! 

I hope your week goes wonderful and that the heat lets up a bit! You are the best! Love you! Have a great week!

Metz sirov, 

Quyr Broadbent

"The Best is yet to be..."

More pictures - Pres Carter with Georgian Missionaries

District June 2013

Silly Sisters