Mary's mission letter July 23 2012

Happy Pioneer Day! We may not be celebrating it here-but I hope it's
good for all of you! We are so blessed to come from such a rich
heritage!
I am SO excited for Chance and Kylie!  That is SO great!!!  I was
thinking about Amy Ormond this week-I think she was supposed to have
had her baby-do you know if she has and if everything went well?

I'm betting the weather here is about how it is there-hot.  The
sisters up in gyumri and vanadzor say it's almost cold there-it's so
interesting how the weather differs, even in such a small place!  In
general people here just deal with the heat-they sweat, and we smell
them! Sometimes they'll use fans, but very rarely do they have air
conditioners.  I think if they had them, they wouldn't use them
because everyone thinks that if you are even slightly chilly you'll
get sick or hurt your heart.  It seems so bizarre to me, since we
always like it cool and we grew up just fine.  It's fun to compare the
difference in custom and belief though.

I don't really feel like I have a lot to tell this week.  It was
pretty normal.  Our investigator Anik is still doing well!  We were
worried last week after church, but when we met with her, she was
still as enthused as ever to come to church and she reads from the
Book of Mormon regularly-she always asks us her questions about what
she read and I love it!  Her family was all really sick yesterday,
they took her husband to the hospital, so she wasn't able to make it
to church.  But she's still doing so good!

We started a new mission plan this week-we're reading all of the Book
of Mormon, Preach My Gospel, and the White handbook in 60 days.  It's
been kind of neat, because as we're reading the Book of Mormon, we're
looking for Christ-I'm amazed at how the Book of Mormon really is all
about Christ!  I've also been amazed at all the different names He is
called-about 50 pages in and I've already found over 25 different
names for Christ!  Anywhere from Messiah, redeemer to the mighty one
of Israel or the God of Nature.  It's pretty amazing!  And I feel more
and more the power that comes from the Book of Mormon.  It truly is
Another Testament of Jesus Christ and helps us build our faith in Him
and become more like Him!

I was reading a talk from Pres. Monson the other day, here's just a
couple of thoughts,  "Divine favor will attend those who humbly seek
it." We need to learn what we should learn, do what we should do, be
what we should be.  By so doing, the blessings of heaven will attend."

I was also thinking about the time the Lord has given us to learn and
grow here.  What can we do to use the time His given us better?  I
remember hearing a quote from Pres. Monson saying that he wanted to
follow every prompting of the spirit so the Lord knows that He can
trust 'Tom Monson.' What do we need to do to show the Lord He can
trust us?

I love you all!  I hope and pray all is going well!  Have a good week!

Love you!

Metz sirov,

Sis. Broadbent

Mary's Mission Letter July 16 2012

Hello, hello family!
Sounds like this week was pretty good for all of you! Isn't it neat
how there are so many connections-what a small world it is-Sis. Tolman
is from Logan and there are at least a few of the other missionaries I
know that are from Salt Lake and north.  The members are also so funny
when they find out we're from Utah-they always say something about how
there are so many who are from there-now I see how true it is.
We had a new group of missionaries come in from the MTC this week-3
elders and 3 sisters.  With it there was a HUGE transfer.  We found
out the day after transfers that Sis. Tolman and I, and 1 set of
elders were the only ones who didn't have a change! We've decided the
Lord must have some work for us to do together here in Artashat! Sis.
Beal and Sis. Bobzien are still together, but they changed cities and
are now in Vanadzor-a city in northern Armenia, when we last talked to
Sis. Bobzien she said it was COLD-which is such a bizarre thought
because it's been so hot the last week and we've heard that now until
the end of August it will really start ot get hot! 100 and above is
pretty normal-everyone tells us it has to be hot so that the grapes
will hasnel-ripen correctly.
Yesterday was water day-it's a holiday here where everyone goes around
throwing water on each other.  Before church we were waiting for our
taxi so we could go pick up Anik-Sis. Tolman and I decided to play a
bit and we dumped some water on some kids around our apartment, but we
managed to stay dry.  When our taxi got to our apartment, there were
at least 10 kids waiting outside our door for us (oops, what had we
done?), but our taxi driver came and told them to wait until after our
meeting and then they could get us-we were about halfway to the taxi
and the kids were mostly convinced, and then this little kid-maybe 4
or 5 years old threw water on us.  From there all the other kids broke
loose-they all dumped their water on us too.  All three of us were
soaked-the 2 of us and our taxi driver-but we were all laughing.  So
much fun-we've decided we need to start a holiday like that in the
US....
Anik DID come to church! We were so excited and she was SO nervous!
She seemed to enjoy it-I know it was different then she was expecting,
but we're hoping she'll continue to come and still want to meet with
us! Pres. and Sis. Carter came for our sacrament meeting-they had me
translate for them, which was OK until one of the speakers started
reading an entire talk from the Liahona....with no breaks, bah-that
wasn't so good.  I also spoke...about receiving and giving
forgiveness.  It was ok-I can at least say that I am much more
comfortable speaking now than I was 12 weeks ago when I got here and
there are some words that just come to me in Armenian and not
english-I have tons of room for improvement, but I don't feel like I
struggle with it so much.
I don't have time to tell all I learned about the atonement and
repentance, so here's just a few thoughts- As I studied I felt how
precious we all are to our Father, how much He wants each and every
one of us to improve and grow and He has given us the tools to do so,
through Christ.  I feel so blessed to share what we know, and knowing
how sad I feel when others reject this message, I can only imagine the
sorrow that Christ feels, and Our Heavenly Father, because of all
they've done for us-and because of their immense love for us.  I read
this amazing talk given at a BYU devotional last July-Brad Wilcox I
think is his name-it was amazing! You should look it up!
Sis. Tolman is still amazing!  I love her and I feel like I have so
much to learn from her! I'm excited to see what the Lord has in store
for us this next week-He blesses us so much! I truly know this is His
work! We can not do it without Him!

I love you all! Have a good week!

Metz sirov,

Sis. Broadbent

Mary's Mission Letter July 9 2012

Barev family!

It sounds like you had a fanastic week at trek! It was so wonderful to
read and feel the spirit of the trek and to hear about all the
miracles!  It reminded me of Mormon 9 (maybe Moroni?) where it talks
about how God will always be a God of miracles, so long as we have
faith.  What an awesome promise!  And it just shows even more how much
our Heavenly Father really loves us and wants to bless us!

I had written out all my email and was getting ready to send it when
my computer shut off and everything is now gone.  I don't really have
time to write it all again, but I'll get in what I can.

Anik and Mary (did I tell you about them last week?  The family we're
teaching?) are doing ok-Anik was supposed to come to church yesterday;
we had it all worked out for her to come with a member and she was so
excited-and then she didn't come.  We were both SO disappointed! As a
result and because I had been studying about the traits of our
Heavenly Father and our relationship with Him-I was thinking about how
truly great He is!  The immense love He has for us!  While agency can
be so frustrating-it is a wonderful gift, and shows so well how our
Heavenly Father really loves us!  I can only imagine how He wants so
badly for us to choose to follow Him, but whether or not we do, He is
always waiting with love for us to choose Him and come to Him.  I love
this little quote by Elder Koeliker, "I am confident that our Heavenly
Father's arms are constantly extended, ever ready to embrace each one
of us and say to each one with that quiet, piercing voice, 'I love
you'."  He wants so badly for us to come back to Him, to have all He
has, and to become like Him-to really have the fullness of joy He has.
 How can we gain all He has and become like Him if we don't know who
He is?

As I studied about it, I naturally was led to think about Christ and
His Atonement-this next week I want to study more about it and how I
can better apply the Atonement in my life.  Will you all study it with
me?  I'd love to hear what you learn.

Sorry it's so short! I love you all!  I am grateful beyond all measure
for your constant love and support.  I am so grateful for your
wonderful examples and for the strength I feel from you!
I love you!  Hope you have a good week!

Love, Sis Broadbent


Many of you have asked how to send Mary a package - this is what the mission secretary sent us, so if you would like to try... she would love it~

- MAILING PACKAGES.  The mail system here is sometimes unreliable and can become expensive and complicated if you use carriers other than the regular UK or US Postal Service.  Please DO NOT send mail via UPS, FedEX or DHL.  If your missionary does receive mail from these carriers, it will be their responsibility to pay all fees, which can easily be several hundred dollars.  Nothing should be valued for more than $100 and if you insure it, it will most likely get stuck in customs, and can be charged as much as it is insured to get it out.

Most packages arrive here but some do not.  I have seen mail arrive as quickly as a couple of weeks or as long as four months.  There is no need to put "Jesus stickers" or write "religious material" on the packages.  Just send them using  (UK) or US POSTAL SERVICE.  Priority Mail seems to be a little faster.

SEND TO:

Missionary Name

Vratsakan #5

Yerevan, Armenia 0051

This address is the Mission Office and is to be used for all missionaries in Armenia and Georgia.

Busy Busy - From Mary July 2, 2012

It sounds like your week was filled with a lot of great things! How
fun to get together with both sides of the family! I love family
reunions! It's always so great to just be together! Is Trevor home on
leave, or home for good?  I didn't realize it had been so long since
he left, but I guess it was last year, wasn't it?  And even better
that Kris and Marinda were able to come down! It must be a challenge
with the heat and the fires, especially because this past winter we
didn't have as much snow.  How scary for all those people! I'm so
excited to hear about trek! I know how hard you've worked to pull it
all together, and I'm sure inspite of the heat, or maybe because of
it, the experience will be wonderful!

We had a very busy week!  I feel like the Lord is just pouring out
blessings on us!  I feel so humbled!  We received a couple of
referrals from members in the branch, both are families, but we're not
sure how serious either are, we're hoping to get a better feel this
next week.  We also had a man come to church yesterday, we're going to
try to start teaching him and his family this week.  We're also still
trying to visit all our active members, so both Sis. Tolman and I can
get to know them.  Those meetings as well as the meetings we get from
our daily street contacting are keeping us so busy!  We're trying to
find the balance of time and we feel like we're just go, go, going all
day every day.  I love it though!  It's so great to be busy-to be
doing the Lord's work!  The Lord is truly blessing us!  I don't
remember if I told you about the lady we found that had the 2 sons
die-we had taught her a few times and it was wonderful, but she is
currently vacationing in Sevan, so we're waiting for her to get back.
We had the opportunity this last week to visit a few of our members in
Ararat (the city, not the mountain), since it's a little far, we had
to get permission to go-it was good and we're hoping to spend a day
visiting less actives a couple times a month.

I was studying a bit about conversion this last week-from a few
different general conference talks-I'm going to share a bit, maybe a
few quotes and such.  I was thinking about the people of Ammon in the
Book of Mormon, and the conversion they had.  I love the example they
set, how they were true to the covenants they made-no matter the
circumstances that came upon them. It also says multiple times in the
Book of Mormon, that they were steadfast and faithful until the end.
So I was thinking about how we all need to have that kind of
conversion.  I feel that sometimes, we are converted, but then so
often along the way, we stop doing something, whether its praying,
reading the scriptures, attending church, etc-that leads to us making
other not so good choices-and before we know it, we've lost our
testimony and conversion.  We really become converted in the
journey-in the Enduring to the End-and we have to keep working to
maintain our testimony.  Our lives often show our conversion, as Elder
Oaks said, "The symbols of our Christian faith are the lives of our
people....Our lives of service and sacrifice are the most appropriate
expressions of our commitment to serve the master and our fellowmen."
I feel that in our commitment to serve-as we really apply the
principles and doctrines-as we serve, we maintain that conversion.
Elder Hales tells a few things that help maintain our conversion. "We
become converted and spiritually self reliant as we prayerfully live
our covenants-through worthily parktaking of the sacrament, being
worthy of a temple recommend and sacrificing to serve others."  Then
he explains why they are important, "The sacrament gives us an
opportunity to come to ourselves and experience a mighty change of
heart-to remember who we are and what we most desire" "We become
worthy for a temple recommend by STEADILY and STEADFASTLY obeying the
commandments" (That enduring to the end thing-constantly working to
worthy-diligence really) "As our desires to learn and live the gospel
increase, we naturally seek to serve one another."  As I've studied it
a bit, I've realized more and more that our conversion is maintained
constantly doing the basic things-I love how in the Book of Mormon it
talks about those that fall because of the easiness of the way-really,
we just need to do the simple things, and we'll be strengthened to
continue in the way; we'll continue to do the things that are
necessary for us to return to live in our Father's presence.  Will you
all take a look at your lives?  What could you be doing that you're
not?  What simple thing could you do better-pray more sincerely,
ponder the scriptures and not just read them, be more aware of the
promptings of the spirit? Whatever it is-will you work on it?  And I
will too, I'll find those things and work to become better.  I know
the Lord will help, because I know He wants us to improve! He WANTS us
to be like Him!  And we can, through our Savior, His only begotten
Son!
This next week I'm going to study about the character of our Heavenly
Father-and why it's important for us to have a relationship with Him.
Will you all study it with me?  And share what you learn?

I love you all!  I hope you have a great time on the trek!  And that
the heat isn't too unbearable! I feel like we've been blessed, because
the last few days, we've had rain and it's been rather spring like-I
hope some relief from the heat comes your way!  You're the best,
Family! I couldn't ask for better examples or a better family!  I love
you!!  Happy Independence Day!

Metz Sirov,
Sis. Broadbent

Hello family!
It sounds like there are a lot of good things going on at home!
Congrats to Alisha and Rachel!  How exciting! And I'm so excited to
hear about how trek goes!  I guess I'll have to wait a couple more
weeks for that though!  I'm sure it'll be great!  Mom, I'm also
postive that your talk and Dad's were wonderful! I can just imagine
how much the members at the Gardens loved hearing about Grandpa!
I can't believe you're just barely picking cherries!  We've been
eating cherries for at least a month and I think all the ones from
around here are pretty much gone now!  We've moved onto watermelons
and apricots.  Since we're so many people here in Artashat have
apricot trees, almost everywhere we go they give them to us!  I don't
think I've ever eaten so many in my life, and they are SO good, so
I'll just continue to eat them! We bought our first watermelon last
week, we had heard they were a little expensive, but very delicious,
so we decided to try.  We ended up paying 2500 dram for it-so about a
little over 5 dollars! It was more expensive than we were thinking,
but it was SO good!  Mmm-I love all the fresh fruits and vegetables!
This week was pretty good Knar came back from Georgia this week and
then left again yesterday, so we taught her everyday, but no matter
how we tried, she wouldn't read the Book of Mormon on her own.  Every
lesson we read with her instead of teaching new material.  Then
yesterday she told us she didn't want to meet anymore and didn't want
to read the Book of Mormon at all.  I feel so disappointed and sad at
her decision, but at the same time I feel at peace with it.  I've felt
how important it really is to read the Book of Mormon-every day!  For
our sake-so we can learn how to gain a better relationship with Christ
and our Heavenly Father, so we can really gain our own testimony of
the gospel.  Sometimes it is so hard to accept the decisions that
others make!  I am amazed at the love I feel for these people! As
we've visited with people of all different status, I have felt love
for each of them.  And more than that, I've felt that Heavenly Father
loves them so much, whether or not they recognize Him or His hand in
their life.  I feel like that is at least one reason why we share the
gospel.  So people can learn of the precious relationship we can have
with our Heavenly Father, so they can feel His love, recognize it as
His love, learn how to become like Him, and to learn and do the things
necessary to return to Him.  More and more I feel so blessed to be
apart of this gospel!
I had a couple of people on my mind this week-Cortney and the
Chadwicks-how are they?  Have you heard from them recently?  Just
wondering how things are.
I love you all!  I hope you all have a great week!

Love, Sis. Broadbent

Ps.-Happy late anniversary Mom and Dad!  Love you! You're the best!

Barev dzez family!

  

This week was good-since you requested, I'll try to tell you a bit about where we are-I'm not sure I can describe it, but I'll try.  Artashat is HOT!! We think the high this last week was around 110 F-but we think in general it's been closer to 95-100.  I'm amazed at how bearable it's been-I'm positive the Lord is helping us, so we don't feel that it is as hot as it really is-and I am SO grateful!  We have this little city, surrounded by little neighborhoods.  People either live in apartments, like ours, or seperate houses.  In general, if they live in a house then they have a hyat, or garden-and its generally pretty large-they grow a lot of things that we do at home, but they are convinced that all the fruits and vegetables here are better than anywhere else in the world-I can't say for sure, but I'm beginning to agree!  We were able to eat the first pickings of apricots, and even though they weren't fully ripe, they already taste how ours at home taste! Delicious!  We are so grateful that there are so many fresh fruits and vegetables!  I'll have to send some pictures of our Artashat-most of the side streets aren't paved, and once you get into the little neighborhoods there are fields of trees, grapes, and wheat, etc.  I love it!  Life is so hangist-so calm-and the people are so welcoming (for the most part).  I'll have to send pictures so you can see it.

We met the neatest lady this week!  We were out contacting, had stopped to talk to this man, and as we finished we turned and felt this lady watching us.  We decided to talk to her-she ended up telling us about how her two sons had died, how she recently found out she has breast cancer, and how she felt this need to change and be cleaned in her life.  As we testified-she began to cry.  Despite being in the middle of the street, the spirit was SO strong!  We've been to teach her a couple of times, and she's been so open and accepting!  She feels so prepared!  We're praying that her heart remains open and that she gains a testimony of the gospel.  I'll try to remember to update you next week on how it goes.

Yesterday we had district conference, with all of the Armenian members.  Elder Schwietzer and his wife came (the area authority-it was their last assignment, before going back to Utah) and then Bishop Stevenson and his wife (the new presiding bishop).  The meeting was so good, but even better was the meeting we had with them and all the missionaries.  They taught us about diligence-about how diligence is more about the persistence and quality than the pace we go.  Elder Schwietzer taught how diligence is sincerly praying, one prayer at a time; keeping the commandments one day at a time; following the promptings of the spirit one prompting at a time-taking it moment by moment, but giving our all as we do so.  He talked about how in the daily diligence and persistence that we grow and become who we need to become.  Bishop Stevenson talked a bit about it too, and then talked about the song Brightly Beams our Father's Mercy (a group of Elders sang it and it was absolutely AMAZING) and how we are the lower lights.  He talked about in how important our diligence is, so that we can be the light that helps guide people to the Savior.  What a sacred responsibility we hold!  As missionaries and members!  We are so blessed!  And because of what we have and hold so dear, the Lord is asking us to help others come to Him!  How neat that the Lord has asked us to work alongside Him!  He doesn't just sit and give us directions in the work; doesn't expect us or as us to work alone.  He works with us and through us!  Can you imagine!  The Savior of the world working near us and guiding us?! Wow!  I truly know this is His work!  I know He loves us!  

I love you all!  I hope your week is wonderful! 

Love you!

Sis. Broadbent

Mary's letter June 11, 2012

Just a little side note - the first bit is in reference to Mary's best friend Callee, whose father past away this weekend, very unexpectedly.   Because Callee and Mary are like sisters and both sets of parents have often been referred to as Mom and Dad by both girls, we decided we needed to let Mary's mission Pres know about Bill's passing.  The Carter's were very understanding and I had the opportunity to have a nice chat with Pres Carter on Saturday.  They decided that since Mary would be opening the email at an internet cafe, that that wouldn't be the best place for her to hear about Bill's death, so they called her Sunday morning.

We are so blessed to have a loving Father in Heaven who cares for our every need and helps us through all things!

Barev dzez!

I can't begin to tell you how I feel about Bill-Pres. Carter called me
yesterday, both he and Sis. Carter talked with me.  My heart just
aches for the Griffins, knowing their Grandpa recently died, but I
feel so at peace-because we have the gospel.  We are so blessed!  I'm
especially worried for Callee-a little tender mercy about that.  As I
was finishing talking to Pres. Carter I was thinking about writing
her, and how much easier it would be to email.  I almost asked, but
decided that rules didn't need to be bent for me, so I determined to
write a postcard and send it, since they get there faster.  About 30
minutes after our phone call had ended, Pres. Carter called back and
said he felt like it would be a good thing if I emailed Callee-so he
gave me permission.  The Lord truly knows!
I'm so grateful the Lord is with us!  And what a blessing for Darren
following the promptings of the spirit so he could be home with the
family!  And I was thinking about what a sweet reunion in likely was
for Bill and their little boy!
Will you be sure to give them all lots of hugs for me and let them
know I send my love and am praying for them?

This week has been good-it's been fun getting into a routine with Sis.
Tolman-and so fun to introduce her to the people that I've come to
love.  It's funny, I didn't realize how much I already love them until
I was able to tell her about all of them.  Sis. Tolman is great-such a
hard worker! She grew up in Logan on a farm-so she's quickly fallen in
love with Artashat because of all the fields, gardens, and farms.  I
feel like I'm already learning so much from her-she has brought a
great perspective!  We both feel like there is so much potential here
and are working to find those who are prepared for the gospel.  I
can't remember if I told you about Virab-but we visit him daily.  He's
one of the oldest members here and for years they held church in his
home.  We always go with the intent of sharing a spiritual message,
and he ends up teaching us!  We had a really neat experience the first
day we went after Sis. Tolman came.  We had thought about what we
could share with him, prayed about it, and decided on a couple of
scriptures.  When we got to his home, he was working out in his hard
and was too busy to come in, but his daughter, who was visiting,
invited us in.  We started chatting and felt like we could share our
scriptures with her.  As we shared them and talked with her about
them, she started to cry.  She was so touched.  Through her tears, she
expressed her thanks for us and for the scriptures we had shared, she
said it was just what she needed.  Sis Tolman and I talked about how
amazing the spirit is-and the tender mercies we receive.  Since we had
prepared our lesson with Virab in mind, but we had really been able to
help his daughter.  It was the neatest experience!

So, as I thought of humility there were a few things I decided on-that
humility is recognizing the greatness of God and His hand in our
lives, it's trusting him, doing as he asks without murmuring-and it
fits with so many other things like patience, faith, charity,
knowledge.  It's also like dad said-becoming the Sons and Daughters of
God.  As I've read from the Book of Mormon this week, I've decided
that to really become a child of God-we have to have that change of
heart.  We have to become converted.  And while we are all His
children-it is different to BECOME His Sons and Daughters.

Just about out of time.  But I know-I've felt more than ever the past
couple of weeks-that God is our literal Heavenly Father.  He knows us,
He's aware of us, and He is near us.  He gave us His Son!  And because
of His Son, we have the opportunity to be with our family forever!
The Restored Gospel of Jesus Christ-He gospel in its fullness has been
restored to the Earth and we are apart of that blessing! I know it is
true!

I love you all!  I hope this next week is great!

Metz sirov,

Kuyr Broadbent


ps-I just realized I didn't write about Zone conference-but it was amazing!

Love you!