Mary's Mission 20 May 2013

Barev family jan! 

  I can't believe that school is almost out! Life sure is good, isn't it?! Our Heavenly Father has blessed us so much!  We're on exchanges again, this time Sister Wynn came to me and Sister Ledingham went to Artashat.  I love them both-I love seeing the different gifts the Lord has given each of us and how He uses each of us and our talents to help the work go forward.  

We have had so much rain the last few weeks.  So much.  I love it.  We'll have a half a day of sunshine and gorgeous weather and then in an instant it changes and is pours.  The rain always reminds me of that primary song that says "I like to look for rainbows whenever there is rain and ponder on the beauty of an earth made clean again.  I want my life to be as clean as earth right after rain, I want to be the best I can and live with God again."  I love that song.  

I feel like we had a pretty good week.  Robert (Hasmik's husband) passed his baptismal interview yesterday and will be baptized tomorrow.  He is so much more at peace and has so much joy in his eyes constantly.  He was a good man before, but the change the gospel has brought has made him so much better.  I know it will continue to change him.    One of our new investigators, Manushak, is a miracle and evidence of the subtle promptings and small workings of the Lord.  We talked with her over a month ago on the street but we haven't been able to contact her.  The last couple of weeks I've thought about her a few times, and even more this week.  I just kept remembering the conversation we had with her.  We called and were able to talk and able to get into her home.  As we talked, she expressed two things that amazed me.  First, she told us how she began smoking years ago, feels it isn't pleasing to the Lord, asked what we thought, and then asked if we could help her quit.  Wow.  Of course we can.  Then, she talked about some friends and relatives she has that are part of other faiths that have asked her to join them and she just hasn't been able to.  She told us that anytime anyone would try and talk to her on the street, especially about religion, that she would immediately tell them she wasn't interested and then continue on her way.  But with us, she said she felt a little prompting that made her want to talk with us and accept us into her home.  She expressed not knowing why before she had never been able to accept other religions, and then she said it must be because Heavenly Father wanted her to find us and accept our teachings.  Wow.  The Lord truly does prepare His children to hear His message!  Then this morning as I was studying, I came across a couple of things, one, a quote from President Monson that says "The more we act upon the inspiration and impressions which come to us, the more the Lord will entrust us with His errands."  I couldn't help but think about what would have happened if we hadn't listened to that small prompting to call Manushak.  The Lord truly works through small means to bring about His purposes.  The second quote I came across was from President Eyring that says "God will put prepared people in the way of His prepared servants who want to share the gospel....How often it happens depends on the preparation of your mind and your heart."  As I thought about those two quotes, I thought about the need to improve-the change and become, so that I can be prepared in my heart and mind and so that I can always follow the promptings of the Spirit.  What can each of you do to be the Lord's prepared servants?  As a missionary, I can honestly say that we need the help of the members so much-the example you set and inviting friends and family to learn does so much more for the work than we could ever do.  Will you pray for opportunities to share the gospel daily?  Sister Wynn and I were also talking about the Atonement and I have to express how grateful I am for our Savior; who suffered beyond all comprehension so that we can be cleansed from our sins and so that we can improve.  So that we can change from good to better and better to best.  And not just in spiritual ways, but in every aspect of our lives.  I know He is God's Son, our Savior and Redeemer, my Savior and Redeemer; He is our friend and comfortor.  He gives us strength to do and be so much more than we could ever be on our own.

I also want to express my thanks for teaching us to be worthy to enter the temple always.  And for setting the example by going to the temple.  We've been talking a lot about the importance of the temple lately and how really, baptism is necessary so that we can reach our goal of going to the temple.  Baptism is not enough.  Thank you, Mom and Dad, for taking us to do sealings so I could have that picture in my mind, so I could remember the real goal.  You are the greatest! 

I love you family!  You are the best! Have a great week! 

Metz sirov,

Quyr Broadb

Mary's Mission 6 May

Barev Family!!

It sounds like your week was good! I'm glad women's conference went well! You always come back raving about it! I honestly had forgotten that it is already that time of year!  Thanks for the pictures as well-they are beautiful! Be sure to tell Jon and Jess, and Melissa and Matt congratulations! 

Where to begin?  I'm not exactly sure.  We moved out of our apartment, were in between apartments and we are now living in one of the nicest apartments I have ever seen.  Even the senior couples were jealous of it.  It's funny, because it really is great, but there is always opposition, right?  We nearly got locked in our house and locked out of it.  The door is just a beast-I guess we'll be gaining some upper body strength while we're here :) Being out of our apartment and with the other sisters for a few days was good, I feel like I was reminded of the most important things and I was reminded of how important this work is! As we went back and forth to Arabkir, I couldn't help but be grateful that we usually live right in the center of our area, especially when at the end of the week I was feeling like we were losing so much time to traveling, but the Lord is still so good to us, despite our circumstances, our imperfections, and our weaknesses.  Hasmik's baptism was amazing.  President Carter invited all the rest of her family to work towards baptism before the end of the month so that in a year from now they can be ready to go to the temple with the group that will be going.  And she bore the sweetest testimony! I wish you all could meet these people!

I don't know how we've been so blessed lately! And it's not just us! The entire mission is just flourishing!  The Lord is just so good to us-we are truly nothing without Him.  As I watch the work go forward here, I am just amazed at the goodness and greatness of it all.  The Lord is truly apart of everything! Last week during our district meeting I was overwhelmed with gratitude for our other missionaries.  We've been working with some of our investigators, feeling at a loss for what to do, and then learning from our Elders and Sisters, feeling their strength, and being uplifted by their prayers was a huge blessing.  I am amazed at their great ability to embrace and live the Christlike attributes and am humbled by their example of Christlike service.  During our meeting someone made a comment about understanding the why of getting baptized, and feeling that perhaps I had lost sight of that, I determined to study it throughout the week.  Our Heavenly Father is truly so good to us! He's given us the opportunity to show Him our willingness to do as He asks, to promise to follow Him, and He promises so many blessings in return! Not just blessings for this life, but blessings for eternity.  All by accepting the invitation to follow the example of our Savior and enter the waters of baptism.  Why is baptism so important to you?

Yesterday, we had a really neat sacrament meeting.  We had an elder here that served here 20 years ago with his wife (when the church was new in Armenia), a man that was baptized as a young boy by that elder and the man's beautiful family.  They all live in Utah now, but they came to visit the wife's family.  The first time back here in over 10 years.  They each bore testimony of the gospel and as I listened to the testimonies of them, as well as our local members, all from different walks of life, my own testimony was strengthened.  This is the church of Jesus Christ and this is the only way back to our Father.  

I love you my dear Family! You are the best! I hope and pray that as we each go forward this week that we can remember all the wonderful blessings the Lord has given us and that each of us will give our best to Him, after all, He has given His best to us.

Have a great week! Can't wait to talk with you (it's hard to believe that it's that time already!!)

Metz sirov

Quyr Broadbent

Mary's Mission 30 April 2013

Barev Family jan!!

Can you believe that it is already May?! Time is such an interesting things-I think I've always felt that way, but even more so now as a missionary.  I feel the Lord extends each of our days, so that each day often feels like multiple days in one, but then when the end of the week comes around or the end of the month, it feels like it has passed so quickly.  Bizarre.  I know it's all part of the Lord's plan, all in His timing.  I have felt and seen His hand time and time again.  I know this is His work.

I am so happy for Kami and Phillip and the Foulgers! I think you said it so well Mom, the temple is the best place to be! One of our members recently returned from a mission on temple square and I think for her that is the thing she misses the most-being with in the peaceful walls of the Lord's house.  We are so blessed to have so many so close!!

I can't express how blessed I feel as we have witnessed a baptism this last week and will have another one in a couple of days.  The Lord is so good to us.  We have so much more to do! Sister Ledingham and I have been feeling the need to find some families, so as we are out, we are looking for those who seem to have light with them.  It is often so sad to see people reject what we know makes such a huge difference and reject what we know is true, but I know that the Lord is preparing people here-I just feel like there is so much potential here, people are just waiting to be noticed, waiting for their chance to come to the Lord.  I was reminded this week as I read two talks from Priesthood session of the great importance of member work and how we truly can't do this work without members.  You are much more important in the work than we are.  Will you each pray to have a missionary experience every day?  Will you pray for help to follow those promptings that come?  And will you pray for direction to be where the Lord wants you to be?  I know the Lord is using you as His hands.  You are the light that brings people to the gospel.  As I read from President Monson's talk, I realized that while I may not be the member at the moment, I have a great need to be better about having diligent scripture study, planning, teaching with testimony, and serving with love.  Then as I've thought some more about the Atonement and the infinite love that Christ has for us, so much that He willingly gave His life for each of us.  While He willingly sacrificed for the world, I feel strongly that He would have willingly sacrificed if there had only been one of us.  With that in mind, I couldn't help but think about these people.  Do I love them enough?  Enough to sacrifice everything?  Would I give my life for them?  There is so much more to give-they deserve more than the best from me.

Sister Ledingham is just great! She gave an excellent suggestion for us to read the Book of Mormon together during our meals, and I love it!  I feel the Lord knew I needed it!  She is so insecure in her abilities as a missionary; I just wish she could see what I see and I'm positive what the Lord sees is so much more!  I think it's something that everyone must learn; that love and service are so much more important than how well we can or cannot form our sentences.  No matter the words we say, it's the way we love and serve that make the difference.  Will you keep her in your prayers?

Hasmik is so excited to be baptized! She has invited all of her family to come to the baptism and her husband came with her to church yesterday. And Asya was just filled with so much light when we saw her on Sunday. There is truly nothing better than the light of the gospel!

We were able to go to the genocide memorial just a couple of days after the memorial day.  There were so many flowers! It has been 98 years and yet there is still so much mourning and hurt over it.  As Branch President and I talked a little bit that day about the mourning that still goes on and the need to move forward and look to a brighter future, I couldn't help but think about how the gospel promises us that. I know the Lord wants it for them.

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

Metz sirov,

Quyr Broadbent

Sister Ledingham and I at the Genocide memorial (those are all flowers behind us)

The group at the baptism, we had two other wonderful women baptized at the same time, and we had some great support from our branch. 

Mary's Mission 22 April 2013

Barev marev im sireliner! 

I know I always say we had a great week, but I have to say it again, because it was great. When Sister Haglund was first new in country, she talked about how where they are is so much better than they ever could have imagined, because of the Lord.  I think maybe that's why each week is just so great; the way the Lord blesses us is always far beyond anything I could ever expect or imagine.  Granted, I am positive that He wants even more for us and that we have so much more to do in order to receive those blessings, but I am so grateful for all that He does give to us, inspite of our weaknesses.

We've had quite the week of rain this week-we've nearly gotten caught in a down pour a couple of times and I just love it! I love how everything is evidence of our Father's love and hand in our lives.  As we were talking with one of our investigators, she reminded me of how the Lord takes care of us and helps us conquer our trials.  What a good woman.  There are so many wonderful people here! As we were sitting in our Branch council this last week, Branch President started giving us life advice.  I love that man.  I wish you could all meet him, get to know him, and love him the way I do.  He is a great man.  He reminds me a lot of you Dad.

We're working towards a couple of baptisms with in the next couple of weeks-two wonderful women, Hasmik and Asia, both from different walks of life, and both prepared by the Lord to accept His gospel.  Both of them have taken us in as their daughters and have offered to make our meals for us :)  I love armenians!  It is so great to learn from them, from the experiences that they've each had and to grow with them in the gospel.  It is so neat to feel their testimonies grow as they each gain a witness of the truthfulness of the gospel.  I think it is so phenominal how the Lord knows each of us and works with each of us in different ways, how different things speak to our hearts, if our hearts are open to the whisperings of the spirit. 

I was studying a little bit about sacrifice and tithing this week.  What do you all think?  Why is tithing so important?  What blessings have you received from paying tithing?

One more quick thing- I just want to testify about the truthfulness of the Book of Mormon.  I love it.  I know it is the word of God and that it is the evidence that this is Christ's church.  It was written for our day-for each and every one of us.  And I know it helps us draw nearer to our Father in Heaven and Jesus Christ.  I have seen it work miracles time and time again in the lives of people and I know it brings miracles into our lives as well.  This is the work of God, there is no way it's not.  

Be sure to tell Phillip and Megan congrats, as well as Kami! That is so great! I CANNOT wait to hear where Josh is going!!!! 

I love you all!!! You are the best! I hope you have a great week! You are all in my thoughts and prayers! 

Love you!

Metz sirov,

Quyr Broadbent  

eli barev!

I completely forgot, yesterday in church we had an amazing Sunday school lesson all about family history, being perfected with our families, and knitting our hearts together with family and ancestors.  It was truly amazing.  With that in mind, I was just thinking about how even though taking names to the temple there is so much more to family history than that.  Our hearts are knit together as we learn about the lives of those who have gone before, and even as we talk with each other about our own experiences.  Will you make time to write down memories you have?  Have grandma and grandpa, of mom and dad, of growing up, of personal experiences?  Talk with each other, share what you remember and let your hearts be knit together.  Let's strengthen our family relationships and bonds, since our family is the greatest thing we could ever have or wish to have?  Let's make some time for each other and support one another a little more every day.  

Mary's Mission 15 April 2013

Barev Family!!

I have to start by saying, I love this gospel! After being uplifted and reminded of many things during zone conference and after being fed by our prophet and apostles, I want to testify that I know this is truly the Gospel of Jesus Christ and He is the head of our church.  We met a man on Friday that we talked with, he adamantly refused to believe that there could be a living prophet or apostles and told us we were being deceived for believing such a thing.  After listening to our beloved prophet and apostles, my testimony was strengthened yet again.  I know Thomas S. Monson is the prophet of God and that he receives revelation in behalf of the entire world, as do the Apostles.  How can it not be true?  We are blessed beyond measure. It was kind of neat as we watched conference and as I thought about some of the questons I had as well as what Patriarch Newinshwander talked about, I felt very strongly that while, yes, I am here to share the gospel (which I love doing) I am here to learn to be a better mom, especially since family is most important.  I hope I'm learning it...and becoming.  Like you said, conference was WONDERFUL!! I love it!  We watched 4 hours on Saturday and 4 more on Sunday, with a small break in between.  One of our investigators loved it, a lot-which is perfect!  We talked with most of our investigators about praying about President Monson, to know if he is God's prophet.  Even if we already know, it never hurts to strengthen that testimony.  Will you each pray about President Monson?  You will be strengthened and blessed as you live his teachings.  I know he speaks with God in our behalf and I know he speaks God's word.

As we met with Hasmik this week we had a pretty neat experience.  She has read through all of 2 Nephi and she was talking about how much she loved chapter 25.  She said she asked her daughter to read some of those chapters and she said that as she reads, she sometimes just stops and asks her family to listen because she just loves it so much.  She told us that she just wants them to read and feel what she is.  She has tasted the sweetness of the gospel and wants to share it so badly.  It is amazing to see a living Lehi in our midst.

Valodia is doing ok.  We don't know how to help him, he is already on his 15th day of not smoking, but it is still hard.  He refuses to accept help, he thinks he has to do it alone and it just hurts so much, because I know that our Savior does not want him or expect him to do it alone, if he will only accept the help the Savior offers.  How do we help him come to understand this great truth?

I CANNOT wait to hear where both Kami and Josh are going!! I'm not sure I can wait! I might burst before I find out! I keep telling people that maybe Josh will come here, since I already have name tags that say Elder Broadbent.  Plus, what could be better than to always have someone to speak Armenian with?  Wherever he goes, I know it's where the Lord wants him to be.

Well family, I love you all! I hope you all have a great springy week, full of smiles and sunshine! And I hope you constantly remember how the Lord is watching over each of you! I know He is and I know He loves you! 

Metz sirov,

Quyr Broadbent  

Mary & Sister Ledingham

A couple of pictures of members in the ward in Yeravan.

Mary's Mission 8 April 2013

Barev im sireliner!

Oh how I always look forward to your emails! I always feel so uplifted and so strengthened by you! I can truly feel your prayers! It's so interesting, because here we had a fantastic week and yet somehow I still needed your strength.  Thank you for being so wonderful! I told President Carter last week that it's so strange, because tears come so much easier now than they ever have before (I guess I'm beginning to learn from Dad). And as I read your letter, even though there wasn't anything terribly moving and I wasn't feeling a need for a boost, I got tears in my eyes.  I love you family! I will be forever grateful to have been blessed with such a wonderful family!  Be sure to tell Brian and Becky congratulations-it is so good to hear about how they were able to be sealed to Gabe.  They are doing wonderful things and changing lives! 

Just a bit of news-President Carter said that along with what has come from the missionary department we are allowed to accept emails and email those who aren't family. (for those of you who would like to email Mary - her email address is mary.broadbent@myldsmail.net)

We haven't been able to watch conference yet, we'll be watching it on Saturday and Sunday and I am super excited! We heard one of our english members listening to some of it yesterday and I just became so anxious to watch it! I can't wait because I know it'll be great! 

We have an investigator we just started teaching and she is wonderful!  She has accepted to be baptized the beginning of May, has already read more than half of 1 Nephi, and is already calling herself a member.  She was telling us during one of our lessons how she has met several of our members and felt really good about the church.  Then a few months ago she was on a marshutni and heard a couple of people talking about The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-Day Saints.  At that time she felt that is what she was searching for and that she needed to become apart of the church, and now here she is already making so much progress!  Truly, the Lord prepares people for the gospel! Our examples, actions, and words can leave huge impressions on people and change their lives, even though we may have no idea that such a thing took place.  I know the Lord works through us! Who we are is so important!  Our example speaks so loud!  It is a miracle and I feel so blessed to be a small part of it!  What can we each do to be a better example to those around us?

The last couple of weeks I've been watching one of the trees outside our apartment come to life, it's been so neat to see the small, daily progress and to see how much it's changed in the last couple of weeks.  I've loved watching is as each branch slowly bloomed, and then had the blossoms fall and the leaves start to appear and grow.  I feel the tree is much like us-we change ever so subtly, often so little at a time that we don't notice until years later, but if we are observant, we will notice our growth in the small things.  More importantly, we can always remember that our Heavenly Father is so aware of our progress and growth, even if we don't notice.

I don't know what else to say, besides that I love you all and am constantly praying for you! You are the BEST!  Have a fantastic week!!  I hope all goes well and that you stay safe!

Metz Sirov

Quyr Broadbent

I would love to send pictures, but sadly, our internet place doesn't have any places for USB.  I guess we'll just have to wait.  Also, can't wait to hear where Josh will be going!! :)  

Just a bit I read this morning, some food for thought, how are we doing?  Mosiah 4:15-26

Love you!

Mary's Mission April 1

Barev Family!!

I just have to say, and I know I say it often, you are the BEST!  Thank you family for all you do! Thank you for who you are!  (An extra thanks to you Mom and Dad!!)  

We are beyond blessed, there is no other way to say it.  Our Heavenly Father is so aware of us and He is truly guiding our lives.  We celebrated Easter with a couple of our members yesterday.  One has been a member for nearly 20 years and has served so much and done so much to build the church here.  Truly a pioneer.  The other was the branch president's family-the branch president reminds me a lot of you, Dad.  Just a great man.  Easter meals are so different than at home; so simple and so wonderful.  The traditional meal consists of rice and raisens (kind of sweet and really good), lavash (a kind of tortilla thing, but better), spinach cooked with eggs, and of course hardboiled eggs.  While we color our eggs all different colors, the traditional here is to dye them red, to represent the blood of Christ.  They also have a little "egg war" where you crack each other's eggs (hard to describe...).  It was so simple, but just wonderful as we were able to spend time together and remember the sacrifice of our Savior.

As simple or as little as it is, this week as I studied about the Atonement and as we prepared for lessons, I was reminded of the great love that our Savior has for each of us.  He knows us and is with us.  He is the head of this church.  There is a quote that used to be on the wall of our apartment that goes something like this "The gospel of Jesus Christ isn't about the Atonement...it is the Atonement"  I realized this week as I studied just how true that is.  Everything we teach and do eventually comes back to our Savior.  We are nothing without Him.  

Sister Ledingham is doing so well! She doubts herself so much, but she is working and improving rapidly.  She's a go getter, that's for sure.  She is teaching me so much-she is so good at constantly thinking about the needs of our investigators and members.  And she reminded me how we need to learn from every situation when we were talking about one of our investigators she said "even if it doesn't work out, there's something we need to learn from this, about our teaching and where our emphasis is" I think I said it last week, but I'll say it again, she is training me, much how Sister Nelsen did, just in different areas.  I know the Lord knows what we need, even if it's not what we would expect.  He truly answers our prayers through others.

I guess I don't have a lot to say today!  Just wanted to wish you a Happy Easter again!  Enjoy General Conference! I know we all are at a different place in life, with different questions and concerns.  Will you write down those questions and concerns and keep them in mind during Conference?  I know if we listen with an open heart and listen to the promptings of the spirit we will find the answers and the things we need most in our lives.

I love you family!! Have a GREAT week! Hopefully the weather will continue to hold for you! We couldn't have had more perfect weather for Easter here-especially to see all of the trees budding and flowers blooming and with the sun shining and Mt. Ararat in the background. (I'd send pictures, but the computer doesn't allow it)  Mmmmmm-so wonderful! 

Love you!!  Can't wait to hear where Josh and Kami are going....

Metz sirov,

Quyr Broadbent