The week of Jalizza

So this week we were planning on going to this super sick church in Jalizza and it was going to be super cool. 

We were all super excited to go and it was going to be super cool. So when we got there we found out that 

the church was in Georgia and not in Armenia so, that wasn't allowed. But the village was still super beautiful 

and now I can say that I have seen Georgia. So that was cool. Then we went back to Alaverdi and saw some 

other churches and it was super cool. I just love being able to see all of these churches. This one was not as 

cool as last week, but still cool. So that is what I did today that made me late. 

This week we were on splits for a couple days and it was super nice to be able to go with the District leader 

and be with someone that can actually speak the language with me. It is not that hard anymore to teach a 

lesson, but it is just nice to have someone there with me. I am not saying that Elder Gray doesn't help me 

because he does, but I remember when I was where he was. It was hard and I did not really understand 

anything so it was super nice to be able to teach with unity and off of each other. I am doing super good 

here in Armenia just need to keep working hard.

So this week I was reading in Exodus where Moses was trying to do everything for the people on his own, 

but life can not be like that. I mean heck even God doesn't do everything by himself. Even though he can, 

he distributes some load to Jesus Christ. He tells him to create the world. I think that is one reason we 

have families so we can help each other. I mean how nice do you feel when some one does something 

nice for you without asking. I would say pretty good because that is showing that he or she cares about 

you a lot. So if you see someone this coming week having a big load on their plates ask how you can 

help them, or maybe do something that you know that they have to do this week. That is my invitation 

this week and something that I learned that I can do a better job of in my studies this week.

I love you all so much, I don't think that I can say it enough. I know that this church is true and I only 

found this our because I read the Book of Mormon. Do not let the proof of this religion just sit on a 

shelf read it and find out and if you have already read it and found out then read it again. The Lord is 

always ready to teach you knew things. 

Have an amazing week!

Elder Sproul 

I know I am late today

I know I know that all you guys are thinking where is he. He didn't email the time that he usually does, but I 

have a good reason. For this P-day we went up to these super cool churches and to be able to go to all of 

them we went up to do service with some of the other elders in my district and then we went to the churches. 

They were so cool and they really represented Armenia and how much they have been through. It was really 

sad seeing all of the churches and how much work was put into them with all the fresco, but the Soviet Union 

came and destroyed it all. They for some reason wanted to tear down their religion. Some of them are still 

there, but not nearly as much as many as before. So I will be sending some more pictures in an email of just 

the frescos, but that is some of what we saw this week. Super cool and I wonder why we still don't do art like 

that. SO beautiful and just the craftsmanship that it takes to do that is really amazing. So yeah that is why I 

am late. 

Then this week we had a baptism; I can't send any pictures because I only have them with me and my 

investigator and I cant send them with Armenians, but it was super amazing and I can tell that she has changed 

a ton. As soon as she got out of the water you could see how happy she was that she could make that step to 

come closer to God. It really just makes me think about the sacrament more and more and the importance of it. 

It really is the only reason we go to church to hear that prayer and partake of the sacrament. Jesus has done 

everything for us, without him we could not live with our Heavenly Father again. So as you partake of the 

sacrament this week I want to invite all of you to think of everything he has done for you and what you 

could do to show him that appreciation. will you do that?

So yeah this last week one of my investigators challenged me to read the bible from cover to cover and if 

I read 6 chapters a day I will finish in 6 months, so I started that because I think that it is important to read 

it and I never have. Especially here in Armenia where everyone knows the Bible. So if you want to read with 

me feel free. I loved reading about it and I just finished genesis. So yeah I have been reading that and what 

I have learned is that the Lord works in mysterious ways. I mean talk about selling Joseph to Egypt then the 

famine happening. Without Joseph being there and controlling the food his family would have died. It just 

shows how the Lord doesn't always work in the way we want him to, but whether it is a trial we are in or 

whatever the whatever is. The Lord is always doing things for our benefit. 

I love you guys so much and I know that this church is true with all my heart and if you haven't found out all 

you have to do it read and ask God - he will answer you I promise. 

Elder Sproul 

I have always known the church is true

This week we started out with us going to a super old church up in Alivardi. Last P-day was super fun because we were able to go all together and see where Armenia started and why they are the way they are. They are super devout christians and I can tell why. Everyone here believes in Christ and if you dont then you are an outlier. The church was super beautiful and I just loved every second of it. 

So this week we were doing service for this member in the ward and we showed up 30 minutes early and he wasn't there, but there was this woman there that we have never seen before and we asked if she lived there and she does. Taken I have been there a ton of times and never seen her there, I was a little surprised.  So he showed up and everything was fine and we were doing the service, but 2 and a half hours later when it was time to leave he just started yelling at us because we didn't call him and were leaving. He was yelling at us and was like f you, you need to call me. Oh and he was saying he was going to call my last companion and say how bad I am. Definitely not the best thing, but I was just like okay and we left. He got mad because we saw his adultery, but that is not my fault. He ended up apologizing the next day at church but still. Our Branch president said i shouldn't go over there any more and I agreed. The whole point in saying this is because I didn't care that he was mad at us for seeing his sin or that woman. I was just glad that we got to serve him. It is like Elder Holland says that is was never easy for Jesus Christ and if it was never easy for him then it wouldn't be easy for us. As missionaries and representatives of Jesus Christ we are meant to feel at least some of what he felt. I was excited that I was able to do his work and feel some of what he felt. 

Other than that this week was good. Our investigators are progressing and are doing well. This week I grew a ton and found out the importance of planning for your investigators. 

I know that this church is true and if you get rejected think how many times that the Savior got rejected. I mean heck he got crucified. They hated him so much that they wanted to crucify him. Every time that something bad happens just remember the Savior and remember that we don't nearly have it as bad as he did. He was prefect in every single way and still was ridiculed. I love you guys so much and have an amazing week!

Elder Sproul     

It's getting a little bit easier

These past few weeks I have been training as all of you know. One thing that I have heard that I now know 

is true it for the first two weeks it is super hard to be a trainer, but after that it gets easier. I definitely can 

attest that it is true. In the beginning it was super hard, because a lot of it was all of me, but now as I am 

learning the language more and more and becoming a better teacher it just is coming. The Lord really 

does work with you, but you just have to jump right into it. I heard from the area seventy in this area 

that most of the time you receive revelation in the moment. It doesn't mean that you can not receive it 

at other times, but most of the time in the moment is when you will receive revelation. I have definitely

seen that. Most of the time for me it is a thought of something to say. The reason why I said this is because

we can all receive revelation, but we won't receive revelation until we act. Acting means reading, praying, 

going to church,or listening to a conference talk. There are so many things that we can do to "Act". If you 

want to receive an answer from the Holy Ghost then do one of those things. Oh and always ask the lord. 

That will be my invitation this week. If you have a question for the Lord. Ask and show Him that you want 

to receive an answer through acting. 

This week not a whole ton happened! Just regular missionary work and our investigator came to church. 

She is doing super well. I think one reason she is doing well because she has her sister and her grandma 

as members. It just makes it so much easier when people in your home are members and you have 

friends in the church. I know I say this all the time, but it is so true. 

I love you all so much and have an amazing week. Seek the Lord this week and show him you want an 

answer though you actions. If we don't show that we want an answer why would he want to give us an answer?

Elder Sproul

My companion is the one with the pickax