Thanksgiving Week

So this week started out right after I finished writing you guys last week! I start there because it was the day that 

all three of us were sick. We think that it was something we ate, but we are not completely sure what it was that 

we ate. One thing that we do know though is that we all threw up and that we all felt better after we threw up. 

So yeah that was basically our Monday. A lazy day at home just sitting around because we all did not feel good. 

Then it came to Tuesday where I had to give my first district meeting ever. I was nervous that it would not be 

that good, but everything went well. Actually a lot better than I expected it to. I did it on asking questions. 

Sometimes here we get in the mode of just teaching and not making sure to ask enough questions. So that is 

why I wanted to do that. It it important to know what the investigators are thinking and we can not know that 

unless we ask. 

In Alaverdi we had some pretty normal visits and was basically a normal week. One thing that we have been 

focusing on in all of Armenia is finding males. We need to find males so that the church here can grow. That 

has been the problem a lot of places is there are a lot of females and not so many males in the church and we 

need males so that they can run the meetings through the priesthood. One thing that was really cool was that 

we found this guy a couple weeks ago cutting wood outside of his garage. We went over to him and asked 

him if we could help because he is this 68 year old man trying to cut his wood. Surprisingly, he does pretty 

well for himself but we wanted to help. We were teaching this guy and he was about to say his first prayer 

ever. He said these words, " please help me god so that I can live 12 more years and go out peacefully and 

that my family will be safe." I thought it was such a good prayer, but funny too. I mean all he wants in life is 

to live a little longer and go out peacefully. He told us a story that he was going to come to church and he 

did! So there are males to be found in Armenia we just have to go and find them and make the church 

stronger here in Armenia. 

Some other things that happened this week was thanksgiving dinner as a zone. The food was good and we 

actually had a turkey there which I did not think that we would have at all. The interesting thing is that in 

Armenian the word for turkey and chicken smashed together. So I guess when we all eat turkey we are eating 

Indian chicken. So the food was good it just was not the same as being with family and seeing all of you guys. 

This was my first real holiday away from home besides Easter, but this holiday we are just usually all together 

and it just felt different than all the other years. I mean I am in Armenia it is not going to be the same thing, 

but I just missed you guys on that day. 

Other than that I have been really enjoying reading the Book of Mormon in Armenian. As in English there are 

a lot of words that we do not really use when we speak in the Book of Mormon so it is a little harder to 

understand them when I speak with people. With people I can understand basically everything, but the 

Book of Mormon is definitely a lot less. I am understanding more and more though. I like reading the 

Book of Mormon. It is definitely something I want to do for the rest of my life, and reading in Armenian helps 

me learn the language more fully. 

Always remember to read the Book of Mormon it will bless your life in more ways that you know! I love all of 

you and most importantly is God loves you have a great week.

Elder Sproul 

Getting used to the area

We have been taking some time getting used to the area! It is nice finding out where members live and where the less active members life. That is probably the hardest part about going to a new area is that you literally know nothing and are just trusting the previous missionary that was here before. It will all come in time though. It always does. I have learned so much this transfer and how to make things better in an area. If you did not know I am also district leader right now. So tomorrow I will be having my first district meeting. We will see how that goes. 

Another thing that happened this week was we had a member of the 70 come and talk to our mission. His name is Elder Martino. He told us that there are 4 things he has seen members do, that help them to never fall away.

1. Family and personal prayer

2. Family and personal scripture study

3. Family home evening

4. Pay a full tithe 

If we do these things he promised us that we will never fall away from the church. So if you are not doing one of this things, I ask you to start doing them all. If you do. I promise that you will never fall away from the church. It is important to get our kids started out on the foot.  It is amazing how simple it is, but so important.

We have had a ton of travel this week because we had to go to the office this week. It was district conference this week and everyone gathered in Yerevan. Which is about 4 and a half hours from my area. So yeah that was my week. I learned my area and spent a lot of time in the car. 

I know that this church is true and all you have to do is read the book to find out. So read the book and pray about it. YOU will get an answer. I promise! 

Elder Sproul 

So, Transfers Happened

So this week I got transferred to a new area. This new area is still in the same district that I was in before, so I kind of know the area. I know the area because I have been on splits here and met some of the members through that. If you want to look up the area on google the name of the area is Alaverdi. It is a super small area and it one of the smallest areas in Armenia. We have about 60 members in the area and about 25 people come to church every week. One thing that is cool is that I am in a trio so that we can meet the members there. Almost all of the members in Alaverdi are Women, so it has been hard to meet the members there. They made us a trio so that we can meet these people without having to have an extra male present. It makes things so much easier because last transfer I saw the difficulties of that area, but with the trio it is like all of the problems just went away. So yeah for the next 3 months I will be in Alaverdi. 

Okay I want to go into one miracle that happened this week. So yesterday morning Elder Web one of my companions. (my other companion is Elder Ebert). So Elder Web got up in the morning and said that today we are going to find a male that is in his 30s and is married with 2 kids. He also said that he would smoke and drink a little, but would want to quit. So we were going to one of our meeting and we we were talking to this tatik, when this man with 2 little kids is walking up the road. I thought this is him, so I said hello as the other two Elders were talking to the tatik still. We started talking to him and found out that he was married and that he wanted to meet with us again. We still do not know if he smokes or drinks, but he did look like he was in his 30s. He did seem like the person that doesn't do a lot of that stuff, but a little. It is just amazing that if you rely on the Lord it will happen. I did not think much of it when Elder Web said that, but when I saw this man I was like no really? Is this him? Just crazy how the Lord brings miracles to your life. Just rely on the Lord for everything and good things will happen. 

So this week one thing that I learned that I will use for the rest of my life was actually something that I was watching on Lds.org during emails. It was how one question can put life in perspective. So now every time I make a decision, get mad, or want to do something contrary to what you know is right. Think about this one question, would it matter in 1000 years? I just want you to ponder that question and if it would not matter in 1000 years than take it out of your life.

I am super excited for this next transfer and it should go super well. As always pray to our Heavenly Father every day. He is always there to answer our questions. Ask and ye shall receive knock and it shall be opened unto you. I love you guys so much and have an amazing week. If you want to watch that video it is on Lds.org just look for it. 

Elder Sproul 

I learned this week, to make an area better than you got there.

Transfer Week!

So yesterday were transfer calls and this time they did transfers a little bit differently than they usually do. 

They called us and told us whether we are going to change places and needed to pack our bags or we were 

going to stay were we are at. So this Friday, I will be going to Yerevan and at that time I will find out where 

I am going. In other words my area is changing, but I do not know where to yet. 

This week, we had this meeting with the area doctor from Russia! The meeting was super cool because the 

sister that came was psychologist. She told us about one thing that I am actually going to implement when 

I become a parent and on my mission. She told us that one thing that parents do a lot is they say you are 

the best and there is no one better than you or something a long those lines. I know I remember hearing 

that a time or two growing up, whether playing sports or school or whatever the whatever is. I have heard 

that before. She said that instead of saying that, we should praise their efforts. If we praise their efforts 

then they will realize that it was their efforts that brought them there and got them to be that good. At 

that time they will want to work harder and do more work because they have seen the results of their 

efforts. I want to apply this in my missionary work and when I become a parent and I invite all of you to 

do this. Praise peoples' efforts not their ability. I promise that if you do that you will see them getting 

better and doing more work to get better.

Then this week I want to invite you all to listen to a talk by Brad Wilcox. This is probably my favorite talk 

and it really helps me understand why we are on this earth and what we have to do on this earth. I do not 

want to spoil it for you, but just listen to the talk and I promise you will love it. 

I love you guys so much and I know that with out a doubt this gospel is true! Always remember and I know 

I say this a lot, but read your scriptures everyday. Even if it is one verse. From the words of Elder Holland, 

"that is the good thing about this gospel we get credit for trying." I know that we are not perfect and we 

will not be on this earth, but we have to try. When we try the Lord will bless us and do wonders in our life. 

You can listen to that talk too. It is amazing. it is called " Tomorrow the lord will do wonders among you." 

These are two of my favorite talks. Let me know what you think and write your thoughts down as you 

listen to these two talks. I love you so much and have an amazing week!

Elder Sproul 

Brad Wilcox - His Grace is Sufficient

Khash

So this week I had the wonderful opportunity to eat khash for the first time. If you don't know what this is there 

will be some pictures to follow and there are plenty on the internet as well. This is an Armenian dish and they 

make it by taking the cow's hoof and putting it in water for eight 8 hours and then eating it the next morning. 

When they go to eat it they put the broth in a bowl and break up some dried lavash ( basically tortilla) into a 

bowl and then that is it. Oh and then some meat is there to. I would not say that it was the worst thing that I 

have ever eaten, but it definitely was no where close to the best thing that I have eaten. I just had to try it 

because it is a Armenian delicacy. 

We had a branch night this week and I was able to teach my branch how to play scum. They love card games so 

it is nice that I know a ton. I was wondering if you could write all the games that you know and send them to me 

so that I can play them. It was nice to get to know them a little better and just grow as a branch. 

It was a pretty normal week, I am loving my time here. We meet some investigators and taught some members! 

I love all you guys so much. I know I say this a lot, but really always remember to pray to our Father in Heaven. 

Always remember there are 2 things that faith can not do and it can be found in Uchtdorf's talk 4th floor - last 

door. I invite all of you to read or listen to that talk. 

I love all of you and have an amazing week!

Elder Sproul