New Letter from Elder Catchatoorian, March 10, 2014

Happy Monday my brethren and sistren!

It's always the best to hear from and talk to you all on P-day. It gives me the perfect boost to begin my week. :)

Thankfully, this past week didn't feel like an eternity (it went by a lot quicker than my first week here). I'm beginning to adjust to the many changes and I'm learning a lot along the way!

Elder Allan and I have spent quite a bit of time stopping by members' homes and getting to know them. I personally believe that establishing a relationship with the members is so important. It's also nice to put faces with all the names I have on my ward list! I absolutely love when we knock on a member's door, they see that we are missionaries, and they invite us in their home without hesitation. The Circle City Ward is huge and there are so many people I have yet to meet!

My name is still a hit. Everyone's reaction has honestly gotten old at this point. I get the SAME two questions every time I introduce myself.

"Oh wow! Where does that name come from? ... Isn't that a dish?"

From now on I'm just gonna introduce myself like this:
"Hi, I am Elder Catchatoorian. The name is Armenian, and yes it sounds very similar to the Italian dish Chicken Cacciatore. No, I do not eat a lot of Armenian food and neither of my parents are from Armenia. It would be cool to speak the language, but I do not... It's a pleasure to meet you!" 

That would just save everybody's breath. I figure because I have a really cool last name I will have these questions the remainder of my life. So I might as well get used to it now!

On a more serious note, I have come to learn a lot about trials and things happening upon the Lord's time lately. This week we have found and taught a couple new investigators! While I am extremely grateful, I realize that teaching each of these individuals is going to take lots of time due to their personal circumstances. While I want these great people to be baptized really soon, I know the Lord wants me to work with them and practice patience.

I briefly brought up Brother Holmes last week (the man that went out with us for 5 hours); well, that same night him and his wife got news that their oldest son passed away at 55. It was such a shock for their entire family. I ask that you especially keep them in your prayers, as the funeral service is being held today.

As a missionary, you witness the trials that many people must endure on a daily basis. We can't always do something ourselves to help, but we can constantly call upon the Lord in asking that He help them. 

At times, I feel like a spiritual therapist! I commend those that are therapists by profession. I don't know how they do it! Ya see, I am not the one helping these people. The Holy Ghost and the Lord are. I am just here to be the messenger, supporter, and friend. There is no way that I would be able to handle responding to each of my investigators' trials on my own! That is why it is called "The Lord's work", not "Elder Catchatoorian's work".

In Sunday school yesterday we were reminded of the famous story of Abraham and Isaac found in Genesis chapter 22. While we have all heard this story countless times, this time was different for me. Brother Mahoney (the teacher) said to put ourselves in Abraham's shoes and put one of your children (or future children) in Isaac's. As I did this while reading along, the spirit touched me so strongly. Abraham's tremendous faith, along with Isaac's willingness to obey is such a great example to us all. The fact that Abraham did not even complain or hesitate shows his willingness to follow the Lord. He knew what he had to do and as he was about to sacrifice Isaac, the Lord stopped him. We can each relate this to our individual lives. We must exert all of our energy and faith to the Lord. We must serve Him and be willing to give up our most prized possessions if necessary. And if we do so, He will rescue us as He rescued Isaac on the altar. We will have the opportunity to experience eternal life with our Father in Heaven if we endure. The Lord always makes everything right in the end if we do everything we can in our power first.

I must sacrifice all my time and energy to this work, and though I may not see it now, things will eventually work themselves out within the Lord's time. Does that make it easy? Heck no! But it makes it worth it.

I enjoy the little things in life so much more now. There was no sign of a Chick-Fil-A for miles and miles in Hemet, but there is one nearby here in Corona. THAT right there is a blessing! I went for the first time in months the other day and it was easily one of the best lunches I've had on my mission! God is good!

Anyway, I hope you all had a great week. I love you all very much! 

Always remember kids.... CTR.

Love,

Elder Isaac Catchatoorian