California Musings #3

We continue to enjoy the beautiful weather here. We manage to get out most mornings, walking the streets in our neighborhood. Sunday, May 2nd, we experienced our first baptism with the Armenian group. His name is Ashot and he was so excited and happy. He’s hoping his wife and children will soon be baptized, too.

We had another small world experience today, as well. After the baptism, we were talking with one of the speakers…sort of where are you from, what are you doing, etc. and we discovered we both had ties to Provo. He asked us where and we told him, Apache Lane. He said, are you in 5th Ward, and we said, “Yes.” Then he said, that’s the ward where I lived and my parents still live. Do you know Norm and Kay White? What fun it was to meet Paul White. He’s on the La Cresenta Stake High Council with the assignment for missionary work/training and he couldn’t have had a better example than Norm and Kay.

Sunday, was also the first time the Armenian group have had all three meetings (Sacrament, Sunday School, and Relief Society/Priesthood) mostly done in Armenian, since they had been a branch 8-9 years ago. Elder Peterson taught in Priesthood and I was the teacher and leader in Relief Society. It was interesting that our subjects for discussion were similar, but we had not consulted with one another. He talked about priesthood responsibilities in the home and I talked about the three lifelong responsibilities of every Relief Society Sister (Increasing in faith and personal righteousness, strengthening families and homes, and seeking out and helping those in need). It would be a modern-day miracle if just like poof!!, we could speak Armenian, but didn’t happen today. So, he had Artur Yeritsyan and I had Alina Harutyuni, Artur’s wife, doing the translating. (As an aside Artur and Alina met at Institute in Yerevan and Artur also served in a branch presidency in Armenia) Relief Society was a very small group, four sisters including me and one investigator. Elder Peterson had a much larger group, both from the Armenian group and several Stake visitors. But that is fairly typical here…there are many more active men in the group than women…just the opposite from what we experienced in Armenia where the women attending church far outnumber the men.

This weekend was fun, too, as we were able to experience some Armenian food when we were invited to the Yeritsyan’s for dinner. Alina had spent a lot of time in Germany so she also included one German dish (sort of like stroganoff), only the rice she served had been baked inside some lavash. They are a wonderful, young, couple and just what the branch needs, but he’s interested in making a career change and moving, so we’ll have to see what happens.

We always try to do salmon for one of the weekend meals, and this time Rog used some cedar planks on the barbecue and it was delicious. We’re trying to get our fill of fish because when we go back to Armenia, we won’t have that luxury. We also invited some long-time friends, Rich and Linda Allen to join us along with our wonderful hosts, Kent and Kathy Lee. Rich and I grew up together in Parleys 1st Ward in Salt Lake City, and his mother, Rhea, was the organizer and accompanist for a trio I sang with for many years. His mother’s sister, Afton, and my mother’s brother, Howard Bradshaw were married to one another, so we are sort of like, cousins by marriage.

This past week, we also had another Family Home Evening with the Armenians. We’re always excited when people we’ve invited to come actually do come. Varter Danalian and her non-member husband, Vartan Rostami came, as well as Iskhanik (Susan) Vartanian and her daughter, Anahid (Annie). I think we had about 25-30 in attendance and the numbers seem to increase each time which is good. Susan called me the next day to share her vision/experience which led to her baptism. She wants me to share her story with those back in Armenia. Hopefully, she’ll write it up in English and Armenian. I wasn’t sure I understood all of what she told me, so it would be good to see it in “black and white”.

We just received an e-mail from Elder Chaney in Armenia with the names and address of some Armenians here who have relatives in Ararat. We’re anxious to see if we can meet them this week. This will be a new, but hopefully fun and interesting challenge. I wonder if they speak English?