Back to Armenia #20

 For Family Home Evening, we invited some of the Young Singles over and had a most enjoyable time. And besides which, we learned how to make Borscht (a soup that has meat, carrots, cabbage, beets, potatoes, onions, a little tomato paste, bay leaf, salt and some water). Most delicious! Everyone who had been on missions shared experiences or things they had learned so it was a wonderful evening.

Sister Peterson (Patti) and Lusine preparing borscht

Artur, Lusine, Karmen Sironush, Erik, Sister P, Elder P, and Sister Pincock

March 8^th is a special holiday in Armenia. It’s called Woman’s Day (maybe this is in place of Mother’s Day…I don’t know). You are supposed to give flowers and chocolate to the women in your life. Well, the man in my life did give me chocolate and we received flowers at the Pandok (our local close-by restaurant).

March 9^th was another wonderful South Zone Conference with some Georgia elders added in. All the sisters and elders are such wonderful missionaries and the Conference is just what they need to get a boost of energy in their missionary work. We love the elders and sisters.

Elder Jonas, President and Sister Carter with scarves and ties for birthdays

Missionaries, old and young at South Zone Conference in March 2011

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

March 11^th, we went with Lia to the Embassy first thing in the morning and she finally got her visa, but she’ll have to pick it up next week and we hope in time to catch her flight for Salt Lake. At noon, we loaded up Erik’s van with some young adults and went to Gyumri to make some visits to less active YSA’s, share a spiritual thought, put in a “plug” for YSA Conference, play some games and have some refreshments. Not just punch and cookies this time around, but kebab and a fancy cake. It was a nice time.

Young Single Adults playing "Telegraph" in Gyumri

Playing Games at Gyumri

Monday, when Lia went to pick up her Visa, it wasn’t ready and they told her to come back on Wednesday evening…but her plane was leaving in the morning. After explaining her dilemma, they said they would call her on Tuesday to let her know if she could get it….and with a lot of prayers, she did get it just in time for her to be set apart as a missionary. President Carter gave her a wonderful blessing and we know she’ll be a great missionary and we’re hoping we’ll be able to see her on Temple Square when we return. Lia left on Wednesday and arrived safely in Utah. Go Lia!

Lia Harutyunyan (love that smile) and her Dad

Senior Missionaries with Lia and her Dad at Lia's setting apart as a missionary

Wednesday, the 16^th, we left early in the morning with President Poghosyan and Lusine H, headed for Tblisi, Georgia. We went to the Hingali House and tried Hingali (sp) in many varieties (meat, spicy meat,cheese, potato, and mushroom). We did not go to McDonalds (it has more than one unlike Armenia which has none).We enjoyed getting better acquainted with young single adults there and met with them to discuss the upcoming YSA Conference. We attended their Institute class taught by Senior missionary, Sister Southwick, played some games and enjoyed light refreshments. 

View of Lake Sevan on our way to Georgia

Reflection of the Mountains in Lake Sevan viewed from the highway

Rog loves rocks, view on road to Georgia

Young single adults, investigators, missionaries at Tblisi Institute Class

Playing "telegraph" after Institute class

Playing a game of "wink-em" after Institute class

We spent the night and left the next morning for our return trip back to Armenia, stopping in Alaverde and Vanadzor along the way. We’re looking forward to a return trip in May with our Institute Council.

We visited Zara who was feeling under the weather at  her home (pretty humble circumstances)

Zara's 4 year old nephew

Marchutkas (public transport) all ready to go in Alaverde

Typical sidewalk market, this one in Alaverde

 We do manage to keep busy teaching (mostly Elder Peterson) a couple of Institute classes a week and one movie/activity night each week for our young single adults. We also keep in regular contact with the other seniors serving here and feel blessed by all our interactions.

 

Back to Armenia #19

On Saturday, Feb 19^th, we had a great experience of being able to attend a new missionary orientation. It was so fun to see the brand new elders and sisters as they found out who their first companions (they call them their mom or dad) would be and where they would be serving. We also were able to hear their first testimonies on Armenian soil. One of the new ones, Elder Peterson, is from Layton and in our nephew, Brian Nelson’s, ward. Brian had been Elder P’s young men’s president and he couldn’t say enough good things about Brian. Way to be a good example and influence, Brian! We’re proud of you! We’re also excited that Elder Peterson will be serving in Ararat, the area we first served in when we came to country.

Another experience we had fairly recently was to reaffirm our faith in the basic goodness of most people. We had gone to the bakery to pick up our “sandwichyhats” for our Valentine’s party. We had preordered 50 and paid 500 dram (about $1.40) in advance with a total to be paid of 1500 dram. I paid the additional 1000 dram, but she said I owed 1500 (in my forgetful age I had not remembered 500 had already been paid) so I gave her the full amount and left with the bread. I guess they figured it out and someone came looking for us and found Elder Peterson to return the over payment. We were surprised that they could find us…but apparently everyone knows where the “Americans” live. There are still honest people in this world!

February 25^th found us headed up to Alaverde and Vanadzor with some of the Institute Council Young Adults (Erik, Lia, Vahe and Levon) to do some activities and have fun with some of our “away from Yerevan” branches.  We had had to cancel an earlier planned trip because of snow and we weren’t sure this one would happen, but in spite of traveling on packed ice and snowy roads for about 45 minutes, we finally arrived at Alaverde. It’s an interesting town, sort of reminds me of Switzerland…rugged mountains and a little village in the valleys below. 

View of Alaverde

There is apparently a sort of tram (the missionaries described it as a box) that gets people from the top to the bottom. We only had three young adults there, but I seem to recall scriptures about finding the one or helping the one and here we were helping three to know we care…so progress. We did a little dancing to warm up (there was no heat in the building…which was fairly new and very nice) first and then watched, “The Touch of the Master’s Hand” (a great video that teaches we are all of value and with Christ’s influence, the weak can become strong). Lia gave a great spiritual presentation to tie it all together and then we enjoyed some refreshments. We also took time to visit with a young adult member, Lillit, in her home. 

?Lillit, Vahe, Elder P., Rima, Lia and Lillit's child

We then proceeded onto Vanadzor and sort of repeated the same program. Only this time there were almost 30 present (about 10 missionaries, both old and young, five or so YSA’s (young single adults)and at least five investigators as well as Institute Council and others). It was really a great experience and we added some game playing to the activity that they really seemed to enjoy. 

Before heading for home, we visited another less active YSA, Lusine, and her family. 

Lusine, Elders Wainwright, Frye, Peterson, Grandma, Ruzana, Lia, Heghine, Lusine's Dad and Vahe

We stopped for a little food and enjoyed bread, meat and cheese sandwiches that Lia put together. It was a fun, successful adventure although the 12 hour day leaves these folks (meaning Elder and Sister Peterson) a little on the more tired side and definitely ready to “hit the sack”.

Communication continues to be a challenge. Because of this I missed a Relief Society activity…and I’m in the Presidency. The translation that came to me said the activity was going to be on the 4^th (I assumed of March), but it was really the 24^th of February. One of the problems it seems is that the presidency hadn’t worked together in the planning of the activity, and the Relief Society President just did it all on her own. I don’t think they understand how the system and the use of counselors can work. Oh well, maybe next time. I’m just hoping they don’t feel I’m being non-supportive.

Probably the most exciting to happen in the month of February was the safe arrival of our #16 grandchild to Mike and Jana Maughan. Merit Sue arrived at 11:47 p.m. on the 27^th, weighing in at 9# 7 oz. and 21 inches long. 

The biggest baby Jana has had and, according to what the nurses said at the American Fork Hospital, the biggest baby to be born all month. We were excited that we were able to Skype with Jana and see Merit within hours of her birth. Some of Heavenly Father’s gifts are oh so sweet.

Merit Sue Maughan, born February 27, 2011

Jana and Merit Sue

 March 1^st was a day we spent differently from our normal office routine. There was a scheduled political protest in Yerevan (and with all the protests going on in the Middle East and elsewhere, everyone is being more cautious) so the Mission President requested that all missionaries remain indoors. Apparently in 2008 on this same date, there was a protest and 8 people ended up being killed. We value our lives, and even if risk is minimal, we’re being obedient.