Back to Armenia #18

The weather was cold and snowy and there is still some ice in patches but we no longer feel a need to wear our Yak trax…at least until the next storm. We loved the way the frost covers the trees to make them look white. I love looking from the inside out and not vice versa. Brrrr!

Snowy view from our apartment

Yak Trax picture courtesy of Sister Jones

February, the month of love…love for family, love of the gospel and sharing it, caring for all our brothers and sisters throughout the earth.

We talk a lot with the youth about being and finding an eternal companion in our Saturday class and sometimes we just like to do activities where they can be together and enjoy one another. So, we headed for the ice skating rink at Hamalir, a hugh sports complex in Yerevan.

We celebrated with our Young Adults in a Valentine’s activity. It was fun, and we hope they appreciated the efforts of all involved to try and get them to get together, to meet someone new, and to form new relationships. It was all about “love”. Some of them actually danced together at the end…now that is progress!...maybe we can get them to the “like” each other stage.

View of room with its "heart" decorations

Lia and Ani frosting hearts of the party

Ani and Lia with a lot of hearts for the party

Some of the party goers, Nelly, Hasmik, Zarhui and Vahe

Helping the Elders as they teach about the Gospel, is an activity of “love” that we especially enjoy. On Valentine’s Day, we helped with an Iranian couple. They have a wonderful, kind and caring spirit about them. They are returning to Iran for a month or so, and when they come back, we’re hoping to continue to help teach them. Elder Thylin will be returning home to Sweden (we’ll miss him), but there will be another great elder in his place to carry on.

Elders Thylin and Steglich with Mahsmud and Nazanine and us

We had a lovely Valentine’s dinner with other Senior couples whom we have come to love and enjoy spending time with them. We were joined by the Budds. He is serving as a military attache at the US embassy and is a counselor in the Mission Presidency

Jones, Petersons, Carters, Pincocks, Budds, Riches

I wasn't in any of the pictures as I was the photographer for 1/2 dozen cameras, but someone else snapped this

This month at mission couple we were able to meet a brand new couple that is coming in. They will be serving in Georgia. We took the opportunity to take a picture and except for the Southwicks (who are in Georgia until April) these are all the currently serving missionaries in Armenia. They are a wonderful group.

Reeses, Pincocks, Riches, Petersons, Carters, Jones, VanDykes and Bluncks

 We love you all and appreciate your support and ongoing prayers. We miss you but are happy to be serving in Armenia

Back to Armenia #17

On Sunday, January  9, 2011, not only did I have to speak on the Atonement in Sacrament meeting, but we had important visitors there to meet with all the members.  Our mission president and his wife, the District President and one of his counselors, and the first Area Authority 70 from Armenia, Elder Minasyan, were all present. 

President Carter addressed important welfare issues and how welfare is to be handled. I am quite sure that the proper administration of church welfare is difficult to learn and implement. President Carter has been inspired to do extra training here in Armenia to help the members as well as the leaders to understand the purpose of welfare and how it is a tool to help people become self sufficient. Many churches here bolster their attendance by giving financial help to the people and experience has shown we can have lots of members if we just give them money.  For a lot of years here, if a member had a need, he just asked and he was given the necessary funds. There wasn’t much emphasis on personal responsibility, self-reliance and the proper order of things. Welfare assistance needs to be done the Lord’s way: First do all you can, then seek help from family members, and lastly go to the church for assistance. Church assistance was never meant to be a long-term program, but for many here, it had become a way of life. When assistance changed and was more properly administered, some of the recipients who had become used to receiving welfare, took offense and stopped coming. I’ve even heard stories of some of the welfare recipients comparing notes and if one got more than another, they were quite vocal in their complaints. President Carter also said that welfare is a private matter between the person needing it, the branch president who administers it and the Lord. They will be going to all the branches in the mission talking about welfare principles. Hopefully, it will create greater understanding and a desire among the members to do things the right way. The Lord can’t bless us if we don’t do things His way.

Elder Minasyan talked a lot about strengthening and serving one another and also that it was important for them to stay here with their families and build the church in Armenia. That is the challenge, to want to stay when good jobs are scarce and not well-paying, and to find a eternal companion who is willing to stay because it does require sacrifice. They are sort of in the early “pioneering state”.

One of our missionary couples gave me an idea when I read their blog. We were able to go to the Kiev Temple and also participated by satellite in observing the cultural celebration that was part of the dedication activities. There was a wonderful video made about the celebration and has a lot of our Armenian youth in it. You can see it at https://lds.org/youth/video/kyiv-ukraine-temple-cultural-celebration?lang=eng. 

We’ve had some wonderful opportunities to go with the missionaries as they visit families in our branch and participate with them as they teach investigators. We recently visited a family that consists of two young girls (18 and 20) and their brother who is 10. The place they live was way up on the hill and consisted of just two rooms that we could see. There may have been a bathroom that we didn’t see. At any rate, one room was their kitchen and the other was their bedroom/living room. We sat on the bed which served as substitute couch. There wasn’t much heat, so I was glad I had my winter coat with me. In spite of the circumstances, there was a wonderful spirit there and we all were able to share our testimonies about the Book of Mormon, including the 10 year old.

Elder and Sister Peterson on the shortcut

Elders Steglich and Thylin on our way home

Elder and Sister Jones

Elder and Sister Rich

Elder and Sister Pincock

Elder and Sister Peterson

We continue to enjoy the time we can spend with the other senior couples. We gathered this night at a place we call "Around the Corner Cafe".They had live music and we recorded a little so you can hear the flavor of Armenian music. The Pincocks just returned after being in the States for a few weeks to take care of some medical needs. They will have to go home in just a couple of months for additional medical treatment, and so will be back home even before we are. We admire their willingness, even if for a few months, to come back and complete what they consider to be unfinished projects. By June when we return home, four other senior couple who are serving with us now, the Southwicks, VanDykes, Bluncks,  and Pincocks, will also be home. We just hope we’ll be lucky enough to have replacements for all those leaving. Senior couples are so helpful wherever they are serving.

Back to Armenia #16- New Year

The light changing tree

Elder and Sister Peterson at Republic Square

Museum at Republic Square

Happy New Year everyone!

New Year’s Eve was interesting! As missionaries, we were to stay in and so we did. I was at home (trying to overcome a cold) and Elder Peterson came a little later as the office had been busy. We discovered we were without power, so what did we do: enjoyed bread and cheese and pickles and hard salami (this type of “snack” is a pretty familiar one for Petersons), not by candlelight as you might suspect, but by headlamp (you may remember a facebook posting by one of our children). Shortly after eating, the lights came back on and we could play some more Sequence (a game Elder Peterson received for Christmas). I don’t think we lasted until midnight, but the fireworks and the church bells ringing didn’t let us sleep either.

New Year’s Day, I made a big pot of potato soup and we spent the day with our missionary district, eating, watching movies, and playing games. They are great young people and we love associating with them. We had our first snow and we love it as long as we don’t have to shovel or be out in it.

Since Christmas, we also had a branch activity. It was fun, but I inadvertently deleted all the pictures I took so can only describe it. We had a few spiritual thoughts shared (by the Branch President and Elder Peterson), listened to Anush and Elder Steglich sing Holy Night (missed hearing Alisa singing that),watched Joy To The World, had refreshments (sandwiches, salads and ice cream and fruit salad (made by yours truly). It was exciting because one of the sisters who had become less active because she was offended, came to help in the kitchen, and that is a good step to coming back and being more active. The missionaries acted out the nativity, but somehow the wise men forgot to make their entrance. Oh well! Santa and his helper came and brought presents for the young children, and they gave everyone sparklers which were then lit and waved about (I don’t think our churches at home would allow such a thing; it might be considered a fire hazard).

The Budd family with Ruben and Erik

Gasparyan's Christmas Tree

Ruben, Ellen, Sister Gasparyan with Budds at their home

The day before the Armenian Christmas which is January 6^th, we celebrated with the Gasparyan family. Sister Gasparyan is a wonderful cook and she must have been cooking for days. We were served so many things that even just taking a little of each thing to try, we found ourselves very “kooshed”. There was roast pork, ham, chicken with fried potatoes, trout, dolma with Matzsoon, several salads, tomatoes and cucumbers, pickled items (garlic among them), cheese, lavash and bread, a traditional rice dish (rice with dried fruit) served on Christmas, green beans and eggs, something that is pronounced “bone cheeks”, fresh fruit, nuts, several kinds of dessert (sweet tooth here did consume more than one…shocking, I know), and lots of different kinds of juices and carbonated drinks. It’s no wonder that Erik is not anxious to get married and move out…but as tradition goes, he would just probably bring his new wife home anyway.

We received a great “after Christmas” present today. Sue and Zach, who are having twins in June just found out they are having two BOYS. We’re excited and when all are safely here, we’ll have 18 grandchildren (7 girls and 11 boys).

Back to Armenia #15 Christmas 2010

It was so pleasant last week as I wandered over to work…to watch the street sweeper (a woman dressed in blue armed with a broom) as she tried to clear the streets of recently fallen leaves. They are now almost gone and with the rain of Sunday (December 12^th), the winter season may be on its way. The next sight I observed was a woman and her little boy walking down the street. He had clutched in his hand a small car…and if he’s anything like my grandsons, probably his favorite toy. A little bit of nostalgia was felt as I thought about our grandchildren. We love to be able to Skype with them to feel their personalities coming through and see their growth as they get older.

Sunday, the 12^th, we were able to return to Ararat for a visit. We drove down with President and Sister Carter and about 8 other people. I think we must have looked a little bit like one of the marchutka’s going down the road. Ruben asked Zaven to bring a couple of chairs and we were curious as to why, but then he put them in the luggage area of the van and two people sat there. Too funny!

It was wonderful to see and give hugs and kisses to the people in Ararat. We missed not seeing LaLa and Marietta, but there were some new faces and more men, so was a good Sunday. We were able to come home and enjoy a more American style dinner (pot roast, potatoes, carrots and gravy) and even shared some with a couple of missionaries. One of them has only been here a few weeks, so he literally “wolfed” it down…a taste of home, not long past.

Our home away from home is decorated with a small tree and a bunch of lights, so we’re hoping this gets us more into the Christmas spirit.  It was our turn for Family Home Evening with the other couples on Monday (13^th) so we invited them over for butternut squash soup and fresh bread (from the bakery, not by my hand). As part of the evening, Elder Peterson read from 3^rd Nephi  in the Book of Mormon,  and shared those scriptures relating to the Saviors birth (I really love 3 Nephi 1:13-14.”Lift up your head and be of good cheer; for behold, the time is at hand, and on this night shall the sign be given, and on the morrow come I into the world, to show unto the world that I will fulfil all that which I have caused to be spoken by the mouth of my holy prophets….behold, the time is at hand, and this night shall the sign be given.”) We all then shared our memories of Christmas as children and also with our own families. 

Elder Peterson asked me what I wanted for Christmas and inasmuch as the washer had quit working and the vacuum was useless without a bag. So, that is what I said I wanted…sort of like the clean house I always asked for in years past. Well, Christmas came early as our young branch president, Narek, took a look at the washer, made the repair in very short order and then went shopping and FOUND disposable vacuum bags.  It helps that he is Armenian and knows where to look in the city to find needed items.  So, we’re in good shape for Christmas. 

Zara, Santa and Tatev at YSA Party

3-D Snowflakes decorating YSA Party

YSA from Georgia

 

The week of Christmas was definitely a week of celebration. All of the activities we did, as well as being fun, also included some of the spiritual side of Christmas which helped us to focus on the real reason we celebrate Christ’s birth…the marvelous gift that he would later give us, his atonement and resurrection, which will enable all of us, if we endure to the end, to be with Him again.

On the 23^rd, the Young Single Adults had their Christmas celebration. The YSA’s did a great job of planning and preparing and we helped where we could. They organized the program to first have a devotional and talked of Christ and spiritual things, and then they shared their talents, played games, had a visit from Santa, ate delicious food (prepared by YSA leadership), and even found time for some dancing. We had youth from every branch, I think, including a couple who made the long trip from Georgia. As is the custom, it was a rather long party. We started around noon and finally ended around 7 p.m. The nice thing was that we didn’t have a lot of decorations to take down as the next activities we were involved with asked to use them…so just some dishes and some vacuuming. The other senior couples were so great to help…they are people who know how to organize and get things done in quick order.

Elder Jonas and Stutz, white elephants

President Carter and his "prize" to be used at MP Seminar

Good Balance, Elder

 

Seniors share their talents in Armenian

The 24^th was the South Zone Conference and another wonderful event. We first feasted spiritually and then had a lot of good food prepared by all the missionaries (both old and young). Games and a white elephant exchange added to the fun. The elders also shared their talents and we all loved the “chipmunk Christmas “ song. Sister Ferguson is one of the best chipmunks I’ve  seen. This was only a 5 hour party, but then we headed to the Institute for movie and dance night…only for a change we didn’t dance, just watched movies and shared treats.

Elder and Sister VanDyke

Aram and Elder Zebley

The 25^th was a time for the senior missionaries to gather at the mission home where President and Sister Carter prepared a delicious turkey for us. The other seniors shared things from home (across the water), so we even had pumpkin pie, cranberries, and  delicious fudge (by you know who). Some talents were shared, Christmas carols sung; we even decorated gingerbread houses. We then departed for an even greater experience. Three recent converts chose this day to be baptized (one from our branch)…so yet another opportunity to feel the spirit. Right after that, we had been invited to attend a branch activity. The missionaries had worked really hard with the branch members to have an activity focused on Christ. The chapel was filled with pictures of Christ illustrating all of the many ways he served and loved the people. Video presentations interspersed with music and talks from members dressed as people from earlier Bible times, helped us to love and appreciate our Savior more and understand the real meaning of Christmas. At the end of that evening, we were able to Skype with most of our children (JaneAnne and family were enroute from Las Vegas to Portland) and share part of their Christmas mornings. We surely do love our family…and we miss them and we miss all of you, but are grateful to have this wonderful opportunity to share our love of the Savior with the people of Armenia. He lives!

MERRY CHRISTMAS AND A HAPPY NEW YEAR

Back to Armenia #14

We are grateful for the Thanksgiving holiday we enjoyed and the opportunity to reflect and share with others the things we are grateful for. We are grateful to our Heavenly Father every day for our many blessings. Here in Armenia, they don’t have this holiday. We do miss our country and those familiar things that surround Thanksgiving, but wherever we are, we can thank our Heavenly Father for his goodness to us.

Elders Thylin and Zebley, Sister Siranush,

Our missionaries, lunch at Center

Sister Peterson playing cookie game

We actually had a double celebration of Thanksgiving. The young missionaries organized a lunch and while we didn’t have turkey, it was delicious anyway. We celebrated with our District and one other district and another senior couple, so there were 14 of us. Our Swedish missionary prepared meatballs and our Armenian mini missionary prepared Dolma. One missionary prepared 4 liters of gravy and another cooked and mashed a huge amount of potatoes. We had roasted chicken, jello salads and corn and rolls as well. I made a couple of pumpkin pies and a deep dish apple pie, and another sister made a buttermilk pie…so we weren’t lacking for food. We were supposed to eat around 12:30, but finally sat down closer to 2 p.m. We took time to go around the table and share with one another things we are grateful for…sort of like a tradition we had at home with our own family. We played some fun games and enjoyed the time together.

Thanksgiving lunch at Center

The second part of our Thanksgiving began at 6 p.m. when we gathered with the other senior couples for a dinner at the Marriott Hotel…and this time we did have turkey…two whole turkeys. So, we had some leftovers (that is always the best part, but no homemade cranberry sauce so not quite as tasty as it would be at home). We also had dressing and gravy and carrots and brussel sprouts (made me think of some of my children who were also enjoying brussel sprouts on this day). It was good, but two big meals in a 4-5 hr time period is a lot so we were stuffed. 

Our young adults had wanted to have a Thanksgiving party, so we sort of did it a few days later, along with our regular class. After the lesson, we went around the room giving thanks for a gospel principle that relates to family and eternal marriage. Everyone brought something to share (pot luck), so we ate and played the same games as with the young missionaries and then had some music and dancing. It was Geghetsik’s birthday so we celebrated that as well.

We want to express gratitude to all our friends and family who are such a support to us. It’s wonderful to be able to serve God’s children and God has been good to us, so now it’s our turn to do something for someone else. Happy Thanksgiving to you all!

Here's a couple of extra shots of our Turkey trip and all CES couples that we received after our posting.