I have completed my fifth mission trip to Armenia, my first visit in the spring season. Our 15 day trip was filled with multiple projects, and some fun mixed in. The majority of us have been before, and we had one new member. My friend Karen, who is the person who introduced me to international mission work. I enjoyed sharing this country, and experience, with her. However, it was a bit strange having our roles reversed – from her being mission team lead to me being lead of some of the mission projects and more experienced traveler to Armenia.
Armenia is a special country. They have been around for centuries, despite being overrun by multiple empires. Despite the Genocide. Despite the current political climate. They are at a crossroads of cultures – the western culture of Europe, eastern culture of Asia, and the middle eastern culture. The people are hospitable and friendly. North Carolina Baptist on Mission has been partnering with the Armenian Baptist Union to assist with planting new churches, assisting existing churches with reaching their communities, and building new church buildings as well as remodeling existing church buildings. This trip, our team had multiple objectives. Working on a remodel project in Armavir, a multi-day teaching event for ladies in Armavir, an afternoon with youth group in Dvin, and an all day women’s conference held at seminary. We also came prepared for eye glass clinics but no specific plans for any. We were able to have multiple clinics in Armavir and over 3 days more than 50 people came. Several people received eye glasses for reading and distance. Others picked out glasses for family members so over 100 pairs were given out. During the clinic, we were able to present the gospel to them as well as collect contact information for the pastor. One young man at clinic surprised us by being able to speak English. I expressed my difficulty trying to learn some words and phrases and he said he understood because he was born in Sweden and had to learn the Armenian language when he moved there. It was a surprise because he looked Armenian, not Swedish. On our plane ride from Paris to Yerevan the lady sitting next to me was from Armenia but currently lives in Los Angeles. She helped me with some words and phrases, pronouncing them slowly and writing the words out as they would be pronounced. She told me she is an English as a second language teacher which explains why she was so good at helping me. She gave me the courage to try to speak some phrases and words in Armenia. One of the more difficult ones is the word for thank you. It is pronounced similar to “shnorakal ‘em”. For several days, when I would try to remember how to say it, in the moment all I could remember is “it sounds like snorkel”. Luckily I had made notes on my phone and would pull it out to review how to pronounce.
Our second day in the country was April 24, the Armenian Genocide Remembrance Day. During 1915, about 80% on the Armenia population was eliminated by the Ottoman Empire regime, mainly because the Armenians were Christians and considered inferior. On the day of remembrance, people gather and walk two miles to the memorial, laying flowers around the eternal flame. This year, our team had the privilege of participating. Several members of Central Church in Yerevan joined us and walked with us. One of the elders even brought us lilac blossoms from his own garden. We learned that on a sad, solemn occasion you carry flowers downward.
On Saturday, we led an event for the youth group in Dvin. Karen shared evidence of Christ and how to share the gospel using colors. I shared a lesson on how God has given us boundaries for our own good. “The boundary lines haven fallen for me in pleasant places; surely I have a delightful inheritance.” Psalm 16:6. Part of my lesson included an object lesson of how sin looks enticing and harmless but when you become involved with it, it is not good. I made some brownies that had salt added to them and although looked and smelled good, did not taste good. I also had made good brownies but some of the kids wouldn’t eat the good ones after tasting the bad ones. Between lessons, we played games. It was great to renew friendships and develop new ones.
On Monday, our work began in Armavir. We cleared unwanted plants on the grounds, demolition in the downstairs of walls and flooring, led a multi-day women’s study on prayer, and held eye glass clinics. I was asked what ideas I have for improvements of landscape. I shared the idea of creating and outdoor space where kids could play and people could gather. I made a rough sketch to show the idea and he liked it. I will create a scale drawing to bring back on my next trip or send with another team.
While teaching the ladies, we learned than Armenian women are judged as to whether they are a good housewife by how their laundry is hung out. In apartment buildings, their laundry is hung outside their windows and the proper way is to hang it from long to short. I don’t believe that is something my mother taught me when I was young and hanging clothes on the line. I asked one of our translators if her mother taught her that. She laughed and said yes, she did.
It was not all work. We had some fun with the pastor’s kids.
On Saturday, the ladies of our team hosted a women’s conference at the seminary for the Armenian women. The theme was on Prayer. Natalie created a beautiful, welcoming space to make them feel special. Michele welcomed them with beautiful music and set the atmosphere. As she played the opening song, I noticed many of the Armenian ladies filming her on their phones. Karen opened the lessons with talking about the joy of the Lord and sharing a roller bottle of essential oils to remind us of the joy we have in Jesus. Sandy followed with a lesson on using Prayer as an evangelism tool while praying for others and introducing the topic of prayer walking. Sylvia led the core of the seminar with the Prayer notebook. We provided each lady with a notebook and she taught them how to use. Several ladies mentioned that several months ago, about the time we were praying about what our topic should be and deciding on the prayer notebook, they were praying for God to help them organize their prayer life and give them a new prayer journal. It is exciting to know you are being used by God for an answer to someone’s prayer. My lesson was on what to do when you are waiting in God – waiting for Him to answer prayer or waiting for the answer He has given you to happen. I could write a whole other blog post on the lessons I learned during a waiting period I had, which I shared with the ladies. We also gifted each lady with a bag sewn by ladies from Michele’s church and they were filled with gifts we collected stateside and brought with us. One of my friends crocheted wash clothes for the ladies.
As we planned for the conference, we had scheduled for 2 days. Upon arriving in Armenia, we discovered it would be one day. There was a bit of stress at first about how we would rearrange the timing. But God was in the details and it all worked out, with some time to spare!
It would not be a trip to Armenia without tea and coffee in Masis with friends. We also joined our brothers and sister in Masis for Wednesday night Bible study.
I never get tired of the views of Ararat and this trip I also enjoyed seeing the native poppy blooming. Along with working alongside my friends, we also enjoyed some fellowship time. Armenia has become like a second home. Each time Asatur picks us up at airport he greets us with “welcome home!”
Rainbows and Otter Pelt 