“Many are the plans in a person’s heart, but it is the Lord’s purpose that prevails.” Proverbs 19:21
“In their hearts humans plan their course, but the Lord establishes their steps.” Proverbs 16:9
“For my thoughts are not your thoughts, neither are your ways my ways” Isaiah 55:8
This year, it seems God is continually reminding me of the above verses. And my sixth mission trip to Armenia was no exception. Our team made plans to lead two youth events, hold 5 eyeglass clinics, work on a construction project at the church in Armavir, and lead a women’s conference in Hrazdon. We did these things, but not as we envisioned.
We held two events in Ashtarak, one for teens and another for young adults where a lesson on the Armor of God from Ephesians 6 was taught.
The next day, we held a similar event in Dvin, and experienced our first lesson in Proverbs 19:21, “Many are the plans in a person’s heart, but it is the Lord’s purpose that prevails.” We were expecting a group of teenagers and instead walked in to a room of mostly school age children. We quickly pivoted and the lessons turned out well. The Armenian leaders were pleased.
Second lesson: we planned for 5 eye glass clinics and brought over 500 pairs for this. We had some difficulties with customs but succeeded in getting them all in to the country.
We had 3 eyeglass clinics. One at the church in Armavir, which seemed to be a drop in because people trickled in over several hours. Two more clinics were held in villages where the pastor has house churches: Arevik and Bambakashat. Between the three locations, we saw around 75 people. In Bambakashat, one lady shared that her husband had been asking her to read the Bible with him but she couldn’t because she could not see it. Now that she has reading glasses, she can read it with him.
It was through the eyeglass clinic in Armavir that God showed me His purposes prevail. On one of the days where it was slow, several of us walked the few blocks to the market. On our way back, one of the neighbors called to us and offered us a tour of his garden and gave us some grapes. While visiting with him, we met his friend Arman. Later that day Arman came to eye glass clinic to receive some reading glasses. We did not have a style he liked so invited him to return the next day and we would bring some different styles. The next morning as I was cleaning up in a room of the church I discovered 4 boxes of Bibles. Our ministry contact had told me the pastor had Bibles to distribute at the clinics. About an hour later, Arman returned along with his mother.
We were able to find glasses for both of them and also gave them Bibles. They immediately opened it and began reading some passages. This led to having a faith conversation with them and we were able to pray over them.
Because of a slow day and a trip to the market, an encounter with a neighbor, and not having a style of glasses someone liked, we were able to put God’s word in to the hands of three people and introduce them to a God who loves them.
On Friday and Saturday, we had planned for a women’s conference at the conference center in Hrazdon. We were under the impression that it would start at 12:00 on Friday. Friday morning, we were told that someone would be at our place of lodging at 2:30 to pick us up. Well, that caused some anxiety, because we thought it was starting at 12:00! The six of us involved with the conference held a prayer meeting and presented out anxieties to the Lord. We gave Him our burdens. Then we dealt with it like all women – we went shopping. When I packed my dress shoes, they looked fine. When I unpacked them in Armenia, the fake leather was cracking and peeling and I was self conscious about them. Since we had some time on our hands, we went shoe shopping. And the Lord blessed me with a new pair of shoes that one of my team mates gifted to me.
Once we arrived at Hrazdon, we were a bit flustered. We soon discovered that the women were told to arrive later in the day so they were not waiting too long for us. We quickly altered some plans, got the ladies to help make flower arrangements for us as we set up and got organized.
It was a wonderful event. We had over 60 women attend.
Our theme was “Rooted and Grounded in God’s Love”. We taught them about God’s Love, that they are chosen by God and redeemed in Christ (Ephesians 1). We also had a lesson about Jesus’s teaching from John 15 about the vine and branches as well as abiding in God. And we had some craft activities making bookmarks and cross key chains.
Through the adversities and frustration of events not going according to our plans, God reminded me to hold plans loosely and be on the lookout for how He is moving and wanting to use me in His work. If things had gone according to our plans, we may have been subject to say “look what we did.” But because we had adversity and issues we had to pray through we were able to say “ look what God did.”
It was great to see friends again, and wished I had more time to visit with them.
One of the highlights for this trip for me was traveling with a young friend. It was her first mission trip and it was a joy to see her excitement in experiencing being God’s hands and feet sharing His love with others.
And, we finally got the see a rainbow in the Land of Noah! Near Mount Ararat!
