Claire's Mission in Armenia: First few weeks there!
Hello Hello to all!
Just writing you from a little internet cafe in Gyumri, my new home for the forseeable future. Its darn cold here, -7 F the other morning, a new experience for sure! Gyumri is the 2nd largest city in Armenia, and it is much smaller than Yerevan, but a nice sized place, think Spokane. Its great, my boots and down coat are totally adequate, so I am toasty and warm, despite the weather.
So, Armenia. Well here I am. After a 42 hour travel time, and 14 hour layover in boooooring Vienna (we couldn't leave the airport) we arrived to the open arms of President and Sister Carter and were taken to the mission home. After a good nights sleep and a very very cold shower, we had a lovely meeting with our trainers. My darling trainer is Sister Arslanian, as you can tell from the name, she is Armenian, but was born in America and had to learn Armenian just like me, but its great because she really understands the culture and she makes amazing food!!!! We eat very well. So the work has begun. Hitting the pavement and helping lots of little old "Tatik" (grandmas) across the street. We are allowed to state why we are here and a little message, we just can't knock doors so its not too bad. Christmas was a highlight, so fun to talk with the fam from our little branch building here in town. Christmas is not a very big deal, its not til Jan 6th and its just a day to go to church and light a candle. New years on the other hand, is HUGE. Like we are not going to have stores open for the next week, so we have to stock up today.
The branch is great, about 40 come on sunday and the first sunday I understood about 5% of everything said, but yesterday I think I actually got about 15%, so its nice to feel like I am improving. The language is the hardest part, just having so much that you want to say and not being able to say it. People are generally very patient here so that is nice, and Sister A helpe me a lot. She is a fantastic missionary and great girl, she knows the language super well and has such a love for these people, something that I am beginning to feel but know will come as I pray to be blessed with understanding of them and their situation. Life is so hard here, so few jobs, the goverment is basically controlled by the church which is in turn in cahoots with the mafia. so thats a great combo for a few having lots and many having next to nothing. Katya, a new investigator of our lives in what looks like a garden shed, has a carboard floor which is soaking as it is wet out, and has one bare lightbulb for light. The humble situation of these people is just amazing, if only they would allow the gospel of Christ to bless them and help them see purpose in their trials. That is really the key, understanding why we have trials and the knowing and trusting that God has a plan, and that He loves us.
Being a missionary is both hard and easy. Hard because there is a lot of rejection and of course there is the language and to see so much poverty and despair is really emotionally taxing, but it is easy in that I know with all my heart that this message is true and I have so much faith that because I am doing The Lord's work, He is going to help me. We are never alone, as he said in John 14:18, I will not leave you comfortless, I will come to you. I remember singing that in a song once in a choir that David Hendrix directed and when I am feeling low that melody and those words come into my head. He will come to us and bring us his Divine comfort, what a relief that is.
Well dear ones, I miss you. This is the hardest thing I have ever done but I know that the Lord is with me and that as I lose myself in this work then will I find the self that He wants me to be.
Have a very happy Happy New year and all the love in my heart is coming to you from half a world away. I am in a very foreign place, but they still have chocolate and really amazing bread, so all is well. Till next week!
xoxoxoxoxoxoxoxoxo Sister Claire Haynie
Just writing you from a little internet cafe in Gyumri, my new home for the forseeable future. Its darn cold here, -7 F the other morning, a new experience for sure! Gyumri is the 2nd largest city in Armenia, and it is much smaller than Yerevan, but a nice sized place, think Spokane. Its great, my boots and down coat are totally adequate, so I am toasty and warm, despite the weather.
So, Armenia. Well here I am. After a 42 hour travel time, and 14 hour layover in boooooring Vienna (we couldn't leave the airport) we arrived to the open arms of President and Sister Carter and were taken to the mission home. After a good nights sleep and a very very cold shower, we had a lovely meeting with our trainers. My darling trainer is Sister Arslanian, as you can tell from the name, she is Armenian, but was born in America and had to learn Armenian just like me, but its great because she really understands the culture and she makes amazing food!!!! We eat very well. So the work has begun. Hitting the pavement and helping lots of little old "Tatik" (grandmas) across the street. We are allowed to state why we are here and a little message, we just can't knock doors so its not too bad. Christmas was a highlight, so fun to talk with the fam from our little branch building here in town. Christmas is not a very big deal, its not til Jan 6th and its just a day to go to church and light a candle. New years on the other hand, is HUGE. Like we are not going to have stores open for the next week, so we have to stock up today.
The branch is great, about 40 come on sunday and the first sunday I understood about 5% of everything said, but yesterday I think I actually got about 15%, so its nice to feel like I am improving. The language is the hardest part, just having so much that you want to say and not being able to say it. People are generally very patient here so that is nice, and Sister A helpe me a lot. She is a fantastic missionary and great girl, she knows the language super well and has such a love for these people, something that I am beginning to feel but know will come as I pray to be blessed with understanding of them and their situation. Life is so hard here, so few jobs, the goverment is basically controlled by the church which is in turn in cahoots with the mafia. so thats a great combo for a few having lots and many having next to nothing. Katya, a new investigator of our lives in what looks like a garden shed, has a carboard floor which is soaking as it is wet out, and has one bare lightbulb for light. The humble situation of these people is just amazing, if only they would allow the gospel of Christ to bless them and help them see purpose in their trials. That is really the key, understanding why we have trials and the knowing and trusting that God has a plan, and that He loves us.
Being a missionary is both hard and easy. Hard because there is a lot of rejection and of course there is the language and to see so much poverty and despair is really emotionally taxing, but it is easy in that I know with all my heart that this message is true and I have so much faith that because I am doing The Lord's work, He is going to help me. We are never alone, as he said in John 14:18, I will not leave you comfortless, I will come to you. I remember singing that in a song once in a choir that David Hendrix directed and when I am feeling low that melody and those words come into my head. He will come to us and bring us his Divine comfort, what a relief that is.
Well dear ones, I miss you. This is the hardest thing I have ever done but I know that the Lord is with me and that as I lose myself in this work then will I find the self that He wants me to be.
Have a very happy Happy New year and all the love in my heart is coming to you from half a world away. I am in a very foreign place, but they still have chocolate and really amazing bread, so all is well. Till next week!
xoxoxoxoxoxoxoxoxo Sister Claire Haynie
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