Claire's Mission in Armenia: Well I've eaten tripe (pig stomach) and another foot of snow has fallen...all is well in Gyumri!!
Dearest Dearest ones I love,
Here I am in Gyumri, another two feet of snow has fallen and I am toasty warm in spite of it! I think I should write a letter to Lands End telling them how well their coat in performing. Well this week was good, Nor Dari (The word for New Year) was a splendid event which goes on for several days, the city pretty much shuts down and the fireworks are constant. We've seen many a drunk wandering around but not to worry no one has bothered me at all. But the thing is New Year in Armenia means an entire table full of food. They just make mountains of food and it sits on their tables and people come to eat and visit and wish each other well. So we made our little brownies, wrote a nice scripture on a pretty picture of Christ and then we visited. and we visited and we ate and ate and ate and ate. Dolma ( cabbage wrapped meat rice stuff) and cutlet ( fried meat stuff) and then of course, tripe. goodness. most of it was lovely. pastries and stuch and lovely chocolates and the food was good but the tripe was a little interesting, but I just gulped it down and ate a bunch of bread and all was well. It was great getting to know the members better, chatting with them and meeting their families and sharing a little message with them. Sister Arslanian had me give the message, which was intimidating but a good push, so I shared Ether 12:27 and the hope that can come through Christ and the reality that He can truly make our weakness into strength. A good message for all, but especially now when thoughts are turned to new beginnings, goals and the Savior. Christmas was yesterday, and it was not much, mostly just a church holiday apparently, people go to the church and light candles and bring them home with popbottles on top to keep the flame burning while they walk home. Interesting, eh? New Years is the big thing, so the religious holiday is just a sideline, I think I like the way we do it, but it is interesting to see another way.
In meeting with members we had the great opportunity to meet with Laura, a tatik (grandma) who is less active. She is a veterinarian though actually a poet and she recited some of her poetry for us. It was great. She was so expressive and full of life and I loved it. She needs to be on the stage, not giving hysterectomies to unassuming felines. As we were driving home in a taxi from that appointment, the snow was blowing and our 12 year old driver (well probably 18 but man he looked young) was driving to beat the ban, ( safe no worries, they may be crazy but these people know how to drive) I had one of those moments when I realize that I am no longer in america, most of these people do not speak my native tongue and yes, I am just a few miles from the Middle East. What? woah. Most of the time it truly feels like I am just in a drab-looking Tacoma, just a few miles from home, and then there are times when I actually realize that I am far away, on a mission. I am a missionary, how did this happen? Just a year ago I was crying in the MOA cafe telling Mom how much I didn't want to serve a mission, and now here I am, a representative of the Lord, My goodness, what people He can help us become us if we allow Him to help us use the potential that is innate to us as Children of God.
Met with some interesting investigators this week, Gohar and Robert, and old couple who are very well off, live in a very nice house and really enjoyed when the Soviet Union was here. So he talked for about an hour about the evils of capitalism and politics and america and we sat and listened and ate our dolma and shared our message at the end. I understood very little, but as soon as we got out Sister A just burst out laughing, we had a good little laugh and then trudged home in the newly fallen snow. We do a lot of walking.
Mom wanted to know what my days looked like, here is a little recap: We wake at 6:30, exercise, get ready then personal study at 8, comp study at 9 and language study at 10. then at 11 we head out into the cold, with our coats and hats and boots on and Book of Momon in hand. We go to appointments and spend at least an hour just walking talking to people and helping old ladies with their groceries. Then we return home for lunch, got to a few more appointments and come home at 9 when we plan and write in our journals and go to bed. Pretty normal. The people we meet and teach are what make it interesting, haha.
All in All I am loving it here in Gyumri, the weather is cold but I am just fine, so no worries, the food is good and I have a clean, well lighted place to lay my head. The Lord is great, He is shaping me into an Armenian speaking missionary, one verb at a time. I love you all, My heart is full of love for you and love for this place filled with people who badly need the Hope that comes through the Gospel.
love and a happy happy New Year from half a world away!
xoxoxo
Sister Claire Haynie
ps here are a few pics one is one my comp and I and Elder Sarafian after church yesterday, one is of our MTC district on our last sunday and then the other is my MTC comps at our Christmas eve party in Yerevan. Love you!!
Here I am in Gyumri, another two feet of snow has fallen and I am toasty warm in spite of it! I think I should write a letter to Lands End telling them how well their coat in performing. Well this week was good, Nor Dari (The word for New Year) was a splendid event which goes on for several days, the city pretty much shuts down and the fireworks are constant. We've seen many a drunk wandering around but not to worry no one has bothered me at all. But the thing is New Year in Armenia means an entire table full of food. They just make mountains of food and it sits on their tables and people come to eat and visit and wish each other well. So we made our little brownies, wrote a nice scripture on a pretty picture of Christ and then we visited. and we visited and we ate and ate and ate and ate. Dolma ( cabbage wrapped meat rice stuff) and cutlet ( fried meat stuff) and then of course, tripe. goodness. most of it was lovely. pastries and stuch and lovely chocolates and the food was good but the tripe was a little interesting, but I just gulped it down and ate a bunch of bread and all was well. It was great getting to know the members better, chatting with them and meeting their families and sharing a little message with them. Sister Arslanian had me give the message, which was intimidating but a good push, so I shared Ether 12:27 and the hope that can come through Christ and the reality that He can truly make our weakness into strength. A good message for all, but especially now when thoughts are turned to new beginnings, goals and the Savior. Christmas was yesterday, and it was not much, mostly just a church holiday apparently, people go to the church and light candles and bring them home with popbottles on top to keep the flame burning while they walk home. Interesting, eh? New Years is the big thing, so the religious holiday is just a sideline, I think I like the way we do it, but it is interesting to see another way.
In meeting with members we had the great opportunity to meet with Laura, a tatik (grandma) who is less active. She is a veterinarian though actually a poet and she recited some of her poetry for us. It was great. She was so expressive and full of life and I loved it. She needs to be on the stage, not giving hysterectomies to unassuming felines. As we were driving home in a taxi from that appointment, the snow was blowing and our 12 year old driver (well probably 18 but man he looked young) was driving to beat the ban, ( safe no worries, they may be crazy but these people know how to drive) I had one of those moments when I realize that I am no longer in america, most of these people do not speak my native tongue and yes, I am just a few miles from the Middle East. What? woah. Most of the time it truly feels like I am just in a drab-looking Tacoma, just a few miles from home, and then there are times when I actually realize that I am far away, on a mission. I am a missionary, how did this happen? Just a year ago I was crying in the MOA cafe telling Mom how much I didn't want to serve a mission, and now here I am, a representative of the Lord, My goodness, what people He can help us become us if we allow Him to help us use the potential that is innate to us as Children of God.
Met with some interesting investigators this week, Gohar and Robert, and old couple who are very well off, live in a very nice house and really enjoyed when the Soviet Union was here. So he talked for about an hour about the evils of capitalism and politics and america and we sat and listened and ate our dolma and shared our message at the end. I understood very little, but as soon as we got out Sister A just burst out laughing, we had a good little laugh and then trudged home in the newly fallen snow. We do a lot of walking.
Mom wanted to know what my days looked like, here is a little recap: We wake at 6:30, exercise, get ready then personal study at 8, comp study at 9 and language study at 10. then at 11 we head out into the cold, with our coats and hats and boots on and Book of Momon in hand. We go to appointments and spend at least an hour just walking talking to people and helping old ladies with their groceries. Then we return home for lunch, got to a few more appointments and come home at 9 when we plan and write in our journals and go to bed. Pretty normal. The people we meet and teach are what make it interesting, haha.
All in All I am loving it here in Gyumri, the weather is cold but I am just fine, so no worries, the food is good and I have a clean, well lighted place to lay my head. The Lord is great, He is shaping me into an Armenian speaking missionary, one verb at a time. I love you all, My heart is full of love for you and love for this place filled with people who badly need the Hope that comes through the Gospel.
love and a happy happy New Year from half a world away!
xoxoxo
Sister Claire Haynie
ps here are a few pics one is one my comp and I and Elder Sarafian after church yesterday, one is of our MTC district on our last sunday and then the other is my MTC comps at our Christmas eve party in Yerevan. Love you!!
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