Claire's Mission in Armenia: "Does it look like I know the word for Skunk in Armenian?"

Dearest dear ones,

So we have been involving our dear senior couple, the Larsens, who arrived just two weeks ago, in many of our lessons. They are great, but Elder Larsen loves to tell stories and of course I have to translate them, and goodness does he use hard words!! Skunk was the least of my worries, last night it was femur. We have decided that in the future he is going to make a list of the hard words he may use in a lesson so that I can look them up before hand. haha. They are amazing though and bring such a special spirit to the lessons. I love Senior couples!!

Things in Center are busy busy but I love it. For the first time in my mission I am busy and hardly have any time to walk, which is such a blessing. Our members are referring their friends and it is such a testimony to me that when members are involved, that is when missionary work really works. My dear Sister Baird is amazing and we are getting along just swimmingly and I love her so much! She makes me run every morning and I make her speak Armenian, it's a good system. 

Our dear little Sara is just so happy to be a member of the church. It is amazing how the light of the Gospel literally illuminates people, The Gospel of Jesus Christ is true! Amazing amazing. 

School started yesterday for all the little children of Armenia. Yes, you read that right, they started school on Sunday. I guess the law is they must start school on September 1st, no matter what day of the week it falls on, so as we were going to church, all of the little children were traipsing off to school, needless to say, the attendance in Primary was lower than usual. Luckily school on sunday is not a regular thing, wouldn't that be horrid? 

Once again fall has come and I am again not going back to school. too weird. Though from the weather here, you would never guess we were on the verge of fall. It s hotter than hot and the sun is shiny and bright and I have no idea when the sweaters will come out, the leaves with change, or the sandals will get put away. The tatiks say it will come around the 15th of the month, so I guess I better soak in all I can now. 

We met with our branch mission leader and his family this week and they are from Syria, which is guess is in such turmoil right now,  I have no idea what is actually happening, all I know is that thousands and thousands of Syrians have recently moved to Armenia to escape whatever is going on there. But we had the most amazing syrian food at their house this week. too yum! I think eating is one of my favorite parts of being a missionary. The food here is just so good!! I can't wait to cook you all all sort of crazy things and you will love it! 

Well my loved ones, I just want to testify that the Lord knows our hearts, He sees our deepest desires and He truly grants them. When we give our desires over to Him, when our will is swallowed up in His will, that is the path to true happiness here and eternal joy in the eternities. I love you all so much!!! 

Sincerely, 

Sister Claire Haynie

ps, enjoy your bouquet of freshly sharpened pencils and fresh notebooks of lined paper. I do so love being a missionary but I miss school just a teeny bit, enough to make me nostalgic when I see backpack and protractors and trapper-keeper binders for sale. haha. Also, a Huge HAPPY ANNIVERSARY to my dear parents, goodness, 28 years, amazing! Thanks for getting married so that I could be born and serve a mission! 

I know you couldn't go a whole week without seeing me, so here's a pic with my newly engraved Armenian triple combination, complete with Mount Ararat, fancy fancy.