Claire's Mission in Armenia: "The oldest shoe was pretty cool, but I think our baptism was better!"

Dearest ones, 

So this week was transfers and so for the first time in my missionary life, I am staying in my area!! I was thrilled to hear that I would still be in Center. I love it here and have put so much blood, sweat and tears into this area, I was relieved that I would be staying here. But...new comp. I'm training! Her name is Sister Baird and she has an interesting story. So she came to country in March, but had to go home after 3 weeks because of anxiety. She went home and found out that she had hypoglycemia which is like diabetes but less intense and so she just has to eat healthy and lots of protein and not lots of sugar, so I am seeing a very healthy future ahead of me! So she got all of that figured out during her time and home and just a month ago she came back to the mission. So I am finishing her training and it is great! Its a lot of responsibility to train, but its great and my language is serving me well and it is great helping a new missionary come to love these people and this work. 

First of all, I have now seen the world's oldest shoe. Believe it or not (you will have to just believe me because pictures were forbidden) it came from 3500 BC and was very well preserved and it even had laces!! It was very cool. The museum was great, such a wonderful way to get to know these people better in this amazing land of Armenia. For me, getting to know a people's history is one of the best ways for me to develop love for a people. So much of the present is affected by the past and I just loved getting to know the Armenian people, who i already love so much, in such a deep way. They are amazing, the things they have overcome, the tenacity with which they have clung to each other and to Christianity. It really is awe inspiring. 

Transfers are one of my favorite times of being a missionary. You get to see all of these dear friends you haven't seen in ages and get to meet new people and it is wonderful.  I will miss sister Kellis so much, I learned so much from her, (She is now in Gyumri and training), but I am so excited for this new adventure. One sadness about transfers is the inevitable fact that missionaries have to go home. My beloved Sister Bobzien left this week. I just can't imagine this mission without her. She was such a source of strength and counsel. But she has a great adventure ahead of her. As I said to her before she left, "You were a great missionary and so I know you will be a great person too" 

Well my dearest, most wonderful Sara and Christine and Juliana were baptised this weekend. It was a perfect baptism and they were just full of light and love. Christine, who is 10, told me when we came to pick them up, that she had been up since 6:30 just waiting for us to come so that she could be baptised. I just feel so privileged that I had the amazing chance to get to know them and teach them and I am just so grateful that I can be with them as they become the amazing, radiate members of the branch that I know they will be. 

What a wonderful world this is. The Lord has truly given us the greatest gift in allowing us to be among His beloved children and help them come unto Him. I was rereading Elder Holland's most recent conference talk this morning and I was once more struck by the power of those words. read it here. Show integrity to your faith, acknowledge real questions, but as he says,  " In this Church, what we know will always trump what we do not know. And remember, in this world, everyone is to walk by faith." We can do it. The Lord will help us, will walk beside us. If we are true to our faith, whatever happens, the Lord will be with us. I love this Gospel, it is the Gospel of Jesus Christ, the means by which we can gain salvation. I love you all so much! Have a wonderful week!!! 

 love you

Sincerely, 

Sister Claire Haynie

At the baptism! Branch President Avoyan baptised them

Love them so much!!