Claire's Mission in Armenia: "'The Steeple on your church reminds me of a Unicorn'"

Dearest ones that I love.

We were talking to our dear investigator Anush (who makes the best perochkies(sp?) in the world) and asking her about church. She first began on a long monologue about how much she loves that our church is pink (the natural stone in Armenia is a beautiful pink color) and that there is a steeple which makes her think about unicorns. okay Anush. haha. But she also mentioned that she felt the Spirit at church, so that is what really counts. 

This week was busy busy busy. We are slowing building our teaching pool of investigators and for the first time as a missionary I am really busy, not just walking and hoping to talk to people, but we are in their homes and teaching them the Gospel. The blessings of the Lord are really flowing. Sara and her two little granddaughters are as cute and wonderful as ever and just love church and the Book of Mormon and we hope that all the stars will align for their baptism this saturday. Then we have Lida, who is a cute little tatik (grandma) who just loves us and sees us as her granddaughters and just is so full of love. They way people love us at first sight, it's like they are just brimming over with love and we are just lucky enough to catch some of that overflowing love and bask in it. The ability of these people to love others they hardly know, it astounds me and it feeds my soul when I am feeling down (which is not terribly often because of the people I meet every day). the World is a beautiful place. 

We had exchanges this week, and so for one day I had cute Sister Robles from Kennewick, Washington, come from Artashat, a tiny town in the south, to be with me in Center. She had never served in the big city and she loved it! We took the metro and buses and she was just astounded. haha. Such a cute girl, I really think we have the best sister missionaries ever here! (Except of course my dear friends who are in other missions). I just love exchanges because it is such a fun way to get to know someone, it really shows how serving others with someone really creates such a bond between two people who were originally strangers, such a good pattern for life. If you want to get to know someone fast, just serve with them. 

The weather is up and down and hot and cold and yesterday we had a rainstorm and I just looked at the sky and closed my eyes and I was in heaven. After weeks of straight hot and sweaty days, the Lord blessed us with the miracle of rain. Rain is such a miracle, perhaps I'm just partial because I'm a seattle girl at heart. 

The Larsens, a couple from Holladay, UT came to Armenia this week. They have been assigned to strengthen our branch and it is wonderful to get to know them and help them adapt to this country. It's hard at first, but I know that in no time they will have all of this down pat. They are wonderful and lovely and every day my testimony of Senior couples and the good that they do, grows and grows and I love them! 

Transfers are this week and we still don't know that will happen. They will happen Thursday so we will find out either this evening or tomorrow morning! A change is as good as a rest, as mum always says, but I will be sad to lose Sister Kellis, she is an amazing missionary and I just love her so! this transfer was really a turning point for me. I feel like I really gained my stride as a missionary and I have gained my footing in the language and now I know without a doubt that when we rely on the Lord, together we can accomplish anything. It makes me think of Ammon in the Book of Mormon, Alma chapter 26, where he praises the Lord and tells of their successes, not because of their own greatness, but because with the Lord, we can really do anything! The Gospel is amazing, I love it with my whole heart and I love how I feel it changing me every single day. 

Perhaps when Anush sees our steeple she thinks of a unicorn, but I think about the gradeur of the Being that created us, that put breath into our lungs and works a miracle inside of us every, single, day. 

Love you all so very very much! 

xoxox Sister Claire Margaret Haynie

Ps. we ARE going to the musems today so I will send pictures of the world's oldest shoe and other exciting things I come across next week!! 

Sister Robles and I after our exchange! (She has such pretty hair! )

We found a magical bakery that makes you think you are in America. I got a BLT and a croissant and it might as well have been from Zupas. It was nice but weird.