I’ve put off writing a blog. I love Armenia a lot. I wish I could go back today but time will not permit it. 

It was a God given gift to find the Church we did. Abovyan City Church. We stayed at a church who were able to host us for 3 weeks. We had a very kind woman who took care of us and who looked after us. Her name was Vardush, yes it is Russian. 

It was only by the Holy Spirit that we found this place and they were willing to host us. It was so beautiful and the people made it more beautiful.

Our ministry there was out of the ordinary. If you didn’t know Armenia is in a conflict with Azerbaijan. They hate each other. Last September(2020) the conflict got heated and war broke out. Many Armenians lost their lives.  

They have a law that the first two men born in a house hold must go to war if one was to happen. 18 and older, they must serve two years. So last September a lot of the men who were drafted were 18 years old.  

Our ministry was going into these households who lost their sons or husbands and to pray for their wife’s, mothers, sisters, brother’s, and fathers. 

It was heart wrenching. 

They had shrines to their sons and husbands. Pictures, metals, things they liked ie:candy, cigarettes, soda, and awards they have received. 

Though it had been almost a year since their loss many were still in shock and grieving very hard over them. We were there to encourage, pray for, and mourn with them. 

My heart grew even more fond for Armenia when Vardush took us to the Genocide monument in Yerevan. We cried and prayed for the people of Armenian. Then, Vardush and our driver Ruslan lead us to the gravesite of the men and women who fought in the war. I’ve never seen a graveyard so busy with mourning families. The smell of incense filled the air and you could hear crying as you walk through to see different sections. 

Everyone one of us left crying and mourning the loss that wasn’t even ours. Brother and sister, sons and daughters, mothers and fathers filled the area grieving their family member. Their gravestones had their pictures on it, most of these 18 year old boys just gone. 

Not all was heart wrenching. We had many happy and joyful times just laughing at our language barrier. That’s right, we didn’t speak Russian or Armenian and they did not speak English. Brother Google, as we called it, helped us immensely. All of our plans were made through a translation app. 

However, it was amazing to see Holy Spirit move through us. When we prayed for a family no one would translate, but when we would tell Vardush a verse, she would already be saying it. 

Armenia was one of my favorite months. I feel extremely grateful because of my team, our host, and Jesus Christ. A community where I feel accepted, loved, cared for and welcome to come back.