Mother of Armenia

On our morning walk we often go through the Mother of Armenia Park not too far down the hill from us. The statue is very large - you can see it from all over the city of Yerevan. She is flanked by a missle on one side and a tank on the other. The view of the city below is taken from the base of the statue. We like to walk there, because it gets us out of traffic and the walkways are nice and broad. We don't see many people out for exercise except here in the park. The Mother of Armenia is where a Dedicatory Prayer for the country is said every June 24th - she is actually a holdover from when idols were worshiped here, but now she somehow blends in with the state Christian religion. Doesn't look like a force to reckon with, with her sword and shield?

window view

The view out our sunroom window. I don't know if you can see the barbed wire along the top of the wall. Can you believe it - We are next door to a Russian military installation! It's a far cry from East Dover.

Yerevan Shenka

Can you see Dad? This is our apartment complex - our building is actually behind this one.

Bye Bye McOmbers!

Our Branch held a going away party for the McOmber family who have been here in Yerevan for 3 years. He works for the US Embassy as a PA. Our Malatia Branch is small - and now that the McOmbers have left, even smaller. We love the members - they are all so kind to us.

Yerevan beauties

Two of these are of the Lighted Fountain Music show at Republic Square last Friday evening. They have a program every weekend night during the summer months - very impressive! We walk by these flowers during our morning walk in the park.

Jermuk

Felix and George are 2 young men from T'bilisi, Georgia who stayed with us at our apartment the night before and the night after the YSA Conference in Jermuk 2 weeks ago. Felix is about to serve his required 2 years in the military and then wants to serve a mission and become a police officer. George and his mother are moving to Moscow this week. Both Felix and George are the only members of the Church in their families and have been members less than 2 years. They both speak Georgian, Russian, and English very well. Great guys! One picture is of the dining room at the hotel we stayed in at Jermuk and the other picture is of the outside of the hotel.

Shuka

Dad and I strolled through a nearby "Shuka" a couple of Saturdays ago. I wouldn't recommend the milk - we've only found one brand we can tolerate - and even it isn't good straight. The woman is making lavash - she will lay it on the padded board in front of her and then slap it onto the side wall of the round oven to her left. It cooks fast and Armenians love their lavash which they wrap around things like we do with tortillas. Dad bought me this bouquet for mother's day and it lasted very well, in fact we just tossed it today. Thunderstorms here this morning, but now the sun is peaking through.