Sister & Elder Dow, Sister & Elder Dutson (office couple), Kate (Peace Corps volunteer), Sister & Elder Smith, Jim Campbell (standing - Gold's Gym project manager), and Cliff Barton (USAID).
Here we are 27 November 2008 at the Hotel Marriott Armenia. The menu wasn't traditional Thanksgiving - more like elegant gourmet - we enjoyed it all.
The above 3 pictures were taken a couple of weeks ago when we attended some closings at village water projects which were funded by the Church and are now completed. We accompanied the Fluckigers from Idaho, fellow humanitarian missionaries - they did all the work with these projects - and invited us thinking we would be replacing them - but this week we received word that a couple from Blackfoot, ID are coming - happy news! 
This is of most of the senior missionaries in the village of Odzoon, one of the countless Armenian monastaries in the background. We all listened to the local priest do his chant inside the 4th century structure and then upon his invitation we sang "I am a Child of God" with some harmony. We were en route to our Senior conference that didn't really ever happen due to the Russian/Georgian conflict that same weekend. Our Mission President had to evacuate all the missionaries out of Georgia later that same day. In fact he even saw a couple of planes in flames on his way to T'blisi. This kind of news is not good for recruiting senior missionaries to Europe East Area! Things are still up in the air as to when the Georgia missionaries will be permitted to return - right now they are tagging around with the Armenia elders until they get word to go back. One of the senior couples that was up there has been sent to Prague to process missionaries from Russia coming there every 90 days to renew their visas. We will also be receiving missionaries from Russia renewing visas. We were told that 8 will come every week for the next year - all this air fare must be costing the Church tons of money. Russian law actually states that all foreigners have to return to their country of origin every 90 days and remain there for 90 days before returning to Russia, but as of now the law is not being fully enforced. It is easy to see why the Church now only calls missionaries to serve in Russia from Eastern Europe. All is well here in Armenia.
Flowers, apricots, and sunshine on our coffeetable.
We recntly found this park near our office. We walk through here on our way to and from the bus stop.
We took this while climbing up the cascade the other night on our way home from an evening workshop. There are many gardens and fountains included in the cascade and it's especially beautiful at night with the lighting. It's a work in progress and will be breath-taking when complete. Actually much of Yerevan is a work in progress - there is building construction everywhere. I'd love to come back in 10 years and see what it has become.
Typical farming equipment in this part of the world.
I asked Dad to get nearer to this russian thistle so I could include it in a picture of him - he took me seriously - ouch!
Some lovely desert color.
Here we are at Ani - well, actually Ani is now in Turkey, so we are across the ravine from the actual city ruins, since the border is closed. Ani was once the capital of Armenia, back in the 8th century, I think. We took our P day and went on this day trip with a tour group from Yerevan. Three other Sr. Missionary couples also went.
On the way back from Ani, we stopped at this Church that was built in the 4th century. There are caves under the building that were used in times of attack. We dropped down into one which was a nice break from the heat.
The tour package said it included a meal. You never know what that might mean, and in this case it was a picnic by the side of the road. The vans just pulled over - some women spread a couple of tablecloths on the ground, sat down and began cutting up tomatoes. They handed a some bread to each person and offered cold soda - that was it. Cows had recently been in the area, so we had to watch where we stepped - very rustic - but somehow charming - like stepping back in time. We had a great day complete with a touch of sunburn.
