Fall Travels Part 2

On September 5, 2011, Elder and Sister Rich and Elder and Sister Watkins traveled to Istanbul, Turkey to attend the East Europe Area Welfare Missionaries Conference. This was a big departure from the scenery that we have gotten use to in Armenia.  The part of Turkey that we saw was very wealthy and very modern.  It was an enjoyable trip, marred only by Elder Rich having stomach problems and having to spend most of the time in the hotel room.  Fortunately, it was a very nice hotel room.

Sister Rich with some Mosques in the background.

Turkey is a Muslim country, notice, no Missionary tags.

Istanbul is on two continents, we are in Europe looking across the water to the Asian side.

The Istanbul skyline.

Selling some sort of a drink on the Museum grounds.

The Pedersons and Huffs.  Good friends from the MTC, serving in Turkey and Belarus.

Sister's Rich and Watkins in front of the  Istanbul Grand Bazaar.

Istanbul trams are very modern as well as very crowded.

Street scene at tram stop.

Interior shot of hotel.

Hotel lobby.

Mosque across the street from the front of the hotel.

Time to go back to work after our vacation in Turkey.  We have to remember that we are being paid the big bucks (blessings) to work and not to be on vacation.

Making a delivery to fish farmers.

Amazingly enough, we did not see a single dead fish from this method of delivery.

This is a community fish farm.

Lucine (Watkins interpreter) and her husband Nish with her birthday gift.

Dr and Mrs Bennett came from Utah to set up our Neonatal Resuscitation Project. They live in Ivins, Ut.

The Bennett's and the LDSC crew visiting Stephanavan

Under these rocks is an ancient Kings burial plot.

Horivatz at a Stephanavan farmers house.

The Bennett's under the old apple tree.  They were a lot of fun to visit with.

We love to attend Baptisms whenever we can.

Watkins and Richs at a Cultural Center Closing.  LDSC has helped them with computers, sewing machines, cooking equipment and doors and windows during the past couple of years.  They in turn give free classes to the poor and needy as well as LDS Church members.

When you need to sweep, you make a broom from a tree.  The entrance to our building.

Syuzi and some little boys at a village water closing.

Men and boys digging trenches for water pipes.

The Mayor and an old lady in a village that will receive water.

This old man is happy to be getting water.

You will notice that we are starting to wear warmer clothes.  The weather is changing.  We have to get these last two water projects finished before the snow hits, because this area will be frozen until spring.

We love Armenia and we love being here serving the Lord and the people.

Fall Travels

It has been over a month since our last post.  We have moved into fall and depending on where we are in the country, it is either still warm or getting cool or even cold.  Mt Aragats, the highest mountain in Armenia has snow on it already.  This is a beautiful time of the year.  Once you get past the cool morning, the daytime temperatures are about perfect.  We have continued to be very busy with new projects, finishing the water project and closing other projects. These are some of the places we have been and some of the things that we have done.

Castle and Church on the way to the top of Mt Aragats

This pig thinks it is a calf. Out side of the Church.

These tribes living here are herders of sheep and cows.

This is tough land, it would be difficult to farm it.  This is typical of the area.

It was fun to have a day off and go up Mt Aragats and see this high lake.

The Senior Missionaries on the way to Mt Aragats.

After a day off, back to work, closing a farm equipment project.  We love to see the young people working in the villages.

Farmers love to do a BBQ after a closing.

Ajapynak Branch Primary program.

LDSC provided this Analyzer to a remote village clinic, Buzhakan, Aragotsotn, Armenia

The doctor gave us this beautiful picture of Mt Ararat.

Elder and Sister Rich with some of Armerica's finest.

Village house damaged by a mudslide.

 The village of Getahovit was damaged by  a mudslide.  LDSC was given permission to provide them with pipes to repair their water system.  We had done a clean water project there a couple of years ago.  Part of the damage was in the village, as shown by the above picture.  There were several houses damaged as well as a lot of water pipe. There was also damage done to the pipes that bring the water from the source to the village, several kilometers away.  We had to take an old Soviet Army truck to go inspect the work.  Sister Rich and Syuzi stayed in the village, while N'shan, Eric and Elder Rich rode in the truck up to the source.

Elder Rich and Eric opted to ride in the back for a better view.

It took about an hour each way to get to where the work was being done.  When we got back, Elder Rich was all muddy.  Sister Rich asked what happened.  Elder Rich explained that when they got to the top and got off the truck, a bear came out of the woods and attacked the group.  Elder Rich decided to wrestle the bear.  The bear threw Elder Rich in the mud and Elder Rich threw the bear in the mud and chased it away.  That is  my story and I am sticking to it.  It sounded a lot better than saying that I fell when I jumped off the back of the truck and landed in the mud.  I don't know why Sister Rich didn't believe the story.

Eric and Elder Rich.  Boys will be boys.

LDSC provided this old Russian Combine to several villages in Ararat Marz.

Bread and salt at a water closing.

Sister Rich has cut a lot of ribbons in Armenia.

A lot of very happy villagers who now have water for the first time.

Khor Virap Church with Mt Ararat on a very clear day.

 

The blogger seems to be full, so we will continue this blog in Fall Travels Part 2.