We are very sad to be leaving this beautiful place. Christmas is very different in Armenia than it is in America. The Armenian's do not celebrate Christmas on December 25, but rather on January 6. They also don't really celebrate the birth of Christ, even though this is a Christian country. There is a lot of socializing and, of course, that means a lot of food. We had some Missionaries leaving in the middle of December and the Branch had a party for them. They start celebrating Christmas on New Years Eve and finish on about January 13th, which is their old New Year. They visit and have dinners throughout the entire period.
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| Relief Society Sisters at the Missionaries Going Away. |
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| The Branch President and two of the departing Missionaries, Elder Zebley and Sister Crawford |
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| Elder and Sister Rich at Syuzi's home for dinner. |
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| Syuzi and her mother |
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| Elder Anderson going home. |
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| The only public Nativity was at the Marriott Hotel | | |
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This was our second Christmas here in Armenia. It was a wonderful experience. We had all of the Missionaries in Armenia, including all of the Seniors in attendance. Since Christmas was on Sunday, we had our party on Saturday at one of the Branches. It was a combination of some very spiritual things coupled with the Missionaries having fun in a talent show. It is amazing what will pass for talent. We also have some very talented singers that are serving here and they gave us some beautiful music.
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| Sister Carter and all of the Sister Missionaries |
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| Pres and Sister Carter |
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| Senior Sisters singing carols |
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| Sister Loveridge wearing the White Elephant Lady Bug Slippers. |
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| Our new Office Couple got their talent from the islands. They were pretty good. |
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| A TV cooking show parody by two of the Sister Missionaries that was really funny. |
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| Really serious Elders being really silly and funny. |
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| Wonderful singing to end the day on a Spiritual high. |
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| This was a REAL snow storm |
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| Grigor and his 40 dollar Rolex |
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| LDSC Christmas party at a really good Armenian restaurant, African Pandok |
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| Delivering a Christmas card to the Mayor of Saralanj at his home. Our last trip to a village. |
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| The Mayor and his wife. We were unannounced. |
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| We took the new Couples with us to the village |
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| Mt Aragats across a snow field. This is the highest peak in Armenia. This is true since Mt Ararat is in Turkey. |
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| Artur and Elder Rich digging into the food at Suzanna's home. |
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| Suzanna's son and daughter at their home. |
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| Suzanna and her daughter |
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| Dinner at Anahit's |
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| Anahit and a New Years specialty, a baked pork leg, not a ham. |
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| Dinner at Erik's. His sister took charge of the cooking, not just another pretty face, but an Armenian cook. |
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| Erik and his father, Ruben |
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| One of the finest families in Armenia, the Gasparian's. His mother was at a funeral. |
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| A really big tree for an apartment. Each branch has to be installed. |
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| Presentation is very important. |
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| The Budd girls and some fish. |
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| The Seniors, Rich, Watkins, Ayer, Reading, Loveridge |
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| Christinia had a Family Home Evening, the cake says Elder and Sister Riches |
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| FHE along with the new Embassy couple, the Hansens |
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| We think this is the best shawrma in Armenia |
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| The meat, chicken and pork, is cooked on a vertical spit. |
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| The secret is that they are cooking with wood rather than gas. |
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| Korean night at the Budds. Embassy people do not live in Armenian Apartments. |
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| Justin and Laura Budd and two of their children. They are wonderful people. |
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| Sister Tolman and Sister Boyle, two of the great ones. |
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| Question, can I get another month out of these glasses? |
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This is the last blog entry that we will do from Armenia. It is not unusual for the sprint to the end to include trying to make do with something until you get home, in this case a cheap pair of reading glasses. We have finished all of our projects that can be finished. We have organized the computer and the office. We are slowly but surely getting used to the idea that this wonderful adventure is coming to an end. We have loved every minute of it and eagerly look forward to whatever is next. We have learned a great deal about the world, ourselves and the Lord during this past 18 months. We appreciate all of the support our family and friends have given us to make this Mission possible. We love the Lord and know that He knows us and loves us and for that we are grateful.
Love,
Elder and Sister Rich
