I am Thankful it's THURSDAY!!!

Our view of Mt. Ararat from the seminary!

As much as I enjoyed sharing the gospel with a woman who is dying of cancer (apparently she is still in denial that she is dying from a "woman's cancer"), I MISS JILLIAN!!!!! Please pray for me!!!! We still have another whole week here!!!

I had a nice chat with Lucina, one of our translaters, who was a teacher for 6 years and now tutors instead. Her husband, Albert, has been working with the children outside with fun games. :) While we were chatting, she asked about my daughter (I shared my testimony with her yesterday while we were visiting the old church on the Sevan Peninsula that was built in 700 A.D.) and Brooks took out our most recent picture of her, from the spring. She looks so much more mature in that picture than she usually does, but I still love it! Lucina (Lucy) asked how she does in school and I explained her current struggles and successes, and that we hope she will mature some more mentally by 5th grade. Then I told her about Jillian's beautiful heart and how loving and nurturing she is and how she loves the Lord, and I started feeling homesick for the first time. Yes, I crave American food like nobody's business, but God is strengthening me more everyday!

It is getting close to storming here, and it is getting late, as I can tell from all of the errors I am making, so I will keep this short since I have pictures today!!!!

VBS had about 120 children, some more children that were jr. high age. They seemed to like me OK, but I also didn't try to guess their Armenian while Hamille was sharing about the story of Zaccheus and repentance. Then Brooks, Charlie, and Arman, the church plant pastor, went to visit the "godmother" of his brother and his wife. He explained that just when infants are baptized in the states and often have sponsors or godparents, some also have godparents for marriages. Not a bad idea, but considering what the function should be, and her minimal faith, I can't say she was the best choice. It looked like she was falling asleep on us for a while, but she was "listening". It was my first time evangelizing, and even though I had to rely on Brooks to get it started, I pretty much took it from there. Then Charlie used the story of Nicodemus to illustrate their cultural beliefs of Christianity versus what Jesus/Bible said was necessary. We prayed for her, although even Charlie did not catch her name. When I find out, I will post it so others can pray for her, too.

I believe that God has used some brothers in Christ from North Carolina to heal me of my tummy troubles! Steve offered me something that supports good bacteria in the intestines, and I have taken 1 tablet at both meals (I mostly skipped lunch due to the menu) and have felt great all day! PRAISE THE LORD!!!!!!!

In this joy, I am trying not to think about how I managed to miss my cell phone in a pocket (even after I checked them!!!) before they went into the laundry. I don't have a cell phone anymore, so calling me is useless!!!!! ;*( Brooks had done all he can to make me feel better, including buying me ice cream at the market this evening. :) We will resolve it at our convenience (and depending on the cost!) after we return home.

Well, I hope you enjoy the pictures!