Armenia, here I come!

Yesterday my church (Winnetka Bible Church www.wbc.org) had a report from a team that recently went to Armenia to deliver medical supplies and minister to a couple of orphanages that we have established in that country.

Imagine my surprise when I learned that while over there, our pastor was asked to speak to a Bible study being held by a group of Iranians who had converted to Christianity from Islam!!!! As a result, they had to flee Iran and ended up in Armenia.

I also learned that a family from our church is responsible for founding the entire project, including the medical mission and one of the orphanages. The project is called the Armenia Relief Mission (ARM). http://www.wbc.org/ARM.htm

But, the biggest news of all is that we are sending a team again next June to complete our third playground for the children. I've decided I'm going! This is a perfect opportunity to use the language that has seemed useless up to now. I don't know that I will have the opportunity (or be ready) the first time out to translate a sermon, but just to be able to talk with people in their own language will be wonderful. I am exploring the possibility that God is calling me to to become fluent enough to be able to learn Armenian as well and replace Rozik on a few of the trips every year so she doesn't always have to be the one to go and translate for everyone.

This translates into a few prayer requests for now, I'll keep you updated as things come to mind:

1) I need to find my birth certificate in order to apply for a passport
2) I need to resume my Farsi refresher studies so that I have at least conversation level skills when we go next year
3) I need to get on a regular exercise schedule - gotta firm up these muscles so I can be of help, not hindrance, in constructing the playground!