But one thing we now know for sure...

It's almost September! Our summer has been a whirlwind, but today things seem slower, the temps are a bit cooler, and I have time to breathe.  It has been much too long since I sat down to update this blog.  Now it’s Sunday morning, I’m feeling reflective and grateful, and I have a few minutes to get some words from my heart to the keyboard. So here goes!

I was thinking about the title that Doug chose for this blog: “We won’t know until we get there,” and how appropriate it has been on a daily basis.  Every day or at least every week has presented new challenges and experiences that leave us gasping in many cases, laughing in some, and always glad that we made the decision to come to Armenia.

Volunteers from First Armenian Presbyterian
in Fresno scraped and painted the
outdoor theater at the camp property

Central Peninsula Church (SF Bay Area)
volunteers took on removing flooring
from one of the dorms

Our work at the Young Life camp property has been so very rewarding as we watched transformation take place, both in physical structures, and in the hearts and minds of the volunteers (including us!) that came to help. We counted over 30 volunteers that came from the US to help out, some long-term, others for a few days.  Each one had a story of how God moved them to serve, and their stories were a great part of this experience for us. From many volunteers we learned a lot about Young Life and how it changes the hearts of young people, so we were excited to be involved in creating a new camp that will have this effect on lives in the future here in Armenia.

Zany times at Club with Arsen and Aram--
Young Life Armenia camp in Bujakan

In fact, visiting the Young Life camp in Bujukan in early August was one of our highlights of the summer.  The members of the YL Armenia team are insanely dedicated to their work, and the quality of this camp experience (currently taking place during four week-long sessions in a rented resort facility) is a testament to their love for kids and their desire to share the love of Christ with them.

The talk at Club time was on "Heroes"

In mid-August we moved from Hankavan Valley, where the camp property is located, to the capital city of Yerevan, where YL Armenia is based. We have done some commuting to the camp (about an hour away) to continue projects there, and we have used the time here to do some exploring in this beautiful city. Tomorrow we will be joined by Tom and Susan Holmes, the last volunteers for the summer. Susan and I will be doing some English language assessment and training with the YL team members, and Tom and Doug will go back and forth to work at the camp property.

We are taking advantage of our location to do a little traveling in our free time. Last week we made a short trip to Batumi and Tbilisi, two towns in Georgia, our neighbor to the north. In mid-September we are excited about a chance to visit Young Life folks in Moldova and Moscow. Then back to Yerevan before our final departure for home, with a four-day layover in Vienna on the way.

Thank you to all who have supported us with your prayers and encouragement for our efforts here. Special thanks go out to our friends from Young Life FSU (Former Soviet Union) stateside who have given us so much incredible support this summer. And we continually thank Jehovah Jireh, our God and provider, who has filled every single need that we encountered. This is the one thing we know for sure: He is utterly faithful. To Him be the glory!

8 

Oh, taste and see that the Lord is good! Blessed is the man who takes refuge in him!

Oh, fear the Lord, you his saints, for those who fear him have no lack!
The young lions suffer want and hunger, but those who seek the Lord lack no good thing. 

Psalm 34:8-10

For more information on Young Life Armenia, please visit Young Life Armenia's Facebook page.