Week 19 - January 29, 2018 - Continued

Our longest stay, 5 1/2 days, out of the 17 days we were gone, was in Yerevan, Armenia.  The reason for this was because rather than just training, George and
 Elder Cook, the AAA assigned to this country, actually did the audits themselves.  There are very few priesthood holders in this country at this time.  All of the branches are using the young Elders to serve in Branch Presidencies, as well as acting as the Financial Clerks.  George was amazed at how organized they all were.  It was really refreshing to see how seriously they took their callings and were being so cautious with the Lord's sacred funds.

In the training meeting held in Salt Lake City, I was reminded that I could participate in all of the training in each area, but that the actual auditing is a priesthood responsibility.  So, while George was doing audits, I would be in the next room with my computer working on family history.  I loved meeting with the Mission Secretary's wife in Armenia who had actually worked on the Help Line for familysearch.  She was able to help me out with so many of my questions.    

When the audits were done each day, George and I went exploring and were able to enjoy so many of the special places that Armenia has to offer.

Republic Square of Yerevan

Museum of Armenian History--which we visited one day.  Very interesting!  Articles clear back to the stone age!

Yerevan is quite a poor country, but here is a picture showing the very wealthy at the top and the very poor at the bottom of the hill.

Two of the Elders who worked with George on the first audit he did there.  Next to George is the Branch President, next Elder Cook (the AAA), Elder Price (the Mission Secretary), and next is a member of the Mission Presidency, an Armenian, who drove everyone around while we were there.  After the audit, we were all so hungry with very few places to eat, so the Branch President arranged for us to eat at a wedding reception place that opened for lunch just for us.  This branch was up in the mountain area and we saw quite a bit of snow there.

One of the first things we noticed was how many statues and monuments are in the city.  I thought I read somewhere that there are 4,000 throughout Armenia.  Many of them come from the days when the Soviets were in power, but many of them have been replaced since Armenia gained its independence.

Two more young Elders that George worked with on the second audit.  They all had worked so hard and had done such a great job.  We took them and their Branch President to lunch this day.

One day after an audit, we hired a drive who took us about an hour up in the mountains to two places that are very famous.

This is the Pagan Temple built for the sun goddess, Myrtha, in Garni, in the 3rd Millennium BC.  

The remains of the summer palace.

A Russian tourist wanted his picture taken with us, so we did the same with him.

The view from the top of this hill is spectacular!

Furs and Armenian products at a little stand nearby in the parking lot.

We next drove to our next stop about half an hour away:  The Geghard Monastery, established at this site at the beginning of the 4th Century  

Armenia woman selling her homemade products, including fruit leather and traditional Armenian bread.

Monks lived and worked in these caves that are everywhere around this Monastery.

The church was built between 1215 and 1225 and is literally carved into the rock mountain.

Inside the church is very dark, with little light.

It is truly amazing to see the intricate work that was done as they literally carved everything out of the rock.

This is the spring of running water inside the church.

This monastery was renowned for the relics housed here at one time.  The most famous was the spear, which had wounded Christ on the Cross and was allegedly brought there by the Apostle Thaddeus, from which comes its present name Geghardavank (the Monastery of the Spear).  The spear was kept in the Monastery for 500 years.  Another relic formerly here was said to be a fragment of Noah's Ark.

Walking over a little bridge, we saw hundreds of pieces of cloth handing on the trees there.  We found out that people make wishes or desires and hang them on these trees.

Truly a fascinating place!

That night we ate at one of the many fantastic restaurants in Armenia.  This was very interesting--a baked pumpkin with beans and meat inside.  I had it a couple of nights later and it was delicious!

Republic Square is truly beautiful at night because it is so clean and lit up so nicely!

Another day we went to the cascade--built to connect the upper town with the lower, but it is also such a beautiful place to see over the entire city and area.  On a clear day, you can see Mount Ararat, where Noah's Ark landed.  It was never clear enough for us to see it--hopefully the next time we come.

In the summer time, these huge water jets perform a wonderful water show!

We decided to climb the 572 steps to the very top!

Near the top were these sculptures of these figures looking like they were taking a bow--I felt like doing the same!  This wasn't an easy climb!

Of course, George beat me to the top!

It seriously was worth it!  

At the very top, you can see excavation and cranes.  There is a plan to build a giant glassed in museum here.  It has been delayed, but is still in the works.

Going back down, we found out there were escalators that went through the museum inside.  I was very glad--I probably would have tripped and fallen clear to the bottom!

At the top of another hill is the statue of Mother Armenia.  It replaced a statue of Joseph Stalin which was placed there during his reign of the Soviet Union in 1950.  In 1962, the statue of Stalin was removed, with one soldier being killed and many injured during the process and replaced by the Mother Armenia statue, which symbolizes peace through strength.

One night, at 12:30, the fire alarm went off.  Thinking it was just a malfunction, we tried to ignore, but then lots of noise, the smell of an electrical fire, the sight of smoke in the hallway, and lots of knocking of doors.  

We took the stairs down six flights, and sat in the lobby in our pajamas while the firemen and police came.  

Soon the whole hotel was dark, but finally whatever the problem was solved, and we got to bed about 2:30 a.m.  An experience we will never forget!

A beautiful pedestrian street with many nice shops and even an underground shopping area.  

The Armenian Opera House

The Armenian alphabet is truly interesting--I thought the Russian one was difficult--I can't even understand how one could learn this, but I understand the Georgian alphabet is even more "noodle" like!

Just around the corner from our hotel were these statues--we understand they are of an Armenian, a Russian, and a Georgian.

The very best meal we ate in all 17 days was this wonderful steak and potato dinner in Armenia.  Absolutely the best steak ever!  (I think it matched the meat we had in Brazil even!)

What made it even better was the company--the Armenia Mission President Bostrom and his wife, plus the Mission Secretary Elder Price and his wife, the AAA Elder Cook and his wife, and George and me.  We had such a great evening together before we left.

We had to visit Vernissage Market before we left.  It is set up like Ismaylovo in the Moscow area, with arts and crafts, and other items from the Armenia people for sale in their little shops.

This outdoor market had mainly jewelry and hand-sewn items.

One of the places we really wanted to visit was the Tsitsernakaberd Memorial Complex--dedicated to the million and a half Armenians who perished in the first genocide of the 20th Century at the hands of the Turkish government.  

Our attempt at a "selfie."

Each year, thousands come to visit and especially on April 24th, the anniversary of the end of the genocide.  

Flowers are placed around the eternal flame.

The twelve pillars around the flame symbolize the 12 areas of their country the Armenians feel were taken from them during this takeover.

In addition to placing flowers around the eternal flame, trees are planted with signs that told who gave the tree.  

I believe this was from Senator Bob Dole.

One from the Pope.

Unfortunately, the museum was closing for the day by the time we got there, but we realized even more fully that even though so many Armenian people have had tough lives and still do, they are surviving through their strong will and perseverance.

  The meeting house of the Branch we attended on Sunday in Yerervan.

The name of our church in Armenian--The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints

George and me with four of the young Elders there.  We were asked to both speak by the Branch President.  This is where basically he and his family had to do most everything in the branch from speaking in church, to leading the singing, blessing and passing the sacrament (along with some of the young Elders), and teaching Sunday School.  That family is so strong and such a support to this Branch!

Back at our favorite restaurant in Armenia--eating with the Cooks before we both left the next morning.  They were going back to Moscow, while we were headed on to Lithuania. 

One of the things I liked about going to this restaurant was watching the women making Lavash--the traditional Armenian flatbread.  Everyone knows I love to watch "Amazing Race."  One of their challenges was to make this flatbread.  The players wasted so much dough because you have to throw it just right on the inside of the tandoor (clay pot which has charcoal or wood fire inside) without it falling down inside and then cook it just long enough to still make it soft, but done.  

These two women have this skill to perfection!

You can see this flatbread for sale everywhere.  The Armenians love it!

Sister Cook took this pic of another tandoor, not quite as fancy but seen in many areas where people make their own.

We will surely miss Armenia!  We have LOVED being here--the many kind people and the wonderful city are so welcoming.  We were now on to Vilnius, Lithuania!