Oh there is so much to say about Armenia!  I have read one book written by an Armenian American and now am reading the second book, the Burning Tigris.  The Burning Tigris is a New York Times Best Seller.  After reading almost two hundred pages of this book, I asked myself, why do we send missionaries all over the world to try to convert people who hate us, and we don't take care of our fellow Christians who have died in the name of Christ and are suffering terribly because of it? In the late 1800's and early 1900's, there was a genocide in Turkey against the Armenians because they were Christians.  They were also prosperous like the Jews in Germany.  The missionaries came from all over the world at that time and built schools for the Armenians and helped them so they were some of the best schools in Turkey.  The Turks didn't have schools that compared to them.  The Armenians were in Turkey because that land had once been theirs, and they have been there since Noah.  Ararat is their national symbol and it does not belong to them anymore.  During and after World War I, Turkey decided to ethnically cleanse Turkey and there were strong nationalists feelings.  They tortured and killed the Armenians in the most horrible ways including burning them while they were dancing, raping them until they died and taunting them.  They put dogs on horses and said, "Where is your Jesus now? Why doesn't he come down from heaven and help you?"  The Armenians were actually crucified like Christ.  They were deported from Turkey into Syria and left to die in the desert if they were not shot first. All of this is documented especially by the Ambassadors who were there are the time, like Henry Morgenthau.  And in the middle of all this in the late 1800's during the first massacre was Clara Barton.  I haven't heard this name in a long time.  This book is about the American response.  She led Americans in the struggle to help the Armenians and was 75 years old at the time.

At this time of the year when Christians are preparing for Christmas, please remember the oldest Christian country in the world who named Christianity their national religion in 300 A.D. and are descended from Noah, the Garden of Eden, and the people of Nineveh   And if your church sends Christmas boxes to poor children, remind them that Armenia is one of the poorest countries in the world and many of their relatives were Christian martyrs.  We should take care of our own and support our brothers and sisters in Christ.

In the meantime, I have been to Yerevan many, many times lately to take care of issues involving my permanent resident card. Things don't come easily in countries like this.  Yerevan is in the process of decorating for Christmas, and I can't wait to see the finished product! There are beautiful decorations everywhere!  People are preparing to celebrate Christmas and New Year's together for two weeks.  Their Christmas is on December 6.  They eat fish for Christmas and go to church like us.  I can't wait to see what it is like!

The water here seems to be less plentiful, and I find it necessary when there is a good trickle and hot water, to take a bath immediately and wash my hair less there be none later!  I still am having trouble with food, but it is getting less of a problem. I don't know what bothers my stomach, but I suspect some of it is the cheese.  I wondered why it tasted so strange.  Well I have never eaten sheep cheese!! It tastes straight off the sheep!  The Mormons told me about a store where I could buy Mozzarella and other cheeses like Gouda!  I just hope they're not trying to convert me too!

The weather is holding out here pretty well.  It is cold, about 32 or a little less from what I can figure out.  I have no weather report, and since it was supposed to rain yesterday and snow today, I guess it is not very accurate either.  I have warm boots and a nice warm coat that I brought from the U.S., North Face to be exact, 700 fill of down.  I've bought two pairs of fur lined boots since being here, totally necessary, and I find if my feet are warm all's right with the world.

I'm really looking forward to going to Italy December 26.  I'll spend ten days there and then return to Armenian and prepare to go to the conference in Ukraine with the other English Language Fellows and a Ukrainian university.

Merry Christmas and Happy New Year!  Please remember those less fortunate than yourselves!