March 7th, 2009 update from Armenia

Myellow! :) March 7th

Just thought I'd add a little more of our update today. I'm typing in the email just on a text doc on our computer so that when we get internet or when we get over to borrow Nick and Olivia's, we can just copy and paste and send instead of sitting there for a long time in front of the computer instead of hanging out.

Anywho. Today Oliver had his fourth birthday party in a little community room in our neighborhood. So we got to go celebrate him and have a pirate party. Eye patches and earings! And we also got to meet a few more people. So that's cool. We met three other missionaries today. One family from Canada, another independent family whose wife is Armenian, and another family that's Baptist who have two kids that are 9. Benjamin and Hannie hooked up with Micah and Kyra right away so that was cool. They're adopted from Russia. Ruth hung out with the girls and Elijah made an Armenian girl friend, Deana, I think. He just said he liked her, I'm not sure what she thought! Ha. He also played with Oliver and a few other kids. He learned to say, “Come, come!” in Armenian. Heh. So, I guess I was excited to share that with you guys since I know you're praying with us that everyone would find good friends.

We also have met a couple Armenians that we're trying to learn to speak with! Heh. One guy, Vahram, came to help pick us up from the airport. He is married and has two little ones. He knows a little bit of English so we tried to visit some. He's a part of the ministries here and a really nice guy. He told me his wife was expensive... but meant to say precious! :) That will be our life! Heh. Picking the wrong word and laughing about it. And we hung out with Marina (Mar een a) again. She speaks English well. And we also met Christina who is an English translator. I don't thin her husband speaks English, though. So anyway... it was an interesting morning and we met a few more people. Yea.

Tomorrow we might go to a special needs orphanage with Olivia and her friend. They're bringing a couple gifts up there and invited us along. And we'll go to church in the evening. I'm not sure if that's always when they do church or what but maybe... We heard that they usually get a slower start here then we're used to. Get to work at 9 or 10. Stay up later at night...

Benjamin thinks Mt Ararat is the coolest. Hannie would like to stay in this house for 56 years. (But today her friend told her it was small, so maybe she'll change her mind!?) :) Lijah's just running around like usual. Ruth is making friends and loves Uncle Nick. She gets along well with grown ups. And she is her usual self. All or nothing!

We slept better last night. Jet lag is rough. The first morning I explained it to the kids and later Ruth said, “I'm jet laggin!!” The kids slept through the night, mostly. Hannie said she was awake but just rested anyway. Ruth was up once to go to the bathroom at 1AM but went back to bed. Kev and I were awake but stayed in bed around 4. We'll be glad when we get adjusted!

I suppose we should start homeschooling soon. We're behind! But we better get adjusted first. And I think we'll try to get another little desk or two. There is one in our room...

Olivia leaves for the Netherlands on Wed for a baby check up and a visit with her folks. But it sounds like Nick will be here.

There's hamburger on our gas stove and our laundry's going yesterday Hannie and I washed dishes by hand in the sink... Some normal in the middle of all the new! Kev and Vahram are going to go try to get us some cell phones again today. Nick thought the guy selling them the other day was trying to take advantage of the Amerikasi. :) So Vahram will go with this time! It'll be nice to have a phone and internet. Some conections.

Hope you guys are doing well! We think of you and pray for you. Pray for us especially at night! That's always a good time for worry to creep in!

Last night I read about Moses and the burning bush. God called him to go and he said, “What if...” and God said, “I am with you!”. Good encouragement for us. We heard about being steadfast and trusting yesterday, too. God is working on us here! :) His peace surrounds those who trust in Him!

Love you guys!!!!
Jill

Jill-jon or Hannie-jon, etc... is a way of saying something sweet. No exact translation but kinda like honey or sweetie... a way to call a friend something nice! Crystal-jon. :)