House Building

November 2, 2008

* Internet is not as accessible here, so I am posting these as soon as I can, the post date and the written date may not line up =)

The last few days we have began working on the homes for the Armenians who lost their homes in an earthquake many years ago. They have been living in FEMA style trailers since that point in time. The homes we are helping build are funded mainly by the Armenian Relief and Development Agency (ARDA) with the help of a few other agencies. The homes are built from a technology out of Arizona using Styrofoam blocks, cement, and rebar. The technology has been tested to work.

We have been painting and mudding sheetrock the last few days, while we are waiting for the blocks to arrive. The blocks arrived late Friday night, so the Armenian workers set up the first layer of blocks on Saturday, while we painted and mudded. Monday we will begin to help set up the structure. This will be an interesting task. It will be cool to see the house take shape and to know that a family in need will be able to live there.

Today we went to an Armenian Church service. Culturally it is very different than Moldova. It was much more similar to what we are used to in America. We were allowed to worship more freely, wear jeans and I was allowed to introduce the team to the church. It felt a little more comfortable. We sang some songs in English, Glori Ann gave her testimony, Karen read a Psalm and Zach preached. Afterwards the pastor and his family had us over for lunch. The food was very good and we had a lot of it. The team really loves the flatbread here in Armenia. Another favorite food are grape or cabbage leaves stuffed with meat or rice. We had them in Moldova also, but the name is different in Armenia. I believe they are called dolmas. It is always nice to have food that you enjoy in a different country. The lunch was very good and the pastor and his family were very kind. Afterwards we went on a ski lift in the area that overlooks part of Armenia. It was beautiful.

I want to leave you with a verse from 1 John 4:
“God is love. When we take up permanent residence in a life of love, we live in God and God lives in us. This way, love has the run of the house, becomes at home and mature in us, so that we’re free from worry on Judgment day – our standing in the world is identical with Christ’s. There is no room in love for fear. Well-formed love, banishes fear. Since fear is crippling, a fearful life – fear of death, fear of judgment – is one not yet fully formed in love.
We, though, are going to love – love and be loved. First we were loved, now we love. He loved us first.

If anyone boast ‘I love God,’ and goes right on hating his brother and sister, thinking nothing of it, he is a liar. If he won’t love the person he can see, how can he love the God he can’t see? The command we have from Christ is blunt: Loving God includes loving people. You’ve got to love both.”