Letter from Armenia

(Dr. Kaarina Ham is a CCCC Commissioned Christian Worker ministering in the Republic of Armenia. Following is a recent letter from her to her supporters.)

Dear Friends,

Hiking Group

Hello from Armenia at the height of summer! As people vacate the city to visit friends or relatives in the countryside, we’re winding down our ministry schedule and looking forward to an August breather, too. Praise the Lord for the positive response to recent programs.

First in line was the Women’s Seminar, with the topic Our Bodies — Temples of the Holy Spirit, when we once again (very happily!) hosted village neighbor women for afternoon tea. Then another group enjoyed the annual excursion in sweltering heat, this time to a village just outside the city, when the Bible lesson dealt with Struggles in the Christian Life.

During the last week of June, a great summer camp team of seven worked hard and well in three villages in the region where our Lighthouse located. Here’s how things went, from the perspective of one of our volunteer helpers:

Bible study group

The six days that we spent with school boys and girls left an unforgettable impression in our hearts. I’ve been several times a team member, and every time I get a great pleasure during summer camp days. But this time our expectations were exceeded.

Working with energetic kids in provincial villages is a hard thing. We come back very tired each day. But at the same time it is very enjoyable as we see their excited faces and responses.

Our team did the best to give the programs more substance. For this reason we prepared games and sports, along with dramas and lessons from the Bible. They were all of great interest.

In the end, summer camp days passed in harmony. Let us praise God that every year we can help with this work, because teenagers with few positive influences so much need principles from God’s Word to guide them.

On July 14th Hiking Day in the beautiful mountains, I enlisted the (secret) help of this camp team in creating the “Longest Ice Cream Sundae” in the village for around fifty participants — eleven new to our programs.  It went over extraordinarily well!

Children raising their spoons for ice cream.

Finally, the Thursday evening Bible Study Retreat July 27–28 topped things off, with lessons on the theme Light From the Scriptures. Whew! Thank the Lord for bringing us through a busy summer of activities, when the “net of the Gospel” was thrown out in new directions.

As the Lord brings us to mind, please pray for the crisis situation here in Armenia. Twenty years after the implosion of the Soviet system, things are not looking up. Each month more people are giving up and trying to find ways to exit for what they think will be better political and economic conditions — in Russia, Europe, North America.  May God be merciful in somehow securing a future and a hope (Jeremiah 29:11) for His people in this struggling First Christian Nation (301 A.D.). Many thanks for your faithful, prayerful support as we try to reassure in the faith those who are increasingly desperate and full of anxiety.

In Jesus’ Love,

Kaarina