Some people we have come to love

In Armenia we met Nia, a talented professional, and a returned missionary who regularly translates general conference to Armenian speakers world wide.  She has a long, sweeping bang over one eye.  She later explained that she lost her eye in the gigantic 1989 earthquake, when 50,000 died .  She was a toddler at  the time  but has met her challenges with courage and great joy in the gospel.

Hazan, an PhD in Engineering from Iran who was introduced to the gospel through American colleagues.  His rational mind has always struggled with the strict rules of the faith he in which he was raised and the "no rules, anything goes" mentality of western societies.  In the gospel of Jesus Christ  he has found truth upon which he can base his life.

This picture is the Armenia stake Young Women's board.  All returned missionaries.  Amazing  young women.

We met a terrific missionary who just returned home to Armenia with the unlikely name of La Grande.  He and his siblings were all raised in the gospel and each was given the name of a righteous scriptural person or a modern day one.  I'm sure first grade was interesting, trying to write Le Grande in Armenian.

Oleg, our mission driver, a former MIG pilot who whizzes around these Moscow streets like he was still flying fighter jets against the Americans.  He speaks no English but is jovial and LOVES loud opera music in his van.  He often sings along.  He always wears a white shirt and keeps a tie hanging behind his seat in case he is needed in performing a priesthood ordinance.

So many others.
The picture below is of my new best friend, Irina, who I met waiting for the metro  (the one who tried to give me her earrings.)  She came to dinner last  week, along with our sweet sister missionaries who did a marvelous job translating.  It was the very last night of her mission for one of our sisters and she was thrilled to be able to do more teaching.  Irina came bearing flowers and a beautiful cake for dessert.
I love Irina.  She lives in a small apartment like ours, very near us.  She has two sons, one graduated from college and  a government employee, the other  in his first year of college.  They live with her.  A niece studying to become a pediatrician lives there as well.
 Her husband is a thousand miles away, in their small village in the beautiful mountains to the south.  Irina studied culinary skills for 4 years but found she could make more money maintaining a small coat shop, 2 hours metro ride away.  She closed the shop  early Tuesday to have dinner in our home.  She is devoting her life to helping her sons and niece have a brighter future.  She is anticipating going home for a short visit next summer and is determined that we will go with her.

She is loving and kind and is eager to share and learn.

We are happy and well and grateful to have a small part in building the Lord's kingdom.