Mission: Armenia 2019 – Sunday, September 1, 2019

Our team’s third Sunday in Armenia was one of our busiest days during this mission trip. We were on the road for about 11 hours and traveled from Yerevan to Gyumri to Horom to Kosh and then back to Yerevan.

In Gyumri, we visited the Armenian Evangelical Baptist Church, where Pastor Joseph preached, and we enjoyed a moving time of worship and praise. (Videos to come in a later post.) From there we went to Horom for another baptismal service. Although all eight women who were baptized were from Spitak, the church members from Horom joined us to provide encouragement and we appreciated their warm fellowship. It was inspiring to see a few elderly women bravely enter the shallow pool to be baptized! 

Later we had the privilege of visiting our friends Sanadroug and Mariam Hajian for supper and fellowship.

Monday was busier than expected as the team ended up fitting in several visits (or meetings at the hotel). At this point, although the Hovsepians have one full day left in Armenia, the mission trip is officially over. Several friends in Armenia will continue the work as much as they can, following up on families we visited and making sure Bibles, tracts and devotional books are made available to those who need them. Please continue to pray for this vital work in Armenia. Thank you!

Mission: Armenia 2019 – Friday, August 30, 2019

Mission: Armenia 2019 – Thursday, August 29, 2019

Did you know there’s a neighborhood called Bangladesh in Armenia? That’s where our team went on Tuesday for one of their visits. At one point, as we got closer to where the family lives, our car couldn’t handle the bumpy dirt road so we got out and walked the rest of the way (about 15 minutes). A 29-year-old woman and her two beautiful children met us halfway and then led us to their home. You can see some of that path in the photos.

What we saw when we arrived was nothing we could have expected. Although the property seems quite large, it is barren and filled with scraps of wood and metal, with a few crumbling sheds and a ramshackle little two-room house situated immediately next to one of three electrical towers – which we could hear buzzing overhead. When we asked the young woman about her husband, she explained that he tends 500 sheep for the people who own the land they live on. He spends six months away from home working as a shepherd while she takes care of the property and a few other sheep. The worst of it is that he has no salary. He works only to earn the food they eat and for their boarding.

We were able to offer some help to this family, to share God’s love and to pray for them. The children were so joyful despite their difficult circumstances that we felt humbled, recognizing how much we take for granted.

Mission: Armenia 2019 – Tuesday, August 27, 2019

Monday was a quieter day for our team, but we still visited two families (related to each other) in the Ashtarak region and enjoyed warm fellowship. At the first home, where three generations were gathered together, Pastor Joseph was able to answer some interesting questions about faith and witness to a couple of the family members. He gave a 20-year-old man one of his devotional books and another family member indicated her desire to be baptized this weekend, if possible. (We may have about a dozen people get baptized; arrangements are currently being made by our contacts here.)

We have about a week left here in Armenia and will be trying to fit in as many visits and ministry opportunities as we can. We appreciate your continued interest and prayers!

Mission: Armenia 2019 – Monday, August 26, 2019

For three consecutive years, our team has visited the Armenian Evangelical Baptist Church (also called Golgotha) in Yerevan during our mission trips and Pastor Joseph once again spoke at both the 11 am and 2 pm services. It was inspiring to see the church filled at both services (especially in the morning) and many young people participating.

The response after both services was positive and several people expressed that the messages spoke to them. We thank God for the opportunity to encourage this growing outreach. (They are planning to have a baptismal service for about 25 people the week after our team returns to Montreal.)

Thank you for following our progress and your continued prayers!

Mission: Armenia 2019 – Sunday, August 25, 2019

Our team in Armenia had a busy weekend! Here are some photos from Saturday’s activities. After briefly visiting relatives, the Hovsepians (along with Hakob, Emmy and Arayik) went to the home of Gor, a young blind boy many of you will remember from the last two mission trips. We enjoyed catching up with his family and he clung to Pastor Joseph like velcro! We were especially touched when he showed a tiny spot off the kitchen where he has created an altar to pray at.

In the afternoon, we drove to Charentsaven to worship at Pastor Suren Shahumyan’s church, where Pastor Joseph preached. We always enjoy a beautiful fellowship with this family of believers!

Thank you for your continued prayers. It’s hard to believe that our team is already entering the second half of the mission trip.

Mission: Armenia 2019 – Friday, August 23, 2019

On Friday, August 23, our friend Aharon came to pick up our team and drive us to Hrazdan, a town 45km northeast of Yerevan, to visit a family Emmy has been helping. The rest of the team was left in shock when we saw the dilapidated condition of the homes in the neighborhood we visited.

Mission: Armenia 2019 – Thursday, August 22, 2019

On Wednesday and Thursday, our team was able to visit a total of six homes, but they’ve also had opportunities to reach out to others along the way, such as a server in the hotel restaurant (Pastor Joseph gave him a gospel tract one morning after chatting for a while and, later, his devotional book) and produce vendors along the highway. (You’ll find some more details in the photo captions.)

During one visit, a family of three all prayed to receive Christ as their Lord and Saviour. In other homes, we were able to encourage believers to remain strong in their faith. The highlight of Thursday’s visits was when 98-year-old Kevork, whom we’ve visited twice before, prayed for us and affirmed the work we’re doing for God. He is a treasure!

Mission: Armenia 2019 – Tuesday, August 20, 2019

Here’s the latest update from our team in Armenia:

On Monday and Tuesday, we focussed on visiting with several families who are closely connected with our ministry. During these meetings, our team was able to get up to speed on the situation in Armenia and discern what the needs are. There were also opportunities to counsel and, most exciting of all, to explain the Good News about salvation through Jesus to a couple. Husband and wife both made decisions to surrender their lives to Jesus and to follow Him. Praise God!

Here are a few snapshots of the last two days. Thank you for your continued prayers.