Hidden Treasure...

It's been a good couple of days.

Friday I went Christmas shopping with my American friend, Kristen. Shopping here is....interesting. Most of the time you don't see much of anything you really want to buy because either the quality is terrible, the clothes look slightly strange, or the price is outrageous. But, praise God, I think I found some gifts. I also enjoyed some wonderful shawarma after shopping. http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Shawarma

Saturday, it was Lucine's birthday--Baby Narek's mom. So, we went to their house and enjoyed some dinner and fun. It was simply beautiful just enjoying each other's company. After the dinner was devoured, the guys started playing some music. They played some familiar hymns, some American "folk" songs, some Christmas songs, and of course some Armenian songs. It was just a relaxing time of fellowship. It was another glimpse of beauty here. Gretchen and I discussed that out on the street you don't see the beauty of Armenia, but when you enter a home and enjoy the people, their beauty comes alive. It's like they are a treasure that's wrapped up in old newspaper and you have to search to find the riches. I think the Apostle Paul talked about something similar.....we have this Treasure in jars of clay.

As we were singing random songs tonite, I thought to myself....Wouldn't it be amazing if there was ONE SONG the whole world could sing together. And then I remembered that one day every knee will bow and every tongue confess and we will sing "HOLY HOLY HOLY IS THE LORD GOD ALMIGHTY...."

Tonite, I was thankful for the reminders that this country IS full of great things and great people. There is a reason I fell in love with it all.