You don't realize how much you love rocks and trees and mountains and streams until you are living in a concrete jungle. Last week, we had a team retreat at a beautiful place in the northern part of the country. Our colleagues from Georgia met us there and we really had a sweet time together.
The second day of our retreat we packed up and went to visit some ancient monasteries nestled in the mountains. The Sanahin and Haghpat monasteries were amazing. Green rolling hills, blue skies, and snow-capped mountains provided the scenery. We walked through the monastery complexes and remembered how old their faith is. Old, but dead.
During our time touring the area where we stayed, 4 things (or people), really stood out to us.
1. A woman we talked to said that coffee is her God and spoke of palm reading.
2. There was a family grave near the Sanahin monastery. We wondered and speculated about the condition of that family.
3. An old man sitting near the Haghpat monastery with crutches and coke-bottle glasses. We asked him if he believed in God and he said "it is all a lie."
4. A young woman with unkept hair was sweeping the road near our hotel. She said she's been angry with God since her sister died and apologized for not having much faith.
Our team retreat was such a great time to refocus and refresh. We spent hours together in the evening talking and crying as we opened our countries' maps. We decided that talking to the Father on behalf of our people has to be a priority.
So thankful for a refreshing time outside the city.
1 comment:
What a beautiful place for a refreshing and refocusing time. It kind of makes me think of Falls Creek. I think a beautiful place where one can really see God's creations helps in that special time.
The person who interested me was the one who is angry at God because her sister died, but she apologized to you because she didn't have much faith. It makes me think she knew what she needed but has built a wall. So many people in Armenia need the Lord. They haven't heard over and over again like people in America where the majority have access to televisions and churches (at least in the south). Remember Paul's vision to come over to Macedonia, and he went.
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