So much more than ‘love in a box’
The LORD will perfect His work in me; Your mercy, O LORD, endures forever; do not forsake the work of Your own hands. (Ps. 138:8)
This is the verse I read on my first morning in Armenia, waking up in a new country, snow covered, new culture, anticipating new sights and experiences … and way out of my ‘comfort zone’!
My trip to Armenia, as part of the Irish Distribution Team of Operation Christmas Child (OCC), began Sunday 4th Jan, leaving Dublin Airport 11am, flying via Heathrow and arriving in Armenia’s capital city Yerevan 10 hours later. Prior to my departure, I am sad to say I didn’t even know where Armenia was, nor anything about it.
Having now been there (even if only for 3 short, but very full days) I now have some experience of a people who have suffered so much (through invasion, persistent war, genocide, earthquake, having land and identity stripped from them), yet are generous, friendly and still have a hope that despite all this, things will get better.
Some of you will have heard my presentation on the experiences of our team (10 OCC reps from all over Ireland) as we distributed gift-filled shoeboxes to children of all ages in all sorts of situations, visiting homes and working with various members of the local OCC team in Yerevan (all members of the Evangelical church there). We also got to visit a few historical sights, which at first I felt was “wasting time,” but these provided a valuable insight into the Armenian people and their culture and religious history.
So, what have I learned/ begun to learn from my short visit to Armenia?
Firstly I realized I don’t cope well in preparing to step out of my comfort zone. Even though I knew God would be with me, I still panicked and voiced “I can’t do this.” But God graciously showed me, even as I travelled that He was more than able to carry me through this - confirmed by my reading from Ps 138 that first morning. This was indeed “His purpose” for me….
Secondly, a very humbling experience I had to learn (and hope I never forget!) is that I don’t always know best, even when I think I do!
At one particular school we visited to distribute 150 shoeboxes, we arrived an hour late and my first sight as we entered the school hall was crying children and shouting, angry adults. I couldn’t understand what they were saying but their tone and body language said enough for me. The Armenian Team leader told us to wait and not to give out any boxes to the children (who were being pushed towards us by parents) while he spoke to the adults and tried to restore some order among the 200+ kids and 50+ adults in the room.
We all found it very distressing and I am sad to say, my emotions quickly went from sadness and pity (for the children) to anger towards the Team leader (an Armenian Pastor). I quietly voiced to some of the Irish team that if we had been left to our own devises we could have all these boxes given out orderly and no kids would be upset and why was he just talking and not getting on with things. I believed I knew better! I had the answer! However, over lunch, the Pastor explained to us the situation. As I listened I realized I had understood nothing of what was really going on. I had made my judgement and decision on what I thought I knew. I realized that this man, who lives and works permanently with this community, really did know best. Wow, that was a hard lesson to learn. God showed me He still has a lot of work to do in me to make me “humble and gentle in spirit”.
Since coming home I have been working through the question “What does God want me to do with all that I have experienced and seen in Armenia?”. I do not want to just put it in the past and say “it was a great experience”. I want it to change me as a person but as yet I am still processing though all the memories and lessons and am waiting to see where God will lead me. Please pray for me in this area.
I have already seen though, by spending time away with the Irish team, that the work of OCC goes so much further than just Shoeboxes. The probing questions asked by non-believers on the team in relation to our faith which, as one girl put it, “seems so much more than just a religion” made me realise how much of a mission field we have in our own shoebox warehouse as we work with those who see it only as “a good work.” I went all the way to Armenia for God to show me the mission field I have here at home in Ennis.
Carrie
