Our journey has come to a close. As we watch the sun rise from our airplane windows, we reflect on the amazing opportunity we have been given through Mercer on Mission to truly reach out to those in need while embracing new wonderful cultures.

Our team has formed a strong bond of community through every experience of Mercer on Mission, including white-water rafting through the mountains of Georgia.

Bishop Merab of the Evangelical Baptist Church of Georgia, Dr. Grant, and Dr. Drake have led our team through Georgia as we form relationships with the church members and participate in the many projects of Tbilisi.

Reflections on Mercer on Mission

With three weeks of adventures and memories, where can one even begin? Should I talk about the vividness of Armenia's history with its ancient churches and its abandoned industrial parks? Should I talk about the beauty of Georgia’s capital mixed with graffiti preaching both hope and aimlessness? I don’t know, and while I wish I could be a poet with this, I suppose all I can offer is honesty. When it comes to Armenia and Georgia (and anywhere really), I don’t believe they can never personally be “real” for anyone until one experiences either place first hand. After all, I know Mount Everest is physically real. I’ve seen pictures of it, and I’ve read about it. Still, I could never adequately imagine how vicious the cold air must be, or how beautiful the view from the top would be for me. Likewise, I think the same will be true for the readers of this blog when it comes to Armenia and Georgia.Of course, I’m sure all of you love the fantastic pictures that have been taken, and I’m sure many of you must be dying to hear your daughters’, sons’, or friends’ stories in person. In my view though, there’s going to be an emptiness for all of those who weren’t physically there. None of the Service Scholars could do these two lovely countries justice in terms of description.Then again, the Armenia and Georgia of the Service Scholars will not be the Armenia or Georgia you’ll experience if you should ever choose to go. I doubt you would get the chance to meet many, if any, of the people we’ve been fortunate enough to meet. Naturally, you won’t work on the exact same projects nor have the exact same meals that we Service Scholars have had. You won’t have our comedic conversations nor our frustrating disagreements, and while I’m absolutely sure you have all had parallel experiences to the ones we’ve had here in the Caucasus, those experiences are still not the same.

So is this fact a good thing or a bad thing? I would say it’s neither. It simply is what it is. On the other hand, you might not want to take my word for it, because at the end of the day I’m no sage. I’m just a ditzy twenty-year-old who lacks the life experience of his elders.If anyone is interested, though, I would just like to say this. If there’s something you would like to do in this life, then do it! If you want to go to Africa, South America, or Asia, then go. If you want to build a home for a needy family, or build a well for a needy village, then build it. Embrace the fact that no one in this world will ever know exactly how you feel when you achieve success or experience disappointment. Embrace the fact that no one else will ever live the life you’ve lived.To the parents of this trip’s Mercer Service Scholars, embrace the fact that you are parents of the Service Scholars and others. Embrace the fact that no one else has experienced motherhood or fatherhood exactly like you have, and embrace the fact that you’ve raised your children so well. It’s all that any daughter or son could ever ask for.To everyone else, just embrace the past you’ve lived and the future you will live. The Good and Bad, the Crazy and Mundane, embrace it all. Your experiences are what made you who you are, and they continue to shape you.And that’s all I can really say. I’m sure you’ve all figured out the above ages ago, but again, it’s all that I got to say. I’m no poet, and I’m certainly not smart enough to write something inspirational for the ages. Still: if someone likes what I’ve had to say, then I suppose I’ve done what I should.

Peace.

Zachory R.

Reflections from Georgia

Georgia has been an amazing experience thus far. On Thursday we went white water rafting. It was an interesting experience to say the least. Though the scenery was absolutely beautiful, the language barrier between us and our guides created a challenge. Today alone we visited the convent St. Nino worshiped and is buried. St. Nino was responsible for bringing Christianity to Georgia. Then we went to the village where Bishop Merab's family lives. After arriving at his house and meeting his family we ate a big feast and played with his children. It was interesting to see how different city life seems to be from the village world. Tbilisi is a very energetic, youthful city while the village seems like a slower more peaceful way of life.

Tomorrow we will have a free day where many of us plan to visit a flee market. I think many others plan to visit the public baths. It is lining up to be an exciting, relaxing day. At this point I think most of us are ready to head home. I never thought I would get tired of traveling overseas, but I miss my house and my family.

Dr. Drake and Dr. Grant were graciously invited by Bishop Merab to sit next to him during Sunday service. Here, the follow the Bishop to the front during the beginning of the service.

A child, barely pushing two years old, is placed outside on the streets with a bowl, forced to beg. She laid there unmoving. Service Scholars walking by later saw her awake and alert, and were able to play and interact with her for a short while. With the help of Bishop Merab, we were able to find out more about her. Her cousin begs close by, watching the baby and making sure she is safe and on the mat. When it got chilly, she brought out a blanket for the baby and wrapped her in it.

A patron of the Betheli, a Refuge for the internally displaced and the elderly of Tblisi. Sharan is a refugee from Chechneya, lost to his family for ten years until he relocated then a few months ago.

The hosts of the Tblisi, Georgia segment, Bishops Merab and Elliya.

Service Opportunities and Group Excursion

Hello, family and friends! It has been two days since we have posted to the blog, but I assure you that we have been enjoying our stay in Tbilisi, Georgia. On Monday, we were given the opportunity to work at a nursing facility sponsored by the Baptist Church of Georgia. We toured the facility, spoke with the bishop, served lunch to the residents, and handed out bouquets of flowers to the female residents. Some of us also played with the children that came to visit their grandparents. Before we left the facility, a few of the Mercer Service Scholars were given the opportunity to speak with a ninety-year old woman who had lived during the time of the rise and fall of the Soviet Union. Her story proved to be a very interesting one, as she spoke about the religious persecution that she faced during the height of the Soviet Union. During the course of her story, she told us that she had received a vision from God to go to Georgia and to find the Baptist Church of Georgia and to worship there. She did precisely what the revelation revealed to her, and though she said that it was not easy to practice her faith, especially openly, she remained true to her religious beliefs. She encouraged all of us to also remain true to our faith and to let nothing stand in the way of proclaiming our Christian faith to the world. She was a highly motivational speaker, and I am so glad that I had the opportunity to speak with her. I hope that I will always be able to share my faith with others in both word and deed and to speak with the same level of devotion as she did regarding her faith. When we arrived back at the hotel, we were given the opportunity to go into town and explore the city. I did most of my sight-seeing at night, though after having dinner at a quiet, sit down restaurant located right behind the oldest church in Tbilisi. It is hard to find words to describe the beauty that one finds in this city, especially at night. Tbilisi comes alive with lights. The dome of the president's palace lights up, as does the bridge that goes over the Mtkvari River. The water tower, churches, and the Nariyala fortress are also aglow in a lovely, golden light. People congregate to play chess, sit by the fountain, purchase origami and an assortment of other handiworks sold by local vendors. Everything looks majestic, and it is like nothing else I have ever experienced before and certainly will never forget...

Today, we left the hotel around ten o'clock with the two bishops of the Baptist Church accompaning us. We boarded the bus to begin our excursion to Mtskheta and Gori. We stopped at a total of four monasteries and cathedrals. It was amazing to see their beautiful architecture and their phenomenal pieces of artwork. The frescoes located in the Cathedral in Mtskheta, known as Svetitskhoveli Cathedral, are very rich in detail and have been highly preserved since the 11th century when the latter part of the church was built. The religious history of the Cathedral at Mtskheta also is of interest. According to legend, a Jewish man brought back a piece of Jesus's clothing that he had been wearing when he was crucified. The man gave the garment to his sister who immediately died upon receiving Jesus Christ's robe. The woman was buried and St. Nino, the woman who brought Christianity to Georgia, asked for a church to be built on the grave of the woman. In order for the church to be built, St. Nino asked for seven columns to be installed. The seventh could not be installed until St. Nino prayed for its installation. Hence, the cathedral is named Svetitskhoveli because it means "life giving pillar" because the seventh pillar allegedly leaked a liquid that healed all ills. The most unique of the monateries that we visted had to be the monastery built out of the rock on the side of the mountain. Everyone had a great time taking pictures, and it was really neat to explore the underground tunnel that led to the opposite side of the monastery! Afterwards, we stopped for light refreshments and pleasant conversation with some of the members of the Baptist Church of Georgia at their residence in Gori before making a final stop at Stalin's birthplace, which is also located in Gori. We are looking forward to working more with our Baptist friends tomorrow after attending a memorial service in memory of one of the girls that had been killed in the recent train bombings in Norway. Please keep all of us in your prayers. May God bless you and keep you safe, always!

Sincerely,

Ashley Price, on behalf of the Mercer Service Scholars

Georgia on my mind!

We have arrived in Georgia, in eastern Europe that is! We attended church this morning at the Evangelical Baptist Church, and have already begun making plans for service projects for the rest of the week. We have dived right into a brand new culture, with a new language, traditions, and traffic conditions.We hope to continue achieving the goals in Georgia that we began in Armenia! (see earlier posts for goals and progress)

Reflections on Goals

As we leave Armenia, travel to Georgia, and begin our last week of Mercer on Mission, we are all beginning to reflect back on our original goals (posted in an early blog post). We have definitely been a part of leaving sustainable aid to families in need, formed lasting community with the families and fellow working Armenians as well as with each other, and have certainly learned several aspects of the Armenian culture. We hope to continue to fulfill our goals as we travel Georgia, and return home to continue to implement projects with the lessons we've learned.

Leaving Armenia... and a piece of us as well.

Today is the last day the Mercer Service Scholars will spend in Armenia. We will be shipping off tomorrow at 9:30 to Tblisi, Georgia. We could not have asked for a larger 'bang' on our final day. As usual, we went to the work site of the second family. We had spent the first two days making concrete and filling it into the floors of the house. Two days in and we had the job complete. Today, our job was to level out the slanted land behind the house and remove the mounds of dirt next to the house. This provided two things. One, the water can easily drain away from the house during rain, and two, the massive piles of dirt next to the house posed as a danger to the house. All along, we enjoyed the company of and played with Samson and Vahan. We were also surprised to have a short visit from Gohar, our guide from Yerevan. Afterwards, we enjoyed a large goodbye feast, inside the nearly completely house! It was bittersweet leaving. We had enjoyed our time there, and had greatly enjoyed the company of Samson and Vahan, who had gotten very close to the group. I can personally say, part of me remains at that house and with those two kids. It was amazing, despite all their hardship, they still could smile, laugh, play, and be merry like an other child. The amount of laughter those two brought to our group was spectacular.

After leaving the site, we refreshed ourselves and prepared for our goodbye dinner from Tatavik. After a night of toasting, smiling and feasting, we all moved to the balcony. During the dinner, we had heard loud music from the opposite room. Once in the balcony, we met an Armenia lady from Los Angles, California. She invited us to a engagement party, which the group wholeheartled accepted. Scratch that from the bucket list. Crash an Armenia engagement party. Check!

During our toasting, one thing stuck out. We had given the two families a lot according to Tatavik. But I have to politely disagree. The bonds, memories and thoughts that those two families, especially Suren, Samson and Vahan have given me are tenfold what I could have given them. If I could, I would pack those three boys into my luggage and bring them to the States. The joy of children is universal. Despite the language barrier, we understood on thing from the children that is universal in all languages. A smile.

Last Day in Armenia

Today was our last day in Armenia and our last day of work with the Fuller Center for Housing. We finished cementing the floor yesterday, so today we formed another bucket line and we used dirt and rocks to make the ground on the side of the house level. From what I understood about our instructions I interpreted that by leveling the ground around the house and by having the ground slope down we were preventing water/moisture from seeping into the house. One of the most amazing things about the Fuller Center is that they using so few resources. The most high-tech tool on either site we worked on was a cement mixer.

When we weren't working we were playing with two of the family's sons - Sampson and Vahan. They are such sweet boys - Sampson even gave a bouquet of flowers to every member of the group and Vahan loved chasing anyone who happened to be taking a break. Both boys helped out wherever they could often joined the bucket line or fetching tools for our project manager Jivan.

We ate two big meals today at lunch and at dinner. Dinner was a big feast where everyone took a turn toasting Armenia and the people we met here. After dinner we were invited to an engagement party taking place in the next room over. We danced with the future bride and groom and their closest family and friends. They were so genuinely happy to meet us and take pictures with our group. This is just one of a hundred examples I could mention about the friendliness and hospitality of the Armenian people.

So as my adventure in Armenia comes to a close I find myself a little sad to leave, but excited to see what lies ahead in Georgia. Until nect time,

Ryan Dickinson

Sevan, a Mustache, & Reflections So Far

Today marked the end of the second week of our trip - and it provided a wonderful break from our construction work with the Fuller Center. We travelled about an hour away from Vanadzor and spent the day swimming and grilling out at Lake Sevan. Along the way, we toured more old churches, rented paddle boats, got our fix of hairy Armenian men in speedos, bargained for souvenirs, and enjoyed each other's company. It was a chance to recharge for our final workdays here before we travel to Georgia later this week. The scenery was beautiful. The sun was hot. The food was good. The water was cold.

Tomorrow we will return to a nearby village for our second workday with the second family we've worked with in Armenia. By day's end we should finish pouring the cement for the floors inside the home. Just as was the case with the first family and our group, I think there is a great deal of mutual respect between us. They have welcomed us with open arms, and, though communication is difficult (smiles do the job adequately), it is obvious that they are humbled that we are willing to work beside them.

In other news, I decided several days into our trip that I would grow a mustache. After several days of not shaving in Poland and Yerevan, I decided to go for it. Dr. Grant has been calling me Rico Suave. It's goofy. It's ridiculous. But it's fun, and my hope is that it can help keep the mood of our group a bit lighter, providing comedic relief amidst our inevitable annoyance with each other. Even more, I find a bit of hoakie symbolism in it. As I grow personally throughout each day of this trip - experiencing cultural differences, being stretched emotionally and intellectually by problems and questions, and reforming my worldview little by little - my mustache is also growing a bit. It is, in a strange and possibly forced way, an outward sign of an inner metamorphosis.

A few reflections from our trip so far:

- Countless things seperate countries and people and regions and sects around the world, but one constant everywhere in the world is the joy of children. I speak for everyone when I say that I say that playing with the families' children on both of the Fuller worksites has been a blast. They make the work enjoyable and more rewarding because we know that we are playing a small role in ensuring a better future for them.

- The church is deeply rooted in Armenia, and the Armenians are very proud of their rich Christian heritage.

We've seen more than half a dozen churches already.

- Signs of the fall of the Soviet Union are still obvious here - especially in Vanadzor. An entire valley in the city is filled with the ruins of a chemical factory which stopped operation in the early 90's; it provides a constant reminder of the dire state of Armenia's economy.

- The people here are hearty and strong. They may not have a lot by our American materialistic standards but they enjoy life and maintain a distinct culture. Certainly there are problems here, and we can play a small role in providing our Armenian neighbors a "hand up," but we must be careful not to compare our American standard of living with theirs. I'm convinced that more is not always better.

- "To whom much is given, much is expected." This trip is providing me with a renewed perspective about how blessed I am, and it is challenging me to ponder my small role in a world full of problems.

Alex Lockwood

Water, Water, Water

Water has been a reoccuring theme on this trip for me and I would like to tell you all about it.

I am the designated water girl on our building worksites. As a team, we have been working to put concrete down on the roof and floors of the houses. One and a half buckets of water are needed to produce one batch of concrete. It is my job fill the buckets with water and pour them into the mixer. I'll be honest, it's a pretty cush job in comparision to everyone else working in the bucket line, which is basically passing buckets filled with concrete back and forth. However, water is essential to our project. Without water, there would be no concrete. I have enjoyed having this job because it is easy on my back. I like to think that every bucket of water I pour puts love into the house. I have been surprised by how much I am enjoying this service project. Don't worry Mom and Dad, I'm not planning on becoming a full time construction worker, but I have enjoyed the feeling of working hard to help a very deserving family. I am also the water girl because I pass out bottles of water to a very exhausted and sweaty team of builders. Indie has started to call me the "Water Goddess". I could be called worse, so I'm not complaining.

Then, there was Water Day. Ugh. Water Day is what our team calls the Armenian holiday that orginated from the church many, many years ago. The priests would splash water on people to symbolize the purity of Jesus. Today, this holiday is basically a national water fight. This sounds like a super fun holiday. I would probably love water day as an 8 year old girl. However, Water Day was definitely not fun for me. A group of us went to church in the morning for a traditional Armenian Orthodox service. The van dropped us off at a pizza place after the service. I had a slice of pizza and an ice cream sunday (yummy!). It was turning into quite a lovely day. This quickly ended the second we exited the restaurant. There were teenage boys stacked outside the restaurant with buckets of water and waterballons. I held up my hands and said in my sternest voice, "NO!". Obviously they did not listen. A huge bucket of water was poured all over me. My church dress and I were completely soaked. I was annoyed to say the least. I felt as if I had no rights. Of course, the men in our group did not get attacked. The teenage boys poured water on us to make our clothes tighter. This infuriated me. Lauren and I decided to break away from the group after that because we wanted to get back to the hotel faster because the rest of the group wanted to go to the internet cafe. We walked quickly and tried to avoid more boys with buckets of water. Lauren and I tried to dogde groups of boys by crossing to the other side of the street. That did not stop one group of boys who were probably around 12 years old. They were following us and I turned around and scram NO over and over again in my meanest, fiercest "Kim Lammers Attorney at Law" voice. Armenian women around the street started to yell at the boys to leave us alone, but they did not listen. I was once again drenched. I was furious by this point. However, I wasn't mad because I was wet. That was fairly harmless. I was mad that I had no right to say no to something because I was a woman. I felt as if I had no rights. To say the least, I feel very fortunate to be an American woman, where I have rights and the right to say no. My heart breaks for the women hear who have no voice. I am more thankful for my rights, my country, and my education than I have ever been from this experience. Don't worry Mom and Dad, I have never felt unsafe here, even during this incident. We are being taken care of very well.

On a brighter note, we traveled to Lake Sevan today. This was a day off of work for us. It was great to bond with the group and our Armenian guides. I got my tan on, my swim on, and oh man, it was great. (Don't worry Mom and Gmommy, I wore plenty of sunscreen. No burn for me). I am really loving Armenia and am having such an excellent time. This trip has been unlike anything I've ever done, including the Mercer on Mission I went on last summer. I am so thankful to Mercer for providing me with this experience. It has been wonderful and I promise to not let your investment in me be wasted.

-Kim Lammers

ps. No spell check on my computer. Please don't judge. I promise I am a semi-intelligent person.

Our helpers.Pictured are our two favorite new helpers, two sons of the family we are working for--Samson and Vahan. Vahan also has a twin brother not pictured. They have certainly jumped right in to help build their new house.

More water breaks... Other members of the team take a water break from the "bucket line" of passing concrete. Two and half rooms are complete on day one!

Water break. Members of our team take a quick water break as we keep working through a hot day in Armenia.

Work site #2! We have begun work at our second work site, have met a brand new family, and continue working as team mixing, hauling, and distributing concrete to complete another Fuller Center house.

Sevan, a Mustache, Reflections, & Themes So Far

Today marked the end of the second week of our trip - and it provided a wonderful break from our construction work with the Fuller Center. We travelled about an hour away from Vanadzor and spent the day swimming and grilling out at Lake Sevan. Along the way, we toured more old churches, rented paddle boats, got our fix of hairy Armenian men in speedos, bargained for souvenirs, and enjoyed each other's company. It was a chance to recharge for our final workdays here before we travel to Georgia later this week. The scenery was beautiful. The sun was hot. The food was good. The water was cold.

Tomorrow we will return to a nearby village for our second workday with the second family we've worked with in Armenia. By day's end we should finish pouring the cement for the floors inside the home. Just as was the case with the first family and our group, I think there is a great deal of mutual respect between us. They have welcomed us with open arms, and, though communication is difficult (smiles do the job adequately), it is obvious that they are humbled that we are willing to work beside them.

In other news, I decided several days into our trip that I would grow a mustache. After several days of not shaving in Poland and Yerevan, I decided to go for it. Dr. Grant has been calling me Rico Suave. It's goofy. It's ridiculous. But it's fun, and my hope is that it can help keep the mood of our group a bit lighter, providing comedic relief amidst our inevitable annoyance with each other. Even more, I find a bit of hoakie symbolism in it. As I grow personally throughout each day of this trip - experiencing cultural differences, being stretched emotionally and intellectually by problems and questions, and reforming my worldview little by little - my mustache is also growing a bit. It is, in a strange and possibly forced way, an outward sign of an inner metamorphosis.

A few reflections from our trip so far:

- Countless things seperate countries and people and regions and sects around the world, but one constant everywhere in the world is the joy of children. I speak for everyone when I say that playing with the families' children on both of the Fuller worksites has been a blast. They make the work enjoyable and more rewarding because we know that we are playing a small role in ensuring a better future for them.

- The church is deeply rooted in Armenia, and the Armenians are very proud of their rich Christian heritage. We've seen more than half a dozen churches already.

- Signs of the fall of the Soviet Union are still obvious here - especially in Vanadzor. An entire valley in the city is filled with the ruins of a chemical factory which stopped operation in the early 90's; it provides a constant reminder of the dire state of Armenia's economy.

- The people here are hearty and strong. They may not have a lot by our American materialistic standards but they enjoy life and maintain a distinct culture. Certainly there are problems here, and we can play a small role in providing our Armenian neighbors a "hand up," but we must be careful not to compare our American standard of living with theirs. I'm convinced that more is not always better.

- "To whom much is given, much is expected." This trip is providing me with a renewed perspective about how blessed I am, and it is challenging me to ponder my small role in a world full of problems.

Alex Lockwood

A Fantastic Finish

We finished the roof today… our group really pulled together towards the end and finished the challenge with a burst of unexpected energy. For the last few lines of cement, Siramarj and Artog wanted to help, so our team got a dose of Armenian sass from the two eight-year olds. I really love how some games are completely universal, like water fights and piggyback rides. It really didn’t matter that our communication transcended language.

As the roof crew cleaned off the last wooden slats and the unused rocks, the overall effect gave us all a moment of pride. We did this, a team of Armenian men and about fifteen American twenty-year olds and two professors. We even got to pet cows today!

The feeling of completing a project really inspired everyone. Our after-work coffee break, with local pears and a crumbly lemon cake had a celebratory feel.

During the meal, Karen, the father approached the table and asked if we would like to see a horse. Yesterday, most of the group rode a pair of ponies before we went into the nature park. Hoping for a repeat, we all nodded and he disappeared.

Later, after most of us had forgotten about his offer, Karen comes cantering up the road on a grumpy brown pony. We got lead around the yard, but one of the funniest moments of the afternoon happened Anuj grabbed Suren, the four-year old, and put him in front of the saddle. Then Malik hopped up behind Anuj and the three of them posed on that unhappy little horse like they were kings.

Anyhow, I'm getting sleepy, until next time,

Debbie

The Armenian Apostolic Church, Water Celebration, and Fuller Center for Housing Community Visit

On Sunday, the Mercer Service Scholars were given the opportunity to visit a local Armenian Apostolic Church with Tatevik, our Fuller Center for Housing contact, serving as our guide. Upon entering the church, we were given two candles each to light. Tatevik explained that the Armenians often will light candles as prayers. All of the women were given scarves to place over their heads as a sign of reverence. When the ceremony started, the curtain separating the congregation from the altar was pulled back, and several altar boys carried out a banner that had the Virgin Mary and the Baby Jesus featured on it. The faithful formed two lines so that they could kiss the lower part of the banner where there were two crosses. Some of the women placed incense into a small container when it passed in front of the banner. Then, the head priest carried a cross, which he held out to the church members. Each of them kissed it, myself included, as a sign of being one with Christ. The church service then proceeded with readings and responsorial hymns, which were organized by the choir. The artwork in the church was very rich in colors and details; most of the scenes were depicted of Jesus's life commonly found in the Bible. The main picture over the altar featured a picture of the Virigin Mary and Jesus, similar to the one found on the banner. The voices of the faithful praying and the songs of the choir that sung like angels were a testimony to the devotion the Armenian people have to God. In fact, the service was so beautiful that it caused me to cry at its beauty. It was truly a moving experience for me, and it is one that I will never forget.

After church, as we had a free day, we were allowed to tour and shop around the City of Vanadzor. Tatevik had told us that a religious celebration would be taking place during the day. This celebration called for water to be placed on people as a sign of purification. I thought that it would be much like the traditional water that my home church uses to remind me of my baptismal promises, but boy was I ever wrong! Many children, most of them young to adolescent boys filled buckets, bottles, and any other containers that they could with water and threw them at the passerby, sometimes chasing them right into the street! Some of the participants even filled bags full of water and dropped them from the balconies, spraying unsuspecting people below, including myself. It was a fun occasion for all, albeit a wet one. I became soaked several times over, as did many of the other Mercer Service Scholars. To give you an idea of how much water was used, at one point, I was bombarded by ten young men, and I thought that my camera had been ruined. The water had seeped into all of my bags! Luckily, the hot Armenian sun was able to dry it, as well as the hairdryer, so there are no worries to be had!

When we returned back to the hotel, hot, sticky, and sufficiently watered down, we got ready to visit a community where many of the Fuller Houses were being built. We toured three of them all together. The first one was very small, but it adequately served the needs of the people built there. The second one was much bigger than the first. The woman who lived there said that she, her husband, and her children had lived in a 6' X 3' room for more than twenty years before they were put into contact with a representative for the Fuller Center for Housing. I cannot imagine how unbearable life must have been for them, but the woman's smiling face let me know that she was very thankful for all of the work the Fuller Center had done for her and her family. She said that it is because of good people like us that she and her family can live in a much better place, and I was very humbled by her statement. The third house was bigger than the first, but smaller than the second. There were four people living there, but there were only two small beds. In seeing the lack of beds, I thought about how fortunate I am for having a large bed at home. Coming to Armenia has really humbled me in many ways.

The rest of the time was spent playing with children in the Fuller Center for Housing community. We tossed the basketballs back and forth, blew bubbles, and played a game of dodgeball with a twist. We also listened to one of the girls play her violin in the meeting hall, and her mother accompanied her on the piano. They invited us to dance with the children, and we had a grand time. None of us wanted to leave at the end of our stay because we had met so many new friends. We hope that we will be able to see all of them again very soon.

On our way back to the hotel, we stopped at a restaurant for dinner, and when we returned, the rest of the evening was ours. Most of us talked about the exciting events of the day and prepared for another day back at work. It has been an amazing experience so far, and I am so blessed to be part of this amazing group of humanitarians! God's blessings to you and all of our families! We will write again soon!

Sincerely,

Ashley Price, on behalf of the Mercer Service Scholars

Armenian dancing. Cultures combine when the Armenian children invited us to join them in a traditional dance after performing and in turn we taught them the macarena!

Complete! Our team is all tired smiles today as we finished our work at job site #1. We completed filling the roof with concrete, which will provide a sustainable shelter for Armenia's tough winters. We also worked on filling in the floors that will later be finished by another team and the family.

Today we finished our last work day with our first family and worksite. We have had the privelege to work alongside this wonderful family for the past 4 days.

As we continue learning about Armenia and working with its people, we have also been repeatedly amazed by the natural beauty of this country!