Max is in Armenia!!!!!!!
Max was able to call each of us (mom/dad, Rachel/Isaiah, and Mike/me) in all the many airports he was in on his way to Armenia. It took Max 2 days to get to Armenia because he had so many layovers all over the U.S. and Europe. It was so cool to talk to Max, and we were extrememly grateful for the opportunity..especially my parents. Max wasn't able to call on Mother's Day (missionaries get to make 2 phone calls a year on Mother's Day and Christmas). He was still in the MTC and they don't let you call on Mother's Day there. My mom was really bummed. So luckily Max got to call us all on his way to Armenia.
Max is doing really well. He loves being a missionary. He is truly happy. It makes it easier for all of us who miss him so much that he just loves loves loves it. He works extremely hard at the language. And let me tell you it is the CRAZIEST language in the world. It sounds pretty much Arabic and we had Max say some stuff and read some scriptures to us in Armenian and it kinda freaked me out. My ears just had never heard those sounds before (except for on TV in a terrorist movie!) Which duh..Armenia is considered the Middle East...I guess being American we are brain washed into thinking ANYTHING middle eastern is bad and horrible, and I didn't expect my little brother to ever sound Middle Eastern! I just couldn't believe the words/sounds coming out of my little brother's mouth. My ears have heard Spanish, French, Portuguese, Italian, German, even Chinese, but this was just crazy to me. It's just so unbelievable how much they learn in such a short period of time. The Lord is truly blessing them.
A little bit about Max's mission: It's a small mission. The missionaries stay in mostly the northern cities and villages of Armenia. Armenia borders Iran in the south. There is just one small branch in southern Armenia and they only send zone leaders there and only if there is a baptism. There aren't very many members in Armenia. They struggle most with finding priesthood holders. They are able to baptize women a lot easier than men over there. Most of it is due to culture. Men are praised and kind of spoiled. Women are more humble/ willing to learn. Missionaries over there aren't allowed to proselyte. They can't knock on doors or even go up to people to talk about the gospel. They can only engage in conversation once they are spoken to first. So if they are walking in the streets or on a bus, and someone asks them what they are doing or why they are here, then they can answer and that is how they can find investigators.
Max would love to hear from loved ones. He loves mail. You can write him letters..it just takes awhile to get to him, but he love love loves mail. He loves hearing about life back here! He misses us all! And would love to share with you his experiences!
Max was able to call each of us (mom/dad, Rachel/Isaiah, and Mike/me) in all the many airports he was in on his way to Armenia. It took Max 2 days to get to Armenia because he had so many layovers all over the U.S. and Europe. It was so cool to talk to Max, and we were extrememly grateful for the opportunity..especially my parents. Max wasn't able to call on Mother's Day (missionaries get to make 2 phone calls a year on Mother's Day and Christmas). He was still in the MTC and they don't let you call on Mother's Day there. My mom was really bummed. So luckily Max got to call us all on his way to Armenia.
Max is doing really well. He loves being a missionary. He is truly happy. It makes it easier for all of us who miss him so much that he just loves loves loves it. He works extremely hard at the language. And let me tell you it is the CRAZIEST language in the world. It sounds pretty much Arabic and we had Max say some stuff and read some scriptures to us in Armenian and it kinda freaked me out. My ears just had never heard those sounds before (except for on TV in a terrorist movie!) Which duh..Armenia is considered the Middle East...I guess being American we are brain washed into thinking ANYTHING middle eastern is bad and horrible, and I didn't expect my little brother to ever sound Middle Eastern! I just couldn't believe the words/sounds coming out of my little brother's mouth. My ears have heard Spanish, French, Portuguese, Italian, German, even Chinese, but this was just crazy to me. It's just so unbelievable how much they learn in such a short period of time. The Lord is truly blessing them.
A little bit about Max's mission: It's a small mission. The missionaries stay in mostly the northern cities and villages of Armenia. Armenia borders Iran in the south. There is just one small branch in southern Armenia and they only send zone leaders there and only if there is a baptism. There aren't very many members in Armenia. They struggle most with finding priesthood holders. They are able to baptize women a lot easier than men over there. Most of it is due to culture. Men are praised and kind of spoiled. Women are more humble/ willing to learn. Missionaries over there aren't allowed to proselyte. They can't knock on doors or even go up to people to talk about the gospel. They can only engage in conversation once they are spoken to first. So if they are walking in the streets or on a bus, and someone asks them what they are doing or why they are here, then they can answer and that is how they can find investigators.
Max would love to hear from loved ones. He loves mail. You can write him letters..it just takes awhile to get to him, but he love love loves mail. He loves hearing about life back here! He misses us all! And would love to share with you his experiences!
seriously..no LETTERS?! why is that? lame!
ReplyDeleteno he can get letters..i messed up. he told ME to not write him letters to email..so i guess in my mind i thought that meant EVERYONE wasn't supposed to write him letters...but actually only family can email him...you can write him letters...it just takes 4 weeks to get to him..yeah...does that make sense? it was my bad...max CAN get letters and needs letters!!!!
ReplyDeletelovely...i will write then!
ReplyDelete