An Armenian Afternoon

One of the most delightful perks of our nomadic life is the people we meet. Ruzanna is Armenian, has been in the U.S. for 18 years, and is a delightful mother of five children. Joining us for lunch at Ruzanna's home was her daughter Anna Maria, a wife and soon-to-be mother. She was visiting her mother from Hawaii, where her Irish-American husband - who was underwater at the time (in a submarine) - is stationed. Anna Maria told us about a healing she received after prayer during one of the revival services.

.

Armenia was the first country to officially adopt Christianity as a state religion. Most all of the people are associated with the Orthodox church, established there in 301 A.D. Armenia is bounded on every side by Muslims and many religious battles have been fought there through the centuries. When Ruzanna lived there, non-Orthodox Christians met "underground," in homes.

.

Ruzanna speaks Armenian, Russian, and English. We'd been told to arrive at her house hungry and it is a good thing we followed those instructions. We began with borscht - beet soup. Think it sounds unappetizing? It was DELICIOUS! (And she gave us leftovers. "It's better the next day.") A classic cucumber-tomato-onion-black olive-herb salad, roasted peppers, dolmas (grape leaves stuffed with rice, meat, and spices) served with garlic yogurt, red potatoes with herbs, fruit, and a Napolean dessert. The Napolean was delicious but not, Ruzanna told us, made the way her mother makes them. That method takes two days!

.

After our tummies were filled, we moved to the living room and chatted about Armenia, our life, the new baby on the way... Ruzanna's living room was decorated traditional Armenian style with a plant growing behind one of the couches whose vines extended onto the walls and ceiling. It gave me the feeling that I had been transported to...well...Armenia!

.

I asked Ruzanna if she had any pictures of herself from her life in Armenia. She did not. But she brought out a painting of Mt. Ararat (where the ark came to rest after the worldwide flood), which was located about two hours from her home. Though it once was within Armenia's borders, the accessible side (the one not coated in ice year-round) is now in Turkey's domain. Armenians cite Japheth, one of Noah's three sons, as their ancestor.

.