Day 7: Spitak

On our next to the last day of project visits, we ventured to Spitak, center of the 1988 earthquake that killed 25,000 people. Here, on a very brisk day, we visited a half dozen Project Partners and their sheep and pig projects. As always, we were treated to treats of bread, wine, cheese and vegetables. Today we were also given the special treat of raw honey!

One Project Partner baked round loaves of bread for us and wrote on each loaf a cornerstone. It made us feel so special that they celebrated our visit with this thoughtful gift, and also reaffirmed the importance of the 12 Cornerstones in the lives of all of those who Heifer touches.

I've uploaded many pictures of our day on Picasa. As you've probably noticed, I like to take landscape photos every bit as much as other photos. Part of this is my love for the natural beauty of things, but it is also a way of capturing what surrounds the places where we work. A few years ago, Beatrice Biira said about Uganda that just because she came from a poor place didn't mean it wasn't beautiful. I hope you will see this echoed in my photographs of the Armenian landscape. The people we work with are rich in so many ways, and this is one way I've chosen to capture. Enjoy.

Here are some reflections by Tom and Barbara Lyon, participants and Area Volunteer Coordinators from Long Island.

From Tom:

One clearly upsetting topic for Anahit, Heifer's amazing Country Director, was concerning male "flight" from the countryside. So many have left to find work in the city and outside of the country, leaving their families behind.

Heifer's work is key here. We transform residences into income producing businesses. We provide opportunities for families to work together in creating financial and spiritual support, and by doing so strengthen the entire community.

My favorite quote from Anahit so far on this trip was: "I do not intend to be just a cow distributor. I am a human development officer." - Right on!

And a beautiful poem from Barbara:

Armenia is

A Nation
A Region
A People

A Heritage
A Tragedy
A Warning

A Dream
A Challenge
An Opportunity

A Promise, unfulfilled, of Peace and Dignity for All.