Paro Lighthouse and work

Blog – 2 Aug 12

This morning we start off headed to the Lighthouse Palos – like where is a lighthouse in this landlocked country. Turns out it is a home for abused women. This foundation is he only one of its kind in Armenia and serves women throughout the country. It is a model organization which depends on contributions mostly from the US. What they have been able to accomplish is amazing. The women and children are given dental and health care. They provided with education, counseling, sewing and computer skill and religious educations. Currently they are building a chapel on the grounds.

Off to work – hard to believe that tomorrow will be our last day on this site as our last building day we will be a a different site. Today we will be working on another house. We are joined today by a group of Armenia (mostly college age) from the west coast. Two were from Fresno – and Gary knew friends of friends of theirs (what’s new) and two of the girls had been to a wedding that Gary and Judy attended last September – small world. They will be with us for two days.

We accomplished a lot of cement work today (say bucket brigade) and also added touf to the attic (this is a light weight rock used as insulation. Wheelbarrows and buckets full of these rocks are transported to below the attic, then buckets are hoisted up then team members in the attic spread it out (again bucket brigade style). The temperature in the high 90’s.

We return for a quick shower and a 25 minute stroll thru central Yerevan to our dinner. Delicious local food highlighted by a veal dish, the family’s recipe, topped with a sour cherry compote. The owner tells us that dish was from his grandmother and only available at his restaurant and his brother’s place in Canada.

We returned to the hotel after a slow walk thru central Yerevan, bustling with people even at 10 PM. Many stores are open, the restaurants are full. In the central square there is a light/water/music show every night from about 8-11 during the summer. There are always thousands of families, young and old folks there every evening and we never get tired of being a part of this evening show.