Hand in hand, hope and tribulation, to various degrees, continue to occupy an organic day in the countries that AMAA’s present calendar serves. Some are natural turbulences that are an integral part of life anywhere. Others are of alarming proportion, man-made, with the highest degree of premeditated wickedness intended to cause pain and suffering, a prelude to commit ethnic cleansing.
This issue covers stories that identify realities that belong to each category. Here’s a walkthrough in the field which is not necessarily a green pasture.
South America: Armenian communities and Armenian Evangelical Churches have always been the focus of our mission, however most of the communication and support has been achieved remotely, with the last in person visit to the region going back to 1997. In February 2023 a team representing the AMAA broke the isolation, discard and loneliness of communities in Argentina, Uruguay and Brazil paying a two-week visit to learn more about their state of affairs and physical and spiritual needs. AMAA carried hope to face the challenges where dominating cultures have eroded language, culture and ethnic identity. As you read the story, hand in hand with the AEUNA, AMAA introduced constructive remedies to strengthen the communities, recruit youth leadership and anchor cultural and national identity. Rejoice in Hope.
Near East: Not yet recovered from the effects of a decade long devastating war, and completely overwhelmed by an unprecedented economic crisis, our communities in Syria faced a new disaster, a deadly earthquake that hit the area on February 6, 2023. Death, destruction and trauma ensued. Compiled and complicated by the continued US sanctions, the people in Syria are subject to inhuman punitive measures and are on the verge of hopelessness. Chaos, anarchy, acute inflation and currency devaluation continue in neighboring Lebanon. Huge masses struggle to put bread on the table, lack electric power, medicine and basic necessities of life. AMAA closely follows the state of our communities in Syria and Lebanon and has provided emergency funding to support education, nutrition and medical care beyond annual budget allocations. AMAA also funded the lion’s share in converting most of our institutions with solar power circumventing the energy crisis and cost. Rejoice in Hope.
Armenia and Artsakh: Since the 2020 Artsakh War there is wave of extreme pessimism in certain circles of both the Homeland and the Diaspora. Admitted, the war brought devastating results in both Armenia and Artsakh. Today, Artsakh’s independence and right of self-determination are hanging in the air with total uncertainty of its future. Even the present is bleak. With the Azeri blockade since December 12, 2022 followed by a military checkpoint at the Lachin corridor, Artsakh remains hostage to a regime with salient appetite of ethnic cleansing. Armenia proper had its share of not so neighborly aggression, assault, onslaught and bloodshed among its military or civil population sacrificing young conscripts. As sad and tragic as the situation is, AMAA has no desire in being paralyzed wailing, sobbing and whining. Let the pundits moan. We hold a strong spirit of unwavering support to the Homeland, are at the gates of Artsakh taking advantage of each creative opportunity to reach out, trust in God almighty, believe in the resiliency of its people and the bright future of the Homeland. Rejoice in Hope.
AMAA faces tribulations with patience and faith and rejoices in the Hope that it sows among our people wherever its mission extends all over the globe.
Thank you for joining us in faith to courageously carry on the Mission.
May 19, 2023
Glendale, California
