Community Input on Various Topics
Relating to the Armenian Church Western Diocese Camp
Orhnyal Der Stepanos,
I hope all is well with you and your family. On our way home after
camp (with my son Gregory), he was very excited and expressed his desire to go to camp again next year as a CIT and camper. He had a great time, and he did tell me specifically about you,
Yeretzgeen Mariam and your daughters. He appreciates your work at camp. Meanwhile, I asked other campers and their parents at St. Vartan. They all seemed to be pleased, and they all told me the same thing. "This year my child came back more excited, and camp has done something to him/her. I see a difference in him towards Church." They all can't tell what it is. I would suggest, that the camp send a letter specifying the spiritual exposure, music, Armenian language, etc. Children, no matter what age, don't always communicate their experiences or feelings well to their parents. A letter outlining the activities will satisfy the curiosity of their parents, and will
reinforce their commitment. As parents, we all appreciate spiritual education for our children. I should also commend the staff for finally taking an action for e-gadgets and package cares.
I congratulate your contribution.
Maida Henesian, Sunday School Superintendent, St. Vartan Church, Oakland, CA
Armenian Church Western Diocese Camp link: http://www.ourcamp.org
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Relating to the article:
What Armenian Women and Men would like to see changed in each
other
Dear Der Stepanos,
I read the article about the Armenian men and the Armenian women’s issues
in the latest issue of the Hope For the Family, and it really hit home for me.
What we don’t realize is that we often forget that people change and generations change. My prayer is that we might change for the better.
I can only speak of my own personal experience about our marriage. We have been married for 18 years and it has been bumpy at times yet rewarding at
other times.
One thing I learned, men and women are different. We think different, our logic operates differently and our emotions
act and react differently. Often I realize that we have two different vocabularies unless we
communicate clearly and seek to listen and understand the other person’s point of view, we can’t even come close to communicate or find a
resolution for a happy marriage.
Let me ask a question. --- What if we seek to be more holy rather than seeking happiness in our marriage? It seems like we forgot the Orthodox
tradition of holiness in Armenian families. We have been bombarded by the culture and the recent changes in the US society, that we forgot the core
issue that God is the head of the household. Once we release the responsibility of leadership to God and we
follow His will, marriage becomes fun and honoring to God.
Aida Sultanyan, St. John Armenian Church, San Diego, CA
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