Dear friends of Warm Hearth,
After being re-routed through Moscow due to Qatar's diplomatic struggle, we made it to Armenia in one ragged piece. This time I was actually able to come with my entire family -- for the first time in 7 years. We all went to Warm Hearth together and it is hard to express how full it made my heart to see all the people I love so much holding one another, hugging one another, gifting one another, welcoming one another.
There is something so pure and piercing in the love of these residents. How do they know how to love so well and so profoundly? The language barrier was not inhibitive to their expressions of love on both sides. So much can be said in a smile, in a gesture, in loving attention.
And...they are happy. The residents. Of course, it is not that simple. They are sad, too, sometimes, but they are also happy. They have such a lively creativity and so many ways to explore it. They are loved and they have so much love to give. They told me of trips to a local orphanage where they lead the children in special activities. I saw little clay houses that some of them made to illustrate Warm Hearth. They remind me of fairy or hobbit houses with bright colors and flowers and joy and magic in each brick.
Within an hour of arriving, they made sure that we were going to have one-on-one meetings together, where they can share their joys and heartaches and struggles and concerns. We all look forward to those meetings so much and I will cherish the insights into their days -- the shadows and the light.
We are all leaving for Kapan in a few days. Kapan, the town where the first group of residents and I met. Kapan, where many of them were raised. We will go to celebrate, to remember where we came from, to enjoy being out of the city. We will go to rest and relax together -- staff and resident, visitors and children. I look forward to four days of being together without work to do or meetings to be had. In all the years since Warm Hearth started, we have never had this sort of time together.
So many of you, who have met the residents, have already been mentioned by name. How's Sarah? How's Bridget? What is Shauna doing? When will Juliet come again? The list goes on. You are here with us in spirit and we will hold you close in the days to come -- as we remember and bless what has come before and what will come to be.
Thank you for helping us build a home with magic in each brick.
With gratitude,
Natalie
