THE ‘ARDZIV’ HAS LANDED: CYNTHIA ERICKSON ARRIVES IN ARMENIA
By: Betty Apigian-Kessel
Wed, Jun 8 2011
I hope you remember my column last fall about the amazing woman from
St. Paul, Minn., Cynthia Reimers Erickson, who is a team leader
building homes in the villages of Armenia with the Fuller Center
for Housing whose loans are interest-free, enabling her to serve the
working poor to build decent homes.
Cynthia Reimers Erickson I choose to compare Cynthia to an eagle for
its nobility, freedom, and transcendence. High soaring eagles are said
to touch the face of God, and Cynthia’s work in Armenia is sure to
please God. The coat of arms of Armenia has a gold eagle and lion,
and the one for the Republic of Nagorno Karabagh bears an eagle,
as does those of many countries.
Labeling her an ardziv (eagle, in Armenian) is a compliment.
“I finally found my mission in life. I loved it. I love the people of
Armenia, loved the work, and my teammates, but not the hot Armenian
summers!” she says.
It would have been unfortunate had I not met her at the 2010
Vasbouragan Convention in Detroit and thereafter at my insistence
revealed her to the public. She is a quiet, modest heroine who seeks
no publicity or fame, a rarity in these times of self-promoters.
Cynthia, now of St. Paul, Minn., grew up on a farm in Wimbledon, N.D.
Her Armenian blood lines go back to Palu and Van, the birthplace of
her Armenian Genocide survivor grandparents. She describes herself
as “unique,” as well she should. What motivates this woman from the
American plains to have such a close love for the homeland?
She had a close and loving relationship with her grandmother
Khashkhatoun Bargamian Abrahamian, who told her about her life in
Armenia. She taught Cynthia to crochet and knit, and the Armenian
alphabet. Being Armenian was a common thread in their lives. She
belonged to the Armenian Cultural Organization of Minnesota and the
Armenian Dance Ensemble.
Cynthia has made many trips to Armenia, building houses for Habitat
for Humanity before joining the Fuller Center for Housing. Family
members have frequently accompanied her, including her first-generation
Armerican-born mother Viola (Abrahamian) Reimers, father Laurence,
and Aunt Cathy Igielski. This time her son Mitchell was with the group.
Cynthia and her team of nine arrived in Armenia on May 16. It included
eight from Minnesota and one from New York, and ranged in age from
19-72. She invited me to come along this year, but someone has to
stay home and write about the good deeds of others.
Cynthia writes that they are working in the Vanadzor area in the
northern part of the country. She says, “Everyone is a good worker.
Three volunteers are half-Armenian, two are one-fourth Armenian,
and all the rest have no Armenian heritage, so we have some very
educational discussions about Armenian history, the genocide, Armenian
food, and games.”
Cynthia says her group will be working in a village 40 miles from
Vanadzor with the same family for the duration of their stay. It is a
young family with boys, one aged 10 and twins who are 8. One of the
twins is handicapped, and warmed up quickly to her son Mitchell and
another volunteer, Ross. Mitchell got the youngster playing futbol,
already buying them a new soccer ball. That’s called building bridges
of friendship.
Doesn’t it do your heart so much good to hear about these kinds
of people?
Cynthia continues: “We are moving dirt and rocks to provide fill under
the flooring which we may start pouring soon. It’s heavy work. My
back acted up the second day I think because I was incorrectly tossing
buckets of dirt and rocks. The second day we worked it rained all day.
The construction engineer greeted me first thing in the morning with
the comment, ‘Why are we even going to try to work?’ But the team was
not to be held back. They were ready. After all, it’s just water.” Do
you see the spirit of this group? Simply astounding.
“He bought a tarp and the men suspended it over the bucket line, and
we worked just fine. It was muddy, but so what, I think we gained
even more admiration from the family that day. Either that or they
think we’re crazy Americans!”
The area this group is working in is being built in order to move
families out of homes made of metal shipping containers, called domiks
in Armenia. These domiks are cold in winter, hot in summer, and full of
mold and disease-causing pathogens. Some people from the building teams
have not been able to breathe when in these domiks. By the way, in
her college days Cynthia completed a course as a medical technologist.
When time allows, Cynthia will forward updates of her team’s progress.
What do you think the lady from the plains wrote to me a week before
her departure to Armenia?
“I’m in the mad minutes of it. One week before we leave for Armenia. I
am in pretty good shape now. I plan to use some of Naregatsi’s prayers
as our devotions. Planning for that always stresses me out because
I like to have something meaningful. This will make it meaningful.”
Spoken like a true Vanetsi! Yes, Cynthia Erickson, per your request our
prayers are with you and your group. Please know you have established
within us a deep sense of pride and admiration for your dedication
and the compassion you have demonstrated by volunteering with the
Fuller Center for Housing. You are as noble as the ardzivs who soar
higher than all of us, touching the face of God.
Note: Naregatsi was born in 950 in Vasbouragan and became a teacher at
the Monastery of Nareg, leading a life of prayer and meditation. He
is well known for his writings, including his “Book of Prayers” or
“Lamentations.” His writings have been translated into many languages,
although he knew only Armenian. It is said he belonged to the whole
world.
http://www.armenianweekly.com/2011/06/08/the-ardziv-has-landed/