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.
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.
Betty Apigian-Kessel
Latest posts by Betty Apigian-Kessel (see all)
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- The Lament of the Armenian Lady Farmer: How Green Is My ‘Bardez’ - September 22, 2017
- A Purposeful Visit to Great Lakes National Cemetery (Part II) - August 8, 2017
This is a great mission. When we would hear about Armenian ardzives with a mission of developing modern arms in Armenia and Artsakh?
Cynthia Erickson is an exceptional person, wish we
had more of her kind.
Papken and Jgor, thank you for your kind comments. Cynthia is one in a million, a total inspiration.
Betty Apigian Kessel