ARMENIAN MISSION
By Linda Wallace, columnist

Mount Shasta Herald, CA
Feb 8 2007

Do you know where Armenia is located? Look on a map and hunt near
Turkey. If you really want to know about the country, talk to Roger
and Mary Benton.

This past Friday, I heard their presentation to the Republican Women
at the Mt. Shasta Resort. They are a delightful retired couple filled
with life, knowledge, and enthusiasm.

Mary said she never dreamt she would travel to Armenia. But after she
met and married Roger Benton, an agronomist consultant for the United
States Department of Agriculture, that is where she ended up living.

She said she really loves the country and can recommend many amazing
places to visit.

In Siskiyou County we can look up at our beautiful Mt. Shasta. If you
live in Armenia you can look up at Mt. Ararat, a sister mountain about
three thousand feet higher than our beauty. Some of Siskiyou County
has the same climate as Armenia, which is the Land of Noah’s ark.

Those of you in the county may know Roger because he worked here as
a farm advisor from l965 to 1991. When I spoke to him, we realized
I may have met him when he worked in Modoc County after Bob Savage
left the position. I was growing up there at the time.

When Roger was approached in l992, his life’s direction changed. Dr
Hazarabedian, whose parents were from Armenia, invited him to help.

He never dreamt he would spend thirteen years in Armenia making it
his home.

He first went there as a volunteer to help plant alfalfa for dairy
cattle and establish a wheat seed industry, as well as bringing new
seed varieties and agricultural practices to the area. He encouraged
the farmers to learn crop rotation with alfalfa and wheat to enhance
nitrogen replacement in the soil, helping dairy herds and animal care
improve. The country needed help because of its ever-present hunger
and poverty.

The Lori region has beautiful countryside with forests and meadows.

It is a country steeped in tradition.

Roger and Mary enjoyed the kindness the people showed. Roger enjoyed
that Armenia was the first nation in the world to declare itself a
Christian nation in 301 A.D. The two volunteered for medical clinics
in many areas throughout the country and assisted with a Christian
Children’s summer camp renovation, along with volunteers from Ireland
and the United Kingdom Samaritan’s Purse Organization.

Armenia struggles to remain a free nation with challenges both
politically and economically. Historically and socially the country
has never ending battles.

Mary and Roger enjoyed visiting orphanages, schools, and villages,
as well as cities in this amazing country as they helped others.

It is important for us as Americans to be aware of the countries
of the world. I am so hopeful Iraq will remain free, with freedoms
for its people to enjoy. Our way of live is so different from many
countries. Education is so important in all societies. Freedom is
important to us all.

We as Americans have so many opportunities. We cherish our freedoms
to think, speak, and write as we please.

Mary and Roger said the people of Armenia were grateful, intelligent,
and moral and have strong beliefs and traditions. They have strong
family values, deserving prosperity and happiness.

When each country succeeds, we all succeed.

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