Chinnari and Thoughts- By: Jacqueline Tufenkchyan

When I heard we'd be visiting the last village between Armenia and Azerbeijan, Chinnari, I wasn't nervous. As a sheltered American girl, I never imagined a place where my life could be in danger. I soon learned otherwise upon entering the somewhat desolate and dead village.

The village was just like any other we'd visited throughout our excursions in Hayastan, however here, there was a palpable energy one couldn't help overlook. The people in Chinnari had seen alot, and everywhere you went, you saw in their faces the look of triumph and defeat. Their faces were grim, yet strong. It was looks of people who had definitely experienced more than a handful.

Chinnari is a village/ war-zone. Azeri snipers shoot at any given point onto our side of the territory without warning. There were six main hilltops facing directly upward from the Chinnari village and on top of every hilltop there was a post with a sniper, ready to shoot at any given moment. (Such snipers prohibit 70% of all lands in Chinnari from cultivation due to shootings). Seeing how close this village was to the enemy made me feel so disgusted with humanity. I thought to myself, "Dont these people have mercy? Aren't they human.. with families and children?!" Before that point in my realizations, I never had felt so vulnerable in my entire life. I was uncomfortable in my very skin; as an American, it's a feeling I was very un-used to.

I thought to myself how unfair it was for the people that had to live there. They risk everyday all in the name of protecting OUR land. What they do is my defintion of heroism. Staying overnight within a kilometer of an Azeri sniper, I'm certain, you too, would definitely look at your life from a different scope. Every second I was in Chinnari I felt fortunate, humbled, thankful, disgusted, uncomfortable, prayerful... it was a very spiritual encounter with my motherland; I am beyond thankful I had.

I send my prayers and blessings to not only the people of Chinnari, but to all countries facing such difficult times. With God's help, the best is yet to come.