In a country where more than half the population is unemployed - where in recent years natural calamities and former government policies have slowed the economy - the first-known Church welfare project in eastern Europe is providing work for members and helping them care for their needs.

"It's not big, not fancy, but it's a start," said Robert K Wolthuis, who, with his wife, Carolyn, serve as humanitarian missionaries in the Europe East Area and helped local members organize a small crop and canning project.About 1,200 one- and two-liter jars of apricots and blackberry jam, as well as plum, cherry and apricot compote, and tomatoes with onions were canned by the approximately 150 members among the five branches in the district.

"It is quite an experience to see the mission van arrive from Yerevan, about 15 kilometers away, with every seat filled [with members] and watch them head into `their cannery,' " said Brother Wolthuis.

The 1,200 jars are being stored in a newly remodeled Church building and will be used by local branch presidents to care for members who need assistance.

The concept for such a project began in February when Nerses Ingilizian, president of one of the branches in Yerevan, explained to Brother Wolthuis, the Area Welfare Agent, how members want to work and desire to support themselves and others if possible.

"We need to do something for our members," he said to Brother Wolthuis, suggesting a small crop and canning operation be developed.

District Pres. Robert Sangster and other branch leaders began looking for a small farm and cannery. After two months, they found property that included an orchard with a large home where they expected to convert the ground level into a cannery.

The project received enthusiastic support from Elder Charles Didier of the Seventy and president of the Europe East Area, who felt that such a project might offer solutions for all of eastern Europe where unemployment is a problem.

Acting under the direction of the area presidency, priesthood leaders went to finalize the lease agreement with the landowner. They were surprised, however, to learn that the landowner had changed her mind and chose not to lease the land.

"It looked like our series of small miracles was about to become one large disappointment," said Brother Wolthuis. "[But] Pres. Sangster didn't accept the road block. Using his experience as an electrical contractor, former stake president and rancher, combined with prayer, he visited the woman and soon finalized an agreement for the orchard and building."

By this time, the growing season was short and becoming a critical factor. Leaders also wondered how members in a former socialist society would respond to a call to volunteer in the orchard after having many things given to them by the government during their lives.

Church leaders soon learned, however, that members were eager to participate. When 10 brethren were requested to prune trees that had been poorly maintained for several years, 20 showed up. When Relief Society presidencies asked for 12 sisters to assist in canning apricots, 30 arrived.

The cannery was created using large cooking pots, four old gas stoves and several tanks of propane gas just as the sparse apricot, cherry and plum crop ripened.

After boiling the fruit, members filled the sterilized jars with jam and then sealed them by a combination of heat and a mechanical device used to tighten lids.

"When is the next cannery project scheduled?" asked the district Relief Society president, Yelena Arutunyan, after the canning was complete. "There are so many sisters who are anxious to participate."

"The vision in Armenia," said Brother Wolthuis, "goes beyond the orchard and cannery. It includes a small bishop's storehouse where commodities can be given by priesthood leaders to those in need of assistance.

"The establishment of the Church in eastern Europe continues at a pace [few] of us could have imagined 10 years ago. Members in Armenia are some of the true pioneers of the 1990s. We don't blink our eyes too often, fearing we will miss another significant milestone of the young emerging Church in this vital region."