Georgia, Georgia #2

We traveled to the Georgian Stonehenge.

The monument "History of Georgia" by Zurab Tsereteli; popularly known as "Stonehenge". Georgian-Russian painter, sculptor and architect.

 This is an amazing monument with scenes from the Saviors life depicted on parts of the monument. I’m not really into art-sculpture, but this was amazing to me, especially figuring out what scenes from His life were being displayed.

 Peter walking on water.

 The longer I would study them, the more details I would find.

This is our cute little Hotel.

I almost started to cry when I took a shower and there was wonderful water pressure and a SOFT towel for drying.

I am standing on the top balcony looking out.

One of the views from our Hotel.  Note the number of churches you can see. 

 Georgia is more tolerant of other religions besides their Apostalic Church. When the Jews had no place to settle, Georgia welcomed them. The area where our hotel was located at one time was a Jewish settlement and they have a Jewish Synagogue in that area.

In 1999 Elder Jeffrey R. Holland Dedicated the land of Georgia for the preaching of the LDS Gospel.  He stood at this site to do this.

 We shopped at the bazaar.

Candy as far as the eye could see!

The missionaries have been buying ties from this lady for nearly ten years.  She gives GOOD deals.

How would you like to buy shoes from this shoe store!

 I Learned History

In 1227 an army of Turkmen attacked Georgia. After terrible atrocities were inflicted upon men, women and children, the sultan ordered that the cupola of Sioni Cathedral be taken down and replaced by his throne. And at his command the icons of the Theotokos and our Savior were carried out of the Cathedral and placed at the center of the bridge across the Mtkvari River. The invaders goaded the people to the bridge, ordering them to cross it and spit on the holy icons. Those who betrayed the Christian Faith and mocked the icons were spared their lives, while the Orthodox confessors were beheaded.

One hundred thousand Georgians sacrificed their lives to venerate the holy icons.

This is the site were these terrible events happened.

 

AND NOW ON A LIGHTER NOTE!

We visited a hand made wooden toy store where I bought a Nativity Set.

AND Elder Jones found the best ice cream store in the "whole world."  AND it wasn't at McDonald's. 

 Luca Polare, an Italian-owned shop.

 He started with two scoops then ate two more.  I must say it was great!

From President Reese’s “Fun Facts and Information about Georgia” sheet.

Georgians are sociable and hospitable; they are known for friendly and generous treatment of even unexpected guests. "Any guest is a gift from God" is a popular Georgian saying.
 

When eating bread you must always keep the top side up. You would offend the cook and the bread itself by turning it over on your plate.   This is Georgian Bread, very yummy.

While eating, to get food from another location on the table you don’t ask to pass it. You stand up and reach over and take what you want.

99 nationalities living on one little street in Tbilisi Georgia.

Every 2nd daughter is named Nino after a woman who preached Christianity in Georgia

We traveled home an alternate route. We had some very rough roads for miles and miles but to me it was worth it because we saw wonderful autumn leaves. Sometimes it was like we were under a canopy of beautiful trees. It was a little past prime viewing time, but still so pretty. The mountains are so high between the countries and of course the views are beautiful.



The church is very small in Georgia, with only about 25-35 members attending regularly. 
AND the Book of Mormon is not yet translated into the Georgian language.  Much work to be done.
The Lord loves each one of us individually whether we meet in large congregations or a handful of members in Tbilisi Georgia.
If you want a free copy of my favorite Book go here:
http://mormon.org/free-book-of-mormon/

OR if you want to learn more about my Church go here:
http://mormon.org/



Georgia On My Mind #1

We had the great opportunity of traveling to Georgia with the other Senior Couples and President & Sister Carter for a few days.

 Yes this is Elder Jones and I racing down a hill.  We had just stopped for a picture moment and it turned into a "race is on moment."  I only lost by a whisper!

 This lake is half in Azerbajan and half in Armenia.  We passed burned out buildings where people once lived.  In 2008, Russia bombed Georgia and the mission President and our driver made a fast trip to Georgia to get the missionaries safely out of the country.

We saw lots of these carts. Mostly wooden ones in the mountains coming home. We passed several small villages where they had little donkey/horse carts that carried the produce they grow.

The growing season is very short in the mountains.

Sometimes they can only grow cabbages and potatoes.

I'm sure this Papek was wondering, who are these crazy people taking my picture?

Every public restroom was the squatter version.  I finally got the hang of it by about my third bathroom.  Brooke sent me some toilet seat covers, but for this trip they were NOT needed. 

 Squatter versions only. 

Elder & Sister Reese greeted us with “Welcome to Georgia” bags. One Senior couple and seven missionaries are currently serving here.

After 16 months of no fast food, this McDonald's Big Mac tasted so delicious.

They have 3 McDonald's in Tbilisi!

They draped their public square with flags because the President of France had just visited.

Here we are...

One of the highlights was a testimony meeting at the Reese's apartment. 

We stayed in Tbilisi but visited Mtshkheta.  Both cities are built in valleys with rivers running through and around them.  I loved them both.

*  TO BE CONTINUED *

On A Clear Day!

I spotted what looked like a great viewing day of Sis and Masis as I walked to work today.  Elder Jones and I locked the office for a few minutes and headed for a little photo shoot.

 I audibly gasp every morning when I can see Mt.Ararat.  It is such a beautiful view. I only wish I was a better photographer.

 

 We went to the Mother of Armenia monument to take photos.

which is right by an amusement park.

This is part of the monument area.

  

It was a good day!

Ta-Da!

When the big hand is on the four and the little hand is on the six, (PM) in SIXTY more days, we will be arriving in Las Vegas.

Get this, Yerevan to London, London to Las Vegas. in a mere seventeen hours of flying and a seven hour layover!  After hugs from grandbabies, I'll be off to In-N-Out Burger!

A Couple of Fun Things.

We have been going with the young Elders to Artashat to teach a wonderful little lady named Hikoosh.  Using my camera, Elder S. took the greatest picture of this stork. 

 Why, you may ask, do they have such large nests? To keep babies in, of course.

 Isn't that where babies come from? Storks?

Elder Jones misses his bike and his gardens.  Doesn't this picture cover both those things? 

We have found a great restaurant, the Arax Lounge, where I have eaten shrimp and crab linguine that is great! They also have brownies and apple strudel, all very yummy and we get to eat outside!

Knox turned 4 years old on September 26th.  Crazy Grandma and Grandpa Skyped him looking like this

 

Independence Day & Dinner

Lucine and Nish went to the Military Parade and took these great pictures.

Oh, this picture was on Lucine's birthday.  Nish gave her a bird. 

On the 21st of September it was the Armenian Independence Day. It has been 20 years since they gained independence from the Soviet Union.

Nish with the giant Armenian flag.

So there was a lot of celebrating going on. Missionaries are told to stay away from big crowds. (There were 300,000-500,000 people there in the evening. The parade was in the morning) They had police at the Metro station pushing people into the trains because there was such a mass of people and not enough room. Oh Dear!
 Looks like it would have been neat to see, but I am a lot more comfortable in Moapa with 1000 people.

So instead of Republic Square we went to the Monte Cristo for dinner. It is under the bridge going to Ajapnyak. The setting was awesome, the food was mediocre.

We went with the Carters, Mayberry's (visiting area doctor and his wife), Rich's & Watkins.