Sites of our Neighborhood in Tbilisi

One day I decided to take a walk and see some of the neighborhood. I saw lots of interesting sights. I was mad that I hadn't brought the camera. So I planned another day and this time took the camers and tried to get pictues that would give you a little idea of what it is like here where we live.

This is just a couple of blocks down our street. It was a quite surprise to see the sign the first time. They have a few items of outer ware and only a very few items of camping gear, like half dozen backpacks, some bike items and a selection of fishing gear. I lost my fleece coat liner and was able to find a replacement there.






The rich and the poor. With over 70% unemployment most people live in what are called "Corpses" (You won't find that word in the dictionary or even Google) a name given to the Soviet built apartment buildings. Contrast that with the homes on the bluff. No middle class, just the very poor and the wealthy. Below the mansions is an abandoned horse race track where they were playing rugby and cricket.

I loved the contrast of the more modern home in the background and the older one in the front. Notice how many different building materials are being used, showing how many times it has been "fixed", concrete, brick, wood, adobe type block. They mix their morter with sand full of dirt so the morter doesn't last long.









I loved this door and steps. You see this alot, a building falling apart with these fancy old doors.

They used to have venders all over the sidewalks and streets. About two years ago they passed a law that everyone had to be inside the buildings. This one is spilling into the sidewalk. Enforcement of the law is weak. The food is fresh and good.










This shows a typical "shopping" area. The corpus lower floor apartments were changed into small stores. Every street has a least one dentist, usually more. At least two drug stores and a bank.










Need some hardware items? This is the only hardware "store" I've seen so far. There is quite an assortment of items and parts. But usually only one or two of each kind of item.












Need to make a call? Have an emergency? No public phones. Everyone has a cell phone. A lot of the apartments have a phone. The phone and the number stays with the apartment.










I loved these little narrow walkways and stairs in between some parts of town. Like a labyrinth. I would just start in one and see where they would go. Sometimes I found great shortcuts.

The older men (And sometimes middle age) are always found playing backgammon or dominoes. They play for money and fun. Notice the score keeper? Yep that's an abacus. I see them used everywhere. Even the Post Office I go to uses it.
Who needs a calculator.

I think at one time the city must have been very interesting and had great beauty. I've seen lots of these fancy doorways and canopys. I believe they date back to before the Soviet Union time. Someone told me that Georgians loved to copy the fancy architecture of places like Europe, especially France.

Georgia is know for their balconies. (We have three!) In the summer they love to hang out in them and enjoy the city life. This one looked like something from a movie set.

One day Elder Reese came home with 2 beautiful red roses for me. The missionaries had been hanging out here - it was there P-day. They said he brought the roses to impress them - and I think they were impressed! I told them they should come over more often! (I hope you noticed our expensive vase!)

On May 1st the 2 small branches in Tbilisi Georgia were combined into 1 branch. The Mission President and his wife came to do this. They called Elder Reese to be the new Branch President. He has spent the month of May reorganizing the branch and closing the other building. It is a tough job with the language barrier - but he is getting much better at charades! The members are excited to be back together - there is strength in numbers. I have been leading the music and doing primary while things settle - everything takes time in Georgia. We feel that the Lord has sent us many small miracles to get us to this place and time. We love the people of Georgia and serving here.

As Humanitarian missionaries we are now involved in getting wheelchairs for the disabled. We have 2 different kinds. The regular wheelchairs are the standard ones that you generally see in hospitals. The rough riders are for getting around on rough ground. We visited our supplier who makes these wheelchairs here in Tbilis and I took one for a test run over the edge!

Nephite Easter

We invited our 8 missionaries over to spend Easter with us. I had them meet on our doorstep. I started reading in 3 Nephi 8: 5-22 and as I talked about the destruction of the land - E. Reese was doing the sound, water, lightning and fire effects from behind the door. (I was trying hard not to laugh!) When I read about the darkness - I passed out blindfolds. I told them that they were lucky that they were still alive and that they needed to find their family and friends that had been lost in the destruction.

E. Reese had turned over the furniture and moved things around to get the feel for the destruction! He had found some chocolate eggs at the Bazaar and he scattered them through out the room - representing their family. It was fun to watch the elders searching for their lost family and friends and how excited they were when they found one! When they were done, they took off their blindfolds, straightened up the furniture and I read about Christ appearing at the temple. (3 Nephi 11: 3-17) I bore my testimony that even though I did not feel the prints of the nails in his hand and feet - that I know just as surely as they that Christ lives. He is my savior - and I am forever grateful that he died for me. That because of him, I can return to live with my Heavenly Father. How thankful I am to be a member of the Church of Jesus Christ of latter-day Saints!

For dinner we had haystacks - one of my families favorites. We did not have all the ingredients - so we had them Georgian style! The elders really enjoyed themselves - they do not eat at the members homes very often, so it was nice to have a home cooked meal. For dessert I made apple crisp and served it with ice cream.

We ended the evening with a few fun games. Remember the paper bag game? You set an open paper bag on the floor and everyone has to pick it up with their teeth - only their feet can touch the floor! After each round you cut off an inch or 2 of the bag - until it is just a small piece of paper! I was impressed - 3 of our elders made it to the end!

Easter

Easter is a very big holiday here in Georgia. They fast from all animal products (inc. milk, eggs, cheese, etc) for 40 days before hand. The week before we started seeing red eggs and then wheat grass. This is the traditional decorations. They do not have bunnies or chocolate eggs - we saw a few in some of the bigger stores - but no one was buying them! They have an Easter cake that everyone gets and takes to the cemetery to visit their deceased relatives. They leave the cake for them. We were impressed that this was a serious, religious holiday - no commercialism.

I really look forward to Tuesday morning - that's when I get my weekly email from Peter, who is on his mission in Tuscan Arizona. So this is the picture I saw a few weeks ago - I LOVE kettle korn - evidently they were walking along and someone came up and said 'we want you to have this!' I'm trying not to be jealous!!! (what's with the hat?) Peter is a great missionary - we love him and are very proud of him.