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Georgia Convention 2018
  • Mazanec Family Trips --
  • Geoff Mazanec
  • Mazanec Family Trips --
  • Geoff Mazanec

Georgia Convention 2018

Trip to Georgia and more Read more
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  • Trip start
    July 15, 2018
  • Georgia Convention 2018
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    At the Airport & through security

    July 15, 2018 in the United States ⋅ ⛅ 72 °F

    Waiting to board. Seeing groups of Friends too! The hugs have already started and we only made it one state over 😂

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    Arrived in Tbilisi

    July 16, 2018 in Georgia ⋅ ⛅ 82 °F

    So, we finally arrived in Tbilisi, Georgia around 10:30 am local time (2:30 am EDT). Our flight from JFK was delayed over 90 minutes before take off due to at least one passenger that wasn't supposed to be on flight being removed. Then they had to verify every bag had an owner on the flight and get their checked bags out of the storage hold. 😐
    There were a lot of other friends on the same plane and we were worried we were going to miss our connecting flight in Istanbul. We were all pleasantly surprised when we found out not only was it still there when we arrived, but it was extremely close to where we entered the terminal. We think that most of the flight from Istanbul to Tbilisi was Witnesses.
    Finally we arrived and were greeted by a LOT of friends.    Read more

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    First Sites of Georgia

    July 16, 2018 in Georgia ⋅ ☀️ 82 °F

    Trip to hotel was interesting. Lots to look at. A volunteer brother took us 2 couples to our nearby hotels in his van. He liked the horn & was using his tablet (for map directions). And he used both of these AT THE SAME time as his phone, to try to get us where we needed to be. Yikes, but he didn't text while driving anyway, oh boy oh boy!Read more

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    Gori Assembly Hall

    July 17, 2018 in Georgia ⋅ ⛅ 73 °F

    Visited Assembly Hall. It is an outdoor one and very nice! The small KH is also on the same grounds. There is a separate outdoor building housing the restrooms and baby nursing area. Met a bunch of local Friends and conversed as best we could. A perfect "surprise rest stop" on the way to our scheduled outing! 😂😙Read more

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    Uplistsikhe

    July 17, 2018 in Georgia ⋅ ⛅ 75 °F

    Our tour today was Uplistsikhe ( sounds like: Oop'-lisch-i-kah), an ancient fortress town all made in the native rocks. It was a semi-rigorous climb in the heat & intense midday sun, but we helped each other navigate safely-- and were rewarded with some great views from up high. For more info on this mixed Christian/pagan creation, check this out: https://en.m.wikipedia.org/wiki/UplistsikheRead more

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    Restaurant "Nacharmaghevi"

    July 17, 2018 in Georgia ⋅ ☀️ 77 °F

    Ate a huge lunch at "რესტორანი ნაჭარმაგევი" ( Restaurant Nacharmaghevi). They gave us many small courses, eating with our little tour group + around 125 other Friends. We all met up at this Georgian restaurant's banquet hall. Got our first tastes of many authentic foods. Most were totally excellent!! Also a first serving of the many wines they are known for, poured from large glass pitchers, go figure. Then a surprise concert by a family group who were professional singers, prior to learning the Truth. (Gave us time to process some of our big meal, before we needed to return to the big bus taking us on the 1 1/2 hr ride back to the city).

    *A musical treat to hear:  https://photos.app.goo.gl/JdaqnTKH1CB1sAAW7    Read more

  • Georgia Convention 2018

    Field Service day

    July 18, 2018 in Georgia ⋅ ☀️ 91 °F

    Traveled an hour south of Tbilisi to Rustavi --to go in field service with Friends from the Megobroda congregation. We each were partnered with a sister and walked the dusty streets to our assigned apartment buildings. Geoff's partner was Te'a and Jenn's partner was Maia. Before and after svc, loving hospitality was shown thru food, drink, and singing & dancing. A few genuine tears followed as we were departing. Some sisters were very moved that we came out to be with them.Read more

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    Evening Gathering at Mukhrani Chateau 1

    July 18, 2018 in Georgia ⋅ ☀️ 86 °F

    Evening Gathering for half the international delegates was at a gorgeous vineyard chateau, Muhkarani. Huge grounds, lots of snacks and wine from vineyard served for a short time (maybe 6 kinds to choose from). Included the local volunteer Witnesses, some chateau staff and many other local Friends. Not sure of the attendance, but our garden party was for more than 2000 or even 3000, we believe. Just purely lovely association, peaceful, & in a paradisaic setting! Taste of the New World, we are sure.Read more

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    Evening Gathering 2

    July 18, 2018 in Georgia ⋅ 🌙 77 °F

    After association, food and wine in the vineyard, the local brothers and sisters performed a concert and dance show behind the chateau. 1st rate production for our huge crowd! Very enjoyable and well done.Read more

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    His 1st taste of the Georgian cheese bread --khachapuriIs that meat?!?!And we liked it!From the cool ground, our brother draws up...Georgian red wine, from the Bethel grounds!

    Georgia Branch 1

    July 19, 2018 in Georgia ⋅ ☀️ 84 °F

    One our favorite tours was of the Georgia Bethel. Inside we visited most of the depts & they had special displays & stamp stations, for collecting in our "passport books" ---proof of visiting each interior Dept. Outside there was a fair type atmosphere all around the Branch grounds with activities/games, food, music, and eating tent. There was even a cool wine tent, where a Brother scooped and served wine out of a ground hole where it is aged & stored!!!Read more

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    Tbilisi -- old town walking tour 1

    July 19, 2018 in Georgia ⋅ ☀️ 88 °F

    Embarked on an interesting walking tour of the oldest parts of Tbilisi. (Along with some modern additions). Without this, we would not have any idea about the rich architectural, nor cultural age of the city.Read more

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    Tbilisi -- old town walking tour 3

    July 19, 2018 in Georgia ⋅ ☀️ 93 °F

    Across the Mtkvari river to Metekhi Virgin Church and statue of King Gorgasili

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    Abanotubani and Sulfer Baths

    July 19, 2018 in Georgia ⋅ ☀️ 93 °F

    Beautiful park like area mixed with old town buildings and ancient sulfur baths-- still in use. The warm waters is where Tbilisi gets it's name: https://georgia.travel/en_US/shida-kartli/tbilisi

    While we had hoped to soak in the hot springs, the weather that day was in the 90s, with a "real feel of 98". We would have literally cooked ♨️🌡️    Read more

  • Georgia Convention 2018
    1Gift bag with logo from Branch

    Convention Day 1

    July 20, 2018 in Georgia ⋅ ☀️ 75 °F

    Arrived at the Olympic Palace for Convention day 1. Holds normally around 4,500. We were a tight 6,000+, using most of the floor. Many Special Conventions are like 8-12 thousand, so this was smaller for a smaller country, but quite tight and mostly hot! (Like 1/3rd AC power 😩) But we all survived.Read more

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    Convention Day 3

    July 22, 2018 in Georgia ⋅ ⛅ 79 °F

    Last day. More colors, hugs, photos, kisses, and gifts!

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