Dear Family:
Things went fast. We arrived in Tbilisi, Georgia last night after many hours in the air and many hours waiting at airports. The luggage also arrived OK, which was a miracle. We went right through customs here in Georgia without them even opening a suitcase.
We stayed one night at a hotel in Yerevan, then a half of a day in the mission office to get oriented, etc. then a member and his adult son drove us all the way to Tbilisi. It took 7 hours and it was very treachurous and scary roads. We tried to sleep, but the road was in such poor repair, it was totally impossible. What an experience.
Last night they took us to the largest grocery store here in Tbilisi called Goodwill Grocery. We spent $200 on our credit card and got enough to last us for awhile. Lucky we had the driver and his son that brought us and both spoke good English, so we got help on what we were buying.
I slept last night until 8 AM and that was 3 hours beyond ussual but Talmadge slept until 12 noon. We seem to be OK now.
This afternoon we spent the time with Elder and Sister Larson exchanging money both at the little exchange places and the bank. The Larsons are humanitarian missionaries and in our same apartment complex. They are on the 4th floor and we on the 7th floor. In fact I am writing this letter in their apartment because we don't have internet yet. That may take a week or so. Same with the ACN phone because it requites internet. We got our cell phone working for Georgia given to us by the mission office in Yerevan but it only works in Georgia.
President and Sister Dunn are very nice. He made we 2nd counselor to him and I will be working with both branches here in Tbilisi and the 5 missionaries here. We had 7, but 2 finished their missions and went home yesterday. We have others coming from the MTC next month we think.
We have a package for Elder Hook that we picked up at the mission office in Yerevan. We haven't seen him yet. He is from the McKinney Stake (Meredith is the stake president). We met and talked to his parents twice before leaving home. President Dunn says that he is a very good missionary.
Also, the package that Mom sent to ourselves before we left was waiting for us in Yerevan.
Well, we will write again later. We are going to the center of town to eat with the Larsons this evening and riding the metro subway. It is the best way to get around. We will not have a car. None of the missionaries or adult couples have cars. Traffic is horrible and just crossing the streets is hard to do. The missionaries all walk, no bikes either - too dangerous.
We love all of you. We are safe and happy.
Love
Bob & Talmadge, Elder and Sister Packard, Dad & Mom, Grandpa & Grandma
Things went fast. We arrived in Tbilisi, Georgia last night after many hours in the air and many hours waiting at airports. The luggage also arrived OK, which was a miracle. We went right through customs here in Georgia without them even opening a suitcase.
We stayed one night at a hotel in Yerevan, then a half of a day in the mission office to get oriented, etc. then a member and his adult son drove us all the way to Tbilisi. It took 7 hours and it was very treachurous and scary roads. We tried to sleep, but the road was in such poor repair, it was totally impossible. What an experience.
Last night they took us to the largest grocery store here in Tbilisi called Goodwill Grocery. We spent $200 on our credit card and got enough to last us for awhile. Lucky we had the driver and his son that brought us and both spoke good English, so we got help on what we were buying.
I slept last night until 8 AM and that was 3 hours beyond ussual but Talmadge slept until 12 noon. We seem to be OK now.
This afternoon we spent the time with Elder and Sister Larson exchanging money both at the little exchange places and the bank. The Larsons are humanitarian missionaries and in our same apartment complex. They are on the 4th floor and we on the 7th floor. In fact I am writing this letter in their apartment because we don't have internet yet. That may take a week or so. Same with the ACN phone because it requites internet. We got our cell phone working for Georgia given to us by the mission office in Yerevan but it only works in Georgia.
President and Sister Dunn are very nice. He made we 2nd counselor to him and I will be working with both branches here in Tbilisi and the 5 missionaries here. We had 7, but 2 finished their missions and went home yesterday. We have others coming from the MTC next month we think.
We have a package for Elder Hook that we picked up at the mission office in Yerevan. We haven't seen him yet. He is from the McKinney Stake (Meredith is the stake president). We met and talked to his parents twice before leaving home. President Dunn says that he is a very good missionary.
Also, the package that Mom sent to ourselves before we left was waiting for us in Yerevan.
Well, we will write again later. We are going to the center of town to eat with the Larsons this evening and riding the metro subway. It is the best way to get around. We will not have a car. None of the missionaries or adult couples have cars. Traffic is horrible and just crossing the streets is hard to do. The missionaries all walk, no bikes either - too dangerous.
We love all of you. We are safe and happy.
Love
Bob & Talmadge, Elder and Sister Packard, Dad & Mom, Grandpa & Grandma
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