Melanie Hart/Hart International Music Ministries Weblog

May Women’s Conference

jimmelaniehart — Tue, 08 Jul 2008 07:58:05 +0000

I’m trying to catch up on so many things I want to add on my blog. The women’s conference is one of them. Because it seems like a lifetime ago today, I will take an excerpt from something I wrote in my newsletter on May 20th.

“As I sang A New Thing for a second time to end Saturday’s Women’s Conference, I was surrounded by Georgian women hungering for God. It was a great privilege to pray with many women for their spiritual, physical and emotional needs. I loved giving great big bear hugs to those precious Georgian ladies too – we can be Jesus to them with a smile, a hug and a kiss.”

Over 300 women flooded into a small hall in Tbilisi to participate in this conference. The fun part about this was the next month when I sang at another church here in Tbilisi, many recognized me and so the relationships and trust starts to build as you pour the ministry of Jesus into these dear souls.

Khatchapouri

jimmelaniehart — Tue, 08 Jul 2008 07:41:24 +0000

No, that’s not the phonetic spelling of a sneeze, that’s the Georgian pizza-like food that is baked and consumed in mass quantities and found in every bakery, store, and party. It’s basically dough and a special only-found-in-Georgia cheese. I have nicknamed my back-side “Khatha” and “Pouri” in honor of what this Georgian junk food does to one’s figure! That usually gets a laugh from my Georgian friends!

I thought you’d enjoy a taste of our Georgia as you see Madison and our friend Tamriko making one fresh before your eyes. There are many kinds, depending on the region you’re from and how you prefer it made – cheese in the middle, on top like a pizza pie, with an egg cracked open on the piping hot cheese and butter (a recipe for heart failure and not a version of this food that I will ever try), even the dough is substituted with flaky pasty or noodle like dough for many variations, but here is Tamriko’s version of this fine food that Madi and I got to enjoy fresh from the pan last Friday in my kitchen.

I still think it’s healthier than just about any fast-food you could name! No greese (this kind anyway), no preservatives! I like it with the yummy Georgian garden-like tomatoes and cucumbers. Thankfully, Jim decided after eating way too much of it our first few months in Georgia years ago, that he doesn’t like it. I wish I didn’t!!!

Nana’s Feet

jimmelaniehart — Wed, 18 Jun 2008 07:08:15 +0000

No, these aren’t my feet, but they do belong to a lady I love with all my heart! My Nana. When she came to see us in Florida I bought her a pedicure as a birthday gift. It was fun to put my toe ring and Brighton ankle bracelet on my 79 year old grandmother – very funky Nana! As much fun as it was, all I can think of when I see this picture is Romans 10:15 where it says… ”how beautiful the feet of those who bring good news.” My Nana has prayed for me every day of my life. I have been blessed by her love for me, her prayers, her encouragement and friendship. In fact, last year at this time she traveled in Canada and the US with me for ministry – you should see her work a CD table! This month she will have a major operation due to some cancer on her body. Please pray for her. I love you, sweet Nana!

The neighborhood

jimmelaniehart — Tue, 17 Jun 2008 06:25:10 +0000

When we first arrived here, we noticed how the people hang around outside. Many nights, it’s like a social gathering that us westerners would have to plan weeks to “organize”. But, being together, children playing, socializing with neighbors is part of their every day life. Many just sit outside their homes and watch the day go by. And they don’t move around the city like us westerners do either. It would be normal for a family to live here from generation to generation. Imagine the closeness they feel to each other. Families of multiple generations living together. In our culture, that would mean putting the “assisted living homes” out of business! What a concept – taking care of each other!

These pictures were taken the first few days of our arrival back to Tbilisi. I thought “how beautiful” when I saw the shoes outside our door. In this culture, you don’t usually remove shoes, the kids were on their best behavior! Madison wanted to make a fort and the girls got inside. They giggled a lot and these girls are teaching Madison Georgian. Madi likes to play soccer outside with them or just hang around. One day, Madison showed them her paper airplane. Mother’s were looking at it like they’d never seen one before. So we gave Madi some paper and she showed them how. They spent hours racing their paper airplanes down the street.

New member of the Hart family…

jimmelaniehart — Wed, 11 Jun 2008 16:52:45 +0000

No, really, it had nothing to do with a Georgian pastor’s wife calling me lazy recently for “only” having one child! But, meet Whiskers… When our family left for Georgia in 2004, we had to say two good-byes to pets. One, to our dear old Cocker Spaniel, Taylor, who was almost 12 years and wouldn’t have made the trip and another was to our cat (an animal I thought I’d never like until we needed a “mouser”) named Millie. Weeks after arriving in Tbilisi, where so much was different and odd and unfamiliar, my husband Jim came home with an American Cocker Spaniel, we called him Sonny. He added warmth, and a sense of familiarity to our family. Now, shortly after our return to Tbilisi, we have another unexpected friend who now resides in our house – thanks to a missionary family who arrived at church Sunday night with a box of free kittens. It was hard to resist… so here she is. She’s about a month old and doesn’t leave Madison’s side. She is sweet and a great addition to our home! I can’t believe my first blog is about her, but alas that’s the latest.