We Traveled to 🇬🇪 Georgia, the Country 🇬🇪! Part 2

Meet up day finally arrived! We moved to a small hotel where we had our gatherings, and all the parents stayed—there were 16 parents and 15 racers. Our time together was amazing! The racers took charge and taught us parents. We heard so many God stories—God meeting them in all the crazy circumstances and places they've been, and through so many people, often times right across the language barrier. The racers taught us how to do ATL—"Ask The Lord", prayer walks, a 3 minute testimony, park ministry, Bible study and “debrief”.

And then they showed us, by example. It was moving to see our children, now adults and with faith in Christ beyond their years, minister to and pray for people in the street, beggars (almost entirely elderly women), and people in the park. We experienced ATL—ask me about “kiwi”! We met a Japanese man and got to speak Japanese with him (thanks, Stone!). The racers were as bold as lions, Proverbs 28:1, going out into the streets to share Jesus. We had awesome worship times together every evening.

And there was free time, including delicious foods, lots of laughter, catching up, planning ahead, talking with other racers and parents. So many adventures.

We said tearful goodbyes on our last day together, and hugs all around. Then we moved to our next Airbnb, as we had one more night to stay in Georgia. It was a 5 minute walk away. We were asked to only bring a carry-on to simplify traveling. It was one more way we experienced what our racers have been experiencing this year—traveling as light as possible.

It was Sunday and we noticed a Lutheran church on the map nearby. We walked over and were delighted to find worship was still in progress. We slipped in the back. There seemed to be several languages happening—Georgian, German and Russian. Despite the language barrier, we recognized the hymn—“Praise to the Lord, the Almighty”. The Lutheran church has a very difficult history in Georgia: The Story of the 19th Century Lutheran Church in Tbilisi and It's Sad Destiny.

On Monday we took a “Bolt” taxi to the airport and said goodbye to Georgia. But the adventure continued.

Our flight took us to Istanbul, Turkey, where our Airbnb host, Fatoshi, picked us up at the airport. We stayed in one of five spare rooms in her family's home in the countryside. As we stepped in her home in the dark evening, we were greeted by another guest, Zechariah, who is from Kansas and was on his way home after serving for 3 months with a mission in Turkey. He shared some awesome stories of God working in people's lives there. We also learned that one has to talk very cautiously about missions in that country, where the people have been brainwashed to believe that being a Christian missionary is the equivalent of being a terrorist. We were encouraged by meeting, sharing and praying with Zechariah.

Tuesday morning, after experiencing a traditional Turkish breakfast, complete with thick Turkish coffee, Fatoshi took us back to Istanbul Airport. Our next flight took us to Boston, arriving Tuesday night. We stayed in a regular hotel, which felt like a luxury, after so many different experiences abroad! Wednesday was 9/11, Patriot Day, and we flew out of Boston for home.

That was two weeks of our year. Now imagine doing that for 11 months of the year, as Susanna and her squad of 15 World Racers are doing this year! So thankful to experience those two crazy, faith-filled, God-present weeks, growing in faith and in our ability to see Christ in others and share Christ with others. So thankful for these T-Squad young adults living and experiencing Christ and growing and sharing their faith this year!

Grace & peace!!! ~Nancy
Follow Susanna's blog here: Susanna's World Race

World Race is a Christian, non-denominational mission trip for people between the ages of 21 and 35. They travel to 11 countries in 11 months.