Georgia, Armenia, and Azerbaijan – three countries that don’t get much respect. Two days ago in a grade-school classroom in Malaysia, a map of the world showing each country’s flag had these 3 countries all lumped under the title “Georgia” with only the Georgian flag displayed. Sure hope that doesn’t cause some war somewhere!
The greatest thing about going to this region was in seeing the willingness of the top leadership of the Seventh-day Adventist church in each country look with favor on this 1858 Great Controversy translation and printing project. In two of the countries the book will be/has been translated by the head of the mission their, and in one country the mission board officially voted to pursue this project. So from not seeing much of a need to go there until already in Europe in July, to leaving this area on November 14th after staying over one month, many things happened to show me that yes, God definitely had a hand in directing my feet this direction.
Entering Georgia by bus was the worst experience i’ve ever had in crossing a country border. First, everyone got out about 1km from the gate, and a truck came which unloaded all the cloth bot in Turkey, being imported into Georgia. Then they put us back on, and we got out at passport control. Being a bus full of Georgians, there was very little in the way of lining up nicely, with most of the people pushing and shoving to cram their passports to the seemingly mindless agents accepting any one within an easy reach. I get a bit worried as the young man who was friendly to me on the bus is told he cannot get an exit stamp from Turkey. He tells me that there is only around 5 months left on his passport, explaining the disappointment. After getting stamped, i walk in the general direction of where most people seem to be going (noticeable by the arising cloud of smoke – ha!), and after waiting a few minutes at a little slat of a window, i see someone puffing away in a dingy office lit by one dim lightbulb, and a computer screen. Well, at least they have computers here 🙂 Soon i am on the other side, in Georgia.
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in the caucasusRead More »