We often make mention of the hospitality of Georgians, but it never fails to make us step back and just reflect in wonder and joy at another such occurrence. This week we headed northeast from Tbilisi to a small village at the base of the northern Caucasus mountains in eastern Georgian. A pastor here has big visions, such that we have rarely seen among other pastors and leaders. He has a vision to reach 30 villages in his area. He even has sheets of paper up on a wall with the name of every village and the names of the believers in each village. Fifteen of the villages have no believers and the other 15 have between 1 and 10 believers in each. He and his family, along with other believers, regularly pray for God to reach these villages. The main purpose for our visit was to take pictures of an old house that they want to purchase to serve as a church and place for prayer because they currently do not have a place in their village. The trip, of course, was about more than some pictures. We spent time with the pastor, his wife, his sister, and 4 of his 6 children. They prepared a delicious Georgian table for us. Their teenage daughters sang worship songs for us before heading off to lead a small youth group they started with their village friends. We prayed together. We were also able to give them a few Georgian Bibles and a few in Azeri (several people from Azerbaijan live in this area of the country). We also gave them some reading glasses…a huge need for many who want to read the Bible but are not able to because they cannot see the small print. They will give these out to those in need.
Naturally, they also wanted us to stay the night but other plans prevented us from being able to do that this time. So reluctantly, they sent us off but not without gifts from their garden…bags full of green peppers, eggplants, tomatoes, cucumbers, and watermelons. Here are photos of what we brought home, but 2 watermelons and a large bag of the vegetables had already gone home with the other couple that went with us to the village. We shared our part of the blessing with 2 other families and still have an abundance left over.
This is the region and season for melons and many other fruits. We passed by dozens and dozens of people along the road selling melons…watermelons and other types of melons. There were so many in some places that you could smell the melons as you drove by on the highway. Many were also selling peaches so we loaded up on those since they are cheaper than in Tbilisi (also in the photo above).
Our hearts are filled with joy from spending time with this amazing family. They blessed us with their hospitality, smiles of joy, worship, prayers, dreams for their neighbors to know Christ, and bags full of food. Our stomachs were filled to the brim and there is more to enjoy back here in Tbilisi. We pray that God will fulfill the dreams this pastor and his family have for those around them to know Christ and the power of His resurrection.
Naturally, they also wanted us to stay the night but other plans prevented us from being able to do that this time. So reluctantly, they sent us off but not without gifts from their garden…bags full of green peppers, eggplants, tomatoes, cucumbers, and watermelons. Here are photos of what we brought home, but 2 watermelons and a large bag of the vegetables had already gone home with the other couple that went with us to the village. We shared our part of the blessing with 2 other families and still have an abundance left over.
This is the region and season for melons and many other fruits. We passed by dozens and dozens of people along the road selling melons…watermelons and other types of melons. There were so many in some places that you could smell the melons as you drove by on the highway. Many were also selling peaches so we loaded up on those since they are cheaper than in Tbilisi (also in the photo above).
Our hearts are filled with joy from spending time with this amazing family. They blessed us with their hospitality, smiles of joy, worship, prayers, dreams for their neighbors to know Christ, and bags full of food. Our stomachs were filled to the brim and there is more to enjoy back here in Tbilisi. We pray that God will fulfill the dreams this pastor and his family have for those around them to know Christ and the power of His resurrection.
1 comment:
Thanks for sharing! I really enjoyed that!
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