A few weeks ago our mission project in Georgia, “Come. Look. Change”, was completed and the CCX-Ukraine team's stay in that incredibly hospitable country came to an end. It was the third time we took part in this annual mission event. This year it was held just before the beginning of the new academic year in Georgia, near the end of September. The timing had a significant impact on the number of participants that could be on our team, but it did not affect the quality in the least. This year’s team members - Denys Synelnykov, a former staff-member from CCX-Kharkiv, and volunteer students Katya and Tanya Konovalovy from CCX –Lviv - spent lots of time getting ready for the trip. They prepared a master class and seminars, read about local culture and specific issues of student life, and they even studied the language a little. During their two-week stay they actively served the Georgian student movement, “SKSK”, by building relationships with students, conducting master classes, presenting seminars, having competitions, and organizing movie nights. They reflected on life and discussed the big picture issues of existence and eternity. They also took part in social activities, prepared Georgian snacks, and much more. But, most importantly, they shared the Gospel with Georgian students.
The mission project was organized for students from Tbilisi, Gori and Batumi. Compared to last year there were fewer students – somewhere around forty. These students were open to challenges in their lives, and the reduced numbers provided a good opportunity for the team to give personal attention to each of them.
The program was busy and creative. Every day represented a challenge and had spiritual implications. God, by His grace, opened the hearts of the Georgian students and made them responsive to the Truth – they both listened and absorbed what they heard. They left the event having been changed. Some students thought about their prayer lives, others saw implications in the parable of the Prodigal son for their own lives. Some of them experienced a moment of repentance, and others, a moment of turning to God.
Our team profited greatly from this project: they discovered things about themselves, gained experience in teamwork, and learned more about the faithful character of God.
In a conversation with his teammates about the mission trip to this Caucasian country, Denys Synelnykov said: “Georgia is fragrant because wherever we went or travelled we encountered the pleasant aroma of khachapuri (a traditional meal), shashlik, or some spices, instead of exhaust fumes.”
We believe that during this mission trip our team was also a pleasant fragrance, an aroma for our God.
We interviewed some team members who had their first mission experience with this trip.
CCX: What are your impressions of Georgia?
Katya: First impression – it’s a very hospitable country. The hosts picked us at the airport and took us home. They laid a generous table in the dead of night and did everything possible to make us feel comfortable. Afterwards, despite being busy, the Georgian organizers spent time with us and took great care of us.
Tanya: People were open and willing to communicate with us.
CCX: By the way, was it difficult for you to communicate with the Georgian students? Did you suffer from a language barrier?
Tanya: The Georgian students were sociable and easy to engage in conversations. It was even easier to build relationships with them than with Ukrainian students. We were impressed to see that those who did not speak either English or Russian tried to find someone who could translate for them so they could ask a lot of questions. Sometimes gestures helped to express our thoughts. They were really willing to communicate and we made good friends with some of them.
CCX: Tell us about the mission project and how it influenced the Georgian students.
Tanya: We were all deeply moved by the master class on photography taught by Denys Synelnykov. Denys started his class with a narration about the antique camera obscura, then discussed the significance of light and darkness when taking photos, and concluded with a thought that darkness is the absence of light and real things can be seen only in the light. He pointed out the problem that oftentimes there is not enough light. Denis then applied this example to our lives: if light is not shined in us, we will be filled with darkness. He motivated us to think about the light within us and whether we can be a light to others.
CCX: What social activities did you organize this year?
Girls: This year we had four social activities. We shared information students about abortions and discussed preventive measures. We talked about responding to traffic chaos on the roads (we explained traffic rules and presented drivers with different badges). We also raised the subject of public indifference and tried to encourage positive thinking in the citizens of Batumi. Our team did an experiment about indifference: we were deliberately provocative (we threw litter on the street, a boy offended a girl, etc.), and observed the reactions of passers-by; then we discussed the reason for their responses with them. We noticed a certain tendency: usually only Slavs and tourists intervened in these situations; most of the Georgians paid no attention. When the police saw a conflict between a girl and a boy they immediately reacted. In general, people were more concerned about conflicts; throwing litter in the street did not disturb them at all. There was one interesting incident – a man came to a quarreling couple, and instead of scolding he sat down with them and explained how to behave and solve conflicts properly. We were appalled by the statistics on abortions and shocked by the attitude of doctors about the procedure. Georgia is a very religious country and most doctors are religious too: in times of fasting they do not perform abortions, but once the fasting period ends, abortions are resumed as if they were normal and acceptable.
CCX: Did you observe changes in the lives of students as a result this mission project?
Katya: We were especially pleased to see students reflecting on their relationships with God, many of them repented. Now, looking at photographs taken after we left, we can see that some of them joined the Georgian student ministry, “SKSK”.
CCX: What did you learn? How has God shown Himself to you though this trip?
Katya: Some of my stereotypes were broken. In Georgia I came to understand that evangelism through friendship is my cup of tea and I want to pursue it. We also confirmed that the Georgian culture is similar to ours because we were all brought up in the same way. I have learned that even though I am an introvert, I can work in a team and show interest in people and their lives.
Tanya: I also learned to work in a team and listen to people. In Georgia I saw that there are many people who practice nominal Christianity. I now understand that in order to tell people about God and what He has done, I need to know Him more, and grow spiritually myself.