The Introduction: To the One

The climax of my World Race experience happened to me only days ago when I summited Atsunta Pass on July 28, 2021 with my team. I died that day; a death that’s not dying. But I came alive that day, to a life that’s worth living. 

“How do I tell this tale? Where do I start? How do I keep people engaged?” That’s what I asked the Lord and He was faithful to respond. 

“You just sit down and write. I will do the rest.” 

In faith, here I am. Starting at the only place that makes sense to me, the beginning.

To be completely honest with you, I didn’t even know that Georgia was a country before I knew about the World Race and I assume that many of you might not have known about it until this very moment. That being said, when we sat down as a team to ask the Lord what He would have for us during our time here this month, there was no chance for distraction by our own thoughts or desires because, frankly, we didn’t have any connections or hopes because of our lack of knowledge of this nation. In some ways, that made the process much easier than it has been at other times. 

Here’s what we heard when we began to pray:

• Growth – Fasting 

• Growth – Discipline 

• Personal Growth 

• Lack of personal sensitivity 

• A vision of old Russian women doing laundry in an alleyway filled with sheets hanging and blowing in the wind. 

• Leaving the ninety nine for the one. Go where no one else is willing to go. (“To the one” became our mantra)

• Green trees- “Hills and valleys” and “I am not alone” 

• A vision of a fight with wolves. 

• A dream of a line of people running at one man and he begins to fight with them using only his words. The Gospel of Jesus was his weapon. 

• A vision of Lindsey on a mountaintop in the morning. 

• A vision of the word “Georgia” turning into a snake. 

• A vision of a treasure chest cracked open. 

• A vision of our team gathering every morning to share about the day before and to pray for the day ahead. 

• Lindsey’s ministry will be to pursue our hearts. 

• UNITY – Full unity – so we can grow TOGETHER. (Where’s your heart? How’s your heart?)

• “Embrace the suck” The words of the lovely Tito Torres.

Though we didn’t know much, at the time, we did know that Georgia is known for its mountains and is particularly popular for trekking, so we began to ask God about the possibility of going on a trek and this is what we heard from God or began to feel when we tossed around that idea: 

• Stoked

• Yes

• “Think again”

• Selfishly hiking seems fun

• Seemingly purposeless 

• Hike to the one 

• Not a single person was receiving visuals of a city. 

After this, we decided to break for the night and reconvene at breakfast. Jerome, our Team Leader, asked that everyone come together with a word. Here were those results:

• Psalm 23 – Rest and wait on the Lord. 

• Run. 1 Samuel 17. David ran to his brothers in battle which led to confront Goliath. 

• Abide in me. 

• Think about timing. 

• It is not death to die. 

• “I’ve been made to be exposed.”

• Wilderness experience will likely be the crux. 

• Jerome was feeling a clear sense of direction, but found it tough to unpack without getting too far ahead of ourselves. 

At this point, we were pretty much settled into the idea of going on a trek and only had to discuss the details of location and timing and that filled out for us rather quickly. Upon our arrival to Tbilisi, the capital of Georgia, we were required to remain within the confines of this city to be retested for Covid on our third day here, so we spent that time praying, planning, and preparing before we left for the northeast region of the country where we would be trekking from Omalo to Shatili. 

Our time in Tbilisi was short, but like most places I’ve been on the race, I fell for the city almost immediately. The first day that we were here was rainy and moody and I had just the right playlist in my ears as I walked to meet Jacken at a coffee shop. If you’re reading from my college days, this place vibes like downtown Hattiesburg. It’s pretty killer and I know that you’d love it. 

I was sad to be leaving the capital, but was looking forward to what the Lord would have for us on our walk with great anticipation and I’m very thankful to be writing this series of blogs to you from this lovely city once again. 

My friends, I can’t even explain to you the level of excitement that I am feeling about getting to share with you what God is doing in this region of the earth. Looking back over that list as I typed it out has me shook at how He fulfilled His words to us these last days. Stay tuned to learn and grow with me over these next few blogs. 

I love you. 

AWM