| July 09 Trip Updates |
Most Recent Updates at the Bottom
This article will be updated over time to reflect our preparations for and reflections during and after our trip to Georgia and the Pankisi Gorge in July 2009. The trip dates are July 24th through August 2nd. We expect to spend a couple of days in Tbilisi in meetings with other organizations, experts, and governmental officials. Then it's off to Pankisi to meet with community leaders in an effort to affirm our commitment to the Kist people and to establish some foundations of understanding about our work there. Following three days in the gorge, it's back to Tbilisi for some follow up meetings and then our return trip. The time will be short and there are a lot of objectives set before us. Still, we hold our plans loosely and are excited about the prospects of our growing involvement in the lives of the Kist people. 10:40am, Wed, Jul 15 We've created a Twitter account where we hope to post updates while we're in Georgia. We'll see how that works out. There may be a widget on the side of this page that displays our Twitter feed... There may not be either. If you are into "tweeting" feel free to mention @caucasushope! 12:29pm, Wed, Jul 15 Not only is the Twitter feed working now, but we've also got our SPOT feed on the site as well! Now all that remains is to figure out how to get our Geocell phone linked to the Twitter account when we arrive and we'll be able to send regular, 140 character updates from anywhere. 12:22pm, Sat, Jul 18 Preparations for our trip this past week have really gone well. By the end of the day Friday, we had meetings scheduled for both full working days in Tbilisi with funding organizations and experts who can help us get CHP registered as an official Georgian NGO. Our time in Pankisi is also looking like it will be productive with a meeting being arranged for us with a community council of some sort. We're not sure exactly what that will look like, but trust that we will have the opportunity to offer ourselves in service to the right people to make a decision on the matter. We are looking forward to it! 12:10pm, Mon, Jul 20 We are searching for better maps of Pankisi and aware of the Russian topo maps and American TPC's, but would like something with a bit less of a military look. We just might have to make our own. In the meantime, once we are in Pankisi, you will be able to follow along with us on the Google map to the right and if you want to do a virtual scouting expedition, use the map below: View this aerial image on Multimap.com 5:12am, Sun, Jul 26 Mike and Cody arrived safely in Tbilisi though only one of three bags made the trip. Mike is going to have to be a Cody lookalike or at least wear some of his clothes for a day or two or until his bag shows up. We are hopeful that the other case arrives as it's got the video equipment and gifts for all of our various hosts. Now for an early morning nap to help shake off the jet lag and then we hope to get another meeting with a former Norwegian Refugee Council worker with experience in the Pankisi Gorge. 10:05pm, Sun, Jul 26 Our travelers just returned from a day of very informative and productive meetings. The general theme of which seems to be that "we are on the right track" if having a team live and work in a long-term commitment to the Kists is what we are after. Short-term or refugee only efforts have produced little lasting results. Two of these meetings today produced excellent contacts on the ground in Pankisi for us. These are trusted people who will be willing to help us because of the chain of relationships we have built starting with our first visit to Georgia last March. Serving others really is about relationships more than it is about formulas for success. Being learners all along the way is going to be the key to our success. Asking humble questions and striving for the ultimate good of a person or an entire people group can always outmatch a large bank account. 10:17pm, Sun, Jul 26 Tomorrow morning we should find out if our missing bags have shown up at the airport. If not, we will continue to be without the cell phone, sat phone, SPOT, video camera, and in Mike's case: clean underwear. Cody can update the map and Twitter feeds from the web, Andrew has a cell phone and our new friends in Pankisi will take care of us in time of need, we can probably rely on photographs to tell the story in place of video, but we are praying for God to bring those bags in to give Mike a clean pair of boxers. Join us as we entreat God for underwear - even the lillies of the field have underwear... 9:57pm, Mon, Jul 27 In spite of his wardrobe challenges, Mike has already been an extraordinary asset on this trip. His years of military experience have allowed him to communicate and understand the otherwise mysterious world of acronyms that we have been encountering. As he sorts through the various agencies and departments with funding authority, he has been constantly driving us towards what we hope will be valuable connections that provide a source of funds to help improve the lives of the Kist people. You can read some personal insights from Cody's blog as well (registration required). 7:12am, Tue, Jul 28 We have had a successful beginning to our trip. What started out as three scheduled meetings resulted in eight meetings over two days. The result is that we have a much better understanding of the funding sources and challenges in Georgia especially as they relate to (or mostly, don't relate to) Pankisi and the Kists. We also have received great insights into the political structures in the gorge. It is a remarkably complex dynamic between clans. The concepts of honor and shame and hospitality and protection are so much stronger there than we had anticipated. This holds great opportunity for us, but also poses significant challenges in how we proceed so as not to become participants in the tensions that exist. We are leaving for Pankisi by minibus... RIGHT NOW! So, I'll have to leave you with that. Next update will probably be in three days, but follow us on Twitter and with our SPOT map at the right side of your screen.
We are also looking forward to our return to the States to share all that we have learned. We certainly miss our families and friends and the comforts of home. If you have any questions, be sure to send us an email at This e-mail address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it . 3:18pm, Tue, Aug 4 Our team arrived safely back home on Sunday. Both men have had a busy schedule upon their return, but they are preparing a complete trip report. If you are in the Houston area on Sunday evening, August 16th, be sure to plan and attend this informative evening. We will share more insights into the Kist people and the ways in which we can be a help and a blessing to them. More information about that event is available here. |
| Last Updated on Thursday, 27 August 2009 15:12 |
11:23am, Fri, Jul 31 Our team is back in Tbilisi after a very fast and very bumpy drive back by minibus. Overall, the trip was very good and we accomplished most of our objectives as well as laying the groundwork for the return of our team. The most important aspect of our entire time was the prevailing attitude of welcome that we were met with. In every instance, we were encouraged to come and live and serve in the midst of the Kist people. By the end of our brief stay, locals were honking at us if they drove by or waving hello to us as though we were old friends. We look forward to the day when we will be able to stop and talk for a while with people for whom we are neighbors and not merely visitors. The weather was great with only a brief time of rain when we first arrived. Other than that, the scenery was green and the atmosphere peaceful. 
Today, we will endeavor to better understand the process of registering Caucasus Hope Partnership as an official NGO in the Republic of Georgia. Tomorrow is reserved for a few follow up meetings and a review of any unfinished business. Thanks for following along as we tweeted the days activities from Pankisi.
