This past week, ten people in two teams began their “treks” across Europe by working with street kids, prayer walking, encouraging believers, talking about their journeys with Jesus and learning from European Christians whose faith has been shaped through years of struggle, persecution (which even included interrogation) and spiritual battle.

The TREK teams spent a week together going through a special program of cultural and teamwork training in Kansas before heading off to Europe. The whole experience had been crafted to simulate some of the challenges any team travelling on a nine-week trip abroad might face. The participants not only survived the experience but came out thriving.

The training, described by one person as a combination of Survivor, boot camp, and a spiritual retreat pulled the teams together while also training them to be more aware of the needs around them and God’s heart for the nations.

Now in Europe the two teams have started their journeys. Team two will be exploring and serving first in Germany, then on to Croatia and Ireland. Team one’s route includes Romania, Armenia and Poland.

You can follow their journeys on the TREK website (http://gemtrek.org)