What a journey it has been - a year for Meg and me in application, preparation and excitement for this team and trip to come to fruition and 15 days since our team's departure from Indy to Greece. To GOD be the GLORY! He has done marvelous and indescribable works.
Do ask those you know on the team to share their story and the stories they learned on our trip. And be patient. :D We experienced and learned so much and even though some things you cannot fully explain to family and friends who did not experience the same things firsthand, it still helps us to be able to process and grow if we feel free to share about the trip.
Keep praying for smooth travels! It would be an added blessing as compared to our rough trek here - not that God's hand was not protecting and guiding us through our journey here.
Thank you for your faithful prayers throughout this past year, during our time growing together as a team in preparation for the trip and these past 2 weeks as we lived and served together in Athens, Greece.
Love you all! And can't wait to see your familiar faces - Tuesday night 9:50 pm!
Monday, May 24, 2010
Thursday, May 20, 2010
500 stickers and 1886 feet
Wednesday we worked with Nea Zoi (which means new life in Greek) "getting our stick on"! We [attempted to] discreetly place stickers on key streets in Omonia in downtown Athens where the Nea Zoi staff know that prostitutes frequent or run to hide in. The stickers say - "Are you working in prostitution? Need help? With Nea Zoi and their number on it. We placed 500 stickers everywhere of public domain - street posts near the curb, telephone booths, garage doors, behind large concrete pillars that prostitutes often run to hide behind and on random walls along the street.We saw at least one person taking off the sticker after we placed it on a post and saw another one with the number ripped off as we walked back along the street we hit. We had an older gentlemen get out his glasses to read a sticker, follow us and start to talk to us...in Greek. One man was writing down the information and a group of guys started laughing upon reading a sticker we had just placed on a market post. It was interesting to observe the various reactions. Along the way we were praying for God to use this small effort for the girls who do not think they want to or can have a life of true love and liberty.
On Thursday we traveled to Corinth due to strikes in Athens, which stop public transportation operations. It was an incredible trip to walk where Paul walked and picture the times he was speaking to. We climbed the 1886 feet to the top of the Acro Corinth, which was a high place of temple worship to Aphrodite. Even at 21, it left me breathing hard and sweating [I'll blame it on the hot sun!] :) It made me wonder though how much breath and energy I expend for my God in order to worship him.
Friday the girls went to women and children showers again - it was great to see some of the refugees whom we have been able to build relationships and spend time with the past couple weeks. It was especially rewarding because our day focused on treating the women to the 'extras' of beauty - manicures, new hair cuts and hair colours, pedicures, and massages. What a joy to see the way they reveled in our seemingly tiny efforts to decorate their outer woman, which really affected their inner spirit of confidence, joy, beauty and freedom.
The men worked hard organizing and inventorying shoes for the ARC on Friday. These tasks have been a blessing I believe to the Helping Hands staff because it allows them to spend more time focusing on the relationships with refugees that they will be able to continue and deepen while we will be leaving shortly.
On Saturday we had a much needed day of relaxation - visiting the Parthenon and the Erechthion on the Acropolis, as well as a couple other ancient temple sites, the ancient Roman Agora [marketplace] and a construction of what the ancient Roman agora possibly looked like in its time.
Our sabbath was a varied experience - groups of 2 or 3 joined Helping Hands staff members at their respective churchs. At the church I attended, the music was all in Greek and the message translated into English via headphones. It was a wonderful word on I Corinthians 13 - love. After church, each group joined the staff member for lunch - I believe everyone ate at their home and enjoyed delicious food according to the reports I heard back! Definitely one of the highlights has been the times of lingering after food with new ITeam and refugee friends - sharing stories and life.
Well, time for bed here! We have one more day of ministry at the ARC, a final night at the Dirrim's for dessert and then we depart Tuesday morning. Pray that God uses us this last day for his glory and that he provides a safe, smooth trip back to the states. Some are headed home and some are headed to other places around the world for internships and work - pray for the whole team that we would continue intentionally loving others and living out the things God has talked to us about and laid on our hearts here in Athens.
Tuesday, May 18, 2010
1 more week!
Hello all!
We have one more week left in Athens. :( Time has gone by so slow and yet flown by at the same time. I am looking forward to the next week in ministering at the ARC because we are beginning to see familiar faces of refugees from the previous days we have been at the ARC. We have been able to not only build relationships ourselves with the refugees but in our physical work (like washing dishes and serving tea) at the ARC, we have been able to alleviate the full time team to meet new refugees and build their existing relationships - this is key because of the transient nature of the ministry. Refugees may be here only a short time, try to move somewhere else in Europe then be deported back to Greece if they were fingerprinted first in Greece. So it is vital that the full time team at the ARC is able to interact and build relationships with the refugees as much as they can.
Today the girls were able to sleep in - thank you Lord!! The guys had men's showers at the ARC - it sounded like just as the women cut loose a bit during women and children's shower day last Friday, the men also were a bit more free to be themselves.
The girls went to the produce market in Glyfada, which was A-MAZing. They close a large section of the main street where we catch our usual morning bus and they have all the seasonal fruit in Greece - strawberries, cherries, apricots, oranges and apples. It is so fresh and quite likely the best fruit I have ever tasted!
We met up with our guys and Ebby (Carolyn's fiancee) at Carolyn's cozy house for supper. It was Iranian and so delicious! We lingered to hear Ebby's story as a refugee making a many years long journey to end up in Greece at last. He was thrown into a prison in Athens because he was a refugee and that is where his and Carolyn's paths crossed. She works at the ARC and a team of leaders there provided for Ebby when he was released from prison - it was a beautiful story to hear of how their love grew! He is a strong believer in Christ, as is she, and it was encouraging to see their focus on Christ and their integrity throughout the stages of their relationship.
Please pray for them as they finish the crazy planning of their wedding, which is in about a month! Also, pray that Ebby's papers would get straightened out without much hassle, that God would provide work for him and that his shoulder would be healed from a serious accident he sustained.
We have one more week left in Athens. :( Time has gone by so slow and yet flown by at the same time. I am looking forward to the next week in ministering at the ARC because we are beginning to see familiar faces of refugees from the previous days we have been at the ARC. We have been able to not only build relationships ourselves with the refugees but in our physical work (like washing dishes and serving tea) at the ARC, we have been able to alleviate the full time team to meet new refugees and build their existing relationships - this is key because of the transient nature of the ministry. Refugees may be here only a short time, try to move somewhere else in Europe then be deported back to Greece if they were fingerprinted first in Greece. So it is vital that the full time team at the ARC is able to interact and build relationships with the refugees as much as they can.
Today the girls were able to sleep in - thank you Lord!! The guys had men's showers at the ARC - it sounded like just as the women cut loose a bit during women and children's shower day last Friday, the men also were a bit more free to be themselves.
The girls went to the produce market in Glyfada, which was A-MAZing. They close a large section of the main street where we catch our usual morning bus and they have all the seasonal fruit in Greece - strawberries, cherries, apricots, oranges and apples. It is so fresh and quite likely the best fruit I have ever tasted!
We met up with our guys and Ebby (Carolyn's fiancee) at Carolyn's cozy house for supper. It was Iranian and so delicious! We lingered to hear Ebby's story as a refugee making a many years long journey to end up in Greece at last. He was thrown into a prison in Athens because he was a refugee and that is where his and Carolyn's paths crossed. She works at the ARC and a team of leaders there provided for Ebby when he was released from prison - it was a beautiful story to hear of how their love grew! He is a strong believer in Christ, as is she, and it was encouraging to see their focus on Christ and their integrity throughout the stages of their relationship.
Please pray for them as they finish the crazy planning of their wedding, which is in about a month! Also, pray that Ebby's papers would get straightened out without much hassle, that God would provide work for him and that his shoulder would be healed from a serious accident he sustained.
70s and sunny
I haven't been the most diligent in updating you with our time here. So I would like to give you all a better glimpse into our experiences through some photos. Fyi: the title has been our weather here of late. Perfect!! In the last week though it has reached up to 90. No complaints though - it has been beautiful weather thank the Lord!
Here we are in transit...making the most of our numerous layovers:
9 hours at the Boston airport stretched our nerves thin! :) But we found ways to deal...
Here are some of the guys at the ARC - Sam is the younger one. Ryan, Josh and Marty spent some good time with him getting to know one another and just loving and respecting him - things he does not often receive as a refugee from people in Greece. You can see a bit of the ARC in the background too - that is the main room where we serve tea and share stories. These two weeks have been Farsi speaking days so most of the refugees are from Iran or Afghanistan. We have been trying to juggle our Greek, Farsi and English! Their eyes light up though when you just attempt to enter their culture by saying Salam koobi (Hi, how are you?) Though the refugees who come to the ARC are on the more relaxed end of Muslim culture, most still adhere to the rules of women covering their heads and the separation of men and women. Women do not make direct eye contact with the men and sit on one side of the room, with men on the other side.
One of the refugee families invited us to the park to spend more time with them. Christy in the blue t-shirt on the far left is one of the Helping Hands team. Miriam is the mother on the left in the black outfit and yellow headdress, the little girl is Sahar on the right in the blue dress and one of the little boys is Muhammad - the one being held beside Sahar. Miriam (and her whole family!) is so generous and quick to share what she has - her food, her time, her smile. She was so disappointed when we could not stay longer. It is amazing to me their bright countenance and their open hearts when what they have been through could have easily made anyone cold and bitter. Though they may not yet know our God, His grace shines through their lives regardless! I pray one day they would understand it and know God's love for them.
If you're wondering what we're staring at - there was a circle pond with tons of turtles in it. We may or may not have rescued the animals... Just momentarily! :)
A typical trip into downtown Athens -->
It's close quarters - good thing we love each other!
We meet in the mornings at a bus stop near the guys' house and the girls' apartment. We take the A4 bus to the first red line metro stop then take that about 6 stops to Omonia. I can tell you now that I would trust my life to our designated navigators - Ryan and Emily. They are amazing! The common description for Omonia is the "armpit of the city." It is a short walk from the metro stop to the refugee centre (the ARC) unless we stop at the bakery and we're trying to eat warm pastries with melty chocolate! Mmm! Yes, I am trying to make you drool - it's all part of the vicarious experience. :P
I think overall we have enjoyed Greek food - gyros was a good first step into the food culture, then souvlaki (meat kabob), Greek salad, spanokopitas, pastries, of course baklava! Oh and we went to a Sahar, a friend's house, for authentic Iranian food and the Cottrell's house for a taste of their Australian dessert. Our team shares a love for ice cream so gelato shops have been a regular stop. :)
The guys at Delphi:
The girls were at the ARC the day the Kenn took the guys and Ebi to Delphi for a chill day.
Fridays are women and children shower days so the girls had fun letting loose with the women dancing while waiting for their turn in the shower. They took off their headdresses almost immediately upon entering the ARC and only put them back on if getting their photo taken. We had a blast painting fingernails and toes. Haha it only got trying when some girls would persistently wipe off the polish and want a re-paint job...3..5..8 times!
One last photo for now. This is the view from the guys' house. They are staying at Kenn and Lisa Dirrim's house - leaders at the ARC. They, along with Stacie and the whole Helping Hands team, have been extremely helpful in teaching us the culture as much as they can so we can relate, communicate some, and TRY not to offend! We have all accidentally shown our palms to Greeks and given a thumbs up or 'okay' sign to the Farsi speaking refugees...all of which are equivalents to the North American middle finger. We're a work in progress! :)
There will be more to come! Keep praying for us - for strength and patience. Our days stretch into the night and we have been running short on sleep sometimes. We have one week left and much more planned so we need God's grace to continue pouring into us so we may overflow his love among our team, with the Helping Hands team, the refugees and anyone we meet throughout our days.
Love you all!!!
Here we are in transit...making the most of our numerous layovers:
9 hours at the Boston airport stretched our nerves thin! :) But we found ways to deal...
Here are some of the guys at the ARC - Sam is the younger one. Ryan, Josh and Marty spent some good time with him getting to know one another and just loving and respecting him - things he does not often receive as a refugee from people in Greece. You can see a bit of the ARC in the background too - that is the main room where we serve tea and share stories. These two weeks have been Farsi speaking days so most of the refugees are from Iran or Afghanistan. We have been trying to juggle our Greek, Farsi and English! Their eyes light up though when you just attempt to enter their culture by saying Salam koobi (Hi, how are you?) Though the refugees who come to the ARC are on the more relaxed end of Muslim culture, most still adhere to the rules of women covering their heads and the separation of men and women. Women do not make direct eye contact with the men and sit on one side of the room, with men on the other side.
One of the refugee families invited us to the park to spend more time with them. Christy in the blue t-shirt on the far left is one of the Helping Hands team. Miriam is the mother on the left in the black outfit and yellow headdress, the little girl is Sahar on the right in the blue dress and one of the little boys is Muhammad - the one being held beside Sahar. Miriam (and her whole family!) is so generous and quick to share what she has - her food, her time, her smile. She was so disappointed when we could not stay longer. It is amazing to me their bright countenance and their open hearts when what they have been through could have easily made anyone cold and bitter. Though they may not yet know our God, His grace shines through their lives regardless! I pray one day they would understand it and know God's love for them.
If you're wondering what we're staring at - there was a circle pond with tons of turtles in it. We may or may not have rescued the animals... Just momentarily! :)
A typical trip into downtown Athens -->
It's close quarters - good thing we love each other!We meet in the mornings at a bus stop near the guys' house and the girls' apartment. We take the A4 bus to the first red line metro stop then take that about 6 stops to Omonia. I can tell you now that I would trust my life to our designated navigators - Ryan and Emily. They are amazing! The common description for Omonia is the "armpit of the city." It is a short walk from the metro stop to the refugee centre (the ARC) unless we stop at the bakery and we're trying to eat warm pastries with melty chocolate! Mmm! Yes, I am trying to make you drool - it's all part of the vicarious experience. :P
I think overall we have enjoyed Greek food - gyros was a good first step into the food culture, then souvlaki (meat kabob), Greek salad, spanokopitas, pastries, of course baklava! Oh and we went to a Sahar, a friend's house, for authentic Iranian food and the Cottrell's house for a taste of their Australian dessert. Our team shares a love for ice cream so gelato shops have been a regular stop. :)
The guys at Delphi:
The girls were at the ARC the day the Kenn took the guys and Ebi to Delphi for a chill day.Fridays are women and children shower days so the girls had fun letting loose with the women dancing while waiting for their turn in the shower. They took off their headdresses almost immediately upon entering the ARC and only put them back on if getting their photo taken. We had a blast painting fingernails and toes. Haha it only got trying when some girls would persistently wipe off the polish and want a re-paint job...3..5..8 times!
One last photo for now. This is the view from the guys' house. They are staying at Kenn and Lisa Dirrim's house - leaders at the ARC. They, along with Stacie and the whole Helping Hands team, have been extremely helpful in teaching us the culture as much as they can so we can relate, communicate some, and TRY not to offend! We have all accidentally shown our palms to Greeks and given a thumbs up or 'okay' sign to the Farsi speaking refugees...all of which are equivalents to the North American middle finger. We're a work in progress! :)
There will be more to come! Keep praying for us - for strength and patience. Our days stretch into the night and we have been running short on sleep sometimes. We have one week left and much more planned so we need God's grace to continue pouring into us so we may overflow his love among our team, with the Helping Hands team, the refugees and anyone we meet throughout our days.
Love you all!!!
Friday, May 14, 2010
2000 words
downtown Athens with friends from ITeams
Painting little nails at the Athens Refugee
Centre (ARC)
Painting little nails at the Athens Refugee
Centre (ARC)
Tuesday, May 11, 2010
36 hours later...
we are in Athens at last! After a long two days of travel, we arrived safe and sound and extremely exhausted at 10:35 pm in Greece...so about 2:30 in the afternoon central time in the US.
Praise the Lord for a smooth layover in Paris and no baggage complications - there must have been a lot of prayers for us!
We have orientation tomorrow and will have regular internet access so keep checking the blog for updates.
Much love to everyone and for now goodnight!
Praise the Lord for a smooth layover in Paris and no baggage complications - there must have been a lot of prayers for us!
We have orientation tomorrow and will have regular internet access so keep checking the blog for updates.
Much love to everyone and for now goodnight!
Monday, May 10, 2010
4744 miles to Athens!
We are currently in Boston awaiting our flight to Paris. With the delays our stay in Boston will come to a grand total of 9 hours for the group who arrived here at 1:10. We will also have an 8 hour layover in Paris now since we will not leave Paris until 6:20 pm tomorrow.
We will arrive in Athens, Greece at 10:35 pm now instead of 11:30 am.
Everyone has been so incredibly flexible with all of the changes but we are certainly all tired and ready for [hopefully] some sleep on the next plane over the ocean!
Please pray for health and strength for our team so that we can serve with our whole being when we arrive to Greece.
We will arrive in Athens, Greece at 10:35 pm now instead of 11:30 am.
Everyone has been so incredibly flexible with all of the changes but we are certainly all tired and ready for [hopefully] some sleep on the next plane over the ocean!
Please pray for health and strength for our team so that we can serve with our whole being when we arrive to Greece.
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