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.