Take a walk with me.

We get off the metro at Omonia station, the largest and busiest of the Athens public transport stations. Up the stairs we climb, greeted by Goody's (Greece's equivalent of McDonald's) and KFC (I doubt anyone eating there now could point out Kentucky on a map). I stop by one of the many kiosks to buy my bottle of water and pita bakes (spicy hummus, please). Less than two Euros later we make our way down the red brick sidewalks. Under more and more kiosk tents, swerving around parked motorbikes. The air is thick in this 115 degree heat with cigarette smoke and car exhaust sprinkled in. It's times like these when I wish ARC appropriate clothing didn't mean capris and t-shirts. We pass a man selling incense, his inventory smaller than it was a few weeks ago. On one corner is what appears to be a hospital; I gather this by the number of recently bandaged people loitering around the doors. Past the same man begging in his wheel chair, the same nursing mother and child asleep in a corner. The red brick changes to yellow. I clutch my bag a little more snugly. We're a bit late, so we choose to take the short route. As we turn onto Menandrou we glance for the rifle carrying police in black or blue uniforms. It's generally comforting to see a couple of police in this area, but not good if they come in their big black bus. Paper and immigration status checks are a sure sign of stampede and chaos in this already crowded intersection. We walk in the middle of the street for the sidewalks are full of immigrant and refugee men, black market transactions, prostitutes, drugs and alcohol. I move quickly in this sea of people, suddenly very aware and embarrassed with my blonde hair. We turn onto Sofokleous, cutting through traffic until we see the black 'Xippas Gallery' sign that graces the entrance of the ARC's stoa. A thick smell of Indian spices, almost nauseating, comes from a truck unloading huge potato sacks of the individual spices. We are greeted by Mohammad, You okay? he asks. We sigh and shake our heads, another safe commute.


We climb to our second floor center. Unlocking and locking doors, dropping our bags off in the office, placing our water bottles in the fridge. It's time for devotions and prayer. We gather with the team and any volunteering visitors in the main room, three pots of tea already brewing. At about 11:15 we make our final preparations for Tea House. Check the game pieces, 15 of each color for Backgammon plus two dice, there are six pawns in chess, right? Lay out the rugs in the baby room and scatter the toys. Set down all of the chairs in the kid's room, crank up the air conditioner, pick out coloring pages, we'll do the fruits page and I still can't find the lemonade picture they all ask for. Begin sharping the colored pencils and pick out the movie for today, Tom and Jerry, their favorite. The computer is set up for checking refugees in, shower tickets are cut out and ready for distribution. The time: 11:45. Doors open.



For the next two hours I color and play with children, wash the neon colored mugs, pour hot tea and give three kisses on the cheeks as I greet my women refugee friends. I hold babies in their plastic bag diapers, sharpen more colored pencils and try to guess which child is holding their hands over my eyes. We all smile, laugh and complain about the heat. It's 2:00. We kick the reluctant children out of the room so we can clean up pencil shavings and set up for English class. Ten year-old Parviz insists on sweeping, I graciously let him. Although the announcement for English and Greek class hasn't been made, the regulars appear at 2:15 and take the best seats in the house. Class begins at 2:30. We pass out pencils and paper. I review body parts and colors. Pink is the hardest to learn and waist and wrist and west all sound alike. Review takes longer than expected. More students arrive. They sit in the back rows without desks. I offer children's books as a substitute. We learn about rooms in a flat and furniture today. They have 1000 Euro to buy furniture. They all insist on a television. Some of the Sudanese men are exceptional drawers. Alimria, a woman from Romania, has better penmanship than I do. Class is over at 3:30. Thank you, Teacher, they say as they pass in their pencils. See you next time, I reply. I love English class.

I lock up the classroom and wander into the main room. I play checkers with the children. There is much excitement today as 'F' has been reading people's palms. I will have one husband and three children. The women laugh at my pained expression. We gather more cups until 4:00 arrives. Lights go out and we say good-bye to our friends.

Time to clean. First we wash the tables, then dry. We put the chairs up and begin to sweep. Someone is assigned to clean the toilets, usually one of the visiting volunteers,naturally. We clean out the huge pots of tea and wipe the kitchen down. Some days we need to bring bags of donated clothes up from the closet downstairs into the clothing room to be sorted. Mopping is the final tasks as the tile floor becomes very slippery at its conclusion. After all of the check list has been finalized and the closer gives the okay we lock all the doors and go downstairs. We say goodbye to Mohammad and brace ourselves for another walk through Sofokelous and Monandrou to the metro and then home.

It's been about two weeks since I wandered this same path in Athens. I will never forget it. I am forever changed. I am more grateful for the life I have been blessed with and more aware of the world around me. This great movement of people, these refugees, their faces and their journeys will forever be with me. I will weep and I will smile and I will pray that hope is never lost, that all people will unite and that peace will be found.

My last night, but not my last blog.

Okay. Honestly people, I don't feel enlightened at the moment. This is most likely caused by the frustration that I'm not sure I'll be able to fit everything into my suitcase, the anxiety that comes with the thought of a 20 hour day of travel tomorrow and the fact that before I knew it, my time in Athens was over.

I had my last tea house today. It was rough, but I don't think it's all going to hit me for about another week when I desire to kiss those cheeks, chase those kids and smell the smell of Athens. It is then that I will be able to wrap up my feelings and my thoughts. My exhaustion at the moment really is a good sign I believe.

At this morning's devotions I shared what my father shared with me in my encouragement journal for this trip. It was relevant for our ministry here in Athens and so I'd like to share it with you.

An Eschatological Vision by Dr. Lyle VanderWerff

A vision I have of earth’s inhabitants
The world made whole; humanity healed
Sons and daughters reconciled to God and their neighbors
Brothers and sisters gather round the Messiah’s banquet.

Broken, bleeding, fragmented though created to be related
Image of God on human face scarred, marred, disgraced
Serpent’s subtle lie bought; sin’s sickness caught
Sexuality, love, labor lost; earth’s terrible cost.

Towers mortared, nations scattered; severed, shaken, shattered
Yet Yahweh’s covenant calls to patriarch, prophet, peoples
New community generated; family with faith imbued
Prototype of true humanity; transcending ethnic boundary

Humans of the globe unite; your liberator resurrected lives
Good news breaks the dawn with rising sun earth wakes
A glorious kingdom comes; join the ranks of vision
Pilgrims moving with mission; international host of Christ

Amen. Expect a lengthy blog once I get my bearings back in the states. But until then, I want to say thank you. Thank you for reading, for encouraging and most of all for praying. I am certain that this experience would have not been so life-inspiring for me if it was not for the support I had back home. I cannot wait to share my stories and pictures with all of you.

Pray for safe travel and a joyous reunion with all my family back in Denver while also remembering all my refugee friends who will be attempting to blend in with the tourists and make it to their next stop on the highway.

Now it's bathroom cleaning time.... See you in the good ol' U S of A!

Blondes and Almira

Yesterday was my last Shower Day. At the beginning of my time I don't think I would ever say that showers were the day of the week I ever looked forward to. It gets so hot with three showers running constantly for 4 hours straight and children running around and tea being brewed, but yesterday I decided that it was showers that helped me connect on a different level to these women and children.

We decided to go to the ARC earlier yesterday, 12:30, so we could lay out pairs of shoes for the women to rummage through. When we arrived the majority of the women were already upstairs ready to shower even though showers don't technically start until 2:00. They so look forward to this time that they're waiting and ready by 11. We got started early, which was a good thing because yesterday seemed to be one of those crazy days. The kids were just incredibly hyper and everyone seemed to be in genuine good spirits which meant lots of laughter.

Much of the conversation centered around the fact that two of my friends, 'R' and 'A' had dyed their hair the night before. At tea house on Tuesday I had noticed that they were doing a lot of pointing to my own, blonde hair, but I hadn't put it together that they would be attempting the same color job I wear myself. These beautifully dark brown haired women didn't have the exact results, obviously. The story, told in Farsi of course but easily translated, was one that I've lived through many times myself. They told of the shrieks they had when they washed the peroxide out only to discover that their hair was a bright orange. They laughed and laughed, and looked at my hair and shook their heads.
R and A are two of my favorite women (I know, I have a lot of favorites). R is the woman I described on an earlier post as the woman who fainted out of exhaustion and potential concussion at a previous Shower Day. She's 24 years old and has two beautiful little girls. 'A', 28, was pregnant with her third child when I first met her. I love holding her newborn son, plastic bag diaper and all. Both are wonderful mothers and show so much love to their children. R and A plan to attempt a trip to Italy in the coming week. I can't imagine traveling with five children, but they are strong, so strong. Looking back on this experience I know that my thoughts and memories will always rest on the refugees and the global issue that remains as this mass movement of people simply cannot be ignored. However, there is one person placed into my life that I will never forget, either. My roommate, Almira.

I've written about her before, but I just want to emphasize the impact she's had on my life. Here I was, scared to death and plopped into Athens where I was told I'd be living with this random woman from Russia. Um, okay, I thought. Soon it was me and Almira, trekking around the Mall, the Olympic Stadium and back and forth from work everyday. Initially I was hesitant and wasn't sure if we'd really be able to connect. Almira's English is very good, but there is still translation issues and we couldn't really enjoy the same television shows (even though she loves Friends as much as I do), so building a relationship didn't seem like it would be very easy. With time, I realized that Almira was one of the most amazing people I will ever come in contact with. She cooks for me, teaches me how to cook, tells me when to clean and I tell her where we have to be and when. We make a pretty great team and have an amazing time whenever we're together.

Almira was raised in a Muslim family in Moscow and her parents don't really understand what the heck she's doing here in Athens. She loves her family dearly however, and is the best aunt to her nieces. She lives and moves with the spirit. She's genuine in everything she does. She laughs when things are funny (and sometimes when they're not) and she loves and hugs with such ease. I will look back on our memories with sincere fondness and am so grateful for Skype and Facebook so we will easily stay in contact with each other. Continue to pray for Almira. With the extension of her visa (a serious miracle) she will stay in Athens for another 3 months. I cannot imagine this experience without her. She has taught me so much, how to love and serve and never give up.

She and I stay up late watching YouTube videos. Our favorites are music videos...our favorite song, Be Thou My Vision. Almira sings it in the shower and while washing dishes and if my trip had a soundtrack, this would be the first track. Here's the link: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=EYVnd0HaLSc

I'm on my way to debriefing with Carolyn and climbing Lykavitos Hill. Tomorrow is my last tea house and my last day in Athens. Expect a long blog. [Again.] :)

It's the little things that make quite a difference.

We walked into the stoa of our building yesterday without the usual "Ya-sas!" greeting from our security guard, Mohammad. I realized that that small act of Mohammad greeting us and then walking us to our stairs was something I'd simply come to expect when in reality it's something that I should be simply grateful for. I was also a little disappointed because I've been meaning to get a picture of Mohammad for a post just like this one, but with him not there at 10:00 on a Tuesday morning that meant he wouldn't be in for the day.

Mohammad is one of the many people employed as security guards in Greece. Athens has security guards for every store, every building, every metro station...but these people are more than a physical image of security and order and Mohammad has made me realize that.

Mohammad is of North African descent (Egyptian or Moroccan maybe?) and speaks no English, just Greek and Arabic. He's the new security guard for the building that the ARC occupies and he has really become an unofficial and integral member of our team. When the lines get to long, he handles crowd control in the stoa into the street, when we're moving bags of clothing from our downstairs closet upstairs he hops in line and takes a bag, when I'm carrying a very heavy bag from the Nest (a house for new Christian men just down the street) he happily carries up the stairs for me, he knows that Thursdays are women's showers day and so he brings sodas for all the children, when a drunk man urinates all down the stairs he disciplines and then grabs a mop, when we've had a long day and look very hot he insists we sit in his air-conditioned office for a while before we walk to the metro, and even when he's on vacation (like yesterday) he comes up to tea house and greets the refugees and the staff simply because he wants to.

Mohammad represents the type of person that we wish we could be each and everyday. It's those simple acts of kindness, not asked for, not required, but done out of a genuine desire in one's heart. Mohammad is an immediate image of Christ. There's a reason he's the first person seen when anyone comes to the ARC.

My last Sunday. Yikes.

Today was the first of the lasts.

Lee and I attended Second Greek Evangelical Church for the last time this morning. While I will enjoy hearing a sermon in English and not through headphones, there is something about recognizing people and being recognized in a place of worship (especially in a foreign country) that I will miss. Churches are very important for things like that.

After church we hoped to check out the sales at The Mall (you can't blame us for wanting to take a look!). Only Greece closes the mall on Sundays, so we got some pizza and chilled for the rest of the afternoon.

Tonight was Persian Christian Fellowship. Keeping about 25 kids quiet in a room no bigger than my own bedroom would never be on my wish list, but I caught up with some kids I hadn't seen in a few weeks. One girl even had pictures from one of my very first tea houses on her phone. It seemed like forever ago, but that made the feeling of us going way back very real. I had the chance to learn some more Farsi words and phrases. I'm trying to soak up as much as I can in these last days. We went back and forth, them telling me colors in Farsi and Greek and me telling them the names in English and Spanish. It was quite fun. The girls got a real laugh at my attempt to say Would you like to color? in Farsi. Turns out the word for to color and to kill are very similar. Ah, the joy of children's laughter.

I didn't have much to share, but I thought I'd get in even my smallest of thoughts as I finish out my time here. Getting up early to go to Corinth tomorrow...we really don't have a direct route or know much, but wandering around Greece sounds like enough fun to me! :) Don't worry, Dad. I'll be careful. We're just taking the train... :)

Ladies, ladies, ladies

I realized today that while I very much desire to spend time with my friends back at home, it's going to be very difficult to say good-bye to my friends here. I will miss looking at these beautiful faces.

Thursday was a very special Shower Day because we got to pass out some very special underwear in a package that came from Commerce City, CO (thanks, Aunt Jolene!!). The women were giddy and had no problem trying the bras on for size (there is no shame at showers, and that's something we're proud that we can provide).

A few pics:

Before I tell you all about today I would like to note that we saw the new Batman movie here last night (that was Thursday night, a good 24 hours before any of you in the states, booyah!).

But today, Friday, may have been one of my favorite days yet here in Athens.

Today was set aside for a Women's Retreat Day. For men's retreats they are able to go away, out of Athens, but because with women comes children, our plans have to be adjusted. We invited specific women (those whom we have built relationships with recently and who seem curious about who we are as women, but more specifically Christian women). There were 8 women and 14 children total. We all gathered at Donna's house and then sent the children off to the park (not alone, with our short-term team from CA).

You could tell these women were just delighted to be there. They were all wearing make-up and many had on shoes I'd never seen before. They drank their tea and ate their muffins with the most joy I'd ever seen. We had a translator there for the day, so we all made introductions, you know, name, where you're from, how long you've been in Greece. It was at the moment that I said I have a week left that I got that crazy, this really sucks that I have to leave you all, feeling and I don't imagine it going away (ever, if I can help it).

We all fellowshipped with one another, complete with the delayed laughs while words went through translation. We then had time to open up the Bible and talk about God. The theme for the day was HOPE. I was incredibly excited for this because if I were asked to take only one word to describe my life or to live by, it would be hope. So here I was, sitting in Greece, surrounded by these Afghan/courageous/beautiful/intelligent women/mothers/widows and I discovered hope. As 'H' (one of my favorite ladies) openly described how God has shown her hope even in the most desperate of situations I was reminded that even though she (a Muslim) and I (a Christian) have grown up calling God two different names, this one God provides all the same. The sovereign God I believe in is at work in all people. Her words, her wisdom were so encouraging for me...these women get it.

After our bible study we got out beads to make a variety of bracelets, necklaces, you name it. I swear these women have a better eye for colors and patterns than we Americans. With ease they can make necklaces we pay ridiculous amounts of money for in the mall. It's quite impressive. Two of the women who had worked from 8 the night before until 7 in the morning before meeting right away to come to the Women's Day (proof of their excitement) took naps, and I couldn't blame them.

We then left Donna's and met up with the kids to have lunch...a delicious Iranian meal of rice, vegetables and a curry-like (but not curry) chicken. Delicious! More time to fellowship with the women, and I was especially happy to get some time with the kids. It was a wonderful day with friends and fellowship, something everyone can use a little more of.

Also, praises for my roommate Almira who got an extension on her visa! After many days of paperwork, police stations and bank accounts, it's official that she will stay for another 3 months. God is good (and really, a miracle worker).

With a bright hope for tomorrow, I will post again soon.

Journey and Community

An update: 'B' got out of Greece successfully and is currently in France. It appears as though her journey to Belgium is well on its way, but please continue praying, for it is certainly not over yet.

It really is unbelievable the lengths these refugees have to go through in order to escape the violence and poverty that has tormented their home countries. After teaching English on Tuesday I was able to chat with a man from Sudan. College-educated and very good with his conversational English (he learned it all from American movies), this man has dreams of making it to Norway. He made it to Turkey and lived there for 8 months before coming to Greece. He's been here 2 months, but after a failed attempt to get to Italy (by hiding in the storage of a cargo ship) he was fingerprinted and thus has little to no options left. He has decided to look for work and save up the 2000 Euros necessary to get the proper paperwork to leave the country (aka a fake passport).

This is a man who has a degree in communications, can speak two languages and likely had quite the life going for him until all was disrupted and he was forced to uproot. Had he (or any of these refugees) been born in another place and another time, their life would be completely different. Recognizing this, it's hard not to empathize completely and then get totally overwhelmed. I mean, we all have it so good. Life in the US is easy really.

We had lunch with Kallie today, a Greek woman who works at our ministry. Her own father was a refugee from Turkey in the 1920s. His sister died along the way from hunger and then also his father (a Christian minister, he decided to bury a Muslim man who died from cholera because no one else would and died from the same disease just 24 hours later). His mother, once a wealthy woman in her home country, was forced to work as a servant for a Greek family to earn a meal for herself and her son. She talked about how her father came out of something so devastating to realize real success all because his mother decided to make a place for them and they were warmly welcomed into the community.

Kallie reminded us that there must be a reason for this mass movement of people to Greece (estimates say there are now 3 million refugees in Greece, making them a third of the population). Of course, we are not going to grasp why this is all happening, but we must trust that God has a hand in this moment of history. We also have to recognize that while our ministry is here to provide, it is also the responsibility of the community to embrace these strangers and help them to make a their "place". I can't help but think about how I will continue to address these issues when I get home. Who are the refugees, the placeless, those in transition in our own community?

I want to tell you about 'B'.

It was my first day at tea house. I had spent the afternoon with the children, but as that room closed for English class just the main room was open. My only option was to sit with the women and drink tea. All of the sudden I felt like I was the new kid in the cafeteria...frightening. I took a seat along the wall where the women gather. After a short time, one woman (we'll call her B) took a seat next to me and began to converse with me in the very little English she knew. We exchanged names and places of origin, but that's really as far as we could go. Normally it would have been a completely awkward situation, but B continued to smile at me, caress my strange yellow hair and invited her friends to join in a circle with us. I knew from this moment that B would be a very special person within this journey.

B was a regular at tea house, but it was at showers that she and I were able to grow even closer. I enjoyed her two children, a 5 year-old boy and a 12 year-old girl, but especially enjoyed posing for the many pictures B insisted on taking with all her friends. There is a picture of B and her friends and B and me on my June 13 post.

Here's another pic with Ms Fran. [Her son got a new pair of underwear that day, haha!]It was Thursday, July 3 that B told us she had all the details in line to leave for Italy shortly. It's unclear how refugees find the appropriate papers or tickets in order to move along the Refugee Highway (it's best we don't know because it's likely illegal), but B had things together and was ready to begin the journey.

B had attempted to get out of Greece many months ago with her three children. Unfortunately, passport control stopped her and she was unable to leave. Her oldest daughter, only 15, made it through and was forced to travel all alone. She is currently in Belgium with an uncle and this will be B's final destination if all works out.

What a risk she is taking. As long as she reaches Italy she can attempt to receive political asylum and meet up with the rest of her family. If anything goes wrong she could separated from another of her children and the hope of uniting the family is again gone. The stress of this decision came out during showers. Towards the end of our time B began to weep. She wept because she was scared. Greece was scary enough, but traveling again meant even more new things to encounter. The weight became too much. She wept because she was leaving "all her daughters". All of the Helping Hands staff had become family for B, we all loved each other and would do anything for each other. There was comfort in this place.

In order to prepare for the journey B has cut and colored her hair and found the most modern European clothing in order to not stick out. I always thought B was beautiful, but you could tell that she never found joy in looking at herself. As a woman I've always felt beauty as a burden. In our society it is what keeps women in a constant struggle with others and ultimately within oneself. Defining beauty, either inward or outward, has always been difficult for me, but B showed me beauty last Thursday.

B had her hair colored and cut and her friend had given her some lipstick. "10 years younger, 10 years younger," she repeated with a huge smile. She couldn't stop looking in the mirror and I couldn't help but repeat the word "beautiful" because B was beautiful. It wasn't the fact that she colored her hair or painted her nails (although I've realized the intimate power you hairstylists [Megan, Sheri, Val] have). It was because she was looking at herself as worthy, confident and full of hope. B possessed the beauty all of us in this world can only dream of. She left the ARC that day without her headscarf...a seemingly insignificant detail that says more than any of us Westerners can grasp.

B is attempting her journey to Italy as I type. I miss her already. Please pray that she will be greeted with grace and that she never loses the beauty God has given her. And for us, pray that we all search for a simple glimpse of 'B' beauty.

I understand petunias

With two weeks left here in Athens I find myself all over the place mentally, spiritually and the like. My focus is on my flight to Denver more than I'd like, but that feeling isn't surprising considering the lessons I've learned here. It's nice to have a place to call home [even though Denver isn't technically 'home' it's a place of safety and love]. These refugees do not have such a luxury; I am so blessed.

Working in this ministry has challenged a solid part of who I am. I love to make lists. Writing out my tasks for the day, the week, the month gives me great comfort and joy. I love it when I have things to do for every minute of every day. But newsflash! ministry work in general, but especially here in Athens, isn't about doing; it's about being. I have to be okay with just sitting with women, coloring with kids, pouring tea or simply praying. This means the work isn't physically exhausting, but mentally it's killer. It's frustrating to work each day and not really 'see' results. There aren't really results to be found, for the purpose of refugee-in-transition work is to simply provide simple needs and then say good-bye. It's rough.

Luckily, I've been able to talk to my Dad about all this frustration. Doing this ministry stuff for 20 years has given him a bit of wisdom on the subject and I've been so thankful for the understanding I've gained from something my mom and dad have known all along. See, many of our home videos from Yakima have extended minutes of pictures of the petunias my dad planted in front of our home. Sure, the thousands of pink and purple flowers were beautiful, but it's humorous considering you can hear the little voices of Jenna and I calling out for some camera time of our own. It isn't until now that I realize that there is a desire to see results in something, anything when working in a 'just be' ministry. This mission work is a lot more complicated than most realize. And really Dad, the petunias were very very beautiful.

While this type of work doesn't come very easy for me, for my roommate Almira, this work is truly her calling. These past couple of weeks have been stressful for Almira as she goes back and forth from the police to the bank and back to the police in order to extend her visa. So many doors are closing, so please pray that Almira catches a break.

There will be more to come later. I'm off to tea house (I teach English today!). I will fill you in on more stories (with pictures) tomorrow. Have a wonderful Saturday, everyone!

It's around that time.

During this whole blog process I worried that I might run out of things to say. Quite honestly things here in Athens have been moving full steam ahead and I've really gotten used to life as an Athenian. I can find any spot on the metro map, I know the best place to buy a 2 Euro souvlaki, I can say the basic words and phrases (even find myself smacking my lips for 'no' like the Greeks) and even though I still sweat a whole lot more than the Athenians, the heat isn't bothering me too too much.

And just as I get comfortable in living and in the ministry I realize that I will be leaving this place and much of what I've thought of as comfort at home will now become weird. There are things I won't miss, like the large roaming dogs, our neighbors who dry octopus and fish overnight (filling our bedroom with a less than desirable smell) or how my clothes fit improperly because they haven't seen a dryer in weeks. And then there are the small things that I'm going to miss like the hand-held shower head (once my greatest enemy), Greek salad and gelato...but I'm getting ahead of myself...I've still got just over two weeks to embrace all that is Athens....

We ended with Sunday morning....After Lee and I rested (our legs were tired from all the wandering about attempting to find our church) we got ready for Persian Christian Fellowship. We were expected to keep the children very quiet while the rest of the adults had a very serious and meditative time of worship. It's a really big deal for most of these refugees to step into the ARC during PCF. For many it's basically leaving your family behind to follow Christ; it's a pretty big deal. All those who lead it take it very seriously, so when we were summoned to the kitchen to help we were expected to be very very quiet. We dished up the meal for that evening...a stew of potatoes and the hearts/liver of some animal (I ate it...I liked the Egyptian koshari better). Regardless of whether the motivation for coming is the meal, the message they all receive is clear: life in Christian community is just that much better. It was a pretty great evening.

Monday I finally got to see the Acropolis. I don't want to disappoint you all, but well, it was a little anti-climactic. It was pretty great of course...I mean, walking around stuff that existed before Christ is pretty amazing, but there were loads of people and even more strict Greeks with whistles shouting at anyone standing near a rock they weren't supposed to. It was a sight and we got some good shots...something you have to do while in Athens, but once is enough. :) We liked wandering the shops in Plaka a bit more!

Tuesday was another tea house day. The short-term team of college students from California arrived safely and weren't even all that jet-lagged for their first tea house. I spent my time playing checkers (a child's variation on the game) and also helped out in English class. It was a good tea house though! Today we went to the beach for team meeting (which was necessary because of how hot it's been this week). My tan is pretty great, I'll be honest...but even without the beach the sun is just that much stronger here! I was also stung by a jellyfish...now that my spider bit has been healed, I have a new ailment... I'm sure it will be fine!

We planned out the next few weeks at the meeting. They sound full, which pleases me! Thanks for all the prayers and your support! I'll do my best to keep you updated in more regular intervals for these last few days!

Highlights of Week Four

Location: Living room of our apartment

What I'm watching: Crazy/random/old music videos (they love Britney Spears, Madonna and Mariah Carey here in Greece)

Where I've been: Church (Lee and I walked up and down the streets of Athens looking for it, but we got there just in time to hear the end of the sermon and receive communion)

Where I'll be going: Persian Christian Fellowship (a church service hosted by Persian Christians every other week at the ARC...last week it was the Russians, this week, the Persians)
What's bugging me: A large spider bite on the back of my leg (please pray that it heals quickly)

Thursday was another women's shower day. This week was much smoother than last week (less women came and the heat wasn't unbearable). One refugee that we have all gotten close to has plans to make her way to Italy with her two children later this week. That means new clothes, short/modern hair cuts and anything to make their chance to get tickets easier. She burst into tears at the thought of leaving all her daughters here at the ARC. We do see these women and children so often that it's easy to think of them as friends and family, and then they leave. We all know it's for the best, but we can only pray that they are able to find the same TLC in their next stop on the highway.
Friday night was a special Arabic Entertainment Night hosted by a group of people from Cairo, Egypt that had worked with us all week. They were great and the night was a pure success! All Arabic-speaking refugees were invited and had time to play some games like a song competition and a blindfolded find the cup game (reminded me of hide the thimble, Nan!). There was lots of laughter, which was beautiful. After a message and goose-bump producing drama everyone was invited to share in some authentic Egyptian food, koshari. I loved it!

Oh! And on the way to the ARC on Friday I ran into some pretty special people! Fellow SOSers Meggan and Chelsea found the ARC while they were taking some time off from their ministry on a Greek island. It was so great to see a familiar face, hug and share a little bit of our summers! It was a short visit, but I was so happy to see some people I knew and who knew me!!

Saturday was another tea house, but we were joined by the Egyptian team and another family team from the United States. Lots of help made the work of handing out food, etc. quite easy. I sat in on English class again. I've found the most joy while working with the class on their new vocabulary. Yesterday we learned body parts and ailments, pretty practical stuff. I'm teaching the class next week (eek!) and think I'll build off that lesson. Knowing how to say what hurts is pretty important I think.

I can't believe that I've only got three weeks to finish out here in Athens. And a full three weeks they are going to be. The plan is to visit the Acropolis tomorrow (finally!), then a full week of work (with planning the English lesson included). We have a team of college students arriving from CA tomorrow, so please pray for their safe travel!

I continue to recognize how good God is here in Greece (and in general). Some days the work seems too draining, but then I find myself sitting with pure joy in my heart, knowing that the spirit is at work. I have been provided with continued safety, health and fellowship (both from persons here and contact with all of you at home). For all of that I am very grateful.

I apologize for the delay!

Hi everyone!

I hope my delay in a new post hasn't lost any readers! Since there's a lot to update on I'll try to summarize as best I can.

So we know up to Sunday...

Monday:
I saw Greece on Monday. Yes, I went to an island. It was a last minute decision. Long story short, my friend, Abigail (who is serving with some other missionaries here in Greece and helps out at the ARC) was leaving on Tuesday and Monday was going to go to an island with her missionary hosts. Well, Mr. Sam (one of the missionaries) had been in Uganda the past week and had signs of malaria over the weekend (he's feeling better now!) and so Abigail wasn't going to have anyone to go to an island with (and you can't leave Greece without visiting an island!). So, we planned to go together (even though we had no idea what we were doing!). Luckily, Mr. Sam was feeling better and Mrs. Fran could join us (whew!).

We spent the day in Aegina, just 45 minutes by boat from Athens. It's the home of the world's best pistachios (the fields were quite beautiful)! We did a little shopping and then headed to a beach. This beach was much nicer than the Athens beach...amazingly blue water, white hot sand...it was great.

We then went back into town and found a little family restaurant. We ordered a Greek salad (of course!), eggplant dip and anchovies(!). I loved it all! We got some ice cream (of course) and then took the slow ferry back to the port. It was the most calming and beautiful ride...with the sea gulls following us the entire way home! Seeing God's creation, the fresh air, the water and the fellowship were a perfect way to spend a day off in Athens (and begin Week 4).


I decided not to go straight home, but to instead meet up with the team and help celebrate Canada and Independence Day with salad, burgers, potato salads, etc. It ended up being a long night, but was totally worth it.

Tuesday was another tea house day. It was one of the most difficult days. There were just a bunch of people, very hot and a limited number of team members. It was chaotic, but that's all part of the ministry experience! I left tea house early to open the house for a new team member. Lee, a 19 year old from Boston arrived on Tuesday. I'm thankful for her presence and am convinced she will do nothing but help speed up my time here (time flies when you're having fun after all!).

Yesterday, Wednesday, was a special project day so after running errands (going to the farmer's market) in the morning we headed to the ARC to organize closets and clean toys. (If anyone has any good craft ideas for beads or popsicle sticks, that would be helpful!) We arrived back home at about 7:30. All four roommates made supper, we moved the table out to the balcony to eat, play UNO and have ice cream. We also discovered the most amazing view from our roof...the Olympic Stadium in perfect sight!

Keep praying for my perseverance! (24 days and I will be greeting my family in Denver!)

Ya-sas!

Let's go to the beach and eat peaches with Russians!

Hello from a very exhausted girl living it up in Athens!

This Friday was our ever-anticipated Kid's Day Camp! We woke up early to be at the ARC by 8:10 (the kids were due to arrive at 8:30). Of course, they were all there to greet us (it's unclear how long they had been waiting...we're guessing quite a while). We got all our gear packed up and after loading the bus we headed out to the CosmoVision Center (a center for playing soccer, basketball, you name it!). There was an emphasis on bringing an abundance of barf bags. I thought it was said in jest, but unfortunately I was proven otherwise. I suppose you can't blame them, most of these kids haven't been in a car in months, nevertheless a bus! It was gross, but most recovered once we hit dry land.

Once at the center we ran around and played football (their preferred game), basketball, jump rope, hoolahoops and then the cup game at snack time. They loved the chance to get outside and run in an open field, but the beach was what was on everyone's mind.

Most of the kids don't own swimsuits (it's not the most popular thing to do in Afghanistan), so we went to the store and rummaged through donations and found what we thought would fit them best. The girls had a hard time wearing just the suit anyway, so with the shorts (sometimes under the suit), fitting ended up not being an issue. They were all so excited to be going to the beach, but putting on that swimsuit and actually getting in the water ended up being quite the challenge. They were scared to death and it took one adult and a floaty to get them past where they could touch. It was actually the 11 and 12 year-olds that were most hesitant, but even they couldn't resist the chance to grab a floaty and be dragged around the beautifully blue water.

The day was a success and so was the ride home (no need for barf bags when everyone falls asleep right away). It was tiring and I got a whole new sunburn, but a small price to pay for a day of normalcy (well, for someone living in Greece) for these kids. And actually, a day away from the kids likely made the mothers happy as well.

Today (well yesterday...it's almost 2 in the morning here) was Saturday, so another tea house day. We were all exhausted, but the day went smoothly with the kids all a buzz about their swim the day before. After tea house (and pork chops for supper...a Saturday tradition) Almira asked us to join her at Russian fellowship also held at the ARC.

The night basically consisted of prayer, special music, worship (lead beautifully by Almira herself) and a message. All in Russian of course, but with the help of translator Almira we got the most out of it. The best part came while eating some delicious peaches, cherries and watermelon. Everyone asks where your from and then I have to explain where Iowa is, but give up after a number of blank stares... It's not a big deal I say. One man, Mr. Albert (who I know from English class at the tea house) quizzed me, What was New York first called? New Amsterdam, I say. He gives me the thumbs up and I know I'm alright in his book. Other questions included, How many people live in America? How many Russians are there? Why do all Americans shoot each other? Do you like GWB? I was, of course, intrigued by the last question and reminded of how interesting/important American politics are to the rest of the world. (By the way, they didn't like Bush, liked Obama and thought Hillary Clinton was a little crazy. Eh, two out of three isn't bad!)
Saturday ended up being a long day (we ended up at a Christian evangelistic concert in front of the Parliament building until about midnight...If I'm feeling bold I'll share my thoughts on all of that later...I'm too tired at the moment...it would be a rant, for sure), but it was a good day. I'm reminded of how deep and wide the body of Christ is and how God is at work at all places and in all people and for that, I am very thankful.

This one is for you, Monsma!

Just a quick update tonight!

The past couple of days have been filled with team meeting and fellowship (ate my first Greek gyro...yum!) and preparation for tomorrow, Kid's Day Camp! I will have plenty of pictures following what will likely be a toasty, but very fun day at the beach. The kids are wild with excitement (we realized that even more tonight at showers...talk about crazy!).

Anyway, there's a joke on the team that yes, we're in Greece and we're really "suffering for Jesus". It sounds like paradise, yes, but that's not really the case. I can only account for Athens, mind you, and from what I hear, the rest of Greece (the islands) are really fantastic, but Athens has issues. Greece has issues.

It's clear to see that the people and the government are living for the now. There's no concept of the future. They don't recycle, they don't care about pollution, the government is completely corrupt, they burn forests to make more room for real estate and the youth is too busy graffitiing the entire city to stand up for something, anything.

It's easier to feel this way when you're working with refugees. The EU has given Greece so many warnings based on human rights issues, but the fines don't have any affect. Norway has even come in and determined that if they find that any refugee with Greek papers is in Norway they will not be sent back to Greece. Things need to change, but there's no one ready to stand up and say it.

With that said...I am excited for tomorrow, even though it is likely that we will have to clean up the dirty diapers, water bottles and cigarette boxes before we let the children on the sand...We'll probably have to clean up some McDonald's too...

I was in a bit of a rush, but yes, that is a McDonald's.. with the Acropolis in the background.

Not tink...THink.

Ya-sas! Hello!

Today was another busy day at the ARC. Whenever we serve food, the crowds are larger and the building gets hotter.

Today we put together bags of olives, peppers, pita bread and sardines. The people flowed in and once word got out that there was food, the line was forming down the stairs. Unfortunately, we ran out of bags within two hours and it's difficult to keep order while trying to communicate our apologies. You just never know how many refugees will show up. Some days it's close to 900!

I got to keep order in the children's room again today. That's where I prefer to be (and not just because it's air conditioned). We used stencils today, colored pictures of Bob the Builder and watched Tarzan. I usually color a picture or two myself (coloring warms one's heart) and they end up on the bulletin board (you know this word now, Almira!) with everyone else's. One boy, Mohleed loves to practice his English words, so he signs my pictures for me. You sign your name and then F-name (your father's name). Seeing Harlan on all my pictures has been pretty amusing to say the least.

After cleaning up a mess of a room (the kids were full of energy today) we got set up for English class. I've decided to try to get to class whenever they're offered. It's not an ideal setting for an English class. It's too small and there aren't enough desks (most people have to use children's books to write on), but they come and want to stay as long as possible. Nick, a Greek American who has been living in Finland for the past 20 years, is here for a bit to teach the English classes. He does a great job, but it's obviously difficult to find a way to teach a large group of eager students who are all at different levels.

I help the women, who sit separated (as much as is possible in this little space) and some have excellent skill and ask questions like, why is "i am getting dressed" not the past form? There's an 'ed'! (One of the more unanswerable questions, thank you English language.) And then there are those who have difficultly pronouncing the 'th' sound or 'd'. I spend a little time after class now with one women, baby on her hip and one on the way, going over the difference between 'eat' and 'drink' and the phrases, 'I want to go to Italia' and 'How much does a ticket cost?'

They all want class to be longer and their eagerness would whip any sleeping college student into shape. They want a better life and they're doing their darndest to take the right steps down any road which leads out of Greece. Every nation could stand to do better for these placeless peoples...hum.

A few pictures from the kid's room today:

The girls don't smile for pictures

(only right after they've been taken!)

...we're working on it!

If you look through the doors you can tell how long the line was getting to the tea/food.

Exploring the Greeks

I had a more 'Greek' weekend the past couple of days. Working with refugees doesn't give you the chance to learn a ton about the Greeks, but that's what going out to eat is for!

After tea house on Saturday I rode home with my friend Abigail (from Tennessee) who is staying with the Holdsambeck's, a missionary couple working with Entrust. We went out to eat at very Greek family restaurant and got the whole experience. During the summer, Greeks don't eat until around 10:00 at night, so leaving at 9:30 meant we were the first ones there. After ordering a dish of a variety of delicious food, a wedding reception joined us! Complete with firework candles on the cake, loads of champagne and flaming fish, the dancing then began. There was live music...two men playing guitar, singing (not as beautiful as their playing) and smoking a cigarette all at the same time. It's customary for each guest at the wedding to lead a train of a traditional Greek dance...a simple two step grapevine. If the leader leads well, they will pour you a glass of champagne. So much fun!

The next day (Sunday) was Abigail's birthday so we packed a lunch and headed to the beach. Greek beaches, at least off the mainland, aren't the white sand you'd picture in the Caribbean or otherwise (oh, the days of Magen's Bay, sigh). Basically, there are no garbage cans so you lay in sand full of baby diapers, cigarette butts, beer cans and rocks then walk through dried seaweed and tiptoe through large stones before reaching what is very beautiful blue water. The sun is wonderful and makes up for a beach that needs a makeover. After the beach we got some amazing ice cream/gelato. I ordered chocolate banana on a waffle. Delicious.

This weekend was good and I'm looking forward to my third week here in Athens. We've got kid's camp on Friday...the kids were thrilled to get their invitation which makes me very excited. I'm getting the hang of things and always look forward to a day spent at the ARC. Please pray for my continued perseverance and motivation! And thanks again for all your support! And pray for cool evenings...the days are still roasting! :)

Today is Refugee Sunday

Even though my Sunday is ending (actually, it's over) many of you may still be reading this on Sunday. Even if you don't, I think this is alright to pray for any day...everyday.

I do have plenty of stories to share about this weekend (like English class at tea house, hidden picture books with the kids, a Greek wedding reception and my crazy tan lines from my first Greece beach experience), but I'm going to save that for later because I think this is most important right now.

[Taken from http://www.refugeehighway.net/]

Please join churches worldwide in praying for refugees and internally displaced peoples – those who have been forced to flee their homelands because of persecution and terror.

More than 33 million people have no place to call home. They have lost family members, friends, and possessions. Often forgotten -- or used as political pawns - these refugees face hardship, confusion and disease on every side.

The following prayer points have been offered by ministries from around the world that work with refugees.

Pray for international governments, that authorities would treat refugees justly; that government officials and contractors would have wisdom and open hearts to offer resettlement to the refugees who truly need it; that the governmental policies in resettlement countries would protect refugees.

Please pray for the Church and refugee workers: pray the Church will welcome the people God is bringing to her doorstep from “closed countries” and other places around the world; pray that God would raise up “workers for the harvest fields” to reach Muslims flooding into Europe from Asia and Africa; pray for refugee workers to develop smooth communication with each other and effective leadership; pray for financial provision, training materials, and Bibles for refugee workers.

Please pray for refugees fleeing violence and persecution; waiting in refugee camps; and resettling in new countries; pray that refugees would hear the gospel and believe in Jesus Christ; pray for Christian refugee leaders to be raised up; pray that refugees would find healing from past trauma. Pray for suffering refugee groups around the world, including millions of Iraqi refugees in dire straits in neighboring countries and in Iraq; for internally displaced refugees in Myanmar who suffered a recent cyclone; for Afghan and Kurd refugee communities in Europe; and for refugees in Africa.


World Refugee Sunday is celebrated by the Refugee Highway Partnership, a global network of refugee ministries.

It's hotter here than the time the air conditioner broke in the Fareway breakroom.

Hello from a very very warm Athens!

I woke this morning (at 6:30 am!) and my thermometer said 84 degrees. The weather changed from bearable to stifling over the past two days. For everyone's sake I hope it doesn't get too much warmer. It's difficult to walk from the metro to the ARC. Downtown is packed full of cars and the exhaust, pollution and heat waves make me wonder if we shouldn't all be walking around with oxygen masks.

Even though it was roasting we heated up the showers for about 25 women and children on Thursday. The women appreciated a chance to take off their head scarves and even drink hot tea (apparently it makes the air feel cooler). One Afghan woman, a regular at tea house and showers, with two young children came in looking quite under the weather. She was quick to explain that she had gotten no sleep the night before. She took our hands and told us to feel the large bump on her head while explaining that her husband had spent the whole evening beating her. By the time showers were about to end the heat, her lack of sleep and her likely concussion got the best of her and she passed out. We quickly moved her to an air conditioned room, gave her a cold wash cloth, a glass of sugar water and prayed. It took a while, but she soon recovered and was quick to ask for family pictures (a now tradition at showers). The perseverance of these women in even the most awful of situations will continue to surprise me.

This is Rudolfa. He is such an intelligent boy and loves to do puzzles (only asking for my help sometimes). We have the most fun playing memory with animals and then imitating their sounds (it's fascinating how animals sound differently from one side of the world to the other). He was very concerned about how messy his hair was in the picture, for he hadn't gelled it after his shower. I thought he looked pretty cute!

Like I said, I was up very early this morning to catch the metro to Lidl (a German grocery store) to pick up the last of the supplies we'd need for the grocery distribution today. We arrived at the ARC at 10:30, greeted by families already in line (we didn't open until noon)! The team created an assembly line, putting olive oil, beans, tomato paste, macaroni, shampoo, hand wash detergent, toothbrushes, beans, rice, toothpaste, sugar, salt and sanitary napkins into a large blue bag. A couple members of the team then went down the stairs to keep order while the rest of us prepared to distribute.

The look on the faces of the people receiving this bag of groceries (most which will feed an entire family for weeks) was full of genuine rejoicing. It made me think a lot about my work at Fareway and how we take so much for granted with our heaping cart of groceries bagged and taken out to the car for us... The gratitude these people showed was beautiful.

The past couple of nights I've been able to get to know more people on the team over dinner. Brett and Kristin (and their 6 month old daughter Sophia) invited me over for spaghetti Thursday evening and we went over for pizza and a movie at Carolyn and Susie's today. (Pizza Hut pizza is way better here, FYI.) Tomorrow is another tea house day and then I'll be spending the night with Ms. Fran and Abagail (a girl my age from TN) for her birthday. I'll get my first glimpse of a beach on Sunday!

All in all, I think culture shock has worn off pretty well and I'm settling in quite nicely. Please pray for the health of everyone while it heats up here thinking especially of the refugees who don't have a cool house or even water to revive them. (One boy, Ahmed, had to go to the hospital today and be put on oxygen...most likely from city living, etc. etc.) Pray for their perseverance.

It's Wednesday already!

Hello from a very warm Athens!

First of all, I would like to say a big huge thanks for everyone's emails/comments, etc. the past couple of days. Your encouragement and thoughts came at the perfect time. With lots of prayer I think I can see the light at the end of this homesick/culture shock tunnel. I will survive.

Tuesday was another tea house day. Some of the missionaries actually have family visiting this week, so it was fun to get to know them. (Kristin's parents are members of the RCA in Chicago, go figure!) I also realized that one of the biggest struggles in this adventure is the fact that I have had to ask millions of questions while also asking for help and direction. Truth is, I've taken the direction-giving question-answering role in most areas of my life (some of you know this more than others) and I think this form of "weakness" was really getting to me. I'm also realizing that I'm going to have to slow down. I've been filling my life with so many time wasters without making time to just be still. (Speaking of, does anyone know when LOST Season 4 is coming out on DVD?!) It's an adjustment, but at this time in my life, with the 'real world' just one year away, time to be still and think is just what I need.

I got to spend more time with the children and also in the kitchen on Tuesday. I've already made a few friends (kids love anyone that shows up more than once). We brought out some puzzles (I thought of you Grandma Josie) and had fun even though there were five pieces missing in the end. Some kids get easily discouraged, for the opportunities for intellectual stimulation are incredibly limited. It was fun, but my next goal will be to organize the puzzles and games. What a mess!

That evening Almira and I took the metro and bus over to Themis and Donna's home. We made (rather, Donna taught us how to make) a traditional Greek dinner, dolmadas. I have pictures to prove that I helped, Jenna. And was quite successful. Basically it's meat, rice, mint and onions wrapped in grape leaves then topped with an egg lemon sauce. Delicious. The fellowship was also wonderful. It was nice to chat about those strange church issues that I most often do at home. I am realizing more and more that I'm quite more 'liberal' than the typical missionary. I mean, we can all agree that the church (or the typical American evangelical church...for the most part) constantly divides more than unites out of hypocritical judgment based on biblical issues. It was suggested however that pointing out parts of a person's life that are harmful (for example, prostitution or alcoholism) is one way to show Christ's love. I can agree with that, and for some of those issues it's all pretty clear. There other issues (say, homosexuality) that I wonder if Christ's love can't be shown a different way, free of judgment completely. ...That was a mess, but that's what I left Themis and Donna's house thinking about...and it made me feel good to have a familiar conversation (as atypical as it may be).

The food and the company last night were wonderful, which did great things for my mood and about settling down here in Athens. Today was prayer day at the ARC. From 10-4 (with a break for lunch of a slab of meat, tomato and french fries on a hoagie-like bun and gelato for dessert) the team got together and read through Philippians. While we read we picked out parts for prayer. Time went fast and it was really quite appropriate for where the entire ministry is at at this moment. I encourage you to take time and read a bit of it today.

We then took inventory of the food we have had donated (and that the mice haven't gotten into) so we can know what to buy on Friday. Friday morning I will wake up very early to get on the metro and meet Susie and Kate at Lidl (an inexpensive German grocery store here in Athens) and purchase the rest of the goods we'll need for the grocery give-away that afternoon. Families picked up tickets at tea house yesterday and are already excited for the package of beans, milk, macaroni, shampoo, etc. they'll receive. Tomorrow is a shower day and then I've been invited to eat with Brett and Kristin and their six month old daughter, Sophia. She's adorable.

So, that ended up longer than I intended, my apologies. I should ask if you have any questions...am I missing any details? Just let me know.

Again, thanks for everything, your prayers, etc. Some of you have also been wondering about sending things this way. Due to the expense and time it would take to retrieve it from customs, best packages are light and worth less than $50. Baby clothes and items are very expensive here, so those are always in need. And like I've mentioned before, underwear is always welcome. If you'd like an address or anything, drop me an email.

About this weekend.

So I have made it through my first weekend here in Athens. Today is Monday (and our day off) so it can be included. An overview:

Saturday:
Saturday's are a tea house day at the ARC, but unlike Tuesday we didn't provide any food. I worked in the kitchen instead of the children's room this time, just to get another view of the ministry. We brew three large pots of tea and then serve them through the window (either zahkahri (with sugar) or without. They all join together to fellowship with one another and some of our team (males with males, females with females) while a Christian evangelical video plays on the three televisions.

I also took this time to chat more with some of the people on the team. Honestly, there is a transition happening and so things appear to be a little tense, but I hope that with the break on Sunday and Monday some of that will blow over. The theology of the team also contradicts a bit with my own (but that's no surprise). If anything, it's making me think more and more about my own and being challenged within it. I'm sure more conversations on those details will ensue as one of the leaders is also curious about "why I'm a democrat"...oh boy...I just can't seem to get away from that question. haha.

After tea house a few of us team members and one Albanian immigrant went out for pork chops (Iowa chops win hands down) and gelato (and yes, it was real gelato, Jenna). It was nice to a see a more quiet side of the downtown.

Sunday:
Stephanie invited me to church with her at the Second Evangelical Church. It's in Greek so translation is through a headset. I really liked it though and hope to return next week.
After church I joined Stephanie, her OperiationMobilization host Joanna and four women from the UK here to help with this week's VBS for lunch. We took a long stroll past the Acropolis to a little alley cafe where Joanna ordered up the best of the Greek food. Greek salad, beet root, fried cheese, feta, fish, etc. etc. It was delightful and topped off with yogurt and honey (a Greek dessert).
I headed home and did some laundry and cleaned before making some supper. More realization that this is hardly a vacation. :)

Monday (Today):
I slept in...which was nice. I then met Stephanie down at the Acropolis where we ventured around. It appeared to be free admission today (it's Pentecost) so we climbed up to Mars Hill (where Paul preached, see Acts 17) and around the ancient market place. It was very hot so I didn't make Stephanie go up to the Acropolis again (I'll do that later with others who have never been), but it was just fascinating to be surrounded by architecture created in 'Bible Times'. We then wandered around Plaka, a cute little neighborhood where all the best souvenir shopping is done. It's almost 8:00 here so I'll head home before going to bed relatively early (tomorrow is tea house!).

Please pray that I continue to adjust to life on my own here in Athens. It's quite different from the comfortable life among 200 women in Stegenga Hall.

This time with pics!

Ya-sas! Hello!

It is almost 11 in the evening here in Athens on Friday the 13th. Today was a free day, so Almira and I went exploring Athens some more on the metro and ended up at The Mall (literally called, The Mall) and the Olympic Stadium. Although it sounds quite silly that we went to The Mall it gave me a chance to really interact with Athenians. Even though I'm in Greece, much of my interaction is with the refugees (who are mainly Afghanis) or with my team (basically North Americans) or with my roommates, Almira (who is from Russia) and Stephanie (from Ohio). This has truly been a cultural experience.

Thursday was a work day at the Center though. Every Thursday is 'Shower Day'. The men arrive in the morning and shower from about 10 to 2. The women then arrive with the children around 3 and shower until 6. We set up chairs, steep some tea and put out some biscuits before they arrive. We also get the flip-flops, towels, hair brushes, shampoo, etc. ready.

It is a smaller amount of women that come for showers (an almost selective amount) because the ARC can't handle much more. The families come and we all greet each other with a warm 'Salaam!' and three kisses on the cheeks (holding the last one a little longer than the others). The kids then run to the children's room and fight over which video we'll watch (their favorites are Little Mermaid II or Pocahontas). We sit and chat for a while while the older boys take their turn in the showers. The oldest boy in the picture above relishes this time because he is too old to live in the same Sisters of Charity home as his mother and younger siblings. He instead lives in a home with older men, selling trinkets on the street to pay for his food. He is a delight though, very polite.

The highlight of the day was when Carolyn passed out new underwear for the women. Most of the children can't afford to wear any underwear and the others likely have two pairs they rotate. We take so much for granted, even the unmentionables. Most of the women haven't had a bra in years. Stephanie (my roommate) and I decided that when we go back to school we are having a bra drive in the women's dorms. Underwear is light really and if you could see the look on their faces when they get a new pair you know the shipping costs would be worth it. We're still trying to come up with a more catchy name....any suggestions? Bras for Afghanis? Or is it Afghans? (The Office...remember?)

So Thursday was a pretty eye-opening day, but the women are wonderful and love to have their pictures taken. I also became more aware than ever how these refugees are being affected psychologically. Some children are five years old, but still operate as a two-year-old and some women look much older than they really are. Of course, they are all beautiful, but that too can be dangerous. The needs for these people are continuous....

A few things to be in prayer for:
*Almira went to see about an extension for her visa. Each day would cost 50 Euros...a price that isn't consistent for everyone.
*For time for relaxation for the Helping Hands staff here in Athens. Summer means more refugees, more teams and less charitable giving.
*While the last families were showering on Thursday we blew a fuse. We thought it was something quite easy to fix, but it turns out it was the water heater itself. It's questionable whether or not Helping Hands can afford to fix it, but after seeing how necessary such an outreach is, please pray that the funds arrive.

Until next time! Oh! And I have Skype now! Email me if you want to get in touch. Salaam!