“Thank you, thank you!”
The broken English rang out in the evening air, as I handed person after person food, water, a bus ticket or dry clothes. Many elderly woman would reach up and pinch my cheeks or give me kisses with a smile on their face, despite the treacherous boat ride they just had across the Aegean Sea.
These people, whether they’re Syrian, Iranian, Afghani, or anyone else who is making the journey during this refugee crisis, are so thankful. They’re always willing to help whether it’s picking up rubbish, passing out food, or translating for us. My time on Lesvos Island working with the refugees was a time to remember.
They thought I was helping them, but really they were helping me. They taught me so much about what it means to be thankful. To live, love and have fun no matter your circumstance. To be thankful for the family and friends you have. To be thankful for the clothes on your back. For the simple comfort a beanie offers on a chilly night. For a school-sized backpack, with broken straps, that has all your belongings. For a warm hug from a loved one or a stranger. For a smile. For little glow sticks. For chocolate.
One evening my fellow volunteer and friend, Yiannis and I were given the opportunity to pass out little glow sticks to the kids who were waiting in line to enter the camp. I remember some were crying due to exhaustion and hunger, but when we came around and gave them the glow sticks, their tears stopped and curiosity lit up their faces. As I wove my way through the crowd, with Yiannis close behind me, many kids came up to us with now smiles in the darkness reaching for a light. They weren’t the only ones either. Many adults with childish grins reached their hands out as well, who said glow sticks were just for kids?
It’s little moments like those that make me wonder, would I be thankful for a glow stick? Would I be thankful despite the fact I’m waiting in line, my clothes are wet, and I have utterly no idea what is going on, or when I’ll be let inside?
So, what am I thankful for?
I’m thankful for this amazing opportunity God has given me to serve Him.
For my wonderful new family I have in my team whom I love dearly.
For my chill Y-Squad.
For all the new awesome friendships I’ve made.
For God teaching me to love others deeply while I have the time to love them. That despite the fact leaving these new friendships is hard and unpleasant, He will give me the grace and ability to do it. And now, I have friends literally all over the world. How neat is that?
For chocolate. Most people like chocolate. That’s one of the things I mentioned earlier that people were thankful for. I, as the sneaky volunteer I was, would carry chocolate in my pockets while I was at camp to pass out to kids. When I gave a kid a piece of chocolate and they weren’t expecting it… It was so fun. I got so much joy from seeing them happy. I’m thankful for moments like those.
I’m thankful for my loving family. For everything they’ve done for me while I was at home and even now, I miss them so much but their support means a ton.
For all my friends back home. Miss y’all!
Something else God tight me while in Greece was, to let go of things from my past that were holding me back from moving forward in life. To give my troubles to Him. That when I’m in doubt He’s not and He’ll take care of me. Many of my new friends helped me do this whether they realized it or not. They asked me questions, talked to me, and just their person in general helped me grow closer to God in order to see what I needed to change in my life.
Like my amazing friend Amina, who is an Australian and was also a volunteer. Her and I had so many hours of conversation that were silly, serious, fun, weird and awesome. Amina and her boyfriend, Thomas (also an Australian and friend of mine) taught me how to be an Aussie and I tried to speak like one. Another person was my friend Amir. He was at camp as a Farsi translator during the first 4 weeks I was there. He helped me perfect my British accent (cause he’s from England), but also things he said made me challenge myself and think.
That leads me to another reason I believe my squad was called to Lesvos Greece. To be able to meet all these volunteers and make lasting friendships with them. I know for a fact they’ve changed my life and I’m so glad that I’ve had the opportunity to meet them and call them friends, and maybe I’ve made an impact on their lives as well.
I am so thankful for what has happened in my life and on this trip thus far and I cannot wait to see what the rest of life brings me.
I’m thankful for wet shoes and warm hugs. I got that title from walking back to my apartment the last day I was in Greece. It was raining out and my canvas shoes were completely soaked through. We were about halfway back home when one of our volunteer friends pulled up next to us on his motor bike and said goodbye to us. We hadn’t been able to connect with him before we left due to all of our opposite shifts at camp. In that moment I was thankful for wet shoes and a goodbye hug. Goodbyes are hard, but when it’s a goodbye with a fellow believer in Christ, it’s never really goodbye.
If you couldn’t tell, this was my Thanksgiving post. It may be a little late but all of it is still true.
UPDATES!
FINANCIAL:
Currently, I am only $491 from being FULLY FUNDED!! I am so close to meeting my deadline which is coming up on the 21st of December. Please prayerfully consider sharing my blog posts and or donating! Every donation counts and makes a huge difference. If 25 people donated about $20 each, I would make it! Believe it!
SOUTH AFRICA:
I’m now currently in South Africa working with a church and the rest of the girls from my squad to throw Christmas parties for kids in the local villages and to feed them as well. Christmas parties in SA are a lot different than IL, let me tell you. Instead of freezing to death, you’re sweating like its the hottest day in August, and you just played a 90 minute soccer match in the scorching sun. Which, I basically did with about 4 of the younger boys. All of them, had way more skill than I. In SA, their main language is English while there are also their native tribe languages which there are 11 of.
We’re also going to perform in the church’s Christmas Eve play and my squad mates and I are learning a dance for it. I’ll just say, there could be a throw down.
Thanks so much for taking your time to read this! I hope y’all are doing well! Thank you for your support! God bless!
Cheers!
