This month our squad has been in Thessaloniki, Greece working with the refugees in a number of different ways. For 3 days I got to spend time with this beautiful Afgan family who has fled their home in the hopes of finding safety.
The family talked to me about how they traveled by foot for days and have been sleeping on the ground because they had no way to get to the refugee camp where they could be living in a tent and provided meals for. They explained how they want to work and sustain themselves but there are no opportunities and the border is closed so they can’t leave Greece.
Mrs. Sabeva told me how her husband was taken by the taliban and they can not find him. They have no clue if he is dead or alive. She explain that it is hard being a single mother and trying to take care of her kids, make plans, and provide safety on her own. Her oldest son Jim and I visited about our relationship with God and his beliefs as being raised Muslim and I shared with Him the Gospel.
He told me about how he and all of his siblings love studying and learning. Their mother is a teacher but they feel no hope for a future. His dream would be to go to university now that he is done with grade school.
Ashwa had her 14th birthday and didn’t have her favorite meals or cake as normal. Ansa, Mavya, and Moz have some of the worst cases of chickenpoxs I’ve seen. They have no sight of what their future will look like. They feel stuck.
The many stories shared with me are so heavy but God has also allowed me to see and share beauty with this family. For 3 days in a row they invited me to sit on the blanket that is their current home. We visited and laughed. We prayed together under the name of Jesus. We played hand clapping games. Sometimes we just enjoyed the presence of one another. We sang happy birthday. The youngest girl clung to me with huge kiss after kiss on the cheek, snuggles, and handholding.
I also began to get to see prayers answered. The final day I saw them I told them how I had been up the night before praying for them and for them to safely get to the camp they are assigned to as soon as possible. They told me the train station had finally been open after about a week of the workers on strike and that night they were going to take a train to the camp.
They thanked me for my prayers and for the love. They prayed that God would protect me and bless me greatly. They invited me to come have a meal with them if I am ever here again when they are back on their feet. I feel so abundantly blessed to have met this family. Not because of the things I did or the things they said. But because I know they saw more than me in the time spent. They saw Christ’s love and began to show Christ’s love. I was beyond excited to tell them goodbye for the last time because I knew a prayer was answered. And I’m beyond excited to continue praying for this family.
I am praying that through the hard conditions of the camp, they could still see joy and bring joy to those around them. I pray God would place Christians around them who would loving encourage and stand by their side. I pray for job opportunities to arise. I pray the children would be able to start school this year. I pray God would use this family’s love and life to transform the lives of others. And most of all, I pray they would come to know Him and the truth, love and light of Jesus Christ.
Would you please please join with me in prayer for this family and the positive impact they could have for the people who surround them!
