Month 2: Albania. At least it was supposed to be. We got to Albania to find out that we would be working on a farm that sustains Light Force, an international christian camp for kids. The farm completely sustains the camp so that they don’t have to get money from the government or donors.
We were Working for George for less than a week when we got the news that we were needed in Greece to help with the Syrian refugee crises. So off to Lesvos we went. It was roughly a two day journey. One 12 hour bus ride, a 10 hour wait in Athens and one 12 hour fairy later, we arrived on the Island of Lesvos.
We arrived Friday morning, got situated into our hotel and went straight to the camp. We are working alongside Euro Relief and Samaritans Purse while we’re out here. We are the first people the refugees see. They’re coming from Turkey in small rafts, maybe 50 people per raft.
The journey is only 4 miles a cross the sea but it’s a very rough ride. It can take anywhere from an hour to 5 hours. During the ride, many rafts have flipped, people have fallen off and they’ve lost family members.
It’s a very difficult site to see when these people arrive at the camp. They’re soaked, many are in tears and the babies are freezing. We get to give them warm clothes, food and a place to stay for a few hours until their bus comes to take them to the next point in their journey.
The camp is made for about 2 to 300 people, but they’re receiving thousands of people daily. It’s very chaotic and packed.
I feel like I’m rambling, but there’s just a lot going on so it’s difficult to put it all into words. It’s hard to explain what we’re seeing and experiencing. Its sad and eye opening. We’re on the front lines of what we see on the news every day. It’s emotionally difficult, but I can’t describe how happy I am to be here. The help is much needed and, even though it’s only a small moment, we can still touch the lives of these people. I know God has us here for a huge purpose and I’m so glad I can be His love for these people.
Please pray for my squad and I as we’re out here. They’re going to be long shifts and we’ll be seeing a lot. Pray for our emotional and physical health as well as for the refugees as make this journey and continue along the way.
FUNDRAISING: I’m so close to being fully funded. I have to be funded by December. Please partner with me and help me reach my end goal so I can completely focus out here. Just click the “support me” link on the blog or simply share my blog with others. I appreciate you all so much and all that you’ve done!
