We arrive at camp in the big van, I’ve not spoken a word until my teammate, Shannon, leans over and asks, “How are you?”
“I’m fine.” I reply. Honestly, I really didn’t know how I was. I wasn’t going to know until I got there.
We met as a group of volunteers for the 4-midnight shift. Our shift leader started to share about the day, and also asked if we had heard about what had happened over the weekend at the camp.
Payden and I both answered and said, “We were involved.” He proceeded to talk about the parable of the feeding of the 5,000 that you can find in Matthew. I perked up. That story had been on my heart since day one here at the refugee camp.
He talked about the miracle, and it wouldn’t it have been a greater miracle had he fed the masses with just one loaf, and one fish? Instead, he took all the by had, no matter the amount, and did something great. And that was the key, He took everything. We have to give everything.
So, Ashley and I headed to the level with mostly Farsi speaking men to guard the gate, prepared to give all we had.
The next eight hours were spent with each other, and about 30 new friends from all over the world. Our job is to make sure no one who doesn’t live on the level gets on to the level. Everyone has an ID card with their face and level number on it. We check it before they come in.
It was a beautiful time of dancing, laughter, Farsi lessons, and enjoying AMAZING food. But I have a funny story I would love to share.
There was a older man who called himself Sultan. (In English, that means king) That isn’t his name, but he wanted us to call him that. We amused him. He immediately fell in love with Ashley, asking her a million questions. It didn’t take long for us to smell his intoxicated state, so we just kept working, and entertaining him.
At one point he asked a question to both of us, or so I thought.
“One minute please.” He held up his finger to me and stared at Ashley. He said she was beautiful, and I was not. The rest of us erupted in laughter.
Later on I went through the same ringer of questions, but I enjoyed being able to tell him, “One minute please,” as I worked alongside Ashley.
Also, one of the translators here made us some sort of chicken. And oh my word. He was so giving, preparing HUGE plates of food for us.
These people care so much. They have such a joy, even through the hell they are living in. They take care of their own, and people not their own.
Also, the entire night while walking around the camp, Jesus sent so many beautiful little girls to love all over me. We held hands, skipped through camp, and embraced as I worked. I know in my soul that precious little girl is dancing with Jesus in heaven now, and that gives me the strength to move on.
**Please continue praying for the family that lost their baby daughter. They have been moved out of the camp, but are still going through the asylum process. The mother is not here in the camp, we aren’t sure where she is.**
