We’ve been in Limassol for the last few weeks and I’ve felt settled into a routine. It’s been so amazing living in a house that has more than one bathroom and more than one kitchen sink! I’m sharing a room for with only one person and it feels normal…we have church on Sunday and we speak English everywhere we go. We have friends here and have our own transportation. We have been blessed with food and sweets on various days and are planning a Thanksgiving meal inviting a few families over at our house. We have a Bible study on Monday nights and are plugged into an anti-trafficking organization. We went to the grand opening of the youth coffee ministry and have been involved with the soccer program here as well. I’ve been able to use my marketing experience in a couple of business meetings and everything feels so home-y…sort of.
On the one hand, it’s been amazing to see how passionate the people here are for Jesus. There are so many different projects and giftings here that it is inspiring! For example, sports ministries, refugee, human trafficking, tv shows, and radio, youth outreach, and each person has a different talent and skill.
It feels like the body of Christ here…we have met family after family, individual after individual who have been here fairly recently (within the last few years) who head organizations and businesses that have a big reach. The most common answer to “what brought you to Cyprus?” is “God” and a knowing laugh and a throwing up of the arms. Hearing these stories and then to see God confirm and work in their lives and then to see the fruit and more stories of God working through them and other people’s stories give me chills.
On the other hand, it is busy and chaotic and there are always people at the house and the days are packed and full. I sometimes find myself going through the motions or rushing through one thing to get to the next (which is reminscent of home) and then getting drained and recovering into my room and reading on my own or getting quiet time and I think this is the tough balance. I didn’t notice it as much in the first 3 months but I have been needing my own space and time to recharge (that is not sleep) but I’m finding I’m having to give something up for it. A couple nights it’s been late (maybe around midnight of being free from group activities), I’m staying up later instead of sleeping right away to recharge. Or if my other teammates are downstairs still socializing, I’ve been finding myself wanting to get that craved quiet space upstairs.
At the end of the day I think Cyprus is the most familiar to home – fellow community of believers, a lot of English speakers, couple of American restaurants, fast wifi, amazing gelato, routine church programs like Sunday service, youth groups, prayer meetings, and Bible studies (and no stomach issues or squatty potties) and it’s great but it almost feels like I’m in my safety bubble, my comfort zone (aside from the long social days) and almost less like I’m across the world on a missions trip.
I think it’s interesting that I’ve been more drained here although I’ve been more physically tired in other countries and I think it’s because of a certain comfort level…maybe because I didn’t have my own room, I didn’t have a place to retreat to so I didn’t think about it as much? Maybe because there are so many more practical ways to serve (inventory, bathroom cleaning, youth ministry, I’m going to be playing violin on Sunday and I’ve been helping with marketing), I’ve become more task focused?
In France we practically served food and drink to refugees and people on the street but we also spent a lot of time talking, sharing and listening. The Camino was building relationships and spending time talking and listening to stories as well as Morrocco. Here, where it looks more practical, it’s also been easier and I sometimes feel more stagnant in this context.
We have another week in Limassol and another week left in Cyprus for squad debrief so will update in another blog. Will need to stop writing for now as I’m sitting in a park bench at dusk and am getting eaten alive with mosquitoes.
