I am officially in Greece! Tonight, my teammate Amber and I are traveling by an overnight ferry, arriving on the island of Lesvos tomorrow morning, then settling into a new life, with our new team, and a new ministry. There is a whole story here, a full tale of how God both fashioned my heart and called me into this new thing. The coolest part is that He started the story over three years ago.
In 2015, I grew in awareness and understanding of the conflict in Syria and the refugee crisis. My heart was broken and I was changed. I distinctly recall scouring the internet for information, facts, news about the history of the crisis and the conditions in which refugees were living. I remember fighting guilt for laying comfortably in my bed with sheets and comforters, central heat, a full fridge, and a job to go to the next day. I remember then surrendering my guilt by laying it down, recognizing my privilege, and instead picking up advocacy, and praying in power, knowing that I could take heart, because Christ has overcome the world. Concurrently, I was growing in ministry experiences and in my new career as a pediatric occupational therapist. My heartbreak for suffering of many in our international community never left, and I knew God wanted to do something with it, but just didn’t know how. So I waited, tending to the garden where I was planted, growing in faithfulness and love. In 2017, God revealed to me that there would be change and transition coming. Missions, specifically the World Race was highlighted to me, and I embarked on this life-changing journey.
In August 2018, back at Launch (our week long final pre-departure training), a few of my squad mates and I discussed our hearts and passion for refugees. We discussed the possibility of writing a proposal for a route change for the squad to go to Greece and serve in the refugee camps. One of my squad mates had direct contacts in Greece, and prior experience serving at the camps. She felt it strongly in her heart that this was an opportunity for our squad to pursue. She wrote the proposal, and at the beginning of December, she became the team leader of a team that was heading to Greece. The thing was that I was NOT on that team. My heart was filled with joy that this squad mate was able to lead a team to participate in a ministry that was heavy on her heart, but I still fought disappointment that my team was not going to be a part of it.
Fast forward 1 week. My team leader received a message from the team leader who was leading the team to Greece. The other team leader shared that while praying for Greece, she believed the Lord kept highlighting our team to her. So as a team we discussed, prayed, discussed again, and prayed again. Through this process, Amber and I felt strongly that the Lord would be sending us to Greece, but the remainder of our team did not feel that the entire team would be going. My team leader brought the possibility of the last minute team changes to our Squad Mentor back in the States. After several days of prayer and discussion with our squad’s entire leadership team abroad and back in the US, Amber and I were given the green light to GO! But, we needed to raise just over $500 in 48 hours. Listen… God did it! He funded both of us in a matter of a few hours after sharing this publicly.
It is such a crazy, cool, absolutely WILD reality to witness God work in this way. In theory I “Should NOT” be here. Our route was not heading here, and my team was not heading here. But the Lord brought me here. He worked in direct opposition to what my circumstances presented. He brought US here. He made a way when there was not one. And what is more awesome, is that I got to witness how He planted something in my heart over 3 years ago, and is now bringing me to this amazing level of participation in His plan of hope, healing, and restoration of His people. I am so grateful. Praise God! He is just so good.
I will share more specifics about my heart for refugees and for those who are suffering in my next post. Would you be willing to partner with me in prayer for the hearts of the people we will be reaching? Would you pray for our hearts as a team to be prepared to live and serve in this hard place? I trust the Lord has so much for us in the next five weeks. My hope is that we cling to Him, and point others to Him as we journey forward.
