One of my biggest fears is becoming of the world.
So a lot of the time, even when I’m feeling really excited about something, if I think it seems like a worldly response, I keep it to myself. I’d rather seem emotionless than shallow or of this world.
So is it true that I don’t care what other people think of me, or do I care too much?
When we arrived here in Greece I have no idea what to expect. Honestly, I was perfectly ready to be set up in a big gym like set up and have them tell us to all pitch our tents and be ready to stay like that for the remainder of our time.
But just like our ferry ride, my expectations were shattered.
We were put up in astounding apartments. 2, maybe 3, people to a room. Our own bathroom; kitchen; sink, kitchen, stove, oven, the whole shebang. The building that I’m in has never been used before. We are the first people to use it. You cannot imagine how nice it is here. The windows open 2 ways. There are 2 doors to the balcony. There is cable.
Then we go to work. With the refugees. Who just came off a raft. A 20 person raft, with 40-60 people jammed on it. Who lost their loves ones. Who saw things I could never in a million years imagine seeing.
There are these two extremes happening all in one day. I feel like I’m living a double life.
But I don’t feel guilty of it?
Is that because I understand that the Lord and the people with Euro Relief and Samaritan’s Purse want us to rest after these crazy work days? Or am I just comfortable having hot water for tea and a nice bed and warm water to shower with?
Today was our rest day, while they’re trying to figure out a schedule for our 7 teams, some of us went into town to go to the market.
A few of our squad mates got a ride from one of the gentleman who work at the apartments, while me and 2 of my squad mates continued to walk. We had never been there, but they’d given us directions so we felt pretty confident.
Basically, we left at 2pm, and didn’t get back until close to 6pm. It took a little longer than we thought. But man, Greece is beautiful.
We ended up finding the market and buying what we came for and then started heading back, and started seeing refugees everywhere.
They were walking the opposite direction of us.
I don’t know where all of the camps are on the island of Lesvos, but the one that we work at was the opposite direction. So the fact that all of the refugees were walking from the unknown area was strange to me.
And I know that I know little to nothing on the scale of what there is to know about all of this, but when we got closer to where we are staying, I saw them walking right by where we stay…
Hundreds of refugees walk by the apartments that we have been staying at, and I’ve just had no idea.
I have been sitting sipping my hot tea, in my dry clothes, under a warm blanket with a meal in front of my 3 times a day with snacks to share.
I’ve really only been here two days, and I’d wondered how I hadn’t choked back tears yet, but that was it for me.
They walk right by us.
I want to understand why we have this so good, but I also get that I am never going to understand everything. That we need energy so that we can completely give everything we have. Then come back and refuel.
So as I sit here with my hot tea in hand, I am going to pray. Because what else can I do? When you feel helpless go to the One who has power over all.
As I sit here with my hot tea in hand I am going to prepare for my next shift when I might hand out hot tea to a refugee. Because the nights here are bitterly cold.
As I sit here with my hot tea in hand I am going to ask God why. Because He can handle that. He wants to comfort me in that. Because He is that one I run too.
As I sit here with my hot tea in hand I am going to cry, because my heart breaks for these people as does my God’s.
As I sit here with my hot tea in hand I am going to ask you to continue to pray alongside me for all that is happening here. There is such hope, yet such distress still going on.
As I sit here with my hot tea in hand I ask that every time you get a cup of tea or coffee you pray with me for this. It doesn’t have to be long, it doesn’t have to be complex. It can be as simple as, “Jesus, Thank you for loving us, thank you for taking care of us. Please continue to watch over and guide the refugee situation. You know every person and the whole situation. Please continue to intervene in their lives. Amen.”
