This month we spent at the refugee camp in Idomoni which is at the border of Greece and Macedonia. The first couple days that we spent at the camp, it was filled with so many people. They came from Morocco, Iran, Pakistan and so many other countries. But the border was only open for people who were from Syria, Iraq, or Afghanistan, all others couldn’t cross. They had all come hoping to make it somewhere better only to be stuck at the refugee camp with no where else to go. They couldn’t go back and couldn’t move on. Tents were set up all over the train tracks. Walking around you would see men playing soccer in between all the lines of port a potties and people washing their clothes in the little running water they had in the camp. They had only what they brought and that was not very much.
For the first two days we had the opportunity to help hand out food and water to all the people at the camp. Meals were being served all the time and new busses would come full of people. We got to talk with many of the refuges and got to hear their stories of where they came from and where were headed.
Unfortunately, after the first two days of us serving at the camp, the Greece Police evacuated the camp, removing all of the refugees that would not be able to pass on to Macedonia. At that point we did not know what there rest of ministry would look like.When we were allowed back the next day the camp was empty, and from there on out it was only going to be used as a border crossing. With those changes our team was put in charge of clothing distribution.
Bus after bus of people would arrive, as the people came out they would then walk through, passing each tent picking up blankets, food, and any clothing that they needed and could carry. We were able to help distribute clothing for the men, women, and children traveling through. We spend about a week working the over night shift. Passing out hats, gloves, scarves and jackets to as many people as we could. The nights were cold and dark and it seemed as if more people came through the night then in the morning.
Ministry looked different throughout the month and the police got stricter and stricter with how they would allow the volunteers to serve the refugees. So on our last day of ministry which was also christmas eve we went to Eko, a Gas station, which was the stop that each bus had to make before they were able to head to the border.
The gas station was filled with lines of busses with people just waiting for the border to allow them to cross. We spent the day getting to talk to people. My teammates and I found a group of young kids and started throwing a tennis ball back and forth with them. The kids were laughing and running around and just being kids. It made me realize that they probably don’t get that often and that by just taking the time to play with them and laugh could make the world of a difference. They are now living their lives walking from country to country with very little. They don’t get enough rest or food or time to be a kid. It was really good to see them having fun and allowing us to play with them. Seeing them have fun and being joyful filled me with so much joy.
There was a group of young men who came and joined in on our fun after a while. They stood watching and laughing at the kids. Only one spoke english but he would translate for the others.They had already been at the gas station for five hours and there was no telling when they would be leaving. These men were from Iran hoping that the border would allow them to cross when they got there. They were heading to Germany to find better jobs to have a better life. They left their home because the amount of jobs available is scarce. Their is just not enough there for everyone. These men were still so full of life and so happy even with the things they were going through.
They told us about their lives and what they came from and their plans for the future. They taught us some phrases in Farsi (the Iranian language) and wrote out our names in Farsi and they even asked me to sing them a song.
At the end of the day when we had to leave they were still there and my teammates got to pray with them and give them a bible in their language. They were so open to what we had to say and I wish I could have done more for them. I wonder if they crossed the border and how their journey is going and I pray for their safety and that Lord is working in each of their lives.
This month has for sure been life changing for me. I have seen how even in the smallest of things can effect someones life. It was sad to see the way these people travel and have lived, the little they have and the hardships they are enduring. It really showed me how Joy isn’t dependent on the amount of things you have or the comfort you live in but on the Lord Jesus.
