We have all seen the news and given our opinions on the current refugee situation in Europe. This shouldn’t come as a surprise but the news often leaves out a majority of the real story so I want to share with you 3 different families real stories.
A beautiful woman and her 9 and 10-year-old sons came into the clothing tent at camp. They looked exhausted, cold and wet. She asked me for some dry pants, socks and shoes, She spoke English so I told her, “congratulations on making it to Greece. I can’t imagine how long and hard the journey has been so far.” She smiled and then her story came rushing out. I didn’t ask. She wanted to tell me. So here is their story.
8 months ago her husband had to flee Syria because of ISIS. He safely made it to his destination where he is trying to start a new life for them. About a week ago, this woman and her sons began to make the journey. Their home was no longer safe and they needed to be reunited with their father. They walked from Syria to Turkey. It took 5 days. They had to hide at times for fear of being sent back. They finally made it to the coast of Turkey. They paid 3,500 euros to take a rubber boat across the 4-mile stretch of sea. They left around 4 in the morning and made it to Greece around 8. I saw them at about 11 am that same morning- Drenched and cold.
They were kind, thankful, and full of smiles. The boys and the woman could not have been sweeter. They blessed me way more that day then I blessed them.
A Lebanese family came into the community center. I was able to spend a full day with them, talking through hand gestures and broken English. The dad was 27, the mom was 22, and the kids were 5, 3 and 7 months old. The dad’s brother was also with them. He was 21. Once again, they offered to tell us their story and showed us pictures and videos of the journey.
They left Lebanon 5 days ago. They had to flee because of Hezbollah. They didn’t want to be recruited and they were also scared for their family. They flew from Lebanon to Turkey. Once they arrived in Turkey, they took the rubber boat to Greece. They actually showed us a video from the boat ride over. The boat is so full of people that no one can sit down. They are all standing. The seas were choppy and cold on their journey and it took almost 4 hours to make it across the 4-mile stretch.
Around lunchtime, the father went out into the city to buy his family lunch. He came back with lunch for Jess and me also. This family has literally given up almost everything to flee for safety, yet they still buy us lunch. Humbled to my core is how I feel here in Greece.
The next family walked into the community center around 1:00. They had 5 children. The mother spoke English. She was warm and friendly from the get go and you couldn’t help but be drawn to her warm presence. The children were adorable and full of laughter and love. The mom was from Morocco and her husband was from Syria. They lived in Turkey until a few days ago. Their children weren’t allowed to go to school because they were Syrian. They had to leave to give their children a better life, a better chance.
They also took the 4-mile journey through the cold and choppy waters. A 45- year-old woman on the boat was sick before the rubber boat even took off. The cold water only made it worse. The woman died in the mother’s lap only a few miles off the shore of Greece.
Sitting with this family in the community center was not full of sadness but instead full of hope, light and love. They were beyond gracious and the kids gave me so many kisses my heart was going to burst!
These are the stories you aren’t hearing. Each of these families is fleeing from terrorist groups, they are fleeing for freedom, and they are leaving everything they know and have to give their children a better life.
I haven’t even been here a full week and God has already rocked my world through the people I have met.
Love is universal and has no language barriers
Joy really can be found in the darkest of times
I am so humbled to be here and to have the opportunity to speak with amazing people who are teaching me what true strength and graciousness looks like.
