Why am I even here? What am I doing here?
The most important question anyone can ask is, “Why?” (Spoiler alert: the most important answer is, “Jesus.”). If we can understand our ‘why’, then we can survive any ‘what’. Let me tell you two quick stories about how my ‘why’ in Greece.
I often work in Moria, the large government camp where all of the refugees on Lesvos are officially registered. Right now, Moria is housing anywhere between 3,000 and 5,000 refugees. I work in the clothing tent, distributing emergency clothing for refugees who are wet from the crossing from Turkey or who don’t have clothes. It can be a stressful job because we often have to turn people away due to lack of supplies or their comparative lack of need.
On Friday, I was helping filter people through the line and young Syrian man was standing by me, just watching, leaning against the wall politely and calmly. After a while, I turned to ask his name. His name is Swar. He’s a 20 yr old Syrian from Damascus who he speaks Arabic and Farsi. He left his entire family behind to seek work in the UK. I know enough Arabic to figure out what people need, but I know absolutely no Farsi. I was struggling with a group of Afghanis (who speak Farsi), and Swar suddenly started speaking from his position against the wall. He talked to the group, motioned to their pants and shoes, gave a wave of the hand and they walked away. I looked at Swar and just laughed; suddenly I had a partner, I had a team!
For the next three hours, Swar and I filtered the line together. A group would come to the line and Swar and I would tag team in Farsi and Arabic. There were many groups where I didn’t even say a word; Swar would take the lead in Farsi and filter the entire group for me! Swar would hear their story, translate their needs into Arabic for me, and then we would decide what the group needed. Nods, shakes of the heads, confused faces, so-so hand motions, raised eyebrows, laughs, smiles and the 20 Arabic words I know were all we needed to create a dynamic duo.
Swar and I spent hours together yesterday, and they were some of the most enjoyable hours I’ve had at Moria. He got me tea, passed me a cigarette (which I didn’t smoke but put behind my ear like a cool kid), and we used a basic translation book to talk back and forth. He translated everything for me, took the lead with Farsi speakers, was strong when other refugees pushed back, but would give me a look when he knew we needed to bend the rules. Swar changed everything for me that afternoon. We connected like old friends, and understood each other and enjoyed each other’s presence in such an easy, natural way. He and I are true friends, and I’m so thankful to know him.
On Wednesday, I was working the clothing tent at Moria when a man came through asking for clothes. We asked him where he was from to figure out what language he speaks. He was Syrian, but he said he spoke many languages. We asked what languages and he said “Arabic, Farsi, Kurdish, Spanish and a little French.” Spanish?! Another volunteer and I couldn’t believe it! We immediately broke out the Spanish and were off. His name is Abdal, and he is 30 yrs. old from Aleppo in Syria. He has a wife, two little girls, and a young boy. He has been in camp for a few days, and spent two weeks getting to Greece from Syria. But the worst part of his story comes before he came to Greece.
Five years ago, a bomb blew up Abdal’s house. His two-story family home was turned into dust, and in a few seconds he lost everything. For the past five years, Abdal and his family would travel every month to a new house in a new city to outrun the civil war. For the past five years, Abdal has never been settled, his kids haven’t gone to school, he hasn’t had a job, and they can never unpack their few belongings. Abdal hasn’t had a home, a community, a job, or any resemblance of security. Every time a plane or helicopter flies overhead, Abdal instinctively jerks his head skyward and prepares to run.
Abdal and I spoke for an hour in Spanish. It was a surreal hour; I’m an American in Greece talking in Spanish with a Kurdish Syrian. It proved that God is a creative God with a wild sense of humor and who loves to defy expectations. Abdal is a great father who is proud of his kids, excited to share his story, and is quick to smile and laugh. Through my second language and his fourth, we were able to connect, share, and just be two men talking about their lives. It was simple conversation that shook so much dust off his weary body and showed me my true ‘why’.
Swar and Abdal are the reasons why I’m here. But I’m not here to give them clothes, water, or food. I’m here to connect with them as people. I’m here to sit with them, look them in the eye, and listen. I’m here to make them known so they know they matter. I’m here to show them the love of Jesus however I can. They are loved and known by our Savior and I’m called, and excited, to share that love with them. I’m not here just to give them clothing and send them on their way; I’m here to connect, relate, and hang out with them, and I just happen to be doing that outside a clothing tent in a refugee camp.
Jesus is my ‘why’; the clothes, food, and water are merely the ‘what’.
What is your ‘why’?
Swar and Abdal are just two of the tens of thousands of men, women, and children who are fleeing death and destruction. Read Matthew 25 and please pray about how you can be involved. Maybe it’s coming to Europe, maybe it’s dedicated prayer, maybe it’s getting involved in refugee/immigrant ministry where you live, or maybe it’s simply sharing stories like these.
One easy way you can serve in this crisis is through your financial support. I am experiencing the Body of Christ in a completely different way in Greece (Euro Relief is staffed by workers from 15+ countries), and I have to call upon the Body to support my work in Greece. The Body has already provided $200 a month towards my work in Greece, but I am in need of other $1,200 a month. Is this how you can share in the serving in this crisis? Please prayerfully consider joining me in ministry through your giving.
If you have any questions about the situation, my work here, or what God is doing, please let me know! [email protected].
