While in Athens, our team was able to volunteer with two refugee centers, participating in many different facets of their ministries. It was an incredible opportunity to take part in helping them, and get to know the people that came through the doors.
Speaking with the refugees that came through proved to be challenging sometimes due to language barriers. At one time, a minimum of 5 languages could be spoken at the same time by people from all across the world. However, the conversations that happened when we found a common language were incredible.
One such instance I will never forget. A man walked into the room where we were helping with clothing distribution. He sat down and waited for his turn to go find clothes. He looked to be in his forties, and had no family with him. I walked over and said hello, and he greeted me in perfect English. We began talking, and he told me his story, and how he had come to Greece. He had fled from Afghanistan and arrived three weeks prior to our meeting. Leaving all his family and possessions behind, he now had nothing to his name. I asked if there was a special reason that he had fled. Then he told me a story that, though it is awful someone should go through, is not so uncommon.
One of the few Christians in his home town, he received a lot of persecution from the Muslim believers around him. The persecution grew to be violent, as he showed me by pulling up his shirt. There were several scars covering his abdomen that appeared to be old burns, and two scars that he said were knife wounds. These were received by the hands of his neighbors. Fleeing this, he left behind his family, who were also Muslims, and came to Greece. I wanted to go much more in depth, ask many more questions about all of his experiences, but time was cut short when his name was called to go receive clothing.
However, what I learned, is that each refugee has a story. None of it has been easy. The ones that reach safety can count so many others that did not. All are from different cultures, religions, and countries, yet all come together into a foreign country with the same needs. This man’s story isn’t unique. He is one of thousands that share it. But his faith and courage are something that so many could learn from. Being in Greece for the month, and seeing first-hand the crisis that is forming in Europe, gave me a totally new perspective and compassion for this.
I was reading in Proverbs during our team bible study and a verse really convicted me. Proverbs 24:12 “Don’t excuse yourself by saying, ‘look, we didn’t know.’ For God understands all hearts, and he sees you.” There are too many issues in the world for just one person to begin to touch, but I’ve recently been convicted of how I live my life back in America. Here, on the Race, I’m doing ministry full time. But It’s made me think about the changes I want to make when I come back, and how I can help to begin to touch just a couple of issues that exist in this world. However that looks, I want God to see my heart with no excuses. Whatever that may be, I want to be involved in something that is making a long term impact to touch the hearts of people with the love of Christ.
