Hello All,
The last time I was able to get information out to you was about a month ago in Serbia, so I apologize for the tardiness in updating progress. In all honesty this month has flown by, and there has been so much that has happened.
Tirana, the Albanian Capital.
Early October was filled with a debrief session in Tirana, Albania. All 7 Y-squad teams met up for about a week of processing, assessment and checking of heart posture. It was a much needed rest for some, but for me personally, it held much more stress than solace. The culmination of my time in Tirana eventually led to some individual spiritual growth and understanding, but in a more practical summation, my team, Tolmao, lost a member, Joy. She had been with us for a month, and leadership decided that she would be better used and implemented on another team. As it stands now, team Tolmao is the smallest team on Y-Squad, boasting 5 members.
Losing a team member is demoralizing and holds an amount of disillusionment, but regardless, God will be glorified.
Joy has been moved to a female team named “Embrace the Chaos”, or ETC for short, and I have complete faith that God will use her well there.
After Tirana, our whole squad headed West to a smaller city in Albania called Lezhe (Lay-Zuh).
Lezhe, Albania Countryside
A powerful man of God named George Ridley headed up the camp that we worked with in Lezhe, and he was able to direct the 50 people in our squad while speaking wise, true, albeit harsh, words to us. During our stay we maintained and expanded the grounds of the farm/camp, as many of us worked on construction projects, demolition projects, gardening, caring and cleaning of pigs, goats, sheep, and dogs. The entire camp had no vacancy for work. In the morning George would meet us with a proverb, and would instill in us values, especially hard work unto the Lord. Throughout the day we were given the opportunity to work hard with righteousness for the kingdom of God.
George directing our team during a workday.
In a practical sense we were making money for the farm that we were stationed on, which functioned as a relief spot for refugees during the Kosovo conflict and now functioned as a camp for youth. In the grander scheme of things, our work helped bolster Light Source International Ministry in the UK, which is currently helping to provide buildings for things like schools in Uganda. George had just returned from Uganda when we arrived on location in Albania, and he felt that it was important enough to leave his work there to come and pour into us
However, less than a week into working, our squad mentors, Heather and Benita, told us that we may be leaving Albania early to bring help to another location. Soon after, it was revealed that we would be leaving for Greece, and serving on the island of Lesvos in association with Samaritan’s Purse, NATO, and the European Union relief teams. Lesvos is a prime location for refugees to enter Europe and the rest of the western world, and refugees are coming there in the thousands.
Leaving the ferry that took us from Athens, Greece to Lesvos, Greece, and boarding the bus that will take us the rest of the way on land.
Today, I arrived in Lesvos and am being briefed on the situation here. The refugee camp that I will be working in was made to house 250 to 300 people, but is grossly overpopulated with about 2,000 refugees. The need is large, and that is why we have been reassigned to this location. Currently, we are on the front lines. Our first teams are heading in to work with the refugees tonight, and I will begin tomorrow morning.
Please keep us in your prayers as we minister to these individuals.
Pray for Safety, Hope, and Prudence.
I hope to keep you all updated on this situation.
Thank you for reading, and please if you have the ability to give we could use your help.
You can give to the refugees through this link: http://give.adventures.org/campaign.asp?campaignid=1058
Also, if you find it in your heart, I need help with finances as well. I am not fully funded yet, and I am very close to meeting my goal. Please give so that I can continue to minister to the needs of the nations. Click on the “Support Me” tab above to donate.
Again, Thank You all for reading and checking in. Your prayers have been such a help to us here, and we know that we are being prayed for.
Thank You, and God Bless.
