It's been such an incredible, inspiring, and indescribable 12 days in Greece. We left our hometowns not truly knowing what to expect. We left with unanswered questions to what we were going to be doing over there, and still a little scared at what we might be in for.
I can say that I am truly grateful for the opportunity to serve in this capacity. For the opportunity to get to go to this refugee camp in Greece. Even though I was a little bummed I couldn't be in both Moria and Gateways2Life at the same time through out the week, I know that God placed me in the exact spot He wanted me to be.
My heart truly broke for the people in Moria, for the women and for the children who entered Gateways2Life each day and found a safe area outside the walls of the camp.
When the women and children first walked into Gateways, you could see the look of uncertainty on their faces, not sure what to expect here. You could see and feel the drained looks on their faces, the tiredness of being in camp for so long and the longing to want to be out and move on to their next place. They endure the fight through patience each day they are in the camp wondering when or if they will get to move on. What a great opportunity we had here to give them a little bit of comfort and peace when they walked through these doors.
After they sat down, got comfortable, were able to take their showers, and see their children playing and being cared for....by the time they left Gateways they had the biggest smile on their faces and couldn't wait to be back next time. It was great to be apart of their lives, even if it was for a short time. It was in the times that I sometimes felt as if I was wanting to be able to do more, when a little girl reminded me that all I had to do was simply smile at her and she ran to my arms. The feeling of just wanting to know that people were there who cared about them, even if was just a simple smile or hug.
Gateways2Life is an amazing organization that allows the women in Moria to come, relax, and be able to take clean showers in a safe environment. There is so much that this organization plans to accomplish as they continue with their mission and calling, one step at a time. I feel so blessed to have been apart of their grand opening week, to be able to help them get this ministry off the ground and going strong. The people we met that operate this place will forever be in my heart and prayers. They are doing great things and I can't wait to see how God works in this place in the days, weeks, months, and years to come.
We experienced joy and many tears, we endured the hardships and seen several God moments we will never forget. We were able to see God move in so many ways during our stay here and even though we couldn't "fix" everything, we left our mark. We were able to shine a little light in the darkness and make their world a little brighter. In the times that I felt like I could have done more, feeling like I only got to touch the surface of many issues that the people in this place face each and everyday, the different acts that each one of us were able to encounter I have come to realize that we were only meant to do and encounter certain people and help with certain things. Although it may have seemed like a small part to play in our minds, it was just what was needed in the hearts of the people there. "But you are not like that, for you are a chosen people. You are royal priests, a holy nation, God's very own possession. As a result, you can show others the goodness of God for he called you out of the darkness into this wonderful light. "'Once you had no identity as a people; now you are God's people. Once you received no mercy; now you received God's mercy." 1 Peter 2:9-10
It was hard to leave the people there knowing that most of them still had a long stay to go and many trials to endure during their stay. I, for one, am one who likes to be able to finish a project that I've started, so it was hard to have to leave knowing that the work wasn't finished yet. My prayers are with the next team of people who come to help, to continue the work we started and to water the seeds that we planted, to continue to pave the way for the next team that comes and the team after that and so on. I pray for each team that comes will leave there own unique mark on the people there. That if any of us ever get a chance to come back to this place, we get to see how our one small act had a huge impact for those to come.
Even the smallest gesture can reap a harvest!
Blessings,
