This will be my last blog post from Greece. Sunday morning we leave Leptokarya to take a 7 hour bus to Athens. From Athens we fly to Amsterdam and spend the night. Monday from Amsterdam we fly to Chicago arriving at O'Hare around 2pm.
While in many ways I don't understand my experience here are a few joys, sorrows, and lessons in relation to my leaving Greece:
Joys about returning to America:
Returning to the Sunday night prayer gathering at Moody
Flushing toilet paper
My Ukulele
Good black coffee
Fresh air non-second hand smoke infused
Internet on my phone
Understanding what people are saying
Going to my church
Drying clothes in a drier
Sorrows about leaving Greece:
Not hearing the Greek language
No more Cappucino Freddos
No more (good) Souvlaki
Not being near the Sea
No more stumbling over ruins
No more gelato
No more white houses with blue trim
No more bakeries
No more quiet hours (aka nap time)
No more (socially accpeted) olive oil on everything
Not knowing when/if I will be back
Saying difficult goodbyes
Lessons I have learned:
Daily learning who God is
What it means to live in simplicity
To learn you have to take risks
How much I appreciate Moody
God is faithful
All that God does is beautiful
The power of prayer
In Him we live and move and have our being
So long lovely land
Friday, October 18, 2013
Saturday, October 12, 2013
Break My Heart. Greece Post 8
September 23-29 Ministry Week
This trip I have often been praying, "Break my heart for what breaks Yours." God answered my prayer by daily opening my eyes, splitting my heart, tearing my comfortable known world and showing me the injustice that has began to abound in His world. Our group was split into three focus groups; sex trafficking, TESOL, and evangelism. I was in the prayer for those in sex trafficking group.
Monday: We worked with a ministry that goes to the brothels in Athens and talks with the women and creates relationships with them. They offer their help, guided by the love of God, to these women in extreme compassion. As we reached the ministry we were informed that there were over 200 brothels within a 1km radius of the very building we were in at that moment. Prostitution is legal in Greece, and is seen as a part of society. Our purpose of the day was to walk through brothel row and pray. We left the building, and after a two minute walk, I saw the first light. It hung dimly above a door. It looked normal. Then I saw the next, and the next, soon they were on both sides. My stomach sank. I was sick beyond my own understanding. Frozen. Tears were filling my eyes as I thought that there were girls, no different from me, on the other side of that door whose vulnerability has been tainted. And here I was. Free.
We went back to the room were we talked about what we experience. I conveyed my anger, sadness, and confusion. The leader of this group then spoke truth that is still ringing in my mind. "Our God is Holy and just. If you feel this way, imagine how He feels." God hates sin and he hates to see his creation in this position. He is Holy and just and will redeem.
Tuesday: We went in smaller groups of 5 to Christian refugees house, encouraging them and praying for them. It was humbling to see 10 people crammed into a small house where they all lived, and yet they extending their hospitality.
Wednesday: There was a prayer walk for a neighborhood in Greece. It is known for being the most populated region of Athens, yet there is only one known Christian family. We prayed in pairs for God to bring salvation to the land, and that the streets would declare His glory.
Thursday: A group of us went to a worship service of a ministry, then got to join them in their outreach to drug addicts. I have never been exposed to something like this and honestly it was haunting. I saw images I will never un-see, and the Lord definitely broke my heart yet again. The factor that struck me the most were the volunteers of the ministry. They looked at these drug addicts with such compassion that pierced my fear. I later found out that a majority of the people volunteering were saved by this very ministry. One man had been off of the streets for 1 month and 5 days, and each day was counted as a success. All he wanted to do was tell those stuck in the very sin he was entangled in of the freedom in Christ
Friday: Rest Day
Saturday: We helped with a Kids Fest to reach out to the same community we prayed for on Wednesday. I was with the Face Painting group. That night I turned girls into kitties and princesses, and boys into superheroes.
Sunday: I woke up early, and since it was my last full day in Athens, I set out. I went to one of the Squares, and sat. I then heard singing. It was coming from a small Orthodox church near me. It sounded like the service had already started, but I entered. Idols and incense clouded my vision. I sat in one of the chairs, the only one under the age of 40 there. I watched as the attendees kissed the pictures, lit candles, and made the sign of the cross. This felt like a Holy place. As C.S. Lewis says in Till We Have Faces, "Why must holy places be dark places." This was dark. In my mind I pictured Jesus shouting "LOOK AT ME!!! LOOK AT ME!!!" Yet, they looked to Paul and Mary.
Greece, you break my heart.
I have learned that while this land is beautiful, it's just a shadow. It's a mirage. From the distance it's wonderful and perfect, as soon as you go to touch it and experience it, it vanishes. What you are left is dry dirt. Dirt. Tainted Sand.
God redeem Your land. Amen.
This trip I have often been praying, "Break my heart for what breaks Yours." God answered my prayer by daily opening my eyes, splitting my heart, tearing my comfortable known world and showing me the injustice that has began to abound in His world. Our group was split into three focus groups; sex trafficking, TESOL, and evangelism. I was in the prayer for those in sex trafficking group.
Monday: We worked with a ministry that goes to the brothels in Athens and talks with the women and creates relationships with them. They offer their help, guided by the love of God, to these women in extreme compassion. As we reached the ministry we were informed that there were over 200 brothels within a 1km radius of the very building we were in at that moment. Prostitution is legal in Greece, and is seen as a part of society. Our purpose of the day was to walk through brothel row and pray. We left the building, and after a two minute walk, I saw the first light. It hung dimly above a door. It looked normal. Then I saw the next, and the next, soon they were on both sides. My stomach sank. I was sick beyond my own understanding. Frozen. Tears were filling my eyes as I thought that there were girls, no different from me, on the other side of that door whose vulnerability has been tainted. And here I was. Free.
We went back to the room were we talked about what we experience. I conveyed my anger, sadness, and confusion. The leader of this group then spoke truth that is still ringing in my mind. "Our God is Holy and just. If you feel this way, imagine how He feels." God hates sin and he hates to see his creation in this position. He is Holy and just and will redeem.
Tuesday: We went in smaller groups of 5 to Christian refugees house, encouraging them and praying for them. It was humbling to see 10 people crammed into a small house where they all lived, and yet they extending their hospitality.
Wednesday: There was a prayer walk for a neighborhood in Greece. It is known for being the most populated region of Athens, yet there is only one known Christian family. We prayed in pairs for God to bring salvation to the land, and that the streets would declare His glory.
Thursday: A group of us went to a worship service of a ministry, then got to join them in their outreach to drug addicts. I have never been exposed to something like this and honestly it was haunting. I saw images I will never un-see, and the Lord definitely broke my heart yet again. The factor that struck me the most were the volunteers of the ministry. They looked at these drug addicts with such compassion that pierced my fear. I later found out that a majority of the people volunteering were saved by this very ministry. One man had been off of the streets for 1 month and 5 days, and each day was counted as a success. All he wanted to do was tell those stuck in the very sin he was entangled in of the freedom in Christ
Friday: Rest Day
Saturday: We helped with a Kids Fest to reach out to the same community we prayed for on Wednesday. I was with the Face Painting group. That night I turned girls into kitties and princesses, and boys into superheroes.
Sunday: I woke up early, and since it was my last full day in Athens, I set out. I went to one of the Squares, and sat. I then heard singing. It was coming from a small Orthodox church near me. It sounded like the service had already started, but I entered. Idols and incense clouded my vision. I sat in one of the chairs, the only one under the age of 40 there. I watched as the attendees kissed the pictures, lit candles, and made the sign of the cross. This felt like a Holy place. As C.S. Lewis says in Till We Have Faces, "Why must holy places be dark places." This was dark. In my mind I pictured Jesus shouting "LOOK AT ME!!! LOOK AT ME!!!" Yet, they looked to Paul and Mary.
Greece, you break my heart.
I have learned that while this land is beautiful, it's just a shadow. It's a mirage. From the distance it's wonderful and perfect, as soon as you go to touch it and experience it, it vanishes. What you are left is dry dirt. Dirt. Tainted Sand.
God redeem Your land. Amen.
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