Everyone -
Just a short note to let everyone we are well and continuing on with the work God has given us. Kent is pretty well over his cold. I have continued to struggle with some headaches and eye issues so am seeing an ophthalmologist today. That is why this will be a very short note - my appointment is at 11am and I need to get my laiki shopping etc done first since I know they will dilate my eyes and when they did it the last time I was pretty miserable the rest of the day.
It has continued to be cold and cloudy here with even some snow again on Tuesday. I had stayed home that day but Kent went in and said there was a smaller crowd probably due to the weather.
Yesterday we had a team prayer day. These are always special times of supporting one another, praying for one another and sharing our lives and ministries together. Yesterday was also our team leader Brett's last day in that job. As of today Kent is the team leader. This is not a position he sought or even was sure he wanted but God has done a work in his heart and mind and he is excited about the challenges ahead. Brett and his wife Kristin will still be with us until mid June - they have a baby coming in May. Brett will continue to serve on the team for the next couple of months and help with the transition. Our team has shrunk in size. Our first year here there were 19 full time staff not counting spouses and kids. Now we have 15 full time staff (14 when Brett leaves) and four of those are on furlough until after May. We are especially lacking in men and are thankful to some refugee believers who have stepped up to help out. The smaller team means we may be making some adjustments in how we do things. These next months will be a time of reorganizing how leadership works and looking over our programs. So far we have been able to continue everything but pray for us as we adjust to the changes. Though we are a smaller team, I have to say we are a quality team. The group of people God has allowed us to be a part of is such a gift. God has blessed us with language speakers, organizers, people with passion for kids, women, men and babies. As people have left God has raised up others to take their place and His work has continued. We look forward to what He has in store ahead. Thank you for standing with us in prayer and financial support. We love you all.
Serving Him Together,
Kent and Myrna Morley
Tripoleos 76
Elliniko 16777
Athens Greece
011 30 210 96 38 625
backhoeboy1@juno.com
http://kent-uniquelymorley.blogspot.com
To join our Support Team:
Online go to: https://www.iteams.org/us
Or Send to:
International Teams
411 W. River Rd.
Elgin IL 60123
Please designate for the ministry of Kent and Myrna Morley and indicate whether this is a one time gift or monthly support. Thanks :)
Wednesday, February 29, 2012
Thursday, February 23, 2012
Morley Update 2012 #7
Everyone,
If you think missionaries are all work and no play you should spend some time at the Morley household. Kent and I have been having a rousing game of musical beds and have kept it going for two days now with no end in sight! We have been having unseasonably cold weather the last few weeks and even quite a bit of rain which is fairly unusual for us. The refugee center has been packed with people coming in to escape the elements because even though we don't usually have heat we offer hot tea and when you pack 400 people into a room it begins to warm up quickly. Many of these refugees are suffering from the cold/flu symptoms that seem to abound this time of year. A team mate shared that in his English class it seemed that everyone was coughing and sick and he was almost afraid to breath in. A couple of nights ago Kent quite suddenly came down with a horrendous cough and cold. That same evening I had a meniere's attack that sent me staggering to the kitchen to down a couple more Dramamine. I took it and went to bed only to be plagued by cramps in my feet that kept me up and down from about 2:30am on. After Kent came to bed he too had a restless night.
The next morning we had a clothing give away and I had two meetings. I was not feeling great but decided to go on in anyway. Kent was staying home and got up about the time I was leaving. After I got to the ARC we got busy laying out clothes and setting up tables. Just as we were about to open the doors for the refugees to come in my world began to spin again. I made my way to the office to take more pills and sit down. After a half hour or so I was able to function and decided to go ahead with my meetings but I called Kent and told him I would call him when I was ready to come home on the metro and he said he would pick me up at the bus station so I did not have to navigate that also when I was feeling less than stable. I made it through my meetings and when I started the walk to the metro I called Kent to meet me. When he picked me up I asked how he was feeling and he said "Not too good, I went back to bed and slept most of the time you were gone". When I got home I ate a sandwich and then said I was going in to lay down a while. I slept for two hours and got up feeling a bit better although the headache I had been fighting all day had returned. We sat in front of our heater and watched a DVD together and then ate a bit of dinner. Kent was feeling pretty rocky and before long said he was going on to bed. Since I had a nap I wasn't sleepy yet and stayed up a while. When I finally went to bed I could tell Kent wasn't sleeping too well. I went to sleep only to be awakened by the cramps again. Once again I was up and down trying all my little tricks such as drinking vinegar and eating mustard. As soon as I would drift off it seemed I would get another cramp and be up again. Finally at 4:30 they eased off and I felt like I would get some sleep. At that point Kent who had been coughing a lot got up and began to dress. I questioned him and he said he was getting up because he felt like he was going to choke lying down. I got up and found him the Greek version of Mucelex and went back to bed. I woke up at 7:30 with a headache and decided I should get up. Just as I was rising Kent came in and said he was going back to bed and he is still asleep. Ah the glamorous and exotic life of a missionary!
As I said, we have been running at full capacity at the refugee center. I have been spending a lot of time in the children's room and we can barely move around between the chairs. On Tuesday after the family mea,l we as usual invited everyone to stay and learn more about Jesus if they wanted to. We had 35 kids who stayed to hear the bible story in Farsi. I was amazed that although the room was full the kids were very attentive and engaged as our friend "G" a young Afghan Christian shared the story of Moses and the burning bush. After the story "G" asked questions and many hands went up to give the answers. We did a craft and then worked on coloring pages. Toward the end of the day when there were only a few children left in the room I noticed that one little boy was singing to himself as he colored. It was such a sweet sound and I was struck once again of how we offer a place of peace and safety to these kids whose lives are often filled with uncertainty and strife.
We have been seeing an increase in unaccompanied children and recently there has started an alarming trend of refugees whose families are separated pretending that a child is alone in order to have children's services take charge of them in the hope they will reunite them with the parent who has gone on ahead. This means that the children are kept in a hospital for a time and then a group home. Of course the parent who is there (usually the dad) cannot visit because children's services think the child has been abandoned. This is confusing and scary for the children and we worry that if people are successful in this - in other words if the child DOES get sent on - then more and more people will try this as a way to get their children out of Greece.
We recently had a real praise. We had all been quite concerned for a little boy who is 9 years old. His mother and sister had moved on to Austria leaving him behind with his father. His father decided to return to Iran and "A" was left here alone. He is a very sweet and trusting child and when he told us of his plan to go on to Austria by himself we were worried to say the least. We began to pray that God would protect and provide for this child. This last week another woman was moving on and she took him with her in order to leave him in Austria with his mom. Praise the Lord! Unfortunately there are many other children, especially boys from 10-14 who are traveling on their own. Please pray that God would surround and protect these vulnerable children who are part of this mass of humanity seeking somewhere to call home.
Pray also for our friend "G" the young man who helps out with the kids program. He has been very discouraged lately by his inability to get a red card which would give him some form of legality here and protect him from being arrested for not having proper papers. He has gone many times and slept on the street outside the police station in the hopes of being interviewed and accepted. The other day he was saying "Because I am telling the truth they won't help me". Other people are lying and cutting themselves to pretend they have been attacked so they will get priority. I believe God wants me to tell the truth but it is hard to see others who are lying be accepted." "G" is seeking to be a man of integrity and to grow in his relationship with God. He is a great help to us and we would ask you to pray that he would be granted the papers he needs to be accepted here. Please continue to also pray for the country of Greece, their government and our Greek brothers and sisters. Thank you for your support that allows us to continue to be involved in this work. We are always aware of you our extended team - you are truly reaching out to the nations. We love you all.
Serving Him Together,
Kent and Myrna Morley
Tripoleos 76
Elliniko 16777
Athens Greece
011 30 210 96 38 625
backhoeboy1@juno.com
http://kent-uniquelymorley.blogspot.com
To join our Support Team:
Online go to: https://www.iteams.org/us
Or Send to:
International Teams
411 W. River Rd.
Elgin IL 60123
Please designate for the ministry of Kent and Myrna Morley and indicate whether this is a one time gift or monthly support. Thanks :)
If you think missionaries are all work and no play you should spend some time at the Morley household. Kent and I have been having a rousing game of musical beds and have kept it going for two days now with no end in sight! We have been having unseasonably cold weather the last few weeks and even quite a bit of rain which is fairly unusual for us. The refugee center has been packed with people coming in to escape the elements because even though we don't usually have heat we offer hot tea and when you pack 400 people into a room it begins to warm up quickly. Many of these refugees are suffering from the cold/flu symptoms that seem to abound this time of year. A team mate shared that in his English class it seemed that everyone was coughing and sick and he was almost afraid to breath in. A couple of nights ago Kent quite suddenly came down with a horrendous cough and cold. That same evening I had a meniere's attack that sent me staggering to the kitchen to down a couple more Dramamine. I took it and went to bed only to be plagued by cramps in my feet that kept me up and down from about 2:30am on. After Kent came to bed he too had a restless night.
The next morning we had a clothing give away and I had two meetings. I was not feeling great but decided to go on in anyway. Kent was staying home and got up about the time I was leaving. After I got to the ARC we got busy laying out clothes and setting up tables. Just as we were about to open the doors for the refugees to come in my world began to spin again. I made my way to the office to take more pills and sit down. After a half hour or so I was able to function and decided to go ahead with my meetings but I called Kent and told him I would call him when I was ready to come home on the metro and he said he would pick me up at the bus station so I did not have to navigate that also when I was feeling less than stable. I made it through my meetings and when I started the walk to the metro I called Kent to meet me. When he picked me up I asked how he was feeling and he said "Not too good, I went back to bed and slept most of the time you were gone". When I got home I ate a sandwich and then said I was going in to lay down a while. I slept for two hours and got up feeling a bit better although the headache I had been fighting all day had returned. We sat in front of our heater and watched a DVD together and then ate a bit of dinner. Kent was feeling pretty rocky and before long said he was going on to bed. Since I had a nap I wasn't sleepy yet and stayed up a while. When I finally went to bed I could tell Kent wasn't sleeping too well. I went to sleep only to be awakened by the cramps again. Once again I was up and down trying all my little tricks such as drinking vinegar and eating mustard. As soon as I would drift off it seemed I would get another cramp and be up again. Finally at 4:30 they eased off and I felt like I would get some sleep. At that point Kent who had been coughing a lot got up and began to dress. I questioned him and he said he was getting up because he felt like he was going to choke lying down. I got up and found him the Greek version of Mucelex and went back to bed. I woke up at 7:30 with a headache and decided I should get up. Just as I was rising Kent came in and said he was going back to bed and he is still asleep. Ah the glamorous and exotic life of a missionary!
As I said, we have been running at full capacity at the refugee center. I have been spending a lot of time in the children's room and we can barely move around between the chairs. On Tuesday after the family mea,l we as usual invited everyone to stay and learn more about Jesus if they wanted to. We had 35 kids who stayed to hear the bible story in Farsi. I was amazed that although the room was full the kids were very attentive and engaged as our friend "G" a young Afghan Christian shared the story of Moses and the burning bush. After the story "G" asked questions and many hands went up to give the answers. We did a craft and then worked on coloring pages. Toward the end of the day when there were only a few children left in the room I noticed that one little boy was singing to himself as he colored. It was such a sweet sound and I was struck once again of how we offer a place of peace and safety to these kids whose lives are often filled with uncertainty and strife.
We have been seeing an increase in unaccompanied children and recently there has started an alarming trend of refugees whose families are separated pretending that a child is alone in order to have children's services take charge of them in the hope they will reunite them with the parent who has gone on ahead. This means that the children are kept in a hospital for a time and then a group home. Of course the parent who is there (usually the dad) cannot visit because children's services think the child has been abandoned. This is confusing and scary for the children and we worry that if people are successful in this - in other words if the child DOES get sent on - then more and more people will try this as a way to get their children out of Greece.
We recently had a real praise. We had all been quite concerned for a little boy who is 9 years old. His mother and sister had moved on to Austria leaving him behind with his father. His father decided to return to Iran and "A" was left here alone. He is a very sweet and trusting child and when he told us of his plan to go on to Austria by himself we were worried to say the least. We began to pray that God would protect and provide for this child. This last week another woman was moving on and she took him with her in order to leave him in Austria with his mom. Praise the Lord! Unfortunately there are many other children, especially boys from 10-14 who are traveling on their own. Please pray that God would surround and protect these vulnerable children who are part of this mass of humanity seeking somewhere to call home.
Pray also for our friend "G" the young man who helps out with the kids program. He has been very discouraged lately by his inability to get a red card which would give him some form of legality here and protect him from being arrested for not having proper papers. He has gone many times and slept on the street outside the police station in the hopes of being interviewed and accepted. The other day he was saying "Because I am telling the truth they won't help me". Other people are lying and cutting themselves to pretend they have been attacked so they will get priority. I believe God wants me to tell the truth but it is hard to see others who are lying be accepted." "G" is seeking to be a man of integrity and to grow in his relationship with God. He is a great help to us and we would ask you to pray that he would be granted the papers he needs to be accepted here. Please continue to also pray for the country of Greece, their government and our Greek brothers and sisters. Thank you for your support that allows us to continue to be involved in this work. We are always aware of you our extended team - you are truly reaching out to the nations. We love you all.
Serving Him Together,
Kent and Myrna Morley
Tripoleos 76
Elliniko 16777
Athens Greece
011 30 210 96 38 625
backhoeboy1@juno.com
http://kent-uniquelymorley.blogspot.com
To join our Support Team:
Online go to: https://www.iteams.org/us
Or Send to:
International Teams
411 W. River Rd.
Elgin IL 60123
Please designate for the ministry of Kent and Myrna Morley and indicate whether this is a one time gift or monthly support. Thanks :)
Thursday, February 16, 2012
Morley Update 2012 #6
Everyone,
Since Valentine's Day was this week I had planned to write this update about Love, This is the 40th Valentines Day that Kent and I have celebrated as a couple. Those years have been filled with love. Sometimes it's the giddy romantic love that prompts poetry and romantic get aways. Sometimes its the comfortable love that says "I can relax and be myself because I'm with my best friend". Sometimes it's the nurturing love that makes chicken soup or brings you 7up and Tylenol when you're sick. Sometime it's the forgiving love that can look beyond the action and see the person that you love and respect behind it. It's a love that chooses Intimacy over Issues, Relationship over Retaliation and Co-operation over Conquest. It's the love that says "I CHOOSE to love you even when I'm not sure I like you at the moment". Coming to the mission field was actually one of the most challenging times for our marriage. Adjusting to culture, language and ministry combined to leave both of us feeling unsure of ourselves and less than competent. This led to irritability and a general sensitivity to anything perceived as critical. I can only remember a VERY few times in our marriage that we have really blown up at each other one of them was after we had been on the field for several months. At that point we stepped back and said "God has called us here, God has called us to be together. So what do we need to do? We spent some time again going over a book on Marriage. We purposed to spend time together and to exercise more patience and less eye rolling (me). Some of it was just holding on until the storm passed and we began to find our place and to learn to navigate in this new environment. We've now been here over 3 1/2 years and though there are still times when we struggle with culture, changes on the team and in ministry or just physical weariness, we would not change our lives for anything. We are so blessed to have each other and to still be in love after all these years.
Now on to other matters. Several people have requested that I explain what is happening in Greece and why there are so many riots and so much unrest. Although I don't pretend to understand it all very well myself here is what I can tell you. Like many other countries, for years the Greek Government went on a spending spree. They borrowed heavily and spent freely. There was also much corruption in the government - people being paid highly for jobs they were not doing and government officials were taking money designated for certain programs and using it elsewhere or to line their own pockets or the pockets of those who supported them. In order to fund all these government programs they kept raising taxes and because people perceived these taxes to be unfair they began to find ways to falsify earnings and avoid paying them. Tax evasion became the norm rather than the exception. This of course caused more of a deficient. Eventually things came to a head and the Greek debt is now at 160% of the GDP (Gross Domestic Product). The European Union in trying to keep Greece afloat has provided a bailout package but it comes in installments with certain requirement for cutting the deficient that must be met each time in order to receive the next installment. These austerity measures have included cutting public sector jobs, raising the retirement age, doing away with bonuses, trying to privatize businesses that have been government run, and cracking down on tax evasion while raising taxes yet again. As is always the case when trying to weed out corruption and streamline government there are people who are caught in the middle through no fault of their own. The unemployment rate is soaring, businesses are closing, people living on pensions are seeing those shrink away and hard working Greeks are wondering how long they can hold on. There is anger, frustration and despair. Whenever there is a new set of cuts being implemented there are large demonstrations protesting what is seen as injustice. Greeks are proud, independent people and it is very hard to have other countries dictating to their government how to run the country. On the other hand the European Union is not going to continue handing out money without making sure that necessary steps are taken to ensure that Greece will do what it needs to in order to become solvent again. Whether that is even possible is the big question. Whenever there is a demonstration there are groups that use these gatherings as an excuse for violence and rioting. Once the rocks start getting thrown and the police begin to retaliate it often escalates into the types of things you are seeing on TV with building beings burnt, property being destroyed and people being hurt.
How does all this affect us? On an emotional level, our hearts break for our Greek brothers and sisters who are suffering during this time. For people losing their homes and businesses, not being able to feed their families and feeling a sense of despair. Our hearts break for our refugee friends who used to be able to find a bit of work here and there to get by but now in the face of high unemployment for Greeks can find nothing. Our hearts break as we see some Greeks become increasingly antagonistic and even violent towards refugees who are seen on a further drain on an already struggling economy. Our hearts break for refugees who wait months sometimes years for someone to look at their papers, hear their case and maybe allow them to move on. On a practical level, we don't feel in danger. We almost always know ahead of time when and where demonstrations will occur and can avoid these areas. When there are strikes such as the recent 48 hour transportation strike its makes our lives more difficult in terms of getting downtown to the center to go to work and it means that refugees who come in that day will have had a long walk to get there. The general economic situation means we are seeing higher numbers on Saturdays when we are open to all and you don't need a ticket to come in for the day. It means our rooms are more crowded, our chairs are all filled and the controlled chaos becomes a little less controlled and a little more chaotic. It also means that many Greeks who have been faithful in financially supporting Helping Hands are giving more sacrificially or not being able to give at all. So far we have not had to make any program cuts and we rest in the knowledge that where God leads He will provide.
Pray for Greece. Pray for the Government to be honest and to do what is best for the country as a whole. Pray for wisdom for the leaders as they make hard decisions. Pray for the people that they will pull together and support each other in positive ways during this time. Several churches have started food pantries to help out those who are suffering financially. Pray for protection for refugees and for others who can get caught up in the violence. Pray that God will provide for His work here and for safety and protection around our building. I hope this gives you a little bit of a picture of how things look through our eyes. Thank you for being a part of what God is doing and for your faithful support. We love you all.
Serving Him Together,
Kent and Myrna Morley
Tripoleos 76
Elliniko 16777
Athens Greece
011 30 210 96 38 625
backhoeboy1@juno.com
http://kent-uniquelymorley.blogspot.com
To join our Support Team:
Online go to: https://www.iteams.org/us
Or Send to:
International Teams
411 W. River Rd.
Elgin IL 60123
Please designate for the ministry of Kent and Myrna Morley and indicate whether this is a one time gift or monthly support. Thanks :)
Since Valentine's Day was this week I had planned to write this update about Love, This is the 40th Valentines Day that Kent and I have celebrated as a couple. Those years have been filled with love. Sometimes it's the giddy romantic love that prompts poetry and romantic get aways. Sometimes its the comfortable love that says "I can relax and be myself because I'm with my best friend". Sometimes it's the nurturing love that makes chicken soup or brings you 7up and Tylenol when you're sick. Sometime it's the forgiving love that can look beyond the action and see the person that you love and respect behind it. It's a love that chooses Intimacy over Issues, Relationship over Retaliation and Co-operation over Conquest. It's the love that says "I CHOOSE to love you even when I'm not sure I like you at the moment". Coming to the mission field was actually one of the most challenging times for our marriage. Adjusting to culture, language and ministry combined to leave both of us feeling unsure of ourselves and less than competent. This led to irritability and a general sensitivity to anything perceived as critical. I can only remember a VERY few times in our marriage that we have really blown up at each other one of them was after we had been on the field for several months. At that point we stepped back and said "God has called us here, God has called us to be together. So what do we need to do? We spent some time again going over a book on Marriage. We purposed to spend time together and to exercise more patience and less eye rolling (me). Some of it was just holding on until the storm passed and we began to find our place and to learn to navigate in this new environment. We've now been here over 3 1/2 years and though there are still times when we struggle with culture, changes on the team and in ministry or just physical weariness, we would not change our lives for anything. We are so blessed to have each other and to still be in love after all these years.
Now on to other matters. Several people have requested that I explain what is happening in Greece and why there are so many riots and so much unrest. Although I don't pretend to understand it all very well myself here is what I can tell you. Like many other countries, for years the Greek Government went on a spending spree. They borrowed heavily and spent freely. There was also much corruption in the government - people being paid highly for jobs they were not doing and government officials were taking money designated for certain programs and using it elsewhere or to line their own pockets or the pockets of those who supported them. In order to fund all these government programs they kept raising taxes and because people perceived these taxes to be unfair they began to find ways to falsify earnings and avoid paying them. Tax evasion became the norm rather than the exception. This of course caused more of a deficient. Eventually things came to a head and the Greek debt is now at 160% of the GDP (Gross Domestic Product). The European Union in trying to keep Greece afloat has provided a bailout package but it comes in installments with certain requirement for cutting the deficient that must be met each time in order to receive the next installment. These austerity measures have included cutting public sector jobs, raising the retirement age, doing away with bonuses, trying to privatize businesses that have been government run, and cracking down on tax evasion while raising taxes yet again. As is always the case when trying to weed out corruption and streamline government there are people who are caught in the middle through no fault of their own. The unemployment rate is soaring, businesses are closing, people living on pensions are seeing those shrink away and hard working Greeks are wondering how long they can hold on. There is anger, frustration and despair. Whenever there is a new set of cuts being implemented there are large demonstrations protesting what is seen as injustice. Greeks are proud, independent people and it is very hard to have other countries dictating to their government how to run the country. On the other hand the European Union is not going to continue handing out money without making sure that necessary steps are taken to ensure that Greece will do what it needs to in order to become solvent again. Whether that is even possible is the big question. Whenever there is a demonstration there are groups that use these gatherings as an excuse for violence and rioting. Once the rocks start getting thrown and the police begin to retaliate it often escalates into the types of things you are seeing on TV with building beings burnt, property being destroyed and people being hurt.
How does all this affect us? On an emotional level, our hearts break for our Greek brothers and sisters who are suffering during this time. For people losing their homes and businesses, not being able to feed their families and feeling a sense of despair. Our hearts break for our refugee friends who used to be able to find a bit of work here and there to get by but now in the face of high unemployment for Greeks can find nothing. Our hearts break as we see some Greeks become increasingly antagonistic and even violent towards refugees who are seen on a further drain on an already struggling economy. Our hearts break for refugees who wait months sometimes years for someone to look at their papers, hear their case and maybe allow them to move on. On a practical level, we don't feel in danger. We almost always know ahead of time when and where demonstrations will occur and can avoid these areas. When there are strikes such as the recent 48 hour transportation strike its makes our lives more difficult in terms of getting downtown to the center to go to work and it means that refugees who come in that day will have had a long walk to get there. The general economic situation means we are seeing higher numbers on Saturdays when we are open to all and you don't need a ticket to come in for the day. It means our rooms are more crowded, our chairs are all filled and the controlled chaos becomes a little less controlled and a little more chaotic. It also means that many Greeks who have been faithful in financially supporting Helping Hands are giving more sacrificially or not being able to give at all. So far we have not had to make any program cuts and we rest in the knowledge that where God leads He will provide.
Pray for Greece. Pray for the Government to be honest and to do what is best for the country as a whole. Pray for wisdom for the leaders as they make hard decisions. Pray for the people that they will pull together and support each other in positive ways during this time. Several churches have started food pantries to help out those who are suffering financially. Pray for protection for refugees and for others who can get caught up in the violence. Pray that God will provide for His work here and for safety and protection around our building. I hope this gives you a little bit of a picture of how things look through our eyes. Thank you for being a part of what God is doing and for your faithful support. We love you all.
Serving Him Together,
Kent and Myrna Morley
Tripoleos 76
Elliniko 16777
Athens Greece
011 30 210 96 38 625
backhoeboy1@juno.com
http://kent-uniquelymorley.blogspot.com
To join our Support Team:
Online go to: https://www.iteams.org/us
Or Send to:
International Teams
411 W. River Rd.
Elgin IL 60123
Please designate for the ministry of Kent and Myrna Morley and indicate whether this is a one time gift or monthly support. Thanks :)
Thursday, February 9, 2012
Morley Update 2012 #5
Everyone,
After a good week in MA with family (two of our children, our grandchildren and my sister) I am back home in Greece. It was nice to see our daughter and son-in-law's new house and to help my daughter cover her dining room chairs. I enjoyed doing crafts with my grandkids and spending a girls night at my sister's home with two of my daughters and my granddaughter. My quest to find an out of service provider to buy my medicine from and thus get my deductible covered was unsuccessful. I found out that in MA you can only get Enbrel by mail order which is automatically covered at 80% and doesn't apply to my deductible. I then spent hours on the phone trying to find a non preferred provider in New Hampshire or Rhode Island. I thought I had found one once and was giving him my information. I told him we lived in Greece but the address on my insurance is International Teams Headquarters so it is an Illinois address. He said, "So let me get this straight, you live in Greece, you are in Massachusetts and you are from Illinois." I said "Actually, I'm from Oregon but my address for my insurance is Illinois". He then asked for the information for the pharmacy that was holding my prescription so he could contact them. I said "Okay, they are in Omaha, Nebraska" He started laughing and said "Am I on Candid Camera?!" After all this we found out he WAS on the preferred provider list so they would not apply any of the cost to my deductible if I got the medicine from him either. SO I can get my medicine here and will have to pay the $2500 deductible but after that it will be covered at 100% which I am very thankful to have.
The weather in MA was sunny and pretty warm while Athens suffered a cold snap and even got some snow while I was away. I came home to rain, wind and cold. I am thankful that I did my laundry before I came home since I would have to hang it inside to dry in this weather. Hopefully we will go back to our sunny skies soon. I have a couple of days at home before I hit the ground running which I am thankful for since I am feeling a bit jet lagged today. Friday night we have community group and then on Saturday I have a long day. I have to be there an hour and a half early to do orientation for a large team from France. Then we have tea house and Seekers Bible Study after that. Kent survived the week at home well and even hosted a team fellowship while I was gone. I am glad to be back and look forward to getting back into my regular routine. Thanks for all the prayers for my travels.
Serving Him Together,
Kent and Myrna Morley
Tripoleos 76
Elliniko 16777
Athens Greece
011 30 210 96 38 625
backhoeboy1@juno.com
http://kent-uniquelymorley.blogspot.com
To join our Support Team:
Online go to: https://www.iteams.org/us
Or Send to:
International Teams
411 W. River Rd.
Elgin IL 60123
Please designate for the ministry of Kent and Myrna Morley and indicate whether this is a one time gift or monthly support. Thanks :)
After a good week in MA with family (two of our children, our grandchildren and my sister) I am back home in Greece. It was nice to see our daughter and son-in-law's new house and to help my daughter cover her dining room chairs. I enjoyed doing crafts with my grandkids and spending a girls night at my sister's home with two of my daughters and my granddaughter. My quest to find an out of service provider to buy my medicine from and thus get my deductible covered was unsuccessful. I found out that in MA you can only get Enbrel by mail order which is automatically covered at 80% and doesn't apply to my deductible. I then spent hours on the phone trying to find a non preferred provider in New Hampshire or Rhode Island. I thought I had found one once and was giving him my information. I told him we lived in Greece but the address on my insurance is International Teams Headquarters so it is an Illinois address. He said, "So let me get this straight, you live in Greece, you are in Massachusetts and you are from Illinois." I said "Actually, I'm from Oregon but my address for my insurance is Illinois". He then asked for the information for the pharmacy that was holding my prescription so he could contact them. I said "Okay, they are in Omaha, Nebraska" He started laughing and said "Am I on Candid Camera?!" After all this we found out he WAS on the preferred provider list so they would not apply any of the cost to my deductible if I got the medicine from him either. SO I can get my medicine here and will have to pay the $2500 deductible but after that it will be covered at 100% which I am very thankful to have.
The weather in MA was sunny and pretty warm while Athens suffered a cold snap and even got some snow while I was away. I came home to rain, wind and cold. I am thankful that I did my laundry before I came home since I would have to hang it inside to dry in this weather. Hopefully we will go back to our sunny skies soon. I have a couple of days at home before I hit the ground running which I am thankful for since I am feeling a bit jet lagged today. Friday night we have community group and then on Saturday I have a long day. I have to be there an hour and a half early to do orientation for a large team from France. Then we have tea house and Seekers Bible Study after that. Kent survived the week at home well and even hosted a team fellowship while I was gone. I am glad to be back and look forward to getting back into my regular routine. Thanks for all the prayers for my travels.
Serving Him Together,
Kent and Myrna Morley
Tripoleos 76
Elliniko 16777
Athens Greece
011 30 210 96 38 625
backhoeboy1@juno.com
http://kent-uniquelymorley.blogspot.com
To join our Support Team:
Online go to: https://www.iteams.org/us
Or Send to:
International Teams
411 W. River Rd.
Elgin IL 60123
Please designate for the ministry of Kent and Myrna Morley and indicate whether this is a one time gift or monthly support. Thanks :)
Thursday, January 26, 2012
Morley Update 2012 #4
Everyone,
These last two week have been frustrating to say the least. The organization we work with changed our insurance this year. This is the third company we have been with since we started. While we are SO thankful to have insurance but when we make a change there are always some bumps in the road getting started. My medications for my arthritis are VERY expensive (around 2000 dollars a month). Because of this we always meet my deductible the first month. I am fortunate to have a card from the makers of Enbrel - my most expensive medicine that will cover anything my insurance doesn't up to 4000 dollars. The only catch it that they will only pay on medicine purchased inside the USA. For the last three years we have happened to be in the states at the start of the year so I have bought my medicine there and my deductible was covered. This year although my doctor advised me not to fly for 6 months after my Deep Vein Thrombosis, Kent and I decided that since my legs are better than they have been for years, it would be worth me making a trip to the states to purchase my medicine. Two weeks ago I tried to order my medication and have them sent to our daughters house in MA since that is the closest place I can fly. When the pharmacy tried to run my card they were informed that my coverage had been terminated and I didn't have prescription coverage. I called Cigna and explained what I was trying to do - order my Enbrel in the USA at one of their in network pharmacies so that my secondary insurance would cover my deductible. I won't bore you with all the details but 8 phone calls (most of which lasted an hour with me on hold for almost the entire time) and over a week later they finally got my information entered correctly into their computer. Only then did they inform me that if I was going to order Enbrel (I am supposed to be automatically covered for any existing condition) they needed a note from my doctor explaining why this was a medical necessity. Of course because of the time zones, the only time I can talk to them it is the middle of the night here so it took me two days to get the letter from my doctor here and receive approval. I finally called the pharmacy again and they said it went through fine but Cigna paid it and did not apply any to my deductible. Since it was Saturday, I could not get anyone at Cigna that I had been dealing with so I went ahead and purchased my ticket to MA feeling it was safe to assume this was just another glitch. When I called on Monday I was informed that my coverage was such that medication ordered in the states were just paid at 80% and didn't apply to the deductible. I looked online at my benefits and it showed a list of things I was covered for, one of which was prescriptions at 80%. Underneath it said "payment after deductibles have been met". I mentioned this and they said that they couldn't get everything on the website and I should have read my manual - which I didn't receive. I was told I could appeal this and ask that it be applied to my deductible so I did. I was hopeful that it would be approved since I had such a mess even trying to get my coverage started and since I felt I had been given misinformation about my coverage. After two more days of waiting, I received a notice that my appeal had been denied. This means that not only do we have to pay our 2500 deductible but that I have a non refundable ticket to fly to MA. Much as I look forward to seeing my grandkids this is not the time I would have chosen to take a vacation. All this left me feeling helpless at the hands of people who could just as easily (and at no cost to themselves) granted my request but who chose for whatever reason to say no.
Why am I telling you all this? Maybe just to vent - but more so because this is just a TASTE of what my refugee friends face every day. They make an appeal to be granted a red card, or asylum, or family reunification papers and then are left helpless at the hands of people who can make a decision based on nothing more than their mood at the time. In my situation there is money at stake - in theirs, their very lives and the lives of their families are at stake. "G" one of the young men who has become a Christian and is a great help to us in our children's program is going once again to spend the night outside the door of the place where they grant red cards. There are so many people who need help that unless you are there hours ahead of time you have no chance of being seen. Even if you DO get in, it is entirely at the discretion of the person you see whether they react favorably and give you a red card (which allows you to live and work legally while you are in process for asylum) or whether they deny it, which puts you in jeopardy of being thrown in jail if you are caught without one. Once you get a red card you must renew it every six months by this same process.
Dr. Joseph after two years of waiting for asylum is now continuing to wait for the reunification of family papers to go through. While he waits his wife and children must continue to live in hiding and fear for their lives.
"H" one of Kent's friends who has papers disappeared for a while. We thought maybe he had left because he has papers so we did not think he would be thrown in jail. He showed up a few weeks ago and said he lost his papers and was thrown in jail. He said he told them he has papers but apparently there is no way for them to check on this or they just didn't care.
In my situation with my insurance, I was left at the end feeling like I was just a number to them. No one really cared about me or my situation. That is how so many refugees feel all the time. One man I know owned his own car dealership and mechanic shop in his home country. His business was burned and the family fled. They have been here now for several years and everyday he goes early to stand in the square to find work. He used to find something fairly often but with the economic situation now he says there is nothing. "How can I take care of my wife and 4 children, if I cannot work?" he said recently as we sat together at one of our meals. We meet many people who were professionals and respected in their own countries before everything they had was swept away and they were reduced to being a number, one of the masses of unwanted people who are just trying to survive.
At Helping Hands we try to see people not numbers but it's not always possible. When we have no more tickets, or no more food, or no more room we can sometimes get tired of the constant pleas we hear for things they need and things they want. It's been VERY busy at the ARC lately especially on Saturdays. Last Saturday we had 70 kids in the kids room and the baby room and big room were packed. Sometimes people think that missionaries are supposed to be more caring, loving and giving than "regular" Christians. But we are human and sometimes after a long day we just want people to go away and leave us alone. Pray for us. Pray that even when we have to say "No" we will look at the person and not just see them as another number. Pray that we can find creative ways to say "Yes" when possible. Pray that in the midst of Chaos we can see that one child or that one mother or that one young man and listen to them. Pray that we will find the balance between hardening our hearts and feeling overwhelmed by the needs around us. We are so thankful to have a place where we can welcome people. A place here we can invite them to sit down and share a meal with us or where we can sit with them and hear their stories. It means so much to be able to have some of these people into our home and to count them as friends. We know that could not happen without you and your support financially and in prayer. Thank you for allowing us to represent you here on the field. We love you all.
Serving Him Together,
Kent and Myrna Morley
Tripoleos 76
Elliniko 16777
Athens Greece
011 30 210 96 38 625
backhoeboy1@juno.com
http://kent-uniquelymorley.blogspot.com
To join our Support Team:
Online go to: https://www.iteams.org/us
Or Send to:
International Teams
411 W. River Rd.
Elgin IL 60123
Please designate for the ministry of Kent and Myrna Morley and indicate whether this is a one time gift or monthly support. Thanks :)
These last two week have been frustrating to say the least. The organization we work with changed our insurance this year. This is the third company we have been with since we started. While we are SO thankful to have insurance but when we make a change there are always some bumps in the road getting started. My medications for my arthritis are VERY expensive (around 2000 dollars a month). Because of this we always meet my deductible the first month. I am fortunate to have a card from the makers of Enbrel - my most expensive medicine that will cover anything my insurance doesn't up to 4000 dollars. The only catch it that they will only pay on medicine purchased inside the USA. For the last three years we have happened to be in the states at the start of the year so I have bought my medicine there and my deductible was covered. This year although my doctor advised me not to fly for 6 months after my Deep Vein Thrombosis, Kent and I decided that since my legs are better than they have been for years, it would be worth me making a trip to the states to purchase my medicine. Two weeks ago I tried to order my medication and have them sent to our daughters house in MA since that is the closest place I can fly. When the pharmacy tried to run my card they were informed that my coverage had been terminated and I didn't have prescription coverage. I called Cigna and explained what I was trying to do - order my Enbrel in the USA at one of their in network pharmacies so that my secondary insurance would cover my deductible. I won't bore you with all the details but 8 phone calls (most of which lasted an hour with me on hold for almost the entire time) and over a week later they finally got my information entered correctly into their computer. Only then did they inform me that if I was going to order Enbrel (I am supposed to be automatically covered for any existing condition) they needed a note from my doctor explaining why this was a medical necessity. Of course because of the time zones, the only time I can talk to them it is the middle of the night here so it took me two days to get the letter from my doctor here and receive approval. I finally called the pharmacy again and they said it went through fine but Cigna paid it and did not apply any to my deductible. Since it was Saturday, I could not get anyone at Cigna that I had been dealing with so I went ahead and purchased my ticket to MA feeling it was safe to assume this was just another glitch. When I called on Monday I was informed that my coverage was such that medication ordered in the states were just paid at 80% and didn't apply to the deductible. I looked online at my benefits and it showed a list of things I was covered for, one of which was prescriptions at 80%. Underneath it said "payment after deductibles have been met". I mentioned this and they said that they couldn't get everything on the website and I should have read my manual - which I didn't receive. I was told I could appeal this and ask that it be applied to my deductible so I did. I was hopeful that it would be approved since I had such a mess even trying to get my coverage started and since I felt I had been given misinformation about my coverage. After two more days of waiting, I received a notice that my appeal had been denied. This means that not only do we have to pay our 2500 deductible but that I have a non refundable ticket to fly to MA. Much as I look forward to seeing my grandkids this is not the time I would have chosen to take a vacation. All this left me feeling helpless at the hands of people who could just as easily (and at no cost to themselves) granted my request but who chose for whatever reason to say no.
Why am I telling you all this? Maybe just to vent - but more so because this is just a TASTE of what my refugee friends face every day. They make an appeal to be granted a red card, or asylum, or family reunification papers and then are left helpless at the hands of people who can make a decision based on nothing more than their mood at the time. In my situation there is money at stake - in theirs, their very lives and the lives of their families are at stake. "G" one of the young men who has become a Christian and is a great help to us in our children's program is going once again to spend the night outside the door of the place where they grant red cards. There are so many people who need help that unless you are there hours ahead of time you have no chance of being seen. Even if you DO get in, it is entirely at the discretion of the person you see whether they react favorably and give you a red card (which allows you to live and work legally while you are in process for asylum) or whether they deny it, which puts you in jeopardy of being thrown in jail if you are caught without one. Once you get a red card you must renew it every six months by this same process.
Dr. Joseph after two years of waiting for asylum is now continuing to wait for the reunification of family papers to go through. While he waits his wife and children must continue to live in hiding and fear for their lives.
"H" one of Kent's friends who has papers disappeared for a while. We thought maybe he had left because he has papers so we did not think he would be thrown in jail. He showed up a few weeks ago and said he lost his papers and was thrown in jail. He said he told them he has papers but apparently there is no way for them to check on this or they just didn't care.
In my situation with my insurance, I was left at the end feeling like I was just a number to them. No one really cared about me or my situation. That is how so many refugees feel all the time. One man I know owned his own car dealership and mechanic shop in his home country. His business was burned and the family fled. They have been here now for several years and everyday he goes early to stand in the square to find work. He used to find something fairly often but with the economic situation now he says there is nothing. "How can I take care of my wife and 4 children, if I cannot work?" he said recently as we sat together at one of our meals. We meet many people who were professionals and respected in their own countries before everything they had was swept away and they were reduced to being a number, one of the masses of unwanted people who are just trying to survive.
At Helping Hands we try to see people not numbers but it's not always possible. When we have no more tickets, or no more food, or no more room we can sometimes get tired of the constant pleas we hear for things they need and things they want. It's been VERY busy at the ARC lately especially on Saturdays. Last Saturday we had 70 kids in the kids room and the baby room and big room were packed. Sometimes people think that missionaries are supposed to be more caring, loving and giving than "regular" Christians. But we are human and sometimes after a long day we just want people to go away and leave us alone. Pray for us. Pray that even when we have to say "No" we will look at the person and not just see them as another number. Pray that we can find creative ways to say "Yes" when possible. Pray that in the midst of Chaos we can see that one child or that one mother or that one young man and listen to them. Pray that we will find the balance between hardening our hearts and feeling overwhelmed by the needs around us. We are so thankful to have a place where we can welcome people. A place here we can invite them to sit down and share a meal with us or where we can sit with them and hear their stories. It means so much to be able to have some of these people into our home and to count them as friends. We know that could not happen without you and your support financially and in prayer. Thank you for allowing us to represent you here on the field. We love you all.
Serving Him Together,
Kent and Myrna Morley
Tripoleos 76
Elliniko 16777
Athens Greece
011 30 210 96 38 625
backhoeboy1@juno.com
http://kent-uniquelymorley.blogspot.com
To join our Support Team:
Online go to: https://www.iteams.org/us
Or Send to:
International Teams
411 W. River Rd.
Elgin IL 60123
Please designate for the ministry of Kent and Myrna Morley and indicate whether this is a one time gift or monthly support. Thanks :)
Thursday, January 19, 2012
Ministry Update 2012 #3
Everyone,
I actually had something in mind for my update but then popped on to Facebook for a minute and saw something I really wanted to share. This update was posted by a friend and supporter Casey Martin:
"So I'm sitting on the couch with my son jacob (he's three) and he says to me "maybe you can get a blanket so you're not cold anymore". I was instantly filled with fatherly pride that my son at such a young age would consider the needs of others without any prompting. So I said to him "that's very nice would you like to go get one for me". He smiled and said "yeah I will". Then he looked down at the toys he was busy playing with on the couch and then looked around the room. He appeared to be searching for someone to delegate the task to. His eyes went first to his sister..then to his mom..then he looked back at me and then back down at his toys again before saying "um..maybe you can get it yourself ".
This was such a perfect picture of how we sometimes look at the problems in this world whether they are around the block or around the globe. We say "There are people in this world who lack the basic necessities of life". God says "Why don't you do something to help?" We look down at our "toys" and then we look around us. Surely God didn't mean us personally - there must be someone else who can do it. Maybe it's the government's job. Or maybe it's the job of someone who has more resources than we do. Aren't there people who are "called' to do this sort of thing? We really wish these people would be taken care of but.....we shake our head sadly over their plight and go back to our toys.
I don't write these things to make anyone feel guilty and I know that many of you ARE reaching out in tangible ways to help those who are less fortunate but I think it never hurts to be reminded that it is not enough to FEEL compassion for people but we need to be open to taking action in whatever way we can. James talks about faith without works and says in James 2:15-16 "Suppose a brother or sister is without clothes and daily food. If one of you says to him, "Go I wish you well; keep warm and well fed," but does nothing about his physical needs, what good is it?" in James 1:27 it says "Religion that God our Father accepts as pure and faultless is this: to look after orphans and widows in their distress and to keep oneself from being polluted by the world". Sometimes we think being "polluted by the world" is watching the wrong movie, dressing the wrong way or not going to church. But maybe being polluted by the world means buying into to the idea that we deserve what we have and in fact if truth were known we probably deserve more. I know that most of us have worked hard to achieve the standard of living we enjoy and there is nothing wrong with that. I am also aware that there are people who want to be handed that same lifestyle without working. However many people in the world have had no opportunity to achieve this or maybe have achieved it and then watched it be swept away by evil men.
We meet these people every day. Men who stand in the square day after day hoping to be hired on to a job so they can provide for their families. Mothers trying to take care of their children while living in abandoned buildings. Young men and women who have been denied an education and desperately want to learn. Families living on the streets because it was too dangerous for them to stay in their own country. We do what we can. We try to provide food, clothes and the little necessities like shampoo and toothpaste. We do laundry and provide showers. We sit with them, we listen to them, we cry with them and we laugh with them. We teach them. We teach them English or Greek or we show them how to fill out the papers for the doctor or the police. But most importantly we teach them about Jesus. We teach them about Jesus not just in the classes we have or the sermons we preach but we teach them about Jesus by doing all the things I mentioned above. Jesus said, "Love your neighbor". Jesus said, "Freely you have received, freely give". Jesus said, "For I was hungry and you gave me something to eat, I was thirsty and you gave me something to drink, I was a stranger and you invited me in, I needed clothes and you clothed me, I was sick and you looked after me, I was in prison and you came to visit me.......I tell you the truth, whatever you did for one of the least of these brothers of mine, you did for me."
Thank you so much for joining us in ministering to "the least of these". We are so grateful to have a team of people who love not just in word but in deed. Because of you we were able to do more than just SAY "be warmed and fed" during these last couple of weeks. We were able to give out sleeping bags and blankets - we were able to offer meals and hot tea, we were able to give out grocery packs and we were able to show the love of Jesus in tangible ways. We know we could not do this job without you - thank you for giving, thank you for praying and thank you for caring. We love you all.
Serving Him Together,
Kent and Myrna Morley
Tripoleos 76
Elliniko 16777
Athens Greece
011 30 210 96 38 625
backhoeboy1@juno.com
http://kent-uniquelymorley.blogspot.com
To join our Support Team:
Online go to: https://www.iteams.org/us/give
Or Send to:
International Teams
411 W. River Rd.
Elgin IL 60123
Please designate for the ministry of Kent and Myrna Morley and indicate whether this is a one time gift or monthly support. Thanks :)
I actually had something in mind for my update but then popped on to Facebook for a minute and saw something I really wanted to share. This update was posted by a friend and supporter Casey Martin:
"So I'm sitting on the couch with my son jacob (he's three) and he says to me "maybe you can get a blanket so you're not cold anymore". I was instantly filled with fatherly pride that my son at such a young age would consider the needs of others without any prompting. So I said to him "that's very nice would you like to go get one for me". He smiled and said "yeah I will". Then he looked down at the toys he was busy playing with on the couch and then looked around the room. He appeared to be searching for someone to delegate the task to. His eyes went first to his sister..then to his mom..then he looked back at me and then back down at his toys again before saying "um..maybe you can get it yourself ".
This was such a perfect picture of how we sometimes look at the problems in this world whether they are around the block or around the globe. We say "There are people in this world who lack the basic necessities of life". God says "Why don't you do something to help?" We look down at our "toys" and then we look around us. Surely God didn't mean us personally - there must be someone else who can do it. Maybe it's the government's job. Or maybe it's the job of someone who has more resources than we do. Aren't there people who are "called' to do this sort of thing? We really wish these people would be taken care of but.....we shake our head sadly over their plight and go back to our toys.
I don't write these things to make anyone feel guilty and I know that many of you ARE reaching out in tangible ways to help those who are less fortunate but I think it never hurts to be reminded that it is not enough to FEEL compassion for people but we need to be open to taking action in whatever way we can. James talks about faith without works and says in James 2:15-16 "Suppose a brother or sister is without clothes and daily food. If one of you says to him, "Go I wish you well; keep warm and well fed," but does nothing about his physical needs, what good is it?" in James 1:27 it says "Religion that God our Father accepts as pure and faultless is this: to look after orphans and widows in their distress and to keep oneself from being polluted by the world". Sometimes we think being "polluted by the world" is watching the wrong movie, dressing the wrong way or not going to church. But maybe being polluted by the world means buying into to the idea that we deserve what we have and in fact if truth were known we probably deserve more. I know that most of us have worked hard to achieve the standard of living we enjoy and there is nothing wrong with that. I am also aware that there are people who want to be handed that same lifestyle without working. However many people in the world have had no opportunity to achieve this or maybe have achieved it and then watched it be swept away by evil men.
We meet these people every day. Men who stand in the square day after day hoping to be hired on to a job so they can provide for their families. Mothers trying to take care of their children while living in abandoned buildings. Young men and women who have been denied an education and desperately want to learn. Families living on the streets because it was too dangerous for them to stay in their own country. We do what we can. We try to provide food, clothes and the little necessities like shampoo and toothpaste. We do laundry and provide showers. We sit with them, we listen to them, we cry with them and we laugh with them. We teach them. We teach them English or Greek or we show them how to fill out the papers for the doctor or the police. But most importantly we teach them about Jesus. We teach them about Jesus not just in the classes we have or the sermons we preach but we teach them about Jesus by doing all the things I mentioned above. Jesus said, "Love your neighbor". Jesus said, "Freely you have received, freely give". Jesus said, "For I was hungry and you gave me something to eat, I was thirsty and you gave me something to drink, I was a stranger and you invited me in, I needed clothes and you clothed me, I was sick and you looked after me, I was in prison and you came to visit me.......I tell you the truth, whatever you did for one of the least of these brothers of mine, you did for me."
Thank you so much for joining us in ministering to "the least of these". We are so grateful to have a team of people who love not just in word but in deed. Because of you we were able to do more than just SAY "be warmed and fed" during these last couple of weeks. We were able to give out sleeping bags and blankets - we were able to offer meals and hot tea, we were able to give out grocery packs and we were able to show the love of Jesus in tangible ways. We know we could not do this job without you - thank you for giving, thank you for praying and thank you for caring. We love you all.
Serving Him Together,
Kent and Myrna Morley
Tripoleos 76
Elliniko 16777
Athens Greece
011 30 210 96 38 625
backhoeboy1@juno.com
http://kent-uniquelymorley.blogspot.com
To join our Support Team:
Online go to: https://www.iteams.org/us/give
Or Send to:
International Teams
411 W. River Rd.
Elgin IL 60123
Please designate for the ministry of Kent and Myrna Morley and indicate whether this is a one time gift or monthly support. Thanks :)
Thursday, January 12, 2012
Morley Update 2012 #2
Everyone,
This morning I had what we call an "IM" with our team leader Brett. IM stands for Individual Meeting and it is something we try to do bi-monthly for each member of the team. It's a time to check in with leadership and talk about how we are doing. We talk about goals, things to celebrate and things to work through. Most of the team meets with Kent as team pastor but Kent and I each meet with Brett. Brett and I had scheduled this meeting for December and then things got a little crazy and we put it off until now. It was a very different meeting than it would have been a month ago. I had been planning to talk to Brett about changing my status to "volunteer' just because I was not being able to keep up with things at home and still be at work due to the amount of pain I was in. I'm sure it would have been a meeting of tears and sharing my frustrations. Instead it was a joyous meeting with me sharing plans I have for hospitality in addition to my regular work schedule. I am enjoying work, enjoying life and feeling positive about my role here again. I know my husband would say some of the same things - we are excited about ministry and having energy left over to do things just for fun. Even things that would normally annoy us are not so bad when our lives don't revolve around how I am feeling. As you know we have been through some team changes recently - some welcomed and some endured and we are most likely not done yet. Continue to pray for God's Direction and Will. We know that this is His ministry. He is in control and our trust is in Him.
Saturday at tea house we had a large team of volunteers come in so I was able to sit with the women instead of being in the kids room. I talked for quite a while with "Z" who has the two older boys and 5 year old twin girls. Recently they discovered that Narges one of the twins has a hole in her heart. It has been there since birth and should have been discovered and dealt with earlier. She is still small enough now that they are planning to go in through her groin and put something in there that will close up the hole. It is not an uncommon surgery but as you can imagine "Z" is worried. The other issue is that at this point it looks like they will charge her 1000 euros for the surgery. Please pray for "Z" that she will turn to Jesus during this - she is very close to accepting. Also pray that Narges does not get sick in the meantime and that the surgery can be scheduled soon and that the cost will be covered.
Another big news item for us is that our friend "A" (for my family - she is the one who made your Christmas gifts) has been accepted to immigrate legally to Germany where her son is currently living. We are SO happy for her to be able to go without worry of being caught and sent back and to have a place to go. Life has been VERY hard for her here but through it all she has kept her sweet spirit. She is truly one of my favorite people and I find as I am writing this that the tears are starting to flow as I think about her going away. There are so many bittersweet moments in this ministry. We are thankful that she will have a chance at a better life. We are thankful that her son is a Christian so she will not stop hearing about Jesus but our hearts ache with the thought of not being a part of her and her sweet children's lives. Pray for her as she goes. Pray for her husband who is a heroin addict and not a kind man. Pray that her son will be a strong witness to her and her husband. Pray for us because it hurts to say goodbye and the temptation is to close ourselves off from loving new people because of the fact that we will likely have to say goodbye to them as well.
We continue to have our seekers class after Saturday tea house and we have 20 or more people. It is mostly men but last week there were 3 women. I enjoy seeing the refugee believers answering questions for the seekers and having a chance to share their faith. I also enjoy being a part of a bible study again. Every week I realize again how much I have missed teaching. I am SO thankful for Aziz translating so that we can share freely without the barrier of language. I am hoping to begin a once a month women's day in my home and want to especially invite seekers who may be too shy or afraid to ask questions in a bigger group. Pray that we will know which women to invite and how to share with them. Continue to pray for the Saturday seekers class as well as the community small group for believers that Kent and I are involved with on Friday nights.
Kent is planning to begin to start teaching English again. Aziz has quite a few interested and wanted Kent to take the advanced class. It will most likely be two mornings a week before our regular schedule. This is always a great time for developing relationships as well as teaching English.
As always time flies by - today is Kent's birthday and two days before our youngest child turned 30. It has been an amazing and wonderful journey with God and I am so happy to be doing it with the man I love. I'm thankful God still has things for us to do and we feel honored to be your hands reaching out to refugees here in Athens. Thank you for all you do for us. We love you all.
Serving Him Together,
Kent and Myrna Morley
Tripoleos 76
Elliniko 16777
Athens Greece
011 30 210 96 38 625
backhoeboy1@juno.com
http://kent-uniquelymorley.blogspot.com
To join our Support Team:
Online go to: https://www.iteams.org/us/give
Or Send to:
International Teams
411 W. River Rd.
Elgin IL 60123
Please designate for the ministry of Kent and Myrna Morley and indicate whether this is a one time gift or monthly support. Thanks :)
This morning I had what we call an "IM" with our team leader Brett. IM stands for Individual Meeting and it is something we try to do bi-monthly for each member of the team. It's a time to check in with leadership and talk about how we are doing. We talk about goals, things to celebrate and things to work through. Most of the team meets with Kent as team pastor but Kent and I each meet with Brett. Brett and I had scheduled this meeting for December and then things got a little crazy and we put it off until now. It was a very different meeting than it would have been a month ago. I had been planning to talk to Brett about changing my status to "volunteer' just because I was not being able to keep up with things at home and still be at work due to the amount of pain I was in. I'm sure it would have been a meeting of tears and sharing my frustrations. Instead it was a joyous meeting with me sharing plans I have for hospitality in addition to my regular work schedule. I am enjoying work, enjoying life and feeling positive about my role here again. I know my husband would say some of the same things - we are excited about ministry and having energy left over to do things just for fun. Even things that would normally annoy us are not so bad when our lives don't revolve around how I am feeling. As you know we have been through some team changes recently - some welcomed and some endured and we are most likely not done yet. Continue to pray for God's Direction and Will. We know that this is His ministry. He is in control and our trust is in Him.
Saturday at tea house we had a large team of volunteers come in so I was able to sit with the women instead of being in the kids room. I talked for quite a while with "Z" who has the two older boys and 5 year old twin girls. Recently they discovered that Narges one of the twins has a hole in her heart. It has been there since birth and should have been discovered and dealt with earlier. She is still small enough now that they are planning to go in through her groin and put something in there that will close up the hole. It is not an uncommon surgery but as you can imagine "Z" is worried. The other issue is that at this point it looks like they will charge her 1000 euros for the surgery. Please pray for "Z" that she will turn to Jesus during this - she is very close to accepting. Also pray that Narges does not get sick in the meantime and that the surgery can be scheduled soon and that the cost will be covered.
Another big news item for us is that our friend "A" (for my family - she is the one who made your Christmas gifts) has been accepted to immigrate legally to Germany where her son is currently living. We are SO happy for her to be able to go without worry of being caught and sent back and to have a place to go. Life has been VERY hard for her here but through it all she has kept her sweet spirit. She is truly one of my favorite people and I find as I am writing this that the tears are starting to flow as I think about her going away. There are so many bittersweet moments in this ministry. We are thankful that she will have a chance at a better life. We are thankful that her son is a Christian so she will not stop hearing about Jesus but our hearts ache with the thought of not being a part of her and her sweet children's lives. Pray for her as she goes. Pray for her husband who is a heroin addict and not a kind man. Pray that her son will be a strong witness to her and her husband. Pray for us because it hurts to say goodbye and the temptation is to close ourselves off from loving new people because of the fact that we will likely have to say goodbye to them as well.
We continue to have our seekers class after Saturday tea house and we have 20 or more people. It is mostly men but last week there were 3 women. I enjoy seeing the refugee believers answering questions for the seekers and having a chance to share their faith. I also enjoy being a part of a bible study again. Every week I realize again how much I have missed teaching. I am SO thankful for Aziz translating so that we can share freely without the barrier of language. I am hoping to begin a once a month women's day in my home and want to especially invite seekers who may be too shy or afraid to ask questions in a bigger group. Pray that we will know which women to invite and how to share with them. Continue to pray for the Saturday seekers class as well as the community small group for believers that Kent and I are involved with on Friday nights.
Kent is planning to begin to start teaching English again. Aziz has quite a few interested and wanted Kent to take the advanced class. It will most likely be two mornings a week before our regular schedule. This is always a great time for developing relationships as well as teaching English.
As always time flies by - today is Kent's birthday and two days before our youngest child turned 30. It has been an amazing and wonderful journey with God and I am so happy to be doing it with the man I love. I'm thankful God still has things for us to do and we feel honored to be your hands reaching out to refugees here in Athens. Thank you for all you do for us. We love you all.
Serving Him Together,
Kent and Myrna Morley
Tripoleos 76
Elliniko 16777
Athens Greece
011 30 210 96 38 625
backhoeboy1@juno.com
http://kent-uniquelymorley.blogspot.com
To join our Support Team:
Online go to: https://www.iteams.org/us/give
Or Send to:
International Teams
411 W. River Rd.
Elgin IL 60123
Please designate for the ministry of Kent and Myrna Morley and indicate whether this is a one time gift or monthly support. Thanks :)
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