Morley Update 2010 #11

Everyone,

Rather than do my usual update I thought I would just give you a few "Snapshots" of living in Greece and Refugee Ministry from the last few weeks.

1) I was in the ARC after hours waiting for Kent to be done with a meeting. I heard shouting on the street below and went out on to the balcony. There was a crowd of people gathered around something and I assumed maybe it was drugs. Suddenly out popped a little old Greek man with a spatula and he was handing out cream puffs. Everyone was gathering around reaching for them and if they got too pushy he would yell at them in Greek and hit at them with his spatula to wait their turn.

2) There is a lady "O" who comes to the ARC and can at times be a bit annoying with always wanting something more. However, a few days ago she told Suzie and I that at our last clothing give away she had taken clothes to give to a family with small children who live in her building. She said they have almost nothing and her face lit up as she told of the children's excitement over the new clothes. What a joy for her to be able to give instead of always having to take.

3) We attended two birthday parties in the last couple of weeks. One was Persian and once again we were all called on to dance. I was amazed when "S"s husband who is usually very quiet began to dance for us. He was VERY good. I know refugees miss their own culture and it was nice to see him abandon himself to the music. The other party was for Matthew's (Ilir and Kate's son) first birthday. One of the things we all miss here is our families and it is great to get together for a "family" event like a little one's birthday.

4) I walked into the office at the ARC. Someone was making copies, someone was on the computer, someone was getting a snack out of the 'fridge. In the middle of this chaos there was a quiet little circle as Kallie (our Greek teammate) sat and prayed with a woman who is critically ill.

5) My refugee friend from Romania "E" was trying to tell one of the Afghan ladies something. "E" was speaking Greek and the 9 year old daughter of another woman was translating into Farsi. It is fun to see some of the people breaking across cultural lines to become friends.

6) Our former security guard "M" who worked for the gallery upstairs was out of a job when it closed. Yesterday he came up to the ARC just to say hello and bring sweets for the kids. He grew to love these little ones as he helped carry strollers up the stairs and watched over us all. We miss him.

7) There are some things about Greek society I will never understand. Yesterday a young couple got on the bus with their son who was about 4. The woman was carrying about 6 bags of groceries and the man was just holding the child's hand. An older woman got up and gave the man her seat so he could sit down with the child while she and his wife with all the groceries stood!

8) Saturday we went to the Laiki (outdoor market). I love walking down the rows of fruits and vegetables while the vendors shout "Ena Evro" (one euro) Kent took his camera and people probably wondered about the crazy guy taking "close ups" of the octopus and zooming in on the eggplant.

When I see pictures in my mind of the last week many of them are beautiful or funny or touching. Some of them are not. I picture the man standing with his pants down injecting himself, or the others who are already high weaving through traffic or leaning against a wall. I picture the people who sleep in boxes outside the stoa or the prostitutes approaching men on the streets. It is amazing to me that in a beautiful country like Greece, which is surrounded by the turquoise sea and filled with historical sites, amazing food and warm people, there can be pockets of darkness. For many refugees that darkness is the only Greece they see and for many Greeks the darkness is something to be ignored. I am so thankful that God has sent us to be a part of bringing light into that darkness and that the Greek churches are beginning to join in the work. This week one of the local churches is starting a feeding program twice a month, another has opened a clothing room. As God's people begin to take seriously Jesus's words "for whatever you did for one the least of these brothers of mine, you did for me" we can begin to push back the darkness. Thank you for being a part of that. We love you all.