Morley Update 2010 #25

Everyone,

It is HOT and expected to get HOTTER. The temperatures have been close to or in the low 100s during the day and our thermometer on the porch read 90 when we went to bed and still read almost that this morning. This winds have died down so the only breeze is created by the ceiling fans we have in every room. We have resisted getting an air conditioner both because of the expense of getting it and running it and because there is usually only a relatively short time that we would really use one. It seems like the heatwave is starting early this year so we'll see how the summer goes. Kent is not bothered much by the heat except at night when we are trying to sleep but I find myself entering what I call "trudge mode". I just trudge around getting done the bare necessities and then collapsing in a chair as soon as possible. We need to get down to the sea and snorkel!

It was a busy week at the ARC. Monday we had our last tea house until we reopen after the renovations. Tuesday we gave away 400 pairs of new women's shoes that had been donated by a local business. Wednesday we had our last Farsi meal before we close. Although we will see many of these people while we are closed - at beach days and visits to the parks, we also knew that this was the last time we would see some of them. Summer is the season when many people leave and especially with the economic crisis in Greece, everyone wants to go. The sad thing is that many of them will finally scrape together enough money to pay a smuggler or buy tickets somewhere but will either get caught as they leave or when they arrive at their destinations. If they make it through there is still no guarantee. We know many people who had been in another country for over a year and were doing well with a job, housing etc. They were picked up for not having the proper papers and back they came to Greece only to be denied asylum once again and told to leave the country within 90 days. The system is definitely broken and needs to be fixed.

On Thursday we dismantled the ARC taking things out of all the cupboards, off the walls and out of the office. It was hot, heavy work and we were all tired by the end of the day. Friday some of the guys went back and tore out the cupboards in the kitchen, moved the appliances etc. The renovations will be carried out for the most part by a local christian contractor who is donating his time and using his own crew. We are hoping to only be closed for about 5 weeks but are prepared that it may be longer. While we are closed we plan to do a family beach day each Friday. We will do a team park visit once a week and we have a couple of events planned at a local christian sports center. We may do some meals in a local church and we will use a lot of this time to just get together with refugees that we often don't have time to see outside of regular events. The whole team will be having a three day seminar on reaching Muslims, taught by one of the men from International Teams Headquarters who has a lot of experience and knowledge in this area. Kent and I along with a couple team mates will also be doing a ten day intensive Greek Class taught by a woman who is volunteering her time.

Last week Kent was gone all week to a men's retreat about 2 1/2 hours from here. Another local group, Hellenic Ministries has a camp and they invited our team to join them in a couple of week long outings this summer. This retreat was for men who wanted to learn more about Jesus so Kent invited a couple of men he has been talking to. The camp sits right on the sea and all the men said they felt like they had spent 5 days in Paradise. The part of Athens where the refugees live and where we have the ARC is a dark place. There are drugs, prostitution and streets teeming with people who have nothing to do. They live in old run down or abandoned buildings or sleep in the parks. They move from place to place getting food, or clothes or showers or whatever other small necessities they can find. For most of them this is the only part of Greece they see. Having a chance to get away from that for even an afternoon is such a gift to these people.

Each day at the camp the staff met early for prayer and planning. Twice a day they divided into 2-4 groups depending on the number of translators they had. Usually there were two Farsi groups and one Arabic group. Kent led one of the Farsi groups. Some days they just allowed them to ask any questions they had about Jesus, the Bible or Christianity. A couple of days they showed parts of the Jesus film and asked if there was anything in it they wanted to know more about or didn't understand. Kent said they had great discussions and even those who were strong Muslims were respectful and willing to listen. The rest of the day they played sports, swam in the sea, had canoe races or just hung out. At the end of the time "Y" one of the men Kent took said "This is the first time I have met 'real' Christians." Kent looks forward to having more conversations with "Y" in the near future. Pray for him and for "N" the other man that Kent took with him.

I will close now because Kent and I need to prepare for an afternoon pre-marriage counseling session. One of our team mates in getting married next week to an Iranian believer she met here. They have been dating for the last couple of years and engaged for about 6 months. Their pastor is marrying them but because of some family obligations he was not able to do their counseling so they asked if we would do it. We always enjoy getting to use some of the things we have gathered over the years on marriage. Pray for this couple as they begin life together. Pray for them this week as they finish preparing for their wedding and as their two families from very different cultures come together for the first time. Also please pray for ongoing issues they have with "E's" papers and for him to find regular work.

We think of you our team back home often and are so grateful for the support you give us. Thank you not only for the financial support but the little notes of encouragement and the prayers that go up on our behalf. 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

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