Ministry Update 2010 #36

Everyone,

I have several meetings today so wanted to get this out before I forgot. I just want to give you a few "snapshots" from the week.

Thursday we had our last beach day of the year. We have been doing them weekly since the beginning of summer. It is quite an undertaking to bring everything you need for a day at the beach for yourselves and 15-20 extra people. We take bags of swimwear, towels, beach toys, blankets and beach mats, umbrellas, water and lunch. Some of the team meets our refugee guests at the metro, provides tickets and then rides out with them. Those of us with cars bring the beach gear, set up the umbrellas, lay out the mats etc. We meet at the beach and spend about 4-5 hours swimming, playing and eating. I think everyone on the team was glad this was our last time for the year. But here is the snapshot: 5 mothers out in the waves - all wearing their clothes and head coverings. "G" is married to a man who is ill and can't work. They and their children are living in the park again because they were kicked out of the abandoned building they were living in. "Z2" is a single mom who's teenage son got into some trouble and is in jail. She also has a little girl and recently became a Christian. "Z1" has three children. She and her husband recently found a place to live that is nicer than what most refugees can find. Her husband works hard but there is little paid employment to be found and they struggle just to keep food on the table. "F" has two little girls and has been in Greece for several years. Up until recently her husband had been able to find enough work to support them but lately things have become so tight that he is sending her and the two little girls back to Algeria without him. She is very sad about this. "A" has five children two of them quite small. Her husband is a drug addict and abusive. Every one of these women are people we have come to love. To watch them playing with their children, laughing and splashing as they attempt to swim, and forgetting at least for the moment their hard lives is PRICELESS.

Another snapshot from beach day is of Mustava who is three. He has on a little swim ring and is laying back in the water near the shore waiting for the waves. Every time one comes it washes over him and every time he comes up laughing.

I have told you about our friend Dr. Joseph and how he has been waiting almost two years for asylum while his wife and two small children live in hiding for fear of their lives in Pakistan. As you can well imagine there are times when he is almost overwhelmed with sadness. Last Sunday we were in the car with him on our way to church. The back door of our car opens from the outside but will not open from the inside so you have to roll down the window and reach the handle outside to get out. We were making a stop and he said "This car will let you in but not let you out." Kent said "That is because it is a Greek car and you are a refugee. You can get in but you can't get out." Dr. J thought this was hysterical and laughed and laughed. The rest of the day he would say things like - "Oh this is a Greek road everywhere you want to turn you are blocked" and then he would laugh again. He came home with us for lunch and later that afternoon Kent went down to take him back to his place on the motorbike. The motorbike has a cover on it and Kent said when he saw it he started to laugh again and said "I see you have a Muslim bike - it wears a burka".

A week ago Sunday, Dr. J told us that Sahar had phoned to let him know they were going to be baptizing an Iranian new believer after church and invited him to come. He asked if we would take him and of course we were happy to. We met at the beach and stood in a small circle singing a few songs in Farsi. Then after a prayer Sahar and her pastor waded out into the sea with the woman being baptized. People swimming and sunbathing stopped to watch as she was buried with Christ and raised to walk in a new life! This was especially meaningful to Dr. J as he is going to be baptized soon. He decided he wanted to wait until Scott McCracken was back and could attend.

Yesterday was our day off and we decided about noon to run down to the sea and go snorkeling for a while. We called Dr. J and asked if he would like to go. He said yes so we picked him up and headed off. I asked if he had ever snorkeled before and he said no and asked rather nervously if there would be any sharks. I assured him there weren't any and that we would be in shallow water anyway. When we got there he put and his snorkel and mask but at first was thrashing about and swallowed quite a bit of water. I went over to him and said "Just lay out in the water, don't even try to move." After he mastered that I taught him how to stroke along with his hands and he was soon doing much better. I stayed by his side for a while and at one point he wanted to stand up. We were in water about up to our chest and there were quite a few waves so it was hard to stand. We were holding on to each other and laughing when Kent said "Hey there is a pretty interesting fish over here." Dr. J said "Hold on to him and we'll be over in a minute!" I love to see him laugh.

Well it is time for my meeting so I will close. I hope these glimpses into life here will bless you as they bless us and the refugees we serve. 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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