morley update 2010 #41

Everyone -

Sorry this is late once again but I have spent the last two day when I wasn't at the ARC working on a presentation for the Women's Conference I will be at next week. I will leave on Tuesday and return on Saturday. (Which means I most likely will not send an update next week). I have a chance to share for 15 minutes about the work here in Athens and will be at a table later on to answer questions - providing I can understand the questions since it is a conference for Greek Evangelical Women.

Our week this week began in a very joyous manner. We had the privilege of attending the baptism of our good friend Dr. "J" from Pakistan. He gave his testimony before his baptism. He told how the Taliban burned his house, put a death warrant out on him and threatened his family and forced them into hiding. Then he stood tall and said clearly, "In the name of Jesus I hereby forgive these men for the atrocities they have committed against me and my family." It was a powerful and moving moment. Please pray that somehow his wife and two small children will be able to get out of Pakistan and the family can be reunited.

It has been very crowded at the ARC lately. New Afghan families are pouring into Greece. We are seeing many new people most of whom are sleeping in the parks since they have just arrived and don't know anyone or have money to find a place off the streets. We have had such big crowds on Tuesdays that we have had to stop serving food for the time being until we can find a way to ticket people and control the crowds that push their way through the gates threatening to trample children in the push to get in. Please pray with us that we will once again find a way to share what we have with as many people as possible while still providing for the safety of our staff and the refugees we serve.

I met a very nice new family. The daughter "M" speaks excellent English. They have been here for two months. There is "M" who is 18, her two younger sisters 12 and 15 and her mother. They left Afghanistan because her father is dead and they were under the authority of her uncle. She said she loves school but was forced to stop going because her uncle did not believe girls should be out of the house after the age of 12. She said she and her sisters were like prisoners in their home, never allowed to leave except to walk around the yard. She said it was only a matter of time until her uncle forced her to marry because men will pay handsomely to marry a beautiful young girl and she was getting old at 18 to still be unmarried. Her mother took her and her sisters and left. They walked to Turkey and then over the mountains into Greece. "M" said that her uncle is very influential and if they went home they would certainly be killed. I told her to tell her mother (who does not speak English) for me that I respected and honored her for being willing to leave her life and to make the dangerous journey with her daughters. Her mother said "I suffered from my father, my husband and my brother-in-law, I do not want this for my girls". Her mother is only 42 but looks much older due to the hard life she has had. "M" and her family share a 12x12 room with 3 families totaling 20 people. Each family pays 200 euros a month. For 600 euros those same three families could rent a nice 3 bedroom apartment but because they don't have papers they are forced to pay slum lords ridiculous prices just to be off the streets.

Kent's friend "G" was at the ARC today. He is looking very good although very thin. He is talking well again and seems much more his old self. He has moved from the abandoned shell of a building up in the hills and is living with another man near the center of Athens. Thanks to those of you who prayed for him. We are SO glad to see him doing better. Kent plans to have him and a few other guys over for a movie night while I am gone next week.

Well it's late - hopefully I will get back on a better schedule soon and be more regular with my updates. Thank you all for being such an encouragement to us. God is definitely at work here and we are so glad to be a part of it.

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 Support:
Online go to: www.iteams.org/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 ;}