Everyone-
I am sorry my updates have been so few and far between while in the states. Our internet has remained sketchy and I no longer have a normal schedule where I know when I sit down and write. We have been VERY busy speaking and connecting with friends, family and supporters. While we have enjoyed this and love to tell others about the work in Greece - we have found this to be very emotionally draining. While at work it is easy to get into a routine and though we have days when we feel frustrated and sad for people we are somehow able to balance that with the fun little things we do and the joy of watching God transform lives. One of the presentations we are doing in America is a collection of snippets of the hardships refugees face and how they came to Greece. Because these are all real people that we know, this dredges up emotions in us that we are sometimes able to put aside in the daily routine of work in Athens. I have also tried to balance staying on top of short term teams and individuals while here which at times had been difficult. Kent and I are both ready to be "home" and back to the work God has for us. Please pray for us that we finish our time here well before we head back.
We have two more speaking engagements on Sunday the 27th (morning at Willamina, evening at Turner) and then will leave OR on the 28th and head back to southern CA. We will stop in San Francisco to pick up our visa which should be all ready for us. After spending a few days with Kent's dad we head for Chicago. We will spend three days at International Teams headquarters in Elgin (March 8-10) and fly back to MA on the 11th to spend a little more time with our kids and grandkids there. We leave MA on the 17th of March and arrive back in Greece on the 18th.
While we look forward to returning home to Greece we are always torn to be leaving behind our family and friends here. I realize that from now on, wherever we are, a bit of our heart will always be somewhere else. Isn't that the way it will always be for Christians? My personal reading has been in Acts lately and it has been interesting to follow the missionary journeys of Paul throughout the region in which we now find ourselves. When Paul writes letters to the churches he establishes during these journeys, he is always torn between his love for the people he has ministered to (and his desire to see them again) and the knowledge that God is directing his steps to put him exactly where God wants him to be at that time. Of course ultimately his dilemma is even greater than that as he writes in Philippians 1:21-24. "For to me to live is Christ and to die is gain. For if I am to go on living in the flesh it will mean fruitful labor for me. Yet what shall I choose? I do not know! I am torn between the two; I desire to depart and be with Christ, which is better by far; but it is more necessary for you that I remain in the body". As Christians we will always live knowing that this is not our final destination. But while we are here on earth "home" is wherever God takes us and we are so thankful to your part in helping us to continue to be at home in Greece. We have enjoyed seeing many of you during our time here in the states and look forward to seeing more of you in the next few weeks. Thank you for all you do for us.
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 ;}
Thursday, February 24, 2011
Tuesday, February 1, 2011
Morley Update 2011#2
Everyone,
It is harder to do updates when we are in the states as I never know where we will be and what our internet service will be like. At the moment we are comfortably tucked in at our friends Don and Margaret Kennedy's home in WA. We are here for the rest of the week. We spoke at Central Christian in Snohomish on Sunday. It was a real joy to reconnect with this congregation who has faithfully supported us from the beginning. It truly felt like coming home as we were greeting with hugs and welcomed back. We met with a small group here last night and will be with two small groups tonight. Tomorrow night we will travel 2 1/2 hours away to speak with a group in Cle Elam that Don works with. Thursday after breakfast out with friends (one of the things Kent and I miss about America) I think we will spent some time with our photographer friend Greg Silsby and do some shooting.
We have had a little change up in our schedule. We will not be at Willamette Christian in West Linn on the 6th but will instead be there on the 13th. The change is because their tech team is going to do a short video clip of us talking about refugees during their Sunday services. We are going to film this at the beginning of the week. We will also stay a few days more in Portland because a wonderful dentist who is on the mission team at Willamette is taking care of our dental work at a GREATLY reduced cost - what a gift!
So the plan for our schedule is to be back in Elmira on the evening of the 9th and to stay there through Saturday the 12th. We will go back to Portland the night of the 12th and be gone a few days again most likely returning on the 16th. Then we will be in the area until the end of February. Speaking at Bethany Church in Franklin on Sunday the 20th and Willamina the morning of the 27th. We will finish by speaking at Turner on the night of the 27th and leave for CA the next day.
THE BIG NEWS IS WE GOT OUR FBI CHECKS BACK!!! This means we should be able to pick up our visas with no trouble and return to be with Kent's Dad for a few days of rest after our whirlwind schedule in OR. We will fly to Chicago on March 7th (arriving on the morning of the 8th) and spend three days at head quarters in Elgin. Then on the 11th we fly back to MA to spend a few more day with our Grandkids and return to Greece as scheduled on March 18th. I inadvertently caused a bit of confusion by posting on face book that we were on schedule to arrive back to Greece on the 18th without designating clearly that it was MARCH 18th so the rumor may be circulating the we are coming home early which is not the case.
We are loving our time here reconnecting with family and friends but our hearts always turn back to our home in Greece and the people there who have grown so dear to us. Thanks you for your prayers for our travels, and visas and all that you do to encourage and uphold us. We love you.
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 ;}
It is harder to do updates when we are in the states as I never know where we will be and what our internet service will be like. At the moment we are comfortably tucked in at our friends Don and Margaret Kennedy's home in WA. We are here for the rest of the week. We spoke at Central Christian in Snohomish on Sunday. It was a real joy to reconnect with this congregation who has faithfully supported us from the beginning. It truly felt like coming home as we were greeting with hugs and welcomed back. We met with a small group here last night and will be with two small groups tonight. Tomorrow night we will travel 2 1/2 hours away to speak with a group in Cle Elam that Don works with. Thursday after breakfast out with friends (one of the things Kent and I miss about America) I think we will spent some time with our photographer friend Greg Silsby and do some shooting.
We have had a little change up in our schedule. We will not be at Willamette Christian in West Linn on the 6th but will instead be there on the 13th. The change is because their tech team is going to do a short video clip of us talking about refugees during their Sunday services. We are going to film this at the beginning of the week. We will also stay a few days more in Portland because a wonderful dentist who is on the mission team at Willamette is taking care of our dental work at a GREATLY reduced cost - what a gift!
So the plan for our schedule is to be back in Elmira on the evening of the 9th and to stay there through Saturday the 12th. We will go back to Portland the night of the 12th and be gone a few days again most likely returning on the 16th. Then we will be in the area until the end of February. Speaking at Bethany Church in Franklin on Sunday the 20th and Willamina the morning of the 27th. We will finish by speaking at Turner on the night of the 27th and leave for CA the next day.
THE BIG NEWS IS WE GOT OUR FBI CHECKS BACK!!! This means we should be able to pick up our visas with no trouble and return to be with Kent's Dad for a few days of rest after our whirlwind schedule in OR. We will fly to Chicago on March 7th (arriving on the morning of the 8th) and spend three days at head quarters in Elgin. Then on the 11th we fly back to MA to spend a few more day with our Grandkids and return to Greece as scheduled on March 18th. I inadvertently caused a bit of confusion by posting on face book that we were on schedule to arrive back to Greece on the 18th without designating clearly that it was MARCH 18th so the rumor may be circulating the we are coming home early which is not the case.
We are loving our time here reconnecting with family and friends but our hearts always turn back to our home in Greece and the people there who have grown so dear to us. Thanks you for your prayers for our travels, and visas and all that you do to encourage and uphold us. We love you.
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 ;}
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