Morley Update 2011 #20

Everyone,

Hello and Goodbye. Two words that aptly describe our ministry. Here are some recent ones:

Five and a half weeks ago we welcomed into our home an intern from Moody Bible Institute named Emily Mueller. She was a joy to have and quickly stepped into ministry. She was willing to lend a hand wherever needed and always had a cheerful attitude. On her personal ministry day she started an English class for some of the young women. It evolved into two English classes, one with the young women taught by Emily and another intern Lauren and a second class for the younger brothers and sisters who tagged along taught by Heather. Tuesday was Emily's last day at the ARC and she had to say goodbye to these girls who have grown to love her. Wednesday the team got to say goodbye to Emily at a team fellowship and this morning at 3am I hugged her goodbye as she left to go to the airport for her flight home.

A few weeks ago I saw a new young woman who smiled at me so I said "salaam" which is the Farsi "hello". She replied "hello" in English. I sat down to talk with her and though her English is limited we became fast friends. Her name is "T" and she is here with her parents and two sisters and a brother. Another brother is in another country and one brother is missing and they don't know if he is alive. He worked for the Americans in Afghanistan and that is why they had to flee. Tuesday I sat down to talk with "T" and she said "I don't know how to tell you - my heart is very "hot"." I questioned her and what she meant is her heart was heavy. She misses her home - they are living in the park here, she misses her friends and her school. We had been talking about Jesus and I told her that Jesus loves her and that He is with her even in the hard times. She said she has been reading a Farsi Bible at home and wants to learn more. She said "You are like my mother - I like you...no I LOVE you". I asked if she would be in on Saturday so we could talk more. She said she didn't know as they are trying to leave and get to another country so we shall see - maybe this is another "goodbye" for me.

Kent's friend "O" left and Kent has not heard from him again - goodbye. Our friend "G" who we told goodbye in December fully expecting to see him when we returned has not shown up yet and we have no way to reach him. Kent's friend "H" who became a Christian here left late last year to go back to Kurdistan another goodbye. However, "H" calls occasionally and he is now in regular contact with a friend or ours who is a missionary in Kurdistan. Recently Kent received a note on Face book from a refugee friend from Sudan who we had in our home on a couple of occasions but who we said goodbye to over a year ago - hello again.

Our team mate Nader had the wonderful experience this week of saying hello to his brother from Iran who he has not seen in 16 years. His brother and uncle will be visiting until the 23rd of July. Nader wants to share with them about Jesus - pray that they will be open.

A few weeks ago I mentioned "N" and her family in my letter (update #15). She and her husband and their four children 2 boys and 2 girls lived in the park for some time and then were living in a building with no electricity and little water. They had tried to leave but after quite a traumatic experience had returned. About a week ago "N" took the two girls and tried again. They made it to I believe Germany and are in a camp waiting for their papers to process. Unlike the camps in Greece they have a little home there and receive food and care. Her husband hopes to join her with the two boys if she is granted asylum. We see many family that have to separate in order to get out of the country and it is sometimes many months or years before they are reunited. A big goodbye.

I wrote of a young man "H" who is a new believer and was feeling pretty hopeless about his chances for a better life. He had a blow this week when he learned of his father's death in Iran. "H' did not get to say goodbye and his grief is overwhelming him at the moment. Please pray for him, for peace, for comfort and for trust in his relationship with Jesus.

We know many people who plan to try to leave in the next couple of months. If they make it there will be some hard goodbyes. If they don't make it there will be some sad hellos because although we are don't want to lose our friends we know that there is not much chance of a good life for them here. The constant ebb and flow of people through our lives is sometimes difficult but God is using this flow to spread his kingdom as people come to faith in Greece and then take that faith with them when they leave. Thank you for partnering with us in so many ways in this ministry. There have been many hellos and goodbyes between us as well. I was looking at pictures of my kids and grandkids this morning and feeling a bit homesick. We miss you and think of you often.

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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