Morley Update 2012 #32

Everyone,

Well we are getting back into the swing of things although we have continued to still struggle a bit with getting our sleeping patterns adjusted. Kent had a busy week working, getting caught up with leadership stuff and preparing for the retreat. We had planned to go snorkeling for a while on Monday (our day off) but he ended up working on retreat stuff and running downtown in the afternoon to help unload a large donation of fresh nectarines at the ARC. Since we didn't take a day off I think we may sneak away for a while on our personal ministry day just to get into the water for a bit. The weather has been beautiful - temperatures in the low 80s during the day and cooling off to the low 70s at night.

I wanted to share something our team mate Tasha told us that happened on Saturday. There had been a donation of some money for food - our cupboards have been a bit bare. Tasha bought enough food to give 6 families a small bag of groceries that would last a week or so. She said she felt compelled to give it to this one woman who had been to camp but had not been interested in studying further. She said when she gave it to the woman on Saturday the lady started crying. She told her that they did not have any food and the night before her children had been complaining they were hungry but she had nothing to give them. She said she prayed and asked God to please give them some food. Tasha took her into the office and with the help of our friend "Z" translating she read to her from the Bible where it says that God cares for even the sparrows and how much more he cares for us. The woman told her that she wanted to know more about the Bible and would like to join the women's Friday study.

In my last update I said that a good friend was in jail. This is "J" whose story I told a few updates back, he has been on his own since 8 years old after his family was killed. As I said he is a new Christian and was baptized at camp. Several of the men from our ministry as well as another ministry went down to the jail and later to court to advocate for "J". He is no long "on his own" but has a caring family of believers surrounding him. He was released on Tuesday but is still seeking legal papers to stay in Greece. Please pray that he will be successful.

Please also pray for "G" the young man who helps in our children's ministry. He is a big help to us both in translating and just his servant's heart - among other things, he always cleans the bathrooms - not a pleasant job. Yesterday he came to seek advice on what he should do. He has been offered a job passing out leaflets. He would be working from 5am to 5pm every day - 7 days a week. He would receive 10 euros a day. His heart is to continue to serve with us but jobs are very hard to come by and he has not been able to find anything else. Several of the men got together with him and told him that though it was his decision they advised him to at least try it for a while - maybe it would lead to something better or he would have some time off etc. He is very sad about this because he loves working with the kids and also is active in his church on Sundays. He would still be able to come to community group on Friday nights but it is hard to see him have to work so hard and give up so much for so little pay. Please pray that God will direct and if this is not what he should do that God would close the door or if it is what he should do that God would give him peace and provide for him to have fellowship and open doors of ministry to him.

Tuesday was my first day back at work - I received some big smiles and hugs from kids and women alike. At lunch I sat with a family I hadn't met before. When they meal was served (spaghetti) the woman got out a container and she and her husband both put their meal into the container to take home. Then they and their little boy who looked about 4 years old shared the remaining bowl of spaghetti. Later one of the other families was going to throw out some leftover spaghetti and they asked if they could have it and added it to their container. Kent and I received some money when we were at home and plan to buy groceries with it. I want to find out what this family's situation is and see if I can help them.

Yesterday my friend "N" told me that they were losing their place to stay. I knew this was coming and Kent and I had decided we would help her for a month if needed but it is always hard because if you can't do it every month you are just postponing the inevitable. I asked her what she was going to do. She said today she is going to the GCR (Greek Council for Refugees) and she thought they would be sending them to a camp in Thessaloniki which is about 6 hours away. She is sad about this but it may be a good thing for them to get out of Athens. He husband is a drug addict. Her children are in school here so if they have to move I think it would be good to do it soon so perhaps the kids can be enrolled in a school there. Please pray for "N" and for her family.

I am still working on a reduced schedule - I continue to struggle with visual problems and yesterday after being at the ARC all day I had a headache and visual migraine (seeing lights and jagged lines) in the evening. For the time being I plan to continue to go to the ARC on Tuesday for family meal day and to attend team meetings etc. on Wednesdays. I will continue to be the coordinator for short term teams and volunteers as well as host things such as community group and other events in our home. I am finding other things I can do from home - this morning I cut out the craft that will be used this week on Thurs and Saturday. I have also done some proof reading of newsletters etc. for our director, Nikos, who said to me yesterday - "Don't worry about how much you can do - just enabling Kent to be here as the team leader is so important." I truly enjoy being at home and always have felt fulfilled in my role and a wife and homemaker. I just need to rest in the fact that this seems to be where I am at for now.

Thanks you so much for your continued support - financially, in prayer and in little notes of encouragement. We are so grateful for the wonderful team of supporters we are surrounded by - we are truly blessed!

Serving Him Together,
Kent and Myrna Morley
Tripoleos 76
Elliniko 16777
Athens Greece
011 30 210 96 38 625
backhoeboy1@gmail.com
http://kent-uniquelymorley.blogspot.com
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