Morley Update 2012 #37

Everybody,

Meet Michalis. Michalis and his wife Ritsa are Greek team mates who were originally called to Sri Lanka but due to visa issues ended up here in Greece and became a part of our team. Michalis has worked in several capacities: serving in the kitchen, traveling 2 1/2 hours each week to Patra to help a church there in their outreach to refugees, teaching Greek and spending one on one time discipling a young refugee who is a new christian and happens to be blind. In all of this Michalis has struggled a bit to know what the Lord had specifically for him in this ministry. Michalis likes children and often wanders into the kids room, many times with a toddler in his arms as he seems especially drawn to the little ones. SO who did God in His wisdom give Michalis to work with? Eight rowdy street kids ranging in age from 8-13. These kids each have a parent here but they are allowed to run wild in the streets all day every day. Frankly we (and other ministries as well) have sometimes dreaded seeing them come as they often cause trouble and are very hard to handle. A month or so ago Michalis made the decision to let them come up on a Tuesday (of course they don't have tickets) because we had extra food. He sat with them at a table and kept order during the meal. We (the children's workers) told him that we did not have room for them in the kids room and honestly did not have enough staff to deal with them. Imagine my surprise when I later walked into the office and there sat these kids in a row listening to Michalis talk with them using a German friend who speaks Dari as a translator.

Since then Michalis has taken these kids under his wing on Saturdays, often taking them out somewhere for ice cream or to play soccer in the park or whatever else comes to mind. He has occasionally brought them up on a Tuesday as well but this was causing an issue because now they were inviting friends (who have families) to come also and we don't have space for this many extras. Yesterday at team meeting we had a discussion about what to do with these kids. Michalis wants to keep working with them and everyone agreed that Saturdays worked well because it is a day when it doesn't matter how many people we have come in. Tuesday were a bit harder however. While we wanted to reach out to these kids we needed to know how many people were coming. There was also the issue of what to do with them. Michalis is willing to meet with them but many felt that the office was not a good place for them to meet since our purses, cameras etc are all stored there and stealing has been an issue for these kids in the past. We didn't want to put temptation in their way or set them up to be blamed if something turned up missing. We finally decided that Michalis would limit the kids on Tuesdays to the 8 kids who are the core group of kids wandering the streets. He would tell them if they wanted to invite friends they were welcome to do that on a Saturday. We said we would set up an extra table reserved for Michalis and his "family". Since all the other rooms in the ARC are being used during the gospel presentation time we are planning to set up chairs in our clothing room for the kids to meet there with Michalis. "C" the young blind man Michalis has been working with has agreed to act as translator. Right now Michalis just wants to provide a safe place where these kids belong. He wants to give them a sense of family and to teach them some basic ways to behave in addition to talking to them about Jesus. These children need to know that someone cares enough to spend time with them and that they aren't just "those kids" we dread to see coming but people we welcome and provide for. Will you pray for Michalis and his little band of urchins? We have committed to having Michalis work with these kids through the end of the year and then see where God is leading. We continually ask God to open our eyes to where HE wants to work - who knew it would be with a group of kids nobody wanted?

Seeing where God has placed Michalis is a good example of something that Tasha shared in our teaching time yesterday at team meeting. "God did not choose us because we are gifted. He gifted us because we are chosen." Every talent we have, every measure of strength, is a gift from the Lord to be applied to the job he has chosen for us. May we be neither puffed up nor disappointed but use those gifts faithfully in the work before us.

Thank you for supporting us in so many ways as we continue to serve among the refugees. Please continue to pray for Greece. Racial tensions are mounting. People are becoming more desperate as businesses close, jobs are lost and pensions and services are cut. We don't know where it will all end but are thankful that our trust in not in the powers and authorities that are seen but in God who is never surprised.

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
To join our Support Team:
Online go to: https://www.iteams.org/us
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 :)

A Correction and Apology

Everyone,

A Correction:

I found out I had misrepresented a number in my update today and wanted to correct it. I said: "At this time there are 140,000 cases in the first stage of processing and 25,000 in the second stage. They are processing 3 a day which means it would take them over 19 years just to process the ones they already have even if they accepted no new cases." A team mate let me know that there are 20 commissions and EACH of them hear 3 cases a day which is 60 cases total a day - meaning it would take over 10 years to process the cases they now have. The lawyer last night was speaking Greek and it was difficult to hear the translation so I missed a portion of what he said - I just wanted to set the record straight.

An Apology:

Perhaps I should have just not written an update this week. I have found that something I said near the end of my letter was offensive to some and once again I want to make that right. I said "the government, the police and the system all conspire against the refugee". By using the word conspire I implied that all these people purposely act unfairly toward the refugee. While there are individual cases where this is true it is unfair to paint the whole of Greek authority with the same brush. Greece in under a tremendous strain with their own economic problems and the addition of so many needy people pouring into their country daily. I think everyone would agree that the system is very unwieldy and in sad need of an overhaul. However there are many in the system who are trying to do the humane and fair thing under very difficult circumstances. There are many other Greeks who individually and corporately (such as many churches in the area) try to help refugees. It is easy to get overwhelmed with the problems and to place blame. I apologize if I offended anyone by my remarks. I love Greece and the Greek people and pray for them as they face difficult days ahead.

Myrna

Morley Update 2012 #36

Everyone,

I have been having a bit of trouble with my arthritis flaring and just not feeling too well. I am trying to adjust my cortisone down - and YES I am doing it very slowly over a long period of time in case anyone is worried. Because of this I did not go to work yesterday and have had a couple of days where I just did the necessary things but laid low most of the day.

We have been blessed in the last week to have two gatherings where we got together with other ministry teams in the area. The first was a celebration of last year's camp that we did in conjunction with Hellenic Ministries and Oasis. There was a slide show, worship time and a few updates on some of the people who went to the camp. The second gathering was last night and we invited a Greek lawyer, a woman who is a research specialist on refugees and our friend Patricia who works with unaccompanied minors in Greece to come and speak to us. Our hope was that we would gain new insights into how to help our refugee friends achieve legal status but it was a bit discouraging. So much is left up to the arbitrary judgments of the police. At this time there are 140,000 cases in the first stage of processing and 25,000 in the second stage. They are processing 3 a day which means it would take them over 19 years just to process the ones they already have even if they accepted no new cases. They are supposed to setting up new committees to hear these cases but when the lawyer said they hope to have these in place by the beginning of the year there was a general chuckle around the room - my thought was the beginning of WHAT year.

The lawyer also told us they are also thinking of changing the red card which now serves as an ID card and gives permission to work etc. The proposal is to make it no longer serve as an ID card. Someone asked how this would help refugees and the lawyer answered - "It won't - They do not want to make it appealing to refugees........ But we have registered our complaint and that is all we can do". It sometimes seems hopeless but we SO appreciate people like this man who are willing to try and help refugees navigate this crazy and often unfair system.

Patricia shared some about the kids she is working with. We don't know how many unaccompanied minors there are in Greece but she had interviews with 101 of them. These are boys ages 12-17 who are here alone. They are largely invisible because they don't know how to navigate the system and they have no one to help them. About half of the ones she interviewed live on the streets. About 80 percent of them have been in physical danger either from the police, fascists. or others. Many of them are sexually abused because it is a way for them to earn money. Patricia said that she sees quite of few of these boys come into our facility on Saturdays and that for many we are the only adults they interact with on a regular basis. Unfortunately we don't have the staffing to have a regular program of any kind for these kids. Pray that God will open our eyes to what He wants to do.

As I look back over this letter it seems a little negative and it is easy to get discouraged sometimes when we look at the almost insurmountable problems these refugees face. I have to remind myself of something we said when we first came here. "I may not be able to help everyone but I will try to change the life of one refugee today." I think of the guys Kent has spent time with. He has listened and shared and prayed. He has taken men for coffee, to the beach, to dinner and to get new glasses. He has given out food, rent money, bought medicine and shoes. I think of the people we have had in our home. We played games, had dinner, shared Christmas and studied the Bible. I've had women in for tea, crafts, showers and testimonies. Our spare bedroom has accommodated friends, family, interns and refugee friends. I look at the many refugees who have come to know Jesus and who now work alongside us as we serve. They teach kids, help in the kitchen, organize the clothing room, help clean up. act as translators for us and most importantly share their faith with others. Yes the government, the police and the system all conspire against the refugee but God is changing lives. If God is for us who can be against us!

Thank you for your part in this work. Thank you for caring, for praying and for sharing financially. We couldn't do it without you!

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
To join our Support Team:
Online go to: https://www.iteams.org/us
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 :)

Morley Update 2012 #35

Everyone,

"Jingle Bells, Jingle Bells, Jingle all the Way...." This is Ana Cami's new favorite song and while it is adorable to hear her sing it in her little lispy voice, I'm sure by the time Christmas rolls around her mother is going to be very tired of hearing it. Who can think about Christmas when we are just beginning to revel in Fall Leaves, Cooler Weather and Football. The team here has been thinking about Christmas for some time now. Instead of writing my usual update I am posting our newsletter about our upcoming Christmas parties. Please take the time to read it - It gives you a good idea of what it looks like to have a party for 650 of your closest friends. It also gives you a chance to share in this special day. Thanks for taking the time to read it.


Dear brothers and sisters in Christ,

It’s hard to think about Christmas when it is still in the 80s and 90s but believe it or not our Christmas parties the first week of December are only two months away. Once again we are planning 4-5 parties for 130 people each.

This is always such a special night for our refugee friends and we spend months preparing. Gifts are bagged and waiting to be handed out. The room is decorated and the tables are set. The delicious smell of food fills the room. We welcome our friends who come dressed in their best. During the evening, each family is escorted into another room where a family portrait is taken. When everyone is seated we have a puppet show telling the Christmas story and how Jesus understands what they are going through because He too was a refugee. Our teammate Aziz will also share a message in Farsi. After the program we will serve a special meal of Salad, Chicken, Persian Rice, Pita Bread and Dessert. When the meal is finished each person receives a gift – the little ones delight in their new toys as well as warm gloves and scarves. The adults receive more practical things: shampoo, razors, lotion and other hygiene items. They also receive a scarf and gloves. Inside each adult’s bag is a one of the Gospels in Farsi. The children’s bags include a coloring book with the Christmas story in Farsi and a package of brightly colored markers. It is an evening filled with special memories for the team and for our guests.

We are blessed to partner with several local churches that prepare food, decorate tables and help serve. We also have a local school that helps out with donations for our gift bags. This is a big help but even so, putting on Christmas parties for up to 650 people can be a bit of a financial stretch. We estimate it will cost us around 20 Euros per person. Would you consider joining with us? Any excess money that is collected above what we need for Christmas will be used to buy sleeping bags. For refugees sleeping in the parks this time of year the nights can get very cold and a sleeping bag makes quite a difference. The cost of one sleeping bag is 15 dollars (around 12 Euros). This year instead of getting Aunt Matilda another knick knack for her collection or buying Uncle Harry yet another tie you might want to consider giving them a card telling them that a refugee child will have warm hands or a young man sleeping in the park will no longer have to shiver in the cold night air. Thank you for caring and thank you for sharing.

You can give by check—make out to International Teams and Designate Helping Hands Christmas:
Mail To:
International Teams International Teams International Teams
411 W. River Rd. 1 Union Street P.O. Box 11
Elgin IL 60123-1570 Elmira, Ontario N3B 3J9 Brecon, Powys
USA CANADA LD3 9WJ GREAT BRITAIN

If you would prefer to give online go to:
www.iteams.org click on your country and follow the directions for giving.


THANK YOU SO MUCH FOR INVESTING IN THE LIVES OF REFUGEES. Please pray for our Christmas Programs — God is at work and we are privileged to be a part of it.

On behalf of the whole team of Helping Hands,
Nikos Stefanidis
Director

Morley Update #34

Everyone,
Though it was a busy week, I find myself this morning feeling a bit brain dead and at a loss for words - I know some of you are gasping in surprise because you were sure that I would always have something to say - brain dead or not.

As I think back over the week there are little snapshots in my mind so here are a few:

I see the kids room on Tuesday. We had planned for 25-30 kids at the most and had closer to 40. I picture the room crammed with kids. The tables are filled and kids are sitting in chairs around the edges of the room. I see "G" our young refugee friend telling the story and using a very silly voice for the little airplane. I hear the kids begin to giggle and then to laugh hysterically as they listen. I see the eager hands raised to answer the questions at the end of the story and I hear the little voices repeating the memory verse in Farsi sometimes needing a little prompting along the way. "Let the little children come to me, and do not turn them away."

I see "S" the little 12 year old girl who is severely disabled. She is in her new wheel chair but is not sitting upright because the chair isn't adjusted properly. After trying to adjust it with her in it and almost folding her in half we take her out and sit her in a rolling office chair while we try to figure it out. She sits like a little frog with her legs drawn up in front of her. We finally figure out how to adjust the chair and move her back into it. It still takes a bit of adjusting and finally putting a towel behind her head before she is comfortable but the smile never leaves her face. "For the kingdom of God belongs to such as these".

I picture my house last night filled with team mates as we gather for team meeting and team fellowship. Scott and Vicki McCracken's little girl Ellie is laying on the floor giving "Uncle" Themis the eye as he sits down to eat his dessert. He can't resist and soon more bites are going into her mouth than into his mouth. Cami's two little ones, Matthew and Ana are everywhere. Ana moves about the room climbing up into different laps, always assured of a welcoming hug. These children know that they are loved and trust even in these fallible humans they are surrounded with. How much more can we trust in the love of our Father in heaven? "I tell you the truth, anyone who will not receive the kingdom of God like a little child will never enter it."

I picture "M", a beautiful young girl on the cusp of being a young woman, staying to help clean up after class. When I gave her a hug afterwards she held on tightly and I thought to myself "Oh if only I could be sure that all the hugs she receives will be "safe" hugs like this". I picture one little "live wire" that could not be still during class. I pulled her onto my lap and she then settled in and listened. I watch other members of the team rocking babies, wiping tears and noses or lifting a child high over their head resulting in giggles and pleas for more. And I think to myself "this is God's work". "And He took the children in his arms, put his hands on them, and blessed them."

Thank you for all you do to make it possible for us to serve here in Athens. We love you all.

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
To join our Support Team:
Online go to: https://www.iteams.org/us
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 :)