Everyone -
Sorry I didn't get this out yesterday - we had friends in for dinner and I decided to cook Chinese - it was fun but I spent most of the day chopping vegetables! The weather here has turned cloudy and gray with bursts of heavy rain. Wednesday Kent spent the day doing what we call IMs. This is a time for team members to get together with Kent one on one and share how they are feeling about ministry and life in general. IM stands for Individual Meeting but Kent is fond of making up other acronyms for it. This week due to some differences of opinion, he was afraid it would stand for Irritated Members but all is well. We are so blessed to serve with this team! He took the car in the morning so he could park near the metro since he was afraid he would get wet taking the bike. Of course when he got to the metro he couldn't find any place to park within several blocks. Just as he left the car it opened up and poured. He said he was soaked by the time he got to the Starbucks to start his day of meetings. He sat through the first meeting with his feet freezing in his wet socks and shoes. After the first meeting was over he ran to a nearby shop and bought some dry socks. I got soaked doing my laiki shopping yesterday and it looks like I might get wet on my walk today. Good thing we are from Oregon, although we have become so used to the sun our webbed feet have almost disappeared.
HERE IS A BIG PRAISE if you haven't already heard it. In an amazing turn about for the Ambassador of Greece, Dr. Joseph's wife and children have their Visas to come and will be reunited soon here in Athens after 4 harrowing years! On Tuesday we were chopping salad at the ARC when Kent's phone rang and he stepped away to answer. When he returned he was crying and shared the good news. Please continue to pray for the family's safety as they leave the country and for the process of becoming a family unit again. Dr. J's wife and children have been in hiding for four years, moving from place to place to keep ahead of the Taliban. There have been many tragedies and near tragedies during this time. When Dr. J left thinking he would only be going to Greece for a conference, his little boy was a baby and his girl was 2 years old. Now they are 4 and 6 and will need to get to know their father all over again. His wife has been under a great deal of strain as you can imagine so it will take time to adjust to feeling safe and trusting again. Also pray that Dr. J will get settled in a place where they can live. Right now he is in a small room at a nursing home where he takes care of patients in return for his room and board. He will need to move to something larger for the whole family. Thank you to all of you who have faithfully prayed for this dear brother over the years.
Kent has a girlfriend - her name is Ellena and I don't mind a bit. We have a single woman "A" who has a little girl Ellena, who is a toddler and an older boy. Kent of course loves kids and is partial to little girls having had three of our own. He has charmed many a small child who was a bit shy with his "electric finger". He holds out one finger and waits - when the child touches it he jumps and goes "zzzzztt". They find this very amusing and non- threatening. He started doing this with Ellena when he first met her - now she is his girl. On Tuesday when "A" walked in with the kids one of the other guys on the team took Ellena - she immediately started crying and wanted her mom. "A" took her back and then saw Kent standing across the room - she pointed him out to Ellena and she immediately wanted down and ran to him with her arms outstretched. "G" our Afghan friend and helper tried to take a picture with his phone but Ellena kept hiding her head. I am attaching a picture anyway. Kent is such a good example to the refugees of a Godly man. Especially the women are impressed that he is so kind and caring. Often their experience with men (fathers, brothers, uncles and even their husbands) has not been positive. As one refugee said to me when she saw Kent rocking a baby at a clothing give away - "He good husband, good father"..... and a good grandpa too!
Yesterday was Valentines Day and I am again so thankful for my husband. He is not only a good husband but he leads the team here with wisdom and patience. He is almost always able to see the positive in people and circumstances and brings peace and calmness in the midst of turmoil. Continue to pray for our team as we look at personnel changes and covering areas of ministry while we are away. As we have said we will be in the USA for 6 months starting mid April. We are available to speak, share and help out wherever we can. We will be in southern CA for the month of May and in OR/WA with a possible trip to WY from June through early September. We will likely make a quick few day stop in Chicago on our way to MA and will be in MA from mid to late Sept through mid Oct. If you would like to have us share with your church, small group or ??? just let us know and we will try to schedule you. Thank you all again for your unfailing support. 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: www.iteams.org/us
Or Send to:
International Teams
411 W. River Rd.
Elgin IL 60123
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