Off to Greece | May 15, 2016
Bound for Greece – about 30,000 feet above the Atlantic – with a stop in London. What place names to bandy about! It would seem that I am a world traveler!
I left Portland yesterday afternoon – passed through Chicago and overnighted at Boston’s Logan Airport. Not the best night. Airports are still noisy, even in the wee hours. Cleaning crews, TSA announcements for the travelers who are not yet there, elevator beeps. Then, at 5 am, the airport comes alive again, and I join the queue to check in at British Airways. At that early hour, things move quickly and I’m at the gate in no time. Is it time for breakfast? My body says no so I go with that.
So now I’m sitting in my middle seat, a bit glassy eyed, passing the time with movies and the occasional cat nap. This was a hard trip to get up for. Not because I don’t want to do this, but life has been so distracted. I will be having my house on the market soon after returning home. So the past weeks have been full of decluttering 38 years worth of stuff – some junk, some things past their save date, and some full of memories. Who would have thought going through fabric scraps and decades of patterns would be so fraught? But they are part of my story – patterns from college, Attie’s first dresses to her wedding dress, T-shirts for Paul and the boys, maternity clothes, costumes and so it goes. I even found a scrap of fabric from my bridesmaids’
skirts. Then there were all the old cards I have saved. Tears and laughter but mainly gratitude for the bounty of goodwill that has come my way over the years.
And, of course, the yard cries out for great attention this time of year and rewards me with the best rose display ever. The two old ramblers climb high into the surrounding trees and fairly burst with blossoms. One is called Paul’s Himalayan Musk. Peonies delight with their bushy heads and everything is lush and green and growing. And hence needs pruning!
This will be a new chapter in my life – one I am greatly looking forward to – but the process of letting go and being open to change costs. I will be glad when the bill is paid and the new life is in place.
So all that to say – I didn’t feel ready and even wondered whether I should go. Momentum and the prayers of dear ones got me through all the motions of packing and prepping and there was even a bit of time to watch some suggested videos. And here I am – on the 3rd leg of 5 – and in another dayish, I will be on the island of Lesvos, in the Aegean Sea, just about 4 miles from Turkey. There are some more place names for you!
Many have asked me what I will be doing and my answer has generally been – “What I’m told to!” I know we will work in the refugee camps, in 8 hour shifts but I will be reporting soon about what that actually looks like.
My heart has turned to this place, as my face is now, pointed in that direction. No more rooms shouting at me to clean them. No more windows crying out to be washed. No more bags to take to Goodwill or Scrap. Thank you, Lord, for focus and the stripping away of the normal accoutrements of everyday life in West Linn, Oregon. Now I am a world traveler for the Lord.
Lesvos, At Last! | May 17, 2016
Tuesday – May 17
Lesvos Island, Greece. I am here! Five flights and two lengthy layovers later, I am propped up in bed, chatting with you!
First the travel part – London was a fairly short layover – time for fish and chips, of course, and a glass, of wine. Then boarded the flight to Athens about 8pm. Best flight of the trip – I had an entire row of seats! The luxury of laying down, with feet up, cannot be overrated! I slept.
We arrived in Athens about 3:30 in the morning and I wasn’t leaving until 4 that afternoon. I had thought of just hanging out in the airport or going into Athens proper, but sanity prevailed. There is a very nice hotel right across the arrival roads so a quick walk took me there, got me a room, and put me to bed! Oh I am such a creature of my comforts! One night without a bed and I feel put upon. But it was a great decision. I slept until 10 – got up for breakfast, went back to sleep for another hour, then showered and headed back to the airport. Such luxury!
I met Rachel at the gate. She is a lovely young nurse, who attends Imago Dei, and is also volunteering. We did the very short hop out to the island and arrived to sunshine, blue skies and sea, and great relief that we were here. You will be hearing about her a great deal as we are on the same team and will working together.
We were met by Kim, the Greater European Mission (GEM in future posts) man in charge of the volunteer programs here on the island. We took off for about an 80 minute to drive to the other side of the island where most of the work is done. He filled us in on local history and the ongoing work – constantly in flux. The island is an old volcano and the road went up and down, twisting and turning, through black pine forests and then down to sea level and olive groves.
We are staying in an ancient town on the northern coast, Molivos. The hotel is up on a rise overlooking the town, the sea , and off to Turkey in the distance. We are only 4 miles from Turkey.
The hotel is lovely and quaint. Very comfortable but not too fancy to make staying here an unbearable burden when returning from the camps. Yes, there is a swimming pool and on days off, you will find me by or in the pool. The water and fresh food is safe to eat so no worries there. Not a hardship post – only in what we will be doing. We settled into our rooms and then met for supper in an open room. We will be outside a lot – so glad.
We joined another team which has been here about a week. 4 Canadians, a Dutch couple who live in Germany, and a Floridian who lives in Sweden! I so love the great melting pot of people one meets and gets to know on outings like this. Because our focus is on the same things, the conversation is compatible and so very interesting. However, one of the men mentioned the “Politician” Who Shall Not Be Named, and Rachel and I apologized all over the place for our country!
It was also the birthday of one of the men. The hotel staff had made a lovely cake so we all sang and ate cake. Not a bad way to start the stay!
Tomorrow Kim will pick us up and take us to orientation and then we will have our first shift overnight tomorrow night. We are not allowed to name the camp – Greek rules – but I can refer to it as the gate where one speaks the word “Friend” and enters.
Also I will be driving! Kim is renting us a car, stick shift, so I get to tool around the island in that! It saves them having to run us all over to the camp or other places of work. Pray for me!
And it’s time to say good night. A full night’s sleep! Thank you.
Well, I’m Embarrassed | May 18, 2016
First full day on the island – a decent sleep. The bed is very comfortable, but I’m still adjusting to the 10 hour time difference so was awake a bit in the middle of the night but no complaints. Up and shower -‘yeah! and off to breakfast. We eat breakfast and dinner at the hotel with a fixed menu, but we choose our drinks and wine and beer are on the list at no extra charge! This begins my list of luxuries here.
After breakfast, Rachel and I set out with Kim and two other volunteers to head back to Mytilene for our orientation. I am trying to pay close attention because I will be driving this beginning on Friday. The directions are pretty straightforward but the roads twist and turn, the other drivers are varying degrees of crazy or reckless, and I don’t have my driver’s license with me. I always leave it at home as I’ve never needed it before. Prayers would be in order!
The camp is about an hour from our hotel and we work in 8 hour shifts most days. The EuroRelief tents are manned 24 hours a day so sometimes we will be there on the graveyard shift. Other times we may stay up at this end of the island and clean the beach of discarded life jackets and punctured rubber dinghies. The refugees are told to puncture the raft as they land so the boats cannot be sent back to Turkey. There will be much more on this in the days ahead.
We arrived in Mytilene, a harbor city right on the Aegean. It is the capital city of Lesvos. We boarded this beautiful sailing ship which belongs to YWAM. It houses 40 folks so that gives you an idea of its size. In a galley below deck, we met for our orientation, led by Kim. It covered politics, history, culture, and all the nitty- gritty details of functioning in the camp – absolutely NO pictures, conservative dress, open heart etc. Kim read Mt 25 to us – the part about the sheep and the goats and serving the least of these and so serve the Lord. In this story, the ones serving are not the Jesus person, but those being served. It was a beautiful illustration for this time. We then headed over to a community center run by the evangelical church here on the island. Here people can come to shower, get a meal, wash their clothes. We walked around a bit – on some stone paved streets, and then had lunch in a little cafe overlooking the harbor. Back in the car for the 80 minute ride back. Arriving in Molovos, we stopped to see the little town, which is a hill village overlooking a small harbor, with Turkey nearby, on the horizon.
Now begins my embarrassment – we are on a Greek isle – a tourist destination with many little shops and cafes and restaurants. This time of year, the climate is perfect. Warm and breezy but not too hot and cool at night. When we are not on duty, we can swim in the sea or the pool, shop, or just hang out in little cafes, by the water, drinking cool drinks. Or we can visit the medieval castle or the ancient Roman aqueduct which overlooks our hotel. The closest thing I can compare it with is like being on Maui and plunking down a large refugee camp somewhere there. Surround the camp with fences and razor wire and gated entries. Work there for a while and then come out and you are in Maui! This isn’t quite as upscale as Maui, but it’s a Greek island, for pete’s sake! And because we can’t post refugee pictures, you will think I am here on holiday! The disconnect is huge, and I haven’t even been to camp yet – that is tomorrow. Such a different trip from any other. Ill be interested to see how I feel tomorrow, after a day in camp.
I am posting this the next morning – sitting at a table by the pool, looking out at the hills, the oleander, and the Roman aqueduct. I’m enjoying my very dark Greek coffee, juice, and a marvelous dish of tangy Greek yogurt covered in excellent honey. Such a perfect way to start the day.
Thank you for your prayers as the work really begins today. I would love to hear from you. The comments section doesn’t seem to work on this site so please feel free to email me. May I serve Jesus faithfully tonight.
Camp – Day One | May 19, 2016
Thursday – May 19
The day started at the hotel. Seems obvious but some days will start at the camp if we have the 12-8 shift. The usual blue skies and sea, breeze, and scrubby hills with the occasional olive tree or oleander bush. Breakfast and then some house keeping chores. I wash out my own clothes and then peg them out on a line outside my little patio. With the breeze and the sun, things dry quickly. Then I roughed it by the pool for a little while before grabbing some lunch and getting ready to leave. Kim and his wife, Jenny, went with Rachel and me on this first time. It was very nice to have them and their expertise with us. It’s about an hour drive to the camp and, starting tomorrow, I will be driving it. I’m not at all concerned about the driving part but just don’t want to get lost! So I will be a happier camper after a couple of trips. It is an island after all so there aren’t too many places to go wrong.
We had the 4-12 shift today. After parking the car, we walked up to the camp. It is on a hillside, with a fairly steep road running through the middle of it. The camp is surrounded by three wire fences, topped with coils of razor wire. It really seems like a prison. The police and army are present. We walked through the gate and wound our way up to the EuroRelief info tent where we checked in. First impressions – clumps of young men hanging about, talking, laughing, smoking cigarettes, but with nothing really to do. There are the mothers with little ones and many children running all around, eager to touch you and get hugs or to ask for balloons. Small dome tents are everywhere, right up next to each other. Then there are the larger buildings, single story, most with canvas sides, small windows and a roof. There is little privacy or room.
Many of the complexities arise here from frustration at the long waits, lines for everything, crowded conditions, and the many clashing nationalities and sects here together. There are at least 15 different nationalities – Syrians are the largest group but even within that population, there are Kurds or Christians and others who do not always see eye to eye. Add in Iragis, Iranians, Pakistanis, Bangladeshis, a couple of African countries and it makes for a volatile mix at times. Then add in the hot days and the cold nights. However, with all that said, we volunteers in our road crew yellow vests are warmly welcomed, greeted, and cheered. Given that many of the people thought they would only be here for a few days and now it is at least 2 months, they are incredibly resilient and friendly. I would probably be pouting in my tent but I didn’t see any of that. There are the usual smells and garbage but they really are at a minimum.
After checking in, some of us headed to the clothing tent. Once there, we sorted sizes and types of clothes into various labeled boxes. From these then, orders are taken for shoes and clothing and given out to the folks. As there was very little ventilation, the tent was stiflingly hot and sweat was soon pouring down. However, no room for complaints at all! The area in front of the tent is blocked off by a locked gate, manned by an Iragi refugee named Adel. He is big and safe and lovely and speaks English quite well. Any jobs that refugees can be given is so important. Boredom and feelings of helplessness and uselessness are rampant. Many of these folks were professional people before fleeing for their lives. Now they want nothing more than to be given a chance to work and settle down again – get their children back in school and have lives again.
After working a couple of hours, we took a blessed break outside and then had our supper, packed by the hotel staff for us. What luxury as the refugees have to stand in long lines for their food distribution – one line for women and children and one for men. Some food is delivered to family areas and to vulnerable people.
interacting with folks is the best part. Kim took us around and introduced us to a few people. Our first visit was with Omar, the unofficial mayor of Little Syria. He has carved out a little space for a seating area and even a small garden! He is growing some vegetables and a few flowers. There was a white begonia plant, just like one back home in my garden! His story is probably not too typical but is indicative of the struggles these people have faced. He was a petroleum engineer, working between Nigeria and Iran. On his last visit in Iran, two ISIS men knocked on his door and “invited” him to return to Syria to help them produce oil, a big money maker for them. He politely asked to gather his belongings and instead grabbed his passport and a few documents and went out the back door! He made his way to Turkey and now sits in this camp and grows vegetables! He sees this as a chapter of his life and likes having a connection to the earth, even here. Amazing!
We also visited a family compound and greeted an older woman (probably younger than me) in a wheelchair and the traditional black clothing. I got to play with a beautiful little 2 year old girl, Malek. We tugged each other’s earrings and messed up our hair and made faces. She gave sweet hugs and her mother offered to give her to me! A sweet time. More talking and listening – every one knows exactly how many days he has been here.
The evening continued in interacting and putting together some clothing bundles. After night falls, the clothing tent is very dark. There is no electricity to it – just a few battery lights. It also got colder so on went the layers over the dried up sweat. As the evening wore on, we just mainly were there as a presence and to protect the clothing. The other volunteers, from all over, sat and around and chatted. Such contrasts in stories but all with a heart to be here. Most of them are young people, many with YWAM teams. I was definitely the old lady!
At midnight, the next team came and we drove the hour back. I fell into bed – disgusting body not withstanding!
A few final thoughts – I am just on the cusp of what is happening and will learn and experience so much more. I want to be a good student and servant – in the mundane and the significant. We are being watched. Although we cannot overtly share our faith, we certainly can answer questions and engage in meaningful conversations. God is at work here.
Pants, PJs, and Pebbles | May 20, 2016
Friday – May 20
Sitting here, on a grey cool morning, enjoying my coffee and yogurt and honey. It seems that we do not get perpetual sunshine – just most of the time!
Last night’s shift was very like the first one – hot and sweaty in the clothing tent – organizing, sorting clothes by type and size, and filling orders for folks. That takes the first few hours and then it gets cooler and much quieter – not quieter in the camp – but not very busy. In the camp, people are up and roaming around most hours, even very small children.
Subject – children. Many of the children just roam about unsupervised – even very little ones. Generally, they do quite well and run up for hugs or to check out one’s jewelry or tags. There are sweet smiles and such beautiful faces. Another volunteer and I started blowing bubbles for them. Very fun until two boys starting hitting and tackling the others. Tears and anger. Then the pebbles started flying. No injuries as they were stopped pretty quickly. Adults intervene rapidly and really support each other. However, it was alarming to see that the first response was to pick up a stone. Even at our wire gate, a little boy tried to climb up and was pushed back. He immediately started throwing pebbles and then picked up a large stone and threw it against the gate. It was almost funny as the stone could do no harm. But it is sad and hard to see this initial response. Even the children suffer from the frustration of living in such confined quarters with little to do each day. Some of the family compounds are much better organized and welcoming but those in tents are packed right up next to each other. But still, the overwhelming majority of people are kind, supportive, and even grateful! Each face has a story but language gets in the way of hearing them.
The other volunteers I am working with are almost all from YWAM groups. So that makes me the old lady! I really am the only one over 30 working in the clothing tent! Most of the kids are very welcoming – in fact one wonderful Finnish girl and I had some great conversations. She is new in her faith and she is a joy to listen to. She will be leaving Sunday. I will be sorry to see her go. However, one young man asked if anyone wanted to go walk around camp and visit people. When I volunteered, he just looked at me and very obviously did not mean me! I quickly bowed out, tail between my legs. Not really! It’s fine. Chalk it up to youth and immaturity. He had no idea what he was missing! 😊
After 9 or 10, it gets very quiet in the tent with not much to do. Stories are told but some cuddle up in blankets and doze. We wait for midnight and then head home to our very welcome beds.
This was my first day driving – an hour plus each way. The roads are paved but often narrow. There are frequent hairpin turns and one has to watch out for other drivers and the occasional animal. Going over, it was daylight and I followed another van. However, coming home at midnight, was another story. Dark, a little rainy and occasional sections of fog. Then throw in a little uncertainty about direction and all those turns and hills. I was a bit stressed when we got back. Fortunately, I had Rachel with me. She was a huge help and encourager. She helped me with a couple of turns and we made it back in fine shape! Thank you Lord!
In the daylight, the car is fun to drive – a Kia with manual transmission.
Enough stories for now.
Inside the Camp, Outside the Camp, Inside the Car | May 21-22, 2016
Saturday/Sunday – May 21 & 22
Tonight I am writing from inside the camp. I’m sitting in the doorway of one of the buildings which is used for Greek and English classes. Opposite is the doorway of the clothing tent where I am spending many hours. There is no electricity in there, so even at 4 o’clock, when we start, it is still twilight. I am turning into a mole! Occasionally we have battery powered lights, but not tonight. My headlamp is very helpful as I wear it around my neck, still sorting clothes or filling clothing orders. There are two “rooms” in the tent with 3 level shelves. Those are loaded with cardboard boxes or plastic bins marked for Women’s Small Tops or Toddlers Tops and so on. We sort new arrivals and straighten up the boxes in a fairly constant struggle to maintain order. There is a narrow gravel path between these two buildings and to my right, is the wire gate which allows us in and out. No refugees are allowed in as we would have utter chaos if folks could come in and choose. As it is, orders are taken earlier in the day and collected into bright yellow bags, with the proper number. The family is given the corresponding ticket. Then, on our shift, we hand out the bags. Many people gather at the gate and wait while we track down their bag(s). Often we can’t fill the entire order so there is some unhappiness. Also the choice of clothes is not always to their taste, with which I can really sympathize. However, we can’t allow swaps except for size or folks would be here for ages “shopping.” It’s hard because they have lost so much and now they just have to wear what we give them. I would hate wearing clothes someone else picked out for me!
There is generally a small soccer game going on beside the tent so balls hit the roof. One shot went soaring over the tent and caught both Amanda and me on the heads as we were sitting outside, between tents! Nice shot!
So much time is spent waiting – for food, for clothes, for medical help. In between queues, there is little to do. A couple of men have set up barber shops and we saw one entrepreneur with wares spread out before his tent. Tonight there was more interaction with folks so I love that. And the other volunteers are great. As we have so much time together, life stories are shared and hopes and dreams come up. One quickly becomes family – with the occasional “relative” everyone copes with!
Rachel and I left at midnight and had a better drive back than the night before – little rain and no fog but all the turns were still there. Thanks Lord. But then the day’s adventure really began.
I went back to my room, unlocked the door and no electricity. As it was on everywhere else, I went looking for someone to help. No joy so back to the room. No big deal. I was going to sleep anyway. Went to turn the knob – nothing happened! I was locked out. After checking my back door, trying to pick the lock with scissors and nail clippers, and bargaining with God, I realized I was out for the night. I really didn’t want to bother anyone as it was about 1:30 and there wouldn’t be anyplace to sleep anyway, I unlocked the car and popped into the back seat to curl up for the night. Fortunately, I still had my backpack with iPad and clothes so made a little pillow and read much of the night. I didn’t really sleep – too uncomfortable and a bit chilly before dawn – “it’s always coldest . . .” Throughout the night, it was stormy – very windy with lightening side effects. Fun to watch. Finally, at 7:30, our venerable host showed up and got me in and powered back up. I fell into bed and slept until about noon.
I went for breakfast and noticed a couple beside me with large beer steins and I think “why are they having beer at breakfast time?” But it is really 1:30. Such are my mixed up days. I find myself saying “Good morning” when we arrive at the camp at 4. It is the beginning of my work day so must be morning! Very mixed up.
Well – things have changed. Just as I was waking up, Rachel came by and told me that we are being pulled out of the camp. When the day shift returned, they said they were told to pack up everything and leave after the shift. No new ones were coming in. We have no idea what is happening but just ache for the refugees. I’ll update as soon as I know anything. So tomorrow I am off and will see what the day brings. Many mixed feelings right now but my heart is with the refugees. Please pray for them. I gather it is not safe for us so what about them?
O Lord – please protect your dear ones.
I get to have a full night’s sleep but at what cost? Thank you for your prayers.
Beach Day! | May 23, 2016
Monday – May 23
The storms are over and today dawned clear and sunny. I also had a full night’s sleep so I also rose up sunny!
We still have no firm information about why we are not at the camp. Rumors are rife, of course. Safety issues seem to be the main consensus. We hope to get filled in tonight.
As we had not done our 4-12 shift last night, we joined the Eugene group (from a church in Eugene, OR.). It was nice for me as this group is all closer to my age than all the young people. We headed out about 9 to an area further along the coast. Molivos, where we are staying, is on the northwestern corner of the island so we just headed east. The road was rutty and gravel but I wasn’t driving! Praise to God! The road ran along the coast and was just a beautiful drive. The water is crystal clear and the shore is rocky and very steep in parts. We drove about half an hour to Camp Lighthouse. It is a tent camp staffed by volunteers. They were the first line of relief for the people who came over in boats. They met the boats, got people dry clothes, and food and any other emergency care needed. Then the refugees were sent up the hill a bit to a stage two camp called Skala. There they were processed and registered. They were usually there for about two days and then headed to the main camp, stage 3. Sometimes there were buses, but often people walked for 2-3 days to get there.
However, boats are not coming in now so beach clean up is the order of the day. As I mentioned before, the rafts were usually punctured and abandoned and life jackets strewn everywhere. A great deal of clean up has happened already but there is still much to be done. So we cut up rafts, into manageable pieces, and made piles for later removal. We were right on the shoreline – gorgeous but very rocky so keeping one’s footing was a challenge. Clumsy me survived unscathed so grace of the Lord. After working for a while, we broke for lunch. PB and J sandwiches were slapped together. A couple of the Lighthouse girls from Spain and Germany had never had it before and thought they were eating ambrosia! God bless America! More clean up for a bit and then a few of us walked into the little coastal town just a very short piece along the road.
It is the most charming place! A tiny Orthodox Church up on a high rock, overlooking the water. Small boats were in the harbor and they were a few open air cafes and shops. Tile roofs, stone streets, shuttered homes. Absolutely delightful. We stopped in for coffee and here is the other side of this whole refugee problem. Due to all the news reports about Lesvos, it appears that the island is just teeming with refugees. The reality is that outside of the camps, there are very few and they are down in the capital area of Mytilini. I have not seen a one up here. All that to say, these little towns that live on tourism are suffering tremendously. These are little villages rather off the beaten path so only more adventurous tourists visit up here anyway. Those who wish to see the “real” Greece. So I needed to help and thus shopped! I will be back a few more.times and want to eat in each restaurant.
Back to our hotel for supper. Since I started writing I have learned what happened. Due to refugees who are friendly to the volunteers, a plot was revealed which would have involved the usual garbage bin fires but then also targeted buildings and hostage taking. Needless to say, we won’t be returning until the ringleaders are rounded up. They have been identified. I doubt we will be back in this week but sure hope we can return next week. There is so much to do and people to encourage. It is such a strange mix of long busy shifts and then these lovely tourist like down times.
I think I mentioned before that most of the volunteers are very young people – a number in their late teens and then twenty somethings. The rest are closer to my age – no middle aged folks that I have seen. So many of the leaders and supervisors are the young folks. Most do a very good job but a few don’t seem to know what to make of older people, especially an older woman. The girls like to kid with the older men but I’m a bit of an anomaly. Actually, the girls from European countries are the friendliest. I’ve enjoyed them. And there are two darling college seniors from University of Alabama who are great. One told me she hopes she can be like me when she is older so that was a lovely, and much appreciated, compliment. I’m sorry they will be leaving in a couple of days. I’m learning much and God is very faithful to keep me close.
A Quick Request | May 23, 2016
In regards to what I shared yesterday about security issues in the camp. Please keep those to yourselves. We do not want this to get out widely as it only fuels the idea that the refugees are terrorists when, in reality, a tiny handful of desperate people, with no hope, are acting out. I feel totally safe – kept by God and some wise planning here. Just knowing that this was prevented by refugees who care for us and the work that is being done for them, is so heart warming. These are the people to concentrate on. Thank you very much. Your prayers protected us and are still so desperately needed for these amazing people. Their courage and resilience is overwhelming.
My Day Off | May 24, 2016
Tuesday – May 24
Truly – a day off! First one since I’ve arrived. So lovely – very little guilt. Puttered this morning with house keeping chores – did my wash which means soaking it overnight in soapy water, scrubbing any noxious bits, rinsing it in the morning, and pegging it out. Due to dry climate and stiff breezes, the wash dries quickly. Not quite up with my African sisters but at least I’m doing it by hand and hanging it out!
After breakfast, a mixed bag of women – two Aussies, one Icelander, and two Americans headed out for a bit of a drive. Once we get away from the city going east, the paved road, which is no great treat, runs out and we hit dirt and gravel and narrow. But the scenery is breathtaking and I wasn’t driving! All good. We really didn’t go too far – just to a created landfill for all the life jackets and cut up dinghies from the shoreline. It is a sea of orange and black with the occasional child’s swimming pool vest. It is massive. A few men were there picking through it as some of the material is being sent to other countries for recycling and repurposing. The place has a somber feel. True, this is a place of realized hope in that people made it to Greece, their destination. Each vest has a story. However, some did not make it and their bodies are buried on the island and their jackets are in the pile. It is a memorial to those who made it and those who didn’t. One could spend quite some time here in reflection and prayer. I hope to return.
The rest of the day was relaxing but with the morning undergirding it. That led to gratitude for the beauty of the sea and the chance to enjoy lunch with new friends. After returning, I went down to Molivos for lunch. I headed to the shoreline for a restaurant by the sea. Walking in, I saw Tim and Kath, a charming couple from Devon England. They invited me to join them so I did. It was an unexpected treat. They are lovely and have been coming here for decades. Everyone in town knows them. After finishing a couple of pieces of pizza – yes, pizza! I wandered on for a bit of shopping and supplies. Tomorrow we leave at 6:30 am and head to Skala, the stage two camp, for 24 hours so a few things are needed.
Back to the hotel for some quiet time and then my two Aussie friends asked if I wanted to go and check out the hot spring. This island is a volcano so this is a hot spot. It is very close to the hotel but it was closed when we got there. We went down to the rocks alongside and nearly scalded our feet in the runoff! Finding perfect pools a little further out, we soaked our feet and chatted for awhile. I love the conversations here. After the initial basic who are you info, we share stories about this place. Our hearts are on the same track so it comes easily. Then back to the hotel and supper with Rachel. Most folks are out tonight so no big dinner.
Now I sit on my patio in the greying evening, with sheep bells and the occasional baaaa and write to you all. I can still see the sea and Turkey.
It has been a good day. I am very grateful. Good night to you all.
Worshipping At Skala | May 25, 2016
Wednesday – May 25
What a glorious day it has been! At 6:30 am 6 of us headed up to Skala for a 24 hour shift. It has been a perfect sunny day with some stiff breezes at times. Skala is the stage two camp where refugees were taken from the beach and give dry clothes, food, and then a bus ride to the other camp. Originally that was a two to three day wait. Now they are in the camp for at least two months. Skala resembles the other camp on a very miniature scale. Here I can take pictures so I can at least get a sample of what it is like.
We relieved the overnight shift and then started prep for the day’s large gathering. As none of the EuroRelief staff are now in camp, we gathered from all over the island for a picnic and then a time of worship, prayer, and communion together.
We moved tables and chairs around, into the. very large tent. Then we started chopping vegetables for the pasta dish. Set up continued until about 11 when folks started arriving. It was primarily YWAM teams so many young people. Volleyball was set up on the gravel parking lot – no diving digs!
Skala was built on a former soccer pitch – one of the few level places in this vertical landscape. Skala is all white tents and gravel. But below us are trees and houses and villas and the sea just a short distance away – a mile by road but much shorter as the crow flies. Remember all those switchbacks i talked about. Above Skala are olive trees and stone terraces. Lesvos is a former volcano so the landscape is very rocky and steep. It reminds me a little of the Holy
Land, except here the rock is grey rather than brown and orange.
About one, the games stopped and lunch of sausages, pasta, and bread was served. Yummy. There were between 100-120 people here and over 20 different countries represented. Our team of 6 alone represents Australia, Iceland, Canada, and America. Such an amazing coming together of God’s people, After lunch, worship began with two guitars and many voices lifted up to God. It wouldn’t have been my taste at home – repetitive choruses – but here it seemed perfect. Watching these young people rejoice in their Lord warmed my soul. I am not naive enough to think this simple faith will not be tested and maybe even rejected in the future, but they will always have this time.
Small groups were formed for prayer – for our needs and the needs of the camp and refugees and the machinations of the outside world – the UN, the EU, NATO, the Greek and Turkish governments. We were told that there had been a peaceful protest in the camp with signs saying Bring Back EuroRelief, We Have Peace With EuroRelief and so on. There is hope that we can get back in next week. We are told that life in the camp is very difficult without the volunteers. Much prayer
After the crowds left, a few of us cleaned up the few actual dishes we had and then 3 of us headed to the exquisite little town of Sykamenia,, just down the hill. It was where we had been on Monday. If I was visiting, this is where I would stay. A tiny little village tucked into the hill and moving down to the perfect small harbor. A few shops and restaurants surround the
little square and harbor and the tiny white church sits on a rock by the harbor. If you picture a perfect Greek fishing village, this is it. You are even greeted by the local colorful person – clothed in a bright red sleeveless V-neck dress and heels, with hairy chest and receding hairline, daring you to react.
The three of us started with coffee, moved to shopping, and then a supper of pizza and wine. Back to Skala so the others could go out and now we have our quiet evening and then bed on a cot. All is most well.
“When the Lord brought back the captives to Zion, we were like men who dreamed. Our mouths were filled with laughter, our tongues with songs of joy. Then it was said among the nations, ‘The Lord has done great things for them.’ Restore our fortunes, O Lord.”
Ps 126:1,2,4
Coffee and Smiles | May 26-27, 2016
Thursday/Friday – May 26 & 27
Our night at Skala was very uneventful, thank you Lord, and we even all slept well!
Seka, our beautiful Icelandic friend, decided it would be a good idea to take the tarp, which covered a sitting area, down. It flapped loudly in the stiff breeze and would probably disturb our sleep. So she and I hopped up on plastic chairs and worked out knots and undid bungee cords on one side. Then we rolled it up against the other fence and tied it in place. Great feelings of accomplishment all round! Of course, then the breeze totally died down!
The sunset, over the Aegean, was spectacular. Kim had told us earlier in the day that the furthest western point we could see was the ancient site of Troy! So I watched the sun set over Troy! We then put on jackets, tucked up into blankets, and gathered to watch Salam Neighbor on my iPad.
After I excepted good sleep, I woke about 6:15 and got the water going for coffee. The next team arrived to relieve us and took off back to the hotel for breakfast and a shower. We had the rest of the day off so headed to the next village along the coast, Petra. It is another beautiful little coastal town so that meant poking around shops, stops for coffee and lunch and a little time sitting by the sea. We also walked up the hill to the lovely little Orthodox Church. They are always up high, overlooking the town. I love the symbolism. If you have been in an orthodox church you know how ornate they are. Lovely to look at. Then back to Molivos, supper and bed.
Today we were back to work. We found out at breakfast that teams are going back into camp! We are all so glad. We probably won’t get there before Sunday, at the earliest but we will get back in!
Today four of us drove the hour plus down to Mytilene and worked in the community center set up by the church there. It is a place the refugees can come to charge their phones, have wifi, take showers, wash clothes and get endless cups of coffee or tea (called chai) fixed by us. We use real mugs we must have washed each one several times! The amount of sugar they all use is alarming and Seka, a nurse, tried to talk them out of it. However, she doesn’t speak Farsi or Arabic and they don’t speak English so it was a losing battle. A large bowl of chicken and rice was brought about noon by a church volunteer so that was served. We couldn’t communicate very well but smiles and drinks went a long way. Eleven until two-thirty is for men and then at three family groups come in. The first part of the day was very busy with numerous men there – Pakistani, Syrian, Algerian, Morrocan. We kept the water hot for drinks and washed up quite a bit.
We went out for lunch in shifts so I joined Carolyn, a volunteer close to my age, so that was nice. The center is just a short walk back from the harbor so we headed to a restaurant right by water. Perfect! Clear blue water with various boats lining the wall – small dinghies, fishing boats, the huge ferry, and a few private sailing boats and YWAM’s large ship, New Wave. There were just a few puff clouds in the sky to contrast with the sky. It was as beautiful as it sounds.
Back to the center for the changing of the guard. A few of the young men stayed to help clean up – which was much appreciated. However, I think their motives are mixed as Marta, a totally gorgeous Norwegian blonde is in charge of the place. They are all in love with her, which is no surprise. And she is sweet and rather soft spoken and just serves humbly. She’s with YWAM and lives on the ship.
After the crowd of men left, it became very quiet. We only had 4 people in for the afternoon. I was hoping for some children but not today. There is a play area with toys, books, games, and puzzles. One of the men spoke very passable English so we got to hear his story. He was lovely and very willing to answer our many questions. His name is Fadi and he is Syrian. He left because he would have been forced to fight and he didn’t want to kill anyone. It took him a month to get out of Syria, slipping by ISIS camps and other various factions. He made his way to Turkey, paid his $400 to a smuggler and made it over here to Lesvos on a rubber dinghy in mid- March. Since then, he has been in the camp but hopes to make his way to Holland where he has relatives. It is a story shared by so many but also uniquely his. It happened to this one person who I talked with today.
“Jesus, the Blessed Son of God, hungers and thirsts for uprightness. He abhors injustice. He resists those who try to gather wealth and influence by oppression and exploitation. His whole being yearns for people to treat one another as brothers and sisters, sons and daughters of the same God.
With fervor he proclaims that the way to the Kingdom is not saying many prayers or offering many sacrifices but in feeding the hungry, clothing the naked, and visiting the sick and the prisoners (see Matthew 25:31-46). He longs for a just world. He wants us to live with the same hunger and thirst.” Henri Nouwen
A Trip to Turkey | May 28-29, 2016
Saturday/Sunday – May 28-29
Saturday we went to Turkey! Yes – Turkey. There is a ferry that goes over to Ayvalik, Turkey from Mytilene here. It’s about an hour and a half ride and very relaxing. I always like being out on the water. The city itself is just a city – a number of shops and restaurants but most not to my taste. None of the artisan type shops I enjoy. We did have lunch at a tiny Turkish restaurant that Jenny knew about. It is really a Mom and Pop type place. Simple but abundant and good food. They were very glad to see us, a party of nine. The host was especially genial and made us very welcome. After lunch, one of th girls and I headed out n a trek to see an old Turkish watch tower. (It’s 8 o’clock Sunday night and I am sitting outside while the newly shorn sheep go by, bells sounding like babbling water.) We found our tower, after a rather circuitous hike but the day was gorgeous and hiking around was infinitely preferable to poking around in kitschy shops. Back into town for some coffee at a very cool place with political paintings on the walls – many were moving, some alarming, and in some, the US did not come off too well. Then back on the ferry, drive the hour and a half back to Molivos, and then head to town for a late supper.
Sunday has been a quiet day – I am missing going to church but the only service is back in Mytilene, in the evening, and I’m afraid sleep won out. In case you are thinking that all I do is go to Turkey and sit by the pool, the photo is of next week’s schedule. It will be a full week! But I am so glad that we get to go back into the camp and I get more time at Skala and the community center, both of which I had hoped to do again. Very grateful.
Tonight, after supper, Olga sat down to chat. She is a 29 year old wife and mother who works here at the hotel and one of my favorite people – cheerful and with a ready smile. She fixes and serves most of our meals here, and she shared her story with me. She was born here on Lesvos and loves it here very much. However, due to the refugee crisis, tourism is almost nil. Even though the refugees are confined mainly in the camp, the news reports have made it seem like it is an issue on the entire island. So the tourists stay away. And tourism is what mainly supports this economy. Much of her work is seasonal so a poor summer is really a disaster. Her husband also has a seasonal job in one of the coffee shops. She does not want to leave the island, but the family may have to to survive. Some of the other islands are fine. This is the face of the Greek problem.
I’m Sweat! | May 30, 2016
When Attie was just little and still learning English, she came into the house one hot day and announced, “I’m sweat!” Obviously I remembered that fondly, and it really sums up the day well!
We got to go back to the camp today!! Yeah!! Rejoicing all around. We had our first day shift from 8-4. Again, I worked in the clothing tent. The early hours were spent organizing. Then at 10, pairs headed out to take orders for clothing. We have divided the camp into sections so each section gets visited once a week. I stayed back at the unit and bagged powdered detergent to send out with the clothing bags. Then Sandra and I headed out to grab a bite of lunch from the food carts across from the entrance gate. Actually the food is quite good.
On our way out, we stopped at the compound where the good bathrooms are (actual toilets! No seats but small problem.) On our way out a young woman Sandra knows stopped her, in tears. She and her husband were being hounded by smugglers who claimed that the couple had not paid enough for their passage. The husband was attacked and had a 3 inch long cut stitched up on the side of his head. They have been moved, but she still feels unsafe. There is little we can do, but the doctor will hopefully help. So hard.
A little after noon, the pairs returned with the orders. We filled the yellow plastic bags with the best we could find, tagged the bags, and waited for people to arrive at the gate to collect their new clothes. The clothing unit is divided into two rooms. The back room has most of the bins for clothes. The front has extra clothes and all the shoes. There is only one door and a few tiny little ventilation windows which have to be kept shut on one side as that is where the women and children queue for their meals. All that to say, it is stifling in there! So I was sweat! Still, it was a very good day. I got to go out and take an order from 3 women who were new arrivals. They are in the family compound, which is the best place to be in the camp. There are showers and toilets and even air conditioning in the units! However, in each unit, there are many sets of bunk beds with makeshift blankets and curtains dividing them. You are sleeping just a few feet away from the next person.
Back to fill the order and then our day was done. It had gone quickly, despite the heat and was such a good first day back. As our team was gathering by the info tent to leave, there was a Syrian family, who had just arrived, waiting there for instructions. A young couple with three small children. The young mother squatted on the ground, waiting patiently, but she looked wary and confused. I smiled at her and cuddled the children a little, but I never got a smile back. She and her family have just survived another ordeal getting here, and who knows how many are still ahead. And I got to leave, drive back to the hotel and go swimming! To paraphrase a favorite cartoon – when God was handing out lives, why did I get a good one? I realize that theologically that isn’t sound, but it gives me pause and makes me so grateful. But also grateful I get to be here and experience this. May it inform my walk, my priorities, and my love for God and others.
I really did hop into the pool quickly, to cool off, showered, and washed my clothes. After supper, I am now in my room writing this. Tomorrow we head up to Skala again for a 24 hour shift. It really is a fun thing to do. We are just the front line in case some boats make it to the shore. However, that isn’t happening now – the few boats that make it across are generally picked up and taken straight to the camp – so we are the gate keepers. And we do get to sleep up there on cots. Last time I slept so well so I’m looking forward to it. We are also just up the hill from my favorite village so there is that too.
All good things.
Gatekeeping & Door Opening | May 30, 2016
Tuesday/Wednesday – May 30-June 1
Early Tuesday morning began our 24 hour shift at Skala. It’s really not as bad as it sounds. The day was very quiet, although it did get quite hot. Luckily we have shade and a lovely breeze. Then we can nip down to the village a mile below us and enjoy a break, some coffee, and a meal. This village is my favorite place here so that is refreshing. Then we sleep at night. I also downloaded a movie on the iPad for us to watch after dark. Pretty basic. We are just gatekeepers to protect the camp and be available in case a boat does slip through.
I am now with a team of four – all Americans. Aubrey joined us on Friday – a young woman here for 2 months and then Dustin, a GEM missionary here just for a week to see what is going on. He and his family live in Germany. He does the driving now as he has his driver’s license with him, not just a picture of one on the phone! I was really getting the hang of the driving, but it is nice to have someone else maneuver all the hills and switchbacks.
As for me, I feel like I’m going a bit native. My hair is drying in the breeze, days go by without makeup, and I bought a funky pair of pants which are getting a great deal of use. I am also acquiring a nice tan, which is the real reason for the trip! My Big Fat Greek Tan!
We got back to the hotel about 7:45 Wednesday morning, showered, ate breakfast, and set off at 9:30 for Mytilini for a 7 hour stint in the community center. Again the morning was packed with young men – most of them being Algerians and Pakistani with a few Moroccans added in. The room we meet in is about the size of a big living room, no windows and one door. At the back, through another door is the shower, washer and dryer, sink and toilet. There are two bog windows there so it feels like air conditioning when the door is opened but that is infrequent as they are showering etc.
The front room is stifling as we are tucked in a corner fixing countless cups of tea and coffee and then washing and rewashing the mugs. I know, in the two times I’ve been there, I have washed each mug at least a dozen times. Today’s drama was provided by a young man with a bad headache. Someone fetched Doctors Without Borders so a crowd gathers as they work and the room temperature goes up another couple of degrees. Everyone needs to get in the act! He was alright and ended up just sleeping most of the day. Then the lady who delivered food had her purse stolen from her car. Again a crowd gathered to discuss that at high volume! I thought there was absolutely no hope that she would ever see it again, but we prayed and a couple of the guys headed out and soon returned with her purse, only missing the money! O me of little faith.
Many of the men just want to charge their phones and get drinks and food. But some attempt to interact and that is often informative and occasionally very funny. Here my age has been a benefit because, unlike the US, most cultures greatly respect their elders. So I have collected a number of sons as they call me mom and tease and protect. Very nice. At 2:30 the guys are supposed to leave and then at 3 families can come. Dustin and I headed out for some lunch by the water. Such a relief of a break – cool breezes, cold water at the restaurant, and a 5€ burger. Great break. When we got back, most of the men had cleared out but as no families came, the young woman in charge allowed some of the guys to stay. After a bit, a Syrian mother and her two daughters arrived and soon after another mother and her four children. Well, I thought the men should leave, but they were allowed to stay and still use the bathroom area so the women could not get in. I really felt bad for the women and was a bothered that the men weren’t kicked out. The women never did get their showers, but I got to interact with them and that was terrific. The lovely Syrian woman had some English so we chatted some. She has 4 children, 3 with her and a son in Germany. While her girls colored in my coloring book, she showed me a number of pictures from her former life in Syria – family times, formal occasions where she was dressed up in lovely clothes and looked so happy and normal. Her home was also very nice and now she is here, with almost nothing and no certainty that she will be able to unite her family anytime soon. And she still smiles and wants to see my pictures. What does one do with that?
Then the other family is from Afghanistan but from the north. They look somewhat Mongolian. The mom has 5 children – ranging in age from about 15 to a months old baby – which I got to hold so happy me! There is no husband – and that is a question one does not ask. Often he is dead, has decided his family is too much for him, or has gone ahead to make a place for them. No matter what, it is so very hard for these women. The young men are fun and to younger girls love to chat them up – many are terrifically good looking. But I love the women and children. They have my heart.
As the time there was winding down, Kat and Sandra, my Aussie friends arrived. They had been in the camp and said their goodbyes – very hard, I had hoped to have dinner with them, but my plans were not my own. We grabbed a few minutes and some ice cream and then I had to drive back to Molivos with my team. I will miss them very much. Great women.
So after supper and some writing, the day was done. Camp tomorrow.
Here We Die Every Day | June 2, 2016
Thursday – June 2
“Again I saw all the oppressions that are practiced under the sun. Look, the tears of the oppressed – with no one to comfort them.” Ecc 4:1
I’m not quite sure how to talk about today. I haven’t yet mentioned that on Tuesday there was a riot in the camp. A west African started protesting in the food line, it escalated, the police started beating him badly (he’s in hospital now) and then a full scale riot broke out. All volunteers were safely and quickly evacuated but parts of the camp were destroyed, including our clothing tent, the Samaritan’s purse unit, the tea tent and a few other places. All the clothing was looted and is now gone. Here on Monday we had such a lovely system to take clothing orders and fill them. The clothes were all well organized by sizes, style and gender and now it is all gone. Since then, people have jokingly said we have had the most successful clothing distribution ever! A Swiss couple has been here for many weeks and have been in charge of the clothing distribution. They are crushed. It isn’t personal, but it’s hard not to feel that way when that has been one’s hard work. I have worked with them and feel so badly for them.
I really hate to write this because it makes the refugees seem like hoodlums. A very few really are, but the vast majority are people pushed to the limit. And if you say you would never behave like this, try living like these people do. They have fled their homes with little or nothing, after months or years of war or persecution or both. They arrive in Turkey to camps and smugglers who charge huge amounts for their flimsy rafts, crammed with people and fitted with an outboard that usually dies or runs out of fuel. If you do not drown, you gratefully arrive on shore only to find yourself in a camp again. Here you have a tiny living space, 1-2 hour queues for food 3 times a day – now out in the hot sun. There is little to do all day and you are in close quarters with people groups you don’t understand or have historically not gotten along with. Then add in the fact that the Syrians are treated as the only true refugees – leaving a war torn country – and are given preferential treatment. The others see this as unfair and their feelings of hopelessness and frustration only increase day by forever day. Even the Syrians are often frustrated and some tell their friends and family back in Syria not to leave. One said, in Syria, a bomb drops and you die. Here you die every day. All that to say, there was a riot.
Then late last night, Afghanis attacked Pakistanis, clobbering some with sticks and stones – and yes, some bones were broken – and their large living unit and a few smaller tents were burned. None were hurt in the fire, but these men have lost all of their papers, phones, few possessions. And the police sat by and watched the “entertainment,” never intervening. When we arrived this morning, we didn’t know about what had happened and saw a large number of men, tucked up in blankets, sleeping and sitting along the main road, outside the camp. We soon learned as we saw the skeleton of the burned out building and heard the story. All of the volunteers gathered at the remains of the clothing tent, now just a covered platform, and were debriefed. There wasn’t a great deal to do but to guard this area and prevent tents encroaching. It will all be rebuilt. And then to also interact and be with people. However, we had to go about with at least 2 people, one of them being male. I was a bit frustrated by that because I didn’t feel at all unsafe but I also didn’t want to make things harder for the staff in charge so I was a good girl, reluctantly.
The tension in the camp was palpable. Normally we are greeted with waves, smiles, and greetings. None of that today. We picked up some remaining trash around the former clothing tent. Most of it was rubbish, but I found a pair of socks and almost lost it. Then, at lunchtime, an older woman waved to me from the queue. I went over to her and the two other women with her. We couldn’t speak each others language but there was this instant bond of being women and my being unbearably sad that there are there and I am not. I started to cry and then they did but they kept reaching up to pat me and touch my face to comfort me! Then a young girl with them told me in English, “Don’t cry.” In the midst of all their suffering they had a thought for me! I’m still not coping very well with that.
Midafternoon, there was a threat of the Pakistanis retaliating so we prepared to evacuate but things calmed down and we stayed. I got to see some friends up in one of the family levels – the Afghani family from yesterday – more baby time! and a couple of my “sons” from the community center. One came up and covered my eyes as I was sitting with the family. It was so good to see him and then another came up too. Hugs all around and all I could do was to tell them to be safe. I am very worried about what will happen tonight.
A woman who is here as a crisis chaplain, debriefed us all at the end of the day. Some scripture was read and prayer offered up. One of the passages was Matt 5:13 – salt of the earth, so we were each given a little bit of salt to sprinkle as we left the camp. It meant a lot to me.
So now I am back at the hotel, having a room with a bed all to myself. I could take a quick swim, have a generous meal and a glass of wine, take a lovely warm shower, and sit at my leisure and write this. The worst thing I have to deal with is the occasional mosquito!
I leave early Monday – back to my comfortable, safe life. I feel guilty. Why should I get to leave? In the life is unfair sweepstakes, I beat the odds in an overwhelmingly generous way. It isn’t fair – only grace – and I humanly ask why. I am forever grateful but I still ask why. It all hurts right now – a lot.
Please pray for these people. They are your mothers and fathers, your sons and daughters, your brothers and sisters.
A Prayer for Unity | June 3, 2016
Friday June 3
“How good and pleasant it is when brothers live together in unity!” Ps 133:1
This is a prayer for the camp as so many factions have now hurt each other so the desire for retaliation and revenge is strong. The vast majority of these people do not have the spirit of the Lord so forgiveness and compassion are in short supply. And given the living conditions, I think only the Lord can provide them. Humanly, it seems impossible. I was reading in Mark this morning, about the feeding of the 5000. And it struck me anew about the abundance provided – plenty for all to eat and even 12 baskets of leftovers! With God, there is always enough and more, even tho’ I fail to see it at times. No changing the reality – just my weak eyes and heart.
Friday morning up early for another 24 hour shift at Skala. Tuesday there had been a rough day for me so I was a little leery and I had not slept well. But God stepped in – spoke to my heart, provided a great breeze to help beat the heat, and gave us some purpose to the day. Upon arrival at 7, I popped into a tent for a quick nap. I was awakened by loud trucks and machinery. A crane and two long flatbed trucks had come to take two of the units back to the camp as replacements. It was quite a process and went surprisingly quickly. I was trying to imagine these long trucks maneuvering around the hairbend turns and couldn’t. However. They arrived all intact! The units are to replace some of the destroyed ones. Then Bernie (clothing organizer, still nursing his broken heart) came in his van and we loaded up as many bags and boxes of clothes as he could hold. Unfortunately, so many of the clothes are winter ones and not needed now. I did a little organizing and tried to get some of the usable stuff to the front. However, the temperature and the huge mounds defeated me after a bit.
After that, it was quite quiet so two of us headed to my favorite village for coffee and a little break. It is so incredibly beautiful there – I will miss it and the woman who owns the coffee shop. We have had some great conversations and she was so lovely to me. It’s amazing how much one can be drawn to a person with very little interaction.
It was a good break as Rachel and I enjoyed our coffee and some nut bread but mainly talked and process the previous day – so good and helpful. A little soaking the feet in the sea and back to camp so the other two could go down. Bernie returned for another load – this time for aluminum shelving units. They all fit into his van and off he went again. With the removal of the two front units, a lovely covered area was opened up out front. There was the view of the hills and the sea and a great breeze. I hauled two chairs out there and spent some nice time, eating lunch, cross stitching, listening to music, all with my feet up. A servant’s work is never done!
Suppertime took us back to Sykamenia for my last visit there. Sigh . . When it is dark up here, the stars absolutely fill the sky! The Big Dipper was right overhead. I always want to sing How Great Thou Art at times like that.
An alright sleep on my cot and up early to meet the new crew. And they really are a new crew today – their first shift. I feel like such an old timer! All in the know and everything! After this much time, it really does get more comfortable, even with the hard work. I’m friends with the hotel staff and the food cart folks outside the camp, and some of the townspeople, like my coffee shop friend. I know my way around and where the best pizza is – where to get groceries and so on. Although I will be very glad to see my dear ones, I could stay some longer. That is probably the best time to leave.
So back at the hotel – shower, breakfast, pack. Dustin and I will head to town soon to turn in our little faithful Kia and do some last minute buying. Then off at 2:45 for the last camp shift.
No Chance Encounters | June 4, 2016
Saturday – June 4
My last shift in camp – my last full day on the island.
After a few hour break from our 24 hour Skala shift, we set off for camp – or the detention center, depending how one feels about it that day. We got there at 4 and walked through the gate. It felt much calmer than last shift so that was a relief. There are still tensions but there wasn’t this absolute pall of fear and confusion and hopelessness. We headed to the clothing tent area. It was good to see the two containers that had left Skala now in their places, shelves built, and the beginnings of restocked clothing. These containers will be more secure so hopefully all will be well there.
There wasn’t as much actual work work this time as the person in charge of the clothing wanted to be there to supervise, and she wasn’t. There were very few tents to hand out so, other than “guarding” the clothing area and fending off a children’s rampage, it was a time to visit people, share with other volunteers, and even reflect a little bit, amidst the noise and the smells and the flow of people.
The previously mentioned children were just a small group of 6-8 year olds, with little to do and no supervision who decided to run through the clothing area and play dodge the volunteer! It was mainly funny but also sad as there was a naughtiness there, reflecting the lack of security and care these little kiddos have.
Then we had our all too usual preevacuation prep as a large group of Pakistanis gathered and there was some concern that they might retaliate for the tent burning and all. We locked up the clothing area and gsthered at the info tent. A few of us were set up the hill to be closer to the back gate. However, it all calmed down and the up the hill gang started a volleyball match with a number of the young men. I don’t play, so after watching for a bit, I headed back down to info and the best part of the day began – visiting friends, meeting new ones, and watching snatches of joy play out in children’s games, women’s smiles, and even some music.
I spent good time with my Afghani family, holding the baby again – she and I had some important conversations. The younger daughter in the family attached herself to me for much of the rest of the day. We sat together by the info tent, just being close. Her slightly Asian face will be with me always, as a piece of me will be with her.
Sitting outside the info tent is the best seat in the house. The whole world passes by. Mostly it is exchanged smiles and nods, but sometimes someone comes up just for a hug and the nonverbal communication of our faces. I am so drawn to the women. There is such a strong feeling of connection even with no verbal language. Oh I so pray that they see both God’s love and mine in our moments. And here, I too, run out of words. A gift of heartbreak and seeing.
As I was sitting on my overturned trash bin, a beautiful African woman walked by. We smiled and then she came over. She spoke English well enough for us to talk. She is Nigerisn, named Sandra. We were drawn to each other right away – it’s always Africa with me! I listened to her story a bit. For a reason I never discerned, she couldn’t stay long, but she did go off to bring her friend back. His name is Divine (isn’t that great? I may change mine!) and he’s also Nigerian. They both got here on their own but have become friends and maybe it will be something more. We talked further and exchanged a little information. They are both believers so another bond for us. I’m still not totally sure why they left Nigeria but Boko Haram was mentioned and that is enough. We had very little time but another eternal connection. I prayed with them and they left, with my wishing I had met them at the beginning of my time rather than at the end.
The rest of the time was spent hugging kids and watching the games taking place on the camp road in front of me. It actually felt happy and such a relief after the tension of the last shift there. The time came to an end and we walked out, my feeling some relief that the hard parts were over but mainly sad and guilty that I can leave and go back to a rich, comfortable life while they remain here. The answers rest with God.
Back to Orfeas and a little last minute packing. All this time here, I had had it in my head that I left Monday, June 5. Well, I had the date right but the 5th was Sunday! So instead of this relaxing Sunday of packing and poking around, I spent my few hours between shifts, packing and turning the rental car in and shopping. It really wasn’t hard, and I even took time to jump into the Aegean. Hadn’t done that yet and it needed to happen!
Early Sunday morning, Kim grabbed Dustin and me, and we took the long and winding road for the last time.
Holy Ends Holy Beginnings 