Our first overnight shift

We survived our first late shift and overnight shift!  And...Tuesday was more "uneventful" than the first few days.  Praise God!  Thank you for your prayers.

We started the day with all of us together for the first time in a few days. We took some time for devotions and prayer together. Honestly, this team is connecting so well. I am loving seeing everyone thrive in their areas of gifting (more on that later).

Our devotion and prayer time on the patio

After our prayer time, we grabbed a quick breakfast of ham and cheese sandwiches. Someone was so excited to have chips on the plate, haha! You may also notice that in most of my photos, I don't show everyone. LH is on our team and she serves with us in a secure area. So for the safety of her and her ministry, we don't show her picture or share her name. But, please, know that she is with us all of the time!

 

Since we were on late shift, we had some time this morning together to go to the Olivewood House. Mirsini and her husband have a family-owned business, making many beautiful things. She is so hospitable! I remember her from my visit here in February. She brings out the tea, coffe, candy, cakes, bread and treats to spoils every guest. 

Then, her and her husband love to show the customers the wood shop below their store where things are made. Her husband makes a gift for everyone. The men got a toy top and the women got a medallion necklace.

After leaving the Olivewood House, I went with Kevin and Barb to drop her off for her shift. She starts with the medical team at a house in Mytilene and they all travel in to camp together. I needed to know where the house was so that I could pick Barb up after our shifts because Kevin was working the overnight shift.  I took some notes and mental notes of various landmarks and crossed my fingers, hoping I would be able to find it again that night at 1 am after our shift. 

Those of us working the 4-12 shift took a bit of time to rest in the afternoon before going in to camp. 

In my last trip here, I did not work any other shifts - only day shift. So this was going to be a new experience for me.  The four of us on our team were to serve in the RIC area - this is where they house minor boys, single women, and single families (all in different sections). Our job at some point in the night would be to guard the various sections to be sure that people entering those areas were supposed to be entering those areas.

This shift is actually very relational. We had so much time to interact and talk with people. Eric was in heaven--he got to play basketball and kick balls around with the young boys (using his giftings--answer to prayer!)  LH, Sarah, and me did some census work and that took us to various tents to check, which led to many invitations to come sit and visit with tea or coffee.  We only completed 3 census checks because our visits were so long!  My American/Western side struggled a bit because we only got to 3 spots, but my relational side loved every second!  (And, the 3 of us were all using our giftings--LH with her Arabic, Sarah and me being relational) During one of our visits, we were with 10 single women from Somalia. We had such a sweet visit with them, sharing and laughing together. As we were getting ready to leave, I felt prompted to pray for them. LH felt the same. So, we went with it, asking them if I could pray for them. They were open.  What a beautiful time. Please continue to pray for these 10 women, that they would come to know and sense the love and peace and protection of Jesus Christ. 

At 8:30 on this shift, that is when we are on  duty to guard the entrances to each section. LH and Sarah were there most of the night. I was pulled away to help Kris, the night shift coordinator, to some housing. Housing is not typically done at night. But, there were some Afghani families that were in new arrivals, waiting for their tent. Day shift had left some notes about being able to house some families in a certain tent, way out in the olive grove/jungle. Through a translator, Kris and I talked with two families about the option, walked with them to show them the tent, listened as they talked about whether or not they wanted to stay there, and then once they agreed, we helped them pack their belongings and move in to the tent. 

While the tent was nothing special for sure, there would be 3 families living in there. Two families of 5 moved in that night and a family of 4 will be joining them. Although it is not ideal, these two families were so appreciative and thankful to Kris and I for the help we provided them. The work that is done here is so humbling. 

Perry and Kevin worked the overnight shift Tuesday into Wednesday. It was pretty uneventful for them. But, now they know each other's life stories!  Since Perry had this shift, he also had an opportunity to sketch, but didn't need to take it since they talked all night, haha!

On Wednesday morning, me, Sarah and LH, went to Oasis for the women's day. I had invited the two women at church on Sunday to come and that I would pick them up at camp. We also invited the 10 Somalian women to come, that LH and Sarah would walk with them. So, we drove to camp to meet everyone, and none of the ladies showed up. We still decided to go to see what the program was like. We stayed for a short time so we could come back to rest. 

Bibles in many languages at Oasis

 

Women's Day at Oasis (tea and snacks)
a place for respite and peace for the women

  

Barb continues to do great serving in the medical area. Please pray specifically for her. She is working 12 hour shifts and is trying to balance time with us when she should be resting. She is coming down with a cold and sore throat. Please pray for her health.

I am also tired and feel very close to getting a sore throat. Only because I have been going constantly, taking care of many things as leader of the trip. It seriously feels like we have been here for a week and it's only Wednesday.

Everyone else is doing well. Everyone is processing so many different feelings and thoughts. Please continue to pray for strength and stamina for everyone. Pray for favor from the scheduler as I request some changes for our schedule at camp next week. I'd love if there was some way we could be on more of the same schedule (to help with driving and sleeping and connecting as a team).  Pray that this could happen. Pray that we would continue to be bold and share Christ's love with everyone we come in contact with.