T.G.I.F
It's hard to believe that tonight will be our last shift at camp. We are hopeful that we have an opportunity to say some good goodbyes to some of the POCs we connected with.
We ended our day off on Wednesday with dinner together in Mytilene for gyros. Huge...and delicious!
After returning from that bit of sightseeing, everyone tried to take some naps to be ready for our evening shift.
When we arrived at camp, we were told that there wasn't much work to do, so we took some time to walk in camp to visit some of the women we visited with earlier in our trip. We purchased some African donuts from a man from Cameroon and walked up the hill in camp to visit with the Somalian women we had met before. Just as we arrived to see them and about to enter their tent to have tea, we were called back to the New Arrivals area for a project. So, unfortunately, we didn't get to visit with the ladies. We did leave the donuts with them and said we hoped we could see them on Friday.
The project we were tasked with was to find a place in a specific level of camp to house a single woman and her four small children. She had been moved around a bit, and had somehow ended up without a place to live. So, we were to find a place to set up a tent for temporary housing, for maybe only a day or so before she could move into another unit.
Sarah, LH and me set off to see what we could find. There was a small area in one of the levels that we thought might work. We explained to the POCs what was happening and that this was a temporary situation with a new family coming in. Thankfully, there was a young boy in the area that spoke Farsi and English and could translate for us. Many of the POC families were not happy about this happening. We tried to involve them in the decision making process and asked for their help in moving a table in the corner where we were going to put the tent. They finally agreed to allow us to just see if the tent would fit.
So, the three of us attempt to put up the tent. It was not working. There were parts missing or something...we could not figure it out at all. Long story short, we radioed for Kevin to come and help us. By the time he showed up, I was called back to New Arrivals to help to hand out food again. So, I left the group with two tents to try to figure it out. (Thankfully, I learned later that the first tent was NOT complete, so we couldn't have put it up. I was like, really...I can't put up a tent!? LOL)
So, as I helped pack and hand out meals again, Sarah, Kevin and Kris (the shift coordinator) worked on helping to house the lady and her family. Turns out, after they had it set up, she didn't want to live there. So, they moved her to another place.
Most of my evening was spent packing up food and then also the new arrival packs (clothes, sleeping bags, towels, etc). At 8:30, that is when we are asked to go to the women's section and minor boys section to guard gates. So, the rest of our night was spent there.
As we got closer to the water, I wasn't sure if I would get in or not. It seemed like it would be cold. So, we all tentatively stepped into the water. I decided I was going all in.
After I was in for a bit, we went to another area, because I said I actually wanted to swim. So, I did. It was awesome! It was refreshing and invigorating! After a bit, I convinced Barb to join me.
Once we got back to the hotel, we cleaned up and then walked to a nearby apartment to leave clothes and other items for the warehouse for Eurorelief to sort and use for the POCs. We returned and enjoyed some greek yogurt and fruit, and some tea.
Barb has off today and will be relaxing and taking some rest time with some of the medical team she was working with. The rest of us will be heading to Mytilene soon for some lunch and then preparing for our last shift tonight at camp.
The two other ministries I had hoped to connect with (a sports ministry and a music/arts ministry) were not available to meet these last two days. I plan to connect with them via Skype when I return to the US to learn more about their work.
Please pray for our team as we have our last shift tonight. Pray that we have opportunities to say good goodbyes to the few POCs we connected with. Pray that we are able to make a difference in their lives by our words and actions. Pray for strength and stamina as we have this last shift and have a short night of sleep before we leave at 7:15 for the airport to fly to Athens.
We plan to take a day in Athens to debrief and sightsee. Pray for the team as they are beginning to process all they have seen and heard. We have done quite a bit of processing together each day. Pray that we are all able to see the positives amidst the challenges. Everyone is leaving a different person. Pray for them as they each discern next steps for their lives.
I hope to have one or two more posts, but not sure when. Thanks for following us and praying for us. You have sustained us here during our time and many experiences.
It's hard to believe that tonight will be our last shift at camp. We are hopeful that we have an opportunity to say some good goodbyes to some of the POCs we connected with.
We ended our day off on Wednesday with dinner together in Mytilene for gyros. Huge...and delicious!
Thursday started with some quiet time on the patio followed by a team meeting over some pizza for lunch. Then several of us took a short drive, meandering through the town of Moria, to find the Roman Aqueduct ruins. They were really hidden deep into the olive groves.
After returning from that bit of sightseeing, everyone tried to take some naps to be ready for our evening shift.
When we arrived at camp, we were told that there wasn't much work to do, so we took some time to walk in camp to visit some of the women we visited with earlier in our trip. We purchased some African donuts from a man from Cameroon and walked up the hill in camp to visit with the Somalian women we had met before. Just as we arrived to see them and about to enter their tent to have tea, we were called back to the New Arrivals area for a project. So, unfortunately, we didn't get to visit with the ladies. We did leave the donuts with them and said we hoped we could see them on Friday.
The project we were tasked with was to find a place in a specific level of camp to house a single woman and her four small children. She had been moved around a bit, and had somehow ended up without a place to live. So, we were to find a place to set up a tent for temporary housing, for maybe only a day or so before she could move into another unit.
Sarah, LH and me set off to see what we could find. There was a small area in one of the levels that we thought might work. We explained to the POCs what was happening and that this was a temporary situation with a new family coming in. Thankfully, there was a young boy in the area that spoke Farsi and English and could translate for us. Many of the POC families were not happy about this happening. We tried to involve them in the decision making process and asked for their help in moving a table in the corner where we were going to put the tent. They finally agreed to allow us to just see if the tent would fit.
So, the three of us attempt to put up the tent. It was not working. There were parts missing or something...we could not figure it out at all. Long story short, we radioed for Kevin to come and help us. By the time he showed up, I was called back to New Arrivals to help to hand out food again. So, I left the group with two tents to try to figure it out. (Thankfully, I learned later that the first tent was NOT complete, so we couldn't have put it up. I was like, really...I can't put up a tent!? LOL)
So, as I helped pack and hand out meals again, Sarah, Kevin and Kris (the shift coordinator) worked on helping to house the lady and her family. Turns out, after they had it set up, she didn't want to live there. So, they moved her to another place.
Most of my evening was spent packing up food and then also the new arrival packs (clothes, sleeping bags, towels, etc). At 8:30, that is when we are asked to go to the women's section and minor boys section to guard gates. So, the rest of our night was spent there.
Friday morning, Sarah, me and Barb finally had an opportunity to go for a run together. Not everyone was up for a run, so we had a nice walk together. We had hoped to have many more opportunities to do this each morning, but with our schedules and some battling sickness, it didn't work out. We were happy to get out this morning.
We had decided the night before that around 9 am, anyone who wanted to, would meet near the short to jump in the Aegean Sea for a swim! As we walked the shores, I found some pretty sea glass to take home with me.
After I was in for a bit, we went to another area, because I said I actually wanted to swim. So, I did. It was awesome! It was refreshing and invigorating! After a bit, I convinced Barb to join me.
Once we got back to the hotel, we cleaned up and then walked to a nearby apartment to leave clothes and other items for the warehouse for Eurorelief to sort and use for the POCs. We returned and enjoyed some greek yogurt and fruit, and some tea.
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| Smile and Shine |
The two other ministries I had hoped to connect with (a sports ministry and a music/arts ministry) were not available to meet these last two days. I plan to connect with them via Skype when I return to the US to learn more about their work.
Please pray for our team as we have our last shift tonight. Pray that we have opportunities to say good goodbyes to the few POCs we connected with. Pray that we are able to make a difference in their lives by our words and actions. Pray for strength and stamina as we have this last shift and have a short night of sleep before we leave at 7:15 for the airport to fly to Athens.
We plan to take a day in Athens to debrief and sightsee. Pray for the team as they are beginning to process all they have seen and heard. We have done quite a bit of processing together each day. Pray that we are all able to see the positives amidst the challenges. Everyone is leaving a different person. Pray for them as they each discern next steps for their lives.
I hope to have one or two more posts, but not sure when. Thanks for following us and praying for us. You have sustained us here during our time and many experiences.
Vicky, I enjoyed your post. It helps me to remember our last day or so and the challenges to actually make 2 or 3 steps forward with out taking those same steps backwards. Thanks again for all your work and leadership. I appreciate it.
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