Athens: Ministry + Vacation

Athens was much on the contrary to what we were warned about: pick-pockets and trash, ugly urban is what I expected. We must have been walking in SO MUCH grace and protection from the Lord.
I did not see much trash, was never approached let alone robbed and we had a lovely time.




We were scheduled for about 5 days of ministry before our time for "debrief" began but it was really hard not to slink into a mode of vacation in our 5-star hotel with a roof-top pool and wrap-around balcony view of the Acropolis and Parthenon.




We read the entire New Testament through in a couple days, reading a few hours in the morning and a couple in the evening. I spent some time updating our team finances and making sure we were all balanced out before we shipped off a nice gift to the church back in Thessaloniki. That was fun!

The train ride was really fun although it took just as long as the non-express route was supposed to take. I had a good nap and an amazing conversation with one of my team leaders, just talking about life and stumbling upon revelations over our time of outreach. It is amazing the things that come to mind when I talk to this lady! We are so similar yet so different, but the similarities sure matter and bring us together!

Church the next morning was incredible! Just like going for coffee with a Greek is a 3 hour process, church was a 4 hour one I recall. The church was so diverse with a Greek pastor and who had an African wife. There were Asains, Africans, Greeks and some of us miscellaneous white folk all in one church. I really felt at home, like I was at church in Sacramento at BOSS. The message was wonderful- I wrote about 4 pages of notes because everything talked about was so such of cool revelation! I love when that happens.

The ladies of the church were a delight. We came to the church one day to help on their day of iCare which was a day of giving away free school supplies, children's clothes and haircuts. What a blessing to provide haircuts! That is such a personal delight to feel cared for enough for a fresh 'do. Some of the youngin's were not so keen on the loud and scary sounds of the electric clippers but then again they were not so keen on the crazy elongated sharp scissors either.

We also went to the church for a sort of work day where half of us re-labeled water bottles with the hotline information for reporting Human and Sex Trafficking in Athens. This is through the organization A21 that I have mentioned before (We interviewed them for a future video project on Thessaloniki and/or Greece). The other half of us emptied out a storage room that has a full wall of windows so we could cover them with paper so the outside world does not see their storeroom. It was sweaty and hot, a given in a Greek summer, but 11 additional women to the women of the church sure made the work a light load. 

Friday evening we met up with members of the church and clad ourselves in lime-green shirts with a Greek phrase on it along the lines of, 'Be her friend..." and the hotline number on the back. We handed out at least 250 water bottles with the hotline information as well as countless info cards that have a second rip-off card on them to share along with bumper stickers and another informational sheet. Let's just say, that a good amount of folks were definitely informed that day. 

Informing the general public about the existence and prevalence of Sex Trafficking, especially in Greece, is so important. I wish I was kicking the pimps in the you know where but that is unrealistic, dangerous and does not put a dent in the cycle. Stop watching porn, do not pay for a prostitute. This will change things. And many do not think it is a real problem or think it doesn't happen in their 'backyard.' America has outrageous rates and Sacramento, California is one of the biggest ports in America for Sex Tourism and Trafficking. (Google has MANY sources for this). 

On a lighter note, we were so safe in Athen I almost wonder why we had so many cautious warnings: do not take a purse out with you, do not stay out later than sunset, do not show your money, there are professional pick-pockets who will slit the bottom of your purse...I know it was God's grace. We stayed in a nice area and had lots of favor wherever we went. I did not see one sketchy scene or once feel uncomfortable. 

Finally, we made it to a GREEK ISLAND! The island of Aegina was gorgeous! It is no Santorini but being a Monday it was superbly quiet and going against the pattern of casual tourists, we asked if there was another beach within walking distance. Alas, a simple 10 minute walk to the other side of a hill opened up to a nearly private ocean front to a rocky-bottom shore line filled with turquoise water! it was immediately met by deep navy blue water and had I had goggles I could guarantee that it was the sea-floor dropping into the Mediterranean. Except for the one gal that treated our find as a nude beach, with her 5-yr-old son, we had the best near-private access to the Aegean Sea!

Checklist Ministry: A Beggar, Dignified

AUGUST 14: TUESDAY EVENING

With a new fire lit inside us after our pastoral visit from our PhotogenX school leader, Jonathan Zerkle, we set out in small groups of 2's and 3's with a hefty checklist of ministry goals. We were told not to come home for dinner and/or to the Network Community Church until we had done everything on the list. As a very goal-oriented person, I was thrilled! Sometimes you just need a little push and something particular to work towards.
So Chelsea and I set out together to get the 'job' done. We prayed for grace and fun. God spoke to Chelsea reminding her that if the opportunity for something important like a prayer of salvation or a more in-depth time of ministry to ace the check-list.
Our first item on the list completed was praying for the city from a "historical" place and then we read all of 1 & 2 Thessalonians and Philippians at a Greek Orthodox church. Then we headed up to the Rotunda to pray at our second historical place. We also met the requirement of simply talking to Thessalonians several times as we asked for directions.
On our way to the 'Needle Point' Tower, a tower 5 stories tall that over looks the entire city from hillside-to-ocean, I saw down the street from Kamara a beggar that I had seen before. So Chelsea and I headed over after nodding in agreement we should of course "minister" to him.

I asked if he spoke English, our default first question to nearly every person we meet. He did not seem to respond a lot but also seemed to understand. I pointed to the cross on his necklace and showed my hands folded in prayer, asking if we could pray for him. He was hesitant at first but with Chelsea's enthusiasm and additional hand signals he agreed to prayer. I reached for his hand to hold and we saw his face light up. You see, when we had begun talking with him he was so slouched over you could not see his face as it was pointed into his lap touching his chest, his hands stretched out to receive. But by time I held his hand he was beginning to perk up. Chelsea saw the emotion in his face stir and warm up.

I then did what I have never felt comfortable or had reason to do before: I grabbed my big camera from my purse, pointed at it, and asked to take his photo. "Click, click" and a thumbs up sign and a "OK?" were the series for permission. I took three photos and showed them to him.  This was the breaking point. He began to smile his toothless smile and sit up even straighter.

Chelsea took a turn taking photos and I continued to smile at him. I could see him returning to a state of dignity perhaps he carried long ago. I remember Susi Childers, our PhotogenX school founder and Photography 1 instructor, telling us similar stories. She pointed out how asking to take the photo of someone who is normally regarded so lowly can give a sense of worth. As people carry their cameras to historical landmarks, important events, concerts, political events, birthday parties and graduations, we photograph and keep as a memory things of value. When a homeless person, who sees a great deal of folks photographing important things, becoming the subject of interest he definitely understood we thought him important, too.
Walking away I really felt kindred to the ministry of Jesus. He would have done just what we did. Perhaps he did not have 5 euro to give back then, but as I held his hand, prayed to our Father for him, I felt the purpose of the Prince of Peace. Full of joy!

Flushable Toilet Paper, Salted Butter and Couches

Well folks, I am "home home" which for college students or any of us that find homes in multiple places, this means our hometown.

Traveling from Greece to Kona, HI was messy, the messiest travel I have ever had! LONG story short we were almost a day early to the airport, when we got to the airport on the proper day our flight was delayed 6 hours due to company striking, we were rebooked through Frankfurt before even leaving Athens, then re-rebooked once in Frankfurt to Washington, DC and then we had a final layover in SF. This turned up wonderful because my dear friend Samantha rushed me when we got to where two other teams were also awaiting the same last leg flight to Kona. So that was the best 9 hours in the middle of the night I have ever spent in an airport for sure. It was so great to see about 15 other friends from school!

I have had amazing conversations with friends back on campus and have done so much processing. I cannot believe how much learning I have done over the last 6 months about myself, my God, and this life. THANK YOU for being part of this journey!

I would like to start writing blogs with topical reflections just so I can further understand myself but I always love to share what I learn with friends!

I have appreciated so much about coming home. I think my favorite part of traveling, of being away, is coming home! It is almost silly the details that I appreciate:

Flushable toilet paper, couches, carpet, MY BED, my room and all it eccentricities, my dogs, a refrigerator I can snack from, my car, my parents of course and my siblings, family in general lets say, the familiar and comforting things. Country music and Christian radio, my full wardrobe instead of the limited-suitcase edition, my shower, having more than one room to roam through/space, valley sunsets, salted butter, Costco, Panda Express, In-N-Out, Horchata and Mexican food. I could list a lot more things. I'll come back later perhaps.

My biggest question in my mind right now is, "Did the last six months really happen?" Because all of a sudden I am back home and it feels like I never left. My family is the same and my friends are the same, except that one moved to South Korea, no big deal. But really, what defines time and change? It is so relative. So I will turn to look at what marks this change in my life.

(These will probably become more topical and expanded in later entries)

DEFENDED: I no longer need to defend myself. Honestly, I am tired of making sure people like me, trying to ensure that things will come into place wether for my own fate or feeling like I need to try to perform the things that God already says will be.

FATHERS LOVE: I really do believe in God's love for me like that of a Father. You know, the kind where he comes into your room the day after you get home and just sighs that heavy, reassured sigh that I am home and safe in bed (even if it is midday). The kind of Father's love that says I love you like the sea loves the shore. The kind of love that really wants you to be happy. Not because Christian's are on Prosak and Jesus makes your life peachy-keen happy, but that despite the things in life that are rough, God really wants the very best for you. Not second best, not an alternative. And why wouldn't I want the best for myself?

KNOWLEDGE: There is a significant thing to recognize for me and all those that enjoy the pursuit of understanding: these things are futile and what is wisdom if you know not the will of God? Just like I am journaling as one that processes things out loud (or on paper...err..my screen) to seek understanding,  Jesus asked me one day if I would instead pursue Him the way I pursue full understanding of my own thought-life.

PERFECTION: I have recognized how much pride is in perfectionism and how God just never asked for such a performance. The Lord asks a lot of us, you might think, but really if your first step forward i truly rooted, and I mean think about getting low here, the base of your intentions-if it is out of love how can you go wrong?


Agh, so much more to be shared!! For now though, this is all. It is late and I need sleep!
XOXO Bee