Thoughts from Liz - Day Two

Stressings and blessings. Really two sides of one coin. As we went around the table, the overwhelming majority of our stresses were also our blessings. The struggles that seem to threaten to knock us down are really just ways that God strengthens and cares for us in special ways to bring us to a closer dependence on Him and different ways to see His beauty in everything - difficult or not. 

Today was our first day in the stage 2 camp called Skala Sikamenia. This is the first stop for the refugees who are coming from the boat and shore. It's a 1.5 km walk/drive to the transitional camp from the beach and usually refugees will stay for only about 2 hours. When we arrived we inherited about 200 refugees from the night before because the other (next stage) camps were all full so the tents were filled up with cold and hungry refugees. So we sprung into action when we relieved the previous shift workers. Many of us stationed in different places around camp...food, ticket handout, clothing tent, bus riders, line holders, etc. 

Each of us had different experiences but one thing remained. We were dealing with people. Flesh and blood, just like us, we are just one tragedy away from being where these precious people find themselves now. It's heartbreaking and difficult to comprehend, but God is showing up in incredible ways. We all got the opportunity to chat with families, children, men...to show Christ's love in a very tangible way.

Kim, our trip leader, reminded us of the mission and parallels of Luke 10 (the Good Samaritan)and Matthew 25 (Sheep and Goats). We are called to clothe, feed, quench, and care for those in Christ's image who are in fact CHRIST himself. If we do, and more importantly, don't, the everlasting implications are severe. These passages remind us to be DOERS of the Word and not just hearers. It's incredibly evident here in this place, caring for these needs that we need to be doers. The Lord is bringing together the nations in this little island of Lesvos and God is calling each one to do their part. 

We carry Christ's name to those we come across here in Lesvos and we can't feel anything but blessed by this fact. 

We are thankful to represent Calvary (and Wellspring) here. Thank you for your prayers. We feel them. The burden is heavy, but with Christ, through your prayers they are made lighter. 

Thank you. Thank you. And thank you again. 

We love you. 

-- Calvary Greece Team 

Pictures of the Day! 

Skala Sikamenia. 

Our very makeshift, yet cozy kitchen!! 

The young man's tent in Skala outfitted by the UNHCR. 

From the lookout - foggy morning where you can't see Turkey + news of shipwrecks = slow day in camp. 

On the lookout for boats and dinghys. 

Thoughts from Lee - Day One

Today is our first full day on the island. In some ways everything has changed since I was here in November. There are no more life jackets lining the sea shore, the welcome camp has changed locations, the volunteers that I worked side by side with have long returned home, or moved on to another part of the world. Things appear a bit more organized and smooth...but in other ways i know that things aren't as they appear. Kim, our leader tells us that refugees are still coming over at the rate of one thousand a day. Just this morning, 400 refugees were rescued and will be in need of dry clothes, nourishment and a safe place to stay.

Tomorrow we will take the first shift in the camp and we are told again and again that it will be very busy and chaotic. I am trying to prepare mentally  and spiritually for the day's work.  But, tonight, I know my heart will be rebroken into 1000 little pieces as we return to the camp. Yet, I count it a privilege to stand with my teammates, in the strength of the lord and before Christ to share in his mercy!

-- Lee Content

Calvary Greece Team

(Pictures later!!) 

Landed in Mytilini - Lesvos Island

Just a quick note to let you all know that we made it to Lesvos! We are all pretty tired but are looking forward to a good night's rest before we get started with orientation tomorrow and work the next day! We are heading to bed, but we will be sure to update you all tomorrow. Local time: 12:38am. 

Thank you for your prayers for a safe trip! It was indeed safe and fairly uneventful which in travel standards is a great thing! We are blessed by you all!! 

--Calvary Greece Team 

Zurich! Athens! OH My!

We made it to Zurich and now we are in Athens! We have nestled into a lounge at a hotel close to the airport for our 4 hours until we catch our last and, thankfully, shortest trip into Mytilini...Lesvos, here we come! 

We are slightly jetlagged, a little warm, and Sarah (Klassen) doesn't really want children after our flights, but all in all, it's been a great trip with very little complications and even a few nice little surprises. Poor Steve's luggage got a little banged up, but the airlines gave him a whole NEW suitcase. So there have been many small blessings, even just UNITY as we bond and travel together! 

Sorry, we don't have TOO much more to add yet, but I'm sure we'll have plenty of stories as we go along! But here are some more pictures!! 

We made it to Athens -- here we are at the sofitel lounge across the street from the airport! 

Here's a picture of the ALPS (unless I'm SORELY mistaken, fact check me someone!) as we were leaving Zurich.

And this is coming in to Athens! It's like the stuff of dreams, you guys, it's so beautiful! 

-- Calvary Greece Team

Made It...to Chicago

We made it to the airport in Chicago with a good amount of time before boarding, but before arriving Steve had a great idea to play a little icebreaker/get to know you game! So in the car here are some fun things we got to learn about each other. 

You figure out what fact goes with which team member! 

- one member was the last dairy princess before they changed the title to dairy "ambassador" (so that boys could also participate) 

- one member hasn't shaved for six months

- one member moved 5 times in one year 

- one member met Tim Tebow on a missions trip to the Philippines (that one was me...freebie for you, mostly because I like to brag about it...ah the good ol' days!) 

- one member is going to run a half marathon in the fall 

- one member loves Costco pizza 

- one member broke their ankle while golfing on the first hole and then figured out how to play the rest of the course before realizing it

- one member has a killer sense of humor

And our FAVORITE

- one member once swallowed their contact, their mother "found" it, "cleaned" it, aaand used it again! 

So all in all I believe it was a very informational journey, where we got to know each other very well. ;) 

Now on to more serious matters. We gathered for a time of prayer before we left Calvary and I know we were all thankful for that time, the time to say goodbye to loved ones, the time to commit our trip to the Lord, and the long awaited departure for a life-changing trip. 

We would love and appreciate your continued prayers. Things have gone smoothly so far today but I know a lot of us were feeling the spiritual warfare yesterday as we packed and prepared to leave today. Lee, our trip leader, hit a deer (thankfully, she wasn't injured at all), Sarah's medication prescription hadn't gotten ordered up (thankfully, she got that today), and a few of us were already feeling the weight of leaving loved ones behind (thankfully, God is taking care of our families even more than we know how)! All this to say, we are so thankful for your prayers and thoughts as we go and covet even more of them!   

And here are a few pictures for fun! 

   Marv. Driving like a champ. 

    Van selfie

    The obligatory Starbucks run and picture

    Steve. Zonked out already! 

We love you all!!! You're the best. 

- Calvary Greece Team 

Answer key to the fun facts:  Sara, Rob, Marv, Liz, Sarah, Steve, Lee, Doug, and SARA FTW. 

What We Need: Prayer

All journeys require a number of things from its participants.
From the nitty-gritty details such as
Luggage,
Passports,
Itineraries.
All the way down to different attitudes like
Flexibility,
A ready spirit,
Excitement.

But there are some journeys that are just harder in nature than others. And this one just might be one of them. These journeys, they need something very particular and very powerful. They need prayer.

Our team has come together to care for a need that is greater than we could ever deal with or imagine impacting on our own. In our world, there is a global crisis that is leaving so many to wonder,
"What do I do?"
"What can I do?"
With these questions in the minds of so many, the Lord has called us, at this moment, to go to Lesvos, Greece, the epicenter of need and, really, the face of the refugee crisis.    

I think I can speak for all of us in saying it is a blessing that God would call us to such a big thing, but also a little intimidating. We don't know exactly what we will face or what the Lord will call us to do, but it's with an open hand that we proceed forward, resting in the call the Lord has placed in each of our lives.

So as we get ready to set out to go to this little island off the coast of Turkey where THOUSANDS of people are arriving, or even dying to get to each day, to flee from persecution and oppression with one unified goal of a safer life, we ask that you would join us in prayer.
We ask that your prayers would help sustain and guide us in the days ahead,
that they would encourage us to have the words to say to the desperate and the needy,
that they would allow us to encounter Christ through these people,
and, hopefully, introduce Him to many as well.

If you would like to know a few more specifics on how to pray, please go to this link: Refugee Relief Trip, where you will find a prayer calendar set up by Calvary's Missions Department.

Thank you, in advance, for your prayers and thoughts. We can't thank you enough for partnering with us in this way.