Coming Home

We are on our way home and have had several hours to think about all we have seen and heard. We have talked about what it will be like to step off the plane and enter back into our lives that we left just 12 days ago. While we were gone, life continued on normally for our family and friends. The challenge for us is that our normal has forever been changed.

More stories arrive each day

We will never forget the stories we heard over the last few days. Stories of children finding faulty, undetonated bombs on their front porch. We saw the pictures of it. We will never forget the young man who finally left with his older brother after their family had fled two different houses that were destroyed by ISIS. They fled because they want to finish their education but because ISIS controls their city, they know it's not possible and if they don't join them, they will be killed. We can't forget the ones who told us stories of being shot at and sometimes hit. We won't forget the people we met with scars that tell their story, no words are necessary. And we won't forget the tears we shared with them as the painful memories overwhelmed us all.

These stories could go on and on. We heard many stories, all different in the details, but all with underlying similarities. People fleeing everything they know to find safety. This is something most of us will never be able to relate to. God has blessed us with nice homes, good schools, safe neighborhoods and all personal opinions aside, we have a government that protects its citizens.

So what now? How do we just jump back into normal, everyday life when God has used these people to rock us to the core? God has given us an opportunity to use this experience to share these stories with whoever will listen. To let people know that what you read and hear in the news is not the whole story. To tell you that without a shadow of a doubt, God is bringing this group of people out of the hard to reach places and He's delivering them to our doorstep. God is working in the minute details of the place we were in that prove His awesome sovereignty.

Please join us in praying about our next step and what that looks like for each of us. Also pray about how God would have you respond to this refugee crisis. For some it might be adopting a refugee family and helping them get settled in the Grand Rapids area. For some, it may be financial support through Refugee Relief at Calvarygr.org. Maybe God is calling you to the international student ministry, showing love and kindness to an international student at one of the area colleges. Perhaps God is calling you to be a part of the next team that goes to Greece.

Whatever and however God may be speaking to you about this incredible humanitarian situation, please commit this to prayer and Pray. Pray. Pray. And then do something!
Thank you for holding us in pray throughout this trip, we are so thankful!

The A team