I am big on things being the same wether I plan on it or not. If I park in one spot more than likely the next time I go I will park in the same spot. I have a routine in the things that I do and the way I act. This to me is interesting due to the fact that I'm not a structured person and tend to be more open to new ideas.
Things here in Greece have changed for me today; the group from D.C. left bright and early this morning. I can be truthful and say I miss them greatly already, but I also know things change for a reason. God put them in my life for a reason and for a season and the season was just a short one for the time being. The good news is that I have 7 new friends that I have been honored to meet and have learned so much from them.
The other change is on Tuesday the group of 4 from Chicago will be leaving and I will also be leaving for Thessaloniki. Once again a change and new faces to meet and feel comfortable around. I love this for the fact that God is teaching me how to truly open up to people and to allow someone new into my life without completely knowing what it will look like or what the future will hold.
God is teaching me patience and understanding that I will not always know what is going to happen or how things will come about but to have faith in Him to know that everything is taken care of. In chruch this morning Pastor Giotis made some very good points. He said that God is the gospel. Many times we sit back and ask for all these things from God and when He does not answer we get upset and don't understand why He would just ignore our request. I will have to say that God always anwers but sometimes the answer is just not what we want to hear. Sometimes He is just saying no. Jesus is not someone we have to make things easier but He is there to intercede on our behalf and He is enough for me. What more do we need and what more could we be asking for? Is not Jesus enough? Is not His life, death, and returning not enough for us?
One last note I would like you to be praying for a young man I have meet in my time here and he helped out with many of the things we were doing in the community. This young man had a very viberant heart for the Lord and was a very skillfull person. The kids surrounded him with joy and laughter. He was in an accident and is in serious condition. We are not sure what the results will be but we do know that he is in God's hands. When the wreck happened he was preparing his speech he was going to give at the Christian camp he would be attending. I know that I am praying for him as well as many others but I also encourage you too also. His name is Yannis.
Sunday, June 22, 2008
Wednesday, June 18, 2008
Life In Greece
Life in Greece is much like life in the United States; the kids are still running around with nothing to do and the parents are running from jobs to the market then home each night. Life is not different around the world; ideas are different, languages are different but our God will never change. The foundation of the world and the hope of eternity lay in the hands of those who choose to explore the truths of God. The choice to take a gift we are not worthy of and live life with the secret wisdom of Christ. My joy is that the secret wisdom of God is no secret to those who believe in Him. The secret is revealed when we enter into the relationship with Christ.
The culture in Greece is very different from that in America. The Greeks are very into relationships and spending time with one other. They are not structured with tasks planned out for weeks to come and organization is unheard of. They truly live in the moment.
I will take some time to tell you some of the things I have done in Greece and how God has been moving in my life but I will not be able to fully explain the depths of His vision for me due to the fact that I feel like I will be putting Him in a box and limiting His mighty power.
The main focus of this week has been this community center that I will be working with when I return in the fall. This center is in a community that has been forgotten by Athens and are lower class. They are not the wealthy or middle class but live from penny to penny. Many of the kids in the area have to work to help with money and are not able to attend school. In the fall the center will function as a school for many of the kids but will also be used in many other areas.
I have been honored to met up with two teams of ladies this week who have also helped with the community center. The center will be ready to open tonight with many long days of hard work; putting together sinks, painting tables, and cleaning windows. Although each day many different tasks are performed the love put into the building is alive and growing. The love and the hope is based on what God has laid on each of their hearts. The amazing part of the work these ladies are doing is the mere fact that they will not see the full fruits of their labor; although they have been blessed with a taste.
Each person on each team had different gifts and different visions but Chirst brought all those different ideas and formed a beautiful evenly balanced group of ladies. The fact that for a week 12 ladies could all work in a small room with no air conditioner doing hard labor without complaining and bickering was an intervention by God himself. Christ was kind enough to give each person inspiration each day by revealing His truth to each of them in a variety of ways.
I will always remember these ladies and the blessing and acceptance they openly gave me. They will remain in my heart and share a special place never to be forgotten. Each one taught me something special and opened my eyes to Christ in a whole new light. They truly showed me the perfect love of Christ from the moment they walked into my life. I will continue to pray for each of them as they go their seperate ways and remember the impact they had in my life.
The culture in Greece is very different from that in America. The Greeks are very into relationships and spending time with one other. They are not structured with tasks planned out for weeks to come and organization is unheard of. They truly live in the moment.
I will take some time to tell you some of the things I have done in Greece and how God has been moving in my life but I will not be able to fully explain the depths of His vision for me due to the fact that I feel like I will be putting Him in a box and limiting His mighty power.
The main focus of this week has been this community center that I will be working with when I return in the fall. This center is in a community that has been forgotten by Athens and are lower class. They are not the wealthy or middle class but live from penny to penny. Many of the kids in the area have to work to help with money and are not able to attend school. In the fall the center will function as a school for many of the kids but will also be used in many other areas.
I have been honored to met up with two teams of ladies this week who have also helped with the community center. The center will be ready to open tonight with many long days of hard work; putting together sinks, painting tables, and cleaning windows. Although each day many different tasks are performed the love put into the building is alive and growing. The love and the hope is based on what God has laid on each of their hearts. The amazing part of the work these ladies are doing is the mere fact that they will not see the full fruits of their labor; although they have been blessed with a taste.
Each person on each team had different gifts and different visions but Chirst brought all those different ideas and formed a beautiful evenly balanced group of ladies. The fact that for a week 12 ladies could all work in a small room with no air conditioner doing hard labor without complaining and bickering was an intervention by God himself. Christ was kind enough to give each person inspiration each day by revealing His truth to each of them in a variety of ways.
I will always remember these ladies and the blessing and acceptance they openly gave me. They will remain in my heart and share a special place never to be forgotten. Each one taught me something special and opened my eyes to Christ in a whole new light. They truly showed me the perfect love of Christ from the moment they walked into my life. I will continue to pray for each of them as they go their seperate ways and remember the impact they had in my life.
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