Rogers family outreach - Greece!
Sean Rogers
One of the hot topics globally right now is the refugee crisis. Migrants from the middle east have fled to Europe via Greece in search of better lives. Over the course of the past year many of the countries in Europe, including Hungary (where we are now located), have closed their boarders to refugees. This means that many of the refugees who have fled to Europe are stuck in Greece and are living in difficult conditions. Many of these refugees are still hopeful of moving past Greece and further into the European union, but with the system inundated by the sheer volume of people many are stuck in Greece, desperate, and unable to proceed further. Many of these people are falling prey to various types of exploitation. While countries across Europe and the rest of the globe are trying to aid the situation via donations, there is still a great need for physical presence on the ground in Greece.
Migrants stranded in Athens gathering in one of the cities squares.
As a family we saw this as a simple opportunity to serve practically. There are several NGO's across the city of Athens with warehouses full of clothes needing to be sorted so they can be distributed to the refugees who need them. Only a handful of people are working on it full time - day in and day out and progress is slow.
Thousands of pounds of donations, on hundreds of pallets, waiting to be sorted.
Ella "helping" pull some clothes out of a children's clothing bag. Clothes will be seperated into more specific categories and sizes for distribution.
We were able to connect with a couple of ministries and spend some time helping practically by sorting clothes. At the warehouse pictured here, only a handful of people are sorting through these clothes full time helped by random teams pitching in periodically. It seems an insurmountable task. The team is sorting clothes into men's, women's, children's. They are sorting hygiene products and toiletries, backpacks, and separating damaged or moldy clothes from usable ones. Once sorted into these rough categories, they are sorted further into sizes and types of clothes to be distributed to camps and drop-in centers. During our short time there we estimate that we sorted somewhere around 600 to 800 pounds of clothing!
At the end of the day the work there felt like a drop in a large ocean, but were grateful to be able to serve and befriend the tired team who work there every day. Several of them were refugees themselves, and for all of them, having a happy baby and some extra helping hands was a big blessing and a highlight of their day.
Later in the week we were able to participate in another ministry actually reaching out to refugees in the camps. After a day at one ministry helping prepare and serve a meal, connecting with some refugee families, we were able to visit one of the refugee camps in Athens.
Tent city in the old Athen's Airport terminal.
Tent city in the old Athen's Airport terminal.
"Miss you dear Mom" - Many of the families get separated or lose family members on the journey to Greece.
The camp we visited is set up in an out-of-use airport. After entering the dilapidated terminal, you enter to find a massive tent city inside. We ran into a family we'd met the day before and they were gracious enough to invite us for tea in their 'house'. Even though they have very little, they welcomed us with generosity and hospitality. We were able to fellowship over tea and a bowl of raisins. It was a blessing to be able to listen to their stories and their hopes, share some laughs, and let them know they are heard, cared for, and that we will keep them in our prayers. The mother of the family even gave Ella a pair of baby booties which she had knit herself.
Ella makes friends wherever she goes.
Cecilia, founder of Threads of Hope
Also there in Athens, we were able to connect with some counter-trafficking ministries. One ministry in particular has become very dear to Theresa's heart. A woman who has been engaging this issue in Greece for some time has taken the leap into starting small business to help give some of the girls a way out.
The Threads of Hope workshop.
The business called Threads of Hope, is creating and selling beautifully crafted tote bags and other handmade items to help employ women trying to get out of prostitution. Theresa is a passionate and talented artist behind a sewing machine, so she was excited to be able to sit in with the girls and spend some time ministering to them and creating with them. We would love to champion this business/ministry venture and see them succeed.
All-in-all Greece was a good trip and a great first of what we hope will be many "family outreaches" to come.
During our last weekend we were able to do a little sightseeing up at the Acropolis. During this little excursion Ella developed an affinity for trying to eat rocks. At least if she's going to eat rocks, she's eating famous, historically significant ones. The girl's got taste. haha
Ella is 10 months old now!
Encouraging Ella to NOT to eat bits of the Acropolis.
Family picture time!