Greece
The last few weeks in Lesvos Greece have been quite an experience.
Our first week we spent working in the refugee camp Moriah.
It’s hard to explain with words the things I’ve witnessed in the camp.
What was once a place built to hold 2,000 military prisoners has now become home to over 7,000 refugees seeking safe asylum.
Tensions are rising as more people arrive each day. People groups that have been at war for years are now finding themselves neighbors with each other. Living tent to tent seeking survival. There are tents and tarp made shelters in every square inch you can see. There are only about 30 toilets for the entire camp, mosts of which have been added on since. The weather is getting warmer, causing more people to be arriving than in winter time.
There are said to be more than 40 different nationality’s in the camp.
Many are fleeing from the Middle east, central Asia and Africa because of war, or fear of prosecution from police or apposing people groups in their nations.
Making camp Moriah a place unlike anything else I’ve ever seen.
The camp was only set up to house people temporary before getting their papers that allow them into Athens Greece, and from there the rest of Europe. It was never set up for people to call home. For the lucky ones sometimes it’s home for 5 months, for others they have lived there for 2 years or more.
There are many organizations working in the camp all together trying to meet needs each day. They have housed a lot of people inside of the buildings that were already there but they have also set up massive military style tents and then set up dividers with blankets to provide more “housing space” for people.
They have also resorted to bringing in these things called “ISO boxes” they are basically big metal storage containers (10ft x 8ft x 8ft ) stacked on top of each other with stairs leading to the doors and maybe one window.
These often times will house up to four families at once. (15-20 people)
Some of the things we did in camp were help with “new arrivals” handing out kits to people just arriving. Each person gets one sleeping mat, sleeping bag, a change of clothes and basic toiletries.
We would also handout “shower cards” and “diaper tickets” each day. Allowing for those with the cards and tickets to receive either a shower at an appointed time or receive a few diapers for their children.
Some of us would go tent to tent and do "role call" and mark how many people are still living in each space. Sometimes we would find someone got their approval to leave Moriah and go to Athens leaving a free space behind.
This would also help with keeping things “mapped out” and up to date of where each person is said to be housed.
Others of us worked on housing people, which would include finding the person/families on the paperwork and bringing them from one area of the camp to their “new house” most of the time it’s a marked tent (numbered tent) because the camp has become so full.
Working on housing also included actually finding space to even set up a tent, or even “guarding a tent” so no one would steal it before the new family arrives.
While we were there we resorted to setting up tents behind buildings and corners that shouldn’t even really hold tents. Digging up the ground and clearing brush to set up tents for new arrivals.
Another area we all got to serve in was working in “the warehouse” a place where all the supplies for the refugees are either donated or stored before taken to the camp.
All of the supplies that we were handing out in the camps is all prepared there.
We sorted over 4,000 pairs of shoes that had all been donated. Made clothing kits for Men, Women, and children of many different ages. (Often times this is their only other change of clothing)
(Photos are not allowed in Moriah, therefore I have none to share)
Even in all of this mess and chaos I was able to see the beauty and joy in people and most of all I was able to have deeper understanding of who Jesus is to us..
Little kids coming and running up to you each day when you walk around the camp. Showing off whatever their skills are and wanting high fives.
People offering their help when I was carrying supplies and things up these massive hills inside Moriah. Even people surprisingly comforting me when I thought I was going to break down and cry in front of them after the hearing some of their personal hardships. How they have lost so much and escaped from so much in their lives.
During our time we visited a place on the island called “life jacket graveyard”.
The other side of the refugee crisis. A place where the island has gathered all the life jackets and floating items even blow up raft’s and inner tubes that have washed up on the shore.
We got to visit there as a team one day had a time of intersession over the crisis and those who have made it across and have lost love ones along the way.
It was really powerful to see after working in the camp and putting faces to some of these items.
As we walked around again the thought crossed my mind that I’ve never seen anything like this.
It’s as if I’m seeing something out of the holocaust. Thousands and thousands of life jackets all representing a life.
Throughout this week I was able to see truly the heart of Jesus and each day asked for his heart for these many people groups.
A revelation that I had after working in the camp was really seeing the need and the raw state of brokenness and seeing just how much more God’s heart breaks for these people even more so than I have emotions for. I realized that God truly see’s the same things that I see. He experiences the same things that these people are experiencing.
That these people and these situations are the reason why God sent his son Jesus for us. That we wouldn’t have to live in a world with this kind of pain and suffering without any kind of hope.
I deeply understand now more than ever just how much God loves his people and his creation that He would come and offer a way out of all of this pain and suffering in the world. That He would send Jesus to die take on these sin’s that we as humans have created and offer us a way out through salvation.
One of the verses I felt like God was really speaking to me about Moriah was
Luke 6:20-22
Then Jesus turned to his disciples and said,
“God blesses you who are poor, for the Kingdom of God is yours.
God blesses you who are hungry now, for you will be satisfied.
God blesses you who weep now, for in due time you will laugh. What blessings await you when people hate you and exclude you and mock you and curse you as evil because you follow the Son of Man.
During our three weeks we were actually living on a ship in Greece!
The amazing thing about it was this ship is actually YWAM base called “Next Wave”
We were able to bless the YWAM base there on many occasions. Serving in the kitchen making lunches and dinners. As well as doing tasks around the ship like painting, or cleaning and organizing.
It might not seem like much to most people when it comes the idea of “missions” but we were really able to bless the staff and the students at the base with meeting more of their practical needs during some of their busy season.
We even got to host a fun night with the whole base before we left.
We decorated the dinning room got all dressed up and served them all dinner and desserts. We even hosted a fun evening of games all together outside.
We were really thankful for the amazing crew that is apart of “Next Wave” and all the time that we got to spend getting to know them. It was so fun to have a night to just bless them for hosting us on the ship.
We also were staying on the ship with another outreach team from our school.
Naturally we had some incredible times of worship and intercession around the Island all together. It was also really nice to be reunited with our friends from the same school as us in Paris. Another shared experience that we can all have upon returning to France.
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Prayer requests
-Change of season, Prayer for vision that God would show me what He has next for me after the school ends mid June.
-Finances, That I would have the courage to ask for my needs and see breakthrough with supporters financially. That God would give me strategy on how to fundraise.
-The base here in Paris has seen some crazy provision lately with buildings and houses/apartments being provided for the new base. We are trusting God with seeing 30,000 euros come in so we will have what we need to repair and set up these buildings. So Far we have seen 24,000 euros come in and we are so close to meeting our goal.
Please Enjoy a video that was made by a friend on my team.
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I ask that you would pray and consider supporting me while I'm on the mission field throughout Europe.
My heart is to see people on fire with the love of God and my mission is to share that love of who God and Jesus is to others.
Bringing the news of the gospel to people who have yet to hear the name of Jesus or have yet to understand the gospel and true salvation.
I have left my job, my family and my own nation because I feel that Jesus calls us to be disciples of all nations. In doing this I am living day to day trusting God for each need, and I have seen God provide in incredible ways over the last 6 months.
I'm seeking the need of either 2-3 monthly commitments financially for one year.
As my base fees here in Paris would be around $400 USD. This includes my rent and all my food and utilities for each month.
If you feel lead to commit with me for one year financially please email me personally erin_cahue@yahoo.com
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