A Month in Athens!

This past month was a busy month! 

    Our first day there we took sandwiches to the Victoria Square Park. This was a big spot for the homeless and drug use. People shooting up, heating it up, etc. right in the open. (These kinds of drugs are legal in Greece.) Most of the people were Middle Eastern refugees. I was a little saddened that all I could do is give them a sandwich and some water, and visit with them if they speak English. But at the same time I know that is more than most of them have received in their entire life. I love being there with those people. But I do often have to forgive myself for being so presumptuous about drug addicts. Some of them want whatever they can get from us, but then there are the ones who can't believe we will actually even touch them. It is sad when we offer to pray for someone and they're response is "But I'm dirty."

    Most of them get illegal jobs, steal, or prostitute themselves for the money to buy their drugs. As I'm traveling to different countries and working with different people groups I am gaining a new understanding about drug addiction. For these people it is the only way to escape the harsh reality of their situation. (This is not a justification, but rather an understanding of their personal struggles.) They have had to leave behind their homes and country to go to a foreign place where they do not speak the language, understand the customs, and forced to be entirely dependent on the refugee system. They are also legally prohibited from getting a job -making their only options illegal work, a refugee camp, or the streets.

    Human trafficking is as big here as anywhere. Prostitution is legal here. So long as you're at least 18 you can get a permit to do it, and there are many streets full of brothels where girls/women have been kidnapped or enticed into prostitution. It is very difficult to get one of these women to admit they are forced to prostitute due to fear. There are a lot of men prostitution as well with similar circumstances. Evangelism is illegal in Greece. So, most of our street work involved prayer walking. The Greeks are very welcoming to us (Westerners) and it makes striking up a conversation easier, and sharing who we are and what we are doing. Handing out sandwiches was also a good way to begin conversations with homeless and drug addicts.

    I want again share the ministries in Athens that are working tirelessly to help:

• New Life Ministries has accomplished a great feat by gaining the trust of many local brothels. This gives them access to go into the brothels to minister and build relationships. No other ministry has gained this kind of access, and they don't take it lightly. http://neazoi.org/
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• Threads of Hope Hellas was founded by a woman whom God called to use her business and counseling education, combined with her love for sewing to begin a business that employees women, giving them another option from prostitution. The girls from our team spent a couple of days helping to make [really good quality] purses and coin pouches. http://www.threadsofhope.gr/ 
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• Glyfada Christian Center, a local non-denominational church, is really reaching out to the homeless, refugees, and poor. GCC is small, and not rich. Yet they still do all that they can to provide food, clothing, and even help pay bills for others. http://www.gccenter.gr/ 
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• Drop Inn Ministries began in Northern Ireland, and now serves in 20 countries including Greece. Here they are reaching out to the refugees, homeless, addicts, prostitutes, and the locals -serving wherever there is a need and bringing hope into the darkened streets. http://dropinn.net/q 
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• The Salvation Army in Athens is also reaching out to the refugees. They help in various areas: Receiving/Distributing material donations, medical and financial, papers, education, and many other areas. http://www.salvationarmy.gr 

    For our part, we had the opportunity to serve with each of the ministries above by prayer walking throughout the entire city of Athens by using the Metro, helping make purses for Threads of Hope, cleaning buildings and organizing donated goods, visiting the homeless and drug addicts, singing worship songs on the streets, and teaching English at a Christian Iranian Church.

    This was the first time I have been in a country where evangelism is illegal. I admit it was very restricting. But we still had wonderful opportunities to build relationships and share the Gospel. The biggest struggle to deal with was the lack of identity and self-worth the refugees are facing. They are a people who have lost their homes and country, and they no longer know who to turn to. They desperately need the love of Christ in their lives.

    And there is no one better to give it that the Church.

The Areopagus (Acts 17:16-34) 

The rock where Apostle Paul spoke in Athens about 'the Unknown God.' 

A beautiful place located next to the famous Acropolis Temple. 

Threads of Hope Hellas 

Learning how to use the button press to help put together beautiful tote bags. 

Our work was volunteer, but the ministry itself helps provide women 

with an alternate income to prostitution. 

Nea Zoi (New Life) 

Prayer cards filled out by women who are living in the red light district. 

For privacy's sake, I've distorted the names. But I wanted you to see the ages. 

They are as young as 20.

Teaching English

We had a wonderful time teaching English at a Christian Iranian church. 

Wednesdays and Fridays quickly became my favorite days of the week!

Prayer Walking 

A member of our team met this man while prayer walking. His name was Evangelous. 

He sells souvenir flags to raise support for his brain tumor. 

When we offered to pray for him, his response was, "But I'm dirty."