Be Still & Know!

Wow.....what a long month it has been. It started with a trip to the states on July 8th for strategy meetings & the Fuse Youth Conference. Although it was a whirl wind trip, it was great! The Fuse Conference was amazing!! Thousands of youth & young adults were wrecked by the power of God! http://instagr.am/p/HtTh4/

Pastor Stovall opened the conference as only he could do, living out loud for Jesus! He made a grand entrance and had an amazing word!! http://lockerz.com/s/120222248

The day after the conference ended I boarded a plane & headed back to Athens. After a 16 hour flight, 30 min train ride & 5 block walk up hill with my luggage, I had finally made it back to my apartment where I had a day & 1/2 to recuperate from jet lag & prepare for Operation Joshua 4, an evangelistic outreach in the villages of the Peloponnese.

             

On Wednesday morning I took
the train to the airport & picked up
the celebration "dream team" for OJ4.
God stretched each of us in different
ways, but through it all He accomplished His will and we had an amazing time!

1000's of Greek New Testaments
that were translated into modern Greek were distributed to homes all over the Peloponnese to families that might never otherwise have the opportunity to read God's word. Although there was much opposition & spiritual warfare, there were also tremendous victories for Jesus!

There were people young, old & everywhere in between from 13 countries volunteering for this outreach! I loved the diversity, multigenerational & multicultural. There were families, youth groups, grandparents, singles, pastors & full time missionaries who gave up 2 weeks in July to come to Greece for this particular outreach. It was wonderful seeing the family of God, the body of Christ, coming together in unity to reach a nation with His word! Thank you Hellenic Ministries for inviting us & allowing us to participate with you!

On a much more somber note, while at Operation Joshua I got word that my Dad had a massive heart attack & was in critical condition in intensive care back in Michigan. It's a terrible weight to have a tragedy happen in your family & be so far away. I am so thankful for all of my Greece family. They rallied around me in prayer & support as I tried to get organized & make plans to come home.


When I got to Michigan on July 29th, my Dad was unresponsive on life support. I found out when I was visiting back in March that he had been listening to the bible on MP3 & just recently he had told family members that he had "made his peace with God & wasn't afraid to die." When I got to his room I prayed with him, read Matthew & John to him, & told him if it was time for him to go that as long as he had Jesus in his heart he could go, but he must accept Jesus in his heart before he could go, because I wanted to see him when I got to heaven. God then gave me a scripture........Psalm 27:8....I turned to it & knew God was speaking to me what my Dad could not say, "My heart has heard you say, “Come and talk with me". And my heart responds, "Lord, I am coming.”

On July 31, 2011 my Dad went to be with Jesus. He was the most hard working, fun loving man & he loved life & the community he lived in. He always had a story or a joke to tell you & was one of the greatest servants I know! He touched so many lives & always thought of others before himself. At his memorial hundreds of people showed up & shared how he made a difference in their lives. I pray that I can continue to make him proud & make a difference in the lives of people in my world. He will be forever in my heart. 

 

I just want to share with you that God has been telling me during the last month, "Be still and know I am God." And that is what I am doing. I am sitting at His feet, resting in His presence, & listening for His direction, knowing that He has me right where He wants me to be right now. Thank you to all of my partners for you prayers & support! I love & appreciate each of you!  Tracy

Youth Camp

The past few days I've had the opportunity to work along side a great group of people at Porto Astro, an area where Hellenic Ministries holds Youth Camp, as well as several other camps, every summer. What an incredibly beautiful place it was and what a great time we had!

 The campers were between 8 and 12 years old. They enjoyed swimming, tubing, volleyball, soccer, basketball, crafts, & games as well as worship, fellowship and bible study. It was a blessing to be able to go and help serve along side those who give up their whole summer to sow into the various camps they offer here.

One thing I thought was awesome,
was that there were young men & women 18-25 yr old that took their summer vacation & became camp counselors here, investing in the lives of the kids & other campers. Hanging out with them, enjoying sports, being role models, leading small groups and building relationships. It was an awesome picture of the love of Jesus!

 On Saturday night we had the opportunity to cook dinner for everyone. It was a ridiculously fun time in the kitchen, cooking & dancing, singing & cooking! Here Emmanuel is in the background putting together his amazingly yummy dish and Micky (in the foreground) holding the salad he made & was so proud of!

On Friday during the morning service 28 children
opened their hearts to Jesus!!!! These kids are the next generation of parents, teachers, leaders, doctors, policemen, worshipers and camp counselors.  What has been sow here at camp has left an eternal mark. I am so grateful to be a part of all that God is doing here in Greece.          



Psalm 78: 4-7 "We will not hide these truths from our children; we will tell the next generation about the glorious deeds of the Lord, about his power and his mighty wonders. For he issued his laws to Jacob; he gave his instructions to Israel. He commanded our ancestors to teach them to their children, so the next generation might know them—even the children not yet born—and they in turn will teach their own children. So each generation should set its hope anew on God, not forgetting his glorious miracles and obeying his commands."

God is moving!

What an incredibly full month we have had here in Athens! God is definitely up to something! We were able to enjoy

the last "House of Worship" until fall from the rooftop of Evripidou Hall. It was a wonderful time of fellowship, worship 

and the word with many of our friends.

 

God's tangible presence

was there and He provided an amazing display of His wonder 

in the beauty of the night sky!  

  

    We also hosted our 2nd mission team to Greece, a team from Life Church of Memphis!  What an amazing group of on fire believers! We enjoyed daily group devotionals, serving the ministries in the community with them, & visiting ancient Corinth.

  

 

But close to my                                   

heart were the 

wonderful times 

of prayer we had 

together. The

team was truly a 

blessing to us &

they have been missed. 

 We have also been having various devo /small groups. This night we met in Thsio at a popular cafe'. We had a great time talking about God & discussing the things each of us were believing Him for in Greece. It was an amazing time of fellowship, coffee and conversation! I am so thankful for all the wonderful people we have met and continue to meet here in Greece!

       

 On June 11, 2011 Athens Greece participated in Global Day of 

Prayer. A small group of us gathered on Mars Hill where Paul 

preached Acts 17. We read the scripture and then prayed for the country, the government, the people of Athens, those who are of Greek heritage & are having a difficult time in this economy, those who came here for a better life but have found that they are homeless, hopeless & without family, and those that have been brought here under false pretense or trafficked. We prayed for unity in the body of Christ here in this country, for the eyes of unbelievers to be opened & for God to move in a mighty way. As we prayed we were joined by others passing by who heard us praying. What a blessing it is to be a part of all that God is doing in Greece!

Last week we took the train to Thessaloniki & met our brothers & sisters from Philadelphia Church. We traveled with them by bus to Sophia Bulgaria to the Joyce Meyer Conference there. What an amazing time we had!! They made us feel like family. Worship at the conference was done by Hillsong and couldn't have been better, the word was wonderful & the place was standing room only. God used a place that once held communist rallies to bring forth His word to over 6,000 people, many who opened their hearts to Jesus that night!

There were people of all denominations,
even Orthodox Priests. I couldn't believe
the unity that I saw in the body of Christ
there. I pray that this unity spreads
throughout all of Europe. There were
people from many generations, hungry
for the word of God, writing down
each & every word Joyce spoke! It was
such a blessing to be able to go & see
that God is truly moving throughout
Europe! I believe Greece is next!!

I witnessed hundreds of people give their lives to Christ that night as He poured out His presence in that place! They told Joyce Meyer Ministries it couldn't be done......but what's impossible with man is POSSIBLE with God!!!

Although we have been very busy this last month God has continued to be faithful & He constantly reminds me that I need to stay close to Him. I don't take my time alone with God for granted,  know I can't survive without! The reason I am in Greece is not about me. It's about lifting up the name of Jesus! For if He is lifted high He will draw all men unto himself.

Thank you so much to each of you who support me through prayer &/or financial giving. Both are needed. This is a place of much spiritual warfare as the enemy knows his time is short. It is also a place that is very expensive to live, especially in the bad economic crisis Greece continues to be in.  I continue to reach out for financial as well as prayer partners in this mission and ask that you prayerfully consider partnering with me. I continue to keep you all in prayer & if you have any special prayer request please email me. Thank you again!

Love & Blessings

~Tracy~

Count the Cost/Paying the Price

I got an email today from a dear friend who lives in Cambodia. His email talked about how he had made a mistake and parked his motorbike in a "no parking zone", so to speak. As a result, his bike was taken to the police station, where it must stay for 3 days and he received a fine. The subject of his email read, "I have to pay the price".  In the body of the email he wrote that he wanted to encourage those in his country to obey the laws or they would have to "pay the price". He then went on to ask for help as he was feeling "blue" or down about the incident. He asked for encouragement, prayer, and rides to work & lunch since he wouldn't have his bike for 3 days.

As I began to pray for him I felt like God spoke something to me. Luke 14:25-35 talks about the cost of being a disciple.  If we are to become a disciple of Jesus, we must "count the cost" or be willing to "pay the price". Just like every decision we make in life, there will be consequences or "prices to pay". There will be a price to pay to become His disciple. Jesus paid the "ultimate price" for us, so that we could spend eternity with Him.

God has a plan and purpose for each of our lives, but we must count the cost. Before we marry we must count the cost, before we have children we must count the cost. To move to the mission field I would have to leave my family, my friends, my home, my job, my church, all that I knew as "normal", all that I loved. I needed to count the cost before making that decision.  I thank God for His call on my life and for the wonderful people He has placed in my life to encourage me, counsel me, pray for me, partner with me and strengthen me.  I am also grateful that I have leaders in my life that reminded me that I should count the cost. They didn't want me to jump into this calling without much prayer, counsel and without counting the cost and seriously thinking about it. I am so thankful for each of them.

I am honored and humbled that God wants to use me here in Greece.  I just want to encourage you, God has amazing plans for each of your lives. He wants to use each of you in amazing ways, but it will cost you something..... I believe it will so be worth it all!!!! 

I continue to pray for each of you and asked that you continue to pray for the Celebration Athens Team and Celebration Church Athens.

Ephesians 3:7-8, "By God’s grace and mighty power, I have been given the privilege of serving him by spreading this Good News. Though I am the least deserving of all God’s people, he graciously gave me the privilege of telling the Gentiles about the endless treasures available to them in Christ." 

Love & Blessings,

Tracy

Love & Mercy....God's Goodness!

This past week, God reminded me daily of the Love, Mercy, & Goodness He has for His children & humanity. Regardless of the present situation or circumstance we may find ourselves in. As I reflect on the divine appointments I encountered this week and each of these gifts He gives us, I am in awe of our Father's love, and so Thankful.  His love is unconditional, regardless of our qualities or our actions. He is merciful & compassionate toward us.  And His goodness toward us is His overflowing love, compassion & desire for us. It is so undeserved, yet freely given. 

My week started out meeting a beautiful woman of God that needed prayer for herself, her children & her husband. She had such a sweet spirit and God just wanted her to realize how much he loved her and believed in her. He wanted her to understand that she was the apple of His eye. After praying with her, we decided to meet for coffee during the week. When we met up, she had invited another friend and her children. We had our first women's small group! It was a wonderful time of encouragement, sharing the word & prayer. I can't wait until we meet up again!

The next divine appointment I want to share, was on the metro. I was riding to meet a friend when a man on a scooter (electric chair) got on. Everyone around him moved away, as though they were afraid they'd catch something.......then they just stared at him, some even pointed. I was told by a Pastor that many people believe people with disabilities are "bad luck." My heart was breaking for this man. Then God said to me, "I love him". I quietly said to God, I know. Then God said to me, "tell him I love him." I suddenly started having an argument in my head with God, "I have to get off at the next metro stop, there isn't time. I don't even know if he speaks english. I don't want him to get the wrong idea....." God just kept saying "tell him I love him." It was so strong...........so I tapped him on the shoulder. He turned to me, very stiff, as if he had severe CP. I leaned to his ear and asked him, "Do you understand english?" He nodded "yes". I then said, "God wants me to tell you that He loves you." You would not believe the look on his face. His eyes got real big, and filled with tears. He then asked me as best he could "why?" I said to him, "God just wants you to know, He loves you." As the man got this huge smile on his face & was still cryinging, I put my hand on his shoulder & quietly prayed for him. It was the most wonderful experience.......then the metro doors opened and I stepped off.  I don't know what was going on in this man's life, but I do know that God loves him and he NEEDED to know that!

The last experience I want to share is from a church service that I attended for drug addicts. It was on the roof top of a building where the pastor has been ministering for years to the addicts on the streets of Athens. There were probably 50 people at the service. There was a worship band, the word of God was preached and the people were fed. Many of the people who were there were high and/or drunk.....but God's love & word, is no respecter of persons. God's love meets people where they are. His word is "alive and powerful. It is sharper than the sharpest two-edged sword, cutting between soul and spirit, between joint and marrow. It exposes our innermost thoughts and desires." Heb 4:12  The people at this service were being given the love of God and His word was going forth. Many of their lives were forever changed! It was a blessing to see men that a few weeks ago were on the streets on drugs now sitting in a church service sober, with their hands raised giving God glory & honor & praise for the things He has done!

God doesn't care where we are. He will meet us there. Whether we live on the streets in a cardboard box or in a mansion on a hill. He doesn't care that we are not perfect, that we have made numerous mistakes. He doesn't care if we have no money or if we are millionaires. He loves us and he wants us to know that. 

As Christians, the body of Christ, we must pursue a revelation of God's love. We must love Him back with all our heart, our soul, our mind & our strength so that from the overflow of this love, we can love those that he brings across our path. Those that the world sees as lovable & those that the world sees as unlovable. We must love them the way He loves them, unconditionally. We are His hands and feet! Opportunities are all around us daily. Don't miss the chance to shine His light and share His love with those around you today!

"O give thanks to the Lord, for He is good; for His mercy and loving-kindness endure forever!" Ps 107:1

Hosting A Team-Sharing His Love

We just got done hosting our first mission team to Celebration Athens! Although when the week was over I was exhausted, it was a wonderful feeling. To serve along side this great group of missionaries from Celebration Church Jacksonville was an honor. They touched many lives in their week here, with the unconditional love of Jesus. 

Their first night in Athens the team had a traditional Greek home cooked meal prepared with love by our friends & family in Christ, Dimitris & Sophia. The food was amazing and the fellowship was even better!

After a good night sleep we started Friday morning hearing from Phil who runs A21 in Greece. He shared with us some staggering statistics, also how A21 is fighting human trafficking right now, some of their plans for the future and then some wonderful stories of women who had been rescued, nurtured with the love of Jesus & given hope & a new life! It is so exciting to be partnering with such an amazing organization that is bringing awareness to trafficking and helping to abolish this slavery in the 21st century!

Friday evening we all went out to dinner in Agia Paraskevi. It was a divine appointment! There was a rave party going on in the square with many young people drinking and doing drugs. We were able to hang out, talk to people & pray throughout the square.

Saturday we served at Helping Hands all day. This is a ministry that loves on & helps care for, the refugees in the city of Athens, most who live on the streets. They are from many countries, Iran, Afghanistan, Northern Africa, just to name a few and here at Helping Hands they are loved, encouraged and given hope. We spent time doing crafts with the children, serving tea to the men & women, playing checkers & chess with the teens & adults and talking with them, listening to their stories, many which were heartbreaking. God opened the door for a couple of team members to be able to share their testimony with the refugees and that was a blessing!

Sunday we went to a church where Pastor Darren preached a great message on believing. Sunday evening we went to Hellenic Ministries young adult worship service. It was a great service. The worship, which was in both Greek & English, was amazing & the presence of God was tangible. Jonathan(from H M) gave a great word & we met many new friends, including a ywam team from England. 

On Monday we served at the Greek Bible Institute clearing tree branches from the fence line, washing windows, & other outdoor jobs. Then on Monday night we served food at Hellenic Ministries "Love Meals" to 100's of refugees who would otherwise not have a meal. Hellenic Ministries touches so many lives here in Greece, especially the refugee population. Please keep all of these men & women in your prayers.

                                                      

Tuesday morning we went to chapel service with the students here at the bible college. We participated in worship & then the students shared about what God did over the Easter holiday. Then the mission team shared a little with the students about themselves. We then had coffee & fellowship before heading out to Pastor Darren & Katie's new home to serve them. We cleaned their new home, clean up the street, trimmed the trees & shrubs & then we all prayed through their house. I'm so excited for them to get settled in & make it their own!           



On Wednesday morning we went on a prayer walk with Nea Zoi through the streets of Athens in and around the brothels. Nea Zoi is an organization that ministers to prostitutes (men & women), offering care, information, alternatives for their lives, as well as emotional support. A place where they can find restoration and new life if they want it. We witnessed first hand girls working the streets and men that were there to purchase services. Please pray that God changes the hearts of these men and breaks this cycle that is so natural and accepted in this culture.

Wednesday afternoon we did some site seeing, because early Thursday morning the team would be leaving. We visited the Acropolis and the Acropolis Museum as well as many shops so the team could purchase souvenirs.

It was an amazing week spent with a great group of people both from our Celebration Team and from the other ministries we served with. I feel blessed and honored to serve along side each and every one of them sharing the love of Jesus with those who are hurting, hopeless, and lost.  Isaiah 58:10 says, "If you extend your soul to the hungry and satisfy the afflicted soul, then your light shall dawn in the darkness, and your darkness shall be as the noonday." To extend one's soul is to help another person, heart to heart. No distance, no differences, just one human being reaching out and touching another with love. The breach is repaired, bridges are built, trust is gained and hearts are restored. Then God's light is shown and darkness flees. I believe this is what will make a difference in Greece and around the world. Meeting people where they are, heart to heart, shining the light of His love. Please continue to pray for the Celebration Athens team and the country of Greece and we will continue to pray for you. 

Love & Blessings,

Tracy

My Big Greek Easter

Holy week & Easter were celebrated all over Greece recently & I was blessed to experience it in person by being right in the middle of it all, here in Athens. The Orthodox Easter is the country's most important "religious" holiday. The traditions bring family, friends, & generations together for the most sacred & celebrated of all holidays in Greece. Their festivities start with a 40day fast, culminating with Holy week which starts on Palm Sunday. On Holy Thursday, traditionally the special red eggs, which symbolize the blood of Christ & renewal of life, are colored. Good Friday or Great Friday, is the most sacred day of Holy week here, & is considered a day of mourning. All flags on government buildings are set at half mast to mark the mournful day. Women & children go to church to decorate the "Epitaph/Bier of Christ" or tomb of Christ, with flowers. The morning of Good Friday Jesus burial is reenacted at the church & in the evening the "Procession of the Epitaphios of Christ" takes place. The decorated coffin is carried through the streets by the faithful dressed in mourning clothes weeping. This takes place in every city & village throughout Greece. On Easter Saturday morning preparations start for the festive dinner of "the night of Resurrection". Just before midnight, people gather in the churches & squares in the city, holding white candles which will be lit with the "Holy Light", which is believed to be brought from the Church of the Holy Sepluchre in Jerusalem. It is distributed by the priest to all in attendance. At midnight the church bells ring & the Priests announce "Christos Anesti!"...Christ is Risen! Everyone in the crowd responds "Alithós Anésti"....Truly He is risen! The people then leave the churches & squares to gather in the homes of family & friends. The candles they carry are placed in each home & burn throughout the night symbolizing the "Light" returned to the world. The celebration continues with the cracking of the red eggs, which is meant to symbolize Christ breaking from the tomb. They also partake in the resurrection table meal where traditional foods are served with celebrating into the night & early Easter Sunday morning.

On Easter Sunday the Easter table is prepared and the festivities continue. The Easter meal is truly a feast with the traditional main dish being lamb, served in honor of the Lamb of God who was sacrificed and rose again. A whole spiced lamb is roasted over a charcoal fire & is the most traditional of Greek Easter foods. The Easter Sunday celebration lasts through the day while visits are made to family & friends & the feast is shared with every guest. (below is a picture of our Easter lamb!)

Sophia & Dimitris, our good friends here in Athens & brother and sister in Christ, took us to the market to show us how they pick out the lamb & then we were invited to their family's home to share Easter Sunday dinner with them, celebrate our Risen Savior & fellowship.  The meal was absolutely delicious! We experienced all of the Greek Easter Holiday down to the lovely dinner with family & friends. I am so grateful to have been able to experience what many only read about. My prayer is that the people of Greece would not only celebrate the Risen Savior during the traditional Easter/Holy holiday, but that God would, by His Spirit, pour out a spirit of wisdom, understanding & revelation in the knowledge of Jesus here in Greece. And that His light would shine in Athens & throughout Greece, so that people's hearts here would comprehend His love & longing for a relationship with them & be forever changed. Please continue to be in agreement in prayer for the people of Athens & of Greece. That they would experience the risen Jesus in a real, tangible & personal way that would bring hope, joy & freedom to their lives. 

   Christos Anesti!
 Love & Blessings, 

~Tracy~