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