Hill Family

After several flights, the team arrived on Lesvos Island in Greece. We settled in and went shopping for the week. 

This morning we gathered at the Euro Relief office to hear about the organization and it's work at the refugee camp on Lesvos Island. We then went to tour the camp and learn about the different practical services Euro Relief offers. 

This evening we had the opportunity to share a meal and worship with other volunteers from all over the world. It was amazing to hear stories of God working in the lives of so many fellow believers. We had a chance to pray for one another and talk about all that God is doing in our lives and those we have the opportunity to minister to. 

Today half of the team went to volunteer at the refugee camp on Lesvos Island. This camp is run by UNHCR and Euro Relief volunteers as well as other NGOs. The team helped with distribution of essential items and served food to the refugees. Others on the team helped with maintenance and education.

Today half of our team got the opportunity to work at the Euro Relief Warehouse. 

We learned all about their computerized inventory system and learned how to use the QR codes to log boxes of clothing into the database. 

We were led by Annarenske who is from the Netherlands and a volunteer at Euro Relief. 

Everybody worked hard to sort clothes and other items and we accomplished a lot and also had a lot of fun.

This morning, the team shopped at Jumbo to buy things to bless the Peace House and Euro Relief ministries. Shopping at Jumbo is certainly a unique experience! 

The team had the opportunity to work along side local ministry leaders and volunteers from the refuge camp to prepare an Afghan meal named Kabuli Pulao as well as a local Greek dessert. 

We all enjoyed the Afghan meal Kabuli Pulao. We also had some homemade tzaziki sauce and bugatsa dessert. 

Today was a very special day. 

We heard stories of people's lives from other countries and the horrific trials they went through on their refugee journeys. Many did not think they would live through it. The loss they experienced was unimaginable. Yet we were able to listen, offer a space of peace, acceptance and love. We were told that just listening and being there meant the world to these new friends of ours. God was at work today in our team that traveled from the comforts of our US suburban homes to come and bring encouragement to people who have been through a lot. 

The refuge camp has a skills learning center where the people can learn handy work skills. Today a few of the guys from our team served in this area teaching young men and children carpentry skills and bicycle repair. We were also asked to help build a new table for one of the food lines. We had an older Arabic speaking gentleman who helped with the fine details. 

Those who went to camp prior had the opportunity to volunteer at the Euro Relief warehouse. We sorted lots of clothes, boxed and labeled the clothes we sorted, organized and wrapped boxes on pallets and pulled supplies for a distribution of cleaning supplies. 

On the way to Molyvos where the Syrian Crisis began in 2015, we stopped to take a short hike to a waterfall where some of the team enjoyed a quick swim.

The spectacular views from and around Molyvos and on the way home gave us all time to reflect on what we saw at the refugee camp and what we did. Some are contemplating what God wants from their lives either to come back to Lesvos Island or serve others with similar stories where they live.