Category: Short Term Missions

It’s hard to believe this was our last day on Lesvos! We woke up for our last sunrise and said goodbye to our Greek bakery friends. We shared with them how each year our church prayerfully puts together a new team to send to Lesvos to serve Jesus and the refugees on the island.   We packed up and spent our day in Mytilene, where we walked around and toured the Castle of Mytilene. If you are interested, here’s information about this ancient site! https://www.visitlesvos.gr/en/pois/the-mytilini-castle/ After flying into Athens in the evening, we checked into our hotel and spent time debriefing as a team. We also had the opportunity to visit with Calvary supported missionaries, Sean and Liz Thelen, and played a card game together.   Next is heading home! Thank you for your prayers and support! Romans 10:13-15 “Everyone who calls on the name of the Lord will be saved.”…

The past two days have been great, here in Lesvos. Each morning, we met for sunrise where we worshipped God’s faithfulness. The beauty of the sun popping up over the Turkish mountains is awesome! We packed our lunches and met for breakfast and some verses and prayer from Amy. Next, we headed to All4Aid where we had devotions as a team and received our assignments. Both work days were productive. The team started working together like a well-oiled machine, now that we each had experienced working in the various different areas.     These two brought so much joy, vitality and fun to our team and the women we served. They stayed up extra (working on more bead kits) while the rest of the older ladies took some rest. In the evenings on both days, we met for delicious Greek food, fellowship and devotions. We also got to visit and…

Learn to do right; seek justice. Defend the oppressed. Take up the cause of the fatherless; plead the case of the widow. Isaiah 1:17 As a team we are obeying God’s command to defend the oppressed by washing and massaging feet, supporting the All4Aid team by picking up needed grocery items for the hospitality area, organizing the donated clothes closet, scrubbing showers, folding and hanging towels, braiding hair, bathing babies and making crafts as women pass the time while their laundry is washed or they await their appointment to visit the food pantry. – Pray that for those refugee women who are seeking to receive the truth, that Jesus would appear to them in a dream or vision. – Please pray that our team would continue to lean on God

This morning’s devotion was from Ephesions 3. We were reminded to put on the full armor of God. We completed our second work day at the All4Aid center. Today we added a clothing store to the list of offerings at the center during our visit. Women are given a limited number of tickets to use at their appointment to choose what they need. The clothing store is stocked with used clothing donations from local charities, and new bras and underwear which had been collected from Calvary’s Tuesday morning ladies’ bible study. In total, they donated 700 items, and money for us to purchase a few hundred more. What a blessing! The spa room is a place to relax and get some much-needed pampering: Pretty nails: Cleaning  showers: Towards the end of the work day, most refugees had left and the team was transitioning to cleanup mode. It had been a…

What better way to start our first day of work than to watch the sunrise together as a team! We were reminded by the view of the clouds the way that Jesus will return – “To heal every hurt and right every wrong” (song: Come Jesus Come, by CeCe Winans) We know this week will be a challenge, but our hearts are ready and willing to do what the Lord asks of us.   At the All4Aid Center, our team met the staff and volunteers, received a tour of the space, was trained on the process of each station, and had our jobs assigned. Very soon, the first few women came for the food bank and to do laundry. We each were blessed to interact with the women and children during the day. We were surprised how young some of them are! A few of us were cleaning showers between…

After a fabulous night’s sleep, we met this morning for breakfast at an amazing Greek pastry shop: We were grateful to get the opportunity to worship our great God in a multicultural church. We sang hymns, heard a sermon in English (interpreted to Greek), and met our brothers and sisters from various cultures and countries. How amazing it is to worship with His Body on the other side of the world! We visited a seaside village and dined by the harbor. Our two youngest team members tried their first shrimp. We witnessed amazing views traveling to and walking in the village. In the evening, we met for a devotional and prepared the craft for tomorrow’s serving day at the All4Aid center. Please pray for us on our first day of work (Monday) at the All4Aid center. – That we would be a blessing to the local workers at All4Aid. –…

“One two three, say Mytilene!” Says Kent, as he takes our group picture. Our team met up at 5am on Friday morning at Grand Rapids airport and spent some time in prayer before bag check and security.                 After a quick flight to New Jersey, our team had a few hours before our next flight to Athens. We had food together and some of us spent this time walking laps around the terminal… wait up, Cathy! Deepest gratitude for your prayers! Our team had a joyful start to our trip. Flights were on-time, and we made it to our destination! (As did all of our luggage!!!) We are blessed to take about 6 suitcases of supplies, including donations from Calvary’s Tuesday morning women’s bible study, and Mary Kay beauty items. Pray: – That the items would be a blessing to the women who…