Category: 2025, Lesvos

We made it back home Monday night after a few flight delays and cancellations. Still, God in His unwavering faithfulness carried our team through it all; from encouraging and lifting one another up, to sharing that rejection is His divine protection with an American Airlines customer service employee who was eager to help reroute our flights to Michigan. Please continue to pray for the work of All4aid as they minister and serve the refugee families and individuals on Lesvos. Please pray for our local Greek friends who saw and tasted God’s goodness through Calvary’s teams. Please pray for Elipida, Vasoil, Zanthye, Mirsini, Dimitris and Michela to accept Jesus personally and seek His will in their lives. May they feel His Love and comfort in their lives. Please pray for the refugee families on Lesvos, May they see Jesus and meet the Prince of Peace on their journey, may they be…

“For I was hungry and you gave me something to eat, I was thirsty and you gave me something to drink, I was a stranger and you invited me in, I needed clothes and you clothed me,” – Matthew 25:35-36a This past week we have been living out these words. It has been a week of both joy and sorrow, laughter and tears, peace and anxiety, and through it all we have seen God at work! Many women came to the food pantry on Monday, Wednesday, and Friday, leaving with food for themselves and their families. Every woman and child who came into the center was welcomed with tea and cookies in our hospitality room. Countless stories and hugs were shared here. We were able to give many women their very first winter coat! Today, we also provided some who had just arrived on Lesvos with their first change of…

We started today at the waterfront with worship music and prayer. The Lord provided a beautiful sunrise! We shared the space with a local fisherman, who made us smile (we think we made him smile too!). Today in the hospitality room, Mary, Rachel, Nema, Cathy and Lana met women and children with smiles and warm greetings. While their laundry is being cleaned by Vasil, who works daily at the center, the ladies can take a shower, have their hair done, be pampered in the spa room, do crafts, play games and enjoy tea and cookies. We’re praising the Lord that a mom and her young daughter are leaving the camp tomorrow to be with family in Belgium! The food pantry was open today. Cheryl and Carol met the ladies there, helping them with their shopping. They also repackaged tea, stocked shelves, and sorted clothing donations. After finishing at the center…

What a day! We saw over 60 refugees , and it was busy all over the center from start to finish. The clothes closet was constantly in use with our guests picking out warm clothes and coats to weather the impending cold temperatures of Lesvos. Carol and Rachel were on their feet all day making sure everyone was well taken care of. The spa saw a record number of feet massaged by Cheryl and Nema along with huge smiles and multiple ‘thanks you’s” from each woman. But the picture that sticks in my mind is that of the hospitality room full of women enjoying tea and conversation as Mary held a baby so the mom could take a shower, and Lana manning the showers so every woman could have a warm clean shower. We ended our day by stretching our hands out in prayer over the existing camp, and then…

We started our day listening to worship music while waiting for the sunrise. After getting ready and packing our lunches, we made our way to the All4Aid Center for a tour and training before beginning our assignments. Lana and Carol spent their morning in the spa, tenderly caring for the women who came through and praying with them. Cathy served in hospitality, joyfully welcoming women as they arrived. Mary and Nema organized and restocked the food pantry, assisting several women along the way. Rachel and Cheryl counted and sorted the many donations of underwear, bras, and socks we brought to help fill the clothes closet. We all had different roles but together we served the Lord by serving His people. What a privilege to offer love, prayer, and presence to these women who have endured so much! After enjoying dinner from a local restaurant and sharing our evening devotion together,…

Fully rested, we enjoyed the beautiful view of the Harbor, with delicious traditional pastries and coffees. Then we were blessed to attend the one small but vibrant evangelical church on the island.  Our worship was so encouraging  to hear singing in multiple languages hymns and praises to God our father and our Lord Jesus Christ with one voice.  And with this same family of God, we shared the Lord’s supper in communion, heard a testimony from a young congregant and prayer over a dear church member that was leaving for a new home in Athens.  What a sweet morning of prayer, worship and hearing God’s word with these brothers and sisters! Our afternoon included a drive, and a little hiking too, of Mount Olympus.  The views were breathtaking! We ended our night with fellowship and preparation for our first day at the All4Aid center.  We are rested and ready to…

We began our trip surrounded in prayer by friends, family, and mission leaders at the airport.   From Grand Rapids, we flew to Philadelphia, where a four hour layover gave us a chance to enjoy lunch together, stretch our legs, and laugh our way through a few laps around the terminal while trying to find our gate. The long flight from Philadelphia to Athens was smooth, and our fearless leader Cathy got off well rested! After landing in Athens, we had a short flight to Mytilene and were warmly welcomed by Lana, Marv, Dawn, and Christian! Praise the Lord all of our luggage made it, too! (A special thanks to Cheryl, who realized just in time that we needed to recheck our bags in Athens!) Once on the island, we grabbed a few groceries, checked into our rooms, and ended the day with a wonderful dinner out! It was a…

Last Sunday, our team experienced an incredible moment of encouragement and blessing as we were anointed with oil and prayed over by our church elders, friends, and family.             Today, we are overwhelmed by the generosity of the Tuesday Morning Women’s Bible Study participants. Together, we collected hundreds of bras, underwear, and scarves for the refugee women of Lesvos. These simple items will meet real needs and remind each woman that she is seen, valued, and loved.              Every donation, prayer, and word of encouragement is part of this mission, and we couldn’t do it without our amazing supporters! Please continue to pray for our team as we prepare to leave on Friday, the 31st.