Serving the city of Athens

Sharon Williams, Bill MacMillan, and Lorraine MacMillan, all members of Victoria Alliance Church, were part of the “Gleanings for The Hungry” YWAM base team from December 27th -January 21st, 2017. They joined over 300 YWAM members that arrived in Athens to bless the city and bring the message of salvation. Based for this mission out of The Apostolic Church of Christ, a Foursquare Church, Bill, Loraine, and Sharon share a few details from their experience on this short-term mission.

Bill’s Thoughts

I was responsible for the security of the church and overseeing others that assisted. Everyone had to be identified as they entered a side door. Greeting the many coming and going every day meant I got to know a lot of them. Most of the people were Discipleship Training Students (DTS) from many different YWAM Bases throughout North America. A lot of the bases had international folks. Most were young adults with a lot of energy and a zeal for their mission of evangelism. There was a lot of talent to share, such as the many who helped lead worship. I met a Kenyan DTS member and a Nigerian who worshiped in this church. I also met an Iranian refugee Christian, who volunteered as a translator, and was pleased to introduce him to the owner of a restaurant who was also a Christian Iranian Pastor. I also connected him to the Nigerian who was eager to get together with him. One morning, at our worship time, I was asked to pray for the YWAM congregation and on another day, the Iranian refugee Christian asked to pray for me. Prayer was a big focus. During my time in Greece, I believe I was given a better understanding of the refugee situation.  I was also impressed by the energy and zeal of the DTS students to evangelize.

Sharon’s Thoughts

On a typical morning, we walked to the church to enter in to a wonderful worship hour.  We were then given our assignments for out there in Athens. This could mean sorting clothes at the Salvation Army Warehouse, evangelism events, planning our games, music, art for refugee children where we would be later in the afternoon, helping with English classes, giving medical care at a camp, sorting medical supplies, or remaining in the church for more intercession and worship. There was a very practical side to our time among the refugees. Electrical, plumbing, carpentry, painting, and the construction of a rooftop garden – all gave a lift to the folks and facilities at that center. Everyday was different and special because we knew we were there to serve the people groups from many nations.

Evangelism events

These events were held at the Hellenic Centre (missionary society) with men from the centre making the dinner. At the Saturday event, when the three of us attended, there were healings, words of knowledge and prophecy for some. Five accepted the Lord's grace and Lordship. At the end, the atmosphere was one of joy and lots of smiles. Even young people were dancing on the stage.

Testimonies from those that received Christ said they see something different, such joy and peace from those witnessing to them. One new believer came the next morning to our worship time at the beginning of the day.

Encouragements

We saw God moving when reports came in about encounters people had sharing the gospel.  For us, we believe it was God answering prayer when our medical bags, all four of them, were allowed to be checked free of airline baggage fees. Other times of encouragement were when we prayed for healings and backs were freed of pain, feet healed, deaf ears opened and visions of Jesus experienced. Oh the joy and faith that was built up! Men coming to Christ upon experiencing God in friendship and in hearing God’s provision of hope, freedom and mercies.

Lorraine’s Thoughts

The medical team consisted of nurses, a nurse practitioner and a doctor (there for a week). The refugee camps we visited were called squats and were located in abandoned buildings in Athens. One squat was for women and children, one for men, and two for families.

The squats were crowded, dark, smoky, with no hot water and few facilities. At the family squat there was only one working shower. Many ladies had hair that was falling out due to the poor conditions. In the men’s rooms some had mattresses, but in the room for women and children they had blankets on the floor and would hang thin blankets with string to give them a small space. In the government run squat, at the airport, the women said there are large heaters in some rooms, but it is very cold. Others are still out back in tents on the tarmac, with snow all around. The men’s squat had cots literally side by side with some blankets strung up to divide the room.

I wondered about schooling for the children. If they are registered, or if they have applied for help and waiting to be processed, they are allowed to go to the Greek schools. Children attending schools seem to be handling life better. A teacher, who teaches English to all ages, rotates between squats.

Refugees in government run camps are given food, as well as a ‘cash’ card to buy food, but they can only use it at specific gov’t contracted stores where prices are extremely high. Squats procure their own food but it is not always distributed evenly.

Some of the squats get medicine, like they do food and some receive donations. If they are registered, or have applied for papers, they have access to free medical care & medicine but they don’t always know that, and are afraid to go, or the clinics are overloaded. Babies are delivered in hospitals but Greece has a very high caesarian rate (over 50%) and the refugees go back to deplorable conditions with a new baby and often an incision to care for.

We saw a lot of upper respiratory infections in the children and mothers, plus other cases such as chicken pox, pregnant women, fungus, infected abscess, etc. Teaching on sanitation, how to cough, wash hands, not smoke in enclosed room with babies and children, etc, was part of the care given.

When you hear the refugees stories and frustrations, see the way they live, you can’t help but have a new compassion and understanding of their plight. They are constantly
on my heart and in my prayers. I have come home with more commitment to more prayer and to stay praying for needs I am aware of. 

Every little detail

All honor and praise goes to our God who accomplished so much on this mission. It was exciting to see the impact on so many people and how He cares about every little detail and how He brings it all together in His time and way. We cannot all go to serve the refugees but God is bringing them to us and we can respond, as He leads.