Garbage and Glory.

Brothers and Sisters - -

It has been an absolutely incredible week! We just got back from Volos (we're all really tired since we got 3 hours of sleep last night and took the 6 am train). First of all, Volos was maybe the most beautiful place I have ever seen. Mountains and beaches and sunshine, and...lots and lots of trash. Which provides an amazing opportunity for the outreach of the Evangelical Church in Volos (the second oldest church in Greece!). It is a very small congregation led by a pastor named Melethes, who we all really came to love. He and his family were so gracious to us and allowed us girls to stay in the basement of the church building. He has been leading teams to clean up treash off the streets and beaches of Volos for about 15 years now, faithfully and consistently. On the first morning of trash clean-up, the seven of us on the team showed up in our awesome matching hats and t-shirts haha, and expected him to direct us to the first stretch of highway only to find that he was decked out in the trash attire as well, and served right alongside us in the intense heat and filthy garbage every single day. This ministry is brilliant because, for one thing, it really doesn't require any funds to start it up, and is also an open door for connection with the Volos community, playing into the popular ideal of a cleaner environment while being able to serve in ways that are literally shocking to the citizens of Greece. Volunteerism itself is for the most part unheard of in this country; people picking up other people's trash is absurd. This sparks curiosity and allows for a) conversations about the Lord that are initiated by Greeks, and therefore they aren't hostile and defensive, and b) allows the Evangelical Church to be viewed in a positive and serving light rather than as heretics, as in the past.

The days really were hot and the work was hard but, covered in sweat and dirt, I loved not feeling like a tourist. One of the things I feared would be a weakness for us was the fact that we were American, and viewed as such, but this actually proved to be a strength, because it aroused even more curiosity. One day even the assistant mayor took notice and invited us to dinner with him and the mayor, were we were able to meet them and also be interviewed and filmed for the Volos news and getting a chance to talk about what we were doing. Melethes got to talk with the mayor, who actually asked him what the difference between Orthodox and Protestant/Evangelical was. This is a huge deal because "to be Greek is to be Orthodox," and any other beliefs are written off as heresies. Last night, sitting across from the mayor and assistant mayor at dinner, was crazy. The whole thing was a little too spotlighted and glamorized for what we intended but, regardless, doors were opened and relationships were formed and questions were asked. Praise the Lord.

On Wednesday night, at church, I met three different refugees - one from Iran, one from Nigeria, and one from Albania. Conversations with them were awesome, especially the one from Nigeria, Frank, who has only been in Greece for three months. I was absolutely captivated by his story. Me and Caroline sat in the church and spoke with and prayed over him long after the service was over. He fled Nigeria alone because of the violence going on there, and when he left, he didn't even know where his brother and sister were because everyone had to flee and fend for themselves. Since being in Greece, he's been able to finally contact them and knows they are alive but, obviousy, misses them deeply and wants more for them all. He can't find a job in Greece yet because he doesn't know Greek and it's required (he's trying to learn it now). He asks us to pray for "knowledge and wisdom" - please pray for easy transition into Greek culture and the ability to learn the language quickly. He is a believer - please pray the Lord would overwhelm him with His presence right now.

I loved the rhythm of life this week, although it felt really lavish and undeserved most of the time. We would wake up early and work really hard picking up trash straight through the morning, until the sun was too intense, and then would jump straight into the ocean and swim for an hour. It was amazing. Then we would either walk or run back to the church to dry off, and have lunch in the church basement kitchen, and in Volos they have siesta time in the afternoon, so we could take naps or read - and then at night there was always something amazing going on (church, dinner with the mayor, hanging out on the roof with Melethes and his family and getting to hear about the church in Volos - its triumphs and struggles). The whole week was just incredible, and I wish each of you could have experienced it with me.

Sorry, this is a novel now. I tried to keep it short, I promise. Might not be able to write for awhile because we'll be busy this week and will be at Kalamos all next week with no internet access but I'll see what I can do! Please pray for tomorrow - one of the Nigerian prostitutes from the New Life ministry is planning to come to church with us tomorrow and then lunch and is planning to go to Kalamos camp with us for the evening, where we are putting on a program for the kids there and sharing testimonies/singing, etc. Thanks!

from my journal, July 9, 2009-
"As Melethes pointed out today, 'The mountains show the glory of God; the trash shows our sin.' It was true. The mountains and beaches and ocean here are absolutely breathtaking - one of the most beautiful places I have ever seen in my life. And we completely cover it with filth. It's a constant process - this trash-cleaning business, because it continues to appear. The refining, sanctification process is a never-ending on here on this earth. We carelessly strew about souveniers of sin and twist God's gifts into gods themselves, while saying to Him, "You're not enough." He offers His beauty, in a small portion nearly too large for us to handle, and we explain it away, using words and measurements we configured within our finite minds. We busy ourselves in our narcissistic worlds, praising out own accomplishments in successes and grumbling against Him in times of difficulty or even petty discomfort. Despite the piles of litter, the mountain stands in patience. Untainted, undeluded - making the garbage appear out-of-place and profane, silently stating, "I was here first." Unflinching and unaffected by man's best efforts to detract from its glory. He stands alone. He doesn't need me but He wants me. He faithfully helps me clean the trash - for my good and for His Glory. To bring Beauty to the surface - His Beauty, pure and infinite. One day we will know perfection. Until then, we pick up trash."

2 Corinthians 3:18 "And we, who with unveiled faces all reflect the Lord's glory, are being transformed into his likeness with ever-increasing glory, which comes from the Lord, who is the Spirit."