Missions Newsletter August 2022

Faith and team mates

In May, I had the amazing opportunity to go on a medical mission trip serving refugees in Athens, Greece. The experience was incredible, heartbreaking, and beautiful– it was everything I wasn’t expecting and more. Going into the trip, I was very self-conscious of “saying the right thing” so that others may see the light of Christ in me (Matt 5:15-16), but the Lord was kind to remind me of His sovereignty.

As a nurse, I was looking forward to serving in the medical clinics and was very hesitant to do park ministry because I was so unfamiliar with it. Park ministry included walking around parks and talking with refugees and their families, listening to their stories, hearing about their faith, and eventually sharing the Gospel, and praying with them. On the last day of serving, my team of three, plus our translator, met a single mom from Iran. Earlier that morning, she found out that the Greek government had denied her asylum, which meant no more access to food stamps or allowance to care for her or her three children. She came to the park earlier than usual that day because she expressed she felt that she had no hope left. My team and I shared about the hope we have in Jesus and she told us that she could see that hope and joy on our faces and in our conversation. She told us that she believes God destined for us to meet and she knew she wanted the same hope in Christ, so she accepted Jesus in her heart that day! It wasn’t anything specific that my team said or did, but she could see the light of Christ in us and wanted in on the promise of Heaven. Praise God for His power and perfect timing!

Looking back on this trip, I learned that as long as I allowed the Holy Spirit to speak through me, it didn’t matter what I said or did because the Lord was clearly working everything out for His name and His glory.