IT Russia in Athens

Here is an expert from a response I am writing to my experiences the last few weeks in Greece. Also, the photo is my attempt at an artistic response. Feedback is always appreciated. Leave a comment, or send me a note chrismwarren@gmail.com.

Overwhelmed?

How do I begin to describe the way I was feeling as the two '‘guards' we had upset was yelling at Jennifer and ignoring me? One of these pimps was extremely upset and was looking for a reason to physically get rid of us. I couldn't understand a word of the Greek, and yet, we had prayed for protection, and I felt a peace that I can'’t fully explain. Just as I thought things might get really dangerous, the other pimp simply asked us guys to stand at the end of the block while the girls continued, and he calmed his friend down.

Welcome to Felis Street in downtown Athens Greece. Bare white light bulbs serve to distinguish regular apartments from those that are used as legal brothels. Dozens of men mill in and out of the doorways in the following 15 minutes. Some are clients who are done with their transactions, some are window shopping, and some are looking for the shortest line. The street is really busy for a Monday night. I count 11 white lights, and 15 doorways that these men are coming and going from as I observe from my vantage point at the corner near a gas station that is closed.

Download the above image as your wallpaper (1024x768) from Flickr.

There are a few other photos up at IT Russia's Flickr page as well.

**This post was orginally taken directly from Chris Warren's blog and reposted here.**

Read these things with your heart, and listen to the changes that come from opened eyes...


Natasha Simonova...

"The thing that left the biggest impression on me was when the teams would get together before opening the refugee center and pray. It was amazing and overwhelming that everyone would pray in their own language - Turkish, Albanian, Farsi, Russian, English, Greek, Arabic...and it was beautiful. No one had to understand, but it was with one spirit and with one vision. We were one team and one group, and could call on the Lord together,

It reminded me of the verse...

"and every tongue confess that Jesus Christ is Lord, to the glory of God the Father." Philippians 2:11

How amazing to participate in something like that."

Natasha Kazimirova...

"My life would be different if several things had not happened during our trip. First the prayer walk that first day with Lost Coin ministry. Then the conversation that I had with the prostitute from Latvia, and the expression in her eyes will stay with me for a long time. Another thing that stuck with me is the conversation in the refugee center about God with a man and his children from Yemen. Also talking with Ukrainian Maria, who had just been robbed and seeing her need being realistically met by those working at the center. The last moment was to see the real and present danger of believing in Jesus, as we saw during our time how one young Kurdish Christian man was in danger of his life because of his faith. These things and others changed my life. I do want to spend my life now talking about those needs that I saw there in Greece. I want to tell others about the needs so that God will send others for a longer time, as there is such a huge need for Russian speakers. We were the witnesses of this need!"

Almira Mosikova...

"I liked it all. Especially working with refugees, and being with them day in and out and seeing how we helped them. Even just pouring tea or playing with their children or washing dishes, that was help. And talking with them it was amazing to me that I could actually share my testimony. I talked with women from Bulgaria, and as they listened they were crying. It was amazing to see how I could be effective. And then returning to Moscow I know that I will continue to call and write Vera, this Bulgarian woman. Also, I was totally overwhelmed by going to minister to those working in brothels. When I was walking toward their brothels, I was trembling as I felt that I would never go there without this ministry. And I felt like I was in the enemy territory, but when I realized that our brothers and sisters were praying with us for this very "fight" then I was able to continue. And I was able to go into their brothels and minister to them with love, and the words of truth. We did not lose time and opportunity. Without that time these girls would never have known that God loves them, and they must and should know.

I was also really touched by the testimony of Albanian and a Russian refugee who met with Christ while in Greece. Their stories were amazing. I now want to be part of the movement to change lives, to minister to refugees so that they too might hear the word of truth. I want to serve them so that they might serve others."

# posted by Stacie @ 21:15 1 comments

Dinner with Makraban

This is the family with the amazing monti! What a welcome from such a gentle spirit. We pray that our words of truth shared will bring everlasting fruit. And that we will meet yet again.

Small Ones

Isn't she a cutie? Who knows what the future holds for this little refugee? But her family is surrounded by the truth, and we hold the hope that she will hear and listen!

Games and laughter

Our Natasha K. managed as usual to get the kids riled up for rejoicing and joy! Without Turkish, Arabic or Farsi she had them singing and doing hand motions to praise songs. And they loved it!

Beauty and joy

Isn't it amazing how without any language there can still be relationship? This young refugee gal was always following Almira around, and seemed encouraged by her presence!

Our guys

Without their participation this trip would have been missing a key element. They were indeed God's men!

Очень хочется поделиться тем, что мы здесь делаем. Сразу всего не опишешь, я постараюсь осветить только сегодняшний день.  Сейчас мы вернулись с обхода публичных  домов. Они находятся на улице красных фонарей. Дома стоят один за другим на протяжении всей улицы. Когда идешь ничего подозрительного невидно, НО     только лампы круглосуточно горят над подъездом, означая, что вас готовы принять.
 Перед обходом мы собрались с командой в офисе и у нас было время для молитвы и прославления. Это очень важная часть служения, потому что совершается духовная война за души , и нам нужно быть во всеоружии,  постоянно ощущать Божье присутствие и защиту. После молитвы и прославления мы разделились на две команды, одна осталась молится, а другая взяла корзины с духовной литературой на греческом,русском, болгарском, албанском и других языках, холодной водой,  кофе и легкой едой, и  отправились на эту улицу.
Надо сказать, что весь путь ты проделываешь в молитвенном состоянии, и когда мы подошли к подъезду, лидер называет,кто пойдет с ней, остальные молятся за все время пока наши не выйдут из дома.Лидер знает в каком доме могут быть русские,в каком гречанки или албанки.В одном из домов я разговаривала с девушкой из Чехословакии, а лидер с мадам ( хозяйка, которая руководит девушкой). Я  спросила  девушку долго ли она здесь работает , она сказала 3 года и очень устала.Все, что я могла ей успеть сказать, это то, что Иисус любит ее. Она грустно улыбнуласть и пошла к клиенту. В другом доме была украинка Тамара, она пришла от клиента в комнату и на ходу, готовясть к другому клиенту говорила: - "А! опять это вы,"- голос у нее был недовольный, - "Да, я все знаю, только мне некогда, и это не то место, чтобы говорить о Боге , извините".- и пряча глаза она вышла в гостинную к клиентам, а мы остались разговаривать с мадам. В такой ситуации ощущаешь себя проигравшей, потому что тебе хотелось ее утешить, помочь обрести себя и рассказать о надежде во Христе.Тогда Господь положил мне на сердце написать ей несколько слов на христианской открытке, и когда у нее будет время она сможет прочитать, и ей не надо смотреть нам в глаза, она сможет подумать и эти слова можно еще и еще раз перечитать, но, вот вопрос,что писать за одну минуту и на очень маленьком пространстве? Я просто начала и написала такие слова:
" Дорогая Тамара, пожалуйста не гоните нас,
мы пришли не осуждать, но взять ваш душевный
груз и взамен дать любовь Иисуса Христа. Он Вам поможет ,
 если вы обратитесь к Нему в молитве. Альмира"
Потом я шла и думала, что надо было написать не это, а что- то другое, переставляла и так и эдак, но потом я подумала,  ведь за нас молились и в офисе и у дома и Дух Святой вел нас в каждом шаге. Мы пришли в офис и прославили Бога, поделились друг с другом как прошла евангелизация и как Господь провел нас.Сегодня мы прошли 10 домов.Хорошо, что у нас была интернациональная команда и мы могли поговорить с  девушками на их родных языках.
И о погоде. У нас жарища. : )

Monti is one of the best kept secrets of Turkmenistan, and the southern republics actually. It is like a larger version of the ravioli, with very thin dough wrapped in twists and turns over a hunk of meat (and I do mean hunk). It is very rare outside of southern republics to taste the ‘real’ recipe, but tonight Natasha Kazimirova and I had the opportunity.

It all came about during crafts on Saturday at Helping Hands. A woman walked in with her 6 month old daughter and told me in halting Russian that her name was Makraban. As we began to chit-chat, she began to open up and tell me her story. The most touching aspect was when she told me the story of how she prayed to have a child, after many years of disappointment. She firmly believed that praying is what brought success. Now Makraban is a Muslim, but she comes to the Christians because she knows that they will help her (based on past experiences as you will see). When she and her husband first arrived in Greece by little boat (which was Russian by the way) from Turkey, they had nothing but the clothes on their backs. Their little boat had been tossed about in the waves, and many of the other boats had capsized. Most people she knew on the trip died trying to get to Greece. She and her husband Zahra survived. They faced countless hardships, and even had to run from crocodiles at one point in the journey!

Yet when they arrived in Greece the only help they could find was at Helping Hands, where they were given clothes and food for the first bit of time. This first help was what keeps Makraban coming back, as she sees that this attitude of helping others is essential to the heart of any believer. She also comes back because of relationships, and the truths that the girls tell her.

All this lead to being invited over for dinner to eat monti and chat in Russian. For as it turns out, Makraban loves the Russian language! She thinks she has forgotten her words, but over dinner it was apparent that her desire to communicate overcame any shortcomings in her language. The dinner in and of itself was amazing, but the conversation around the table lead to some ‘international’ style communication. Makraban spoke Russian to us, which I then translated into English for our Helping Hands staff member Susan Pearson. Then Makraban would translate into Turkish, and then he would translate into Farsi for their visiting girlfriend Zahra. It was quite entertaining.

During pre-monti tea, a question arose about heaven and the way to heaven. Natasha, being a truly gifted evangelist (which is why she was chosen to go to visit actually), pulled out her written explanation and Evangel cube and began to tell the story. It was so natural and intriguing, and lead to a lengthy discussion of other related salvation issues. By the time the dinner was done, it seemed that we had been able to not only leave this family with some Russian chocolate and good memories. We had also left them His truth and encouragement.

The meal was lovely. But what I will never forget, is seeing a rather forlorn refugee who had been robbed of 8 houses, a thriving business and the comfort of family in Turkey laughing out loud at our language antics. Our true goal in accepting this invitation was to provide an opportunity for Helping Hands to continue a relationship with this family. But what was also accomplished was that we were able to be the feet of those who bring good news and just downright laugh-out-loud joy.

Makraban and Karicha her husband might have to leave Greece soon. Their little daughter Rabiya does not have documents in Greece, and will not be able to get them. So they are considering leaving for Italy in the next months. It was humbling to think that after going through so much they were still not able to relax and build a stable life. Yet it was also encouraging to realize that despite the language challenges, our presence was a sign that there is a Higher Power, and that God is involved in their lives. And it was a huge privilege to be a part of that.

And how shall they preach unless they are sent? Just as it is written, "How beautiful are the feet of those who bring glad tidings of good things."

:)

Everyone was busy today, with over 400 refugees filing in and out for pita bread, eggs, peppers, olives and the sweetest tea this side of Alabama. I have to say that I love the pulse and rhythm of this center, with all the various language and people milling around. There is a certain hum, that I like to think comes from people meeting up with the Hope of the World - even if they don't know it.

While I sipped my sweet tea (and dreamed of Starbucks coffee), I was directed to the craft room. Now most of you know that crafts have become my new hobby as that seems to be always what I do in camps. Why I have no idea, as I was never the real lover of glue and crayons. But for whatever it is worth, it is growing on me!

Anyway, so there I sit with my thoughts and a crayon and in walks two twin gals. They smile shyly and sit down to color way across the room. I wave and smile at them and say a big hello. They say nothing. But they do pick up a crayon and begin to draw.

In the course of the next half hour, they miraculously made their way around the long table to my side. One of the girls ran out to show off her drawings, and the other motioned me to begin drawing her a picture. My famous drawings notwithstanding, I of course agreed. And so started our relationship.

Her name is something like Samark, but I couldn't quite get the right spelling. Samark has a twin that is quite a bit shier and doesn't want to play with us. But Samark has a sparkling smile, and seems to always be saying let's do something else. We colored houses, we cut out doors, we drew flowers, and then the fun began.

While all around us other children were shouting and running around the craft room, she was content to stick close to me and laugh. We started with the color pink - "What color is this?" I cautiously asked her. (I forgot to mention that I only speak Russian and English and a bit of French in my dreams, while Samark speaks only Turkmeni. So we really could not understand a single word of each other's conversation. And as it turns out, there is no one in the ministry that speaks Turkmeni - so it was just me and the Spirit's guidance!) She giggles and laughs as she repeats the word slowly - dindaalo. I try to say the word correctly. She bursts into giggles. I try again, but it comes out worse this time. It seemed to me that I was getting a bit better at my pronounciation, but whent the whole room full of children stopped to stare and giggle I knew that my Turkmeni ability was doomed. You know though, I am not worried or frustrated at all by this obvious failure to speak Turkmeni correctly. For my true desire was realized. I wanted to see these refugee children, and this little 8 year old in particular, laugh. I guess that failing to speak their language yet being willing to try was the magic key, as she began to spill out many words all the while holding my hand and giving me hugs.

As the day drew to a close and refugees began to gather their precious food parcels, we continued to play noisely in the corner ring around the rosie, Zdrastyie Mama (for those Russians reading this is the beloved camp game), patty-cake, tickle and any other random thing that came into my head. By this time I seemed to have become her new best friend. And was I thrilled.

The first day I was here I realized that not only have most of these adults lost everything - respect, reputation, status, citizenship, and family among other things - but these children have lost the things held dearest to them as well. They have lost friends, the ability to play, the innocence of childhood and a knowledge that everything will be ok. These children are alone, even as much as their parents are. And they are lost, with no real knowledge of the whys. My heart was overwhelmed by this thought.

And so I decided that my goal would be to get the kids to laugh, if even for a bit.

As Samark was leaving with her twin sister and father, they stopped to say goodbye. He told me that his wife had left him and moved to Germany, and now as a refugee from Iraq he had to figure out a way to provide for his two precious daughters. His eyes were saddened by reality as he watched his daughters hug me and laugh. "Without a mother's love I fear for them," he said. "Thank you."

I have to say that more than anything else I wish that I could be a friend to such girls as these. I wish that I could give them more than just a hug and a game. But I know that if nothing else, I will remember this day. I will remember her smile. I will remember her story, and her sister's story. And I will remember to pray that someday, someone who speaks their language will tell her about the one true Hope.

And then again, maybe I'll just have to learn a little Turkmeni and come back to tell her myself!

То, что я сегодня увидела поразило меня, как Бог утешает странников в Афинах. Это не просто гостеприимный дом, это дом, в который приехали миссионеры- Божьи странники, чтобы помочь тем, кто не имеет своего дома и кто не знает Господа.Мужчины и женщины получают здесь не только еду, одежду, доброе отношение, но самое ценное – молитву за них, и благую весть о Христе.

-Альмира Мосикова


«Удивительно, как я ее понимаю? Должно быть это Бог!»- Эта мысль несколько раз промелькнула у меня в голове, когда я разговаривала с женщиной-беженкой из Болгарии. Как здорово было видеть ее глаза, понять историю о ее трудной жизни, даже не понимая всех слов.Я верю, что это был разговор на языке сердца, для которого нет гранииц. Это было благословением общаться с ней, познакомиться с ее друзьями, поделиться моим свидетельством, Евангелием, обнять ее и ожидать встречи в центре для беженцев в следующий раз. Язык сердца- язык, на котором говорят все!

-Наталья Казимирова

Every time you enter a new situation, every time you visit a new place, every time you encounter a new culture: you enter with assumptions. It is inevitable, you have expectations. When you are living in the moment, you experience reality. Culture shock comes from the clash of your expectations versus the reality you encounter.

Our team did some pre-trip orientation to try and help us cope with this inevitable culture shock. Stacie has been here before, as well as being an experienced and well traveled missionary has extensive resources to draw upon in helping her cope. Peter has also been a missionary for a very long time, but has done so mostly in the former Soviet bloc as well as several other places in the world, He is also well equipped to deal with this initial shock.

Some things are subtle, like adjusting to a wonderful new food like Souvlaki. This is a pita sandwich with meat, lettuce, tomato, and dressing. New meaning for facial expressions, simply raising your eyebrows may tell someone asking you a question ‘no.’ similarly, when beginning your nod for yes, if you tilt your head back first, you are saying no. So, after you drop your chin and repeat the action, you are saying ‘no, yes, no, yes…’ Others are quite pronounced, like pushing past a man who is high on drugs while you snake your way through a crowded immigrant neighborhood market, like I did today. For the most part however, the Greeks have been very warm, and English speakers abound.

Yesterday

Yesterday we met up with Emma from Lost Coin and she graciously lead us on a prayer walk around downtown Athens. She took us to some well known areas some simply for having a large immigrant population, others known for drug dealing as well as using, and still some others for the scores of legal brothels and corners where you will find working girls -even in broad daylight. Before we entered each neighborhood, Emma gave us a bit of info, history, or a few specific names to focus our prayers. A place that really stuck out to me was a hotel that features mostly underage minors. Lost Coin does holistic street ministry in the areas that we walked today. They try to help with girls who are stuck in a deadly cycle of trying to pay off a debt for being brought to Greece, sometimes as high as $80,000. Some girls are coaxed into being brought here only to get here and end up as human sex slaves being trafficked by criminal elements. Oftentimes, Lost Coin may encounter a girl once or twice, only to never see or hear about them again.

The government here in Greece views prostitution as inevitable, so they try to regulate it. They require girls to obtain licenses, and girls found without face penalty fines. If a girl is found without proper identification or visas, they could be deported. Greece is lax in enforcing deportation, and often tells the deportee that they have to leave under their own power. So, the deportees don’t always listen.

There are three main types of places that one may encounter a prostitute… a bar, where she may be peddling drinks in the hopes of securing a few customers for later that night. There are hotels, where the girls will wait out front advertising themselves. And brothels, the brothels are pushing the bar-style prostitutes out of business. The reality is that brothels are simply more efficient in providing customers.

Lost Coin works with any prostitutes they can get in contact with, but the main groups are as follows. Greeks: mostly drawn in by poverty, or married young (16 or younger) and divorced after they became adults. The Greeks are the minority compared to all the other ethnic groups combined. Albanians: A large number of Albanian women are trafficked into Greece with the promise of a better life, sometimes with the criminal going as far as professing love, or even marriage to get them to go to Greece. These Albanians mostly come from villages and are not educated. Once they arrive in Greece, they belong to a ring of traffickers. Nigerians: Similar to Albanians, however, the Nigerian women currently are the fastest growing group of women in Athens. Former Soviet Bloc: Girls from this region may be from Moscow, Ukraine, Moldovia, ect. Some are here on their own accord, and Emma recounted one girl who works to pay for her education. Some are trafficked.

The Lost Coin team has been on vacation for the past month, and this coming week is the re-start of their outreach ministries. The outreaches consist of teams of volunteers who distribute water, snacks, cookies, and coffee along with Christian literature and information about Lost Coin and how to contact them if they want to talk more or have a specific need, like: help being rescued from traffickers. The ideal breakdown of an outreach team is 2 guys and 2 girls. The girls do the actual outreach; make the contact with the women, while the guys are there to cover the outreach in prayer and to provide security for the girls on the team. The guys do not go into brothels, and do not approach the women. Each team will focus on a different neighborhood. On the Monday night outreaches the volunteers all meet at 7:30 for prep, worship, and prayer. By 8:15 they are beginning to make their contacts and usually remain out until about 10:00pm. A contact can be as brief as simply offering water, being refused, and moving on… or for girls that they has established a previous contact with, it may last 15-20 minutes. The teams take notes on girls they make contacts with and after the outreach is over, they meet to debrief and pray for the contacts made and girls encountered. Thursday’s consist of an outreach to transvestite prostitutes and other neighborhoods that aren’t as active until late at night. Thursday night outreach is similar, but starts at 11:00pm, and ends as early as 2:00am.

After our prayer walk, we went to Lost Coins office to talk about the ministry more, and Susan from the Athens Refugee Center met us for our formal onsite orientation. Helping Hands is a non-profit Greek organization that is one in the same as IT/Athens. We will be working in the refugee center this week helping with their tea room times, where refugees can come and have a hot cup of tea, and are offered a sack of food. The ARC hopes to be a full service stop on this exit ramp of the refugee highway. They are involved with refugees in many ways ranging from the tea house, to clothing giveaways, English and Greek classes, shower ministries, and even formal Bible teaching and training. Many refugees from Muslim countries have never been allowed to ask questions about Christianity, and so many are interested in learning about it from the team that runs the ARC. This is a place of constant opportunity, to meet all the needs of a person. The refugee can come and be fed, watered, clothed, cleaned, and can also hear about the living water, and living food that Jesus offers.

My head is spinning from all the information that I have tried to absorb, I feel like my eyes have been opened to a whole world that exists beneath the surface of daily life in this world. People I passed on the streets of Athens yesterday were not just people. They are God’s children who he loves, and longs to be with forever. Some are hurting, some are under the fog of drugs, some have been displaced from their homes, some are the criminals that profit from human exploitation; but God is willing that none would perish. He is giving Lost Coin and Helping Hands daily opportunities to meet their physical and spiritual needs.

Today we worked in the refugee center doing a tea room. There were people from all over who come to this place for a hot cup of tea, a place to relax and even take a hot shower. I will post a complete entry about that when we have one! Keep checking back, we will post when we can... The internet is not as 'free' at the hotel as we had thought it would be. Until then... This is for you Lance Michael Corley.


**THIS POST HAS BEEN EDITED 09Sept2006 0001... Details: Changed Susan's name from Susie to Susan.**

Ok, so if you are planning a short term missions trip, this isn't actually the first step. But, for our team, this is the first step of our journey to Athens, Greece.

International Teams: Russia is officially active!

Each member of this team has a unique story of how and why they are involved in this trip. God has given us His provision in finances and time. The Russian's visas were approved on Friday.

Our team spent Monday in a concentrated training session and orientation. We sorted out pre-trip details and set some guidelines to make our excursion to Athens as safe and effective as possible. Lance Corley taught about cultural intelligence (as seen in the book, Serving with Eyes Wide Open... by David Livermore).

IT Russia embarks this afternoon for Athens, Greece. We will be working alongside IT USA's Athens Refugee Team and Lost Coin. [read about IT Athens here]

Our team hopes to serve the refugee, as well as be an encouragement to the team that is well established in Athens.

Please Pray:
For safe travel in wake of recent airline disasters and scares.
For team unity in spirit and heart.
For language and cultural barriers to melt away.

This page will remain updated throughout our trip with pictures and stories from our team (по-английский и по-русский!), so make sure to bookmark us and visit often!