Life in Athens

Life in Athens

From Mike

     I am going to attempt to tell you about our neighborhood here in Athens. It's very similar to most neighborhoods in this city. The roads are half the width of our roads in Mountain Lake, barely wide enough to allow two cars to meet going in different directions. They are also not square, but more like many spokes going in different directions on multiple wheels. The buildings are all 3 to 8 story structures that are connected directly to the one right next to it, so each block is a solid  collection of cement. The street lights are on wires that run directly down the middle of the road with side supports running out to the side apartment buildings. There are no yards at all, the only green that you see is on personal balconies, where people have many different types of potted plants. Cars are parked in every direction both on the street and sidewalk. Mopeds seem to outnumber automobiles, and both are traveling by here constantly. People are out and about walking everywhere from the market to the neighborhood trash receptacle, never giving any thought to it not being convenient, as we would. There are neighborhood bakeries, grocery stores, bars, and cafés on nearly every corner(there are no Walmarts to be found.) This is definitely a simpler, laid-back, less hectic way of life, then what we are living in the United States.

     Each day we take multiple trips back and forth from our hotel to "the center"/222 Ministries. It is approximately 1 kilometer away. We cross a busy road and go past a subway stop along with many storefront businesses along the way. We have befriended some of these business owners and call out to each other every time we pass. :-)

     Once we arrive at the center, every day is different. Each  day starts out with devotions, but from then on the activities vary. Some days are more construction based, others are spent working with refugees and churches that meet at the center. One thing that remains the same is that we are serving these people in every way that we can, showing them Christ's love. The verse that keeps coming to my mind is, “The King will reply, ‘Truly I tell you, whatever you did for one of the least of these brothers and sisters of mine, you did for me.’ (Matthew 25:40 NIV)

     There is so much joy in serving. I see it in all of the team members; in their attitudes, in their voices, and in their actions, and I feel it in my heart.

     Thank you for making this trip a possibility.

In Him,

Mike