the story of outreach part 1

A t h e n s  G r e e c e 

People try to prepare you for outreach, but in all reality, no one can fully prepare you for what God is going to do through you and for you during this time. We've been on outreach for 3 1/2 weeks now, and God has shown up in profound, life changing ways every single day. 

T r a v e l i n g

Leaving Salem was bittersweet as we were all excited to travel overseas to explore new countries and minister to a new people group, but goodbyes are never easy. The drive to Portland and then navigating the airports from Portland through Munich and then on to Athens went incredibly smooth, and thankfully we didn't lose any luggage or people. Settling into our Airbnb went really smooth, and we started off the first week excited and ready for what God had in store for us. 

the people on the YWAM Salem base all stopped what they were doing when my team left for the airport and sent us off with prayer and so many hugs. It was absolutely beautiful to be sent off by our family

P r a y e r 

In the last few weeks especially, we have seen just how powerful prayer is. It's essential for the unity of our group and for uniting our hearts with God's in doing His kingdom work.

The hardest thing that has happened during outreach so far was with one of our teammates, Sabrina. She got a concussion in July during Lecture phase and then was healed from it a week later. But during the first 2 weeks of outreach, she fainted and then proceeded to experience a lot of pain, dizziness, throwing up, headaches, and just a lot of physical problems. Since then she has been doing better, but we all would appreciate prayer that she continues to stay on the mend so she can continue being a part of ministry and hanging out with the team. It was really hard to not have her be a part of what was going on, and we're all really happy that she's doing so much better.

One of the biggest things God has highlighted to my team since the beginning is the importance of unity. It's been one of the most challenging but beautiful things that we've had since leaving for outreach. We have definitely had our fair share of conflict as the weeks have gone by, but we have been diligent in coming together in love and resolving those moments. Honestly, it has been beautiful to see how God is growing us through community living and having to intentionally build a space of unity. We would love prayer that we continue in that same spirit of unity as we are here in Athens, and then when we travel to Durres.

Living here in Europe is so good, but it's also challenging and expensive. We would love your prayers for continued abundance in finances as a team, but also individually. We are almost halfway through outreach and so far it hasn't been too rough, but we aren't going to think for a second that we as a team don't need prayer for wisdom to continue successfully through to the end of this trip.

There are a lot of spiritual strongholds on Athens, and we definitely have been encountering them while here. God has been continually giving us His heart for His people, and we have been so dedicated to praying passionately for the people in Athens. We would love it if you joined us in praying against the strongholds on the city here, and that people can feel the full love of God and enter into a relationship with Him.

we were early to meeting with the pastor who we're working with, so we decided to spend the time praying as a team for the day and the work we were going to do

M i n i s t r y

God has shown up in the moments when we least expect it, and the moments when we're asking Him to do so. 

He has shown up when we're unloading and sorting over 7,000 cans of lentils for refugees and has also shown up when we are reorganizing them and getting them ready to be sent out. He has shown up when we are sorting clothes and toiletries to be distributed to both refugees and gypsies. He has revealed Himself to each one of us girls while we babysit kids each day, while their parents try to get asylum here in Athens. He has gently reminded us to take value and praise Him in the behind scenes moments, and He has gently reminded us to give Him the glory in the moments where people see us. He has touched each one of our hearts while working with refugee people, with gypsy people, and even the local greek people. Because God has given us all different perspectives in life, He has spoken to each one of us differently during the same moments. It has been really beautiful to see how He has moved each one of us in our unique way when we come together and talk through the different things that happen.

this is an incredibly small glimpse of the number of cans of lentils we moved as a team. I'm not joking when I say there were more than 7,000 of these cans. It was challenging, but God gave us such a wonderful opportunity to pray for each can and the families that would be blessed by them.

Walking to the church for Sunday morning service. The services are in greek, and thankfully they translate it for us that speak English. 

Some of the team having dinner after we helped serve at a dinner for local refugee families

We've been serving alongside with the Helping Hands refugee center here in Athens. Every week they host a meal for up to 150 refugees from Iran and Afganistan. After the meal, the people have the opportunity to stay and hear the Gospel message. Serving with this ministry has been an amazing blessing, and we all are going to miss it tremendously. After everyone leaves and we clean up, we all gather together to talk about the day and then wrap up the time by praying for the people we connected with and the city of Athens. 

There have been so many moments where we have ministered to people in direct and indirect ways. Us girls will go out to the streets in the evenings to see where Holy Spirit leads us. Often times we will find ourselves in a local square singing worship music or getting prophetic words for people, or just being compelled to pray for absolute strangers. Sometimes we are met with uninterest or dismissiveness. But more often than not people have been curious to hear what we have to say, and God has been able to work through us. It has grown and challenged each one of us in tremendous ways. Some of us have been told specifically we can change the atmosphere for God, and all of us have the authority and power to do so with Christ. So a lot of the time when we are just simply riding the metro, we will sing worship music or intercede for the people around us. When we do that you can literally feel the atmosphere change and fill with hope and light. You can oftentimes feel a weight lift off of the area. God has been asking us to be joyful in the moments that aren't big and boisterous and to know that we don't have to see the harvest to be doing His kingdom work, and it has been absolutely amazing to see God at work in those moments.

A t h e n s 

Athens has been absolutely beautiful to explore. Whether it's during ministry or during our own free time, we have loved getting to see the old buildings, try new foods, and explore the side streets and little local markets and shops. But let's be real, even during our own free time, we have been constantly asking God what He wants us to do in those moments. Without fail, He has directed us to people and encounters and it's been so fun to have the opportunity to share God's love with pretty much everyone we come into contact with.

C e l e b r a t i n g 

In the last few weeks, we have had two birthdays on the team and so we spent each of their days celebrating them and making them feel fully treasured. 

J a c e y 

 Jacey, for her birthday, wanted a chill day. So we explored the city and made memories by just getting lost and deepening our friendships. We rode the metro from one end to the other and got off at random spots to explore. We ended her day by getting gyros and gelato all together. 

H a n n a h 

Hannah wanted to go to KFC here in Athens for her birthday, and she also wanted to cover a bridge with a bunch of encouragement notes and ballons for anyone who will walk by. So we spent the afternoon of her birthday doing those two things and then ended her day with a movie at home. 

It was so much fun celebrating these two girls, loving on them, and showing them how much they mean to us. Our team wouldn't be the same without either of them, and we are all so grateful that they are here with us. 

C o n t i n u i n g

It's crazy to think this, and even crazier to say this, but this week is our last week of ministry here in Athens. The time here has flown by, but at the same time, each day has been treasured and special. We all have made amazing connections and relationships with people here in the city, and we're all sad to be getting ready to leave. God has really united our team in profound ways, and it's so cool to look back and see how He has done that in the last month. We love Athens deeply and will miss it here, but we're also excited to see what God has in store for us in Durres. 

Go therefore and make disciples 

of all the nations, 

baptizing them 

in the name of the Father 

and of the Son 

and of the Holy Spirit.

God called each one of us to come here, 

and so we are here.

on behalf of the Greece and Albania team

xx, alexis