Camp

I'm not going to name the camp or the organization we were working with on Lesvos, but please ask me if you have questions or if you'd ever like to join us on one of our volunteering trips.  It is really life-changing!

First of all, the camp is not really called a refugee camp but a "receiving an identification center - RIC."  There have been quite a few changes since we were here last, but we saw some familiar faces.  The population of the camp has more than doubled since we were here in 2023, and a lot of the extra numbers are kids.

This is the job board.  Every morning we meet for singing and prayer and then volunteer for jobs.  I was very happy that unlike in 2023, short-term workers are allowed to work in "education."  I wanted to do this last year but couldn't.  This job involved going into a trailer full of educational supplies, filling up a bag of materials, and then heading out with a clipboard to either visit individual children or get a group together for a lesson. We would be teaching basic English, the official language of the camp. 

This tarp was where I held my first "class."  

I got to teach quite a few kids to write their name in English for the first time, had a hilarious session teaching "open" and "close" to a few brothers, and then taught a little boy and his neighbors while his mom made me this delicious fried bread!  Truly one of the best things I have ever tasted. 

I probably could have spent every day working in education, but I felt like I needed to experience the different jobs.  So I also worked prepping and painting the new library and handing out diapers.  All of us worked the daily food line fairly often. 

I was very humbled that God has been able to use both Terry and I with our specific gifts.  I got to work primarily in education and Terry got to build RHUs.  

We also got to work in the warehouse where donations are sorted and stored. 

This work situation gives lots of time to visit with other volunteers and we particularly enjoyed getting to know father/daughter volunteers Rinke and Celine from the Netherlands.  

Celine lights the candles on Rinke's birthday cake. 

Leaving camp on a windy day.  Rinke and Celine are the super tall ones on the right. 

At the cozy "Blue House" for weekly Bible study and fellowship

I am so impressed with this organization and its volunteers - most of whom are in their 20s and either from the Netherlands OR from the Mennonite church in America (though the organization is neither Dutch or Mennonite!).  The fellowship is so sweet, and the organization really helps to care for the volunteers.  It was explained to us that we need to develop some callouses to do this work without constantly hurting.  But we can't become so calloused that we don't feel (our groups are probably not even in camp long enough to get to that level, but I see how it could happen).  It's the job of member care to help volunteers keep this right balance.