Refugee Camp

This week we have been hosting a refugee camp for Afghan families up at Porto Astro, and it has been a tremendous blessing. All of the worries about having Muslims on the property, that we felt prior to the beginning of camp mounted up to nothing, it was smooth sailing all the way through. There was joy and laughter everywhere we turned, except for the occasional child crying after having fallen and scraping his knees. It was strange having all the women walk around in head coverings and our staff dressed so modestly that shoulders and knees weren’t even showing, all this in the effort of becoming all things to all men as Paul said in 1 Corinthians 9:22b.
Every day we allotted a "man free" time period at the beach, between 17:00 – 18:00 for the women to go swim, as otherwise they would have been unable to do so. What a joy it was to hear them scream with pleasure as they first entered the sea, some for the first time in their lives. To see them play in the water like little children with their faces beaming in the sunlight, is a sight I will be slow to forget. Furthermore, what a joy it was to see all the children playing football with our staff, running around chasing each other with not a care in the world, allowed to simply be the children that they are. We also set out one of the ski-boats last Monday and took groups out for rides, again, the smiles on their faces were absolutely priceless! All in all this camp was an absolute success and one that we will definitely repeat in the future.

During one of our morning staff meetings Alex Macris shared his dad’s original vision for Porto Astro. The property was to be used to bless people from the Middle East. It was to educate and equip godly men and women, form the east, before they went back to their respective countries to share the good news. Praise the Lord for Costa’s vision came to be realized during this camp as this was the first time we hosted such a large group of Muslims. Costas' legacy and awesome work lives on. What a challenge it is for us young people when see how one man, Costas, can make such a difference in Kingdom work. We need to take hold of the torch that he has passed on to us and keep running and tackling the work that the Lord has set before us since the very beginning of time. As I complete this thought I want to leave you with this; How can you make a difference in this world? It only takes one person burning with passion to make a life changing impact on so many others.

Please continue to keep us in your prayers as this was only the first camp of many this summer. To follow there will be a children’s camp, a teen camp, a leadership camp and a camp dedicated to our friends the Germans. Pray also for continued safety and for unity within the body of workers up at Porto Astro and in the office, as dissension is one of Satan’s most powerful tools against us. Pray also for Operation Joshua’s preparations as well as Operation Gideon 3; China Challenge. I also would like to ask you for personal prayer, as our trip to China is coming up fast, to pray for the financial needs involved with that. Praise the Lord, though, as I have about 52% of the finances needed to go.

It is such an encouragement for me to know that you are our there praying for us all, and His awesome work, that He has allowed us to be a part of.
So thank you all for your prayers.