09.23.2023

 The farm creates a unique bridge between the local community and the refugee men who work hard to grow the beautiful produce. Local Greeks demonstrate their appreciation for the farm by their regular purchases of fresh eggs and quality produce from the roadside stand at the end of the farm lane. In this way, it feels a bit like Lancaster County! What is not similar though, is that this farm is located on the island of Lesvos, Greece, surrounded by Olive trees. CAM started this as a vocational school several years ago, providing training and viable employment to refugees. The farm is only a few acres and all the work is done by hand, with the exception of occasionally asking a neighbor to come with his Kubota and tiller. Through God’s blessings and intentional management, the farm has been financially profitable, providing meaningful employment, and even donating a substantial portion of the crops back to other refugee people. I was so encouraged by the passion of the CAM workers to be faithful in the place that God has called them to – a place where seeds are being planted and watered, both literally and spiritually. God is giving the increase. Where is God calling you to plant and/or water seeds? 

We spent two weeks on Lesvos, and felt warmly welcomed by both the CAM and i58 staff. Our first week held the privilege of attending a training by IAFR, hosted by i58. This was very informative and highly valuable for understanding how work among Forcibly Displaced People necessitates a different approach than some traditional missions. 

During our first week, the number of new arrivals significantly increased to the point that the government asked Euro Relief to take over the main food lines in camp. Euro Relief is the NGO through which i58 workers volunteer while inside camp. In a matter of 1 week, the camp population grew about 25%! As IAFR defines it, providing things like food and shelter is referred to as red line work. It's a place of urgency to help stabilize people. Red line work is very tangible and can feel rewarding, but also exhausting. The needs are great and the laborers are usually few. Avoiding burnout is accomplished only by intention. We each got a small window into this work by helping on food lines during our second week in Lesvos. People from many nations, tribes and tongues and each person known by the Father. The foodlines take several hours to serve some 4,000 residents in camp, so time is of the essence, quenching any opportunity for longer conversations. Through community engagement programs though, Euro Relief volunteers (including i58) are able to engage in greenline work by listening to and carrying about people’s stories, perhaps while drinking tea together – kindling a sense of belonging. 

The Father cares about the heart of the sojourner and so should we. Even if your heart is to be involved in a long term refugee ministry somewhere further into Europe where more permanent resettlement is happening, volunteering for 3 months with i58 in Greece could be quite beneficial in shaping your understanding of what it takes to care for the sojourners. You can apply to volunteer with i58 here or help support the work on Lesvos financially here: i58 or CAM (earmark "for Greece"). Perhaps you’ve already been to Lesvos for a term or even a few terms. You played a role in the thousands of seeds that have been planted there over the past several years. I wonder how you could be part of continuing to water those seeds that are now scattered all over Europe?

~AR