Lesbos: A Beginning
Trying to understand the plan of God for my life seems to be a current theme.
It’s difficult, to say the least, to parse out my own desires from divine intention, or coincidence from sign. Or maybe, just maybe, I was looking at it all wrong. Maybe I have to get to know the God I follow, to align my desires with his, first. Maybe some of those desires were placed on my heart.
As I have heard more and more about the rivers of people fleeing from horrors of war that I couldn’t imagine in my mostly sheltered life, I had this idea in my mind that someone ought to do something, I even wrote about it. Of course, that someone couldn’t be me. I’m not old enough, not experienced enough, not even bilingual enough to make a difference. When I heard of an opportunity to volunteer at a community center on the island of Lesvos, I thought what a great way to help in a detached sort of way. I comforted myself that I was too young, that my Arabic was too dissimilar to Syrian Arabic, that I couldn’t possibly find the money.
Tunisian Arabic, as it turns out, is fairly similar to Syrian Arabic. Apparently I am not too young, and Gateways2Life is wholeheartedly welcoming what help I can give. The last thing to remain is the funds, and I have full confidence that God will enable me to follow this path he has opened, to help displaced refugees.
Gateways2Life is a fantastic organization that attempts to “come alongside of already existing efforts” in their attempts to address the massive need of refugee communities throughout Europe. The community center at which I will be volunteering provides a safe space for some of the approximately 3500 women and children who are stranded on the island for 6 to 18 months before they are granted asylum in mainland Greece.
Gender-based violence is a daunting danger for the women in these overcrowded camps. When I heard about that violence, I was saddened and reminded of a self-defense course that I have taken twice before. I asked my extremely qualified friend, the teacher and developer of the course, and she hopes to come and teach the women on Lesvos. It has empowered me and given me confidence in my traveling and just living as a woman in a dangerous world, and I hope it can bring that same safety to the women on Lesvos.
The center itself provides much-needed laundry facilities, activities and learning opportunities for children, and counseling. I will be helping organize and hand out much-needed supplies, cleaning where needed, helping with activities, and otherwise being as helpful and supportive as I can. I hope that my Arabic skills, which I have been struggling at for the past seven years in the Tunisian dialect and Modern Standard Arabic, will enable me to simply listen to these women’s stories and communicate as best I can, as well as perhaps offer English lessons in the GPA method.
I hope that you can take this journey with me.
I will sketch, draw, and write frequently during my months on Lesvos, so be sure to subscribe to my blog or in the sidebar to follow my time there in lieu of a newsletter.
I would be lying if I didn’t admit that I am extremely nervous for this next part in my journey, but I know that someone has to help, and I am in a position to do so for this small chunk of time, and I thank God for that fact.
Your prayers are even more essential than financial support. Please ask the Lord for protection for these people who have been thrust out of their homes and into a transient, difficult circumstance. Pray that God’s love can be seen through me, but be careful of asking that more people be sent to help. As the wise and wonderful Mrs. Jill Briscoe has reminded me, you may end up being the answer to your own prayers.
Blessings,
Danae