Blog post for July 15, 2014

 

 After a long day of walking, climbing, conversing and taking in the wonders of antiquity, ten bleary eyed Baylor students file into the meeting room at Porta. It has been another exhausting day on the ground here in Athens. But team spirits are high nonetheless. Today we visited some of the greatest sites of the ancient world but there is not even a whisper about the Parthenon, no, the focus is on our “families” and the Albanian students we have come to love. The “families” are the groups of students who traverse the city as a group for safety, but more importantly, so that we all know each other more intimately. As we sit and recall the day our conversation takes a turn for the spiritual when one very thoughtful members…cough,cough DANELLE, encourages the group with some much needed wisdom about how to love our partners best. Thanks, Danelle, you should really speak up more often. Conversation only continues to intensify and the team finds itself remembering its’ time during the day at Mars Hill, (see photo). At this site both the Albanians and Americans heard from the Apostle Paul in both Greek and English, this was a treat all unto itself. The passage comes out of the Bible from the book of Acts, chapter seventeen for those of you playing along at home. This specific portion of the text finds Paul speaking to the people of Athens, specifically the Epicureans and the Stoics, philosophers and religious icons of the day. Paul finds himself passing through Athens and notices the great religious acuity they possess. For the people there even had an altar to the unknown God! Using this “unknown god” Paul cleverly links it to Jesus Christ. It appears the Apostle was on to something, because nearly the same situation is taking place among our group, let me explain.

 At first glance a mission trip to Greece may seem more like a vacation to a beautiful place rather than actual mission work, but that is more a myth than even the Greeks could produce.  What is going on in this city right now is exactly what Christ called the Greatest Commandment, loving God and loving others. This two-week program is discipleship in the most Christ honoring way possible. We are all learning to come alongside these Albanian students as friends living life together, opposed to cramming bibles in their faces. In reality, it is us who have much to learn from them. We speak about things like friendship and values, even the meaning of life. This is eye opening to both the American students and the Albanians. Much like Paul we find ourselves speaking about our faith in a way that is respectful, truthful and accessible to our new Albanian friends, whom at large do not know Jesus in the way familiar to Protestant tradition. Through language barriers, cultural barriers and the heat in Athens the message of Jesus Christ is overcoming all things for the glory of God.

 

 

            So friends, family, loved ones, think of us daily, pray for us often and hope that we may love and live alongside these students in a way that would reflect Jesus to them daily. This ministry is not a two-week mission trip, the ministry cannot end there. We must continue sowing seeds in the hearts of these new best friends we have gained in this beautiful city just as the Apostle Paul did so many years ago from Mars Hill. We are excited and we are confident in the “Unknown God”, because we know Him and we love Him.

Thank you for your prayer and support, if you have yet to “like” the Facebook page, please look us up at Leadership Greece Baylor University. With your “like” on the page you will be able to see all of our adventures as they take place.

Until next time,

            - Pierce Shivers

Since I have been in Greece for this trip I have been (trying to) learn some Greek words. Unlike the Albanians - picking up languages is not a strength of mine. But from only spending a day with the Albanians I have already learned some words that are fun to say and have made an impact on me. Here are some pictures and words to show you my first day with the Albanians in Greece.


This is the entrance to the Greek National Gardens and a flower, in Greek λουλούδι which is said louloudi. Kosmas, an Albanian friend, gave it to me. Sidenote, me being a tour guide at Baylor and him being a tourism major made for an automatic friendship. The national garden was my favorite sight of the day, not only beautiful, but it gave me a piece of home [Shreveport, LA] with the tall pines trees and small ponds. Flowers made today prettier.

In my one on one time with my partner Katerina she told me her moms name is ευτυχία, (pronounced eftihear) and means happiness in Greek. And she said her and her mom are best friends. My mom and I also have a very close relationship, my mom taught me to be joyful in every situation, to love people and to always be happy. Also, not being home much when I get to see my mom, it fills me with happiness. Hearing this similarity from the start of our conversations confirmed that God has a plan for me a Katerina's friendship. Happiness made this day incredible.

Lastly I learned the word φιλε which is said filly, it means friend. And these friends are amazing. The Albanians have taught me to be selfless, more focused on God's plan for the now and how to become a part of a community. The Baylor students I have gotten to know have also impacted me with their friendships and love. Lastly, Katerina is so kind and already such a friend to me. Friends made today unforgettable.

ευχαριστώ, efaristo is Greek for thank you. Thank you is the word I use the most with the Greeks here that don't speak English. I thank them for helping me pick out the coffee I would like, though they don't know what I am saying. I say thank you for directions and for bottles of water that save my life. Mostly I thank the Albanians for impacting me already in so little time.

This journey is going to be incredible, I know I will grow and learn more than I imagined. Here's to just one day with lifelong friends.

Faithh Miletello