A Desperate Situation in Patra

Last Saturday, members of our team, a suburban Greek youth group, a local Greek church, a French team and a visiting American youth group join forces to deliver encouragement, support and emergency aid to hundreds of refugees living in horrific conditions in Patra, Greece.

The team of 50 descended off the bus, and set up a stage with a microphone and speakers and proceeded to entertain the men with songs in Greek, French and English.

Following the time of music together, the groups split up into different language groups where the men expressed that their greatest desire was for happiness. Our teams were honored to share with them the One and Only Way to find true and everlasting happiness; in a relationship with Jesus Christ.

After more more time for one on one conversations, we all gathered by the bus to hand out sleeping bags, shoes, socks, hats, gloves, underwear, food bags, Arabic New Testaments and Farsi tracts.

Please pray for these men. Pray for them to come to know True Happiness, in a surrendered life to Jesus. Pray for swift solutions to their devastating way of life and sufferings. Pray for wisdom for us to know how to help them more.

To read more about this situation, click here http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/world-europe-17094303

Dec/Jan GWOM: ΕΠΟΥΛΩΣΗ - HEALING

Merry Christmas and Happy New Year! This seems such a strange way to start this message, but the last two months have just passed in a blur for us and we want to take this chance to extend all the love of the season of Christ's birth and our best wishes for the new year to you all.

Thank you for standing with us through difficult days. We have been buoyed by your prayers and by the strength of the Lord. He has met our every need and extended His lavish love on us.

The following is just a brief synapsis of recent events for us:

Nov 30-Unexpectedly, flew to Chicago to be with family and to say goodbye to Peggy's Dad who died Dec 2nd. Truly the best of times and the worst of times.

Dec 14-Unexpectedly, Mike had his left hip replaced. An incredible provision was made for us to have this surgery done while we were home for Dad's funeral.

Dec 24-Expectedly, celebrated Mike's Mom's 80th birthday together with his family and spent our first Christmas in 5 years back in Wheaton with all our kids and grandkids, 15 of us now!

Dec 25-Unexpectedly, took an ambulance ride to the hospital because Mike dislocated his new hip.

Jan 16-Returned to Greece!

We were so glad to have been home to spend time with Peggy's Mom and family and to be with our kids and grandkids for Christmas.

We were overwhelmed by God's goodness to us in providing surgery on Mike's hip. This has relieved him from tremendous pain that he has been struggling with for the last two years.

And now we are so glad to be getting back to "normal" life here in Greece. God is healing our hearts and Mike's body as He leads us day by day. He comforts us in our sorrow and strengthens us in our weakness.

Thank you for your prayers and your expressions of sympathy. They were greatly appreciated.

Please pray with us:
- to get back up to speed quickly here
- for Mike's complete recovery from his surgery
- as we work to complete construction on the Hope Center
- as we prepare for our first furlough, April-October 2012

November GWOM: ΟΡΑΜΑΤΙΣΜΟΣ - VISION

Without vision, the people perish. Proverbs 29:18

This has been a rough month for the people of Greece. International pressures have increased, the old government has been replaced, more people are unemployed, the suicide rate is up, and crimes are becoming more common place. Greeks, all of Europe, and the rest of the world are waiting to see what will happen next.

Please pray with us as we try to share with all we see, the good news...that there is hope, there is freedom in Christ. There is One who knows the beginning from the end and He never slumbers or sleeps and He loves the people of Greece. He is their only hope.

During this month of Thanksgiving, we are so thankful for you all and your love and support that allow us to be here. The pictures show some of the highlights of this month including a vision tour of pastors from Canada, refugee clothes drives, hosting our first Thanksgiving dinner and Thanksgiving with the refugees.

As we look towards Christmas and the birth of Hope, we are planning again to feed and give gifts to many refugees and homeless. If you would like to donate towards the cost of the meals or the purchase of sleeping bags that we will hand out, you can give online at www.hellenicministries.com by clicking the donate tab or you can send a check directly to Hellenic Ministies, PO Box 726, Wheaton, IL 60187.

October GWOM: ΖΩH - LIFE

This month we had the past week the privilege of hosting Fran & Anne from Life International, an organization that mentors and equips ministries worldwide to uphold the sanctity of human life.

These two women are a wealth of knowledge and resources, and we spent the week gleaning from all their expertise about the opening and running of a maternity home. They also helped us develop our vision plan for other areas of needs under the Hope Center Ministries.

The building itself is nearly completed, however we realize that there is still much groundwork to be done to prepare ourselves fully for all aspects of housing pregnant women.

Please join us in prayer:
• As we seek God’s wisdom and timing for the opening of the home.
• That God will be preparing the hearts of the house parents and house assistant that He wants to live at the home with the girls.
• Regarding finances, we still need funds to complete the building, and then we will need to furnish it as well as providing for monthly operating costs.

God is so good! Looking back we can see God’s hand at work in each step of the process, and we are looking forward with much anticipation to see how God is going to use this ministry to touch and change many lives!

Psalm 32:8 The Lord says, “I will guide you along the best pathway for your life. I will advise you and watch over you.”

September GWOM: ΣΧΕΔΙΑ - PLANS

How time flies. We can't believe it's the end of September already. We have spent a lot of time planning this month. Planning for future ministry, home assignment dates, work schedules, etc.

All this planning reminds us of God's sovereignty above all. He is the ultimate Planner! Listen to some of His words about His plans:

For I know the plans I have for you, declares the Lord, plans to prosper you and not to harm you, plans to give you a hope and a future. Jer 29:11 (NIV)

He (God) controls the course of world events, He (God) removes kings and sets up other kings...Dan 2:21 (NLT)

Especially in this time of CRISIS here in Greece, we are reminded that GOD is in charge; He is the one who is directing the events of each day. In the midst of the strikes and rioting, austerity measures and potential bankruptcy, we acknowledge that God is in control!

So we press on, trusting Him to direct our path and our ministry. We are praying fervently that God will use this period of desperation for the Greek people to draw many to Himself and that He will use us however He sees fit in this plan.

Other neat September happenings for us:

PARE: God has brought Melissa to intern with the Hope Center Team for three months and she has been leading two groups of Post Abortion Recovery Education with us. We are excited to learn how to use this tool to offer hope to many hurting post abortive women.

DISCIPLING: Mike has begun to meet weekly with his refugee friend, who became a believer this summer at camp, to study the WORD OF GOD together. Mike is so enjoying this time of discovery together.

We appreciate your prayers for...
-God to use this crisis to lead many Greeks to salvation in Jesus
-Upcoming visit from the Life International Director and Loving and Caring Founder October 10-15
-Continued construction progress on The Hope Center maternity home

July/August GWOM: Ελευθερία - Freedom

The freedom in Christ that all believers have and can share with others, so that they too can enjoy the same freedom.

In a world that’s falling apart, isn’t it nice to know that we have so much to look forward to in life with Christ, once this life on earth is over?

What freedom comes from understanding that all this (on earth) is just temporary. One day, everything will be gone, burned up, not anything that we’ll need in heaven!

We’ve had a busy couple of months. Thanks for praying.

Our sex talk with the kids at Teen Camp went very well. This is a topic most people don’t like to talk about but one we know needs addressing, especially here in Greece where the abortion rate is very high and multiple abortions are common. We look forward to sharing God’s plan for sex as an integral part of the Hope Center ministry.

We also participated in Operation Joshua (www.operationjoshua.net); packing up and handing out 103,000 New Testaments with 270 other people from all over the world. Our nephew Ian and his kids Maddie (10) and Parker (5) were visiting us and were able to join us. This was a great time, just sharing in the joy of serving together.

Additionally at the Men’s Refugee Camp, Mike was able to pray with his friend from Syria for salvation!!!

All in all, it has been a very hectic summer and now we are on vacation. Just enjoying time around the house and at local beaches with no schedule!!! We are trying to rest and gear up for the fall, which is right around the corner.

We appreciate your prayers for...
- God to open the hearts of the Greeks who received the NTs this summer and to draw many to Himself
- wisdom in planning strategies for the new ministry year
- healing for Mike's back

June GWOM: Ευλογίες - Blessings

It seems too often our minds tend to automatically focus on the "have nots" in our lives instead of the "haves."

So with that in mind, we wanted to take this month to share with you some of the many blessings that are part of our everyday lives here.

Of course, KNOWING WHO WE BELONG TO. That we are children of the King and that one day we will live with Him eternally! Is there anything better?

EACH OTHER. After 32 yrs. of marriage, we are still best friends and so grateful for this opportunity to serve the Lord together.

YOU ALL. We probably don't tell you often enough, how important you are to us. Without your prayer and financial support, we couldn't be here. We so appreciate your willingness to sacrifice so that we can be part of the Kingdom work in Greece.

OUR FAMILIES: 3 kids and their spouses, 7 grandkids, our parents, siblings and many more. Our greatest gifts. We love them and miss them all.

ADDITIONALLY, the chance to be Jesus to many, many refugees each week, talking to youths about God's plan for sex, breathtaking glimpses of God's glory in the beautiful flowers growing out of the dry and cracked earth, gorgeous blue skies and sea, sunsets that light up the sky, and stars that glow brightly at night.

And finally, PEACE in our hearts knowing we are right where God wants us to be!

Thank you for continuing to stand beside us in this ministry.

We appreciate your prayers for...
- boldness for Sarah, Mike and I as we speak to the Greek youth at Teen Camp (4-14 July) about sex, STDs, abortion etc.
- Operation Joshua 4 (21-28 July) handing out 90,000 New Testaments in Greece (www.operationjoshua.net)
- God to open the hearts of all the Greeks who will receive the NTs and that He will draw many to Himself
- healing for Mike's back