Love in Any Language

A song from my youth floats through my mind.

Je t’aime

Te amo

Ya Tyibya Lyubluy
Ani ohevet othka, I love you…

Love in any language, fluently spoken here.

I don’t remember any more of the song even though Sandy Patty’s voice is crystal clear in my memory. What I do know is this- those lyrics played out in front of me on Lesvos.

The Gospel.

The Gospel is a very specific thing. To be more accurate, the gospel is a specific person. His name is Jesus. There is no way to the Father except through him.

Then what is one to do when you cannot share the gospel openly? Because that is our reality at Sikaminia, Euro Relief’s transition camp. Government regulations prevent us from directly sharing our faith.

One does what we are always called to do.

We love one another.

We love our neighbors.

We love the stranger among us.

This is what the volunteers at Sikaminia do best. In fact, they are known by their love- and not just within the camp. They are known by their love across the island.

How They are Known.

In early October, Y Squad began serving alongside long term staff on Lesvos. The squad worked long hours with enthusiasm and determination. They helped create systems and structure were they were needed. They organized and planned how to most effectively meet the needs the refugee’s needs.

Over the following weeks and months, new teams with the World Race and Adventures at large came to serve. They continued in the pattern of Y Squad. As they worked, their influence grew and so did their opportunties to help at other camps.

They became known by their love.

They welcome the shivering and traumatized with open arms. They hand out bananas and water with a smile. They jump rope and bounce balls with joy that spills over to the children. They hold infants whose mothers need a moment to catch their breathe and warm their hands. They sit next to those who mourn with quiet compassion.

image courtesy of Natasha Istomin, volunteer at Sikaminia

They serve each person who has made his or her way across the treacherous waters as an individual created in the very image of God.

The volunteer staff at Sikaminia understand a great truth about ministry. Political regulations and language barriers can not limit the gospel of Christ.

The spirit of God moves as the wind. He cannot be contained or controlled. His gospel, whether spoken aloud or through hands and feet that serve, will not return void.

Love in any language. It is fluently spoken here.

– Amy E. Patton

To partner with Adventurers in Missions work with Euro Relief click here. Love is always welcome.