We have been here in Berlin for about 10 days now. We have walked for hours, learned the bus/train/tram system and only gotten lost a couple of times. Everything is so well marked and orderly in this country. Yesterday we went to get officially registered with the government here and walked into the building at 8:24, the EXACT time of our appointment. At 8:24 our number flashed up on the screen and we were in and out of the office with our important paper in hand in 11 minutes. What a contrast to other places we've lived where it can take days to get registered and a whole lot of hassle in between. We love the bakeries on every corner and the delicious coffee. I suppose we've stopped for coffee and pastries at least 7 of the 10 days we've been here. We figure the walking more than offsets those calories:)
In our travels around, by foot and by train, we have run into countless refugees who have been very friendly as we stop and greet them in their language and ask about their stories. They are eager to share every detail of the harrowing trips they experienced to arrive to this country. The other day we sat on a bench with 3 women and a man while they recounted their stories for almost an hour and then invited us to come to their home. I don't think it will be difficult to gather these people together eventually when we figure out where we want to settle with our community center. They are lonely and looking for friends. We pray that conversations will easily turn to spiritual things and that we will be able to show them true Christian love. Knowing their language is a huge plus for us!
Tomorrow we will go to meet a woman who runs 3 "camps" in a poorer area of the city. We were told that they are in desperate need of help and we hope we can do something to help them, even if it's just cooking or sorting clothes or whatever. They also told us they are just finishing a women's lounge that will be functioning next week. That sounds right up my alley! At this point, we simply want to get to know people and figure out what part of the city we want to concentrate on. The need is overwhelming - in every train and on every street, their are refugees everywhere. Parks are a good place to meet people also. With it being Ramadan right now, things are a little slower and not so many people out and about.
We know that God has big plans for the refugees of this city. Being separated from their families and their societies makes them far more open & willing to consider a different way. Could it be that what man meant for evil by destroying the beautiful country of Syria and dispersing its' people, God meant for good, to bring them to a place where they have freedom to reject the false religion that has enslaved them until now? For such a time as this, we will PROCLAIM the Good News!
In our travels around, by foot and by train, we have run into countless refugees who have been very friendly as we stop and greet them in their language and ask about their stories. They are eager to share every detail of the harrowing trips they experienced to arrive to this country. The other day we sat on a bench with 3 women and a man while they recounted their stories for almost an hour and then invited us to come to their home. I don't think it will be difficult to gather these people together eventually when we figure out where we want to settle with our community center. They are lonely and looking for friends. We pray that conversations will easily turn to spiritual things and that we will be able to show them true Christian love. Knowing their language is a huge plus for us!
Tomorrow we will go to meet a woman who runs 3 "camps" in a poorer area of the city. We were told that they are in desperate need of help and we hope we can do something to help them, even if it's just cooking or sorting clothes or whatever. They also told us they are just finishing a women's lounge that will be functioning next week. That sounds right up my alley! At this point, we simply want to get to know people and figure out what part of the city we want to concentrate on. The need is overwhelming - in every train and on every street, their are refugees everywhere. Parks are a good place to meet people also. With it being Ramadan right now, things are a little slower and not so many people out and about.
We know that God has big plans for the refugees of this city. Being separated from their families and their societies makes them far more open & willing to consider a different way. Could it be that what man meant for evil by destroying the beautiful country of Syria and dispersing its' people, God meant for good, to bring them to a place where they have freedom to reject the false religion that has enslaved them until now? For such a time as this, we will PROCLAIM the Good News!
2 comments:
Your comments brought to mind Isa 55:8-11, continued prayers
Your comments brought to mind Isa 55:8-11, continued prayers
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