Soup Kitchen

Yesterday I got the chance to volunteer my time at the soup kitchen here in Athens.  My friend Kristen is doing an internship down there and asked me to join her in her volunteer work.  I jumped on the opportunity.  I wanted to go and give my time to help feed those in need.  Those were the intentions I had going into it, and I came out with so much more.

There is so much diversity in the soup kitchen.  All different parts of the world were represented just within the volunteers.  Greeks, Australians, Estonians (which I had to look up on a map as to where that country was....) and many more ethnicities.  There was an older man from Australia who moved to Greece a couple months ago in hopes to learn the language, and as we got to talking it turns out we live in the same neighborhood, that was neat to make some neighbor connections!  But most of the people at the soup kitchen were refugees coming from Sudan and Afghanistan.  As I was in the back drying dishes I could see them all swarming in, trying to get some hot food, which might have been the first meal for them in who knows how long.  It was so heartbreaking to see how much joy they got from a meal, knowing that it is because they haven't had one in so long and there was no guarantees to when the next one would be.  There were all people of all ages there, even as small as a newborn.  The mother could not have been any older than me.  It was so sad to see this infant just cry in her mother's arms and the look on her face, knowing that she is struggling to give her baby what she needs.  She looked tired and scared and just needed rest.  One of the volunteers went over to her and held the crying baby while the mother ate, so she could have a few minutes alone and find some rest in those moments.  It was heartbreaking to see these people struggling so much, but it was humbling and rewarding knowing that I could volunteer a couple hours to help them, even in the back drying dishes, I was helping them.

But as I was volunteering my time to them they volunteered their lives to me.  I was once again reminded about the amazing gifts and opportunities God has blessed me with.  I have been really stressed out lately, registering for classes back at DU for next quarter, mid terms and papers here at Arcadia, money, what I am going to do once I go back to the states and just the little things were getting to me.  But God was there, speaking to me, telling me that it doesn't matter.  It is in His hands.  I am stressing over registration, trying to get into classes I need to graduate on time, but at least I am getting an education.  I am taking mid terms and writing papers for classes at Arcadia, but I am doing it while on an amazing adventure here in Greece and I am seeing and experiencing something so much bigger than I could have ever imagined.  I have money to buy groceries, to eat three meals a day.  I even have enough to travel, see more of the world.  I have no idea what the future holds for me back in America, I know that God is guiding me in a different direction, something totally new, but HE is guiding me.  HE is paving my path.  I am able to laugh with friends and family, I am able to wake up every morning and see the sun shine down on the busy streets of Athens.  Why am I stressing?  God's fingerprints are surrounding me.  I trust in Him that he has it under control.  I've seen God work over and over in my life, I know that I have been blessed more than I can even imagine.  Instead of stressing about how its all going to work out, its time to be in thanksgiving, praising Him for my blessings and all the ways He has revealed Himself in my life.