My dear sisters,
I have written many letters to you from my heart and have been meaning to put some on paper too, but for now, the computer. A day does not pass without my thoughts and prayers traveling throughout the entire American continent when all of you pop in my mind. I know it is nothing else but the love that connects us in Christ.
I know all of us are imperfect and the better we get to know each other the more we find out what needs fixing. It saddens me when some heartache and trial is allowed in a Christian's life and the world says.look at that, is this how Christians are? I always try and look for the right things to say when something like this happens and the best I have come up with is this.

If it was not for us to be Christians and covered by God's love who knows who and where we would be. So what you see is the best edition of us by His grace. And for this "edition" the Lord has given His precious blood and daily works on us and within us.

Popi, Mary and myself prayed and asked how we could help. So the three of us this last October traveled to the South of Greece, better known as the Pelloponese, where many have suffered from the biggest wild fires in the last 60 years.
We decided to see for ourselves what we could do to help and to see what the fire had destroyed. So we rented a large 9 seated van and loaded the back full of items we purchased until a pin could not fit.

On Saturday evening after the van was packed we left with much anticipation and not knowing what was ahead of us.. Before hitting the burned out areas we spent the night just outside Ancient Corinth and early in the morning we were on our way again.. We were not prepared for the devastation we saw only fifteen minutes later. Where once there was some of the countries prettiest vineyards and orchards of olive groves there was now completely blackened, ashen landscapes.. We kept getting lost because every street or village sign was also burned. I had to keep thinking .oh well it could have been worst Eleni. I know God covers us with His mercy and He will not allow more than His precious will and love dictate in order to discipline us and help us hear His voice. I also know that He loves the entire world and the enemy is under His control, but sometimes when He lifts the Loving Hand of His protection, evil is uncovered and is ugly and in this case it was black. So black even the asphalt was burned. It was a month after the fires that we made our journey and saw what it did to the beautiful Greek country but the smell was still strong as if they trees were still burning.

But God was with us and he led us to three little villages where we started unloading the van. One of the villages we visited with had no more than 100 residents was called Sinouzi. They have a one room school with six children, one desk for the teacher and a few more desks for the children to share and nothing else.

The village Greek Orthodox priest came out to meet us and was so grateful for the donations. The children followed us everywhere and I had the opportunity to ask them if they go to church. They all said in one voice, three little girls and three boys between 7-12 yrs old, yes mom we do go to church. I asked them if they would want an illustrated children's Bible to read at home and the priest said yes that would be wonderful. We are now in the process of planning a trip back to take with us a computer, Bibles, Christian reading books and information on.. Life.. This little village is one hour away from the next village which is just as remote and very poor..

Of course the fire came to expose the poverty and desperation to many of who were ignorant to all this. I never knew there were such poor villages in Greece and of course if it was not for the fire this would not be a favorite destination for me or anybody I know. I know every thing that happens on this earth, even when a sparrow falls from the sky, my Lord knows it and He is working out something perfect to all that happens for the good of those who love Him.

Everything was too black, too dirty and too depressing to see any of the good that will come from this tragedy but our Lord has already seen it. So if we only trust and ask Him what He and how He wants us to work then we will share in the future joy.
For those of you who have visited Greece and think that the Athens roads are small, you should see how the village roads are. As we drove through one specific village I asked where I could turn around in order to leave, since it looked as there was only one main road. They told me just go to the end of the road, to the square and turn around there. So I drove just a few meters and come to in front of a little front yard of a village home and three old ladies are visiting on the stairs of the house. I asked them where is the square so I can turn around, they tell me.you are in the square!! It took three men from the village to turn around the van. We all got out and watched along with the three old ladies.

By God's grace after traveling 560 miles, we returned that night back to Athens with an empty van but our hearts full. Every time God uses us for some reason He never forgets to fill our hearts with peace, love and mercy. It is all the above that will send us back to the villages again soon.

It does not matter if it is Malibu, America or Sinouzi, Greece, the pain, desperation and fear share the same language and same questions. And the only answer and comfort is that our Father is watching over us and that in every case He is working out something perfect and lovely not to mention that one day He will deliver us from all pain and devastation. For the moment we can ask God how He can use us by serving and comforting His sheep. He always has something for us to do.

With a thankful heart, Eleni