Operation Joshua comes to a close

We have completed Operation Joshua! Over 100,000 bibles were distributed to more than 800 villages! It was an amazing experience and has been really cool to hear about the different God stories throughout the week. We are praying that we will have had a positive effect on the people of Greece and were able to touch the hearts of at least a few.










And we were able to witness the baptism of one of our own! Yesterday Linda was baptized in the Aegean sea!



Now we have packed up camp and are heading to visit the Acro Corinth and then the ancient theatre at Epidavros. We will take the ferry to Porosity and stay there for two nights, and then one day in Athens. I'll post more pics of those places!

I hope everyone is doing well at home! We send our love from Greece!

Anna


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Location:Isthmia, Greece

Day 4 of Bible Distribution

Yassas!

I am blogging from the dining area of the campground as we wait for breakfast. It's already feeling very hot and it's only 8:30am! Yesterday the teams headed out over the province of Achaia to go to remote villages and towns. Our car was mainly up in the mountains again today. These are the villages we visited:



We are finding the people who live in these small villages to be so friendly! Many invite us to their porch for a drink of water or coffee, or offer us carpouzi (watermelon). At one vert tiny town, Livadio, we went to deliver a bible to an elderly couple who herded goats. As we came up to them we were very curious and began speaking to us. Olga was able to explain What we were doing and what the bags were, and they were thankful for the gift and the woman even asked us to pray for her daughter with cancer. Then she noticed Francis eyeing the goat cheese hanging from the tree, so she offered to let us taste it. She took it off the tree and cut a huge slice off. We were expecting her to cut that piece into 5 little pieces so we could each try it, but she held it out to francis to take the whole piece. Se then did the same with the rest of us!






We also gave a bible to a man in the town, and as we waited for the rest of the team we caught a picture of him reading the bible. When Olga explained that the orthodox church gave the bibles their stamp of approval, he said, "I don't care who approved it. It is the Word of God so I want to read it".



We are off to some new villages today. We are just hearing from Jonathan Macris about yesterday (a priest was very angry in one town and was threatening him and his son, but was able to give bibles to everyone in the town and was well received). We will get our assignments afterwards, and then we're off!

-Anna










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Location:Province of Achaia

Sunday in Ancient Corinth

This morning we woke up and loaded up onto buses to go to Ancient Corinth where we listened to Jonathan Macris speak. It was a really neat experience to be where the apostle Paul once stood.



We ended with communion and then too about half an hour to wal around the ancient ruins.



Then we headed back to the camp to pack up with bibles and head out to our towns. We were in the province of Achaia in the mountains, sometimes on really small roads!






The people in the small towns were so friendly! One family came out and shared loukoumi (Greek Turkish delight).






Our group of 5 handed out over 200 bibles in four villages.










We then met up in Diakopto for supper.


We nada great, if not a little crazy, day climbing mountains to get to the small towns. We are about to get our assignments for today, So we'll see where we go today!

Everyone is doing great here! Any messages you'd like passed on, just post a comment!

Anna

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Location:Ancient Corinth

It begins...

Kali mera!

Yesterday was our first day of distributing bibles! We were put into teams of four or five, and that will be our group for the whole outreach. We are then designated a car and each day given an assignment to distribute a certain amount of bibles to a few towns.



It was so cool to be in these remote Greek villages and to see what their everyday life is like. We had good reception to the bibles for the most part, although Olga (our Greek team member) had a few enthusiastic discussions with some locals. But overall, it was a tiring but super awesome day!










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Location:All over Achaia and Argolida - the Peloponnese

Safe and sound, if not a little jet lagged...

Kali spera (good evening)!

We made it though our transfer at London and customs without any problems. Everyone was tired but happy as we arrived at our campground, Isthmia Beach camping around 5 am this morning. We couldn't set up our tents yet, so most of the team tried to get some rest in a grassy area...




I couldn't sleep, so I took pictures around the campground instead.









Today has been a day of basically trying to get over jet lag and adjust to the hot climate. Most of the team took the opportunity to nap or dip in the ocean to rejuvenate. Then the team helped put bible packages together and we had lunch.






It's been a long couple days for us, but the excitement is tangible. We are all really looking forward to starting the bible distribution tomorrow! It was HOT today, 42 degrees or something, but we are all making sure to stay hydrated. We just finished a delicious supper of spaghetti with meat sauce (with a hint of cinnamon!), and the speaker is about to start. It's been weird trying to adjust to the time change (it's 10pm here, so 1 pm at home), but we're getting there. It's so cool to actually be here, almost surreal. Anyways, thanks for all of your comments on the last blog. I'll be sharing them with the team tonight! Please keep them coming!

Anna

P.s. My mum is doing great, hopefully will be going home in the next day or two. Thank you so much for your prayers!

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Location:Isthmia campground- near Corinth

On our way! Here we come London, then Greece!!!

So here we are as a team at the airport!



We all arrived safely through the crazy storm of rain, lighting, thunder and hail. Now we have made it through security (without any issues :)) and are waiting to board the plane. Our flight has been delayed, but only by 30 min. Luckily there is a Starbucks and we have home baked goodies and candy!



We are all really excited and it great spirits. I want to say thank you to all who have heard about my (Anna's) mom and have been praying. It was a tough decision to decide to come, but I know she is in great hands at the hospital and in the Lord's hands. And she is doing better, although she will be in ICU for four days or so. Please continue to hold her up in prayer for absolute and speedy recovery. I love you mum!

And here are some pics of us hanging out waiting to board:











I will try and update again from Heathrow! Thanks for rechecking out the blog, and please post comments. We'd all love to hear from family and friends!

Anna

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Location:Calgary Airport

The Countdown is On... Two Weeks Until We Leave!!!

Ok, so the countdown has been on since, oh, January, but it's really close now! 


We are getting down to the final preparations before we leave: thinking of what items we need to bring, making sure all finances are in order, arranging transport to and from Calgary airport, etc. It has been a busy month, with our fundraising Bake Sales and Silent Auctions happening every Sunday morning in June. It has been such a blessing to see how supportive so many people have been, so thank you all for that! While this time can be a little bit stressful, it is a good reminder that we don't need to stress the details, it's all in God's hands! 


There are still a few things that we need to bring with us. We are looking for tents (new or lightly used), walkie talkies, camping gear, etc. If you have anything you'd like to donate, please email me at annah@crossroadschurch.ca or Linda at lindac@crossroadschurch.ca.


We officially meet one more time as a team, and then we're off. We have put together a prayer calendar so that you can pray for us specifically throughout the trip. I will post that below. Thank you again for all of your support, financially and more importantly, through prayer! We can't do this on our own; me must rely on our awesome God for this to be a success. :)

I just wanted to throw in these pictures. They are from the evening of our commissioning at CrossRoads Church on June 19.

Here is the first attempt...

And attempt #2,,,

Greece Team Prayer Calendar


July 17 - Pray for the team as they prepare, pack and say goodbye to family and friends. Pray for wisdom and clear thinking for Kurtis Kooiker as he helps coordinate everything.


July 18 - Pray for the final details and that the team members receive sufficient sleep before departure. Pray for Ifie Janzen as she prepares to bring a team to her home country to serve. Pray that she is filled with wisdom and compassion and is able to communicate clearly to the team.


July 19 - Pray for smooth travelling and flight connections and that all the luggage will arrive and no bags will be lost in transit. 


July 20 - Pray that the team will have patience and positive attitudes despite the long hours of travel. Pray also that time together builds strong relationships among team members. Pray for Caleb, Nathan and Noah Janzen as they travel with their mom (Ifie) and the team that they would be an encouragement to the team.


July 21 - Pray for a quick recovery from jet lag and for opportunities for the team to connect with other Operation Joshua participants. Pray for Pastor Anton Beukes as he works with this team, and that the encouragement from time with family in South Africa continues to bring him strength.


July 22 - Pray for wisdom for those organizing the details of the outreach and that participants will be spiritually renewed through the speakers each day. Pray for Ellen Schultz to be able to show love to the Greek people despite language barriers. 


July 23 - As the participants travel around the area to distribute Bibles, pray for safety and properly working vehicles. Pray for Monica Slobogean for camaraderie with her distribution team.


July 24 - Pray for the people of Greece who will be receiving the Bibles that their hearts will be open to the Gospel. Pray for Lola French for love for the people she meets.


July 25 - Pray there will be no strong opposition to the Gospel or the outreach. Pray for Anna and Andrew Halliwell that this serve trip would strengthen their marriage and teach them about compassion.


July 26 - As the teams work through long days, pray for maintained health and energy levels despite the extreme heat. Pray for Craig Kinney that God would fill him with compassion and a desire to serve.


July 27 - On the last day of Bible distribution pray that the goal of distributing 90,000 Bibles in 700 villages is acheived. Pray for Joelle Koch that God would teach her about His love.


July 28 - Pray for closure as Operation Joshua wraps up and for continued blessings for participants and those who received the Bibles. Pray for Linda Cullen-Saik that God would open her eyes to see people with his eyes, and for the strength and courage to serve.


July 29 - Today the team travels to Porto Astro (Ministry Sports Camp) for debriefing. Pray that this time is effective and well-received. Pray for Melissa Bjorn for strength and encouragement. 


July 30 - Pray that the team will have caught the vision of Hellenic Ministries and will get adequate rest during this debriefing period.


July 31 - Today is the final day together as a team. Pray for positive and strong team bonding and encouragement. 


August 1 - As the team parts ways, pray for like-mindedness for those planning the Hope Pregnancy Care Centre and safety for those venturing out on their own.


August 2 - Pray for the team members as they process the events of the last two weeks and debrief individually. Pray for clarity and follow-through.


August 3 - Pray for continued vision and clarity for the opening of the Hope Pregnancy Care Centre.


August 4 - Pray that God speaks to each person individually as they apply their experiences from Operation Joshua IV to their life and that team member relationships continue to grow. Pray for safe returns for each member of the team as they come home at different times.