A five member team traveled to Greece for a ten day working mission trip. We worked at four churches and a refugee apartment building with our Greek partners to paint and complete minor construction projects.
First stop: Greek Evangelical Church – Ioannina (located in a mountainous region of Northern Greece)
Our project was to assess the condition of the concrete roof of the parsonage which leaks during storms. We removed tree branches and vines from around the building and cleaned debris from the roof and gutters. We also scraped the ceilings of the parsonage rooms and repainted them. Two elders were available to assist us and over eight hours of work was completed leaving the building looking younger.
Better together.
Second stop: Greek Evangelical Church – island of Corfu
This is a popular tourist location, receiving over 500 cruise ships each year! We went expecting to paint the outside of the church, but the weather changed our plans. We went to plan “B” and painted a concrete spiral staircase inside. The outside marble landing leading into the front of the church was in need of re-caulking as well. There were six members of their church who worked with us that day.
Better together.
Third stop: Greek Evangelical Church of Nikaia – central Athens, an older neighborhood
This church has three stories and the inside of the church had not been painted in over 20 years. We worked on the third floor which has six classrooms, bathrooms, the pastor’s office and a conference room. With the help of six individuals from the church, we quickly completed these rooms and the rest of the third floor.
Better together.
Message from Pastor Tasos
Hello!
Ι wanted to thank you again so much for your help, love, generosity, availability and hard work. The final result was great! Your love inspired people of our church and they formed a team to do various small projects in our church building.
Once again,
Thank you very VERY MUCH!
Blessings,
Tasos
Fourth stop: Greek Evangelical Church – Piraeus
In September 2023, we had a team come to paint the entire sanctuary. We came back to install new LED lights on the columns on each side of the sanctuary. We were able to reconnect with the pastor and an elder of this church and volunteered at their homeless day center that afternoon.
Better together.
Bonus stop: Voula House – Voula
Being flexible is always necessary when on a mission trip . Working on a refugee apartment building in Voula was not on the schedule. We found out they had a studio apartment that needed ceiling repairs and painting before they could move a refugee family in and our team jumped in to help. The team selflessly chose to use their last day of the mission trip to work on this apartment rather than to have time off. We worked with seven refugees who helped paint and plaster the ceiling in the apartment, the hallway and another apartment bathroom.
Better together.
Why send work teams to Greece?
First, we have many very handy individuals at PV who love to serve and feel that the best way to serve is to offer their skills in acts of service. Unlike most Americans who have homes, most Greeks live their entire lives in apartments and do not have the opportunity to do DIY projects at home. They do not have the experience or know how to complete these projects. Because of this, most of the Greek churches have not been painted for over a decade or two and do not have members who know how to paint.
When we go, we insist we work with Greek volunteers everywhere we work so that we can teach them skills needed to help maintain their own church. This time together also gives our team the opportunity to build relationships, learn about Greece and Greek life, give encouragement, and display Christ-like love.
We also taught HoOmAn, a refugee from Iran, how to plaster the walls and ceiling of the refugee house. He will now be able to do this type of repair when it is needed instead of waiting for us to return. The old saying, give a man a fish and he eats one meal, teach a man to fish and he will feed himself for many days. We are teaching our Greek friends to fish.
Much needed work was accomplished, friendships were formed, and future mission opportunities were discovered and planned. We were all spiritually changed knowing that God’s Kingdom is so much larger than our personal neighborhoods/cities. Our team will always cherish the new friendships created that will last for eternity.
We are better together.