The American Girl

Well there is a lot I could talk about from my first week in Greece. The camp meant for 1,500 people but is now holding 5,000. The mother I pushed in a wheelchair while she was in labor. The tea time I had with a refugee family. The father that saw his wife and parents shot to death. The night I helped a teenager with her english homework. The silence that fell in my apartment after the death of a four year old girl my squadmate did CPR on. The things I have seen and wish to unsee. The stench of the camp that will forever be engrained in me. The days we pray for supernatural energy because we are exhausted but need to help with housing. Although, being an American in camp is something that needs to be talked about.

There are two responses you get when you tell people you are from America.

“America, no good” is one I have only received a handful of times.

More commonly I receive “oh wow New York City.”
“Where are you from?”
“Can you help me get there.”

The conversation then turns into “Are you married?”
“I’ll give you a ring .”
“You have beautiful eyes and your hair is perfect.”

It is not the response I receive that triggers me. What triggers me is that I am an American.

An American that cannot do anything to get them out of this camp and into a new country to call home. An American that can go home at any time and have the comfort of her bed. An American that has been catered too with the english language being taught all over the world. An American that in the grand scheme does not have to worry about safety like these refugees did. An American that has her family and friends.

As an American we hear about these camps and get different perspectives. We make assumptions but I want to leave you with five things you probably did not know about the refugees.

These refugees were doctors, lawyers, teachers and more.
They left their jobs, families, palaces and more due to the lack of safety. They were successful in their countries but they had to leave if they wanted to live.

2. They care for their people.
There are volunteer translators that are refugees and the compassion they have is unbelievable. When they ask for something they will fight for one another to get what they need. If someone is injured, crying. having a mental break down or fighting a crowd gathers to nurture and help. One translator received his papers to leave but is staying to serve God and live in a small room so he can help the other refugees.

3. Chivalry is real.
The men at camp will bring you tea, coffee and make sure you are comfortable. If they see you carrying bags, shovels, or other equipment you will have two more helping hands because they do not think women should be doing that kind of work. If you are picking up trash they will ask for gloves and a trash bag too. If you look lost (which is so easy for me) they will help with directions to get you where you need to be.

4. 5-18months of camping
The families, single women and men can stay at the camp for a long time. They live in these tents and unfortunate circumstances until they get their papers to move on. They do not know what one day will look like from the next or even what country they will be placed in. They simply wait for answers and live on hope.

5. They are extremely resourceful.
They take what they have and make it work. Tarps, rope, blankets and even food. The other night they were given cheese and tortillas so a family made a fire and cooked quesadillas. They find wood or cardboard and find a purpose for it. It is amazing to me what they have been able to make with the things they do have.

After I left camp the first day I decided to stay out on our terrace in my tent. The thing about this though is I can walk 50 feet to a shower, washer and when it storms I can bring my tent in. The first week at camp has been so amazing in addition to heart breaking. I hold on to the fact I can help in a simple way and shine God’s love through the way I serve these beautiful, strong, brave souls.

4,710 dollars away from being fully funded. I would love for y’all to partner with me as I continue this journey.