Live by faith

"Faith is living as though the Bible is true despite circumstances (what is happening), emotions (how I feel about it), or cultural trends (what others have to say about it)."

The Eurorelief Chaplin, Tim, would share this faith principle with us every day before we started a shift along with a couple of verses by which we could apply this. How can we walk intentionally through camp interacting with so many people and cultures and demonstrate this?

As I (Aubrey) reflect on the past week, I am looking for those moments and needing those moments to balance the hardship and disappointment I saw in so many faces as they wander through each day. So where did I see God show up?

• In providing basic needs such as meals, clothes, and bedding to families who just arrived in Europe
• In sharing laughter with Deca from Somalia as we kicked around a latex glove balloon one night, even while we faced ridicule from a man of a different culture because I chose to believe that I was not "crazy" for spending time with her
• In sipping tea in the tents of POCs and letting these families be seen and heard
• In watching Abbie serve her heart out during her first mission trip in every task she was assigned
• In seeing Callie build relationships with refugees in a unique way because her skin color is different than the "America" they know
• In watching Jessica step up in a big way to be a steady presence and guide for the single women living in camp
• In serving alongside so many other volunteers that love these people: Lindsey, Kevin, Gemma, Melody, Amy, Steven, Jaal, Rick, Noeami, Joy, Theresa, Megan, just to name a few.

I know each team member could name a dozen more.

Many of these POCs are struggling to have their most basic needs met: food and shelter. They're also having to process so much more about their past and future journeys. We have no idea where our small efforts may lead or what impact they may have. But I choose to have faith that it matters and that it does and will make a difference. When enough of these short moments add up by several Eurorelief volunteers wearing the familiar orange vest throughout camp, people will see Jesus, and lives will be changed.