As I am traveling back home to America I am thinking back on all the God has done with me and through me.  I am going to miss Greece and the Greek people especially Manolis, who God allowed me to connect with.  When I woke us this morning God laid it on my heart to see Manolis one more time before I left and give him an Olympic pin that was given to me from a friend about 1 year ago to wear during my time in Athens.  It was an American Flag and Greek Flag put together with the Athens 2004 logo Olympic pin.  It was special to me because it showed a friendship between Greece and America.  So I went over to the Internet café where Manolis works as soon as I could and gave him the pin.  When I saw him he was surprised that I was there because last night I meet Manolis and two of his friends at a café to just talk more about our lives and say goodbye.  I call Manolis and arranged this time.  That was an awesome time together.  We talk about a lot of different things from, dating, to relationships, sex, love, family and what God has to say about all of that.  I tried to speak truth into each of those guys lives of God’s plan for their lives.  It was a special night of sharing our lives.  I think we sat and talked for over 2 hours.   Anyways, I gave Manolis the pin and told him he was a special friend to me and he looked at me and said “You are a good friend” and we did a sort of man hug and said goodbye again.  I pray that the Olympic pin would remind of me and all that we talked about.  I know God used me in those guys lives to show that God is very real today! 

Another thing in I learned was how to truly receive from God all that HE wants to give.  Jesus truly wants to pour out his blessing and love into our lives everyday.  But a lot of times I don’t choose to receive the blessing because I think I have to work somehow for the blessing when he just might want to just give and give more into me.  God has done that as I was on this trip.  I have been so blessed to see the country of Greece and the beauty in it and all the things I got to experience from going to a Greek Island to eating some glorious Greek food.  It was amazing!!  I am so thankful for a God who wants to truly bless HIS children with good and perfect gifts (James 1:17)  And as the blessings come from God I will turned them back to PRAISE to God!!

As a team during most of the mornings, we would have powerful worship times that were amazing!  I believe that through our worship it was like breaking down strong holds in the nation of Greece…  We would sing/pray for freedom and God presence to break through the nation of Greece!  It was awesome and I believe that was another reason why we were there to sing God’s praises in that nation and declare the beauty of the Lord!

Also another thing that moved me so much was the testing and refining of God during this trip.  I feel more ALIVE when I am being tested by God… God was testing me on how to wait on HIM more and totally trust HIM with what my next step is.  One devotion that was given one morning by Jon Penn was so right on what God does in all of us.  Below is a simple graph of the process God take us through…

Confidence ---> Disorientation --> Reorientation (then start all over again)

Persecution of my faith has become more real since being on this trip.  While we were there in Athens, Greece we were told over and over again that we could not just say, “Jesus Saves” from any stage but we had to be more subdued about it because the City of Athens committee would shut us down quick.   Also, we were told that at some places we could not hand out stuff (like gospel track stuff) after our performance because it would draw attention to us and we would be investigated of what we are doing and giving out.  There were a ton of security all around the whole city of Athens and especially where we performed.  Another crazy thing that happened while we were there was the Agora House, which was the local church we were working with, was in the local Athens paper saying that this church is getting a new teaching against the Orthodox church and are enticing people with water to get them to come their church.  The local paper also put pictures of the gospel tracks we where handing out as well.  The city was truly against us but I am reminded of the verses in I Peter 4:13-16 “But rejoice that you participate in the sufferings of Christ, so that you may be overjoyed when his glory is revealed. If you are insulted because of the name of Christ, you are blessed, for the Spirit of glory and of God rests on you. If you suffer, it should not be as a murderer or thief or any other kind of criminal, or even as a meddler. However, if you suffer as a Christian, do not be ashamed, but praise God that you bear that name."   I am so blessed that I can serve the Lord in that way and be a witness of HIS love and truth to the Greek people even knowing that others were against me.  All Glory and honor to the King of Kings!

 God bless you!
Todd.