Greece: In love with Jesus’ Mission

[vc_row][vc_column][vc_column_text]”Today I surrender to You, with all that I am; I give you my whole life, the best story … because I am passionate about Your Mission!”  (original text in Spanish:  “Hoy me entrego a Ti, con todo lo que yo soy; Te doy mi vida entera, la historia mejor… porque apasionada estoy de Tu Misión!”)

With these words, sung by Sr. Clara, on behalf of the Greece “community in movement”, a journey was finishing and a new journey was beginning. On the 9th of May, we had been welcomed in Athens by the JRS staff, volunteers and, above all, by the beautiful smiles of the adult refugees and the hugs and kisses of their small children. They had helped to prepare and clean our house, which is just on the third floor of JRS Greece building.
Representing the Euro-zone, Sr. Anna-Maria Kofler and myself, accompanied our Sisters Ada, Rastislava and Clara, as they entered a new reality, full of joy and enthusiasm. With a great passion, they had accepted to leave the known… and to embrace the unknown, for the service of the most vulnerable among the refugees in Greece.

During this time together, we all felt that the new Dream was becoming a reality, as we witnessed the joy of the Sisters, the JRS staff, the volunteers and all the refugees we met.  And today (15th of May), with our eyes filled with tears, and our hearts filled with gratitude, we left the new community in Athens… feeling, at the same time, that we did not leave them; instead, we brought each one in our hearts. They represent all of us, SSpS, as they offer their hands, their feet, their voices, their hearts to those, whose lives they touch over there… and, yes, in such a short time, we witnessed so much suffering in Athens!

At the same time, during these days together, there were so many experiences of love and care for each other, so many moments of sharing faith and life and joy… and it was a gift also, to touch a bit more the reality of refugees. It was truly a blessed time!

We came back with a strong feeling of gratitude to our loving God, because our three Sisters Ada, Rastislava and Clara revealed to be truly “in love with God’s mission”, as Clara sung yesterday.

Maria José Rebelo, SSpS

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