ancient ruins {Philippi}

we went out of Thessaloniki to Northern Greece (super close to Turkey) last week.
we were working with a ministry called Operation Joshua (from Hellenic Ministries), distributing Greek and Turkish Bibles to the villages in Alexandroupoli.
on the way there, we decided to stop in Philippi.
we were able to get into the historical area for free (normally there's a fee), but we couldn't stay long.


on our way back to Thessaloniki, we stopped again.
again, the man let us into the historical site for free.
it was epic. :)


i read Philippians and it took on more meaning.
to walk where Paul walked and to read what he wrote to the Philippians, the people that LIVED there. 
it was so cool.
i wish you could have been there. :)

Team Greece! :D

marble statue heads...creepy, huh?

she's seen better days...

where Paul was imprisoned.

(wide view of the prison)

gypsies in greece.

the excitement built as i rode the bus towards the gypsy camp.

not sure of what to expect, i was nervous as well.

i got off the bus and looked down a long dirt road.

we loaded into a car and drove down the bumpy dirt road towards the camp.

as we piled out of the car, an overwhelming smell entered my nose.

i was instantly reminded of the time i went to Mexico a few years ago.

 

the houses were made of random tin and stuff that the gypsies dug out of the trash.

the whole camp was full of trash, but the gypsies don't see it as trashy.
it's normal for them.


the kids were welcoming, full of smiles, and hungry for love and attention.

this is George.
i posted about him before.
when we got to the gypsy camp, he looked like he does in the photo above.
after holding him, giving him a kiss on the cheek, and goofing off with him, he looked like he does in the photo below. :)

it's amazing how showing someone love can change them. :)


i really wish i could take him home with me.

in the gypsy camps, kids get married around age 13

and by the time they're 19, most have two to three kids already.

we talked to a 19-year-old father of two.

he said it's kids raising kids.

gypsies have the lowest status out of everyone in Greece.

even the beggars on the streets are "higher class" than the gypsies.
my heart broke when i saw two little girls peeking out of a house.

all i could think about was how they have no hope.

they'll be stuck there for the rest of their lives.

the kids were very welcoming and receptive.

after i got over the initial shock, i had the best time playing with them.

they were so happy, but i knew they had a hard life.

i just wanted to take them all home with me
and give them the love that they don't get from their teen parents.

can i bring you home with me?

i spent the morning at the gypsy camp yesterday.
the camp feels a lot like a third world country, even though it's in Greece.

it's always fun going there and i adore the kids so much.

this is me and George (i can't say his real name, but it's the Greek/Gypsy equivalent of George, so that's what i call him). 

he is the sweetest kid ever. i want to pack him up in my suitcase and bring him home with me because i love him so much! :)

yesterday, he was content to just let me hold him. <3 

i asked him if i could bring him home with me, but he doesn't speak English, so he didn't know what i said...i just told him to say "naí" (yes). he didn't listen though. haha. ;)


the best part was when i saw a bumble bee (wasp), and taught him to say bumble bee in English. it was the cutest thing ever! and he taught me to say it in both Greek (μέλισσα -pronounced mélissa) and the Gypsy dialect (which i don't remember). i can't wait to go back and see him again!

i made it to Greece!

i made it!
i'm in Greece!
:)

it's been amazing so far. we had the chance to witness to and pray for some African men who were selling handmade bracelets on the streets. i felt a little overwhelmed, but mostly excited. :)

our apartment has a cool view...i woke up this morning, and the first thing i did was take pictures!


then i had some Greek Nutella at breakfast...


and then we went exploring!
 


some random photos that don't fit in my post but i want to post them anyway: