Hello! I’m Tessa and I was privileged to spend a week with Vula, seeing the various ministries in and around Thessaloniki and meeting many wonderful people. My friend Johanna and I came from Sweden (where Johanna is from and where I live) to learn about what the Macedonian Outreach and other ministries do in northern Greece. There were many wonderful experiences, but the one that stood out to me the most was our final day in Katerini. We went to the refugee care center and got to have coffee with refugees from Iran. The meeting began with an explanation of the purpose of the center and a few songs. One of the songs was sung in Greek, but Johanna knew it in Swedish and I knew it in English and I thought this was a beautiful representation of all nations and tongues singing together.
After singing I leaned over to the girl next to me and asked her name. She shyly approached our conversation but after a few moments, she started to relax and tell me about who she was and what her life was like. Her family has been in Greece for 5 years and they’re struggling to get asylum. They spoke of the challenges they’ve gone through and how they long for a simple life — one where the children can go to school and be safe. The director of the center explained to them that though there was nothing they could legally do to help them, we can pray to God and He can give us peace in the midst of turbulent times. We can trust that God cares for people and is also burdened by situations of pain and heartbreak.
Many people come through Greece on their way to other countries like Sweden. It was helpful to see the circumstances and the situations of these refugees and I can better understand my friends in Sweden now. There is so much need but I’m so grateful that we serve God who can provide all our needs and cares about each of these people much more than I ever can. It was a blessing to see how many organizations are working together to care for the needs of people in the Balkans and point them to the deepest need that they have, a need for God. Johanna and I learned so much and continue to pray for the people that we met as we trust that God is still working.
Tessa Walsh
Johanna and Vula in front of Vula’s childhood church in Katerini
Tessa at the soup kitchen in Thessaloniki
Vula at the soup kitchen in Thessaloniki
4 Comments
Gary Wallace
August 16, 2022
Tessa, thank you so much for your message and pictures.
These personal observations and your testimony are so important for us all to hear.
Monika Coffin
August 16, 2022
I enjoyed your message. I think what you and Vula are doing to help the refuges is sooo wonderful and life changing for the refuges. God Bless you for all that you do.
My parents and I were German refuges after WW2. And so many people helped us. The Lutheran Church of America sponsored my family so we could come to America. We are forever grateful to the American people who welcomed us and were so generous and kind to us.
Pat McCoy
August 18, 2022
Oh, my dear Vula. How I love reading about all the wonderful things going on during your time ministering to the people that Macedonian Outreach is reaching. You have touched the lives of so many. Praise and thanks be to God GeForce His continuous Provision that you are able to bring and for the servants He has put in place year round. Continued prayers for this meaningful outreach, the good health for all involved and for joy in the Lord. Thank you for all you do.
In His unfailing love,
Pat
Emily Chong
September 1, 2022
Thank you to Tessa and Johanna as they learned so much about the people in this area. Praise God for the help and guidance he has provided through groups like the Macedonian Outreach. I’m so in awe of the help that has been provided. Pray for God’s continual guidance in this ministry. 💕
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