Solidarity for refugees

Do you remember I met Father Christoper at Lighthouse.  Father Christopher has lived on Lesvos for many years, and actually leases the land on which Lighthouse is situated himself.  He is a well loved and respected figure on the island and works tirelessly to help the refugees. I have attached a short 2 min extract from a video interview below.

I was working in the Dirty Girls tent at Lighthouse Camp when the Father walked in – Ameeta (a Dirty Girl and activist) told him that she liked his costume.  With a laugh he said “I am a priest!”.  We then had a question and answer session with him – its not often that you have the opportunity to talk to a Greek Orthodox Priest.  It was clear from the first 2 minutes that he was a very open, deeply compassionate and caring man, religious of course – but in a fully inclusive way, with humanity at the core, regardless of religion. I have a lot of respect for this man – he was very happy to be interviewed by Nina (a natural interviewer).  The extract I have chosen to post is where the Father discusses how how his helping refugees who are primarily Muslim does not interfere with his religious commitments as a Priest.  One Love.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

How can you describe Moria camp? .. its very difficult . I did not spend much time there, but I feel the urge to return and help, the need is great.  If my circumstances were different – I would be planning the next trip there in the next couple of weeks.  Instead, I have allocated the last of kindly donated funds to’ Better Days for Moria’.

What is Moria like? It is a tragic place..there are not enough supplies and so many unpredicatable factors (such as; the weather/ donations/number of boats) which make it very difficult to plan what is needed… and there is human suffering on a massive scale.

A small story of my time in Moria…..

I helped a Syrian lady when I was in Moria camp, she spoke no english and so everything was hand signals and gestures.  This young woman (about 30 year old) was 2 months pregnant with an 8 month old baby girl.  The baby had a cold, was hungry, wet and had a dirty / leaky nappy.. I managed to find clean / dry clothes and shoes (some I bought earlier from the local Lidl)  for the lady and clean nappies, wipes, clothes, food and a snowsuit for the baby (well I brought the food for the mum but she didnt eat anything and fed the baby the rice).  She asked me to carry the baby to the tent as her hands were full (bottle, nappies, wipes etc) which I did .. then I left her to go own way.

I often think of this lady and her young family – I wonder where there are and have they managed to find some peace.

But this is a real drop in ocean … there are millions of families in this situation .. my help was small .. no -miniscule if you look at this tradegy in the whole … but maybe this was a tiny pinpick of light to help this lady survive a dark night .. one love x

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

With money donated .. I was able to donate 800 euros to the Dirty Girls of Lesvos .. This is what was provided ..

What a bargain  .. believe me it is dirty work .. but someone’s got to do it .. one love

I have been hearing news from Skala today ..  were I was working just days ago that 2 refugees have died from hypothermia after arriving at the port from across the sea  .. one young woman and a boy aged 4 to 5 ..

This can’t go on .. especially through the winter . The suffering is too much .. . Our EU leaders must work together for a solution .. and now !!!!! One love

I arrived home in the early hours of the morning .. great to see all my family ..

I brought a few small presents home .. but the most special of all was a small elephant I found in a “Dirty Girls ” container .. Lost by a child on their journey to safety .. coincidentally  Alexander has a very similar stuffed toy he cuddles in bed .. his name is Elli and his new friend from Syria is Fant ..

This stuffed toy means a lot to me .. and I hope that Alexander will also grow to appreciate the symbolism. .  This sounds very strange .. even to me .. I find it hard to fully describe .. I hope the child that Fant once belonged to has reached a welcoming place and started to make a new life with his  /her family   .. I have always been an optimist but I know that this hope has a slim chance of becoming a reality in the short term.. one love x

I should have arrived in England yesterday late afternoon  . Instead I am still in athens due to some v bad weather across the islands and many cancelled flights … yesterday I did not know how I was to get home .. there was much uncertainty and I was sitting in the airport for around 17 hours .. as frustrating, tiring and annoying as this was .. I knew that my passport and credit card would open doors for me … I would be ok …

I was warm and dry and the airline put me up in a hotel Last night .. I was tired and slept many hours in a warm bed . . I had hours today to kill so jumped a bus into athens for a little time .. now I am waiting for the transfer bus to the airport  .  What luxury we have .. how blessed we are ..

Lesvos is now in freezing conditions and the camps rivers of mud .. I am not sure how the world became so unbalanced and unfair .. but somewhere along the way it did and we ended up on the right side of it  . . Whether you are are rich or poor in the UK .. you have rights and privileges many do not have .. I have mixed feeling .. boy am I glad I am not in Moria camp right now hoping I get help and compassion as well as passage into Athens.. but I still find the relief i feel  hard to compute without guilt pushing through the emotion .. one love x

This afternoon was spent sorting wet clothes for the Dirty Girls on the beach and also spending time with a Greek group who also  have a camp on Skala beach ..

You can’t help but feel emotional when sorting little people’s clothes .. baby grows and small shoes

I picked up a small elephant teddy which is so similar to the one my 7 year old hugs in bed … I have taken it to give it a new home .. sad that a child has lost their comfort toy but pleased that the have made it this far safely.

Whilst sorting these clothes some Greek anarchists insisted that we join them for some Greek food .. They were so welcoming and clearly cared deeply for the refugees.

Yesterday this group helped many refugees who arrived wet and cold on the shore .. there were 40 children aged 10 months to 10 years who were clothed and fed.  The children drew some poignant pictures which were displayed in the camp ..

I don’t think they need much explanation .. one love x

This morning I met some refugee families from Afghanistan .. very sweet kind and gracious people ..

Ali on the right was so chatty wanting to tell his story .. With limited English and some help from a friend he told us how there are bombs day and night in Afghanistan. . His town was bombed and they had no choice but to flee with his family .. he talked about the boat from Turkey to Greece and how the motor cut out on the crossing .. The women and children were crying and Ali looked into the water and saw a shark .. he laughed saying that he kept quiet about this.. The crossing took 6 hours leaving all wet and exhausted. .

I asked where they will go from athens and very sadly they told me that they didn’t know .. They just wanted to be safe and lead a normal life .. Ali was a professional swimmer in Afghanistan.

The boy in the middle .. Hamed was so sweet he was caring for Carolina the lamb .. guiding her away from the fire .. at a couple of years younger than my son Ben I feel sad that he has been displaced in this way .. kids want to feel secure and know where they will lay their head next ..

Mohamed on the left was with his wife and 2 daughters aged around 4 and less than 1 year old ..

The guy on the right speaks 5 languages. . He spoke to me in perfect English and to kim in perfect Dutch .. he loves his country and had a good life there .. but had to leave to be safe .. such a friendly gentle man .. making the journey with his beautiful wife.

What can I say .. This situation is just not right .. I wish them all the luck in the world .. They were given food,dry clean clothing,chai and put on a bus to register at Moria .. they waved and smiled as thet left to continue their journey  .. I hope where ever they end up they receive the warm welcome they deserve … one love ..

Had a late shift yesterday at Moria camp .. It was very moving ..what the volunteers have achieved here us considerable but still much more is needed before winter truly sets in ..  I will write more in depth later as I am now off to lighthouse for the morning shift .. listening to the wind I hope no boats come today ..

Today I went over to Moria to the camp where people are brought to register with a kind Canadian called Robbie.. The area we were directed to is nicknamed ‘afghan hill’ .. The camp was is need of some supplies so robbie and I offered to go shopping and split the costs using donor money .. we managed to get most things which was quite an achievement :)…

The afternoon was spent putting up and cleaning large tipi tents .. The need was great as within seconds the tents were occupied by family groups ..all exhausted from travelling .

One boy who was only about 10 came looking to reserve a tipi for his family .. luckily there was one free for the generations of his family to occupy and rest ..

A young boy of around 12 was trying to entertain his 2 year old brother .. really looking after him .. of course my thoughts go to my own sons .. I can’t imagine having to go through the trauma these families have gone through ..

Tomorrow I have night shift at the Moria camp .. one love x