Most of the Nea Zoi staff at a Team Retreat last month.
Good reports keep coming in about the 'escapee' from last month. She seems to be adjusting well in the shelter and they are working on getting her legal papers so she can travel home to Romania.
In other news, last week I met with 2 girls that want new jobs. One is not working on the streets anymore and the other girl is still there until she can find something else. While it's encouraging to meet girls that are asking for new work, it's so frustrating for me to not be able to hand them something on a silver platter! I've read of organizations in other countries (such as Cambodia) that can give the girls sewing positions or domestic house-cleaning jobs. Sadly, we can't do that in Athens....we don't have jobs to offer and the economy is crummy in general. But we are glad to come along side them as they search....network with them, sit with them while they make phone calls, help them read the Greek newspaper ads. Hopefully our encouragement and support is a wee bit helpful!
But I would love to see a Greek businessperson (someone who would know how to jump thru all the Greek bureaucracy hoops!) want to open a coffee shop to employ a couple of our girls. He/she would have to view it as "mission" because the girls have tough backgrounds and varied levels of experience or qualifications....they may work one wk and then not show up the next! But I love the idea of business as mission. Hmmm, I'll have to pray about that more intentionally/specifically...
In the meantime, please pray for ideas, faithfulness and wisdom as we work with these girls. And for open doors to new life...
ps...if you are reading this today/Thursday, I'm headed to our 12:00-2:00am outreach! Please shoot a prayer! Thanks!
1 comment:
I think the coffee shop idea is brilliant!! I'll be praying with you about it!
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