This morning’s devotional in the basement is brought to us by Jimmye. His primary refugee helpers, James and two friends, came into the basement with Chris in the middle of the devotional. They stood and listened. We have found out that two of them are Christians. One said he does not have a religion. Yesterday, the three refugee helpers went to the Hub with Pete. James not only is a great painter, he is also an electrician. We have identified James as the person to lead fellow refugees to continue the painting and other work we have started after we leave. Chris and Pete agree with us. The Hub needed some electrical work done and they got it all fixed. After doing the work all three asked if they could go to church there. Of course, the answer was Yes! None of the ministry staff is allowed to pick them up but now that they know where it is located they can walk or take a tram there. During the devotional time Sam went with Pete to the “Home Depot” where they picked up a few more supplies and a big picnic table/bench kit for the garden area that Joe and his helpers are working on.
This morning we pretty much finished up the 1st floor, all except for the blue stripe on the 2nd hallway wall. The walls on this hallway are not textured so the stripe will work well here. Ali from Palestine is working hard to get the walls and ceiling painted. He is insistent on doing the majority of the work himself. He is fast with the roller but not neat! Paint on the floor, paint on the door frames, paint on him.
We’ve received word that Jay and Teanna Sunberg will be at Hotel Porin about 12:30. They have been at home in Budapest for the last few days and are now traveling with their girls to the Croatia coast for a little vacation. So our lunch will be with them. For the last couple of days Dana placed some big blankets out on the lawn, under the trees, and women and children have been sitting out there with her working with beads and strings to make bracelets. Today even some of the younger men are joining them. Teanna loved seeing them all sitting there visiting and being together. We then took the Sunberg’s around to see the garden where they were amazed at the transformation! Joe and his helpers were putting the picnic table together. Then up to the 1st and 2nd floors. Teanna had seen this before we started and was thrilled with the results. Not just with the painting but with the fact that we had involved refugees and helped them see past their current situation. They didn’t have to just sit in their rooms. They could help out and take “ownership”. So many of them are highly educated and skilled people. They’ve been thrown into a situation they didn’t ask for and didn’t want. We are happy to show God’s love to them and maybe encourage them just a little. After about an hour the Sunberg’s left and continued onward toward the coast while we went back to work.
Just after lunch we notice an ambulance at the front door. I don’t know who that was for but apparently it is not uncommon. We also have noticed several police milling about the lobby today. It is a common site to see several Hotel Porin security guards around but not police. We also notice a refugee sitting on a chair with his hands behind his back and a policeman standing next to him. I’m assuming this man was handcuffed. We mentioned it to Chris and he said the man had gone on a rampage, broken into some offices, destroyed some computers, and broke other things. He assumed the person was probably reacting to receiving a negative request for asylum.
Katie is quite tired so asked Pete if he could take her back to the apartment early. Tracie went with her. They left about 2 or 3 p.m. The rest of us worked until 5:30, finishing up the last touch ups with the painting, the yard work and putting all the equipment and supplies into a locked room on the ground floor.
By this time Ali was finished with painting the hallway. Yes! There would be time to mark off a little section of the hall to paint some of the blue stripe on it. Not all the way down the hall but enough that maybe others can see the vision and continue with finishing it. We also worked today on gathering up all the gifts we had brought for the kids at Porin. Oh my, 16 people can gather up lots of stuff!! We have been told that all gifts must go through the Red Cross here at Porin. That way things get distributed where needed and no favoritism is shown. We did ask Ashley and Emily to go through everything and pick out what they wanted for the Nazarene church and themselves, personally. They took several craft items, coloring books, etc. for the kids at the church and some lotions and makeup for themselves. Apparently makeup is quite expensive in Croatia. Several had brought extra suitcases that they were planning to leave here so we had one full suitcase of items for babies. That suitcase was given to Save the Children. The other three stuffed suitcases and several bags were taken to the Red Cross office, full of school supplies, additional craft items, lotions, makeup, manicure sets, socks, toys, etc.
Jenni & I gave some of the gifts (lotions, makeup and manicure sets) to some of the women we had developed special connection with. Shandy from Kurdistan received some. She told us she was accepted for asylum and was going to be moving out of Porin to her own apartment. It’s just a small one room apartment that she will receive for free for two years but she can also get a job now, if she can find one, and save up for a larger place soon. We gave a gift to Lial. What a beautiful, sweet, Godly woman! I had forgotten that I also wanted to give her one of the scarfs we had so Wonda took it to her room. Wonda told her it was from the whole team because we love her. She broke out in tears. We pray that she and E. will be granted asylum. We also gave to Isuf’s wife. Since his acceptance of Christ she has not been seen around very much. We must reach out to her, especially. Jenni also gave gifts of toys and coloring books to their children, Art and Rina. A little time later, while I was painting the stripe on the wall, I felt a presence near me. I looked and Isuf’s wife was standing quietly there. She took my paint pan from me and stood right by my side, not saying a word, but smiling. She stayed there until I was completely finished with the painting, then hugged me and left.
While painting that stripe we were also joined by Jabar, who wanted to help in some way. He had helped Joe today and now finished up for me. I think we are done for the day and the rest will have to be finished by others, hopefully the refugees who helped us and those we have identified as leaders for the job. When we were leaving the hotel we found Isuf and his wife standing just at the edge of the park across the street from Porin. They were waiting for us and gave all of us hugs. Tears were evident. Eli and Art gave big bear hugs to each other. It was amazing how those two bonded in these few days.
Today, instead of being taken to our apartment after work by Chris we are taken to KFC with a part of the city center team. It takes two trips in cars from KCF to Porin and back to get everyone there. We caught the tram from there to go to the center. Once there we noticed a big group of people gathered around the horse statue with flags and some yelling out. We couldn’t tell if it was a rally or protest or what. Not wanting to be involved in anything we quickly got on a tram and headed to our apartment. We found out that when Jenni & Vito arrived in the center square the event also included riot police in full gear and all were headed down the street towards the area where their apartment was. They quickly avoided the group and went on home. Apparently it was all in observance of their independence of 25 years ago.
This evening is free time for the team. Each have been given 100 Kuna for dinner and they can eat where they want. We went back to our apartment, cleaned up and headed, with Clarence & Wonda to city center. The Hawkins went down the street to McDonalds and we waited at the horse statue for Jenni & Vito. We also met up with the rest of the team who all decided to go to one of the cafes with outside dining that are everywhere. Unfortunately, the one they picked was reservations only for the outside tables so we ate at their little, teeny tiny inside restaurant. The food was very good, and with very large portions served on long wooden platters. It was late when we finished eating so most of the team split up and went home. Of course, some continued shopping for awhile also. Gotta get that retail therapy done!
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