An Afternoon with God

The Parthenon was glorious on this July afternoon, as I stood preaching to a group of young people near my age. "Jesus died for all of us so our souls would be"eternal" if we believed the truth. You see he's the messiah. He's coming back for us who believe," gesturing to the crowd. "He loves us so much. Can you imagine a love worth dying for, a love that would erase the sins we create everyday. You see, it was sin that needed to be cleansed. So when you come back here remember: We are his people! He loves us that much!" Every one didn't speak. We sat in silence until a hand raised. It was a mother with her infant child. She came forward, " I know he loves us, but bad things still happen. Why doesn't he come to us now?" I inhaled and said, "Well, he's coming, maybe not today or tomorrow, but don't forget a lot of the people have yet to believe in him. God wants to save as many as he can. Everyone person counts, no matter what they've done. The more who believe just might bring Jesus's coming closer." I also lectured, "God's not responsible for bad things. Satan tempts us into doing things to hurt God and our community. We must not give in to it! I want all of you to pray and tell God all your concerns. God is always there to listen. Don't feel lie your burdening him. You aren't. He wants you to come to him when your in trouble or in doubt." Before I ended my speech I prayed on behalf of the group, blessing them; praying that they can look beyond our world and realize there's light as well as darkness. "That's what we act on!" I shouted, before repeating an Amen.

During lunch I opened my lunch box, and retrieved the lentil soup that Nikki had made for me before leaving the house that day. A man came to sit near me. I wasn't aware who he was until he spoke. "That was an interesting speech, Miss." The voice belonged to Marcus. I took a huge swig form my water bottle before I looked at him. "Miss, I would like it very much if you would speak to my boys. I want whats best for them, but they don't believe God exists. I believe you can help them." Marcus awaited my reply. I was speechless, but gave a quick nod in his direction. "Well, what's on your agenda today?" Marcus spoke with a gentleness in his voice. "I am on my way to go see friends of mine, other missionaries here in Athens." I said nervously.  Marcus nodded and mentioned, " Do you want to hang out afterwards?" I thought to myself whether I was here to go off with men I hardly knew, especially if he was thinking of this on terms of a "date". Maybe he just needed a friend. "OK," I said, " But I cannot be out late. The people I'm with will worry where I am."

After my meeting with the other missionaries, I met Marcus by a local fishing dock. "Have you ever fished before, Miss?", he asked. "With my father", I replied, when I was very little." Marcus laughed, "Then let me show you a brief refresher coarse!" His laugh was very attractive. I was beginning to feel stirring for this man I had met not so long ago. I am here to preach! I recited in my head ten times. I realized my eyes were closed, so I opened them, and saw a blue sea with purple clouds on the horizon. We were already moving away from the dock when I realized a storm was possibly about to come. Instead of feeling afraid, I felt calm. Perhaps, because of the time Jesus had silenced the storm with a boat full of disciples.

As we got out farther I saw lightning in the air. I was always fascinating with storms when I was little. In my teens, I thought of them as romantic, and still felt the same. As the wind blew through my curls, I reach for Marcus's hand without realizing. He looked up, so I said, "I think there's a storms coming towards us." Marcus replied, "There are always storms brewing on Earth. We just need to find the courage to paddle through them." I agreed a hundred percent from a biblical viewpoint. As we got closer, he anchored and cast his line out. As I cast my line out, a clap of thunder roared. I counted until I saw lighting. 30 minutes. I reached in my bag for my book, and leaned back on the iron bar of the boat. Without realizing, I fell asleep.

I was floating in mid air, looking down at my body. But I wasn't scared. I felt more love than could be described at the time. I felt God cradling me in his arms. Marcus was trying to shake me awake, but I felt at peace. I heard him swear, and then he was trying to bring me back through CPR. "Don't be afraid!" I tried to shout. "It's OK". But he couldn't hear me. I felt a tug on my soul. I knew what was happening. I was coming home. Finally!  Happiness surrounded me. Then I heard a voice in my ear, "It's not your time!" As I heard the voice I was descending down back towards my body, which was really an empty shell in the sea. I felt a THUMP THUMP THUMP ringing in my ears! "No, I don't want to go!" Then I felt my self breathe, and I was back in my body. 


I awoke to lips brushing mine, and raindrops dripping on my skin...or tears I began to realize. Marcus was crying. I opened my eyes. "Don't cry," I said, "Don't be afraid." Marcus said, "You weren't breathing!" I said in a peaceful voice, " I felt His presence, Marco. It's the best feeling that I've felt, though it's hard to describe." Marcus looked at me, and I could tell I frightened him. He didn't say a word, but then I couldn't think of a word to say on my way back to shore. As I stepped onto the dock, he turned me around and kissed me. I said, " Thank you for a wonderful trip." We broke apart, and the tension between us was weird. I hadn't come to the realization that there was more between us yet. So I walked back, and felt him staring at me, so I whispered to him, "God loves you. You can't imagine how much, and your meant for something great. Don't forget!"

     

Life in Ruins

I arrived at the airport in Greece. It was sunny there, and the humidity in this small  area was enough to make me sweat gallons! The pastor was waiting for me there. He smiled, introducing himself as John. I smiled back. He was so nice to meet me at the airport. We went through the Greek language and traditions to the point where I could recite it back to him. He seemed satisfied. Then we walked out into the open air and he saddled me up on a gray donkey. I fanned myself frequently. The white washed walls of the city amazed me, and I found myself amazed at how daily life went here. One person, an elderly lady, stared at me like I was an alien. We kept riding and finally I slipped off my donkey and introduced myself to the people I was staying with. A young woman introduced herself as Nikki. She was very gracious. She lived with her daughter in a small house struggling in need of repairs. Her daughter, Lena, talked about anything and EVERYTHING being in her "early-teens". She asked tons of questions. By the end of the day I felt like the family and I had known each other a long time. Her mother made a delicious green bean casserole for dinner later that evening. We talked for hours before the pastor signaled it was time for him to leave. He smiled and I smiled back, and then he drew me into a hug. "May the Lord bless you on your journey."I helped Nikki with the bed linens, as she left to go check on Lena. I realized they didn't have a phone or television. I pulled out my bible and read the instructed passages John said I should read before the next day's activities. As I closed my eyes I soon fell asleep. I was dreaming...of home: Mom was making taco salad and dad was watching the news and in a flash...ruins everywhere, no one was around. I screamed for help thinking this was a natural disaster. I turned around to see a man in gold robes. He held out his hand for me. We were flying through the sky. He had blood stains on his wrists from where nails appeared, and a crown of thorns. I knew him, and automatically wept. I cried and he held me to his chest. 


When I awoke Lena was shaking me, but I remembered it vividly. I knew the man, Jesus, sent me here to help this family realize his awesomeness, and others as well. I told Lena all of my dream. Afterwards, she stared at me watching what I'd say next, but I didn't know what to say. There were no more words. 

During breakfast, Nikki put out a box of cereal. She hadn't gotten the milk yet, so I volunteered to go into the market for her.

The market was crowed. Men were talking to each other while their wives gossiped about the increasing prices. A fisherman selling fish he'd caught was having no luck so I bought a fish with the money I had. " Bless you, ma'am!", he shouted. As I bought milk later on, there was a hole in the carton and it spilled through the bag. Ugh!!!! As I went to get another carton from the sales woman, I bumped into a man selling bread and olives. He saw my anguished state, and put money on the counter before I could protest. I looked around to to thank him but he was gone. I was aware that he dropped his wallet when he disappeared. I knew I had to find him and give it back when I saw him. There was a picture of three skinny boys next to him. I asked around to see if anyone knew him. One lady  identified him as as Marcus Bellini, an Italian merchant who came every summer to trade. She pointed to his house up the road.

As I knocked a boy came and called, "Uncle!" The man who came was indeed the man who payed for me. I handed him the wallet, as he stared into my eyes. They were sea-green and blue. "Thanks." I told him about the lady who directed me here. He nodded. Then he did something unexpected. He smiled and kissed my forehead, uttering a few words in which sounded like a prayer.

Later that night I told Nikki what happened. She told me the boys in the photo were orphans since there parents were killed in a terrorist attack. Marcus claimed to be related before they went to foster homes since he was a friend of the parents. I was shocked at the story, and even more so, because his parents worked the World Trade Center on 9/11. Marcus left Italy to come here and raise them. Their aunt had watched them while he was on business. But he visited often. He was there god-father. I knew this man was called by God to do what he did. I decided I would help him out in anyway I could during my time here. Time is limited, after all.

A Calling to Greece

I looked up at a rainy sky where a small beam of light touched my forehead . I was thinking of Christ at the moment, and how I wanted to become a missionary. "Emily?" someone called to me, pulling me back to reality. Liz was jogging over all-excited the way she gets when she she's a cute actor walk by. We lived in Hollywood so I guess that the norm, here. She didn't know what I decided, no one did. " Hey, Em, guess who I saw?" She said. "Who? That guy on True Blood?" I replied with a smile. "Yes, how did you know?" Liz looked at me puzzled. "He just walked by", I said very calmly. Then I broke out into a giggle. I thought, now is the time to tell her. She'll know soon. "Liz, I'm thinking of becoming a missionary. Isn't that great!", I said jubilantly. Liz  stared a while, and spoke, " Where are you going?" I could see she had tears rolling down as she quickly wiped them away. "Well, they called me and said they need me to travel to Greece. They're having some economic struggles and they need the Lord right now, Lizzie." There its out of my mouth now! Liz tried to smile but she looked worried. "Don't worry, I'll be back once my work is done", I added in. Although I didn't know what the future would bring. How many places would I travel. Would it be dangerous. Would I die? I pushed the thought away, because God would be with me each step on my way in the world. Christ's lessons needed to be taught, and of his disciples.

As I boarded the train all my friends rushed to hug me extra tight, even my parents. Liz was last, " I have something for you". She pressed a rosary in my hand, saying " I made it for you so your be safe." Thanks, Lizzie" as I hugged her super tight. Sara came as well, and she stood aside. Sara had tears running down her face, "Be careful", she said, and started to cry. "It'll be OK, Sara", I said, "God has a plan for all of us, and we must not stop because we're scared." Sara watched with Liz, as I boarded the plane in the JFK station. I sat in my seat, and prayed to God, "Please, keep my friends in the States safe, and bless there lives so they will live to accomplish everything they're here for. Amen." As the plain ascended, it shook a little  until it smoothly grew higher and higher til it was gone, and all around was ocean, and an endless  sky of blue.

                                                    ------TO BE CONTINUED------