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MICHAEL AND MARIA LONG
OUR MISSIONARIES IN GREECE ARE MICHAEL AND MARIA LONG. FOR MORE INFORMATION ON THEIR MINISTRY, CLICK ON THE LINK BELOW. fmcusa.org/fmmissions/michael-and-maria-long/ |
Birthdays Michael - April 16 Maria - June 17
Anniversary August 15
Anniversary August 15
Covid 19 brings BIG changes
Greece has done remarkedly well under the Pandemic. Now we are coming out of lockdown and phasing back to the new way life will be from now on. We have waited it out and now we are starting again. During the lockdown, all we could do was message, WhatsApp and Zoom all the time with the church family. Smaller groups connected by languages of Arabic, Farsi, Greek and English with varying success. The church has been able to make monthly distributions of about 50 bags of food supplies while still keeping social distance and refusing the invitations for tea. One intern named Summer in the picture below shows the excitement from helping one family and making just a brief connection. Yet, big decisions had to made for future.
Greece has done remarkedly well under the Pandemic. Now we are coming out of lockdown and phasing back to the new way life will be from now on. We have waited it out and now we are starting again. During the lockdown, all we could do was message, WhatsApp and Zoom all the time with the church family. Smaller groups connected by languages of Arabic, Farsi, Greek and English with varying success. The church has been able to make monthly distributions of about 50 bags of food supplies while still keeping social distance and refusing the invitations for tea. One intern named Summer in the picture below shows the excitement from helping one family and making just a brief connection. Yet, big decisions had to made for future.
Giving is always a joy
Because of the unpredictable current conditions, we have terminated the rental agreement on three properties: the church, the guest house and the workshop by the end of June. The expense of maintaining unused space was not good stewardship for Lord's work. Sometimes, attendance can be up to 100, but that includes four languages going simultaneously. The future is not clear yet, but it is clearly not what it was. Language groups meeting many times and probably in many places will make the new tomorrow. Ministry will be very different. It is a fresh start into many unknowns. For now, some things are going to storage, other stuff is being shipped to Bulgaria and the rest to the bin. Please pray for us and our congregation as adjustments are made.
The last time that Maria and I were together was March 3. She was unable to fly back to Greece and has stayed with our daughter, Christi. The Lord willing, her flight will not be canceled and come June 16 I will collect her after her Covid 19 test in Athens. Currently, she is in Birmingham, AL with Samia, our co-worker for Arabic ministry. So she has good company.
Because of the unpredictable current conditions, we have terminated the rental agreement on three properties: the church, the guest house and the workshop by the end of June. The expense of maintaining unused space was not good stewardship for Lord's work. Sometimes, attendance can be up to 100, but that includes four languages going simultaneously. The future is not clear yet, but it is clearly not what it was. Language groups meeting many times and probably in many places will make the new tomorrow. Ministry will be very different. It is a fresh start into many unknowns. For now, some things are going to storage, other stuff is being shipped to Bulgaria and the rest to the bin. Please pray for us and our congregation as adjustments are made.
The last time that Maria and I were together was March 3. She was unable to fly back to Greece and has stayed with our daughter, Christi. The Lord willing, her flight will not be canceled and come June 16 I will collect her after her Covid 19 test in Athens. Currently, she is in Birmingham, AL with Samia, our co-worker for Arabic ministry. So she has good company.
Of course, the finances are very bad for everyone during these days. We all will have to get by with less and wait for the economy to recover. Thank your support. It is in hard times that we see the Lord's provision in the small things. God bless you and keep praying for Greece. Michael