Coming to you live from Cyprus!

     Sorry it's taken me so long to post an update! Our flight went really well but after landing in Larnaca, Cyprus it took me about a week to get over jet lag! As soon as I felt like a normal human again, I felt right at home here! I was warned so much about culture shock, but it hasn't really been a hard adjustment.  So far the only things I miss about America are: water pressure for showers, being able to flush toilet paper, and good coffee. 

     I love being here, but it hasn't exactly been what I was expecting it would be. I had it in my head that we were going to be working daily in the refugee camp, but that hasn't been the case! Because of some riots that have been going on, only the men have been allowed to go in. And it doesn't help that the majority of the locals aren't thrilled about the people who are refugees here.

     We've been encouraged to not to mention to locals that we're here with YWAM and that we're working with refugees because Cypriots won't take too kindly to that. I haven't exactly followed that advice though, because I'm not just here for the refugee people, but for all of the people who don't know God's love. And I think it could be important for someone from Cyprus to know that while they see the people who are refugees as a burden, a little  white girl from America thinks that they are worth flying across the world to befriend and tell them how valuable they are. 

     I've already met so many amazing people through the programs we've been doing. The camp is outside of town, but there is a bus ministry that brings them into Larnaca. I've been helping with a food and clothing distribution program, as well as helping lead some youth group programs at a local church. 

     But my absolute favorite thing has been volunteering as a tutor in an English as a second language class! We have a regular ESL class on Wednesdays and on Fridays we have an ESL Bible study with people from a plethora of different cultures and religious backgrounds. 

     It is so much fun to be able to tell people about Jesus while teaching them English! At first it was weird teaching people who are much older than me, and I was worried about them being skeptical of me, because the only experience I have with this is just that this is the language I speak! But they're the sweetest and they love the fact that I left my home just to come hang out with them, correct their grammar and read them the Bible. 

     I'm praying that as we read together and as I get to share my testimony with them they'll come to see the Bible as more than just a cool story book.

     I still can't believe that I get to do this and I am so, so thankful for this opportunity! Thank you all for your continued prayers!

~Rebecca Rae