From Bro Logan:
Today was a day full of trying to get paperwork for the electrical hook-up at the church building. After waiting in lines, making phone calls, driving to multiple locations in the city, and meeting with people in the know, we still have not completed all of the hurdles but are much closer. While we were occupied with this activity, the ladies did their shopping.
While driving into the city, my phone rang. Another move of God. Several weeks ago when the first team was here with Bro. Knox, the Lord brought a Romanian family toward us during a street meeting. The opportunity for me to witness to them in the Romanian language was a real joy. They had been living in Thessaloniki for about a year. I had given them a tract with my phone number. Today they called while we were driving. Excitedly they asked, “Do you remember us? Have you found a place yet for Bible studies and church? We really want to meet with you as soon as possible. Do you think you could have the building ready for this Sunday? We are looking forward to coming.” We were (are) speechless. They had not given me their phone number but had kept mine.
Tears filled my eyes as I watched the dear man (Gregorios) who had labored as an electrician in our house and the team house speak with Bro. Takis about faith in Christ. We have prayed and loved this man for more than a month now. Gregorios is a hard-working man who loves his family and is searching for the truth. For some reason he sincerely loves us. He has introduced his wife to us and many times has helped us while refusing payment for his services. His countenance and spirit is better than the majority of believers I know. When I ask how he is doing he responds with, “Glory to God”. The man reminds me of Cornelius. He is trying to be a good person, and he is, but he needs to be born again. Please pray for this dear man and his family. He reads all our tracts, hugs us, and openly speaks with us about the Lord while quoting parts of the Bible. Bro. Takis even invited him to visit Zakynthos Island as his guest. He said he had been wanting to visit there for many years and couldn’t believe the offer. He said he wanted to get away from this vile world and go someone peaceful where he can pray to God. Bro. Takis said, “I’ll go with you to the mountain, and we will pray together.” He knows the priests are fake but still has things mixed up doctrinally. PRAY FOR THIS MAN DEAR SAINTS OF GOD. Bear the burden of this man in intercession with us!
Update from Linda and Nicole:
Woke up our first day rested and well. Praise God. The Logans graciously gave up their home for us to stay here with the ladies while Brother Brent and his son stay in the team house with Angelo. They have made it very comfortable for us. What selfless people they are here doing the Lord’s work.
Spent day with Logan family ladies buying groceries and then exploring area around their house with their youngest daughter Lydia. Were able to give out tracts en route. Most accepted, but some refused, telling us clearly they were Greek Orthodox, so were already Christians. One neighbor near their house was especially friendly. When he saw us, he walked over to talk to us. He thanked us for giving him a tract and assured us that he would read it. His name is John. Please pray for John’s salvation. He has what looks like a decorative Greek Orthodox personal prayer chamber in his front yard.
After dinner with the Logan ladies, Linda and I ventured out to learn to catch a bus here to help with getting around. The Logan ladies walked us to the bus stop near their house, and we made it successfully from there to the main bus station at IKEA and then back to their house by about 11pm. En route while learning about the bus routes/system, we were able to pass out many tracts personally, left some on vehicle car doors, and had a few conversations with those that could speak English. Big crowds there at the bus station…but a rough crowd as it was late evening time.
At the main bus station at IKEA, we had a deep conversation with a Greek Orthodox security worker. We started the conversation by asking him to read John 3:16 out loud to us in Greek from the tract. He gladly did, and he even translated it into English for us. His English was very good. When we asked him if he believed what he had read, he quickly and confidently answered yes and that he was a Christian. However, after a few more questions, he soon went on to explain that he was Greek Orthodox, had recently seen the priest, which was his “window to God” (his words), and he believed everyone can have their own religion in their own country. When we asked him if he had ever read the Bible, he said that he did not have a Bible, nor could he trust the Bible anyways because it was just written by men. He admitted he did not know where he was going when he died, but insisted on believing in his own way. He is 24 and his English name is George. Please pray for a change of heart in George and that he’d humble himself before the true God and Savior Jesus Christ.
While I continued to talk with George, Linda began witnessing to 3 teens at the bus station. They did not express any interest in the tracts, and mostly mocked Linda, but they ended up riding the same bus back that we did, and opened up to practice some basic English expressions with us.
Many of the people here have been very kind to help and talk to us. Most will receive a tract. The last soul we handed a tract tonight on our walk home (a young girl probably in her early 20s) from the bus station responded by smiling, and saying in perfect English, “Thank you!”
Tomorrow we will get to begin our day by helping to clean the building where the church will meet on Sunday for the first time. What a privilege to be here for the first service!
Grocery shopping with Logan family ladies
Night bus crew witnesser
Reading a tract on the bus