Celebrating God’s Mighty Acts

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“But as for me, I will always have hope; I will praise you more and more. My mouth will tell of your righteousness, of your salvation all day long, though I know not its measure. I will come and proclaim your mighty acts, O Sovereign Lord; I will proclaim your righteousness, yours alone.” (Psalm 71:14-16) 

Dear friends and families,  

I greet you all in the name of the Lord. I will praise you, Lord, more and more for you are Emmanuel and I proclaim your righteousness, salvation and mighty acts among us. Amen. I pray that the Lord has been gracious to you, and you have enjoyed God’s mighty acts in your life throughout 2023 and have hope for 2024. I thank you so much for continuing to trust the Lord and allow God to work through you and to bring salvation to many who have not yet received him as their savior. Thank you so much for your prayers, encouragement and financial support, which allow me to witness and proclaim the Lord's mighty acts among refugees in Katerini, Greece.  

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Since November, we have enjoyed the many celebrations of Thanksgiving, Christmas, New Year and Epiphany as celebrated by the Orthodox Church. During these celebrations, all people drew closer to God and remembered how they experienced His mighty acts and tried to obey the “new commandment” that Jesus gave his disciples to love one another. I have a heartwarming story to tell about how two young Ukrainian ladies lived out this commandment to love others.  

One day Nadia and Olga met me at the Education Center for the refugees and asked me to translate for them. At the Education Center, they receive Greek and English lessons and help with finding jobs, housing, schools for the children, medical help, and other matters. The Education Center is located in the School Building of the Greek Evangelical Church of Katerini. There is the kitchen in the church as well where Perichoresis prepares meals for the HUG project to feed the poor and un-housed in Katerini. Nadia and Olga saw how the HUG project operated, and they were moved with compassion and wanted to offer help to the Lord to follow Matthew 25 and feed the hungry.

We went to the kitchen together to talk to the cook, and they asked if they could prepare and pay all expenses for one day’s meal to feed 35 people. The cook told them about the health regulations for certifying the people who cook but said they could watch him prepare the meal. They were very glad; they went to the market and bought all the ingredients for the meal. They then watched the meal being prepared and distributed to the 35 people who joyfully received the hot meal. Nadia and Olga are refugees themselves and responded to all the help that they have received from Perichoresis in this generous act of love.

I was overjoyed too because I had served in the Roma and Hungarian ethnic people in Ukraine for seven years. I thank God that I now have the chance to serve the Ukrainians in Greece. They are kind and appreciative. They go out of their way to help each other and their neighbors in need. Thank you for your support that enables me to be where I can witness and proclaim the Lord’s mighty acts.  

During the past Lenten season, the church held many programs and few concerts. Many Ukrainians attended and were surprised that they did not have to pay to listen to the organ concert. Since then, some Ukrainians have attended Sunday service regularly.  

The board of Perichoresis and Pastor Nikos invited the refugees to celebrate Christmas together. We shared food from all different nations. Delicious food was eaten, conversation was enjoyed and gifts were exchanged.  

Thank God for always giving me new friends. Two sisters invited me to go with them to visit Berea where the apostle Paul preached, and they received the message with great eagerness. You can read about it in Acts 17. 

My family had a special celebration; we celebrated the life of my sister who finished her race and joined the church triumphant to be with the Lord on January 8, 2024. We praise the Lord, for she was a favorite daughter, a joyful sister, an educator, a wife, a mother, a good Samaritan among her neighbors, and a servant of God among her church.  

Thank you so much for continuing to serve God through your partnership with the Presbyterian Church (U.S.A.), the Greek Evangelical Church of Katerini, and me. I pray the Lord encourages you more and more as you proclaim God’s righteousness and salvation locally and among the refugees in Greece.  

Serving Christ the Lord together, 

Nadia Ayoub