November 28, 2009

Dear Pastor and friends,

This summer was a busy summer, we had baptisms, weddings, and people get saved! The month of August the Greek people vanish for the summer and get a one month vacation. So the city of Athens was empty, even through economic crisis everyone left for the Islands and villages. However, we were busy working at the Oasis Refugee Center with my in-laws George and Luisa Dimakos almost everyday of the week. My father-in-law and I have been taking turns teaching Greek to the Iranian and Afghanistan refugees. We have seen several saved and baptized in the Iranian Baptist Church, it has been a blessing to be a part of this ministry.

On Saturdays, we helped the Oasis start an Arabic night: Ezzat from our church preaches in Arabic to about eighty to hundred people from Somalia, Egypt, Eritrea, and Sudan. We help out in preparing a hot meal to feed them and they also get a bag of groceries. What an opportunity to have people to come and listen to God’s Word while they wait for a hot meal. Please pray that God will open their hearts to Jesus!

The church has been growing. The ladies have two Bible Studies, one in Greek and another in English. We have a faithful group of people who enjoy studying the Bible on Friday nights for both Greek and English speakers. On Sundays we have an English service which I get a chance to preach sometimes, followed by a Greek Service and an English Sunday School, which I get to teach. I am thankful for the privilege to preach God’s Word.
God has blessed our church with a new couple that came to church. They both received Christ as their Savior on a Friday night, and the following Sunday they got married in our church. God is awesome! Pray for them, as they grow and develop their personal relationship with Christ.

Amalia just turned two years old; she is now in the terrific two’s. This is a fun age, full of curiosity because she wants to learn so much and test her boundaries too, which makes it challenging for us. She has been a huge blessing in our lives and ministry.

There is a great pandemic here in Athens, several have died with the swine flu already, and since we are working at the Oasis dealing with the refugees, we have a greater chance of picking up viruses. All the workers there have been sick and my whole family was sick during this Thanksgiving week. Please pray for all of us to feel better soon

We are thankful for your prayers!

Serving together for His glory,


James and Cristina Sinde