From Athens...

On our first working day here in Athens, we experienced a taste of what it is like to work among the immigrant population here. 

Rashid (not his real name) is a Pakistani who fled to Greece 7 years ago. A convert to Christianity now working with the immigrant population in Athens, he was our escort on our first afternoon out in the immigrant districts of the city. 

Our trio “assignment” (in addition to getting a feel for the city) was to pray and to observe one of the teams we are helping to train in action. 

We started with lunch at a small Pakistani restaurant off Onomia Square, a central part of Athens. As we were enjoying the good food and better company – getting to know more about each other – some people entered the restaurant and engaged with the owner officiously. It was a small place, which made it distinctly noticeable, and as they were dressed like anyone else off the street it was a bit confusing. Rashid quietly informed us that they were from the tax department carrying out a surprise inspection. This eventually included coming to our table, collecting our receipt and having the owner go over the bill for our meal to prove he was charging the proper taxes. 

As all this was happening we quietly prayed for all involved, and consciously remained pleasant and at ease. Rashid mentioned that this has recently become more common in the immigrant districts. In addition, this past weekend, the Greek government began a crackdown in the city on the immigrant population. 

Shortly after, as we were on our way up the staircase to the metro platform, a man coming down the stairs ahead of us began speaking loudly and gesturing at Rashid, then abruptly stopped as he saw us with him. When I asked Rashid what that was all about, he said the man had been verbally abusing him as an immigrant. I asked if this happened a lot, and he said much more in recent times. When he came 7 years ago, he said it would happen occasionally, and usually sotto voce. Recently it had become common, more overt and often violent. 

Rashid shared with us about his life growing up in Pakistan in a troubled family situation. His relations with his family became even more strained when he began to question his Muslim faith. After many struggles, he had to leave the family. Having very little money, he embarked on a frought journey by train from Pakistan to Greece, where he had some extended family. Upon arrival, his relatives were not pleased to see him. His eventual conversion to Christianity led to his being rejected by his family, and to his brother petitioning an Islamic court for him to be purged from the family and threatening him with death. 

A bit later we arrived in another square and were sitting under a tree waiting to connect with one of the teams. I noticed a younger man in reflective aviators staring at us from some five meters away. He was dressed casually, but seemed rather intent on us. So I prayed for him as we were talking and, admittedly, kept a bit of an eye out. After a few minutes he moved on. 

About 10 minutes later there was a commotion at one corner of the square. Plainclothes police were conducting a “round-up” operation of immigrants, pulling people aside, checking papers, and loading people onto a bus. And there amongst the police was our fine young man in aviators. 

We walked casually away toward the other side of the square. Rashid told us that he was sure that our presence with him was what prevented them from pulling him aside. He has been arrested in the past. While he now has a legal status in Greece, his papers are currently expired. He has filed for renewal, but it has not come yet, which is quite common. He says what most likely he would have been picked up, hauled to the police station, knocked around and held as they checked his status, then released. 

We decided it would be best to head back after this. On our way through another metro station, Rashid was a bit ahead of us. As we rounded a corner behind him, we saw a man shoving Rashid and shouting at him. When we walked up the man turned away, and we moved down the platform together. Rashid said that the man had been cursing him. 

The economic troubles of Greece have increased the tension for immigrants – both legal and otherwise. Rashid clearly seeks to be a man of peace in this and to continue his own work as a disciple of Jesus with this population. 

We are blessed by our new friend and brother, Rashid.

- David