London Fog, Balkan Sunrise and a Lukewarm Cup of Chai
Hello All,
This has been extended delay since my last letter to you all. The primary reason for this delay was my focus on traveling as light as possible which meant I did not pack a laptop on my journeys. I will describe the series of events that transpired after my last letter. After my Seasonal Job ended in October, I packed all my belongings in Montana and started the journey to my storage location in Oregon. Here I was able to refresh and prepare for my transit to Serbia from America. This entailed making some modifications to a Dual Sport Motorcycle I had recently obtained in Montana that I would ride to California along the Coastal Highway. Here I also visited with friends and family. Taking off from Oregon, I did not have a real specific itinerary other than a visit to a friend in Bend and a stop at Crater Lake National Park and the Redwoods National Forest. After departing Oregon it seemed as if the weather unleashed a rainstorm that attempted to hinder my onward journey.
I did not arrange for any lodging in order conserve on my finances and this decision would impact my ability to get any adequate rest over the next 7 days. However on a Sunday in Eureka, Northern California, providence would shine its brilliant ray on me as I stopped in Ridgewood Baptist Church to listen to an in-person Bible Study. The message was on Mordecai and Daniel’s integrity to stand by their beliefs in the midst of oppression and a contradictory culture. At the service, I visited with a few of the congregation members and told them of my journey. An older gentleman named Werner told me that I could stay the night sheltered from the rain on his property. Here his hospitability extended to sharing his dinner with me and another guy he was helping out. After a restless sleep due in no part to what was most likely a mice colony in the mattress, I greeted the morning mist and humble beginnings of the “Storm”. This rainstorm and associated riding conditions over 24 hours would push me to edge of my riding limits and physical endurance.
This was arguably the most challenging portion of my journey south, but after 7 days I eventually arrived at the City of Departure, Los Angeles destined for Europe. After my 10 hour flight with an hour stopover in London, I made it to Geneva, Switzerland on October 24th. Attending, AIDEX a secular conference on International Aid was definitely the highlight of my time in Switzerland as I networked to see whether my skill-set could be used in this industry. I was able to get some guidance and make a few connections. In addition, I was also able to visit the Museum of the Reformation which was a fascinating look at growth and metamorphosis of Protestantism in Europe. From here I transited back to London where I would spend a week and a half visiting the sights of the city. Here I would become acquainted with the Museum of Methodism in which the evangelist John Wesley was buried. After a week in London, I set off on my flight to Serbia.
My intentions for going to Serbia were based on a desire to volunteer for the organization I had trained with earlier in May. They had two current relief focused opportunities which included Poland and Serbia. I chose Serbia as that was focused on serving and making Tea and Coffee as well as washing refugee clothing at an all-male refugee camp. This seemed a better use of my abilities than working at a children’s center in Poland. In addition, to visit the Balkans seemed more interesting, a group of countries in Eastern Europe that once united under the single banner of the State of Yugoslavia have splintered into separate entities. When I initially arrived our organization was not allowed to be working in the camp as there had been a gunfight between Afghan smugglers in Northern Serbia. This affected all camps which immediately restricted Volunteer access across Serbia for close to 5 days. However, once the camp opened back up to us, a familiar routine developed.
Mondays through Saturdays for 6 hour shifts volunteers, myself included, would help make and serve Chai (sugarized form of black tea) and Coffee. We also worked in the Laundry room where we would offer the service to wash refugee clothing. Camp population spiked after the crackdown when our population of 80 jumped to 1000 in the space of 2 weeks. As a result the laundry room had a very fast pace. The climate of Serbia in November has a distinct chill and another service we provided to the refugees was offering a warm space for them to entertain themselves with table tennis and socialize over a cup of coffee or chai. This involved ensuring the fired thermogenerator was running smoke free and efficiently. A morning shift would typically start at 8AM and would involve a 30 minute commute from the town we were staying in to Adesveci, the camp.
The refugees themselves were mostly from the Middle East including but not limited to Morocco, Syria, Afghanistan, Turkey and Iraq. Many of them were fleeing war, loss, stress, prejudice and economic uncertainty. Germany topped the list of countries that was their intended goal. They all describe the sense of adventure and risk that comes with a journey of such lengths. Oftentimes fraught with extreme duress and physical tests many described a sense of purpose that such a journey provided them. A clear goal to either improved economic prosperity or living conditions. When serving chai, many of them spoke on how it was the only chai that they had been able to drink thus far on their journey. Most of them did not speak fluent English but the few that did offered a chance to learn and connect with those who had grown up in Islamic families and traditions.
This time was not only a specific time to be able to help others on their journey but be helped on my journey. During this time in Serbia, I picked up the daily ritual of running which helped my daily mental outlook. In addition, I made friends with a few volunteers who were also helping out. A group of gents from the UK, an Austrian and a New Zealander. I was very encouraged by the global community of believers I met in Europe who were welcoming and kind to this American traveler. One of the highlights of this time in camp was witnessing Celin Dion’s song “My Heart Will Go On” being played on Guitar and sung by a volunteering English musician for the first time. He sung this song at the unusual request of the camp refugees. It was a very spectacular performance in which the hearts and minds of the listeners were quite moved. To see refugees being moved by this song tone and lyrics spoke immensely of our shared humanity.
I will be going back to Oregon for Christmas to touch base with friends and family and once again regroup before heading back out to the field in January. My next destination is a country in Eastern Africa where I will be volunteering at a faith based farm and private school which rests on the Southern Shores of Lake Victoria. Serbia remains heavy on my heart though and of the places I have been, there was very strong sense of purpose and connection to the work that I was doing there. I will be preparing to venture back to Serbia again in the Spring of ’24 and if anyone would like to ever give a gift to this future project you can do so here. However, the greatest gift is the continued prayers for safety on these various journey and peace in sharing the hope of eternity with others.
