September 10th Serving the Refuges

Vienna - September 10th we had breakfast and headed down for devotionals and practice in the lounge. There was this couple from London, England. They had the cutest little English accent. Their names were Nick and Smita. Mrs. Porter had met them at breakfast yesterday and told them that we were singing on the streets. They had looked for us on the 9th and didn't find us because we had some expected plans that we did, therefore we didn't sing on the streets. We felt so bad that they looked for us and we weren't singing, so we gave them a private concert in the lounge. I introduced myself and we started talking. Apparently they know some people that may be related to me. That was so cool!

Today we had plans to go and tour around but Mrs. Porter felt lead to go to the train station where the refuges were. Our tour guide on Tuesday had lied in to Mrs. Porter's face several times that the refugees had all fled and that there was no more in Vienna. Mrs. Porter felt lead afterwards to search up if this was true, and obviously it wasn't true.

When we first walked into the train station I was overwhelmed by how many people were there. There was maybe 1,000 to 2,000 refuges packed in there. They had English, Arabic, and German signs all over the walls. It was kind of cool to see three different languages in one place. I have never seen that many police officers in one place at once in my life; it was crazy. But it was good to know that there was officers around for just in case moments.

There was a lady sitting in a corner. We went over to try to talk to her. She had four children (from 9ys down to age 2.) We got out of her broken English that she and her children had fled Saudi  Arabia. She and her children had crossed many rivers, mountains etc. All of her children were all sick now and she looked so tired, yet she was so strong. So many people in there were so strong and brave.

We sang for the refugees in the train station for over two hours without any breaks! Our voices were all so sore but we kept going to be a light to these sad darkened souls and bring just a bit of joy. When we were singing, all of us started tearing up and crying (especially Abby, Kira, and I.) Seeing that many people walking past us with huge packs on their backs knowing that these people had to leave their families, friends, homes, and everything that they knew of. When we were singing people were stopping to watch us and take videos or pictures. So many people came in to take selfies with us; it was really funny. So many people in this smokey train station were touched. You could see it on their faces and I really felt Adonai's presence in there. Some were crying their hearts out and some were smiling. It was very touching.

During a break that we had after two hours of singing, there was a Muslim man from Iraq that came up to Mrs. Porter. (He was one of the men crying and then smiling while we were singing.) He had told Mrs. Porter that he had seen his wife and two children explode and die in a car bomb near their home. He told Mrs. Porter that 14 years ago he had a dream. In his dream a man dressed in white came up to him and touched his head. The man in white said, "Come and follow Me." The Muslim man (being a Muslim) didn't know who this man in white was. All of these years he has always wondered who this man was in the dream. Two nights before hearing us sing-the night of September 8th- he had the dream again. The Man in white came and touched his head again saying, "Come and follow Me." He told Mrs. Porter that when he heard us singing "Amazing Grace", "Hold on to the Rock", and "The Lord Bless You" and  he saw us smiling with such love he instantly was touched and knew who this Man in white was. It was Yeshua (Jesus) our Messiah touching this Muslim man. He told Mrs. Porter that he wanted to follow this Man in white. Mrs. Porter gave her contact info so that she can give him advice or prayer. This was the most amazing story that I have ever heard of in my life! To think that we were told that there was no refuges Vienna, and yet there we were leading at least on Muslim to Christ! We couldn't of done it without God's leading, His strength  and His love. ( In a future blog, I will share a second part to this story that occurred after I returned home. It might bring shivers like it did to me)

Words can't even describe how it was to be there serving the refugees. Earlier when we were singing and crying a sweet man came up and handed us each a tissue. Here we were trying to serve these refugees and in return they were serving us. We thought we were in Vienna for the International Music Festival but God indeed had other plans for our trip! We are humbled and grateful to have our voices used for Him!

There were three Christian men from Iraq who were on their way to Germany. They stood behind us while we sang. There was a man who came up and started mocking us so the men behind us came and took the mocking man away. It was nice to know that we had some guys watching out for us. They were like our angels of protection. 

After singing for such a long time, we went to the second level of the train station, where most of the shops were and people walking back and forth to work or catch their train.) We sang an hour with only a five minute break and while we were singing we were raising funds for the refuges. We raised over $800! It was so amazing to be able to share Yeshua's light to this dark world and share His love, joy  and His word through songs. After singing for quite awhile and having lunch; there was a man that came up to us telling us that we should go back upstairs to the first level and sing to the children in the children's area. I love children so much. I was so excited to go up and see them. When you arrive to the children area there were blankets all laid out on the ground so that the children aren't playing on the dirty floor. There was volunteers collecting food, treats, stuffed animals, clothing, shoes, and blankets. While the parents were relaxing, picking things up for their children, or finding out where their next stop was, the children had a safe place to play and put all of their worries or nervousness aside.

We sang a couple of songs for them and then we were able to play with them. Emma, Mrs. Ellison, and I were the only ones that played with the children. I didn't know which child to go to so I prayed that Father would show me which child to go to and He did. He led me to this little Arabic girl who looked like maybe she was six. Because she only spoke Arabic and I spoke only English we had to point, give high fives, show thumbs up, clap, nod, or just smile to each other. This was one moment in my life that I wish I spoke Arabic to be able to connect with this little precious daughter of the one true King, our Heavenly Father. I wish I was able to get her name, but at least we got a cute picture with each other. We colored with each other and just had a great time together. She melted my heart with her loving kindness towards me. When she was leaving she leaned over and gave me a kiss on my cheek. I wanted to cry because of how sweet she was. I now call her my "little buddy" because of how well we connected. When she left, I started blowing bubbles for the other children. Sharing joy and in a troubling and uncertain time for these little ones, helped me to experience how Yeshua (Jesus) looked at the children brought to him. I was so blessed to be able to minister "to the least of these".

While we were at the children's area there was a guy who was making up songs while a girl played the guitar. He was so funny! He had all of these different voices and he sang about our choir, Colorado, and he sang about juggling while Kale juggled for the children. He told us afterwards that he had performed once with the music group "Pentatonix", he was on "Britain's Got Talent", and he won an award in Las Vegas. He was so gifted!

There was a guy there that put the children's area together so that the children could have a safe place to play at. He had brought blankets and laid them out. Children started coming, people started donating, and volunteers started coming to help. If you wanted to play with the children on the blankets then you had to take off your shoes. When we were preparing to leave both Emma's couldn't find their shoes. We found out that the people accidently donated their shoes. We prayed that day that the Lord would use their shoes for a good cause. When we started leaving there was a police officer that came up to a little boy on a rocking horse. The officer put his police officer hat on the little boy, it was so cute!

We headed back to the hotel and some people stayed to get rest but Kale, Emma #1 and #2, Sariah, Kira, Abby, Rebekah, Mrs. Ellison, Mrs. Nelson, and I all went to this huge park. We spent two hours there strolling through the park relaxing and taking pictures. It was nice to relax after a full empowering day with the refugees. I was able to reflect back on my day, which was nice. We visited a beautiful pond with darling little mallard ducks. We then went over to this area where there were beautiful purple and yellow flowers. Near the flower patch there was the Johann Strauss statue. After seeing this beautiful large park we headed back to the hotel for a yummy chicken American food that the hotel staff specifically cooked for the Americans. What a contrast. We could stand safely in this beautiful park; and only blocks away were thousands of people wondering what life would hold for them next.

This whole day was filled with following God's leading for us. I couldn't help but think, "Man plans his steps, but the Lord directs his paths." Serving at a train station was not on our busy itinerary. I was so amazed by how many people we met, apparently touched, and the  amazing stories that we heard.  I was SO thankful for the opportunity to go and serve the refugee people that have left everything and just provide love towards them. I wanted them all to know that their Heavenly Father loves and takes care of them. He has a plan and a purpose for us all, even these people that have seen people explode and had to leave their homes. Please pray for the refugees that are fleeing everything that they know. Pray that they may come to know Yeshua. In addition, to planting seeds of faith, I trust that we gave the refugees a positive picture of Americans and how we're not the horrible people that many in their countries paint us to be.

Thank you for sticking through this long blog today. I hope you will come back for more. It means a lot to have wonderful loving friends.
Blessings to you all,
Kaila