It’s been a few months since I last wrote and I’m sure you have a question lingering in the front of your minds: “Jes, are you glad you stayed in Greece during COVID?”
In a word: definitely.
Don’t get me wrong, life under lockdown was hard. Unbearable at times being so distant from people and overwhelmed with the constant bad news circulating every day. My fear was real, but I felt in my heart that I should stay here in my new home and support the people I’d come to serve, the people I’d come to love. But I found respite in small things, and I walked a lot to get out of my house—though I needed to text a government number and carry my passport for police checks at all times. The American in me bristled at the rules imposed on me. Now, I’m grateful for them.
As of today, less than 200 people have died in Greece thanks to those strict laws. Not all Greeks followed them, but they also received a hefty fine. In the end, as the world faces stark numbers of deaths and COVID cases, Greece has—by the grace of God—remained one of the least hit countries in Europe. If wearing a mask has even a remote chance of protecting someone else’s life, then I’m willing to love my neighbor more than myself. So, I wear a mask, I socially distance, I wash my hands.
This pandemic has taught me many things. I found myself dying to self and gaining a huge amount of humility during lockdown. This, partially due to obeying the laws that I now had to face. But still, I did a lot, despite the paralyzation of society. Everything ministry-related went online and I soon learned Zoom meetings took more out of me than I ever anticipated. I think the majority of society can relate. And I realized after a few weeks that having time does not mean having mental capacity to do with it what you will. Under duress, it’s necessary to be kind to yourself. Get your work done, but be kind.
One of the greatest things to come of these crazy times is that I got to take a writing course from the New School in New York that was done virtually. I stayed up late at night to attend classes and I wrote my heart out. It was a huge boost to my writing project and I began doing the best writing of my life. You’ll see more as progress on the book takes place. Until then, you’ll have to trust me.
However, there has been a cost to staying here. I’ve been away from my family—something I knew would happen but not during a pandemic. I stay in close touch with my close family all the time, but it doesn’t make up for the time difference and spatial difference. I would lie if I said it wasn’t hard. But I see it as living out my call. It may not make sense to everyone, but in staying I took the steps I needed to in order to serve the people and city I’ve come to love.
Greece is pretty much back to herself for the time being—just with lots of masks in public places, social distancing and hand sanitizer everywhere. I’m transitioning some roles, which is very exciting. Beyond that, it’s only just now that Americans will permanent residency are able to come back to Greece at all. If I had gone back to the States, there’s no telling when I’d been able to come back. And that would’ve been a heart-breaker.
I’m glad I stayed and I feel as safe as anyone can be during a pandemic. This season has taught me that sometimes staying put is exactly what I need to do.
I’m glad I did.