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When the violence in her community in Iran grew too dangerous, Farrah* and her husband decided to flee.

By December, Farrah was living in a refugee camp in Thessaloniki, Greece. She and her husband had had their papers confiscated and all of their money taken from them. There was no hope of leaving the camp, and she was four months pregnant. Temperatures dipped below freezing at night, and the camp had no heat, electricity, or hot water.

As the refugee crisis continues to make headlines and spur debates, some Christians are quietly serving those displaced by war and terrorism. These people are reaching out to be the hands and feet of Jesus to those who have lost everything. Charlie and Miki Chastain are among them.

Charlie and his family serve with TMS Global in Tallinn, Estonia. Charlie works in the arts and Miki coordinates a prayer center and leads healing prayer workshops. The Chastain family has been taking regular trips to refugee camps across Europe since 2015.

Most recently, the Chastains spent their Christmas serving in a refugee camp in Greece. It was then that they met Farrah.

Charlie and Miki desperately tried to find a way to get Farrah and her husband out of the bitter cold and into more permanent housing. However, because their papers were gone, Farrah and her husband could not leave the camp.

Thankfully, a volunteer group of gynecologists and obstetricians visited the camp each week and tended to the needs of the residents. Farrah was able to receive medical care for herself and her baby. When the temperature dropped to 12 degrees Fahrenheit, one of the gynecologists invited Farrah to stay at her home.

“In a time when things are just not as they are supposed to be, I cannot describe how significant this simple act of kindness was,” tells Miki. “There are thousands of simple acts of kindness that are happening in the camps every day, most of which go unnoticed, except the few individuals who are fed, clothed, or heard.”

While working in another refugee camp last year, Charlie noticed a child wearing clothes he had taken from his own child’s closet the year before. “It was hard to see this refugee child and compare him to my own kids,” Charlie said. “He has no future here.”

Volunteers are needed in refugee camps all across Europe. Thousands of meals must be prepared daily, in addition to handing out clothing, blankets, sleeping bags, and shoes. Short-term volunteers provide much-needed rest for long-term volunteers who are serving in the camps. Notes Miki, “Just one simple act of kindness and compassion for any one of these amazing people is worth every cost.”

“But for the grace of God, my family and I could be in the same situation as these refugees,” observes Charlie. “I’ve met doctors, plumbers, truck drivers, and veterinarians—people from all walks of life. But for the grace of God, I don’t live in a war zone, but they were caught in one.”

*Pseudonym and stock photo used for security

You can help support missionaries, like Charlie and Miki, who provide food, blankets, and love to refugees. Your donation will help TMS Global recruit, train, and serve people to share the love of Jesus around the globe.