Hi friends!Writing this in English as I am reaching out to my international buddies. As some of you know I have been involved in the current refugee crisis as it started to reach us here in The Netherlands. Over the past 6 weeks I have been a part of setting up a group at Amsterdam Central Station to welcome, take care of and support arriving refugees. It has grown into a self sufficient group that makes sure no one sleeps out in the cold at night. We provide food, clothes, toys, sim cards and anything else you can think of. Through this process I have come to know some incredible people who have made the terrible journey. Most of them started in a tiny rubber boat heading to Greece. The situation in Greece, and especially on the island of Lesbos, is reaching its breaking point. The winter is approaching, the sea is getting treachorous and the human traffickers are now offering a discount during bad conditions. It all means more human suffering, more need for love and help and a sustainable way to get through the winter without more deaths. Sadly, this week already proved to be disasterous. The big charities are doing their best but have their hands tied by local and national politics. Most of the route the refugees take is being supported by micro charities and ad hoc groups of volunteers. I can't look back on this time and say I didn't do my best....so....I am going to the island of Lesbos in Greece. It is the largest entry point for refugees and they reach it by rubber boat. I'm going with a close group of friends who are supported by a bigger network of friends and businesses ready to jump in and help. We will be going for ten days initially and will be fact finding/building/filming/learning/helping and doing anything we can to help plan for the winter. Many of you have asked how you can help. Well, here goes. I'm asking for money. As much as I can raise, as much as I can spend. We are travelling with a large shipping container of supplies but will be buying food and gear on the island as well (to support the local economy as much as possible). We need the freedom to be able to improvise on the go, to always have a car full of food, to buy tents, tarps, and emergency blankets. I promise to spend every dime on your behalf :)Its hard not to talk about the families who have drowned, the babies who have been born and the babies who have died on this island, the endless stream of misery due to war and poverty. I want to focus on the fact that people like you and me are doing the good work, in spite of great odds. I will do my best to share daily how your money is being spent via facebook. I will tell you all about it over a glass of wine next time we meet. I will write songs about it, or about you. I promise. Thank you. Thank you .Thank you....your donation means the world to me.-Lauraps. The kids in these pictures have all made the journey and lived to tell me about it.
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