United Methodist missionary and photojournalist, Paul Jeffrey, has spent recent weeks sharing the story of refugees making their way through Europe and the heroic faith-based response to their plight.

Recently Jeffrey visited the place where many started their arduous journey. “This element of crossing the sea is an important part of the story,” he explained. “I wanted to go and document myself.”

So, at the end of October, he spent nearly a week on Lesbos.

On some days, more than 3,000 people arrive by sea at this small Greek island, Jeffrey said, while additional boats head to other Greek islands.

During one week this October, a record 56,000-plus migrants and refugees crossed the Mediterranean from Turkey to Greece, despite worsening weather.

“Greece is incredibly overwhelmed, that’s the bad news,” Jeffrey told United Methodist News Service. “But the good news is this flowering of solidarity from the grass roots.”

Jeffrey calls the volunteers–local fishermen, farmers, Spanish lifeguards–the real heroes  as they resuce the refugees as they wash ashore.

The sea journey begins in Turkey, but the passengers come from places like Syria, Afghanistan, Iraq and Iran.

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Last Updated on December 28, 2022