Donation protected
Dear Beloved Community,
We would like to introduce you to our dear friend, Sylvester. The organizers of this fundraiser - Vanessa, Francie, and David met Sylvester between 2017 and 2018 during our Greece Sangha Service Project. Over a dozen of us Sangha friends lived together and volunteered in different Athens based refugee camps and NGOs to support our migrant friends who were fleeing from war, brutal oppression, and economic despair from countries around the Middle East and Africa. We met Sylvester while volunteering for a Christian based NGO that offered free English, French, and German classes and provided hot food and drinks to people living on the streets, whether they were migrants or Greek citizens.
We were immediately drawn to Sylvester's brilliant smile, soft and illuminated eyes, and gentle yet courageous heart. Sylvester laughed often and served others with a big smile. We knew instantly that Sylvester was a man of rare spiritual depth, faith, and humility. We learned that Sylvester served as a pastor in Pakistani throughout his adult life, until he faced consistent threats and religious persecution to the point where he needed to flee with his life after multiple death threats. Sylvester made a difficult journey across the Mediterranean Sea to Greece in 2017 where he has been seeking asylum ever since.
Soon after meeting, Sylvester learned about our weekly mindfulness and meditation group and started coming regularly to our Sangha gatherings. He found great joy and peace in the meditative silence, kindness of others, and open hearted sharings. Even though Sylvester has strong Christian roots and faith, he finds the practice of mindfulness and meditation to be a profound doorway into the house of God and the heart of Jesus. In the past few years we have been friends, many of us in the Sangha have learned so much about spirituality, faith, gratitude, and resilience from Sylvester.
In addition to the weekly meals on the streets together, we organized and hosted a free Christmas party in Athens for refugees, migrants and anyone in Athens who wanted to come for a good meal, friendly vibe, and a great party!
Sylvester has been trying to get his Visa to legally stay and work in Greece, and so his wife and two sons can join him there. Even though Sylvester works as a pastor for the local Pakistani migrant population and volunteers often, they only can afford to pay for his housing and food. Since we've known him for the last two and a half years, he has only been able to raise 1000 euros of the 4000 euros he needs for lawyer and paperwork to get his Visa. Those of us who are his friends and live in affluent communities are committed now to supporting Sylvester to acquire the financial support that he needs to complete this process, gain residency so he can legally work in Greece, and reunite with his family.
We are inviting all of our friends and community to chip in a little bit to help our friend's life. Just a little support from each of us will make a monumental difference in the life of our friend and his family. Sylvester spends so much of his life serving others, and we're making sure that that love gets back to him.
Thank you so much dear friends for your generosity and love!
In trust and love,
David, Francie, and Vanessa (Sylvester Support Team!)
P.S. Please enjoy some photos of us and Sylvester in Athens over the last few years!
We met Sylvester while offering hot meals and drinks to people living on the streets of Athens a few nights every week.
Several of us from the Sangha went for a hike and meditated up on the ancient Philopappos Hill, overlooking the city and Acropolis.
Sylvester, David, and Vanessa with many friends at the end of the best Christmas party ever!
True friendship is life's most precious gift.
We would like to introduce you to our dear friend, Sylvester. The organizers of this fundraiser - Vanessa, Francie, and David met Sylvester between 2017 and 2018 during our Greece Sangha Service Project. Over a dozen of us Sangha friends lived together and volunteered in different Athens based refugee camps and NGOs to support our migrant friends who were fleeing from war, brutal oppression, and economic despair from countries around the Middle East and Africa. We met Sylvester while volunteering for a Christian based NGO that offered free English, French, and German classes and provided hot food and drinks to people living on the streets, whether they were migrants or Greek citizens.
We were immediately drawn to Sylvester's brilliant smile, soft and illuminated eyes, and gentle yet courageous heart. Sylvester laughed often and served others with a big smile. We knew instantly that Sylvester was a man of rare spiritual depth, faith, and humility. We learned that Sylvester served as a pastor in Pakistani throughout his adult life, until he faced consistent threats and religious persecution to the point where he needed to flee with his life after multiple death threats. Sylvester made a difficult journey across the Mediterranean Sea to Greece in 2017 where he has been seeking asylum ever since.
Soon after meeting, Sylvester learned about our weekly mindfulness and meditation group and started coming regularly to our Sangha gatherings. He found great joy and peace in the meditative silence, kindness of others, and open hearted sharings. Even though Sylvester has strong Christian roots and faith, he finds the practice of mindfulness and meditation to be a profound doorway into the house of God and the heart of Jesus. In the past few years we have been friends, many of us in the Sangha have learned so much about spirituality, faith, gratitude, and resilience from Sylvester.
In addition to the weekly meals on the streets together, we organized and hosted a free Christmas party in Athens for refugees, migrants and anyone in Athens who wanted to come for a good meal, friendly vibe, and a great party!
Sylvester has been trying to get his Visa to legally stay and work in Greece, and so his wife and two sons can join him there. Even though Sylvester works as a pastor for the local Pakistani migrant population and volunteers often, they only can afford to pay for his housing and food. Since we've known him for the last two and a half years, he has only been able to raise 1000 euros of the 4000 euros he needs for lawyer and paperwork to get his Visa. Those of us who are his friends and live in affluent communities are committed now to supporting Sylvester to acquire the financial support that he needs to complete this process, gain residency so he can legally work in Greece, and reunite with his family.
We are inviting all of our friends and community to chip in a little bit to help our friend's life. Just a little support from each of us will make a monumental difference in the life of our friend and his family. Sylvester spends so much of his life serving others, and we're making sure that that love gets back to him.
Thank you so much dear friends for your generosity and love!
In trust and love,
David, Francie, and Vanessa (Sylvester Support Team!)
P.S. Please enjoy some photos of us and Sylvester in Athens over the last few years!
We met Sylvester while offering hot meals and drinks to people living on the streets of Athens a few nights every week.
Several of us from the Sangha went for a hike and meditated up on the ancient Philopappos Hill, overlooking the city and Acropolis.
Sylvester, David, and Vanessa with many friends at the end of the best Christmas party ever!True friendship is life's most precious gift.
Organizer
David Viafora
Organizer
Alstead, NH