XXIII. Release your Mind - Express your Heart

After a 5 hours of training on the boat (more or less), I was ready to soak in the local hot springs. As Charlie says, as the intensity rises it is important to have fun. Anais and I made the journey to the 600+ year old turkish baths - an old white structure with one small pool filled with very hot waters. To our dismay, the baths have been boarded up...again.

Apparently these springs are supposed to be for public use. The owner of the building adjacent runs a hotel-like building in the summer where people can rent rooms for private bathing. In the winter, the locals usually have free reign of the healing waters.

Not this year. We have visited these springs many times, and they have been open some and locked others. For some reason, today it made me extremely frustrated to arrive to a locked door on top of one of Mother Earth's greatest gifts - hot water.

Exploitation of our earth and her animals for the capitalization of individuals is a crime.

Europeans split up Nations as they created countries with borders. We are living in a world separated from each other through culture, language, money, beliefs, religion, and invisible lines (or walls). The new paradigm exists ~ and it will be reached through unity.

Believe that we can find peace through unity, and so shall it be. Imagine a world free of borders, free of nonsense rules, and free of capitalization on the exploitation of other humans beings, animals, plants, minerals, etc.

We are on the front lines of European culture meeting Middle eastern. When I look in the refugees' eyes, I see a human being. We bleed the same blood, breathe the same air, and eat the same food. We may not speak the same language, though we can feel each others hearts through joy or fear.

Release your mind - connect to your heart - bring heaven back on earth.

XXII. Refugee Rescue - Night Owls

One may look at our current situation and wonder, "Where has humanity gone?" With a push of the button, the war in Syria could end - solving the refugee crisis amongst rising tensions in the Middle East. On the other side of the coin, we can look at the combined effort of the volunteers in Greece and observe an example of selfless service at humanities best.

Everyday people are working here; whether it be organizing clothes, feeding the hungry, cleaning, performing search and rescue operations, or coordinating efforts (to name a few). I continue to exist in awe at the collective effort of the volunteers on the island of light, Lesvos.

The days have begun to blur together for me. Our crew, Refugee Rescue, is out on the water most nights and some days; therefore, we have a sporadic sleep pattern. Resting for a few hours, then immediately jumping up to suit up and run to the boat. A full adrenaline rescue mission followed by a couple more hours of sleep. Then perhaps we train, hold debrief sessions, or service our boat. There is little down time to rest the mind - as we are always on call, standing by.

The past few nights we have helped shepherd in boats. Basically, we do our best to communicate with the refugees on board the boats, letting them know we are there to help and point a direction they should head their boat. Depending on the situation, we either take the lead and show them where to go, or we shepherd from the back, making sure there are no casualties. Ideally, more than one rescue boat will be on scene so we can have one in front and one in back.

A large percentage of the boats arriving in these days have been made of fiberglass, a cheap version of a speedboat that appears to be made as cheap and quick as possible. The possibility of these boats cracking is high - even with the impact of a strong wave. It seems that smugglers are trying to find methods to be faster and more discreet, as the pressure from Turkish coast guard continues to increase.

Around 1 AM a couple of nights ago, we guided a fiberglass boat safely to shore. A landing crew was present, and as the refugees piled off, the landing crew (including Anais) became aware that there was an 8.5 month pregnant woman with 2 kids on board. The impact of the boat into the beach gave her slight contractions and an ambulance with medics came to assist her. By the grace of Allah, her baby and the mother were safe and well.

Anais spent a few hours with this group around a big fire. She played her harmonica and laughed with the refugees. The husband of the pregnant mother agreed to share their story with Anais on camera, which he told in Arabic - when it is translated, we will share! The refugees were so excited to reach the coast safely, that they did not want to sleep, rather celebrate through the night.

A similar scenario played out this morning with a boat we escorted in to the beach. This time, there was a pregnant mother aboard and a man having heart problems. Certain teams bring medics with them, which we are grateful for, as they are trained and equipped to perform emergency procedures in remote landing areas. Because communication and teamwork was strong, we were able to make sure everyone was safe and received medical attention.

Refugee Rescue welcomed a new crew member, David from California, the other day. We are happy to have him as he is well trained, willing to learn, and experienced. Richie will be with us for one more week, so it is imperative that we get David up to speed so our team can continue to function effectively. We also welcomed a new skipper, Chris from Greece, a few hours ago. He will join us tonight to begin his training.

We continue to improve our methods and teamwork. We are functioning totally off of the support of individual donations. For this, we are in gratitude.

With love and peace we go, helping those who we can. Thank you.

XXI - 177 People Rescued from imminent danger

The Refugee Rescue team greeted the sunrise today on the water. As the first rays of light brought warmth to our faces, we spotted a two-story refugee boat carrying 177 people. Our captain beelined for the ship at top speed. As we arrived, only a lonely fisherman was trying to help guide the refugees to a safe landing spot. Unfortunately, they were headed straight for the rocks and extreme danger.

Crashing into the rocks would have certainly resulted in injuries amongst many other hazards, including drownings. There are no roads that connect to the zone we were at, so help would have been far off.

Charlie - Captain, Ritchie - Communications, Me - Spotter

With hand signals, our voices, and teamwork with another rescue boat, we were able to redirect the boat in the nick of time towards a small bay. As the boat turned at top speed, we watched the entire boat tip - our hearts sank and we urged the refugees to sit down.

At this point, we are not sure if engines failed, or they realized they needed help landing, or the boat driver was the smuggler (possibilities are endless), because their captain left the cockpit and the boat no longer moved.

Working with another crew, we tied our tow lines to the bow of the boat and began our way to the harbor. After about 20 minutes, they Hellenic Coast Guard barreled in and demanded we untie our ropes, allowing them to tow the boat and take responsibility. The Refugees desperately asked us, "Are you going to leave us? Please don't!" We reassured them that we were with them until they reached land safely.

As we neared the docks, it was clear they needed help, as the Coast Guard boat is quite large. Brilliantly, our skipper, Charlie, drove up to the Coast Guard and asked if we could help by attaching a tow line to the back of the ship to slow them down. In a frenzy, the Coast Guard agreed.

Captain Charlie works with CG

We slowly inched towards the stern of the refugee boat. Working with the passengers, we tied on to the back of their boat and kept them from gaining too much speed. Meanwhile, a smaller vessel towed the boat forward, two other rescue boats used their noses to position the boat, and fishermen on the shore used ropes to pull the boat safely on to the dock. It was truly incredible to be a part of and to witness - a smooth landing.

Richie Sharing water with thirsty Refugees

Richie, Charlie, and I made our way to shore and shared handshakes, hugs, kisses, and lots of love with the 177 refugees from different countries that walked by. Some of them had attempted the crossing 4 times, and others a few. Everyone seemed relieved and grateful to be safely on the shore, dry and in good hands.

Beautiful people

Moments like this make everything worth it.

Thank you!

XX - Sunrise Rescue

Aloha!

Today began a couple hours before sunrise with a full moon and a calm ocean. Charlie, Ritchie and I loaded up the boat and set off to sea. We received a message that a boat had landed on the coast a few hours prior, and no one could find the passengers. With our night vision binoculars, we began scanning the coasts with no luck. Our eyes stayed peeled and ears open for messages.

As it turns out, the boat was quite far from us (30 min in boat), and by the grace of God, was found by another rescue boat. We calmed down and pondered the red orange full moon as it began to set into the ocean, while the first sun rays began to break the bitter cold night. We received a call - and incoming vessel.

Charlie hit full throttle, Ritchie stayed tight on the Comms, and I stood up with my feet strapped in to spot the boat. We closed in on the incoming refugee dinghy, circled around, and slowly approached from behind. I could feel the nervous tension the 40+ people were holding ease as they realized we were allies.

I made my way to the bow of the boat to communicate with them via hand signals and smiles. Ritchie followed through with communications by calling the Coast Guard and Jude. The refugees looked dry and without medical emergency. We began contacting Anais and landing crew to prepare for a 30 minute arrival when we received a phone call from Frontex, European border control.

Frontex instructed us to pull up to the boat and ask them to turn their engines off. They would arrive in approximately 12 minutes to board the refugees and take them to shore. As much as our guts went against this, it is not our intent to go against authority - rather work with them. We approached the refugee boat with caution and spotted the best English speaker. We shared a few words, and we asked him to turn the engine off.

In trust, they stopped the boat in the middle of the sea. We linked up with their boat, to look for medical emergencies. As we came to a slow drift, women and children began to stand up from the middle of the boat to get a look at us. Happiness filled the air. Many of these Afghan refugees had been traveling for over a month, and some had not eaten in days. We noticed a few were beginning to shiver.

There was no sign of Frontex after the allotted time they asked us to wait. We used our judgement as hypothermia is a real risk, and instructed the boat to turn their engine on and drive to shore. With hand signals we guided them safely into the harbor where the landing team was waiting.

We continued on with our boat to Molyvos to get the electronics tuned up. On the way back, our boat was greeted by a small pod of dolphins! It was a warm afternoon on the ocean, with sunshine and dolphins. It was a time of celebration, as our team has begun to gel and perform.

After lunch, we drove to the local hot springs to have a soak and debrief. It is possible that we will move to a remote part of the island where refugee boat traffic is growing. In certain areas, Turkish police/Coast Guard is present and sending refugees back, so smugglers are looking for new zones to send them from. If we do decided to move to this new harbor that Jude has scoped out, we will be all on our own. Therefore, we will be without lighthouse Karakus and their wonderful spotters with high-tech thermal vision.

Refugee Rescue is still in the process of building crew, both on the boat and on the land, and our equipment. As of now, I will be spotting on the boat. We have a $400 pair of thermal binoculars that only work within 50 meters or so. Anything beyond and they only pick up light. We need a better pair so I can spot refugees from a far distance while on the boat. Please contact me, mdenicola9@gmail.com, if you can help us obtain a professional set of thermal vision. Thank you!

We are blessed to be sharing this experience of life. Mahalo!

Thank you to all the supporters that have helped Anais and I get out here. Sat Nam Foundation is sponsoring us to be out here, and to provide the refugees with the care they need. Please support us at: http://satnamfoundation.org/index.php/campaign/lesbos/

XIX - Night Rescues

The past few days/nights have been blurred together due to irregular sleep patterns and a series of sporadic events. The Refugee Rescue team, consisting of Jude (coordinator), Charlie (Skipper), and Ritchie & I (crew/swimmers), has responded successfully to incoming boats throughout the past 3 nights.

Jude is constantly monitoring different sources of information on refugee boat locations. There are "WhatsApp" groups where spotters relay information to crews, and other sources that share vital information with us. Jude filters through the constant flow of incoming information to deliver us with a clear, concise direction.

On my night table lies our group "alarm" phone. When Jude receives information that help is needed, she calls me. Via walkie talkie, I relay the information to Ritchie who is monitoring the VHF radio. Within minutes, we suit up and run down to the docks. In just a few nights, we have come across a spectrum of different experiences.

The sea is saturated with Coast Guard and Frontex presence during the day and at night. Sometimes it is obvious that they are there, as there boats are massive and well lit, and other times they sneak up on the rescue boats with lights turned off and a spotlight on us. We have been lucky not to be boarded or hassled. As we are not doing anything wrong, there should be nothing to fear. As we all know, certain "powers at be" choose to use their authority to inflict fear on others.

The other night, we were performing night drills. Pretending visibility was low, the captain looked only at his compass. Using our GPS, Ritchie and I guided him to specific points. We also began throwing objects off the boat as a man over board drill. Using a combination of lights and night vision we would spot the objects and bring them back in the boat.

While performing these exercises, we saw an extremely bright light in the distance. Looking through the night vision goggles, it seemed like there were multiple lights. Not wanting to unnecessarily get too close to a boat of authority, our team entered in a caucus, where Ritchie and Charlie concluded that it was impossible for a refugee to have such a strong light, as they are usually do not have means to buy real lifejackets; it was more likely that it was a police boat.

On the hill in the distance, a car rounded the corer with its lights on. It stopped dead in its tracks, as if it was also observing something. At this time, our radios began to scramble. A strange alien sound was coming out of them. A couple of minutes later, the car drove towards the beach. Charlie remarked, "Something fishy is going on here." We heard nothing on the radio or on the alarm phone (where we receive information). We called Korakas Lighthouse, where they have professional Thermal Imaging. They reported that they did not see any boat.

We continued our drill, although I was compelled to keep an eye on the boat. Sure enough, the bright light turned off and I could see the boat going towards the shore. With quick instincts, Charlie reacted and turned the boat around at lightening speed. Within 30 seconds we found ourselves behind a black dinghy full of refugees. As they landed, an entire team was waiting on the beach for them. We watched from the water as the refugees were loaded into a van and drove towards the IRC.

This series of events left us befuddled. As we began to play things over in our heads, it seemed obvious that the team waiting them on shore had inside information about the whereabouts of this boat. This information was not being shared, as no other teams received it. On top of it, our radios began to scramble as we approached the boat. Why would someone withhold this information from rescue boats and risk the lives of refugees crossing?

Last night we entered the water around 1:30 AM. SeaWatch rescue boat was guiding a "mock" speedboat in to shore, and Korakas spotted another dinghy. Working with spotters on the phone, we found the dinghy - as we approached, so did the Greek Coastguard. We backed off and watched through the dark night as refugees boarded the ship. The CG then proceeded to slash the front end of the inflatable dinghy and leave it for garbage.

Then the scene began to unfold. A Norwegian Frontex ship approached SeaWatch as they were within 100 meters or so of the harbor with the refugees. A conversation between the two teams broke out on the radio - Frontex demanding that SeaWatch let them take over and reroute the boat to another location. Meanwhile, the refugee boat was speeding out of control.

The Greek CG entered in the discussion and made it clear, using strong words and a loud tone, that they would be taking over. SeaWatch backed down and the CG led the refugee boat away from the harbor and landed them on a rocky beach where a volunteer landing team was waiting for them.

Meanwhile, we made our way to the pile of rubbish (lifejackets, inner tubes, clothes), picked up what we could, tied the half inflated dinghy to our boat and towed it in. When we reached the harbor, there was quite a ruckus going on. Apparently, the police believed that a smuggler was on board the speedboat. They tried arresting the man and his wife began crying uncontrollably. The rest of the passengers, around 15, refused to part from the man. Rather than letting the refugees receive dry clothes, tea and food from volunteers waiting, the police took them all in a police van.

Our team has also helped on shore to receive boats. Anais has found her groove on shore. She rises when I do, and makes her way to the two camps: Platanos and Lighthouse. There she helps incoming refugees receive clothes, tea and food. By they pictures I have seen, it is obvious that they take a likening to her - and how could they not? She walks with cheer in a state of joy. It is a true blessing to have her with me, as she is a strong support and makes delicious food! We have been keeping our spirits high, even though the small town we are living in is in a constant state of turmoil.







Thank you to all the supporters that have helped Anais and I get out here. Sat Nam Foundation is sponsoring us to be out here, and to provide the refugees with the care they need. Please support us at: http://satnamfoundation.org/index.php/campaign/lesbos/

XVIII - Watching 250 people stuck at sea border

XVII. Safe Passage

A crackling of the radio followed by a Greek voice woke me half past midnight. I listened in on the universal VHF radio. Quickly the conversation began to make sense as a picture was painted in my mind: two refugee boats en route, with a third potential. Hailing ProActiva, I made it clear that MoChara was standing by and ready to assist.

Our team decided to suit up and meet at the boat. On the way to the docks, I saw a boat approaching the beach. Volunteers helped to unload the wet, cold refugees and cries of babies filled the air. Anais stayed with the group, and began helping the refugees toward the Platanos camp, where volunteers gave them warm clothes, food and drink.

Meanwhile, our crew loaded our rescue boat and took off into the black ocean. We made radio contact with the other rescue boats and watchtower. As of now, the two boats were safe and there was a potential boat that was spotted on thermal imaging.

We scanned the horizons with our night vision binoculars, and kept in tight communication using radio and cell phone. We were told that the lookouts had lost their thermal vision, and our help on the water was crucial. As the other rescue boats when to harbor to get rest, the MoChara stayed afloat for the next 4.5 hours.

Patrolling the waters at night is simultaneously invigorating and exhausting. We felt a responsibility as there were many rumors that a large group of refugee boats were going to take off.

At one point, a Portuguese police boat spotlighted us. They never hailed us on radio, though they made their presence clear. We walk a fine line being a rescue in these times and waters. Communication is imperative, and so is playing by "the rules." We were told that another rescue boat was confiscated last night by police because they were "using the radio too much." Our crew is making sure to tread the waters lightly and keep our distance from any trouble with authority.

After reaching port after 5 am, we all went home for a rest. I woke up groggy and raced to the cafe for a meeting with the team. We were reported that 14 boats landed on the south eastern side of the island, towards Mytilene. We discussed the possibilities of helping in this zone if need be, although there is a large coastguard and NATO presence off the coast of the capital city, Mytilene.

Anais is in the process of making the crew a delicious dinner so we can be well fed, energized, and ready to go out again tonight.

Let us pray for calm seas, warm winds, and safe crossings!

Light & Love on this night!

Thank you to all the supporters that have helped Anais and I get out here. Sat Nam Foundation is sponsoring us to be out here, and to provide the refugees with the care they need. Please support us at: http://satnamfoundation.org/index.php/campaign/lesbos/

XVI. In the middle of the Sea with Refugees

O, how things move like the tornado through the desert. A constant shift, debris flying everywhere; imperative to stay centered.

The past few days have been a cumulative bombardment of changes. The weather brought heavy winds, rough seas, and the cold weather back. Although this put a pause in crossings for the refugees, it gave our team, Refugee Rescue, the opportunity to train. I spent 3 days driving back and forth to Skala during day and night to engage in open water rescue scenarios. During this time, Anais found a new room to relocate to in Skala right next to the team, in which we relocated to yesterday.

I grew to love our boat, MoChara, within a few quick days. The power behind the boat is incredible; it cuts through the high waves like a knife through butter, sending pellets of sea water in my face and soaking my body. The rails are covered with handholds for victims to enter the boat in a rescue situation. The design of the boat allows the captain to turn on a dime and have impecable maneuverability in rough seas.

We practiced man overboard drills, rescue operations, night drills, and captain overboard - meaning I drove the boat for a bit. With the wheel in my hand, I understood the importance of a skilled skipper. As Charlie (skipper) explained, MoChara is like a motorcycle of the sea.

Over the days, a bond grew between the crew as we shared information and experiences. It was a pleasure to train with these guys. Captain Mike and Ben went back home, and Ritchie will be here another day or two to provide an overlap with our newest crew member, Josh. Everyone one the team is professional and here to help.

Charlie warns us of adopting a "hero" mentality while striving to be fast and efficient in response. We have our gear laid out, communications opened and tested, and our boat primed and ready. Last night the weather began to shift; seas became calmer and the air warmed. Rescue boats in the harbor went on alert.

I woke up to a call on the walkie talkie with the rising sun this morning from Ritchie. It was time to get on the ocean. Within minutes, I had my gear on and made my way towards the dock. As called in to the watchtower to let them know we are operational, we scanned the horizon for boats. We spotted Frontex and a few refugee boats.

Charlie, skipper from Sweden, went full throttle to the scene, cutting through the ocean. We were the first rescue boat to arrive, and were prepared to escort a black dinghy filled with refugees to the beach. As approached, a police (Frontex) rescue boat also approached - so we backed off the scene and let them take over.

It is wild to be in the middle of the ocean with a refugee ship, and to realize how vulnerable they are. The boats are overcrowded and practically sinking, while many onboard are wearing fake lifejackets. It is a blessing to be on a boat and able to assist. We noticed many inflatable donuts in the water as Frontex escorted the refugee boat to their massive ship. After the scene was clear, different teams helped to tow the empty refugee boats and carry the flotation devices to shore.

This morning, 3 boats were intercepted by Frontex and all refugees were brought safely to the harbor. There is a buzz around Skala that more boats are going to start launching tonight, as weather and sea conditions are continuing to improve. Our team will be on call throughout the night, and ready to operate when called.

Love, Peace, Wahe Guru!

Thank you to all the supporters that have helped Anais and I get out here. Sat Nam Foundation is sponsoring us to be out here, and to provide the refugees with the care they need. Please support us at: http://satnamfoundation.org/index.php/campaign/lesbos/

XV. Surfing the Seas ~ Preparing for Rescue Ops.

A wild past few days - how everything shifts like the wind on this island!?

The sad news: our three puppies we were taking care of left - luckily it was with a nice local woman who rescues local pups that are abandoned. I spoiled them as much as possible before they left, with raw beef bones and cooked chicken liver with rice and veggies! We know they are being taken care of; we still miss them!

On a fun note, the Hope Center has quite a history of housing Refugees. Many years ago, when the Elpis Hotel was just getting started, refugees from Somalia made their way across the Aegean sea to Lesvos, and the Elpis (Hope center) opened their doors for the refugees. We feel it is only appropriate to keep with tradition, and have an open door policy for all those in need.

For those familiar with "Pandora's box," when it was open, all the burdens and toils of men were spilled out. Meanwhile, the spirit of hope, Elpis, stayed in the box. Here on Lesvos, we live and breath Hope...for peace.

Refugees walking from the pier to the bus in the rain

The other day, I managed to hook up with the Hellas lifeguards and join in on their rescue boat training. We practiced knots and basic rope rescue techniques. Preparing to launch their new rescue boat. Their Captain, Giannis, is naval experienced and runs a tight ship - he is experienced and works fast. As I step on the boat and have rope in my hands, things begin to feel very real to me.

I take a hike in the mountains after training, and the power of Poseidon runs through my veins. I watch as the massive ships of Frontex and Coast guard patrol the waters, helping boats and while the Turkish turn others back. Mother Gaia fills my being with strength as Father sun charges my heart with compassion - change is in the air.

Yesterday the seas were stormy - by God's Grace, I connected with an Irish team, Refugee Rescue, who just received a large donation and bought a rescue boat. They are looking for more crew, and I fit the bill! I made my way to the local meeting point, Captain's Table, for a sit down with Jude, the founder and organizer.

Map used by rescue teams -
Lesvos on left - Turkey on right

I paced back and forth on the docks, watching the waves crash with the winds; glancing side to side hoping to find Jude. A sea-weathered man, Charlie, took notice of me and asked, "are you on a boat?" I explained my situation, and he replied that he is an experienced sailer from Sweden without a boat to Captain. We exchanged smiles and phone numbers, and he walked into the warm restaurant for dinner.

As Jude approached, I could hear the millions of thoughts buzzing through her head: an agenda list that seems never ending. She spoke calm and friendly. We chatted about my background and the mission of the team; She explained the team needed more crew to up and running 24/7, as she expects more refugees to begin crossing any day. I called on Charlie, and he joined our conversation. Things went well, and Jude invited us to join the team the following day.

Today I met with Ben, Ritchie, Giannis, Mike, and Charlie at the Petra docks. We needed to pull the boat out of the water to check on a leak. With many eyes on the boat, we discovered the problem: a few missing screws. I ran to the hardware store, and within a couple of hours we fixed the small leak in the boat and had her in the water.

Mo Chara Rescue Boat!

The whole crew is super friendly - Ben and Ritchie are both UK lifeguards. They are surfers and seem pretty mellow and easy to get along with. Mike is from Northern Ireland - a country I long to visit. There is a sparkle in his eye that brings joy to my being. The crew seemed to gel quickly, which is important when you are making life altering decisions together.

Tomorrow I meet with the crew at 9 am in Skala...My head is buzzing a million miles per hour! I am stoked to have found a team that I can work with.




Meanwhile, NATO is sending warships to the Aegean sea to "stop smugglers" from bringing refugees to Greece. Could it be a coincidence that Saudi Arabia decided to send in foot soldiers into Syria today? Only time will tell!

I will continue to update his blog as things unfold - Thank you for sharing this experience and showing your support.

Salutation! Wahe Guru! Love and Light!

Thank you to all the supporters that have helped Anais and I get out here. Sat Nam Foundation is sponsoring us to be out here, and to provide the refugees with the care they need. Please support us at: http://satnamfoundation.org/index.php/campaign/lesbos/


2 Articles on NATO ships coming this way:
http://www.independent.co.uk/news/world/europe/nato-orders-fleet-to-deploy-in-aegean-sea-to-help-end-europes-refugee-crisis-a6867076.html

http://www.bbc.com/news/world-europe-35549478

XIV. Finding the Groove

Wah!

Tumultuous. Lesvos.

As our spirits begin to settle on the "Island of Light," things become more clear. This morning, I spent my time reviewing gear (Jet Ski) with Lifeguard Hellas, watching the ocean, and speaking about our current situation. As of now, their rescue boat is in the water, and waiting to begin escorting refugees safely to the coast. It is a fine line to walk, as Frontex and Coast Guard are very present in the ocean, and we must work together.

At the Hope Center, we continued to prepare rooms, organize clothes, and paint rooms. A group of Spaniards arrived with excellent news: they are donating a set of solar panels to the Hope Center and will begin setting them up tomorrow! Things are flowing in the right direction.

Setting up the "Men's changing room" with tracy (Hope)

According to a few seasoned volunteers, the Coast Guard presence has been on and off this past year. Also, they said the smugglers in Turkey announced they will begin sending more boats come the beginning of March. Therefore, they predict the waters and the streets of Lesvos to be overwhelmed again with refugees. Meaning, all hands on deck helping.

An employee of IRC shared an interesting tidbit with me: her view of the crisis here has gone 360 degrees in the past 5 months. First, she celebrated that we are helping the refugees to safety. Later, she realized the trauma that they experience after they leave Lesvos; whether it is from PTSD or abuse in other countries. And then, she began to realize that only the lucky actually could afford to cross the ocean; millions are still stuck in Syria and Turkey.

Lesvos is certainly a focal point for this crisis; there are also two tail ends: before and after. Since many of us are receiving into our country, we have choices how to treat them. I pray that we will help the children grow into strong leaders and help them work through their trauma.







Thank you to all the supporters that have helped Anais and I get out here. Sat Nam Foundation is sponsoring us to be out here, and to provide the refugees with the care they need. Please support us at: http://satnamfoundation.org/index.php/campaign/lesbos/

XIII - Puppies, boats and helicopters

Last night, 3 puppies cried at our door for food. They were found by our neighbor a few days ago, abandoned in a field. I have taken advantage of any opportunity to collect bones or delicious treats to share with them, so when our neighbor left (moved locations), they naturally found themselves at our doorstep!

We found the box they live in with their sleeping bag, brought it on our porch, and fixed them a nice supper of warm rice, veggies, and turkey! Even with the freezing temperatures, they slept soundly through the night with full bellies. I scrambled this morning to feed them, sharing our sheep yogurt and throwing together a doggy porridge.

According to locals, it is very common for puppies to be abandoned here. The microcosm is that of the macrocosm. As above, so below. We are working with our neighbors to find them a home, while keeping them entertained, warm and fed. It seems that they may have to go to a puppy shelter with 62 other dogs that have been abandoned. Ahh! It breaks my heart -
 if you want a cute Greek puppy, please contact me!

We managed to take care of the puppies and ourselves just after the sun fully rose. The sea was the calmest it has been in days, so we made our way quickly to the sea. Anais decided to continue to help the crew paint and prepare the Hope center; I headed down to the beach with the Lifeguard Hellas group.

When I arrived, the team was just waking up, and sharing warmth in their frost covered cars. We watched as Frontex and Coast Guard ships patrolled the seas, and helicopters in the sky. On the radio we received a message that 3 boats were picked up safely by the coast guard and brought to the harbor.

Lifeguard Hellas just got their new rescue boat in the water. It has the capacity to hold 30+ people for sea rescues. As of now, paperwork is still being worked out, although it could be anyway that the team is patrolling the waters and helping to escort boats safely in. I look forward to continuing to work with this group; they are a friendly group, and optimistic that our service will continue to be valuable.

I have continued to be in contact with Team Humanity, from Denmark, in the south. They have my contact and will be calling upon us for help as the weather gets better. Everyone continues to be on alert, and helping where is most needed. It is a beautiful experience to be a part of.

Love and spirals of Rainbow Light into your hearts!


Thank you to all the supporters that have helped Anais and I get out here. Sat Nam Foundation is sponsoring us to be out here, and to provide the refugees with the care they need. Please support us at: http://satnamfoundation.org/index.php/campaign/lesbos/

XII - Political Ponerology

Ponerology: Study of Evil.

In Andrew Lobaczewski's book, Political Ponerology, he presents "Evil" as a disease. In a nutshell, Lobaczewski performed clinical studies showing that a small percentage of the human population lack the ability to empathize (a.k.a. psychopaths). This small group of humans has learned to use their deficit as an advantage through evil actions; as a result, they have risen to places of power - hence "Political Ponerology."

While I witness the distress of our brothers and sisters on a daily basis, I remind myself that some of the people "calling the shots" do not "feel" the way I do. I spend a large percentage of time reminding myself to forgive them. Lobaczewski recommends psychologically screening all those who are in a place of power or jobs with the responsibility for the safety of people. Perhaps our world leaders would stop playing with human being's lives like we are living a big chess game.

Since arriving on Lesvos, it was obvious to me that the energy was shifting here. I heard volunteers speaking in fear of being stopped by police, or detained in prison for helping refugees. I began to see articles that spoke of the EU trying to pass a law to criminalize volunteers helping refugees (Statewatch Article); meanwhile, the people of Lesvos are nominated for a Nobel Peace Prize! What a paradox! It makes me wonder, who is making these decisions, and why?

The refugees I have met are fleeing ISIS, al-Qaeda, or a devastated home. If you have not seen Homs, Syria yet, check this video out: Syria Drone Footage. The refugees are normal people, just like you and I. They carry iPhones and leather jackets, they care for their children and elderly, they eat with their hands and put their pants on one leg at a time. Where is the empathy?

Together, we have the resources to provide safe passage for all the refugees. Here is the catch: the refugees are seen as a great business. They spend all of their money to travel through life threatening situations to safety, without the guarantee that they will be accepted into a new country or have the chance to make a new home. Along the way, their money is funneled to criminal organizations.

Since humanity did not work together on this crisis earlier, the process was done sloppily - leaving refugees scattered through Europe without a firm plan. Now, parts of the EU are angry with Greece for letting so many refugees through, that they have threatened them with their Shengen rights (ability to pass through the common border of 26 European countries without a passport). Greece has a few weeks to tighten up the border and create a plan.


Greece has a pile of their own problems economically, not to mention the refugees. This situation is putting a great deal of stress on the common people and the government. As the winter begins to fade away, the volunteers expect a new wave of refugees to cross. Lifeguards are manning our posts, facilities are continually being upgraded to receive people in distress, and donations continue to arrive. Even though the massive military vessel is scooping up many refugees to bring them straight to the ferry, we expect to continue to receive refugee ships.

The last three days have been very stormy - high winds, rain, and freezing temperatures at night - boats have not been arriving on Lesvos. Anais and I have revisited the Hope Center, where spirits are high. A church group from Holland arrived to help for the week. They are full of energy with a strong work ethic. It seems like the lawyers representing the Hope Center are optimistic that they will be able to properly register the hotel to receive refugees. The project continues! Painting, landscaping, plumbing, electrical work, and carpentry (the list goes on).

Today we made it down to Moria - the main camp - to visit with Refugees. We only saw a couple of people in the overflow camp, versus the hundreds we saw a few days ago. It was a testament to the low numbers of refugees arriving to the island in these days, and the efficiency of the registration process.

Every day is different here. No one knows what is going to happen for sure - as the shores of Turkey and government action remain a mystery. We are here to serve, and we will continue to inject this island with positive vibrations.

Thank you to all the supporters that have helped Anais and I get out here. Sat Nam Foundation is sponsoring us to be out here, and to provide the refugees with the care they need. Please support us at: http://satnamfoundation.org/index.php/campaign/lesbos/

X-XI - Sharing the Language of the Heart in Refugee Camp - Lesvos, Greece

I did not dare to write a blog yesterday, as it was quite a disheartening day. The police came to the Hope Center and shut it down indefinitely. There are many laws around helping illegal immigrants, and Greece is under pressure from the EU to enforce them. On top of this, the coast guard launched a pilot program to intercept all refugee boats on the water, bring them aboard military vessels, and drive them straight to Mytilene (the other side of the island). Therefore, yesterday shook many people up, tears were shed, and many volunteers are left with bamboozlement as what is going to happen next.

Today, we decided to go to Moria (yes, the same name as the Dwarf underworld inhabited by the demon that Gandalf fights) - the main camp for the refugees. It is about an hour drive to the other side of the island through beautiful olive groves, mountains, and herds of sheep.

As we approached we began to see the barbed wire above the massive concrete walls. Moria used to be a prison, now it has been transformed as the main registration camp for refugees. Families in distress are first priority to get accommodation, and then it filters down from there. There is an overflow camp outside of the jail walls with tents, porto potties, and volunteers. As of now, only certain people with the right badges are allowed inside the jail walls.

We found a parking spot on the muddy banks of the road. We had 11 pounds or so of mandarines to share, although I was skeptical of bringing them in - as we have heard it was "illegal" to give food in certain circumstances. I saw a brother, Daniel, walking towards the overflow camp, and grabbed his attention. We struck a conversation, and next thing you know, he is showing us around the camp and how things are done.


Daniel offered us a few options for volunteering: serving sugar tea, cleaning, etc. Looking around, it seemed that the vibe was pretty low - so I asked if it was acceptable for me to play music. He replied, "Absolutely. Most of the time I come to volunteer I spend my time with the people, helping them take their minds off the current situation." On that note, Anais and I scurried back to the car for the Ukulele and mandarines.


It took about 3 seconds for many eyes to find me as I plucked the first strings of the Uke. I was welcomed by a group from Syria on their blanket, and started jamming. Anais played the shaker and sang with me as we shared many different sacred chants and mantras. If I slowed down, or took a rest, someone would encourage me to continue! Wah! It was so good, the energy became very high, very fast.

Video: https://youtu.be/j-4R4aeaMf8

Kids started dancing, smiles exposed teeth to the afternoon sun, and a crowd of 30+ people constantly lingered around our magic blanket. Then, we played the game: pass the Ukulele. Many folks wanted to get their hands on my well traveled Ukulele - and so it began. I did my best to teach them basic strumming, picking and a couple basic chords. We passed hours on the blanket sharing our hearts.

And then, the gang from Iraq came by, smoking cigarets and walking with swag. A grizzly fellow came from behind me and put his fingers through the curls of my hair and then beckoned for the Ukulele. With his rough fingers he began to drum on the wood body. Oye! Be gentle brother, please! When he passed the Ukulele to a slimmer dude, my heart raced, this guy was full of life and passion - and he began to sing in Arabic.




His voice brought silence to the crowd and cut through the air. It opened a whole new space, where others felt invited to share their song. An older man joined in, a young boy jumped on the rattle, and a woman strummed the ukulele. We traded song, back and forth, until we were full to the brim and exhausted!

 Video Anais recorded - https://youtu.be/clkNQSK-6n0

When I returned home, I received a message from a refugee from Afghanistan that I met the other day. He wrote to me, "we will never forget that day and u." In these days I have witnessed the power of sharing music with an open heart.

Guru Nanak is a hero of mine who spread the truth through song and prayer. Inspiration has reached an all time high for me to create and share music with everyone.

Peace, Love, Wahe Guru!



Thank you to all the supporters that have helped Anais and I get out here. Sat Nam Foundation is sponsoring us to be out here, and to provide the refugees with the care they need. All donations we receive at this point will go directly to providing the refugees with healthy food.  http://satnamfoundation.org/index.php/campaign/lesbos/