Finding Family!

Recently, Kim and I took a trip to Greece. One of our stops was the island of Lesvos, the island my grandparents had come from over 100 years ago. And, because of some family research I had done this past year, we were able to visit the exact town from which they came, Mantamados—a small town in the heart of the country. 

Family in Lesvos - 1921

Before we left for Greece, I had posted on a Lesvos Facebook group I had joined that I was going to be visiting there, that my grandparents had come from Mantamados, and I gave the names of my grandparents. Someone responded, tipping me off that there was a dairy store and small yogurt factory that had my grandmother’s maiden name, Adali, on it. I looked it up on Google maps and sure enough it was there.  

When we got to Mantamados, I was able to quickly find the store. The first time we passed by, it was closed. I was disappointed. About an hour later, however, we passed by again and a man was sitting inside. At first he told me in Greek he was not yet open. But I walked in anyway and in my limited Greek asked him if his name was “Adali.” When he said “yes,” I told him, that was my grandmother’s name and that I thought we were related. I then took out some old family pictures I had brought with me—pictures of my grandmother’s family that had been sent to her in the 1920’s and 1930’s from family that was yet on Lesvos. He told me to wait a moment, went to a cabinet, and then pulled out pictures of some of the same people. It turns out, Nikos’ grandfather was my grandmother’s brother! That makes us second cousins!  Before I knew it, Nikos had thrown his arms around me, gave me a big hug, and exclaimed, “family!”  For both of us, it was quite a moment. 

The crazy thing is, Nikos and I were family yet we didn’t even know each other existed. There had been no contact between the families here in the U.S. and those who were yet in Greece. Only one of my father’s cousins had ever visited, and that was many, many years ago. I was the first person in my family to return to the island. It struck me: one family living miles and miles apart, in very different worlds, speaking different languages—not even knowing the other existed. Yet, in spite of all of that, we were/are still family.  

And such is the case with the family of God. No matter the distance, culture, language, worship styles, etc.—whether or not we even know the other exists—those who have put their faith in Jesus as Lord and Savior are one family. And we are not just cousins, we are brothers and sisters—brother and sisters who will one day discover each other when we are gathered together with our elder brother, Jesus! What a wonderful family reunion that will be!

“So now you…are no longer strangers and foreigners…You are members of God’s family.” (Ephesians 2:19 – NIV) 

Have a great day! 

- Pastor Tim Harris