Almost a year ago to the day, I received a parcel in the post, all the way from Greece. Wrapped up inside were some beautiful and very useful kitchen cooking spoons, handcrafted on the Greek island of Lesvos. They were produced in a remarkably creative and enterprising project that has spoken to me in a very exciting and challenging way about hospitality.
I first learned about the refugee camps on Lesvos from my son who worked as a volunteer there. That time was a remarkable experience for him, and for us as a family. The needs among the refugee community he told us about were enormous.
I can hardly remember, but I think I came across the Lesvos Woodcraft project on Instagram at a time when I finally decided that my wooden spoons in my kitchen had reached the end of their lifespan. I loved what I learned about this project, and their products seemed to be finely crafted. So I made a small order. Unfortunately, thanks to a crazy combination of history and politics, shipping to my part of the world isn’t always straightforward. As emails went back and forth about the complexities of this, I was very struck by the honesty and kindness of the seller.
Keen to include a number of Creative Conversations as part of the broad theme of hospitality in the Kitchen Inspiration series here on my blog, I checked back through those emails and reached out to Randall Graber with whom I had been in touch. I am very pleased that Randall has agreed to tell us more about the work of the Lesvos Woodcraft project and the inspiration behind it.
You have lived on a Greek island for some years now. How did that come about?
Yes, so we’ve lived on Lesvos island for eight years now. Both my wife and I were born in America; I was born in Indiana and wife was born in Pennsylvania. We met at Bible School, got married, and about a year into our marriage we had some friends that had come over here to Lesvos and volunteered, helping with the refugee crisis back in 2016. So we were in transition actually, moving from where my wife grew up in Pennsylvania back to Indiana, and we decided, ‘Hey, let’s go to volunteer for three months!’ We just had interest in helping as volunteers. So that’s when we first came – about nine years ago. We really enjoyed it! We were here for 3 months. It was very challenging, but really, I guess it just connected with us. We did go back to the US, and we did not have plans or intentions to return to Greece. But to cut a long story short, God used some close friends in our lives, friends we had met during those three months. And God really worked in my own heart and situation. Actually God spoke through two different visions, kind of at the same time that a close friend was asking us to come back to Lesvos permanently. And so it was a combination of those things. It was a bit like the Old Testament story of Samuel, how the Lord spoke to him in the middle of the night, very similar circumstances – very surreal! It was like, ‘Well, we’re called! God is telling us to go!’ So we agreed to come! That is how we got here, and we’ve been here ever since just trying to serve faithfully as God is called us.
What are the challenges and opportunities of living in such a culturally diverse place?
Well, the challenges and opportunities are great. They’re big! I would say, first of all, in terms of challenges there are the cross-cultural divides: cultural barriers, and different languages. Communication is really difficult, often both with the refugees and local people on the island. I have learned how to speak Greek and I can communicate well. I don’t claim to be fluent, but I can operate and do business in the marketplace with the local population. That has been fun, to connect on that level. With the refugee men, the immigrants we work with, there are many challenges. There are many different religious beliefs, different world views; you have different languages, cultures and traditions. The way that people view life and make decisions is so different, you know, based on your culture and your upbringing. So that is definitely a challenge. Opportunities of living in a culturally diverse place? Yes, there are many opportunities too, I would say. You know, these people are in need, they have largely left everything behind. They have huge needs for community, friends, economic needs, trying to rebuild their lives from zero. There’s also diversity of cultures and foods which is really fun!
How does learning to speak different languages help in your work?
Well, I can only claim to speak Greek. I know a handful of words in Arabic, Farsi, Amharic and probably some others, just due to the range of different languages spoken by the refugees coming through. But learning to speak different languages is tremendously helpful. I wish I could speak all those languages fluently – that would be a tremendous tool. Communication, at the end of the day, is essential in what we’re trying to do, and learning a language is a huge step towards understanding. Having learned Greek has been tremendous in our own lives, just in our stability and our connection with the local community, the host culture here, which I think is very important for longevity of the work. We want to work alongside with the Greeks and help in this crisis. We view it as essential to develop good relationships with the local community, for anything meaningful longer-term to come out of the work. And ultimately our desire is to help the immigrants that are part of our project to learn Greek. So the fact that I can speak Greek is helpful in that process. So yes, speaking different languages is very helpful.
Have you tried any new foods during your time in Greece? Would you like to share a recipe with us?
Yeah, you know that is one of the many blessings and opportunities of our work here: all the different cultures, nationalities, cuisines and different foods. We love it! We love the diversity of food; both the local Greek food and all the different Middle Eastern and African cultures and foods as well. I would say some of my favourites over the years would be Afghani bulani – it’s a kind of cooked tortilla filled with potatoes and onions and dill, deep fried in oil. I love Pakistani rice dishes …chicken biryani is amazing! One of my favourite Ethiopian dishes is Doro Wat. That one is on our website under Favourite Recipes. And local favourites in terms of Greek cuisine, they do a lot of barbecuing. I love charcoal grilled lamb ribs, and another one of my favourites is stuffed zucchini flowers. That one is also on our Favourite Recipes page on our website.
Tell us about the olive wood project – why make and sell cooking spoons and kitchen utensils?
You know, it’s funny, there’s been quite a journey to bring us to where we are today with Lesvos Woodcraft! I guess at the start, when I was younger, the family I grew up in was a very business oriented family. My father was a business owner working in construction and farming. My brothers and I all grew up in the construction industry, working with wood, and making things with our hands. And also with the farming, we learned to do all the repairs and maintenance. So that was my upbringing and the skillset, which is very instrumental today in the Lesvos Woodcraft olive wood project. Why do we make these kitchen utensils? Ultimately, it’s our mission: we’re here to help the refugees, the migrants who come to the island who have nothing, who are largely trying to rebuild their lives, find communities and find stable work. It’s also a passion of mine – entrepreneurship, business – it’s something I love. I feel like it’s a gifting that God has given me that plays into all of this. And then there is the local resource of olive wood. On a Greek island there is lots and lots of olive wood! So it’s just a natural fit, really. It’s a way to give back to the local community, having a local business here. And a way to create economic jobs and future and community for the refugee population. That, in a nutshell, is why we are doing it – to help create futures and communities and jobs for the migrants. And also for my own family. You know, we’ve been here eight years; we have children growing up – our oldest is six now – so that is also on my mind. I think it’s healthy and beneficial to have a local industry, a family business that my children can grow up in and have that experience. That’s how I grew up and I think it’s incredibly valuable.
What does a typical week look like for you?
So, on the Lesvos Woodcraft side of things, a typical week would be at the workshop every day, for sure, starting in the mornings working with the men. I work alongside them, helping to train and teach, and also creating the products. I largely try to do all the research and development and design. I am responsible also for the advertising and the sales. We export to the United States, and we have a warehouse there that we sell from. My 13 year-old nephew actually prepares and ships the packages, so it’s really cool that he can help and be involved in that way! So yeah, in a typical week, maybe half would be hands-on physical labour with the men, researching, designing and developing new olive wood products. And the other half would be more office-based behind the scenes, like customer communications. And there are other responsibilities outside of Lesvos Woodcraft, with the mission community, the larger expat community here; being involved with some responsibilities there. And a lot of meetings! That’s largely what comprises a typical week for me.
What have you learned about the relationship between work and human dignity?
Well, I feel like it’s an ongoing thing; a learning journey. I don’t claim to have learned all the lessons there are to learn on this topic yet, but I do believe there is a direct correlation between work and dignity. First of all, it’s how God created us: to work, to provide for ourselves by the sweat of our brow, by the work of our hands, for ourselves and our family. I believe that’s God’s design and that we are most healthy when operating in that role. And so I think that work is a very dignifying experience. Thinking about the immigrants who come here, they have largely have been in a humanitarian setting for the past years. They are in a transition, moving from their own communities and cultures. As humans, whatever situation we find ourselves in, we tend to adapt and get used to it. Out of survival and the need to survive, the refugees we work with have learned to live based off the humanitarian system – which is very needed. However it can be a very undignifying experience long-term. You can become dependent on the system. And your God-given abilities to provide, create and support yourself, and give back to the community and people around you, tend to kind of disappear because they don’t get used. So I think work is a tremendously dignifying experience and helps in all areas of life and is very healthy.
What have you learned about working with wood?
Working with wood is really dusty! So air filtration is a very important part of the part of our manufacturing process. But I love wood. You can sculpt and create anything that you can think of. It can be very creative, and your imagination is the limit really, so I just love it. I love the hands-on nature of it. I think the ability to create a useful product out of something that what was going to be burned in the fire, just a piece of firewood, is tremendous. It’s also dignifying. It’s amazing. It speaks of the redemptive process of transformation as believers in Jesus – the work that Jesus does in our life as the Master Craftsman. I think that analogy of working with wood is a beautiful picture.
What keeps you going on tough days?
God, and God only, in many ways! The strength and purpose that He gives. It’s only God’s grace that enables us to keep going forward. I would say something that has been fundamental in giving us strength and the ability to push through tough and difficult days is knowing and having experienced such a clear calling to come to Greece back at the beginning. Also, I would say the heart and passion and love that God has given us for the refugees and immigrants coming here to make a new start and rebuild their lives.
What is your definition of success?
That’s a tricky question! My definition and metrics of success can be very different God’s. That’s something I need to always be asking myself and praying to God about: what is success? But some of the things that I definitely look and hope for in the Lesvos Woodcraft project, one of the biggest goals right now that we’re trying to achieve is financial success: to be able to support the cost of the workshop and the men working here – the salaries and the support to pay them a good wage and insurance, and all the things that are required by the Greek government. There are multiple layers of costs that go into making a product, exporting a product and getting it ready for selling into the market. So that is the first thing: will we be able to survive long-term? We want to survive and self-sustain and grow and thrive. Another metric of success is ultimately providing stability and income and support for the refugee and immigrant men working in the project. That is one of the main drivers. Another metric of success would be helping them in their integration journey into European Greek culture and community. That is something we are definitely concerned about; that would be one of our goals.
Would you like to share any high points or low points in your creative journey?
Let’s start with high points: just the simple fact that today we have our own workshop here with Lesvos Woodcraft, that we are able to employ the refugee artisans. This is an incredible highpoint and a blessing from God. It’s amazing! Low points? Yeah … the difference struggles and cross-cultural barriers, miscommunication and offences that can happen. Different parties involved can have different expectations. This whole project – trying to help with the integration of these refugees – is sometimes a very painful, difficult journey. It’s painful, actually, for the men: transitioning from more of a humanitarian mindset to thinking ‘I’m able to provide for myself, and create, and support my own family’. The transition between those two different mindsets; from ‘I’m entitled to receive’ to ‘I can create, and because of my efforts and production I can get a financial reward’. It’s a painful and slow transition. Every person is in a different place on their journey. And in that process, along that journey, there are misunderstandings, different expectations, and there can be offence. There can be hurt and that is I think one of the most difficult things that can happen, and has happened, and is part of the nature of our work.
Do you have any advice for young people who might consider volunteering?
My advice would be, if you’re considering volunteering, just do it! I think it is an incredible experience, volunteering your time and energy for something that’s for the greater good and for God’s kingdom. I think as a believer, a Christian, a follower of Christ, that is our calling. We’re called to reach out, to help, to clothe, and to share the resources that we’ve been given. God has blessed us with so much. There is a direct proportional obligation to share what we’ve been given with people who have not had opportunities and who don’t have resources. As a follower of Jesus, that’s our responsibility: sharing Christ’s love and what He’s given us. I think it’s an amazing, horizon-broadening experience; the interaction with different cultures, world views, religious beliefs. It’s a very healthy thing and helps us see more of the world and God’s creation and difference cultures from across the world. I think it’s been a very helpful experience in my own life. Just relating to people, relating to God. It’s tremendous.
How does your work with the Lesvos Woodcraft project relate to your faith?
Well, I think it relates directly. As Christians, our lifestyle, our actions and the use of our resources are directly connected to our walk with the Lord and faith in God. Look at the life of Jesus – I think He’s the ultimate example of serving and giving and helping. He has by the grace of God saved me and washed my sins white as snow. He has made us His children and given us a place in God’s kingdom. So I think it’s our duty – our calling. I find great love and fulfilment in sharing and helping in ways that God has enabled me to, with people who may have not had the same opportunities and or maybe have not heard the Gospel. So I think the Lesvos Woodcraft project is a direct result of and is very connected to my faith.
How does the life of Jesus inspire you? Does it matter that He was a carpenter?
Jesus’ life is incredibly inspirational to me – just in his growing up years, his mission ministry from a very young age. And the fact that he grew up in a workshop as a carpenter making out of wood, that really resonates! It’s something really special actually to my heart, especially now that we’re here with the Lesvos Woodcraft project and we’re creating things from wood. I love it. I think it’s beautiful that Jesus himself was a carpenter working with wood and I get to do that today and share my love for Christ and my love for wood with these men. I think it’s it’s beautiful; an incredible opportunity. And the fact that we’re working with olive wood… You know some of these olive trees that are here today in 2026 literally existed in the time of Jesus! It’s incredible, the heritage and the history that olive wood brings. I just love how all of that connects together.
How might people interested in supporting your work find and purchase your beautiful products?
You can find us on Instagram and Facebook and we have a website. We mainly ship to the North American market, but we also ship to EU, including Ireland, and the UK. We actually have a dealer that sells our utensils in Ireland, at Jaybees Shop in Ballinakina, Dunmore E Rd, Co. Waterford, X91 K85D, Ireland.
We are particularly keen to help businesses or shops who have resale networks who are interested in purchasing at wholesale pricing. We offer significant bulk discounts available for businesses or shops who want to purchase and resell. We can work with shops around displaying and helping to advertise and sell the products. Also, if there are any businesses owners who do year-end gifting like Christmas gifts or client appreciation gifting – that is something we love to help businesses do. Again, we have discounts available for those types of situations. Our products do really well on the gifting market.
Finally, are there any Scripture passages that you find particularly helpful or inspiring?
One of the main Scripture passages that I really love and often think about fuels some of my passion for the work. It’s found in 1 John chapter 3 verse 16, 17 and 18:
‘By this we know love, that He laid down his life for us, and we ought to lay down our lives for the brothers. But if anyone has the world’s goods and sees his brother in need, yet closes his heart against him, how does God’s love abide in him? Little children, let us not love in word or talk but in deed and in truth.’
Those verses have been incredibly instrumental in fuelling and convicting in my own life. You know, it’s easy to help in word, but helping in deed often requires sacrifice, it takes our resources, it takes our time, it takes our effort. So I think this has been a very powerful verse in fuelling my own heart and passion for the Lesvos Woodcraft project.
Introducing Kitchen Inspiration
Kitchen Inspiration: provisions and pancakes
Kitchen Inspiration: hospitality in wartime
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