"You are crazy!"

This was the response from my Greek neighbour, who owns the cleaning store, when I told him I had moved from England to live in Athens. It was a friendly exchange and I was able to talk to him (a little) and practice some Greek, especially my newly learnt phrase 'I want to clean my floor'. He does speak a little bit of English which was helpful. I also met a lady who works in the flower shop (also next-door) who lives on the floor above me. Please pray that I continue to get to know my neighbours and that in some way I can be a good witness for Christ. Speaking about my faith is obviously very tricky due to the language barrier but I would like my neighbours to know that I am a Christian. It is very early days and my prayer is that over the year I will be able to have more conversations (slightly deeper) like I did this morning!

Last night I went to a 'summer cinema' with Dimitris (my Greek friend). It was a fun experience and as you can see from the picture (left) the reason it is a 'summer' cinema is because it is outside! We saw a 1960s film called '12 angry men'. It was really good and thankfully in English! Apparently there are a few 'summer cinemas' around Athens and one worth checking out is next to the Acropolis. As you can imagine the views are amazing (maybe one to try later on in the summer perhaps). Give thanks that I'm beginning to feel like I know my neighbourhood. Over the last few days I have spent a lot of time walking around and now have a better picture in my mind about where places are in relation to my flat. Keep praying for safety as I walk around the city. This evening I visited Mount Lykavitos. I will need to sit down and work out the best route as I took a very winding path which eventually got me to the top but felt like quite a convoluted route. It is one of my favourite places to visit in Athens and I'm looking forward to going again especially when there are fewer clouds in the sky.

   As you can see from the pictures there are stunning views right across the city and on a clear day you can see for miles. On my way down the mountain as the evening set in, I was reminded once again of the size of Athens and therefore the number of people who don't know the good news of Jesus Christ. That there is a God who is extravagantly loving and more good then anyone could ever imagine. I've just started reading a book by Mike Reeves called 'the good God'. It is well worth a read! It is all about God as 'trinity' and how because God is 'trinity' at his deepest nature he is love.




View over Athens.

Nearly at the top of Lykavitos!        

A little extract to wet your appetite:

Now, God could not be love if there was nobody to love. He could not be a Father without a child. And yet it is not as if God created so that he could love someone. He is love, and does not need to create in order to be who he is. If he did, what a needy, lonely thing he would be! 'Poor old God', we'd say. If he created us in order to be who he is, we would be giving him life.

No, 'Father', says Jesus the Son in John 17:24, 'you loved me before the creation of the world.' The eternal Son, who according to Colossians 1 is 'before all things' (v17), the one through whom 'all things were created (v16), the one Hebrews 1 calls 'Lord' and 'God', who laid the foundations of the earth' (Hebrews 1:10), he it is who is loved by the Father before the creation of the world. The Father, then, is the Father of the eternal Son, and he finds his very identity, his Fatherhood, in loving and giving out his life and being to the Son.


This is our God and O how we should want to know him and make him known. Please pray that as I read on about the God who is love, who is our Father, that I would rest in His love and be strengthened to serve and delight in Him.

The sun sets over Athens.

 

Rather busy at the summit!

A quieter day...

It has been a much quieter day today. Mostly I have spent the day organising my finances and I even managed to create a spreadsheet (I know!). Do praise God with me for his provision and for the many gifts that have helped me begin my time in Greece more financially secure. Earlier this afternoon I ventured out to see how long it would take me to walk to my school (without getting lost). Thankfully it took me just under 20 minutes to walk (without getting lost) so that was encouraging. Not only that it is a reasonable distance but also that I didn't get lost! Currently it feels like I'm in a bit of a limbo stage, waiting to start my job (on Monday), waiting to get forms completed (hopefully by the end of next week!) and just adjusting to an unfamiliar country and culture. All which has been exciting but also very tiring. I did have a much better sleep last night so do thank God for that!

My school! I start Monday morning.

  
I have been enjoying getting to grips with the language. This morning I went to buy some water from a shop about a 2min walk from my flat. I feel that it is my duty to impress the Greek people with my poor linguistic mastery! I find however that my limited language knowledge can actually have its advantages. For example, it makes for a great conversation starter, ok so it's not going to be a very deep conversation, but it can help in establishing relationships as I show that I am making an effort to converse. I have also realised that you just need to go for it! You're not going to make progress if you don't try (that's what I keep telling myself anyway). All in all it is fun when you get that moment (very rare moment) when someone understands what you are saying, and if they don't I just pull out my phrase (I don't speak good Greek). Please in all this continue to pray that I do make good progress with the language and make an effort to learn more when I can.

The Hellenic Parliament. In the background you can see Mount Lykavittos.

This afternoon I am planning on doing some more reading in preparation for my English teaching job. Although I am slightly apprehensive about starting there is a part of me that is really raring to go! It will be good to establish some routines and hopefully that will help with the settling in process. I am also excited about getting involved in a church community. Spending time with my friend last night reminded me of the importance and value of Christian fellowship. Pray that in whatever way He determines, that I would serve God and grow in His love during my time in Athens!   

At least they are now filled in...

One step closer towards getting my tax number! It was great this morning to meet up with a friend who had kindly offered to represent me at the tax office. I am looking forward to meeting up with him again to continue catching up (perhaps over some Greek coffee!). Ok so back to the tax office. We arrived (good). However we then discovered that the office were going on strike for the afternoon (not so good). Still, at least we were able to get my forms filled in. Will try again on Monday. You'll be pleased to hear that I am now telephonically connected in Greece via mobile. I went into a store on my way home and am now the proud owner of a simple yet effective Greek mobile phone. I may live to regret the decision, but I opted to have the phone language in Greek! Thought it would be a good way to learn more of the language. It did then however take me 20mins to just send a text!

I live next-door to a plant shop.

Anyway, now fully armed with my mobile it should help when wanting to contact friends who are living in Athens. I'm definitely noticing that things happen at a very different pace compared to that of the UK. I wonder if this has something to do with the weather! Temperatures of 35 + mean that things (especially for me) take longer it seems. I shall persevere and hope that by the end of next week I am writing with news of successful applications.

Dolmades in a tin!

Please pray that I keep looking to God for strength and energy throughout the day and also for patience as I wait for forms to be completed. Give thanks for my friend in Athens who helped me this morning! 

O Lord, you have searched me and known me!
You know when I sit down and when I rise up;
    you discern my thoughts from afar.

Psalm 139:1

So that's another form...

Just gone midday and it is turning out to be another eventful day full of many learning curves (a positive spin). So far today I have been doing much but not getting much done. Although to be fair there must be good reasons behind all the forms, stamps and photocopies (another positive spin). I think I now know what I need to do (not sure when it will be done though - sorry that wasn't very positive). I am very thankful for God's hidden hand at work in so many ways. A Psalm I made sure to memorise before coming to Athens was Psalm 16:8 -

I have set the Lord always before me;
    because he is at my right hand, I shall not be shaken.

Please pray that this becomes an ever growing reality as I make my way around an unfamiliar city. I have been so blessed with the help of people. The police were extremely helpful in directing me to the immigration police. When I arrived at immigration I was beginning to see that other picture of Greece, not the one of blue skies and beaches, but the one that has been so hidden under the postcard but is now slowly starting to reveal itself. I wasn't too sure what to do at the security gate but I can only assume that the police officer noticed I was European and dealt with me quickly and efficiently. It did feel a little uncomfortable going through the gates when so many (non-Europeans) had obviously been waiting for hours (possibly more). 

Now I was inside the EU office (thanks to another helpful police officer). The advantages of knowing a little Greek showed itself as I talked to a man who was very friendly and helpful and pointed me to another man who he knew worked in the office. I then approached him and in my best 'little Greek' explained what I needed to do. Afterwards he then very kindly talked through all I needed to do to get my residents permit. Phew! So here I am still waiting but a little closer then I was on Monday.

I am thankful for my school and landlady who have been helpful as I adjust to life in Athens. I have received a warm welcome! It will be good to catch up with more familiar faces soon too. I am also enjoying giving the language a go. My favourite phrase so far which I seem to have perfected is:

Συγνώμη! Δεν μιλάω καλά ελληνικά - Sorry! I don't speak good Greek.

Prayer points

Thank you for your prayers! They are much needed and greatly valued.

Please pray:

- Give thanks for a good journey and pray that I settle in to my flat and the surrounding area.

- Protection as I go out do things and meet people.

- Paperwork! Lots (or feels like lots) to get done and it is trickier when my Greek is not very good. Please pray I get all the necessary forms done as soon as possible.

- Give thanks for my landlady who has been very helpful and welcoming. Pray for me as I get to know people that I would be a good witness for Christ.

Will look forward to sharing more news soon!

Englishman in Athens...

Nearly my first full day in the beautiful and hot (30oC) city of Athens. It has been a mixed day comprising of getting lost (many times), numerous taxi rides (because I was lost), queuing in a tax office (then leaving because it was going to take too long), taking about 4 hours to do my supermarket shopping (might be over exaggerating a little) because I hadn't realised there were two floors, speaking Greek badly to lots of people (who were very friendly and understanding), going into an electronics store to buy an adapter and spending over half-hour talking (in English) about lots of things (he was very helpful and I said I'd go back when I knew more Greek). Oh and almost thought I couldn't open my front door this morning to get back in (I figured it out in the end). Overall I have been made to feel very welcome and looking forward to catching up with friends and getting going with my job next week.

My flat is somewhere down this road on the right

living room/study

Never seen so much olive oil

Lots of shopping outside


Lots shopping inside

Apparently there is only one football team you support around here...

Post-packing ponderings...

All my packing is pretty much done! Two suitcases one big one small but both rather heavy. As I prepare for the move to a new country there are numerous thoughts running through my mind. Firstly I am extremely thankful! To God for his constant presence with me and kindness to me, how he has answered so many prayers over the last year. To friends and family for their amazing love and support - you don't know how much it has meant to have so many generous gifts not just monetary but also gifts of encouraging words, prayers and wise advice! Secondly excitement about stepping into the unknown. Whenever I have spent time abroad the best part for me has been exploring a new culture - tastes, sights, sounds etc. I am sure Greece will have much to offer on this. Also it will be a privilege to experience being a Christian in a different context. I remember during my time in China being reminded of the gigantic truth of God being the God of the whole world!!! Jesus said go and make disciples of ALL nations, and in Revelation we read of a great multitude that no one could number, from EVERY nation, from ALL tribes and peoples and languages, standing before the throne and before the Lamb, clothed in white robes, with palm branches in their hands, and crying out with a loud voice, “Salvation belongs to our God who sits on the throne, and to the Lamb!”

ForMission conference - CMS 2013. I missed the second week hence why I'm in the corner!

One day all those who have trusted in Christ will be a part of that great communion - what a thought! During my training with the Church Mission Society this wonderful truth became ever clearer as I met some amazing people all with a heart for mission (although don't forget all Christians are called to mission!). Over the week I was challenged in my thinking and reminded that God is way beyond me. I began to see how easy it can be to box him in or to overly rely on my construction of who I think God is. A construction based on my experience, my background and my culture. Meeting with people who came from different experiences and backgrounds I confess at times made me feel uncomfortable. Why? Because I hadn't realised how much I valued my way of being a Christian (if I can put it like that). I learnt that I need to humble myself and not be judgemental or consider my position to have it all sorted. Rather keep looking to the Bible (God's eternal truth) and keep talking with people about why they think the way they think. By the end of the week I was celebrating the diversity of God's church and how it is the gospel that unites! Ok the church looks very different in a different culture - it is the same gospel yet the community and how the gospel is displayed in that community looks different. Looking forward to seeing how that reveals itself in Greece! 

Here are the 5 marks of mission:

1. To proclaim the good news of the kingdom.

2. To teach, baptise and nurture new believers.

3. To respond to human need by loving service.

4. To seek to transform unjust structures of society, to challenge violence of every kind and to pursue peace and reconciliation.

5. To strive and safeguard the integrity of creation and sustain and renew the life of the earth.

Please pray for me as I seek to keep these statements close to my heart.


Going to leave it there for now. My next post will be coming from Athens. Looking forward to sharing news, pics and Greek goings on. Thank you for your on-going support!

In Christ,

Jon