Because your love is better than life, my lips will glorify you...

To be honest, these words from Psalm 63 seemed somewhat distant as I woke up this morning not feeling 100%. It was my first day of teaching and I was feeling weak, tired and certainly not ready to face a classroom of children. Yet what could I do? I did the one thing I should do all the time, I prayed. I reached for my Bible and read Psalm 63. After praying and reading the Psalm I can honestly say that I received renewed strength, a strength which carried me through the day. Not only this but as I entered the school and prepared for my class, there was a renewed confidence knowing that God was with me:

Because you are my help,
    I sing in the shadow of your wings.
I cling to you;
    your right hand upholds me.  
                                                Psalm 63:7-8


My students arrived just before 7pm and the class of 12 Greek children entered the room. I had lots of fun in store for them and it started with a 'getting to know you' style game. I had planned on playing 'I now know you a skittle better' although quickly discovered skittles are extremely hard to come by in Greece (maybe they are still waiting for their paperwork to be stamped). I adapted to this unfortunate 'sweet' disaster and created the game 'hello haribo'. Basically we went around the room said our name and then after choosing a haribo answered the appropriate question. If you happen to have some haribo in your hand right now why not have a go:

Hello Haribo!

One of the best moments of the evening was when we played a game called 'pass it on'. This is where the class stand in a line and then pretend to pass an item down the line. I encouraged them to really act it out and it was brilliant - especially the smelly sock and sack of potatoes! Occasionally they will have to pass a bomb with a countdown timer and they absolutely loved this! Especially when I put the timer on 5 seconds! Overall please give thanks for an encouraging start but do pray for my school owner to get a schedule finalised soon (it is a very hard job as you can imagine). And then I would greatly value your prayers that I would rest in the unknowns and keep remember Psalm 63.

In other news, I have now decided to have private Greek lessons and this will start next week with a teacher who has taught a friend of mine. Tomorrow morning I will be at the 2nd church to help with a feeding ministry to the homeless. Please continue to pray that I settle into the church and find how I can best serve during my time in Athens. Oh... and give thanks that I am feeling much better and that I go in His strength throughout the rest of this week!