Pre-holiday ponderings...

 

This time, in 2 days, God-willing I will be back in that little strange shaped country called England. I thought it might be appropriate to write a short blog entry looking back over the past months - pondering and giving thanks for all God has taught me. There is of course far too much to mention, however here are a few things that spring to mind.

1. Stamps

Very early on in my Greek adventures I encountered something which to this day remains a mystery - stamps. No, not the stamps we use to send letters, but the kind of stamps that reveal if something is authentic or not. I hadn't foreseen how long it would take to do what appeared on the surface a very simple process.

However upon reflection, after meeting many refugees, I now know that being an EU citizen, I actually have it easy. Some people I've met have been waiting years for certain documents, it makes my 3 weeks seems like nothing!



2. Church

Before arriving in Athens, I always knew that I wanted to find a church where I could both belong and serve. During my first two weeks I was thankful for fellowship at the Glyfada Christian Centre. I did however decide to commit to the 2nd Greek Evangelical Church, mainly due to already knowing people from the church, but also it being a little closer to home. I've been really enjoying getting to know people and helping with the feeding ministry on a Thursday. Today we had a special Christmas meal surprise for the guests. Instead of serving the food outside, we invited over 100 people into the church for a meal, Christmas music and also to hear the Christmas message. I had the pleasure of being able to play the piano (it's a Yamaha - my favourite), and even did a few boogie-woogie numbers which was fun! It has been encouraging to hear how God has grown (and continues to grow) the ministry, but also a privilege to serve and learn from all those involved.

3. Helping Hands

Every Tuesday, I go to help serve over 100 refugees a meal at the Helping Hands centre in Omonia (part of Athens). This has been an incredible experience and as mentioned above, just being with the team has been a pleasure and a privilege. What I have discovered from helping with this ministry is that there is real joy to be found in the small areas of ministry.

Sometimes we allow ourselves to think that it is all about delivering the perfect sermon, or planting a thriving church and all these things are good and praiseworthy, but there is great joy to be found in simply handing a refugee a bowl of spaghetti Bolognese. We never know in that moment what part we might be playing in God's great plan for that person's life.


4. School

I am very thankful for my teaching position at the language school. Not only have they been very welcoming, they have also been very patient with me as I settle into the new teaching role. It has also been a pleasure getting to know all the children (and there have been many). I teach a wide age range (8 - 15) so I can't say there isn't variety in what I am doing. The majority of my classes have been a delight to teach and although there have been challenges along the way, I am learning much from the experience.

One of the highlights of the first term has to be an essay I marked from a boy (14yrs I think) who has struggled a bit and produced at a low level in his writing. As I was marking the term tests I almost jumped for joy when I started to read his essay and found some real improvements. I'm now looking forward to the Christmas break and hoping to return fresh and ready for the new term in January.



5. Friends

Over the last few months I have met many people from all different walks of life which has been a real blessing. There have been many Americans, numerous Brits, lovely Albanians and of course an abundance of Greeks. I could add many more nationalities to this list! One thing I think God is teaching me, is that part of the way he is going to change me is through his people. This is why belonging to a church is so important and valuable. Going to church doesn't make you a Christian, but I'm finding that being with other believers has been an essential part in the exposing and the repairing of my sinful heart. The writer to the Hebrews (10:24-25) says:

And let us consider how we may spur one another on towards love and good deeds, not giving up meeting together, as some are in the habit of doing, but encouraging one another – and all the more as you see the Day approaching.
   
I trust that when (God-willing) I return on the 4th January, there will be many more experiences to be had, and many more lessons to be learnt. I keep saying to friends and colleagues, that most of what I have learnt has come from making mistakes! I'm trying to tell my students this too! I'd like to end this blog entry by sharing with you three things that I can honestly say leave me extremely puzzled.

1. Greek traffic lights - the green man is flashing yet cars (turning left/right) are still allowed to approach with caution (but there's a green man?). All my childhood training thrown out of the window with this one.

2. Motorbikes on the pavement - ok so this kind of makes sense because parking is not the most easiest of motoring tasks. It is however a little unnerving when you're walking on a footpath being approached by a motorbike (or is that just me?).

3. Stamps 

See you all soon!

Cro