THE DAY AFTER THANKSGIVING

I had a great time Thanksgiving night sharing a feast with some very special people. Ron and Diana Kretz are missionaries serving in Athens, Greece, directing the Athens International Bible Institute and they hosted me and another couple for dinner. The other couple are local Christians in Athens. They are associated with the International Church of Christ and conduct services on Sunday in their home. Their names are Theofanis (Theo) and Mari Roropoulos. They are a unique and dedicated couple. Theo designs ladies clothes and they both are opera singers. Theo is Greek and Mari is from Bulgaria.

They celebrated their first ever Thanksgiving dinner with us. They sure made it a very special Thanksgiving for me, even though I had to celebrate separated from my family. Being in Greece with Ron and Diana, and celebrating with Theo and Mari, made this Thanksgiving one of the fondest ever.

Before we blessed and ate the feast Ron and Diana prepared, Ron told Theo and Mari about the first Thanksgiving and why we continue the holiday today. Then each of us told of some of the things we had to be thankful for. It was special listening to each one express their personal gratitude. Then, it was time to eat, and we did! It was great! I am still enjoying some of it today. Diana sent me home with a lot of the leftovers.

The only negative was that it had to start so late in the evening that we had to cut our fellowshipping short because Theo and Mari had to work on Friday. Thursday was not a holiday in Greece. They don’t celebrate Thanksgiving here. We started eating about 10:00PM and broke up about 11:30PM.

I will see Theo and Mari again on December 14. They invited me to speak at their “House church.” I am looking forward to the fellowship with the church in their home.

I am winding down the day after Thanksgiving listening to a Montgomery, Alabama radio station playing Christmas music, and I am trying to stay awake long enough to call the family back in Alabama to wish them a happy day after.

If you would like to follow our blog automatically, on the top left-hand corner is a link entitled, “Follow this blog.” Click on it and follow the directions. Thanks for all you do. All of you are special!

THANKSGIVING DAY IS TOMORROW

STRUGGLE WITH JET-LEG
I have really struggled with “Jet-Leg.” I believe this is the hardest time I have ever had adjusting to the lack of sleep and the time differences. Today was an off day from school and realizing that, I slept for 14 hours last night. I cannot recall ever doing that in my lifetime. It probably has something with two things: 1) my age, and 2) with all you go through in traveling these distances. But with the Lord’s help it will all pass soon enough.

ATHENS INTERNATIONAL BIBLE INSTITUTE
I am teaching three classes in Athens. I am teaching Homiletics to about 25 students, the Epistles of John and Timothy & Titus to three students in each of those classes. You may ask “Why just three students?” The students here in Athens support themselves by working full time jobs and coming to class in their off time. The homiletics class is taught on Sunday when all the students are off from work. The other two classes are taught on Monday and Tuesday when most of the students are working at their full time jobs.

The students are from a very diverse background and nationality. None are native Greeks but several have lived here for many years. Most are from some where in Africa. A good number are from Nigeria and one man is from Ethiopia. He is an interesting fellow to visit with. In talking with him you come to understand that the Eunuch from Acts 8 did a pretty good job in evangelizing when he returned to Ethiopia. Like the Eunuch, Yohannas is also an Ethiopian who is rejoicing because of his relationship to the Lord and wanting to share it with his countrymen.

SHOPPING
I have shopped only out of necessity. A super market is just up the street from the apartment where I am stay. The people there have been very good to me when they understand I do NOT speak Greek. When they ask me a question about something I have purchased, they just take care of it for me and smile! I really do appreciate them but I don’t know how to tell them. I do put on the BIGGEST smile I can.

This past Saturday I verntured into "Street Market" (it covers several blocks on both sides of the street) and bought some tomatos. I needed more than tomatos but I did not want to press my luck too far since I don't speak their language. This coming Saturday I will try for a few more things.

APARTMENT
The apartment has most everything I need. I have a washing machine and dryer; (solar – there is a cloths line on the porch); a stove and refrigerator; a television (even though most everything is in Greek); and a comfortable bed to sleep in. What more could a person ask for.

CELEBRATION
Today was my birthday and tomorrow is “Thanksgiving Day.” I will be celebrating Thanksgiving with Ron & Diana Kretz. Ron is the director of AIBI. They are a great couple and I look forward to spending the Holiday with them.

ATHENS WEATHER AND APARTMENT

The weather outside is a very pleasant 68 degrees but it is cold inside the apartment. The apartment has high ceilings and marble floors, and, the heat is off. That may be why it feels colder inside than it does outside. I walked this morning before 8:00AM and I built up quite a sweat. Since I am hot natured it is strange to feel this cold. It is a lot warmer here than in the Montgomery, Alabama area. I am listening to a Montgomery local radio station on the Internet and they annouced the windchill factor is 29 degrees. The picture is of the apartment where I am living.

We shopped today for Thanksgiving dinner on Thursday. I will be cerebrating with Ron and Diana Kretz. Ron is the director of the Athens International Bible Institute. They have also invited a Greek couple to join us. Ron warned me that it would be a late dinner. Since Europeans do not celebrate Thanksgiving, they will have a regular work day and we will not start dinner until about 8:00PM. Our shopping was successful or unsuccessful depending on how you look at it. We were able to find a turkey but most of the other fixings we did not find. I am looking forward to the fellowship.

Next week I will be psoting some pictures of the students. Hope you enjoy them.