I ate bunny...

Last weekend I had the opportunity to go home with my friend Eleni. She lives in Halketha, about an hour from Athens. She invited me to go with her a couple weeks ago and I had no idea what to expect when I arrived. It was definitely the most "Greek" experience I have had since arriving here, and probably the most fun!

Eleni and her cousins are involved in Scouts (like boy scouts and girl scouts, but co-ed) and are leaders for a group of students. I got to be involved in their program Saturday and then went to a Carnival dance for all the scouts and their parents that night. Carnival is pretty much the same as Mardi Gras, but with Halloween costumes. About two days before we left I was told we were going to be "pigs in sacks"...haha. Apparently something to do with a Greek saying, but I still had no idea what it really meant. I learned two different Greek dances and we spent the entire night, eating and dancing until 2 am!

Sunday we went to her aunt and uncle's house for a typical "Sunday Lunch." The amount of food at this lunch was more than any Thanksgiving meal I have ever had. They had a huge BBQ that they filled with pork, lamb, chicken and sausage...along with pasta, salad, spinich pastries, and the crowning course...bunny. I told them they should just say "rabbit" so I didn't think I was eating some cute, fluffy, easter bunny...but the name stuck. The meal ended with a serving of chocolate mouse for everyone AND a cake.

The weekend was wonderful, but the hightlight was probally sitting on the couch with her Grandmother who speaks NO english, and having her ask me about my views on Barak Obabma and George Bush...haha. Just imagine.

I defintiley have a better understanding of Greek culture after last weekend and hope to go back again! Here are some pics form the Carnival party:

sowing seed

In the past couple months (since Christmas) I have seen God move here in Athens more than any other time since I have arrived. I had heard how hard the soil was in Greece, but didn't fully understand until I came here and began to talk to these students. It seemed that in the first months I was here students did not have much interest in spiritual things, but I have slowly seen my friends open up and have a desire to know more about Christ. It has reminded me of the parable of the sower in Matthew 13:

"A farmer went out to sow his seed. As he was scattering the seed, some fell along the path, and the birds came and ate it up. Some fell on rocky places, where it did not have much soil. It sprang up quickly, because the soil was shallow. But when the sun came up, the plants were scorched, and they withered because they had no root. Other seed fell among thorns, which grew up and choked the plants. Still other seed fell on good soil, where it produced a crop—a hundred, sixty or thirty times what was sown. He who has ears, let him hear."

Sometimes my words fall on the deaf ears, and sometimes they fall on shallow hearts, but every once in awhile they fall on the rich, deep soil of people who desire to know God in a personal way. I am so thankful of the rich soil in my life right now. God is tilling the ground and planting seeds that I pray will produce a crop that multiplies far beyond what I can sow.

Please pray for four girls in particular: Ioanna, Christina, Carolina and Eleni. They have all expressed interest in Christ and I know God is pursuing their hearts. He is the divine sower and I am grateful he uses me to plant seeds.

...

Other requests:
-I am going to Eleni's hometown with her this weekend...pray for great conversation, deepened relationship and opportunites to talk about Christ.
-Pray against spiritual warfare: As we are seeing fruit, the devil is doing all he can to thwart our plans.
-Pray for our friends as they take finals...that God would bring them peace on comfort.

Thank you all so much!