A Little Ancient R and R

Friday we got back from a great trip down south to Greece.  It was time again for our annual meeting with some friends and colleagues. We were all meeting on a little island close to Athens. So Brian and I decided to head down to Athens a few days before the meeting to check out some "really old stuff" (according to Kate) in Athens and Ancient Corinth.

Thomas hanging out by the old Roman Odeum at Ancient Corinth.  He really couldn't have cared less. The poor child just wanted to go back to the modern day playground we passed on the way to the ruins.   

Greece is gorgeous in the spring. There were snow-capped mountains hovering on top of fields of yellow wild-flowers. So pretty.

Apollo's Temple--one of the only temples still semi-standing. I think this is a gorgeous picture--one I might even would have framed and hung on my wall--until I really thought about it. It was a place of worship to another god. A god that was made up by men. A god that cannot hear the cries of its worshippers. A god that cannot save.  Perhaps I should frame it as a reminder that I am no better than those wretched Corinthians.  I, too, put things before the One True God. BUT GOD!  He came to the Corinthians in their idolatry just as He came to me in mine.  While we were still in our sin, Christ died for us.  Whew!!!! Best news ever!

I was blown away by the amount of placards that we walked by that said "'Somebody's' Temple."  One such temple was a place that housed 26 prostitutes at all times.  When the apostle Paul moved in there, he was surrounded by immense paganism. Darkness. He did not waver in his faithfulness to the Lord. He made his tents. He boldly preached the word.  

Here is a picture from where it is believed to be the seat of the proconsul where Paul was brought and tried before Gallio.  Paul did not waver but remained faithful to the truth and power of the gospel.  

And just as God promised, many believed and were baptized and the church at Corinth was started.  

Our family standing on a "really old sidewalk" in Corinth. Seriously, the kids just wanted to play on the playground.... 

The next day we headed into downtown Athens to see the Acropolis. This is our family on top of the Areopagus or "Mar's Hill" (Acts 17).   Again, so many thoughts on all that Paul did to advance the gospel of our Lord. So humbling!!!

This is how Isaiah and I enjoyed the Acropolis--in the grass, under a tree, shoes and socks off (yes, it was that warm and SO wonderful). If you look really close, you can see the Parthenon over his head.

Rockin' Athens from the stroller.

Brian took the two oldest up to see the Parthenon and all that "old stuff." They don't appreciate it now, but one day...

So pretty (Kate took this picture)

Just keeping it real, y'all. 

And we found Starbucks! Holla! I spent a painful amount of euros on two cups of creamy, caramelly coffee and I don't regret it one bit. Magically Delicious!!! This is evidently my name in Greek!

The next day we headed to the island where we met up with our friends and colleagues and had a tremendous time!!!

Like in years past, a stellar team of child care workers came over from the states to take care of our babies.  They did a great VBS with them and at the end of the week, they kids got to do a little show. They had so much fun and are still singing all of their songs and saying their verses.  

I love it!!!  These annual meetings are always such a blessing for our family as we can worship and be taught in English, be trained in new ways of attacking the darkness and just fill-up.  SO. VERY. GOOD. My heart is full.  

Seed Project

Almost every single person we know still plants a garden full of a variety of different veggies.  It is pretty much a necessity here. A colleague had the great idea to use the spring sowing season to plant the seeds of the gospel.  Through the coordination of our teammates in Prilep and Baptist Global Response, along with the church in the capital city, Skopje, our group in Ohrid has over 300 packets with seeds and literature (tracts, New Testaments and a book) that we will be distributing to the villages surrounding our town.

Putting the 300 packets together was a family affair.  The kids had a good time helping us stuff bags full of seeds, Bibles and tracts.

Kate went with Brian to seven different villages yesterday to give out these packets.

             They had a blast meeting new people and showing love to every one they met. 

There are 52 villages in the Ohrid region.  We probably will not be able to reach all of them through this project, but we will be able to make a dent.  Please be praying for us in the next few days as we work to cast these seeds.

Women's Day

March 8th is Woman's Day all around the world.  It seems America may be the one of the only countries that doesn't celebrate it.  It is such a fun holiday when all women are celebrated. It is also the biggest day of the year for florists here. Every woman receives flowers and handmade cards from their kids.  My favorite part is that the women all go out for a big meal and dancing to celebrate the day.  I love it.  Like years past, I decided it would be a great idea to leverage this holiday for the gospel.  I got together with the ladies from our group, and worked with them to make a great event for our girlfriends and neighbors.

The night before 8mi Mart, we opened the doors of our new club (more on that later) and prayed that God would use the night for His glory. We had 23 ladies come.  I had hoped there would be more, but because of the holiday, there were ballet recitals, art exhibits and other things around town that were competing for attendees.  Plus a ton of women were sick or had sick kids.  Either way, I am confident that God brought in exactly those who needed to be there on that very night.  

We had a craft for the ladies to do as they were arriving, but it ended up lasting all night.  They really got into it. We painted washers with nail polish, added some beads and made pretty necklaces.  I was so impressed at some of the girls' artistic ability.  Everyone had such a good time making their necklaces and then showing off their creations to the others.  It was like the best art class ever!  

Along with one of the believers from our group, I was able to share about our hope in Jesus. It is common for women to say they are too busy to read the Bible, too busy to come to a Bible study or too busy to read a book we have given them.  I get it.  We women have our plates full--there is much to do in serving our families.  A story that always resonates with me and the story I chose to share with the ladies is the story of Mary and Martha. You know it. Jesus stops in for a visit. Martha is ticked cause her sister, Mary, is just hanging out with Jesus and not helping with all that needs to get done.  Martha tattles on her sister and tells Jesus to make her help.  His response cuts to the heart.  "Martha, Martha, you are anxious and troubled about many things but one thing is necessary. Mary has chosen the good portion, which will not be taken away from her."  ONE thing is necessary.  Sure the house needs to be cleaned, dinner needs to be cooked, the kids need help with homework.  But what if we spend our whole lives on those things and forget the ONE thing that is necessary. The ONE thing that lasts forever--the good portion.  What if we gain the clean house (not even possible) and the good food and the intelligent, well-behaved, well-adjusted children but lose our souls.  I shared of hope in the ONE thing.  There is salvation in Jesus alone. I continued sharing about how we can know Jesus--really know Him, how we can live our lives enjoying him, sitting at His feet just to be near Him.  He came to be Emmanuel, God with us. He shed His blood so that we can enjoy him forever. He rose from the dead so we can have life that lasts forever.  Oh sweet peace in the only true necessity! 

 Several of the women had more questions.  A few went home with their first Bibles.  I kneeled at the feet of one lady and answered her questions about knowing Jesus.  With tears in her eyes, she said, "What if I repent and believe tonight and tomorrow I keep sinning."  I told her the best news ever, "He won't stop loving you!!! You will still be His child. He will still let you call Him Father. He will still embrace you with open arms. The blood of Christ will cover those sins, too.  He will patiently teach you to obey Him and walk in His ways. His grace is sufficient!!!"   She wiped her tears, pulled herself together and that was it. She was done talking about it. --Y'all, don't stop praying!!! God is pursuing so many here....

I am so thrilled with what God did that night. Thrilled that I got to be a part of it. Thrilled that even though there were moments last week when I whined about all I had to do to get ready for the event, He still called me His child and His love poured out on me and made obedience sweet--even fun.  I am thankful that He gives the increase and one day we will see it in its fullness.