gratitude

Ever since Australia became an option, even before it was a sure thing, I started to stress out about my apartment. Breaking my lease early, paying fees to turn off the phone/internet, and worse, selling or getting rid of all my furniture and house stuff! Gah! Greeks don't buy used items; they throw them away. (Lots of my friends have scored awesome things out of dumpsters...if you can get past the whole dumpster thing.) Sometimes you can sell stuff to expats, if your departure happens to correspond with another's arrival.

So I began to pray for someone to be able to move into my house and buy all my furniture. A long shot, so I started to mentally prepare myself for the chore of packing up, itemizing, pricing, selling, and vacating my beloved apartment. I knew there was one couple possibly coming with another organization in January, but that wasn't for sure, and that still left two months' rent to pay to hold the place for them. They never responded to an email. But I kept praying for that solution, maybe as the easy way out or the least-stress option - which seemed like an ok thing to hope for!

The day I got back from Australia a couple weeks ago, I heard that a couple that has been thinking of coming to work with Nea Zoi for awhile was in fact coming, in January. I thought I'd write to them and just see if they were interested. I knew they loved my neighborhood when they were here last year and would obviously need a place to live.

What has ensued has been exactly what I prayed for - in fact, even better than what I prayed for. The couple is now coming in November - the month after I leave. They are going to buy all my furniture (!) - so I just need to pack up the stuff I'm taking with me and leave. My landlord was not only fine with them moving in, but told me not to pay October rent (I paid first and last month's rent when I moved in) and she is giving me my deposit back. I had thought that I'd have to work this out with the couple coming, but it's all completely arranged - better than I even dreamed it could turn out!!!!

I keep saying WOW!! I can't believe it has worked out this way, EXACTLY as I hoped and prayed. Further confirmation to me that it's time to move on, but also just a major blessing and stress reliever. I'm SO GRATEFUL to not have to deal with stressful logistics. (Instead I can focus on the psychological stress of a second cross-continental move in two years, ha.) I'm just a bit blown away when I think about it. It really cuts down on the number of things I need to do before I leave, and allows me to spend that time with friends and enjoying my last weeks here.

Wow. :)

All roads lead to Rome

Finally I am going to be finished posting photos from Italy. Aren't you relieved? Are you sick of seeing them? Or maybe sick of thinking I'm a jerk for posting them?! Well, it was my pleasure to be able to spend time in Italy so that you could enjoy my pictures. :)
At the Colosseum ... I was pretty excited to check it out. It's kind of a maze in there, and it was hot, but fun to be in such a historical site!

I really enjoyed the Roman Forum...didn't take many pictures, but loved reading the history of all the buildings and ruins. Stacie and I spent one rainy afternoon in our hotel room reading up on all the sites we had seen - a nice way to wait out the rain and not have to carry the book around with us! :)
The Vatican... the museum was HUGE, four miles of walking is it? Finally made it to the Sistine Chapel and loved studying all the paintings in there. The guys yelling "Silence! No photos!" really added to the ambiance. (I really wanted to shout, "Silence! I kill you!" back at them.) We found the secret passageway down into St. Peter's Basilica, the biggest church IN THE WORLD, and came out just in time to get caught in a rain storm.
Well, I guess we had time to take some photos first. No pope; he was being protested in the UK.
That's us on the Spanish Steps. I really did enjoy reading about such an ancient society and the rise and fall of the empire, and learning where so many historical events took place. Here is a statue:
That is the Trevi Fountain, which is wedged in between lots of buildings and jam packed with people. Did you know that all the fountains in Rome are fed by aqueducts? The main one delivers 8 million liters of water per hour to the city, whose water supply always runs the risk of being cut off by an earthquake. Here is another fountain:
The Cinque Terre gets my favorite place AND the best food award. So grateful for the opportunity to visit Italy - here I've thought I'd have all the time in the world to explore Europe since I live here, but that is all coming to an end. So I'm glad I at least got to see a couple places while I was here! Now that I'm going to be living at the bottom of the earth, 75 million hours from anywhere, I needed to get all the traveling out of my system!! ;) At least it's a really cool place to live, and they have nice red-headed boys there.

The beginning of the end

I'm sitting on my couch ... a familiar place, one where I spend entirely too much time sometimes ... thinking how three weeks from this moment I'll be on a plane somewhere over the Middle East, feeling who-knows-what and undoubtedly thinking entirely too much.

I spent this morning writing budgets and filling out renewal applications for support, writing my prayer letter making my "big announcement," and scheduling appointments with people on the other side of the world, in that country down there, the one with kangaroos and koalas and stuff. Because, you know, three weeks from today, I'm leaving Greece and moving to Australia.

This afternoon was a great meeting, a sort of debrief from our summer intern program, now that everyone is back and heads are collected from summer breaks. (It takes awhile to get things rolling again in the fall around here.) What we learned, what worked, what to do better next time. And should there be a next time, I've decided that I'll be back here next summer to teach it again. That's exciting. It also makes leaving a bit easier...I'll be back.

And tonight, a wonderful night with some great girlfriends. As my time here comes to an end, I don't want to be wishing that I spent more time with friends. So tonight after our meeting we sat for hours at the pub, laughing hysterically and sorting through life's problems. Dinner is best followed by good dessert, so we moved along to the cafe down the street from my place, with the best chocolate souffle in town (I'm biased; everything is better when it only takes two minutes to walk home afterward). I'm so thankful for good friends here, and this will definitely be the hardest part about leaving.

So begins the end...............

Mamertine Prison

Meanwhile, in Italy... (this is the summer vacation that keeps on giving! Just one more post after this!!)

Stacie joined me for a couple days in Rome, and we were also able to meet up with a friend from home who is posted in Naples for a few years. It was a fun time exploring this city and learning about all the rich history. Before I get to the rest of the photos, though, I wanted to share about our visit to Mamertine Prison.

I nearly forced Stacie to find this place with me; it's the prison where both Peter and Paul were likely imprisoned, and where, according to tradition, Paul wrote 2 Timothy. Being that Rome is a Catholic stronghold, it's known as St. Peter's prison, and you can see the post where he was chained. Paul has an honorable mention:(See the mention of Pietro/Peter and Paolo/Paul on the second line of the inscription.)

I knew it was like a dungeon; what I've read about this prison is that it was a tiny underground room, damp, dank and mildewy, with rats and probably corpses as well. It was originally created as a cistern (either 614 or 386 BC; make up your mind, people!), and it was eventually converted into a prison for high profile criminals awaiting execution. There was no door; prisoners were lowered through a hole in the 6.5 foot ceiling (you can see it in the photo below, above the gold altar thing).
(I am looking much too happy in these photos, given my surroundings!)

At this time, Paul's second imprisonment, he was treated as a common criminal, so that many were ashamed of his chains. I read that today in our country he might be viewed as someone who had committed treason against the US. It was this prison most likely that Onesiphorus "searched diligently" for to find Paul, deep under the city of Rome (2 Tim 1:15-17). I also read that a more horrific or terrible prison could not be imagined at this time. That is an altar to St. Peter and the post where he was chained. The hole in the ground is where traditionally a spring "sprung" up, from which Peter baptized his converts while being held here. (Makes sense because this was built as a cistern for a spring that bubbled below.)

This place was most significant for me in light of the biblical history, of course. Imagine Paul confined here, in the very worst of places, urging Timothy to try and come before winter, and yet still writing words like "for God gave us a spirit not of fear, but of power and love and self control" (1:7). An aging apostle, awaiting his death, in this cold, lonely place...as I sit and read 2 Timothy with this place in mind, I have a completely new picture of this letter.(Again, much too happy in this photo!) This ledge to my left is a ledge on which one of my seminary professors liked to imagine that Paul penned his last letter. I still remember the lecture in which he showed his photos of this place, and I have wanted to come ever since.

Cinque Terre...the other villages

Here are more Italy pics for you, sorry it's taking me so long! Been a bit distracted. :)

We spent several hours doing the hikes between the villages. I think these were our favorite parts - being outside, in the trees, over the Italian Riviera... It was really beautiful. Our first full day we tackled the toughest hike, between our town Vernazza (#4) and Monterosso (#5). It's a little over an hour, lots of steps, and a real butt-kicker at times! Monterosso is the most resorty of the 5; we were glad we didn't stay here. Here's one of the beaches: Holly hoofin' it between Corniglia and Vernazza...

After our morning hike to Monterosso, we took the train back to Corniglia (town #3) and hiked back to Vernazza. It was about an hour and a half, much less strenuous, and had gorgeous views!

A little gelato shop in Corniglia...can't escape Rick!

The next day we woke up to a bit of drizzle. Ok, there were actually tumultuous rain showers, so we had to buy an umbrella. Thankfully, like Athens, where the Pakistani guys come out of nowhere selling umbrellas at the first sign of rain, we were able to find this lovely rainbow version from a magically appearing African man:

Our plan was to take a boat to Riomaggiore, village #1, and do the walk back to Corniglia, the third village. Here is Corniglia from the boat:

A little wet on the boat:Riomaggiore, the first village, and I think my favorite:

Riomaggiore:

Riomaggiore:

Entering the Via dell'amore (Walk of Love), the path between Riomaggiore and Manarola: it is tradition to close a padlock with your love, so there are padlocks lining the whole 20 minute walk...

On the "walk of love" between Riomaggiore and Manarola (so named because it was the first trail blazed between the five villages, allowing for intermarriage!):

Manarola, the second town:

Gorgeous, gorgeous place! I'd definitely go back, and spend a lot more time just relaxing and taking in each village. You should go! :)

I touched them. But I washed my hands afterward.

[Side note: Earlier today I was looking at a friend's photos and reliving my shock at the public urinals in Amsterdam. Just click on that link and you too can relive it!]

[Side note #2: I am not giving you answers to my quiz below until some people actually attempt to figure some of them out. :)]

And here are some photos from one day last week in Australia (I am back in Athens now), when we went to this wildlife reserve and touched weird animals.

This is Blair, the koala:Koalas are basically lethargic and sleepy all the time from eating so much eucalyptus. Except when they need more, then they're quite alert! Not so sure about touching this thing... (like my hair cut? It's as short as it looks, eek!)Dingoes:Off to see the kangaroos...These were the strangest for me. I guess I'd never really seen them before, so I felt like I was in some computer animated movie with made-up animals (like Mr. Tumnus in Narnia?). Especially watching them move, with their enormous muscly hind legs and tails, which they also use to move around. They are pure muscle. Explains why it's such a healthy meat (yes, they eat their mascot in this country!!!)...These suckers were so strange and I am admittedly not much of an animal person (not so sure about this one either) ...Andrew is a pro!Taking a load off...Tasmanian Devil:Wombat:And we ran into more kangaroos, some bigger ones and then some smaller ones. They were everywhere in this forest, which added to the whole Lord of the Rings/Narnia feel... (I was a pro by then too!)A baby joey in the pouch:Emu: (I may have chased the emu across the field, but I would never confess to such a thing.)

A fun day in the Land of Make Believe. I did try some kangaroo later, as well as crocodile and emu. All tasty! There isn't really a shortage...you have to be careful driving around dusk because kangaroos will just hop into the street (they aren't very smart). What a strange place. :)

How to speak Australian

One of the reasons I've been open to relocating to Australia is because they speak English. I mentioned this once to Annette, our new Aussie coworker in Athens, and she kind of snickered and said, "That's what you think!" I have since come to understand what she meant! Australians abbreviate everything. Any word two syllables or longer may be deemed too long, and thus given a nickname. You may have heard "barbie," short for barbecue. They also have plenty of slang words that you just have to learn. And sometimes it's just random, like all the words you can use for "tired" ... stuffed, knackered, shattered, bushed, fagged (that's not bad like it sounds to us).

To illustrate, let's play a game! :) I will give you the Aussie (that's pronounced "ozzie" with a Z sound, not S, or you will hopelessly label yourself a foreigner) abbreviation or phrase, and you can guess what it means.

I'll start with some easy examples:

brekkie - breakfast

prezzie - present

Salvos - Salvation Army

Macca's - McDonald's

Ok, you try:

bathers -

footy -

sanger -

arvo -

bickie -

mozzie -

doco (docko) -

trackies -

servo -

sunnies -

rele (rellie) -

smoko -

sickie -

bikie and biker -

greenie -

How about some professions:

garbo - garbage man

postie -

milko -

polli -

Some harder slang:

kip - nap

snag -

scratchy -

bingle -

squizz -

barney -

Any guesses on the phrase "fair dinkum"? One of my personal favorites. :)

I have heard all of these, and had to learn them already. Whoever thought it wasn't a different language was a bit mistaken! Anyone want to try? I'll post the answers after some of you do. Of course you could cheat by looking online, but why not have a go on your own?

finding rest

I think this is just about enough winter to last me for awhile. Thank you very much. There are bad winter storms at the moment, lots of flooding, and trees down from wind. I walk over this rad suspension footbridge to get to Andrew's shop, and the river underneath is overrunning its banks and quite torrential at the moment! A little wooden bridge that I jogged across in another place over the river last week is completely engulfed in raging water.

Still, I do not miss Athens. Is this a sign? I miss my friends, but not the city. And not work, either (eek). I have been away for a month, and only this week have I gotten to the point where I feel relaxed and able to process things. I realize how the work affects me, and how much more it must affect me in ways that I don't realize. I am tired and probably a little messed up from hanging out in brothels and on the streets with prostitutes, from talking and reading and hearing about sex trafficking and exploitation and horrible things. Before this week, the thought of starting with another trafficking ministry sent horror and dread coursing through my veins. This week, with the beginning of my decompression, I see that with a bit more rest and getting my head recentered, I will be ok.

It's scary to see what this stuff can do to your soul, to your view of God, and to your view of the world, in subtle but powerful ways. I have learned a few tools to take care of myself, but still feel like I fail miserably sometimes. I know there are many who have no idea what it's doing to them. This is something that's becoming increasingly interesting to me - self/soul care for missionaries or those working in fields like this one. It's something I might like to explore more in the future. After I work on it more for myself.

Well hi!

I am sitting inside as it pours rain and thunders and lightnings outside with ferocity! (I hope that is a word!) Lovely to be in a winter storm, knowing my compadres in Greece and the US are still enjoying nice warm summer weather (it's ok, I am in Australia!). :) We did have nice weather in Sydney last week though.

I am staying with Andrew's sister and her husband, and spend much of the mornings on my own while everyone is at work. As I have some down time here in Adelaide to think and pray and dream, I'm feeling good about the next couple of months. I know God has closed some doors in Greece, so looking forward, I feel excited about possibilities here. Obviously Andrew is here, which is a big draw ;) ... but also I am excited about the IT national director's heart for justice and her desire to see how we can begin to use our gifts and resources here.

As I know more, I'll fill you in, and ask for more specific prayer! For now, here are some photos of Sydney last week, including the Opera House from every possible angle, and some shots from our adventures to Manly and Bondi Beach... It's a beautiful city - and I'll be back soon...

Ha ha, Andrew hates this photo, but I love it:

(We had great weather - a far cry from what I'm listening to now as the sky unleashes its vengeance - but it's a perfect day for hot chocolate and a movie! There are good things about winter.) :)