Clean Monday in Greece

Last Sunday in the Athens Branch

It really was quite sad to think that we would be leaving all these people we have loved and served with and maybe never see them again.  It is a small  branch  with strong testimonies and service.  I love these people.  

This is our street  looking both ways in the early morning hours.  We would get up each morning and walk 3 miles.  We had a route we usually followed but sometimes we would just go where ever.  

Clean Monday

Also called Pure Monday, Monday of Lent.  It refers to the leaving behind of sinful attitudes and non-fasting foods.   A special service is held on Sunday night before Clean Monday called Forgiveness Vespers where they bow down and ask for forgiveness of one another, go to Confessions and clean their house.  Clean Monday is a public holiday in Greece and Cyprus and is celebrated with consumption of shellfish.  The people fly kites as symbol of trying to reach the "divine" .  We celebrated Clean Monday with the missionaries and our Branch President's family.  It was a magical day.  At first the missionaries were discouraged because the kites would not stay up but eventually, the breeze lifted the kites up and we all took turns holding the kite string while the kite happily stayed up high in the air.  There is just something about flying a kite that makes you happy. 

We climbed a steep hill to get to a park where you could fly kites.  These missionaries are runners and enjoyed the challenge of running up the hill.  I had a hard time just catching my breath as I walked up the hill.  

Last Day for Market

I will really miss Market.  It is every Tuesday near our apartment.  They block off a very busy street but everyone finds a way through or around it.  The fruits and vegetables are sold in season and are so fresh and delicious.  There is nothing quite like the fun of going to market to pick out your food for the week. 

  

Our Last Mar's Hill Testimony Meeting

We have loved getting to Mars Hill early in the morning where Paul preached, to hear departing missionaries and the new missionaries share their testimonies in Greek.  I was able to say three words of Greek.  I did try. 

The Acropolis behind us...it was a cold, windy morning.

Our Last Zone Conference

Zone Conference was the day before we were flying home.  It was a great way to end our mission.  

Our last walk through the field of flowers as we made our way home.  We walked the 1 3/4  miles to and from church many times. 

We flew from Athens to JFK with a four hour layover.  From JFK to Salt Lake in middle seats for the entire flight.  It was a killer flight, not to be repeated for a while.  We were so surprised to see so many of the kiddies up at midnight to greet us.  We had a sleepover with some of them in Farmington and then made our way home. 

A week later, we saw this picture of our house on my phone. 

Lars ( Switzerland) and Josh ( Germany) had flown in to see mission friends and BYU.  It was one of the best surprises ever .  So it begins...happy reunions with those we have come to know and love and serve with.  We will always be grateful that we chose to serve a mission and that the Lord knew just where to put us.  I know that my belief in and love for the Savior did not change but I changed because of His love for me.  I felt it when I was so discouraged and wanted to just go home.  I am so happy that I was able to make it to the journeys end and hope that we can continue to serve.  Best deal ever.  I know God lives and that Jesus Christ is our Savior.  Of that I am sure. 

The Last Time ...

 It has been an unexpected journey.  It is interesting how your emotions get out of whack as your reflect and consider all the experiences and it is hard to express adequately.  I feel like I have crossed the finish line of a marathon where sometimes I ran, sometimes I walked and sometimes I just stood still, not sure if I wanted to keep going.  People make all the difference.     

Our Greek Missionaries from Crete to Thessaloniki

Cleaning the Church ...the only church building in Greece

A few  weeks before heading home, we flew to Rome for a Humanitarian seminar.  It was wonderful to connect the faces that we met with each week on zoom to their bodies.  We had a wonderful time being taught how to find tune our skills as Humanitarian missionaries.  Our first day was rainy and cold.  The next two days, the sun was out and we were inside being instructed.  We ate a lot of pizza.  

 

Our Last Trip to the Mart

The Mart is like Costco.  It is big and has items in bulk.  The first time we went to the Mart, this cute Swiss missionary took us and helped us find food.  Everything was in Greek.  It was quite overwhelming.  Lars came back for a visit and went with us one last time.  It was such a change from our first time.  We knew where things were and what we wanted.  Those little piggies never had a chance to grow old. 

We were never brave enough to try the seafood.  We just ate it at restaurants. 

One of My Favorite Places

 I have posted this before but I have learned so much more about the marble that is used all over Athens.  You find marble windowsills, curbs on the street, sidewalks, stairs, cemeteries, etc.  Marble is everywhere in Athens.  

One morning we got up early and walked to a bridge, Doukissis Plakentias which is the biggest surviving stone bridge in Attica.  It is the oldest bridge in Athens and is made out of the Pentelic marble; the same marble that built the Parthenon.  Pentelic marble is thought to be of unparalleled quality. We explored the area where the bridge was and found a lovely park with a pathway that followed the dried up river.

  

On Saturday we went to Davelis cave in search of the trail from the cave to the Parthenon. It was our last Saturday in Greece. I was so excited when I found the marker for the trail.

The Halandri route that begins at Davelis cave along the Lithagogia track . It was one of the transport routes for taking Pentelic marble to Athens. There was about 20,000 tons of marble used in the construction of the Parthenon.

DAVELIS CAVE

The cave was discovered in 5th Century BC when they were excavating marble. The cave was a place of worship for the Greek God Pan, a place where hermits lived and now some say there is paranormal activity at different times. The cave got it's name from a bandit named Davelis and it was said that he stashed his treasure here.

During the Middle Ages, it was used by Orthodox Christian hermits and the church was built.

I have been fascinated by all the marble in Athens. It is plentiful and beautiful. This is something I will always remember about Greece. Marble is durable. It has proven itself by lasting through the ages.

I am grateful for all the places we saw that remind us of the miracles of every day.

Each day is an adventure if we have eyes to see.

Pine Processionary Caterpillars

 

The processionary caterpillar is mostly found in wooded forests and can be identified by the thousands of small fine poisonous hairs or bristles that cover their bodies.

The caterpillars are 3-4cm in length and are usually an orange and brown colour.

The name ‘processionary’ comes from the fact that they create a procession or caterpillar style ‘conga’ from head to tail to form a long chain. It is not unheard of to see chains with hundreds of them all joined together.

Pine Processionary Caterpillars

We have been watching as we walk to see these lines of caterpillars.  They come down from the trees where they have spun webs and stayed until spring.  Many are smashed from going into the streets.  The caterpillars are not only extremely toxic and therefore dangerous to anyone who comes into contact with them, they are also responsible for the destruction of the pine trees they inhabit.

Their nests are like tents and are usually found high up in the pine trees. The larvae (caterpillar) are considered to be real forest pests and will frequently come out at night and feed on the pine’s leaves.

We have seen their nest all over in the trees as we have traveled to different places in Greece.  They have been mostly in the pine trees. 

When the larvae are ready to pupate between late winter, and early spring, they will march single file down the tree to the ground where they disperse looking for somewhere to continue their life cycle, often burrowing just below the surface.

The barbed hairs on their bodies are often fatal to dogs who either decide to eat one of the insects or sniff the hairs which can also be propelled by the caterpillar in an attempt to protect itself. The hairs or bristles contain an urticating protein called Thaumetopoein which can in minor cases cause skin irritation or a rash much like that experienced after rubbing a stinging nettle.

Who would have thought that there cute little caterpillars are dangerous and often can destroy parts of the tree where they build the nests. 

Here are two Elders that are just as cute.  They stayed with us for a while until they could safely travel in Cyprus because of residency issues.  

It is always a treat for us to have the missionaries to ourselves.  We have great visits, play games, talk gospel principles and eat good food together.  Our apartment always seems so quiet after they are gone. 

Just thinking of those caterpillars.   We don't want to be like some we saw and follow the wrong leader to our doom.  We saw a lot of squished caterpillars on the sidewalk.   Just saying.  The end of my profoundness.