Kaisariani Monastery

 

Tucked away in the valley on the western slopes of Mt. Hymettus is the Kaisariani Monastery.  It was a lovely day and a quiet respite from the busy Athens noise.  This is a Medieval monastery built over a Christian basilica. 

Olive Press

The monks supported themselves with products from beehives, grapes and olives. 

The church and its narthex are decorated with frescoes, dating from the Ottoman period. The wealthy Benizelos family subsidized the frescoes, painted in 1682 by Ioannis Ypatos, from the Peloponnese, according to the inscription on the western wall. 

They were beautiful.  

Fountain outside the monastery

I am always amazed at how they got water and irrigation throughout the complex. 

The Cooking and Eating area for the monks

It was a nice change from the crowds visiting the Parthenon and surrounding areas.  We were surrounded by school children which has been the norm during the week when school is in session.  

We have some other fun news: On 1 July 2022 Greece and Cyprus will join with Bulgaria to become the Bulgaria - Greece Mission based in Bulgaria led by President and Sister Nelson from the USA. Macedonia, Kosovo and Albania will form one mission based in Tirana - the Tirana Albania Mission led by President and Sister Auras from Germany.

There is always change. Change that you don't see coming but it comes anyway.

"To improve is to change; to be perfect is to change often." Winston Churchill

“Change is inevitable. Growth is optional.”  John Maxwell

 

Cyprus

 

“I carry victims’ faces in my mind as I brush my teeth and rinse my mouth with water whose purity I take for granted. I feel jungle heat on my skin as I move through air-conditioned corridors. I remember what starvation looks like as I sit down to abundance three times a day.   Elder Alexander B. Morrison May 1987

We spent 4 days in Cyprus checking in on Humanitarian projects...some that we had current projects with and some that we needed to close.  Cyprus is an island country located south of the Anatolian Peninsula in the eastern Mediterranean sea.  They drive on the left side.  I was holding my breath every time we got in the rental to drive to a different part of the island.  Elder Christensen did an amazing job.  I was in awe and never want to try it.  He was able to get us everywhere we needed to go.  It has a very different feel from Athens even with Greek written and spoken everywhere.  They were putting up flags in preparation for Independence day.  That is the day that day Greeks celebrate the start of the War for Independence in 1821.

Stringing flags of Greece and Cyprus

The days were filled with meeting Non Government organizations that are trying to meet the needs of the displaced population in Cyprus.   We saw many Africans and Syrians.  It was amazing to see diversity everywhere.  

Our cute grandson

We have a lot of diversity in our family and I am so glad.  We learn so much from each other.  This little guy has brought much joy to all of us.  It is still a challenge for me to hear Greek and not understand so it gives me compassion for those refugees trying to make a better life for themselves in a foreign environment.  I love looking into their faces and wondering what their story is.  

Fort in Larnaca

10,000 years History

One of the world's 20 most Ancient Continuously Inhabited Cities for the last 4,000 years 

Inside Catholic Monastery where Lazarus was buried 

200,000 collected salt and pepper shakers museum ...but it was closed. 

The Salt Lake

We spent a morning watching for flamingos in the Salt Lake but they were too far away to see.  On our way to the airport, we went past this lake and I saw the flamingos up close as we whizzed by.  I was still happy.  I love flamingos. 

The beach in front of our hotel

Fun way to collect empty water bottles

Agapi Cyprus Refugee Food Support

I was so impressed by this woman from Burma.  She has a thrift shop that she sells clothes very cheaply and uses the money to buy food for the refugees.  This was a really nice gathering place that a young man owned and shared with people to come and relax. 

Fish and chips  So Delicious

An experimental farm that is organic, earth friendly for refugees to come plant a garden

Breakfast in Cyprus

We have found breakfast to be different in Greece from the states.  There is always tomatoes, cucumbers, cheese, all kinds of breads, beans, breakfast meats, eggs cooked every way you can think, potatoes, fruit, dates, figs, nuts, and of course the best Greek yogurt ever. 

Sun Hall Hotel Square

District Council

This is the boundary where Turkey meets Greece on Cyprus

You need a passport to go past the little white office and then you are in Turkey.  There is a set of sister missionaries that just started living in the north area ( Turkey).  They teach refugees most often.  The challenge is that the converts usually move on from Cyprus. I am not sure of the significance of this "sculpture".  It is different just like Cyprus.  We were grateful for the opportunity to see and learn more about the Humanitarian projects and NGO's on Cyprus.  There are many needs as the flow of refugees increases.  I feel a lot of compassion for those that have to figure out the best way to help and serve the displaced and still keep the economy and tourism afloat.  

Fishing...a big industry for Cyprus

My final take...I was very happy to get back on the metro in Athens.  I gave it a kiss, indiscreetly of course.   I am very grateful for Kim's excellent sense of direction and fearless approach to going where we have never gone before.  We have been here 7 months and flown to 7 different places.  I have learned more than I ever thought I would when we submitted our mission papers.  I am doing things I never could have seen.  I have met wonderful, kind, compassionate people from all over the world and I want to be like them when I grow up.  That being said, I am thinking that I am getting pretty old to be doing this stuff. You are as young as you feel is a popular saying and I have to keep reminding myself that I am in charge of what I think I can and can't do.  

"Tomorrow is also beyond our immediate control.  Tomorrow’s sun will rise, either in splendor or behind a mask of clouds, but it will rise.  Until it does, we have no stake in tomorrow, for it is yet unborn.  This leaves only one day: 

"Today."

Your fullest joy in life will not be found living it selfishly for yourself.  The periods of greatest joy and fulfillment are found in the moments and motivations, when we are choosing to give to others.”  -Dr. Denis Waitley

Every Day, Every day, Every Day

 Life in Athens is not the same every day.  You never know what to expect when you are out and about.  There are strikes, accidents on the metro, protests, rain in a flash and so much to experience.  We went to an ancient site in downtown Athens right off the beaten path. When we left the ancient site, there was a group playing the guitar and singing Greek folksongs on a bench near the walkway.  We sat down close by and just listened and watched the people walk by.  The same day, we saw a tortoise and he was enjoying just the little white flowers.  We were surprised how fast he could go from flower to flower and zip that flower was history.  

Inside the Arch of Hadrian

It was built to celebrate the Roman Emperor Hadrian  

The arch was constructed without cement or mortar from solid marble, using clamps to connect the cut stones. It is 18m high, 13.5m wide, and 2.3m in depth. Its design is fully symmetrical from front to back and side to side.

You get so used to seeing these type of structures that it becomes rather common place.  It is amazing to think that they built these structures in 131 A.D.  

As we were walking to another site we saw the guards marching in their native uniforms on their way to the Parliament Building for what we assumed was the changing of the guard.  They had the most unique march.  

Winter Outfits for the Guards

Zone Conference and Visit from General Authorities

Every three months we have Zone Conference and the Burdons come from Albania where our mission headquarters is with the APs and STLs ( missionary leaders).  The Burdons fly from Albania, to Athens, and then to Cyprus.  This conference coincided with a visit from Elder Carl Cook and Elder Kopischke.  They are in the background greeting the missionaries.  We had a member meeting also where Elder Cook asked many of the members to share their conversion story.  He listened carefully, trying to understand what the needs in Greece are.  The two cute missionaries smiling in the front, stayed with us during their visit.  It was great to have noise, laughter, and stories to tell.  We are grateful they were able to spend time with us.  

Food

It is always a challenge to know what to fix but the sister missionaries came through with a great brunch!

Saying Good-bye

When someone has completed their mission, we all go to Mars Hill where Paul preached and have a testimony meeting.  We look very happy here because our volunteered Syrian photographer kept thinking of new ways to pose us but we are really quite sad.  Two sisters that we have been with since we got here, have finished and are headed home.  It is crazy how hard it is to say goodbye. 

Gyros

We finally made it to Elder Rich's favorite gyro place in downtown called Tylixto Greek Wrap.  We decided that he knew what he was talking about.  Lunch for the two of us at $8.  

Sister Cox's plane ran into a bird and they had to turn back to Athens. She made it home a day later. Today:  Flights to and from Greece will be grounded and ships will remain docked at ports on Thursday, as Greek workers walk off the job to protest over the country’s deadliest train crash on record which killed 57 people on Feb. 28. 

The metro will be running for several hours so that people can go to downtown to protest.  I am wondering how those people will get home after the protests.  We got a call from the STLs ( Sister Trainer Leaders) asking if they could spend the night on Sunday.  That is how long it will take for them to get back to Albania because of the strikes.  Maybe that is why Greeks are so laid back.  They never know what will happen. 

I was listening to "Beautiful Babies Bless the World" BYU Devotional by Elder Paul Johnson.   My favorite part was a thought that his daughter shared as she prepared a lesson.  "We grow through challenging situations.  Courage can't develop if there is nothing to fear. Patience can't be cultivated unless we face frustration.  Peacemakers can't exist unless there is contention.  Virtue can't develop unless we face and resist temptation.  We can't have faith unless we have reason to doubt. We can't prove loyalty unless we turn down enticing alternatives.  Charity means nothing if we have no enemies to extend it to. "

Blossoms on the orange tree looking down from our apartment

Orange trees line the streets in Athens.  They are everywhere.  They are mostly ornamental and not the best tasting so they don't get picked and the oranges fall to the ground all winter long.  They are smashed on the road and sidewalks.  It is too hard to see but in spite of oranges still on the tree, new blossoms are appearing.  I suppose there is a great lesson imbedded in this strange phenomenon  but I haven't thought of it other than Greece is so interesting and I am learning just like Elder Johnson's daughter that we don't grow unless we have challenges.  I wanted an eazy peazy mission.  I wasn't very happy to find that it was very hard for me.  There have been so many days that I just want to be over.  However, it is getting more doable and delightful and I know I need to count each day as a blessing.  One day I will be crying because we are leaving.  So I will try to see the magic every day, every day, every day.  

 

Clean Monday and Melina Mercouri

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 We experienced our first Clean Monday in Greece and did what the locals do ...fly a kite.  

There are two different explanations as to why this Monday is called clean. The first one comes from everyday life, as it says that women used to clean so many pots after the end of the carnival, that they did not have time for anything else. The second one derives from the Orthodox Christian religion. After the consumption of big amounts of meat during the carnival, Clean Monday comes to clean and purify the body and soul and prepare believers for Easter.

We spent a wonderful time with families from our branch flying kites and having a picnic.  

District Council Lunch

The missionaries decided for lunch after DC that everyone would bring a bag of pasta and we would eat together.  One of the missionaries is from Italy.  He was mortified that we would mix different kinds of pasta together but we were all very hungry and grateful for whatever!  It turned out great and I brought Kim's favorite cookie--gingersnaps. 

Spring flowers are blooming everywhere.  I am loving it!

Cleaning the Beach

The "kids" ( young missionaries)  wanted to clean the beach for a service project.  Who wouldn't want to spend a lovely day at the beach?  It doesn't look like there is a lot of trash but we managed to fill several bags. 

These Elders are studying on the metro...flash cards.  I was so motivated.  

Chinese Food

We found a Chinese restaurant off of Syntagma square to eat at after picking up trash at the beach. Later that night, there was a protest that turned violent and the sisters were white boarding.  They said they hurried out of there as fast as they could.  The protests were because of the train crash filled with students returning from the holiday. Many died because of the crash.  The system was old and had not been upgraded and the person directing things was new.  It was very sad.  

In memory of Melina Mercouri

One of the elders text that it was a free day for many of the museums so we took a few hours off and went to the temple of Hephaestus and to the Ancient Agora.  It was really cool and quickly was being overtaken by school kids.  We are talking 800 B.C. things.  

You may ask who is Melina Mercouri? 

She was the Minister of Culture and an actress turned politician. They have days scattered through the months where the museums and ancient artifacts, etc. are free to enter for the day.  What a deal. 

I have the Relief Society lesson this Sunday.  I am super glad that we study the Conference talks.  It is Nourishing and Bearing our Testimony.  Here are some of my favorite one liners:  

Defining moments in life come often and unexpectedly...

You bear your testimony when you share spiritual feelings with others.

Another way you share your testimony is through righteous behavior. 

Ask the Lord to teach you how to hear Him better. 

It may not seem like we are on a mission with all these pictures of Athens the ancient world.  We spend a lot of time at our computers and that doesn't make for interesting photos or give anyone a true sense of how much we are learning.  It is a huge responsibility to be entrusted with funds from members of our church to help with the refugees.  We are learning to trust in the Lord and we try to be a instrument for good.  I am learning a lot about myself and have lots of questions about where all of this is going to take me.  I am thinking that is up to me.