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.