First week in Porto Rafti

This week has flown by. With unusually cold weather, we made the decision to fly our group to Rome on Monday to keep cabin fever from setting in. Our plan is to return on Thursday. So, of course, Rome just had their first heavy snow in 26 years! Even the Colosseum was closed to tourists yesterday because of the dangers from the ice. It looks like a warming trend is on the way, and hopefully temps in the mid-40's. In the mean time, our Greek weather has been getting better and better. Yesterday we spent the afternoon down on the Aegean Sea. It was windy, but the sun was out. We passed several of our students climbing the rocks along the shore line. Terry and I walked the promenade about an hour and then drove along the coast in a more isolated area. We stopped at the Temple ruins of the Artemis. They had some scaffolding up, so there has been some work done in recent years. The museum was closed. There were many people in the fields picking wild herbs, and possibly pistachios. We passed a shepherd out standing by his large flock of sheep. This evening when Terry mentioned in his sermon how Jesus was our Shepherd, I immediately thought of this scene we had just witnessed.
Speaking of church, tonight Terry spoke on "Why I Am a Christian". He had a wonderful message. We met several new members, including Sarah from Iowa, married to a Greek, who has just lost his job. These are difficult times for so many here. Earlier in the week when we had snow, Matt Gulley opened the refugee center and allowed men to sleep there for three nights. Most had blankets, and they laid on tables off of the cold drafts on the floor. How often we forget to be grateful for how blessed we are. The students here have been going on Monday nights to serve food at the shelter. It is right near the Acropolis. At the end of services tonight, Varni, a Greek woman who was married to an American many years ago, gave me her wool coat and shawl, insisting I take it with me to Rome because it would be so cold. She would not leave until I accepted. The hearts of Greek Christians are so generous. Their light shines brightly in this culture.
Several have written to ask how the boys are liking it here. As we witnessed years ago, God always blesses. Jordan and Christian are awake before I am in order to be at Chapel. They enjoy being downstairs playing chess, playing the piano, shooting baskets, or working out
in the weight room. Night before last they stayed down for movie night. And while we were
walking on the promenade, Jordan was with some of the Faulkner guys climbing the rocks out on
the Pointe. Unbelievably, Christian was busy reading the second book in the Hunger Games

Trilogy. I am grateful for my Kindle:) Tonight's post is a hodge-lodge of our experiences this week, but I knew if I didn't write before our trip to Rome I would forget everything! Blessings on all those I love. We appreciate your prayers for us, and also for the Greek people. Kalispera.