Visitors- the Hicks, Shumards, and My In-laws

The day we arrived home from Northern Greece we had visitors waiting for us! Ed and Dixie Hicks came for a week from Montgomery. They were with us in Citerna, Italy for the Fall of 2007 semester abroad. They are seasoned travelers and a joy to have with us. They rented their own car and were quite helpful showing others around the area. On Sunday morning Ken Shumards and Gary Chamblee with the Shumards Foundation arrived on their way home from meeting with the President of Rwanda. They are building a school there. We spent Sunday and Monday showing them various buildings and properties to be used in the future for a study abroad center/ church building. They are wise business men, and are wanting to invest in a way which would employ Greeks, and allow our program to pay for itself, and the money then be reinvested in other good works. Confused?:) they explain it better than I can. Lord willing, in the next year, the groundwork will be laid for a facility which will allow us to have a positive impact with our students, and more importantly, have an impact for the Lord's work in Athens. We shared a wonderful meal together, along with Dino, at a local Greek taverna. Monday afternoon, Earl and Lora arrived from Henderson. They were on their way to hold a meeting in Catania, Sicily, and then pay a visit to old friends in Palermo. We had such a nice visit with them. We took driving trips down to the harbor, and along the coastal roads. One evening we visited Cape
Sounion to see the sunset at the Temple of Poseidon. We ALL climbed to the top ( the Hickses
and Halls were also there). We took them to catch their flight on Thursday. After their departure we took two of our students and our boys to the Athens Mall to see the Hunger Games. We really enjoyed it! Afterwards we ate at KFC before heading home to prepare for the next days departure for Turkey. It was my first trip to the Mall. Great stores- Zaragoza Home, Mark and Spencers, Accessorize, to name a few. I definitely want to return some time. It was a wonderful visit, though too short. The morning they were departing we went to Chapel together. It was a song service and we sang some of my favorites. It was such a blessing to sit by the two of them and hear their beautiful voices. They are such an encouragement to me of faithfulness to God throughout all the trials of life. I am so blessed to have them in my life, and in the lives of my children and grandchildren. Friday morning Terry took the Hick's to catch an early morning flight, and then we left for Turkey. An incredibly busy week- but a blessed week with good friends and family.