Taste & See That The Lord is GOOD

God is so good. Tonight I had the opportunity to serve Middle Eastern refugees at a soup kitchen in Athens. Before the bread and spaghetti was served to the 300+ men, women, and children, the story of Abraham being tested was talked about. How God called him to sacrifice his one and only son, and how Abraham didn’t hesitate in being radical for God.

Although not quite the same, I feel in my heart that my group is ready to be radical for God, and tonight was a step in that direction. There we were, in a rundown building in Athens surrounded by Muslims and Greeks alike, passing bowls of pasta down tables, smiling at children, doing everything we could to soak people in Christ’s love.

It was the most diverse setting that I have been in. It was the most unifying thing that I have ever experienced. It was the most Christ-like I have ever felt.

There is power in the name of Jesus. Power to break the chains of poverty, homelessness, racism, hunger, discontentment, and insecurity. Power to bring a small-town southern girl across the world and into an experience that has changed the rest of her life.

It’s funny--we were serving them, and yet I feel like I was the one who was fed.

 

 

 

A HUG For Sun-day’s

Sleeping until 11:30. Leftovers for lunch. Watching Youtube videos with Haley. Dancing to 90’s music on the bus. Church in Glyfada—finding freedom in Christ. Singing worship songs on the bus ride home. Pizza night at the Artemis. Girl talk with Laura Jo. Pastry stop down the street. Skyping my family. Check rooms (RA duties). Read for bible class (Paul). Goodnight.

HUG Traditions

Today was the day to take part in semester after semester of HUG tradition: Poet Sandals.

There is a tiny shop in the Plaka of Athens where a man named Melissinos custom fits sandals to your feet. It’s a HUG must, and definitely a highlight of the semester!

 

I stood in the corner of the little shop while my friends had their sandals fitted, shaved, and cut. The smell of leather was intense, but I welcomed it.

I couldn’t wrap my mind around where I was. Was I seriously in Athens, Greece getting Poet sandals? I had seen this shop in thousands of previous HUGers pictures. And there I was, on a cold Saturday afternoon, paying 28 Euro and squealing as I left.

I bought one pair today, but before the semester is over I am going to get a second. I have a feeling that I will be living in these every day this summer!

After we got our sandals (the main reason we went to Athens) we grabbed dinner and then hopped on the metro back to Porto Rafti. It was cold so we huddled underneath the stairs to block the wind!

  

When we got home to The Artemis, we had tea time and watched movies. Father of The Bride, and yes I cried.

I am loving HUG more and more every day.

 

 

I amand um, I have Poet sandals. So it’s kind of a big deal.

Past Few Days

The Lords Prayer in Russian (photo cred: my friend Laura Jo)

Sunday was a day of rest. We slept in for the first time, something necessary to overcome the jetlag we were all still feeling. The afternoon was filled with lunch and the beginnings of homework (for other people, I’m a night-before-it’s-due kind of girl) and then church in a nearby city, Glyfada, that night.

Church was a cultural experience like none other. There were Greeks, Russians, and Islamic Muslims turned Christians at service. We learned a song in Russian and Islamic, and prayed in Greek. It’s so incredible how our God unites us all. He understands our different languages, but more importantly, He understands our hearts.

I’m excited for church in Glyfada.

Monday was an exciting tour of the National Archaeological Museum in downtown Athens. We were allowed a late wake-up call, lunch at 11:30, and then we were on the bus, bound for the wonderful city of Athens!

The museum had a lot of interesting things like the golden cup from the Illiad: (blurry, I was in a hurry)

…and some incredible sculptures. The detail in this mans eyes is beautiful. Keep in mind that most of these were created before Christ. Whoa.

  

Here is the Mask of Agamemnon, which I cannot believe I saw in real life:

…and I thought these babies were PRECIOUS! If I were an artist in 39 B.C. (or whenever) I would have sculpted these as well:

Anyway, we mostly saw a lot of bronze penii:

Today was a normal class day, meaning no arranged trips or tours. I had class until 1:30, lunch, and spent my free afternoon reading for class and falling in and out of sleep.

I told myself that I wasn’t allowed to take naps in Greece. I mean, it’s GREECE! I can sleep in America! But when you are tired because you spent your night having deep heart-to-heart’s and praying with friends, I think a nap is acceptable.

 

I amand I loooove HUG.

HUG That Mountain

Class days are chill. You go to your respective classes, chapel, and then after lunch everyone has the afternoon free to explore Greece and learn the culture.

Today a new friend, Laura Jo, and I went for a run. On the coast of the Aegean Sea. It was unreal. Eventually we slowed to a walk just so we could really absorb everything we were seeing.

Something about being surrounded by God’s beautiful creation had the two of us opening up to one another—deep spiritual conversations and self-esteem issues. We’re sort of soul mates, we decided.

After our run and lunch, a group of us hiked the mountain across from The Artemis, affectionately named HUG Mountain.

We were told it was an easy hike, but um, I thought it was tough at times! The fact that I was wearing Converses probably didn’t help.

No matter how strenuous the hike may have been, getting to the top was worth every burning muscle. It was…there aren’t words. You can’t capture it in a photograph or a word.

Our group sat on the rocks and sang worship songs. It was an incredibly sweet moment.

Tonight, we were given Euros to go out for dinner. We walked until we found a pasta place. Spaghetti and pizza were ordered, carbs that tasted much different (and better) than American food.

Pastries were for dessert, and the rest of the evening was spent watching movies and playing card games.

I am amazed how the days seem to keep getting better. What experiences will tomorrow hold?

I am in love with Greece.

      

 

 

I amand Kavu rope bags are the way to go.

It’s All Greek to Me

I cannot get over this day.

Today, I climbed the steps of the Acropolis. I stood in front of the Parthenon. Today, I listened to Acts 17 be read while sitting on Mars Hill. I climbed the stairs that Paul climbed. I saw the 1896 Olympic Stadium, shopped in the Plaka, and visited the New Acropolis Museum.

I kept thinking, “This is unreal. UN-REAL.”

ancient stadium

just chilling at the Parthenon on a Thursday morning

      Temple of Zeus

       my HUG roommate, Celeste!

view of the Acropolis from Mars Hill

Mars Hill

ancient steps to Mars Hill

1896 Olympic Stadium, made entirely of marble!

 

This experience is really bringing the Bible to life. Real, tangible life. To walk where Paul has walked? To sit and hear his sermon exactly where he gave it?!

Mind. Blown.

The wonderful thing is, more is to come!

It is also starting to feel more like home. I can tell that I have an amazing group. We are getting closer every hour.

 

 

I amand THE PARTHENON! Are you kidding me?! Whose life is this?

The World Race

 Hello from Porto Rafti, Greece!  
  

On Tuesday, I started narrating the day as soon as I opened my eyes.

“Today’s the day!” I whispered to myself, still snuggled underneath the blankets in Arkansas.

When I got in the shower, I excitedly told myself, “Your next shower will be in Greece!”

And so the day went, with “my last American meal!” (Chili’s in the Chicago airport), “my last glimpse of America” as we took off in Chicago, and you get the idea.

We traveled for what seemed like 789 days, with a long flight across the ocean to London, and another flight to Athens. We were then bused to Porto Rafti!

When we arrived, we were kept awake to avoid jetlag. Instead of sleeping, we went on a walking tour of the city, stopped in a few bakeries and ice cream shops, and had our first Greek dinner—GYROS, bread with olive oil, and greek salads!

After playing a get-to-know-you-game, we all passed out.

At first I was a little homesick. I was excited to be here. Hello, it’s Greece. But I couldn’t help but ask myself, “What am I doing here?”

Today answered that question.

 

I am gyros are my new favorite food. Pork, no onions.

S.O.S! (a semester in Europe in a 50lb. suitcase)

Um, hello there last week in America!

That’s right, I leave for Greece in 1 WEEK. I honestly can’t believe it. I don’t really even like to think about it because I have literally 1,764 things to do between now and then. For starters, what in the world do I pack?!

Packing for this trip is a greater stress to my life than watching my precious Razorbacks play against LSU. Or that dumb crimson tide.

To take a break from deciding which cardigan to pack—the pink or the yellow, or both?—I went out for dinner and ice cream with one of my dearest friends, Katie.

I got the Greek pizza (HOLLA!) to you know, get a lil’ cultured before I’m thrust into it. Feta cheese is a definite score, so I’m sold.

EXCEPT WHAT DO I PACK?!

1 week…sheesh.

I amand I’m leaning towards the pink cardigan. Or the yellow…oh, but I also have a green one…

It’s All About Relationships

“I’m glad to have friends that are so focused on God that when we talk, that’s where the conversation ends up. It doesn’t feel artificial or forced…” writes my good friend Tamzen on her blog.  Last week during her stay in town, we met up with fellow church camp counselors to commune over Starbucks goodies.

The chat started generically—“How was your semester?”, “Tell us about Greece!”—but I think we soon found ourselves laying on the basketball court at camp, staring up at the stars and pouring out our hearts.

As I sipped my frappuccino and listened, Tam sent me a text message from across the table.
“I love this :)” it read.

I smiled. I loved it too.

I couldn’t stop thinking of the book of Romans when Paul talks about how we are one body in Christ (Romans 12:5), and how we are to edify and build each other up (Romans 14:9). This is exactly what Christ wanted. For Christians to be able to share our hearts, to encourage each other, to build each other up, to pray for each other, and then to take that into the world.

Too often we get caught up in the routine of Christianity. Go to church on Sunday and Wednesday, take communion, tithe. Check, check, and check.

But Jesus is more into rescue, redemption, and relationships than routine.

He wants a relationship with us. He wants us to have a relationship with each other. If we’re maintaining these, everything else should just come naturally.

Oh how He keeps revealing himself to me.

 

I amand I’ll never take these friends for granted again.