This evening I put all my stuff away and organized my room. I also started up two more classes this week for my Masters. I am taking a Sport Ethics class and a Sports Medicine class. These classes are going to require a lot of time, but it will be good. I spent a couple hours this morning watching videos, and then a couple hours this evening doing some stuff for them.
I also did a skype conference call with 5 different people. Technology is amazing! We are working through a book called "God Space" which is a book about evangelizing. When I say we, I mean we had people on the line from Ohio, Alabama, Belgium, and two people from Turkey. There were five of us total, and we were all able to talk to one another. The Bible Study was a great success and encouragement to me.
RECAP of my time in Greece:
So I set out Sunday morning at 2:15 a.m. to being my trip to Athens, Greece. I walked about 5 minutes from my apartment to get a taxi. The taxi took my to the airport which is only 5 minutes away. I got to the airport in Adana and checked in. To my surprise, there was a couple from the church that I go to here in Adana on my flight. They decided last minute to go to the States to visit family. I secretly kind of wished I was going with them ha :). They were flying into Raleigh, NC which is not far at all from Virginia! No in all seriousness, I was excited about my trip to Athens. I landed in Istanbul at 5:00 a.m. Sunday morning. My next flight was not leaving until 9"45 a.m., so off to Starbucks I went with my friends from church. I ordered a chai tea latte and a muffin that his the spot :). My friends flight was leaving earlier than mine, so around 6:30 a.m. we departed ways. I couldn't check into my flight until around 8:00 a.m., so I tried to rest my eyes a little bit until then. Once I checked into my flight, I still had over an hour to kill time. I started reading one of my books for class - "Ethics 101" by Maxwell. Soon it was time to board for my flight to Athens. My flight to Athens was smooth. I even got to enjoy authentic Greek yogurt which you will see a picture of in my album...so good! I eat Greek yogurt in the States, so it was nice to taste the real mccoy :)
Once I landed in Athens, Erin met me at the airport to pick me up. Erin and her husband live about 20-30 minutes from the airport. When we got to Erin's house, we decided to meet up with Stratos (her husband) at church. I was able to listen to the message because they have headphones you can put on and listen to the sermon translated into English. I have to say the Greek pastor was pretty fiery! After church Stratos and Erin had to stop by the hospital where Erin will be delivering. Erin is pregnant and is due to deliver in about 3 weeks...crazy!! After the hospital we were off to get some lunch. One pattern I noticed in Greece, is that they eat their lunch around 2:00 or 3:00 in the afternoon and then they eat supper around 10:00 p.m. For lunch we ate at an amazing seafood place! We had fresh fish, squid, and crawfish...so good!!! On a side note, the food in Greece is AMAZING!! After lunch we headed to the house for a little bit. I was pretty exhausted from not sleeping the night before, so I took a little nap which was great! We hung around the house a little bit, then we headed out to eat dinner at a Mexican restaurant. Yes, I know you are probably wondering why we ate Mexican, but I had not had that in awhile and they both said it was quality. I ordered a chicken quesadilla and then also had some awesome tortilla chips and guacamole. By the time we got home from the restaurant we were approaching midnight, so it was time to get some sleep.
Monday morning I slept in until about 9:30 a.m. When my alarm went off, I felt like I had only been sleeping for a few hours. Erin and I set off to go see the Acropolis and Mars Hill. We had breakfast at a cafe and then walked up to see the Parthenon. It was pretty amazing to see such a vast structure. I was able to take quite a few pics which you will see in the link below. After we went to the Parthenon we walked over to Mars Hill. Mars Hill is where Peter would talk and debate with numerous people. Erin and I read Acts 17 while on the top of Mars Hill which was AMAZING :) To think we were sitting and standing where people did from Biblical times...WOW!! We then walked around the center of Athens a little bit and checked out different shops and touristy places. For a break we went and got some hot chocolate at a cafe called "Faces". It was pretty interesting because the cafe had Bible verses on the ceiling which was pretty neat (I should have taken a picture). Stratos then met up with us for dinner at a really nice Italian restaurant. We shared an amazing Greek salad and then I had penne pasta with cheese and tomato sauce. Erin and I were pretty tired after walking around most of the morning and afternoon, so we went back home with Stratos. Erin and I made some banana bread, then we just talked and relaxed. In the evening we made a run to the grocery store in their SMART car. Yes, they have a white SMART car which is amazing! You really can't tell it is so small once you get in it. Over in Greece you see smart cars everywhere!!!! I really liked their grocery store! They have peanut butter (what I went there to get) and they have granola bars. Over here in Turkey you can't find granola bars or peanut butter. So, I picked up a few jars of peanut butter to take back with me to Turkey. Stratos finished practice late, and then we met up with him at a Greek restaurant to finish out the trip. I had an authentic gyro from Greece...so good!!! By the time we got home it was closing in on midnight again, so I chatted a little bit, then it was off to bed for me.
Tuesday I woke up and packed all of my stuff up. Erin took my by the Olympic Stadium and I was able to see where the 2004 Olympics were held...pretty neat! After seeing where the Olympics were held, it was off to the airport! I had an AMAZING time in Athens visiting Erin and Stratos. I wasn't sure if the trip was going to work out, and I am so glad it did!! WOW...unforgettable :). I checked in at the airport and had to give up my peanut butter. I didn't think they would confiscate it, but they did...that was a huge bummer! I should have checked my bag in as luggage, but I was checking it in as a carry on. They were pretty thorough in their checking because they even had me open up my lap top and everything which I have never had anyone do before. I thought I would be okay with the peanut butter because it is not liquid, but I guess not. Thankfully not too much longer until I am home for Christmas :). My flight from Athens to Istanbul was great! I had a short layover and then I actually had to fly from Istanbul to Ankara (where I was last year), and then Ankara to Adana. I got in last night around 8:00 p.m., so I was able to get a good night of sleep last night.
Well, that pretty much raps of my travel time to Greece and back. It was a great trip!!
Here is a link to check out the pictures I took:
http://www.facebook.com/album.php?aid=2360140&id=55710205&l=001f54fe76
WHAT I AM THANKFUL FOR:
I am thankful for the trip I was able to make to Athens, Greece...so FUN!!
Isn't it hard to believe that November is already half way over...wow! I only have 32 days until I am home...unbelievable!
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Your word is a lamp to my feet and a light for my path.— Psalm 119:105 (NIV)
Thoughts on Today's Verse...God's promises, God's Scripture, helps us find our way in a pluralistic world of competing voices and lights our path in a time so given to cynicism and despair. What such great grace we have to know God's will in our own words! Now if we will only walk in the light!
My Utmost For His Highest:
The promises of God are of no value to us until, through obedience, we come to understand the nature of God. We may read some things in the Bible every day for a year and they may mean nothing to us. Then, because we have been obedient to God in some small detail, we suddenly see what God means and His nature is instantly opened up to us. “All the promises of God in Him are Yes, and in Him Amen . . .” (2 Corinthians 1:20). Our “Yes” must be born of obedience; when by obedience we ratify a promise of God by saying, “Amen,” or, “So be it.” That promise becomes ours.
Our Daily Bread:
Philippians 3:9 tells us that we are “found in Him, not having [our] own righteousness, which is from the law, but that which is through faith in Christ, the righteousness which is from God by faith.”
When we receive Christ, His death and resurrection sets us free from the penalty and the power of sin, thus enabling us to say no and yes in everyday life. We can say no to the desires of the flesh, or “youthful lusts” that Paul mentioned (2 Tim. 2:22). And we can say yes to “righteousness” (right behavior), “faith” (right belief), “love” (right response), and “peace” (right focus).
As we’re cleansed daily, we’ll be “useful for the Master, prepared for every good work” (v.21).
Lord, help us to think of the right and the true,
The pure and the noble—it all points to You;
For if we consider what’s worthy of praise,
We’ll then want to live for You all of our days. —Fitzhugh
Right thinking leads to right living.
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I hope everyone's week is going well so far!! Happy "Hump Day" today :)
Megan