Small World

Sunday October 16,2011

We were a little laid back this morning and didn't get moving until after 7:30. Meetings were not until 10:00 and we had scouted out the area so knew where we were headed and that it was only a brisk 10 min walk. The hotel breakfast was the standard fare we have found here in Greece. A choice of cocoa puffs, muesli or cornflakes, with usually warm milk (in Zakynthos it was hot powdered milk..mmmm) then various breads, cheese, canned fruit (usually peaches) some sliced tomatoes and olives, yogurt which is really thick and not very sweet but very tasty with fruit or honey drizzled on it (the way the Greeks serve it for dessert),sometimes boiled eggs and sliced sandwich meats, but today to my delight hot scrambled eggs and bacon and of course, coffee and juice. I loved it on days it was real orange juice and I was ecstatic when it was COLD real orange juice. Today it was the funky orange juice that tastes like it is carbonated but it was cold. We have really noticed most places are frugal with electricity so hallways are often dark, lights not used during the daytime even when it is cloudy dark out side. I suspect they also have limited refrigeration. Here at the Amazon, a Best Western hotel, the place is well lit as was the Metropolitan where we stayed before in Athens.

We were welcomed by four missionaries outside the building doors and two more sets of missionaries inside. There was a fairly small gathering when the meeting started-25-30 people counting the missionaries and the couple missionaries and their daughter who was visiting and another sister missionary whose husband came before the meetings were all concluded. The branch president was African as were at least a dozen other members. It was a real cultural mix. Two young American students came in part way through Sacrament meeting. After the meeting I heard them telling people they had just came from Rome where there had been so much violence, with burning cars etc. They had been disappointed in not being able to see the coliseum as it was closed due to strikes. They then said “We were so very glad to walk in this building and feel safe” I had experienced the same feeling of being safe with family so far from home. The Gospel is such a wonderful blessing in our life. The world is also very small in the church. Dad spoke with the young Americans before priesthood and found they were students from Utah State University. When he introduced himself as from Canada one of them asked where in Canada. When Dad said Lethbridge Alberta he inquired “Do you know any Forsyths?” “I am a Forsyth” “do you know a Colin Forsyth?” Isn't that amazing! He was Joshua Blume who had recently returned from a mission where he had served in Thunderbay for 8 months and knew Colin and Cynthia well,and had helped move them when they came back to Alberta.

It was quite the experience to be the person wearing the interpretive head set. The speakers were the American missionary couple. The sister read her talk in laboured Greek. Probably half the speed Greeks speak and certainly without the enunciation, but what do I know it was better than I could have done and I applaud her for all the work it would have been for her to prepare the talk. The Brother spoke in English so that worked good for us. When I got to Relief Society I came to find probably half the class preferred English. I had noticed an older sister with the Sunday School Manual and when it was time for Sunday school she said to us “You stay in this class. We will interpret in English.” Then one of the Elders came and invited us to the English class. We stood unsure of what to do and the Sunday school teacher again encouraged us to stay. “That class is for new members.” she said “this one is Gospel Doctrine. You stay.” One of the Elders offered to interpret so he took the microphone and we used our headsets and had a real neat experience hearing this sister teach us from Ephesians about unity in the church. She was passionate about the gospel. She talked about marriage relationships and how in her 76 years she knew women were the ones who supported the heads of the priesthood holder. We are their necks. She got quite a chuckle from the class and some comments from an older brother who had blessed the sacrament. Her European way with passionate speech and hand movements all made me think of our neighbour Anita who I miss visiting with. She talked about how important it is to love one another and how much more they as a Branch need to do this with Greece experiencing such hard times. She then expressed her love to the class It was very moving to me and I was glad to have had the cultural experience of being in her class. You could tell she was one of the stalwarts of the branch It would have been so interesting to have been able to get a history of her life.

She ended up being the teacher in Relief Society also. Our lesson was about the Second Coming There was quite a group who held up hands when asked if they needed English. Two of the sisters sat behind us and quietly interpreted. I was sitting beside a Danish girl who also spoke English very well. She was visiting with her husband who had served a mission in Greece and was back visiting. The girl who interpreted for us was a beautiful dark haired Greek. She was apologetic because occasionally she couldn't think of the English word. She did a great job and that made it possible to really get the spirit of the things that were said. What testimony building experience!

We went back to the Hotel after the Sunday meetings and were able to catch the Sunday Afternoon session of General Conference as we had strong internet connection that allowed us to watch it. Later we went for an explore of the National Gardens which we had seen a bit of before. We took our umbrellas as it was raining. There was a mansion we had read about that we went to get pictures of. We wandered the narrow streets past some of the shops and then stopped at a little restaurant just outside our hotel. It was a very chic place with lovely decorations. We had their Greek Platter for two which included 5 different dishes. The meatballs were especially tasty. The meal was delicious, cozy and nice to eat inside out of the rain.

Our adventure is winding down. We have come to see there is so much to learn, so many places we couldn't even have imagined and yet with all the differences there are so many things the same.