Post Greece Report

Hard to believe we're already back, but we've been home for over two weeks now. Below is a brief synopsis of our trip with pictures. 

The view while eating dinner the first night - rooftop restaurant at our hotel:   

The next morning we left for the cruise. First stop: Mykonos.  

Beautiful - gorgeous - wish you were here! 

While others were shopping, we stopped for an appetizer and beer - grilled octopus. First bite was an "ahh" moment, and the pleasure was completed by being able to watch the sunset over the water! 

Next stop: Ephesus. Impossible to take pictures without a million people in them. First one is "main street" going down to the town center. In the triangle between the women's arm and her hat is the library, which was the most prominent building. Our tour guide said the headless statute to the right was a physician, and his explanation of how they arrived at that conclusion was interesting. But the jump to saying it was Luke was a "yeah...right" moment. 

Side street. Marble everywhere! 

Next stop: Patmos. Very pretty, only about 3,000 people living here. Tour was religiously creepy - no one liked it. You see, in Greece, you are not allowed to give tours unless you are a professional tour guide. And since they take everything Biblical and turn it into a church, the "supposed" cave where John wrote the Revelation is a church and the tour guide was showing creepy false religious pictures of their interpretation of the Revelation. YUK! Needless to say when I slipped away to use the bathroom, there were lots of Witnesses doing the same thing for the same reason - to get away!  

But here's a pretty picture of part of the island with our cruise ship below. 

Next stop: Crete, where we got a VERY nice surprise. The local friends met us at the port. I chose this picture because it was the only one where you can see Jim. Can you find him? 

When we got back on the ship, an announcement was made for all of the Four Ambassadors people to go to the shore side of the ship for a surprise. When we got there and looked down, this is what we saw:  

The local friends started singing Kingdom songs (No. 134 first) so there wasn't a dry eye on board. They even walked down the pier as far as they could go when we were leaving! Definitely a highlight of the trip. I looked at Jim and pointed to them and said, "THIS is why we are here!" 

Next stop: Santorini - the only time we truly felt on vacation. Peaceful, quiet town with no cars, taxis, buses - you walk everywhere. We wish it wasn't so expensive - definitely worth further exploration!  

We had another appetizer/drink at the restaurant below. Ooo - ahhh! Octopus again. Not grilled - ceviche style - very tender and flavorful. Plus can't beat the view! 

We got back to Athens the next morning and were greeted by this in our hotel lobby:  

They helped us with all our needs. I hear some of you got to do this for the delegates to New Jersey. What a wonderful arrangement! They were there from 7:00 am to 11:00 pm every day! 

Next tour: Ancient Corinth. Don't remember what this is, but it was pretty. 

Below is the judgment seat where Paul was taken. The brother facing us reading from the Bible is an archaeologist, so he was allowed to speak to us because he is a "professional." Instead of giving us false religious mumbo jumbo, he read the account from Acts and didn't really add much further explanation. Refreshing! 

Later that evening we went to a gathering at a KH. We listened to talks and interviews and watched a DVD, and then broke for a meal and entertainment. Here's the musicians: 

And a few of those dressed in native outfits leading the dancing (which became a MUCH bigger group very soon). 

A brother on the Branch Committee was there and mentioned that the clergy still have a stronghold. They started Metropolitan witnessing and the clergy come and knock all the literature down and drag them to the police station. The police wait, apologize, tell them they realize Witnesses are peaceful people but the Church is making them do this, and then tell them to go somewhere else. Then he says we'll be going in service and the friends have been instructed to do a little bit of everything - door-to-door, business and street witnessing. Then he says, "So if you get taken to the police station - well - it happens! But you'll have a good story to tell!" :o

Then we were told that the Church heard about the convention and wrote letters to all the churches telling them that people from other countries are coming, so don't bother the Witnesses that week because we don't want the visitors going home and giving a bad report about us. Shocking! But the brothers were elated because they said the Church advertised the convention for them! 

Next day: tour of ancient Athens - 8 miles of walking on over 100 degree weather - yikes! Below is the Areopagus. Jim's favorite moment because he was asked to read the account from Acts out loud for the group. He got so excited realizing he was reading it right where Paul was when it happened! 

Cool picture - don't know what it is. 

Another cool picture - don't know what it is. 

This is a model of what the area looked like in 2 BCE. 

Jim really wanted his picture with this guy - full body shot. I told him to look down - the statute was "exposed" - so upper body shot it was! : )  

Field service the next day. This is Mary, who I later found out is a pioneer! She was great. 

Our territory. We did the block on the left. 

Next 3 days: Convention. Touching convention banners. The one I loved the most (but couldn't find the picture) said: "51 countries, one heart." 

Jim needed a 3-year-old to help him with his lunch juice box!  

A group of Greek friends came to sing a Kingdom song during the lunch break. 

The missionaries and full-time servants in foreign service coming out the last day.

Another favorite banner. 

Day after the convention. Goodbye Greece... We'll miss you! 

Hope you enjoyed a brief glimpse of our trip. We both agreed it is the best trip we've ever had. All the fun/excitement of traveling combined with a theocratic experience we'll never forget. Wonder where we'll go next.....??? 

Favorite picture: