It's today!!

What a journey to get to this point - Praise the Lord for His faithfulness - I am encouraged there is a doubting Thomas in the Bible, as that is me at times! When I look at the the impossibilities, instead of seeing the ability of our God. Mike is much more stronger in this than me - but I do smile as I think how far God has brought me to know that Lord you have done this before - I am sure you can do it again :))

So we were kept on the edge of our seats - feeling rather foolish telling people we waiting for papers from Japan, which arrived the day before we wanted to leave - but God is never early and never late so we got those certificates Monday 5 September and handed them in at the consulate on the Tuesday 6th. They asked us for another letter from the guys in Japan - which being 7 hours ahead of us in time is not a quick process and we emailed them the letter by late Wednesday and thankfully they phoned us on the Thursday to say we could collect our visas the Friday - hmmmm can't describe this whole process and all the emotions you go through but we booked our tickets and this is God - got the same price booking 5 days before we fly and the exact amount He provided for the tickets as in my previous post. - when we looked at the prices the week before it had showed we would pay about R6000 more if we had flown today and now when we booked the price was again what God had provided - He is amazing!

So we will be on a plane in a couple of hours.. Thank you to So many who have been So encouraging in the Faith and just supportive people who have been positive and encouraging who are friends etc. It lifts our spirits and spurs us on to the goal to Go.

I am the Worlds worst packer...... You would think I would be the best by now but with help - especially my mom and a good friend to sit with me and get me through the job of sorting 3 seasons clothes and school stuff etc etc we there..... good luck to the check in agent ;))

We trust we can report good things - we go with our faithful God - He has kept giving me scriptures this last few days to Not be afraid , be strong , do the work and reminding me He is with us.

God bless and keep you all

For the joy of Japan for the joy of wherever we all find ourselves today
Cindy and the gang xxxxxx

Ends of the earth

Isaiah 42:8,9

" I am the Lord; that is my name! 

   I will not yield my glory to another

   or my my praise to idols.

   See, the former things have taken place,

   and new things I declare;

   before they spring into being

   I announce them to you."

Our last time on the blog we had been in Italy in 2013 - what a wonderful 6 months we had with Calvary Chapel Montebelluna!  We were coming home for work in SA for December /January, but ended up staying on at home with Matthew born on 20 January 2014. What a blessing this little chap is! We tried to go back to Italy later in the year for the Fall semester, but the door was closed as they needed our accommodation for a big semester with an influx of students. We tried again the next Spring semester 2015 and again a closed door - I struggled - I cried - there was this deep yearning to go back - to be with the people we had grown to love back in Italy.

God had a plan for us at home too and I can see looking back He had us at home for many reasons and we have and are able to serve Him always anywhere we are. We helped with a church plant - Mike got to teach a subject for a semester of a Bible college here, he got to go on a missions trip to Malawi, etc etc and a year ago  God clearly lead us to go be a part of Calvary Chapel Paarl - interesting telling people you drive every Sunday to a town 1 and a half hours away from your home and hearing their reactions..... I know it doesn't always make sense, but we follow one leader and our heart is to be obedient to wherever He leads us - His guidance is so clear though and His Word so comforting. 

Malawi

I remember those first weeks traveling through and how the Lord just spoke so clearly to me from His Word as I doubted Him wanting me in Paarl - I would read in my Bible things like " until I come and take you to a land like your own - a land of grain and new wine, a land of bread and vineyards, a land of olive trees and honey. Choose life and not death" ( this passage describes Paarl to a T and as we were driving I would see all these things around me. Often after church we could go and enjoy these exact beautiful things of Paarl.

He confirmed I am called : Isaiah 41 

" I took you from the ends of the earth,

from its farthest corners I called you.

I said, 'You are my servant';

I have chosen you and not rejected you.

So do not fear, for I am with you; 

do not be dismayed, for I am your God.

I will strengthen you and help you;

I will uphold you with my righteous right hand. "

He told me to " Comfort, comfort my people" Isaiah 40 

So the big news........ 

The Lord has been calling us again very specifically as we always seeking Him to follow in our missions heart. Last year during the Calvary Africa Missions Conference we sensed the Lord wanting to send us somewhere again. Our prayer was that the Lord would reveal a specific nation and make it loud and clear where that was. Japan kept coming up - Everywhere we went - the Lord made it loud and clear.  This constant confirmation Japan. Mike asked a pastor there if he could come visit and he had a 10 day trip over to Tokyo in March. He came home and prayed some more and still the never ending Japan - the pastor was open for us to come for 3 months of this year and so we are waiting to hear if we got our visa.  Literally the week the pastor said we could come the Lord provided for 6 air tickets - that does not happen everyday and gave us confirmation this is the path to follow. We plan to go early September to early December. A prayer request regarding this that we hear soon that our visa is approved. 

Japan visit

People love to know what we will be doing there in Japan. The church Calvary Chapel Fuchu has - besides being a regular church - a private English school up to grade 6 including a kindergarten and preschool. There are around 150 Japanese kids who come through the school and English conversational classes. We open to just go and be a part of the church and the school they have etc so I am sure as English speakers that is a big thing over there to be a part of English teaching. I am sure we will help out there with our kids joining in. 

School in Japan

This is what the Lord has told me to be doing in Japan through His Word: 

" In his teaching the islands will put their hope "

" Sing to the Lord a new song,

   his praise from the ends of the earth"

" let them shout from the mountaintops.

   Let them give glory to the Lord

    And proclaim his praise in the islands."

" You are my witnesses, declares the Lord

    and my servant whom I have chosen

   so that you may know and believe me

    and understand that I am he

    Before me no God was formed,

    nor will there be one after me. 

   I even I am the Lord,

   and apart from me there is no savior"

" You are my witness declares the Lord, that I am God.

   Yes from ancient days I am he. "

" I say, 'My purpose will stand,

   and I will do all that I please.'

  From the east I summon a bird of prey;

   from a far-off land, a man to fulfill my purpose." 

"I will also make you a light for the Gentiles,

  that my salvation may reach to the ends of the earth."

"My house will be called 

  a house of prayer for all nations."

May His will be done in all our lives, to be faithful and obedient to follow in anything He calls us to do. With us that will be to the ends of the earth .........

My kids dance with a lady who taught them to dance for the audience of One - I want to live for the audience of One. 

Isaiah 42:6-7

" I the Lord, have called you I'm righteousness;

  I will take hold of your hand.

  I will keep you and will make you

  to be a covenant for the people 

  and a light for the Gentiles, 

  to open eyes that are blind,

  to free captives from prison

  and to release from the dungeon those who sit in darkness."

Jeremiah 6:16

" Stand at the crossroads and look;

    ask for the ancient paths,

    ask where the good way is , and walk in it,

    and you will find rest for your souls." 

Italy Part 2

Italy Part 2

JOB 31:15 "Did not He who made me in the womb make them? Did not the same One fashion us in the womb?"

We are now into the 4th month of our stay here in Italy. Our biggest news was that we are expecting baby no. 4, Lord willing in January 2014 - a Boy!! :). It was a rough ride the first months here of extreme nausia, exhaustion, battling the heat etc etc. I personally found it one of the toughest times... having to walk everywhere - many comforts stripped away and having to home school, clean house - on top of feeling like death (seriously) but God is faithful and helped me through.

It was stressful not finding a home that we felt we could live in! We finally narrowed it down to 2 choices - only to be told:" Sorry we will now not rent to you as we want to sell and the other  puzzles us, but we had to just surrender to and trust God who is 100% in control. He wanted us in a 2 bedroom apartment in the centre of town. We really love the location and admit that God knew the best as usual (Isaiah 55:8-9 "For My thoughts are not your thoughts, Nor are your ways My ways, says the Lord. For as the heavens are higher than the earth, So are My ways are higher than your ways, And My thoughts than your thoughts"). I can actually say that I never thought it possible for our family to live in an apartment.... but it is actually fine! We have many blessings of a lovely town square here with fountain (which the girls have loved since the beginning of our time in Montebelluna) the park is nearby and it is just very convenient actually. So we have this apartment for 3 months on a short term rental till we leave, Lord willing, on 2 December back to SA for a period.

Much of our first months were spent going to and fro from governmental/municipal offices to get our visa / residence cards. We were given 2 years permission to stay ,and it is quite a process in Italy, with a lot of red tape. Then you get mistakes made on the cards and you have to wait another month and so what can I say... patience gets tested and you just have to rely on the Lord and keep the faith through it all and trust that He who has called and brought you has a plan and will bring it to completion in His timing. As you wait for documents,other things which you thought you could get just can't happen as you need the awaiting documents to come through before you can apply for other things. So I can say the challenge of not having a vehicle from when we planned ie: month 3 has been interesting. You freak out - you loose it - then you get over it and accept it and then the rains come and you start all over again wanting the freedom of your wheels. But it is not God's will for you for now, so you submit to it and you realise you can survive and when you get some bicycles it becomes a Major blessing to you!

We had a blessed 3 weeks in Austria in August. We attended our church Conference, then had a week break in between. We were blessed to stay in Salzburg and meet special fellow missionary people there who let us stay with them for 2 nights. We had some needed family time in Tirol/Alps area and then went back for the Calvary Chapel Europe Missions Conference, held at Millstat. What a great blessing and time of fellowship and the Word. We were refreshed by having friends from SA there.Walter and Melanie were an encouragement to us. We also celebrated 16 years of marriage and my birthday while at the Castle in Austria - what a treat!

We arrived back for the last week of August to get settled and move into our rental apartment and can just testify how faithfully God provides. Just as we had some basics we needed to buy for the apartment, the Lord provided for us the funds that covered the exact amount I spent at Ikea! Amazing really when you see the miracles God does along the way.

The students of the Bible College here in Montebelluna arrived in early September for the Fall semester. We have an apartment right next door to one of the girls apartments which has 8 students in it. It is nice to know they are next door and to just see them around the town etc. Tuesday morning I get to sit in on the Daniel class, while Mike home schools during this time. I do home schooling on the other days. We try to take the girls on a field trip once a week or every second week so that they can experience places.  Mike is now doing Italian lessons two nights a week. He goes to a Church History class on a Thursday, as well as men's discipleship classes. Fridays he goes to a missions team prayer meeting in the morning and then sits in on a part of the Revelation class. Sundays is church. Mike enjoyed teaching a session at the students Men's Discipleship class on the man Job. He looks forward to teaching another on Barnabus and Phillip.

The girls are progressing in their home schooling and enjoying doing ballet twice a week now. I also enjoy being able to mix with Italians this way. Their teacher speaks English and often asks me questions saying "excuse me I am very curious but...." I love it and enjoy answering her questions. I had to go for a regulatory blood test they do here for pregnancy. Its a diabetes test which involved 2 hours of sitting in between having blood drawn 3 times. God works in amazing ways as I was given a Divine appointment during this time. He gave me a great opportunity to chat with a lady from Cameroon and hear her amazing life story and just share with her and invite her to church. I was also very excited once at the park as the girls made friends with 3 Italian girls and really got on so well and the mom wanted us to meet again. These are the things that excite me to make friends and be a light in the community here. Melissah enjoys catching lizards and butterflies in the park and Sienah is an interesting 2 year old going on 6.... Kiarah really misses home and her friends but also has many blessings here and loves reading and just playing imaginative games with her sisters.

Our church here in Italy, Calvary Chapel Montebelluna, had wonderful outreach opportunities through summer concerts in the squares. These were really amazing opportunities with lots of Italians hearing  worship, testimonies and The Word/Gospel. The church also had a picnic and it was great to see the baptism of believers at the river. What a joyful occasion to see the Lord blessing the work here after many years of ploughing and sowing.

Pray for us as we continue to seek to be a blessing for the next 7 weeks here. Pray for our health and a smooth  transition/ travel back to Cape Town (that I would be given the go ahead by my doctor to be able to fly back). It is not easy being tentmakers, having to come and go between two worlds.We will be back in SA longer than we had originally planned due to the unexpected arrival of baby. We commit ourselves to the Lord and His will and continue to seek  the Lord's guidance for us. Thank you for reading and thank you for your prayers and support. We pray the following Psalm for all of you.

Psalm 67:1-3 "God be merciful to us and bless us, And cause His face to shine upon us, That Your way may be known on earth, Your salvation among the nations. Let the peoples praise You O God; Let all the peoples praise You".

Amen.

First month in Italy

First Month in Italy 

 Cant believe a month has gone and yet it has seemed quite a long month too. The weather changed drastically from quite chilly for a few days to Scorching heat! We have had 2 cooler days again with many thunder and lightning storms and boy when it rains it can certainly come down!

Our time has been spent with many days house hunting - still trying to find a place we would like to call home. Apartments are a big change for us, but if we dont find a freestanding house we have seen a loft apartment that we would choose for now. So keep this in prayer please. With no vehicle we have been walking quite alot and Mike has done alot more than me - he has even been doing our grocery shopping mostly. This in itself is a learning curve as we adjust to what is affordable for us to eat here - meat has gone off the menu (maybe mince once a week) and chicken once a week. Pasta and pizza feature... etc. As Mike says alot of things like cheese etc just taste so much nicer here - so we adjusting to the change in that area. Some ice cream is cheap so we have a treat of that when it is hot.

Siesta is a reality of life here. Sienah never had her normal 1400 to 1700ish sleep yesterday and by 1730 she fell asleep at the table eating a carrot! I think the heat and long days make it necessary to have a nap. The kids are then awake till about 10pm as then it is dark... So a different day schedule from SA. Homeschooling is going albeit slowly.... I love how my daughters now mock and scruitinise my handwriting telling me how wrong my letters are.... hmmm oh well I was not brought up in the Letterland days and I have always had a terrible handwriting, but thankfully Kiarah has not inheritted this by the looks of her work. It is fun and games but we will get there! I have been amazed to see how the kids have calmed down over this month and will quite happily wake up and start drawing or entertain themselves for hours playing lego friend imaginative games.. Slow paced life for now.

We have had an outing to Venice Kiarah and I which was wonderful and we also took a train towards the Dolomite mountains to a town called Belluno which was very beautiful. This area up North is very scenic and I look forward to discovering more pretty places around here. If we find a car Lord willing, it will be more easy to get out as a family and explore more.

Physically we have all had some challenges over this month, new diet, Sienah has a cough and temps for a few days, Melissah had a bad rash on her chest last week, etc but we doing good. Prayers for continued health and strength when it is so hot would be appreciated.

The team this side has been very helpful and welcoming. A lovely couple Caryn and Donovan have helped us so much to go to agents and see accommodation options etc. We look forward to getting to know everyone more. The pastor and the head of  the Bible College went to Murietta to the pastor's conference and other members of the team are also away at the moment. Our pastor here is actually in hospital as he has had an infection and so we pray he recovers quick and is back to full health.

We were blessed with two couches, a comfy chair, desk, fridge, toys, some kids bedding, cupboard and someone offered us a bed! It was a very humbling amazing thing to experience! A big help for us when we furnish a place - especially if we dont find a furnished home. Very thankful!

We are very excited as they are having music concerts in the summer at night in the town at various piazza's (squares). The church worship team has a slot Thurs eve this week and next week too, so we will be going to support and pray and Mike will help set up etc. Apparently last week there were thousands of people so I am excited for this opportunity. Please keep it in prayer. The summer evenings kick off at 9pm here so it will be a late night.

Mike has helped two families move since we here and done a little painting etc so he is just helping where he can and getting to know people. On Fridays there is a team prayer meeting in the morning, Sundays is church and there is also a Wednesday night midweek study at the church. The girls have been joining in Sunday school and were invited to their first Italian kids party which was so special.

Thats all for now, hope it gives you an idea of what we up to here. I must share that the Lord has ministered alot to me in the Psalms etc since being here and the main message that I got 3 times now is Ps 27:14 "Wait on the Lord, Be of good courage. And He shall strengthen your heart; Wait, I say, on the Lord!" Ps 31:24 "Be of good courage, And He shall strengthen your heart. All you who hope in the Lord." Our pastor also after that sent us this from where he is teaching back in SA: Joshua 1:9 "Have I not commanded you? Be strong and of good courage; do not be afraid, nor be dismayed, for the Lord your God is with you wherever you go." Is it not amazing - I get the message Lord and now I must choose to obey and wait on Him and be of good courage and know He is going to strengthen my heart.

God bless you and we enjoy hearing from you all and you in our hearts and prayers.
We will send more news soon.

Cindy and family XxxxX

Address in Italy for now: Styles family, Via Piave 156, Montebelluna, Italy, 31044

Missions Financial Support: Absa Bank, branch: Bellville, Account Name: MM Styles, Account Number: 120303309, Account Type: Savings, Reference: Styles Family (missions support)

Styles Italian Chapter

November 2011 to April 2013

Genesis 8:11" Then the dove came to him in the evening, and behold, a freshly plucked olive leaf [was] in her mouth; and Noah knew that the waters had receded from the earth."

God's timing is perfect.   

During our semester at Hungary in 2011 God took us on a scouting out of Italy trip - He had been putting Italy on Mike's heart through various ways and Mike kept telling me "Cindy we will be going to Italy for a period in the future...." Huh Italy what happened to Madagascar?!? Well Madagascar was not written off , but Italy was to be the next step for us. Amazingly we made some lovely Italian friends right at the start of our semester in 2011 at the Calvary Chapel Missions Conference in Austria.

Mike and Andrea

 Sweet Emmanuella


 So we visited our friends in Mantova Italy and took a day drive to Montebelluna where there is a Calvary Chapel church plant and a Bible college. We were able to view the church and had lunch (pitsa) with David Downs. I will never forget my flight leaving Italy and the heavy feeling in my heart of the millions of beautiful people so stuck in religion and without a true personal relationship with Jesus.

 Religiosity on a (sad) grand scale

We have been home for over a year and its been a year of just waiting on the Lord and His timing for us to return to Italy. We knew that we needed to be home for this time for many areas of our lives, including our church family. It has been a wonderful time and I have been blessed to serve in the moms group and we have been having a home fellowship group for the midweek Bible study, which Mike has been blessed to teach. Mike has also been serving on the leadership team. A highlight has been for Mike and I to have a weekly prayer time for missionaries, as our hearts and calling is for international missions. It was an interesting hard year of many good-byes and new chapters in people's lives - especially our pastor of many years - Julian and his wife Monica, and their two girls who now serve at Murietta California. If you know me you know I struggle with good-byes - I praise God that oneday it will be an eternity with hey: never a good bye to loved ones - Horey!

Our visa's has come through and we Praise God for His faithfulness to bring us to this point - what a process!! Eish, will I ever get used to the visa issue in life LOL....Matthew 19:26 "But Jesus looked at [them] and said to them, "With men this is impossible, but with God all things are possible." So we are booked to fly out the 28th May 2013. Only 5 plus weeks to go..... and a Ton to do :) We will be staying in the apartment that the girl students normally use in Montebelluna / Italy for the first 2 months. Mike and I have been granted a longstay visa and the girls 3 months tourist visa's ( we have to apply for them from within Italy) we trust God to work it all out for His purposes. We go by faith in more ways than one ...

Mike sharing at a church in Mantova / Italy- they prayed for us

We want to thank all that have walked this road with us up until this point. It seems surreal that we are going out to serve with another church all the way in Italy. We know there is lots of need in South Africa, but God has clearly shown us that He wills us to go to Italy for a period. Two years at this stage to be specific. Mike got a verse in his Qt at a crucial decision/seeking point. Acts 28: 30 - 31 "Then Paul dwelt two whole years in his own rented house, and received all who came to him preaching the kingdom of God and teaching the things which concern the Lord Jesus Christ with all confidence, no one forbidding him." 'Ironic' because we will be needing to rent our own home this time, as the church does not own its own propety to house us. God is faithful. We covet your prayers and during this time of " letting go", packing, preparation and going... We are needing prayer and financial partners - if the Lord lays this on your heart please email us or see the info below.

Acts 27:6 "There the centurion found an Alexandrian ship sailing to Italy, and he put us on board."

Mike, Cindy, Kiarah, Melissah and Sienah Styles serving Jesus at Calvary Chapel Montebelluna Italy.



email cndstyles@gmail.com
Missions Financial Support: Absa Bank, branch: Bellville: Account Name: MM Styles, Account Number:120303309, Account Type: Savings, Reference: Styles Family (missions support)

pray for God to continue to give us His wonderful love for Italy

 Our third daughter, Sienah was a little traveller since the womb :)

The kids are excited for this new chapter. They will miss their life in SA I am sure.

Let the many travels begin - life out a suitcase :)

Italy has its perks - the worlds best Gelato :)) - temptation everyday.....

Athens 10 day report back

Cindy and I were asked to lead a ten day outreach this semester. I am very grateful to our Lord for the opportunity and was blessed through doing so. We sought the Lord as to where He wanted us to lead a team on outreach, and we got a Word in Philippians 4:14 – 23. In this passage Paul mentioned Greece, and we just knew in our hearts that the Lord wanted us to go to Athens.

I made some mistakes during and before the outreach, but have learnt and grown through each one of them. There were various issues before and throughout the outreach. Some of them spiritual, others physical. At times, especially in the logistical planning for the trip, I felt anxious. Then the Lord gave me Philippians 4: 6 – 7 “Be anxious for nothing, but in everything by prayer and supplication, with thanksgiving, let your requests be known to God; and the peace of God, which surpasses all understanding, will guard your hearts and minds through Christ Jesus”. I have learnt to memorise this verse and have engraved it on my heart. I will take this verse and truth with me wherever I go into my future ministry...

After announcing our outreach to Athens, we came under spiritual attack. It was almost immediate. A rock was thrown through a large window of one of my stores back home, my newborn went down with a chest infection for two weeks, there was an attempted burglary into our house on the castle property etc... I learnt to always overcome these attacks by putting on the armour of God and through constant prayer. ( Ephesians 6:11 ).

The outreach was difficult because there were strikes and riots in Athens during our outreach week. This added to stress levels and we had to constantly reschedule our itinerary. In the end we resorted to a day to day program. “Blessed are the flexible”.

There were cultural issues. The biggest was having to adjust to a new toiletry system. The Greeks do not flush used toilet paper. The trash removers were also on strike during the duration of our outreach, and the smell which resulted was interesting.

I grew personally in the area of leadership. I learnt to take the bull by the horns and run with it. There was a lot of planning, organising, leading and control for the outreach. I learnt to take care of man's basic needs: food, shelter, finance, transport, spiritual etc.

Although Athens sounded like the most exotic destination for this semester's outreach, the 9 days were not easy. We were all out of our comfort zones and the team had to learn to share one bathroom. This taught everyone to die to self, and be servants to one another.

The outreach presented evangelism opportunities. Our most fruitful day was one spent at a refugee centre called Helping Hands Ministries. The team got to serve and observe in many areas. The guys also got good opportunities to witness to men from Muslim backgrounds.The ladies did childcare and cooking and cleaning.  This created good inter-cultural exposure for the team. I was blessed with an opportunity to witness to an  old man from Sudan. I will continue to pray for the ministries and the people that we witnessed to. The ladies went for another day to Helping Hands which was a shower day for women and kids - they helped with kids ministry, cooking, cleaning and just serving. The guys went to help at a soup kitchen with Hellenic ministries one evening and were really blessed to help there. Some of the team got to help sort clothes for a ministry sending clothes to the needy in Bulgaria. We did prayer intercession for Athens from Mars Hill near the accropolis and did prayer walks in the areas where the missionaries stay.

We also got to spend a day in Corinth (book of Corinthians, ring a bell?) with our own tour guide , attended Calvary Chapel Athens mid week Bible study and Sunday service, spent a work day doing practical ministry, helped with a soup kitchen, blessed the missionaries with fellowship and ministered to and were ministered by our host, a local Christian Greek widow with a heart of gold.

Overall the outreach was a success and brought glory to God.

Amen.

Greece Athens report back and photos

Ministraki square with the team

Vassiliki - our host and fellow Greek believer giving us scriptures

Vassiliki giving the girls decorations

lovely team ladies

refugee Helping Hands ministry Athens

crafts with refugee kids

Mars Hill Athens - lady from Africa reading her Bible - Paul preached up here too

prayer time for Athens up on Mars Hill

Acroppoli Athens

guys on team plus Frank - missing is Travis the other missionary

Many a Greek Orthodox church building

walking around ancient Corinth

Famous Road of Corinth

Greek orthodox church

we got to see the sea at Corinth

This is where Paul would have arrived and left by boat at Corinth on his missionary travels

Greece has yummy treats to eat - esp Bakklava

Greek flag

Mike had a quick swim at Corinth

prayer intercession walks - Athens is huge with many apartment buildings and 5 - 6 million people

date night fellowship with missionaries

Greek Orthodox lady reading her Bible and whenever they pass an orthodox buidling they do the cross over their body

Logistics of 9 big bags of luggage for the missionaries - God worked it out with even Sienah's 10 kilos being mentioned in order to not get charged PTL

Athens is huge

These soldier houses got burnt down the next day by rioting crowds

many helping hands with the kids on the outreach

Ksena and Katti - sweetest missionary kids in Athens

missionary ladies Suzie Gonzalez and Kristen Spencer

Temple of Zeus

lots of walking to use Greek transport but the girls were happy on the strong guys shoulders

trash strikes - piles on all the street corners

interesting museum at Corinth

waiting for a bus

even the underground has museums - so many ancient treasures

pottery in Corinth museum

team cooking with Vassiliki our Greek host

refugee sweetie

worship player on our team

 team first night dinner - 6 Americans, a Slovenian, a Romanian and us South Africans

riot police were out if full force the two strike days

Suzie Gonzalez and Sienah

Kalamaki - greek style

Accro Corinth

Pick up sticks with refugee kids

helping with meal for refugees

Refugee kids game time

Its all Greek to me - the Greeks would say if they dont understand a language - its all Chinese to me