Morley Update 2013 #29

Everyone -



I can't believe we have now been back in Greece for two weeks. We spent our first few days settling in, putting things away and finding things. When 5 different groups live in your house things get put away in odd places. Just when I think we are getting into a routine things change. We struggled with jet leg but finally settled into a normal sleeping pattern and then we changed our clocks back. We worked a regular week and then this week we will leave on a retreat. We got settled in and put things away and then next week we will have two girls living with us for 6 weeks so I need to rearrange for that. I guess I had forgotten how much of life here is about change.



On Saturday night we were invited to attend the wedding of our landlord's daughter. It was an orthodox wedding so we were excited to see the different cultural and religious traditions. The wedding was a lot of chanting by the priests but near the end they put the bridal crowns (like in my big fat Greek wedding) on their heads and walked them around the altar. Then the priest said some personal words to the bride and groom and their family. The wedding started at 7pm and we left the church at around 8:30 pm to drive to the reception about 20 minutes away. When we arrived there we waited some time and then the parents of the bride went to each table and greeted each person. Then the bride and groom came and there were toasts by the bride's parents. The food was buffet style and the bride and groom's table went last. When they finished the bride and groom went to each table and greeted each person and both set of parents went to each table and greeted each person. Of course all this took time. Then the dancing started, first Greek dancing for some time and then modern dancing. At about 11pm, I asked the brides cousin if they would have a wedding cake. She said "Oh yes a big one but they will not do it for a while yet." It was after midnight when we decided to call it a night and the dancing was still going on with no cake in sight. The next morning about noon we saw the whole family (including the bride and groom) looking sleepy and wearing slippers, robes etc. walking some of the rest of the family to their cars. I guess we just don't have the stamina for Greek celebrations. Sadly there was no plate breaking either.



On Monday we had a team meeting and team fellowship at our house. Kent and I both said we felt a little disconnected after being gone so long but it was good to see everyone and to begin to get up to speed on what is happening. Tuesday was our first day back to work. I received many warm hugs and kisses from women and children and Kent was greeting happily by some of his men friends as well. There were a lot of new faces and many faces missing as people have moved on and new ones have come.



Wednesday Kent went in to Men's Day. Thursday we invited Dr. J and his family over. We picked them up at the metro and we all went to a nearby beach for a while. The kids and Kent and Dr. J played in the water and built a sand castle and I sat on the beach and talked with "S". She recently took an exam that would allow her to practice medicine in the UK and other EU countries but missed passing it by only a few points. She will take it again in January. In the meantime she is studying hard and Dr. J is putting in many hours at the nursing home which provides them with their small income. Please pray from them - pray for the strain of financial stress and emotional stress after being apart so long. Also pray for "S" to pass her test in January and for God's provision until then. Pray that Kent and I will know how to best support and be there for them as well.



Friday was Tea House day and it was very different than when we used to have it on Saturdays before we left. Because many of the children are in school on this day it is much calmer and less hectic. When it came time to watch a video the kids all said they wanted the "Christmas" one. It was a simple cartoon of the biblical Christmas story in English but our new team mate Liisa translated into Farsi as it went along. The kids were mesmerized. I honestly have never seen them so quiet for a video. I ordered some more bible story videos from Amazon and had them sent to an intern arriving next week. Hopefully they will enjoy them just as much. Before we left Greece I had not been able to handle coming for Tea House because I just wasn't feeling well enough so I was pleased to see that by the end of the day I still felt good.



Monday was a holiday (OXI day) a very patriotic day for Greeks when they stood against the demands of Mussolini and just said "OXI" (NO). On Tues. in the children's room we had the story of Noah. Ritsa was asking the kids whether it was easy for Noah to obey and what the other people probably thought about what Noah was doing. They said they probably laughed at him. Ritsa asked if we ever found ourselves in the same situation. The kids didn't respond so I shared that when we felt God was telling us to come to Greece to tell refugees about Jesus some of our friends were saying "That is foolish, you can't leave your family and your home and go there". But we had to listen to God and we have not been sorry even though it is hard sometimes to be so far away. I finished by saying that if they ever felt like God was telling them to do something they needed to obey and not worry what other people thought - they would not be sorry. I then realized that "M" a woman who has been wavering about making a decision for Jesus was sitting in the room that day with her son. I looked at her and she was listening intently. She is leaving the country legally soon - please pray that she will listen to what she knows God is saying to her.



We leave tomorrow for our fall retreat. It is a working retreat with LOTS of meetings and planning. We will be reviewing all of our ministries and making decisions about them. Please pray for unity and pray that as many personalities, and passions come together that we will be able to hold our opinions and agendas lightly making room to listen to each other and to God. Thank you for your constant love and support - we are so thankful to be part of such a wonderful team of people. We love you all.



Serving Him Together,

Kent and Myrna Morley
Tripoleos 76
Elliniko 16777
Athens Greece
011 30 210 96 38 625
backhoeboy1@gmail.com
http://kent-uniquelymorley.blogspot.com
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