It was in November of last year that I embarked on an ambitious language course in Greek. The class was 5 days a week for 3 hours/day. As it turned out, this was way "too ambitious" and they were moving too fast for me. I lasted for "2 days" before, as they say, "I saw the writing on the wall" and realized I needed to go to plan B.
So, as of mid January, I have now been enrolled in the same Level I Greek class but it meets MWF for 7 weeks. I must say, it is still challenging, but I have been able to manage it better. I now have 6 more (out of 20) classes to go before I'm done! Yippee! I'll have to assess at the end (they'll test us to see our level of proficiency) whether I'll go to Level II, or repeat Level I, or just take a breather. I must say that learning a new language at 56 is not the easiest thing I've ever done. There are much younger students in my class that are picking it up much easier, but Greek is also their 3rd or 4th language. That is such a European thing.
Speaking of language classes, Claudia, Guenter & Donna Wadewitz now are taking Greek lessons with a private tutor that comes to the apartment. It's a much more relaxed pace and is totally geared to their level and pace of learning. They meet on Tues/Thurs for an hour and half.
Gary (Γκαρυ)
Thursday, February 14, 2008
The Latest BSF Women's update: Waiting on the Lord
I'm sorry we haven't had any new updates in awhile, but for the last month the status of our work really hasn't changed much. The women have 60+ women registered, but the key now is to find enough qualified and willing women to start the class. Donna Wadewitz (the women's teaching leader) has an interview on Tuesday with a young woman for the children's supervisor position. Pray that this interview will go well and that she will be qualified and willing.
The positions yet to be filled are:
1 Children's supervisor
1 Assistant Children's supervisor
1 Secretary
2 Discussion leaders
The weeks are running by fast and we have been praying diligently for the Lord to bring forward the right women who can and will serve. Once the leaders are in place, there is 4 weeks of training of the leaders before the 5 week pilot class in Philippians can begin. And, the pilot class has to be finished by the middle of May so that leaves us with a potential deadline of middle March to have all the leaders in place.
We could use all the prayers we can get. This certainly has not caught the Lord by surprise and I know he his always working. We pray for his will be done and for his perfect timing...even though it may not be within our time frame. So, our job now is to trust in the Lord and wait!
Thank you for your prayers,
Gary and Claudia
The positions yet to be filled are:
1 Children's supervisor
1 Assistant Children's supervisor
1 Secretary
2 Discussion leaders
The weeks are running by fast and we have been praying diligently for the Lord to bring forward the right women who can and will serve. Once the leaders are in place, there is 4 weeks of training of the leaders before the 5 week pilot class in Philippians can begin. And, the pilot class has to be finished by the middle of May so that leaves us with a potential deadline of middle March to have all the leaders in place.
We could use all the prayers we can get. This certainly has not caught the Lord by surprise and I know he his always working. We pray for his will be done and for his perfect timing...even though it may not be within our time frame. So, our job now is to trust in the Lord and wait!
Thank you for your prayers,
Gary and Claudia
Wednesday, January 9, 2008
Men's BSF Prayer group
Every Tuesday night we meet to pray for the success of BSF in Athens. Here are the faithful members of our men's prayer group. From left to right: Guenter Wadewitz (USA), Dr. Tosh Adeleke (Nigeria), Gary (USA), Sam Onuoha (Nigeria) and Tony (aka Shahin) Eghbalian (Iran).
While the numbers of men who join us each week vary, these men above are very faithful to come each week. During tonight's short Bible thought, we talked about Daniel 1:8; "Daniel resolved not to defile himself..." Since this was the 1st week of 2008, it was appropriate to talk about new years "resolutions." As a result of Daniels "resolve" he was protected, blessed and used by God. This can be applicable to us as a prayer group if we are "resolved" (with firm determination) to be faithful in our calling to serve Him in this "good work."
Our prayer requests for the men's group:
1. "Resolved" in our faithfulness...even if it takes a long time to establish BSF
2. Patience for the group
Rom 8:25 "But if we hope for what we do not yet have, we will wait for it patiently."
3. Additional men to join us in this "good work" God has prepared in advance for us to do.
Your prayers are greatly needed and appreciated!
Blessings go to the Faithful!
Gary
Tuesday, January 8, 2008
Update: Women's Prayer Group
God is doing a great work in Athens, Greece !
For almost two years, a group of women known as the Bible Study Fellowship Womens' Prayer Group, met weekly and prayed that God would provide Athens with an established BSF Bible study.And now...in His perfect will... God is answering the prayers of those faithful women.
In September, the eight members of the prayer group began to invite other women to small group gatherings called "BSF presentations". Presentations are informational gatherings where guest are introduced to BSF and given the opportunity to register for a BSF study. Between October 24th and December 4th, 17 presentations were held in and around the Athens area. A total of 54 women registered for the Philippians pilot study. As we return from the holidays and begin to refocus on the task of starting this new BSF class, I would like to ask for your prayer support in some specific areas.
1. Gods' provision of more women who will register for the Philippians pilot study.
2. Gods' provision of a host church... where the class will meet.
3. Gods' direction in identifying and training class leadership.
4. Gods' perfect timing in starting the class.
Thank you so much for your continued interest and prayer support.
~Claudia~
For almost two years, a group of women known as the Bible Study Fellowship Womens' Prayer Group, met weekly and prayed that God would provide Athens with an established BSF Bible study.And now...in His perfect will... God is answering the prayers of those faithful women.
In September, the eight members of the prayer group began to invite other women to small group gatherings called "BSF presentations". Presentations are informational gatherings where guest are introduced to BSF and given the opportunity to register for a BSF study. Between October 24th and December 4th, 17 presentations were held in and around the Athens area. A total of 54 women registered for the Philippians pilot study. As we return from the holidays and begin to refocus on the task of starting this new BSF class, I would like to ask for your prayer support in some specific areas.
1. Gods' provision of more women who will register for the Philippians pilot study.
2. Gods' provision of a host church... where the class will meet.
3. Gods' direction in identifying and training class leadership.
4. Gods' perfect timing in starting the class.
Thank you so much for your continued interest and prayer support.
~Claudia~
Shake, Rattle and Roll...Athens hit by earthquake
Sunday morning, January 6, we were awakened at 7:20 am with the bed and house shaking. We were a bit in a "fog" about what was happening, but it didn't take long to figure out the whole apartment was shaking. Fortunately, and thankfully, it didn't last long and there was no damage. Below I've posted a news article stating the quake was a magnitude 6.5 and was felt over all of Greece and part of Italy. The epicenter was about 150 km (about 90+ miles) SW of Athens.
Claudia, immediately after the shock, said that the fist thing that came to her mind was how Powerful God was to shake the earth like that. God is indeed so powerful! What a reminder it was of how small we really are and how Powerful HE his.
Praise and thanks to Him no one was hurt.
Gary
http://considerations.wordpress.com/2008/01/06/earthquake-in-greece/
Claudia, immediately after the shock, said that the fist thing that came to her mind was how Powerful God was to shake the earth like that. God is indeed so powerful! What a reminder it was of how small we really are and how Powerful HE his.
Praise and thanks to Him no one was hurt.
Gary
http://considerations.wordpress.com/2008/01/06/earthquake-in-greece/
Friday, January 4, 2008
Happy New Year (Καλη' Χρονια'!)...Just returned from London
The day after Christmas (after Erica left for the States) we boarded a plane for London to spend some time with our newly found European friends. Actually, we met the Loves' in Tulsa last Christmas who were visiting for the holidays. In a very short period of time we have become really good friends.
As part of our trip, we flew through Germany so we could get our passport stamped in Germany rather than Greece. It just keeps the Immigration officers more confused as to our status in/out of Greece. As it turned out, the trip back through Germany was a uneventful and a success. We now have 90 more days before we'll make another trip outside of Greece.
What's more English than eating "fish & chips" on a park bench in a quaint little English beach community? The above picture was taken during our outing with the Loves' to the North Sea coastline where we took a wonderful (but cold) walk on the beach. We then had a bite to eat before heading back to the Love's house. The couple we are with are Andrew and Belinda Love who live to the north of London in Brentwood (about an hour+ northeast of London).
PS. Doesn't Andrew look so English...and I look so American! Next time we go to London, I need to get a cap like his to blend in better. The only problem is when I open my mouth...then it's a bit obvious I'm not British (ha!)
Dinner at the Loves' with some our new British friends. The dinner party was where each couple (not with your spouse) prepared a different course of the meal. It was a great success and a lot of fun. From left to right in the picture; Carol, Ian, Jo, Andrew, Belinda, Collin and Claudia (still wearing her cooking apron).
Caitlin and Felicity before riding trail bikes in the English countryside.
As part of our trip, we flew through Germany so we could get our passport stamped in Germany rather than Greece. It just keeps the Immigration officers more confused as to our status in/out of Greece. As it turned out, the trip back through Germany was a uneventful and a success. We now have 90 more days before we'll make another trip outside of Greece.
What's more English than eating "fish & chips" on a park bench in a quaint little English beach community? The above picture was taken during our outing with the Loves' to the North Sea coastline where we took a wonderful (but cold) walk on the beach. We then had a bite to eat before heading back to the Love's house. The couple we are with are Andrew and Belinda Love who live to the north of London in Brentwood (about an hour+ northeast of London).
PS. Doesn't Andrew look so English...and I look so American! Next time we go to London, I need to get a cap like his to blend in better. The only problem is when I open my mouth...then it's a bit obvious I'm not British (ha!)
Dinner at the Loves' with some our new British friends. The dinner party was where each couple (not with your spouse) prepared a different course of the meal. It was a great success and a lot of fun. From left to right in the picture; Carol, Ian, Jo, Andrew, Belinda, Collin and Claudia (still wearing her cooking apron).
Caitlin and Felicity before riding trail bikes in the English countryside.
Thursday, December 20, 2007
Merry Christmas! (Καλα Χριστουγεννα!) The Walthall Family in Athens for Christmas
Our family on a cold Sunday afternoon at the Acropolis
It's been a real delight to have all of our family in Athens for the Christmas holidays. After a few anxious moments on leaving the US for Athens (at the onset of the "ice storm" throughout the midwest) Erica, Tara & Isaac made it safely to Athens December 11.
Have a blessed Christmas!
Merry Christmas! (Καλα Χριστουγεννα!)
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