WOMEN'S CHRISTMAS, THESSALONIKI VISIT!

6 JANUARY 2012 WOMEN'S CHRISTMAS AND THESSALONIKI VISIT!
Early this morning I thought it well to celebrate WOMEN'S CHRISTMAS, as today is called in my home county of Cork! So, I called the neighbours and soon, five of us were enjoying coffee, hot scones and sausage rolls, plus the story of our Women's Little Christmas. This set the day off on a good note. Later, I went into our snow-covered Korce. A short, very heavy snowstorm had enveloped us, at an early hour. The city had more than its share of skidding vehicles for the day - even those with snow chains!

The week has been eventful. Mirjam and Amira have left us for Tirana, where they will be based for the next few months! Mirjam is already interested in ministry with women there and Amira plns to follow some projects too. They will return mid-month as we are having a visitor from Germany. Also, we will meet at the URAT meetings in Tirana.

I was invited by one of my English students - Marieta, to visit Thessaloniki. Lalini decided to come along too. We enjoyed a beautiful visit, in glorious sunshine. I have heard that Thessaloniki has the mildest climate in Greece. It certainly made a very pleasant change from our snowy Korce.

The Roma young people were here for breakfast today, so there was a feeling that the Christmas holidays are over. Our Albanian classes have begun too....but there is a rumour of a further celebration at the weekend to complete the Christmas Season! Our Peace Corps. Volunteers have returned and I plan to catch up with one of them, Laurie, over the weekend too.

Enjoy what is left of the lovely Feast of Epiphany, symbolized for us by the arrival of the Three Kings. Here, we have had the Kings at the crib since Christmas Night as this is how the story goes in Lebanon!

With a little prayer for all God's best blessings for each one in these early days of 2012.