January of this year my husband and I submitted papers to serve a mission for the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter Day Saints. To our surprise and delight we were given the opportunity to serve with LDS Charities working with the Refugees in Greece.
Your first question might be “Do you have to learn Greek”? My answer is yes and no. I knew from the very beginning I would NEVER learn Greek. My husband, on the other hand, was all gung ho about the OPPORTUNITY to learn another language. He pushed, prodded and encouraged me to learn this incredibly difficult language. He bought me a t-shirt with the alphabet stenciled on it thinking this would encourage me. It had the opposite effect. It is, after all, Greek. Isn’t that what everyone says when they tell you something is not too hard, ” It isn’t Greek after all!”. Needless to say he has spent hundreds of hours studying, while I, on the other hand, have spent hundreds of hours doing what?
Today I am sitting with my family enjoying the aftermath of a delicious Thanksgiving dinner. I am overwhelmed with two thoughts. I am excited for the great opportunity we have ahead of us but it means giving up my family for 18 months. It is bitter sweet as my 94 year old mother-in-law said. I will miss them all.
If you are interested in following two grandparents as they make their way through the emotional rollercoaster that is ahead of us, you are more than welcome to read my weekly blog.
The bottom line is always going to be, we get to serve others in the way the Savior would like us to. Thus, I go forward with faith that all will turn out for everyone’s good.
Eighteen Months in Greece 