salutations

[timeandplace]

Greetings from the Land of Greece. Words cannot describe the experiences and growth that have taken place. and it's only been two weeks. Travelling was a growing experience for sure. The language barrier hit hard when we reached Vienna. Airplane food was surprisingly good. I got to watch elizabethtown on the overnight flight from Toronto to Vienna. Definetely enjoyable. The Thessaloniki airport was intense, no one speaks english. eventually we got on a bus headed to the train station. The drivers here pay no attention to lanes or other vehicles in general, I'm not sure how we made it to the train station alive. The train ride cost approx 3$ which was a nice surprise, I got to spend an hour seated across from the cutest little girl I've ever seen. She was probably 5 years old and greek and slept the whole way. I stared out the window at one of the most foreign lands I've ever seen. There is absolutly no division between wealth and poverty, you will see a porsche dealership sharing a buildling with what looks like a crack house with boarded up windows. The school is beautiful. Marble must be dirt cheap out here because everything is made out of it. We've been walking around the town a lot, trying to pick up the language, grocery shopping it an adventure every time. I bought a coffee maker today. The lectures have been incredible, the things I was worried I'd find boring have been the highlights so far. Last week an Irish missionary spoke and the things God has done in his life and the miracles he's been witness to were absolutly incredible. He told one story involving a hungarian checkpoint where they were being chased by the mafia and he armed himself with a harpoon gun in order to protect his family as they were cornered by ten cars of mafia men. When asked to justify what he would have done had God not caused the first car to careen into all the other behind it and clear an escape route for them, he stated, "We were called to be fishers of men, and I intended to honour that. Harpoon gun and all." My faith is catapulting every day. I wish so badly that you could all be here to share in this life changing experience with me. Last friday we travelled by train to Meteora which is a group of monistaries up on giant rock columns, there was an old James Bond movie filmed there. pictures can be found at http://www.abiyoyo.com/grecia/continente/meteora/meteora.htm We got to climb one of the biggest columns and ended up in a cave overlooking the area, we stopped to eat lunch here. Also notable was the fact that I decided to go kayaking on the Aegian sea yesterday for an hour and a half. The water was so calm and peaceful. Anyways. My time at this cafe is running out and there is so much more to say. I've yet to receive any mail, so make sure you get on that. There will be a couple of letters going out tommorow. Hopefully the recipients will enjoy them. If only you knew how badly I wish you could be here. I feel bad that I get to experience such an adventure and I only hope that someday you all can experience something so incredible as this.

Your Friend
Christopher