Al gauw pikten we een paar lifters op, en dat bleken toevallig landgenoten van ons te zijn. We hebben nog een gezellig babbeltje met ze gemaakt. Op de plaats waar zij uitstapten, stapten wij ook uit om onze lunch te gebruiken. We namen een heerlijke griekse salade waarna we weer op pad gingen naar Kalamata, waar we ons op de camping gingen omkleden om nog even lekker te gaan zwemmen. Daar fristen we heerlijk van op en al gauw lagen we in de zon. Helaas betrok de lucht en gingen we weer terug naar de camping. We fristen ons op en kleedden ons aan, want er moest natuurlijk ook nog uit eten gegaan worden. Voor dit eten moesten we wel een eind lopen zodat we extra veel trek hadden. We vonden een leuk terrasje waar al gauw weer een hoop tafels aan elkaar geschoven werden. Het eten lieten we ons prima smaken en de koffie of thee namen we op een ander terrasje. Gelukkig was het weer voldoende opgeklaard zodat we toch weer in de buitenlucht konden slapen, want we hoefden geen regen meer te verwachten.

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Om ± 14.30 uur kwamen we weer terug en gingen we eerst even iets fris drinken. Nou, dat smaakte best na deze wandeling. We stapten nu weer in de bus en gingen op weg naar Kalamata, waar we onze tenten weer op zouden zetten. Onderweg lieten we Sparta links liggen, want daar was helemaal niets meer van over.

Om een uur of vijf kwamen we op de camping aan, waar we in een noodtempo onze tenten opzetten.

Al gauw liepen we naar het strand voor een strandwandeling. We kwamen hier echter van een koude kermis thuis, want het was een kiezelstrand en dat valt niet mee op blote voeten. Op een gegeven moment gingen we nog even bij de rest van de groep op het strand zitten en om een uur of zes gingen we terug naar de camping. We maakten langzamerhand aanstalten om te gaan eten en om een uur of acht gingen we met de hele groep op pad. Het eten smaakte uitstekend en we hebben ons rotgelachten. Ik kreeg er haast pijn in mijn buik van.

Om ± 23.00 uur gingen we weer naar de camping en naar bed.

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i generally love high places that have view! this place is amazing... u see kalamata city, the sea & the beautiful landscape around! the service is ok (not more not less), the coffee is not so good... u'd better order something else... their toasts r very good... hehehe the place worth a visit cause in a day with good weather & clean air u'll enjoy what u see during having a good time with ur friends!

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the 2nd day after we saw had seen the city... we decided to go again to the beach & then giouli taken us a nice place for coffee so we could anjoy the view!

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before i start i want to thank: AGLAIA! a great co-traveler! i had a great time being with her for 2 days! we talked endlesly about 100 different things! GEORGE (jake15) he's not a travbuddy but someone i met via internet! he's as good as i was expected him to be, very very sweet!! & GIOULI (giouli) a friend from last year's spanish class, who moved to kalamata, for ever (?!?! hehehe...) always so energetic with a smile on her face! she was the reason for that visit! thank u!

ok... kalamata is not a great city but its nice... its in a state of renovation... so i guess soon a very nice city! in the northern part of peloponnese! ( 3 hours drive from athens... it worth going by car cause the landsacpe to there its amazing) for me the greatest parts were, walking at the beach & the park/museum of old trains! it also has many nice buildings from old times! the whole area of kalamata is full of  traditional villages, medieval castles, archeological sites & beautiful nature! i hope i will soon return to take a tour around the area!

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12.03.07 - Monday

We arrived in Kalamata, Greece around 8am, although there was a time zone change - so in Greece it was 9am. I had to be at watch at 6am, so I went back to bed and slept til late afternoon. We had free WiFi on deck, so I was able to call Donna and pay some bills, check email, etc… Today was Jarod’s birthday. I created another video to show and afterwards we watched the Lord of the Rings - two towers.

12.04.07 - Tuesday

Today was a day off. The weather was cold and rainy. I decided to stay onboard and not go into town. I sat in the Nav office with Daniel checking internet. The connection was very slow so I went back downstairs and edited photos. Then I took an afternoon nap. After dinner we watched Superman returns.

12.05.07 - Wednesday

We had breakfast at 8am, then maintenance at 9am til 12:45pm. It was freezing today, so maintenance wasn’t very enjoyable… but then again it never really is. After lunch we went right into sail training. Geez… we have so much to learn. I don’t know how I’m gonna pass the certification test? Then I had work duties - “cleaning toilets” and emptying the trash (which is soo disgusting!). It’s the worst job on the ship and I have two more weeks of it. Gross!

After dinner I checked my email and posted this blog. J Luckily we have free WiFi that is accessible on deck --- although we have to sit in the freezing cold. Our ship is all metal, so we can't get internet inside where it's warm. It's freezing in Greece. Besides the weather, things are still going well. I am learning so much and definitely growing because of it. OK my fingers are falling off, so I will end this blog for now, besides we’re getting ready to watch Spiderman 3... Later.

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Happy Holidays! I realize it’s Christmas day and I haven’t posted a new blog since December 5^th. Sorry to everyone who’s been checking… I’ve been thinking and reading over my blog and well, I have to admit it stinks! Basically I just wrote out my schedule and agenda for each day which isn’t very interesting to read. I’m sure you’re sick of reading, “after lunch we had sail training, then work duties”… so I’ve decided to start writing from the heart. I plan to get down right personal and let you know my inner thoughts and feelings.

It’s obvious I’ve grown a lot during this journey. Four months ago I would not have been willing to be so vulnerable, so open. Hopefully the following blog will express more of who I am and what God is teaching me. Enjoy!

Dec. 6^th - 13^th

We started this week with a special guest: Saint Nicolas. A little early I thought, although in some European countries he visits on Dec. 6^th every year. He brings treats and tells if you’ve been bad or good. This year Saint Nick asked me a significant question, “Do you know your memory verse?”. Every student was asked to memorize Colossians 3 - the whole chapter! Well I had no intention of memorizing the scripture we were given basically because I tell myself that I have a horrible memory and I can’t learn a new language or memorize the Bible. I flat out said I wasn’t going to even try, yet for some odd reason on Dec. 5^th (the night before) I found that scripture when cleaning my room and decided to give it a try. The next day when Saint Nick asked me if I could remember it, I actually could quote 1/3 of it.

It was as if God was reminding me that I can do all things through Christ. The enemy’s lie had been exposed and I could no longer use it as an excuse not to try. I believe it was the Holy Spirit’s leading that I was asked to quote those verses. God wants me to write His words on my heart and get them in my head. Wow, how significant and humbling it was to be reminded of this and to hear God’s truth. Tears filled my eyes that morning. Imagine how I would have felt if Saint Nick asked me that question and I could not quote the scripture. I would have been discouraged and upset with myself, plus it would’ve just reinforced my wrong belief.

Also during the teaching, Jonny asked us about projects or ideas for ministry that God has put on our heart. It was easy for me to come up with a long list. I am a dreamer - a visionary, but my dreams are just that - dreams. Very often my dreams do not come to fruition for various different reasons. I could come up with a long list for that one too. There are many things that stop me - things that get in the way of my dreams. I wish Jonny would’ve talked about how to overcome the obstacles that get in the way of our dreams coming to life. That is a teaching I really need to learn.

Another thing that has been a significant teaching is that we are learning to hone in on hearing God’s voice and speaking into other people’s lives. I thought about two of my friends that were struggling and sharing their stories with me. I was reminded of what I said to them and wondered if what I said to them was helpful? I take this position of influence very seriously. The words we speak are powerful. I want to be certain my tongue is anointed by the Holy Spirit when I speak into someone’s life. I worry that maybe I could lead people down the wrong path, hurting them rather than helping.

Lastly I was deeply moved by the gift Jonny gave me and although he wasn’t here to see the blessing, his “generous giving morning” was indeed just what our community needed. We were to ask God what he’d have us give away to someone else on the ship. It would be an example of selfless giving and generosity. We wept; we gave; we received; we all were overwhelmed and in awe of the generosity that filled the room. My words don’t do the experience justice. Usually I see so much sadness in the world; so much suffering; so much hurt. Yet today my tears were not from grieving, but were tears of joy and hope for the goodness that filled the air. This experience of being present to witness community the way God had intended for it to be: loving, sharing, and selfless was so very special to me. It gave me a new sense of hope for our world.

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