Greece

God blessed us with an amazing opportunity during our last school break... a trip to Greece!!

As you may know, physicians are required to complete continuing medical education (CME) credits each year in order to maintain board certification.  We completed some credits before leaving the US but both still needed more in order to meet our 2014 deadline.  Despite being aware of a CME conference sponsored by CMDA (Christian Medical & Dental Association), we didn't think it would be possible for us to attend it in the midst of our language learning responsibilities.  However, thanks to the encouragement of a mentor we looked into the conference details and were pleased to discover that the conference dates matched our 2-week spring break!  After learning this, we were blessed again by a generous financial gift to cover the conference costs including travel and lodging!!  Writing on the wall wouldn't have made it any clearer to us that God was opening the way for us to attend -- so away we went!!

It was S's 1st plane ride -- overall he did well -- although still room for him to learn tips from his expert traveler big sis.

Chilling in the airport

Waiting for takeoff

The medical conference was informative and refreshing in many ways -- medically, yes, 

Soaking in medical knowledge...

but also spiritually (thanks to daily praise & worship time and daily scripture teaching) and relationally (we reconnected with numerous old friends from med school, residency, previous overseas trips, while making many new friends).

Long-time friend CL meeting S

Enjoying time with "Aunt C"

"Princess D"
of Niger

The conference provided childcare, too!!  So we were both able to benefit from the lectures knowing our kids were being well cared for...

G with her teacher

G's crafts from the week

Kids performance for parents
our lil G sang wonderfully : )

We even found time to squeeze in a family swim.  

Lovely pool at the conference hotel

It was S's 1st time in the pool!!

Floating with Daddy

Wading with Mommy

G, our little fish, encouraging S

AND as if that were not enough...we had the special treat of reconnecting with a dear friend from our time in Wichita who is Greek-American and makes at least a couple trips to Greece each year. 

Enjoying local lunch with our dear friend "Aunt D"

 She planned her spring trip to coincide with our travel dates, and she showered us with hospitality and generosity!!

Let the photo journal begin...

The Acropolis
View from our hotel during our weekend in Athens

Yes, that's the view from our hotel room!!

View at night...WOW!

Tour of the Athens meat market...
G (not surprisingly) really enjoyed this!!

Seafood!!

S doing his thing...being CUTE!!

Traditional dress

Dropped in to visit "Aunt D"'s friends at a local jewelry store...

and G was gifted a necklace!!

G being G...

Atop the Acropolis

Quite the panoramic

G took more interest in the sand and pebbles...

Visiting "Aunt D"'s cousin
suburbs of Athens

Isthmus of Corinth

Temple of Apollo,
Ancient Corinth 

Ancient Corinth
Imagine the apostle Paul preaching here...

Corinth selfie

Playing on the pebbly beach near Corinth

Our happy little camper

Ferry ride
A great way to get to and from island
 where our conference was held

How blessed we were through the generosity of dear friends who made this trip a reality!!  Thank you!!  We have very fond memories of our time in Greece and are hopeful to return in the years to come.  Looks like the conference will continue in the same place, so we are looking forward to 2016!!

Thankful for the Lord's sweet gifts,
DDG&S