Yesterday was the big day, before the big departure day. We dropped all of our worldly belongings off at a warehouse near the port of Houston. I’ve never done anything quite like that, and it was very very evident that we are not their typical customers. All the other boxes were uniform and were marked with “Toshiba” and “Sony.” Now, due to the flights we’re taking through Europe we only have 30 lbs of our stuff to live out of for the next month and a half. We’re actually doing this! We’re moving! As we drove away from our pile of boxes that looked so big in our living room, and so small at the warehouse, the sense that we’re re-locating felt more real than ever.

For weeks we’ve been preparing for yesterday. And now that it’s over, I find myself thinking more and more about what daily life will be like in Athens. I read this article in the Continental magazine and found it easy to imagine sitting at a sidewalk café sipping a frappé with a new friend and “waiting for life to happen.” I’m getting really excited!

Well, we left Austin yesterday after a wonderful time seeing friends and family there, we hit the road for Friendswood - the last stop on our farewell tour!

This week will be a big one for Catherine and me. Wednesday we take all of our stuff [except for what we can fit into a suitcase] and put it on a boat bound for Greece! This means that from now until then, we’ll be packing and making decisions about what stays and what goes!

Once our things are on the boat, we’ll head over to the Greek consulate to apply for our visas! Please be praying for our visas to be approved. We’re applying for year-long student visas, and this is not a rubber stamp process.

To cap it all off, on Saturday and Sunday Catherine and I will be taking a motorcycle training course in Galveston, in case we need scooters in Greece. Can you picture us on motorcycles? Neither can we!

Our teammates Jeremy & Julie have found an apartment for us in their neighborhood in Athens, called Zografou. It’s a little funky, but we like it.

We’ve said yes to this apartment, and we are just waiting to get our deposit in to secure it until we arrive in September. Please pray that no one will rent it before we can get our deposit to them. We’re wiring the money tomorrow. Also, thank God with us for His provision!

This apartment is two blocks from campus, and across the street from the building where the rest of our team will be living. We love the wrap-around balcony, and it’s well within our budget! Enjoy the pictures, but keep in mind that we’ll be painting and adding our personal touch!

Click on the image above to be taken to the apartment photo gallery.