going once, going twice!

CAUTION! Do not scroll down if hungry or on a diet...

I warned you...

I went to a cake auction and spaghetti dinner at church with Dr. Mom and David.  It. Was. AWESOME! Holy cow!  The event was a fundraiser for the youth in the church to get them to camps and other events over the summer.  Members donated cakes and baked goods to auction off as well as chipped in a bit for one smokin' awesome spaghetti spread.  I had been told that this auction was a serious to-do, but I had no idea how extreme the bidding got.  My strawberry lemon cake went for $130, and that was pretty much an average bid.  The highest I heard was about $225 for some glorious looking french bread and homemade jam.  Crazy, right?

My favorite part was watching the actual bidding.  I couldn't sit down through any of it, afraid I'd miss someone's hand flying into the air.  It was just so much fun!  And the place was just packed!  A couple hundred people all came to support the youth.  How cool is that?  I keep thinking of my young women back in Cyprus, wishing I could have done something similar for them.  The event was a huge success in so many ways.  I'm so tempted to figure out how to come back every year just for the cake auction.  What a hoot!

the skinny

I've been trying to figure out how to write this post since we received the news I'm about to share with you. The reason I'm so hesitant is it has absolutely everything to do with our faith.  With that, I'm hoping you'll stick with me through this because I am absolutely ACHING to share this news with you!

Before I tell you, you need to understand a few things.  First, Mr. F and I are members of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints, more commonly referred to as the mormon church.  We are, as the name of our church implies, Christians.  Unlike many other Christian faiths, we do not have paid clergy.  We all work as volunteers.  I say we because as a member of the LDS church, it is understood that you will also serve.  We all take turns as teachers, preachers, youth leaders, and so many other things it's rather mind boggling!  The thing is, all of these callings, as we refer to them, are essential to the day to day function of the Church and to helping us grow spiritually.  We also believe that these callings come from God through revelation.  We whole heartedly believe that our Father in Heaven still communicates with not only prophets on the earth today but with each of us individually, providing guidance and insight for our day to day lives.

Lastly, you need to understand that we belong to a worldwide church.  It is impeccably organized!  So much so that I knew when we moved here what Sunday School lesson to anticipate since it would be from the same manuals and lesson plans used worldwide.  Congregations are not decided by choice but by location.  Geographic boundaries mark up the borders for wards (a large congregation) or branch (small congregation).  Each of these congregations has their own bishop (for a ward) or branch president (for a branch), callings that are issued to worthy men within our church.  These men will more often than not have full-time jobs outside of these callings, not to mention families, wives, and other responsibilities to beg for their attention.  It is a huge responsibility.

About a month ago now, Mr. F and I got a call asking us to meet with a regional authority of the church. Mr. F spoke with him first while I awaited the news.  When I was invited into the office I learned that my 27 year-old husband had been asked to serve as the branch president of our little congregation.  Guys, I can't reiterate enough how big of a deal this is.  Not because my husband has higher standing in the Church now, which he really doesn't, or that someone other than me thinks he's really special.  No, it's major because our Father has entrusted the care of His children and His work in Nicosia to Mr. F.  The spiritual, physical, emotional care of them all.  Such trust and confidence is rather overwhelming. To put it in other words, he is now the minister of our branch.

Mr. F responded really well to the call, taking it on him and stepping into the role with grace, maturity, and faith.  I really admire him for his.  I have not been as gracious.  I, at first, was scared.  With Mr. F's work schedule, I see him very rarely as it is, compound this with his new responsibilities at church, and I might as well be a widow.  Hence my response in my Thankful Thursday post showing deep, deep gratitude for the friends I have made here in Cyprus.  I shared the news of Mr. F's call with them and they all instantly said, "Come on over!"  There's no chance I'll ever be alone.

Though it has only been a few weeks, I can already see a change in our day to day lives  We are being deeply blessed for the work Mr. F is so faithfully attending to.  Our relationship has strengthened, our finances seem to be stretching a little bit further than they should, and opportunities for me to serve with my husband and to be with other people keep popping out of the woodwork.  It has been a deep testament to me that if we are willing to do the work the Lord asks of us, we will never want for anything.  He asks us to work hard, to do all that we can, and sometimes even a bit more, but when we do it, He makes up the rest and provides where we fall short.  Friends, I am so incredibly grateful for my husband and his willingness to serve.  I honestly don't know if I could do what He is doing so willingly.  He's scared but stepping forth boldly with the confidence that the Lord has asked him to do this.  So he is doing it!

I do ask for your prayers though.  While things are coming together, Mr. F's calling is a huge burden that neither of us can handle without the love, support, and prayers of all of you.

sociable

This last weekend was our Egg Hunt and Easter Social at church, my third major activity to put together since we've moved here.  Unlike in a bigger ward or stake within the church, in my little branch, I am the activities committee.  My first "assignment" was the Christmas party.  I nearly had an aneurism I was so overwhelmed.  For Valentine's, I wasn't as stressed, but was baking and cooking so much that the time before the celebration was just a blur.  This time around, I was too sick to really stress out, which was a HUGE blessing.  Fewer decoration projects for me.  Less baking.  Less setup.  Way more fun.

Here are a few things I learned about party planning from this adventure:

people just want an excuse to get together, it doesn't have to be an elaborate affair.

you don't need all new things for a pretty table scape.  use what you have!

strawberry lemon yogurt cake is the best thing ever.

homemade brownies and deviled eggs are the second best things ever.

sticks are free.

people are willing to help, just ask them!

be gracious.

I am most definitely not a good photographer.

paper chains are almost always the answer.

stay calm and have fun!

So here's what we did, when everyone arrived, they made their own basket for the egg hunt and then we let them loose.  There was one child and a swarm of ravenous people on the prowl for chocolate. It. Was. HILARIOUS!  The hunt went on all night as eggs were stuffed into every nook and cranny of the church.  Everyone seemed to love making their own baskets and some people got really creative with it.  There were supposed to be prizes for who ever found the most eggs, but people just started eating, talking, and playing games.  It did my heart good to see so many happy friends want to spend more time together.  

mrs. claus takes a break

It's 11:30 on Sunday morning.  I should be at church, but I'm not.  

Last night we had the Branch Christmas Party and oh doggy did we work hard!  I've been fighting a really bad chest cold for the past week, so yesterday was a test of mind over combusting lungs.  Mr. F and I cooked like our lives depended on it all day so that we had a scrumptious meal.

The party was, I am very pleased to say, a huge success!  We had probably double the number of people any of us had imagined would come.  Our little hall was stuffed to capacity with people reveling in the joy of Christmas together.  And the food!  It was soo good!  We made our first ever turkey (which our one friend assured me was the best thing on the table) and a huge pot of mashed potatoes.  There was roasted ham, pork, noodles, meatballs, roasted vegetables, and an insurmountable smorgasbord of desserts.

A highlight was the arrival of Santa, who was ushered in by a quiet hall and the gentle jingle of bells.  The handful on children there weren't very impressed, but our vast congregation of Asians swarmed Santa like he was Justin Bieber.  Santa spent the next half hour taking photos and giving gifts to all the good boys and girls.  Lucky for me, he still had some stamina at the end and I was able to steal a kiss.  I'm very biased towards our Santa.

At the end of the night, we walked home exhaustedly happy with legs and feet aching.  By all accounts we should have crashed into our bed and slept the sleep of the dead, but we didn't.  My chest cold caught up with me and I awoke every hour on the hour hacking miserably.  At about one in the morning, I finally took some nyquil and hoped for the best.  My sweet husband cuddled me the whole night through, rubbing my back and holding me close when the coughing got the most severe.  He never murmured about being awoken for the umpteenth time or that I was shaking the bed horribly.  He just told me he loved me and did all that he could to make me feel better.

Well, now it is Sunday, and neither of us woke up even remotely on time for church.  I am writing this from the comfort of my bed while listening to the BBC Pride and Prejudice and plan on staying here for the duration of the day.  My body made it through so much this week, it only seems fair that it should have a break, too.

what I've been up to

and why I'm not gonna be around much this next week.

This is the week.  D-Day, so to speak.  The week to end all weeks.   And it's not even the week of Christmas!  We've got a birthday, a car to buy, the arrival (hopefully!!!!!) of our precious belongings, a Christmas market where I hope to sell some stuff, and the ever so anticipated Christmas party at church.  

Let me tell ya, I feel like Mrs. Claus right now.  

While the elves have been painting all the choo-choo trains, I've been busy wrapping gifts for the party and teaching myself how to use my new scanner to make cards for the market.  Our little apartment looks like a Christmas wasteland right now, but honestly, I don't think I'd have it any other way. 

why i love my branch

No, I'm not talking about my family tree.  I'm talkin' church.  My congregation blows me away.  With regular attendance of about thirty people there are at least twelve nationalities represented.  Twelve!  That's a lot.   Today though, really made me happy.

Opening prayer said in Greek by a Belgian.  Sacrament prayers said in two different languages.  Greek and English.  We sang hymns all sacrament meeting.  The Chinese girl told us about her favorite "shong," I Am a Child of God.  Got to one hymn that confused the pianist.   She only knew it in Finnish.  Not like that affected her playing, but she likes to sing along as well.  The closing hymn was chosen by a Pakistani, an American conducted the music, and the closing hymn was said in Chinese.  (I think...)  Then we had a potluck.  Chili, Portugese lasagna, and Chinese dumplings were just a few of the options available.

What I am loving the most about this congregation is that I really have to learn to listen to the Spirit.  Sometimes a speaker's accent is so thick, I can't understand the words.  But I get what they are trying to say.  It really shouldn't anymore, but it amazes me how universal the gospel is.  No matter where I go, the gospel is the same.  Same sacrament prayers, same structure to the meetings, same good people, same Spirit.

buying affection

We had a service auction at church to raise money for humanitarian aid. While this was being advertised, we as a congregation were asked to consider and enlist whatever services we might be able to offer. I heard murmurings of tax preparation, car repair, home-cooked meals, mending, and all sorts of other things I really didn't feel comfortable with.

What sort of service could I offer?

Then, in a stroke of sure genius, it hit me. Hugs! I can auction off hugs!

For a few weeks now, I've been excited about this, knowing full well that some of my girlfriends would bid for my hugs. The night of the auction came. These same girlfriends I had in mind came to tell me that they were going to make bids on my hugs. I was so excited! The bidding started with some guffawing as unknowing individuals wondered who the weird girl was that would auction off hugs. But the bidding went on, and I was happy to know that someone I knew would be getting hugs.

I am pleased to report that my hugs went for $12 to a dear friend of mine who I am more than willing to give a hug to whenever they are in need.

I just feel mildly bad that they felt they had to buy the hugs. It was for charity though, right?