Category: Mission

Forever Friends

Catherine and Tim Frodsham

It has been one month since we completed our missionary service in Athens, Greece. As newly weds, we came into the relationship and our mission with separate friends; his and hers. During our 18 months of service, we have made numerous mutual friends, friendships that will last forever, friendships that we have forged together.

Here are missionaries at our last zone conference.

We made many friends in Athens. Catherine befriended Kelly, a sales clerk on Monastiraki Square in Athens, and invited her to share dinner in our apartment. She came, and listened in on a missionary discussion with Kostas. Though she hasn’t attended church yet, she has been attending institute every week. We fed Mahmoud many times in our. apartment and worked with him on self-reliance and finding a job.

Her hair dressers and her nails lady have become fast friends, and cried at her last appointment.

Even at our favorite local restaurant, Catherine always gave the waiters a hug and a large tip each time we came for dinner. They would see us through the window as we approached, and give a hearty wave. It was more than just the money, we spent the time to laugh and talk with them.

Catherine is always on the lookout for those in need on the street. At a strategic intersection on our way to the church, a refugee offered to wash windows while one waited at the stop light. It was a long light, so he could wash two or three windows during the wait. We had the cleanest windshield in Athens. There was also a man who waited outside the grocery store, and was there every time we came to shop. He was the kindest man, with a jovial smile and would tease me every time we came to the store entrance. It was winter and I was always in a polo shirt. He would hold his arms and shiver every time he saw me, and I would feign excessive heat, wiping my brow and fanning myself. Catherine left him 50 euros the last time we shopped and he was nearly in tears.

There were three apartments in our building. Our Landlady lived on the first floor, we lived on the second and the daughter and son-in-law lived on the third. We conversed well each time we met on the stairs or in the ground floor parking. They even invited us to share their Easter meal with us, which we mentioned in our Easter post.

We befriended many members of the branch. Aliki was baptized not long after we left Athens. Gogo is the oldest member of the branch. During one of our branch celebrations, she did a traditional Greek dance. Normally, dancers would throw glasses or ceramic dishes to the ground, shattering them during the dance. Gogo was throwing plastic cups during the dance. Jimmy is an excellent pianist, but his mother could never get him to play for Sacrament meeting. Catherine just needed to ask him once. He played the Sacrament hymn that Sunday, and has since played for the services.

We love the missionaries, whether in our home or at church

One of the greatest joys of serving a senior mission is working with other senior missionaries, and for us, both in the mission and in the area office in Frankfurt. We love these dedicated couples and senior sisters and look forward to many reunions after we return.

On our last day as missionaries, we hosted an appreciation event for all of the people and organizations we had worked with over the last nine months, and who collaborated with the church over the last two years. We have to come to love these dedicated people who follow the light of Christ, even though many of them do not really know what this means. Many we have invited to visit us if they ever make it to the western United States.

We love these new friends. We have served by them and with them. They remind us that, even in a world in turmoil, buffeted by the adversary and his legions, there are many stalwart people who follow the light of Christ and are his hands of comfort and service.

Tags athens, Greece, Mission, missionary, Missionary work, missions, service

Mission

Returning Missionaries

Senior Missionaries

Catherine and Tim Frodsham, 12 May, 2025

We hear of more and more missionaries who are returning early from their missions. According to Jana Riess, that number is approaching 30%. I don’t have statistics on the number of returned missionaries going inactive, but those numbers are rising as well. Why?

Here are some thoughts, not backed in any way by studies or statistics, just my personal experiences. When I returned from my mission 50 years ago, the culture and values of the church were not very different from the societal values and culture of the day. If our values were not accepted by society, at least in general, they were respected.

Missionaries today are returning to an environment when traditional marriage is on the wane, and in many cases mocked. Cultural values are the very antithesis gospel values. We as friends and fellow members need to be actively engaged in welcoming these missionaries home. We need to accept them, integrate them into ward membership and activity, and to love them.

The church is being attacked on multiple fronts, from monetary policy to church history, blacks and the priesthood, the LDS concept of the Godhead, polygamy, the Book of Mormon and even the concept of gender.

America was built on the concept of equality. “We hold these truths to be self-evident, that all men are created equal, that they are endowed by their Creator with certain unalienable Rights, that among these are Life, Liberty and the pursuit of Happiness” (The Declaration of Independence).

In this divinely inspired document, equal was equality in opportunity, equal treatment by the government and in the law. Within this framework, all were free to utilize and magnify their diverse talents and ability. Today, the emphases has shifted from equality to equity. All outcomes must be the same and there is no room for diversity in thought or belief. It is amazing to me how often the great deceiver promotes his failed plan to “save all” and keep the glory, and how compelling that plan appears to so many. Returning missionaries struggle with this and other tactics of the adversary which have gained so much traction in today’s society.

The tide of morality is ebbing and the ten commandments are regarded as obsolete in today’s culture. Many of the doctrines and practices of the church are seen as intolerant, and the arguments of acceptance, tolerance, diversity and equity seem compelling, especially to one who is struggling with the churches seemingly unyielding positions on agency, sin and doctrine. Returning missionaries have to contend with this prophesied perversion of right and wrong. More than ever, they need our strength, support and love.

Images from The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints

Modern technology has been a two edged sword. Social media has isolated us as much as it has brought us closer together. Algorithms designed to cater to our thoughts, tastes and desires are designed to keep us online as long as possible by stroking egos and feeding us information that reinforces views espoused by social media moguls. The bitter political and moral divide, fueled by the internet and social media, pits family members against each other also places us at odds with the Church and the gospel of Jesus Christ.

The adversary is working as never before to separate us from our Lord and Savior. The technology he uses to lure us away from a celestial life was not created for that purpose. It was created by our loving God to spread the Gospel of Jesus Christ and bring families together across the veil. The fact that Lucifer hijacks this technology does not mean he owns it.

Returned missionaries have a vast array of resources available to them to strengthen testimony and transition to post-mission life. The church has such programs as “my plan for returned missionaries”, leaders who are trained and care about the the sons and daughters of god under their care, and for every anti-Mormon website there are a plethora of resources to build knowledge, faith and testimony. To start, go to churchofjesuschrist.org and search for “Returned Missionaries” or “Early Returned Missionaries”. All can help them find and use these resources.

Society is not simply drifting, it is accelerating towards evil. There is a constant re-hash of anti-Mormon sentiment on the internet and social media. In addition there is more openness about the humanity of our church leaders, past and present. All of this forms a perfect storm for a crisis of faith.

In this toxic, noisy, intolerant environment, one cannot simply drift. During Lehi’s vision of the Tree of Life, he struggled through darkness before arriving at the tree:

1 Nephi 8:5 And it came to pass that I saw a man, and he was dressed in a white robe; and he came and stood before me.

6 And it came to pass that he spake unto me, and bade me follow him.

7 And it came to pass that as I followed him I beheld myself that I was in a dark and dreary waste.

8 And after I had traveled for the space of many hours in darkness, I began to pray unto the Lord that he would have mercy on me, according to the multitude of his tender mercies.

Lehi had an Angel of the Lord to guide him through the darkness. Most of us, me most definitely included, do not have the faith he had to summon an angel, but the Lord, in his tender mercy, planned even for the least of us:

1 Nephi 8:19 And I beheld a rod of iron, and it extended along the bank of the river, and led to the tree by which I stood.

21 And I saw numberless concourses of people, many of whom were pressing forward, that they might obtain the path which led unto the tree by which I stood.

23 And it came to pass that there arose a mist of darkness; yea, even an exceedingly great mist of darkness, insomuch that they who had commenced in the path did lose their way, that they wandered off and were lost.

24 And it came to pass that I beheld others pressing forward, and they came forth and caught hold of the end of the rod of iron; and they did press forward through the mist of darkness, clinging to the rod of iron, even until they did come forth and partake of the fruit of the tree.

In the history of mankind, the mists of darkness have never been greater. Throughout history, the adversary has attacked the church through violence, with former saints leading the charge. Today, he has augmented his tactics, using God given technology to twist the truth, deny the faith, and lead an army of apostates to denounce His kingdom through lies, doubts and fear. His attack is fiercest on those most detrimental to his kingdom. Serving and returning missionaries.

Missionaries must prepare themselves before their missions, and returning missionaries must work to maintain and grow their faith and testimonies. Yes, leaders and programs are not perfect. Yes, they will be tried, offended, bewildered and confused and at times, simply lost in the mists of darkness. They must remember to doubt our doubts, use the resources available to us to search for truth and cling to the iron rod the Lord has so purposefully prepared for these latter days. We as members and friends need to be sensitive to the struggles these returning missionaries face, and to project the love that the Savior Jesus Christ has for them.

We have returned home and joined that ever increasing throng of returned missionaries. We love the Gospel of Jesus Christ. We love this restored church, led by Apostles and Prophets called and ordained through priesthood power. Fifty years ago, I served as a young missionary. Catherine and I have both served temple missions and we are now completing a senior mission together.

We served for nine months in Lyon France, strengthening members, teaching leaders and specialists about the self-reliance and emotional resilience programs. We spent the last nine months of our mission in Athens, Greece, shepherding the humanitarian work so desperately needed there. We have been blessed to serve with people of many denominations and all walks of life, who follow the Light of Christ in the service of their fellow man. Their example has humbled and inspired us. Our prayer now is that this great work will continue and the donations of the members of the church, great and small, will continue to bless and improve the lives of all in this historic land.

All missionaries, seniors in particular, must invent their mission. The Lord never tells in minute detail what we must do. As a result, missions can be tumultuous, but the rewards of seeking inspiration, serving Him full time and leaving our comfort zone small in the rear view mirror, are vast. For a time, we leave the world, and returning home from such a spiritual oasis is a change, even a shock, but is a bold and beautiful step for each of us.

Welcome home.

Tags bible, christianity, faith, jesus, missions, returned-missionaries

Mission

Our Ukrainian Refugee Friends

Post author By Catherine Frodsham
Post date May 3, 2025
No Comments on Our Ukrainian Refugee Friends

Catherine Frodsham 3 May 2025

This is Tatiana and Ilya Chekaramit. They are Ukrainian refugees that live in Athens Greece. He has a doctorate in Agriculture Science. They lost their large home and their farm in the Ukraine war. They live in a very small one bedroom apartment with two small single beds, a little desk, an old computer, three small old wooden chairs, one shelf, a little sink in a kitchen closet area, a drawer with a zip lock bag of old pictures, one small fridge and a hot plate. They have no table for meals, no TV and no music.

They don’t speak Greek or English. They are members of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day saints and have been sealed together. Our Athens branch had a temple trip and 4 people went with our Senior sisters. They went. They were so happy to go.

I remember one Sunday maybe a month after we came from Lyon, France, we were still getting to know the branch members. It was a fast & testimony meeting. Ilya got up and walked up to the front and he didn’t stay at the pulpit, he stood behind the half wall in front of where the branch presidency sits. He bore his testimony in Ukrainian. I was not even aware of that because I just assumed it was Greek. Brother Price stood up after and started to sob and he said we just witnessed a miracle. I asked Bro. Price what he meant and he told me after the meeting that these two wonderful Ukrainian Refugees come every Sunday and they don’t understand Greek or English or any other language. They understand their covenants. We had witnessed a miracle in our little Athens branch.

Family photos. All they were able to save from the war

They understood the importance of the sacrament and partaking of the sacrament each Sunday. I would watch for them to come through the door. If I was playing the keyboard they would come and give me a hug before taking their seats. I LOVE THEM. We communicated – not through words but through love. I knew they loved me, and they knew I loved them.

Ilya had a stroke a few weeks ago. While Tim and Elder Kanellis went to his hospital room to give him a blessing, I waited with Tatiana in the waiting area, and we talked through google translate on our phones. It was so hard because some words do not translate so we knew, kind of, what each other was saying.

Luckily Ilya has recovered enough to go home. He can walk some, but he is very weak. It is too hard to come to church so the missionaries take the sacrament when they can. It is a harder life here in Greece. Most of our members do not have cars. Everyone has to walk, take buses or the metro to church. It even takes us an hour to drive to the metro and then go all the way down in Athens to church. It is a struggle for all members to get to church.

Tim and I went to say goodbye to Brother and Sister Chekaramit last week. Our mission is coming to an end, and we are going home. My heart hurt seeing the conditions they live in. They were so happy to see us and had us come in. Since they only had three chairs…Ilya pulled up a plastic stool and sat on that. We had brought food for them, and I helped Tatiana put it away. She was telling me about her big house and now look where we are and she smiled and shrugged her shoulders like, Oh well!

I am in awe of these stalwart pioneers. No matter what, they hold on to their testimonies of our Savior Jesus Christ. They keep their temple covenants and their baptismal covenants. They love others. They are happy and know who they are. They know God loves them and that possessions are not what brings happiness. They are grateful for their lives and know they will live with Heavenly Father again if they endure to the end.

I want to be just like them. I love this son and daughter of God. I will always remember them and will look for them when we all return to our Heavenly Father. I am grateful to call Tatiana and Ilya, our eternal friends.

Tags bible, christianity, church, faith, Greece, jesus, Missionary work, temple, testimony, ukraine

Mission

Family from Home

Catherine Frodsham 1 May 2025

We had visitors!!! After visiting Portugal for 4 days where Ari served his mission for our church, Ari and Alyssa flew into Athens on March 18th! It was so much fun hugging these two wonderful kids of ours!! We drove home because it was in the evening and then we walked to our favorite restaurant near our apartment. GREEK FOOD EVERYONE!!!

We had only two days to give them a tour of Greece. So Wednesday we went to the Metro and went to Athens Monastiraki Square. There you can see the Parthenon on the Acropolis. We hiked up the hill and they were able to see the beautiful ruins of the Parthenon. Then we walked to Syntagma square. I am trying to remember if we saw the changing of the guard? but we did for sure go to the Olympic Stadium where the first international Olympic games were held in 1896! I love that stadium. They have a museum where all of the torches from all of the Olympics since then are hung on a wall. It is so cool!!! They have posters you can buy of many of the Olympics, and I bought about 6.

We then took a taxi to Lykabettus Hill which is higher than the Acropolis so you can see all of Athens and the Aegean Sea. It is stunning. It is so much fun to show off our town of Athens. We ate up on top of the hill at a restaurant. CATS EVERYWHERE!!! Ugh…. It was so beautiful to see all of Athens!

We came home and Alyssa helped me with my Appreciation Event Thank you bags. It was very helpful.

The next morning, we went to Sounio which is my favorite place in Greece. It is at the tip of the peninsula under Athens, and it is called the “Temple of Poseidon” I LOVE THIS PLACE! you can see all around the Sea and so many islands are all around. It is beautiful. We then went to lunch right on a beach under the temple of Poseidon. We had some icky fish that Ari and Tim and Alyssa like. See the pictures. Gag me with a spoon!

But I can always find something yummy on the menu. We then headed to Corinth. We stopped at the canal that was built in 1893. Then we went to the ruins of the old city of Corinth where Paul taught the people for about 18 months. Paul was beaten and tried in Corinth. Poor Paul, wherever he went he was beaten, tried and put in prison.

We came home and might have gone to the restaurant again and bakery right by our restaurant. There is good food here in Greece and good baked goods. The Greeks love honey and seem to douse all the sweets in honey like baklava is juicy and smothered in honey. They have an orange cake that is dripping with juicy sweet honey sticky juice. Not my favorite… I told Tim I can’t wait to get home and have a good donut…..even if it is plain!!! The sweets in Europe so far are not my favorite! They look beautiful but they are just sooooooo sweet. the sugar is very different here. They don’t do cakes like we do at home for birthdays. They have cream or honey or different things in them no frosting its different.

So, every night my Ari would yell from his bedroom. “Good night mom!!” Tim and I would just laugh our heads off. Ari has always been my little boy. My last child, my buddy in crime, my sweet little boy. He has my heart. He and Alyssa were hard to say goodbye to because they are so easy and fun to be around. WE LOVE YOU BOTH! Thank you for coming to see us on our mission in Athens, Greece.

Tim and I drove home and washed the sheets because we had more family coming the next day!! Elise and Mike and their four children , Lydia, Mya, Collin and Emma came to visit. They came from Ammon Idaho. Their visit was much longer. They arrived on Saturday. We showed them around our apartment and then took off to the metro and downtown Athens. I felt so sorry for them, the kids started falling asleep on the metro. It is a very long flight from Idaho to Greece.

We took them to Monastiraki Square which I love and we took them to my favorite jewelry story. My favorite girl that works at the store’s name is Kelly and just for information that was her last day at work. It was meant to be that we went that day. She gave me her phone number and wants to go to our church.

We had fun shopping and took them to the Acropolis and Parthenon and the Agora. Then we got an ice cream at our favorite Divinci’s place. Then Mike had a restaurant that he wanted us to try it had great reviews so we walked 100 miles to find it. It was good. Then we headed back to the metro and home. The next day was Sunday so we all got ready for church and they got to attend our little Athens branch in the Illicia Hotel. Yes, we are meeting in a hotel for now while our building is being renovated. I play the keyboard and Collin helped pass the sacrament and Elise said the closing prayer. Everyone is needed in this little branch. They loved meeting our family. Then we came home and I stayed to cook dinner because we were having missionaries and Kostas over for a missionary discussion and dinner. Tim took his family down to the Olympic stadium and Syntagma square and they got back just in time for dinner. We had a great time with the missionaries. We all LOVE Kostas – he is a favorite of mine here in Greece. He met the missionaries over a year ago and has taken the lessons on and off. He was called as a translator for our ward even though he is not a baptized member. We absolutely love him.

Well on Monday I believe we went to Sounio and Corinth and had a fabulous time. See the pictures. On Tuesday Mike, Elise, Mya and Lydia left for Istanbul. So, they got up and drove to the airport or Tim took them. They spent 3 days in Istanbul. We had Collin and Emma and had a ball. I am sure it was not as fun for them but Tim and I took them to JUMBO which is Greece’s dollar store on steroids. They picked out some games and a puzzle and bubbles and nerf guns. YES NERF GUNS. Nana’s favorite. We still needed to do missionary work. We also had zoom meetings that we attended some in our apartment and some in the car! We have a young man named Dimitrious in our ward that is filling out mission papers. He needed an interview with someone in the Area by zoom so he asked if he could come do that at our apartment. Tim took Collin and Emma out for lunch and to play at a little park by the restaurant near out apartment. So Dimitrious could have his meeting in private. He is a great kid and we love him. (His papers are now in Salt Lake and we are waiting to see where he will be called. His parents aren’t members so it is not easy for him to go.)

When Mike, Elise and the girls got back on Thursday night from Istanbul we packed up to go for a few days down the Peloponnese peninsula. Melissa and Brian just arrived today from California. Yay we are all here together. We have 2 blow up beds and 2 couches all being used! The more the merrier! We got up Friday morning and drove to a beach town called Tolo!! That place was beautiful and right on the beach. The kids had so much fun running on the beach and they actually went swimming in the cold sea!!! Yikes!! Too cold for Papa and me. Mike and Elise went in too! Tim and I walked on the beach – so beautiful.

I don’t remember all of the names of the places we drove to but we drove to a Malakasa and stayed two nights at a beautiful hotel. The only thing that was sad was their pool was not filled and they had their beach access closed off. We were just out of season. The kids were not happy but we went to some cool places. We drove to Sparta and Olympia. In Sparta we walked around the ruins and saw the stadium and very cool ruins. We also saw some VERY old olive trees.
I love the Olympics and Olympia is where it all started thousands of years ago. It was so cool to see those ruins. We found the place that the Olympic flame is started for every Olympic game. They get a magnifying glass and use the sun to start the flame.

Then they light the torch and run it in to Athens stadium and then send it to where ever the Olympics is going to be held at. It is so cool to know that history!! We saw some cool castles and whenever we saw something we wanted to look at we would stop. We had a good time. We had our car with 3 girls and Tim and I and then Mike and Elise rented a car and had Melissa and Brian and Collin in their car. We had a great time all together.

Thank you, Mike and Elise, Mya, Lydia, Collin and Emma for coming and spending 10 days with us!! Mike and Elise and family left on Tuesday April fools!! Then Wednesday Melissa, Brian, Tim and I drove to Meteora and stayed up there. That place is awesome. It has to be one of the seven wonders of the world! How did they build those monasteries on top of those peaks?? We had fun there and drove home the next day. Then Tim, Melissa and Brian drove to Napflio to stay on the beach and see that beautiful city. They got home on Saturday and then left on Sunday April 6 – General Conference day! Thank you, Melissa and Brian, for coming and spending 10 days with us! We loved having you with us!!

Then we hurried to do laundry because we were having senior missionaries coming to stay with us for Mission Zone Conference the next week!! Devin and Wendy Lamb came on Tuesday. We love those friends. Devin actually grew up in Newcastle, CA!! Isn’t that funny! Of all of the places! He is much younger than I but we do know a lot of the same people. Frank Delaney who was in my Stake in Roseville and then a Temple Recorder when I worked in the Sacramento Temple Office was Devin’s Bishop! Such a small world. We took a picture and sent it to him!! I will write a different post about our last Zone Conference.

Well, if you all can believe it The Lambs left on Saturday and on Monday morning my Zachary and his wife Rachel came!!! We went to the airport at 9 am and we were waiting at the gate and I get a call and its Zach!! He says where are you mom? I said I am at the airport where are you?? They landed and walked outside?? What??? By the time Tim and I got there, which wasn’t late, actually they were out front! We were both on our phones talking to each other when we saw one another!! I ran to him like a gazelle on a Safari!! He picked me up and swung me around. It was so great to see each other.

But we only had Monday and Tuesday and then they were leaving on Wednesday. My kids don’t stay long? ha-ha! Zach and Rach had first gone to Rome and Florence and had a great time. It is hard to leave littles at home. So, we called my niece Emily and she met us at IKEA parking lot and we picked her up and drove to Sounio. You all know how I feel about that Temple of Poseidon. It is my favorite place in Greece so far. We then had lunch in a little beach town. It is so pretty on the coast. Then we drove Emily to her car and she went home to meet her husband’s family. Then we took Zach and Rach to Corinth. We saw the canal first and then went to the ruins. It is a place where the Apostle Paul spoke and taught the Corinthians. Then we drove way up on the hill above the ruins where there is a huge fortress. It was closed but we have pictures.

The next day we took them into Athens by the Metro. What an experience that is!! We got off at Monastiraki Square and then hiked up to the Parthenon on the Acropolis Hill. Mars Hill is up there as well but they have blocked it off. Tim and I let Zach and Rach go to the Parthenon by themselves because we have been there quite a few times. It is a hike with a lot of marble stairs. We then took them to the Olympic Stadium which is my favorite. Tim and Zach had a race. Tim is a fast runner and I think in the end Zach won but Tim gave him a run for his money. ;-|) My favorite spot there is the museum which houses all of the Olympic torches from all of the Olympics!! So cool. Then we walked to our illicia building where there was a concert for our little branch by a man named ? he was pretty good. It was nice of him to come to our little branch to sing for us. The missionaries brought friends and it was good for us to be there. They got to meet our missionaries we serve with and our friend Kostas. Then the next morning it was time to take Zach and Rach to the airport. My kids come and go so fast!!

Luckily, we are going to see all of our kids and grand kids in a few weeks. We have missed them so. We have great families. Tim and I feel very blessed to be surrounded by so many wonderful children and grandchildren!

Tags acropolis, athens, europe, Greece, methoni, olympia, sparta, travel

Mission

Easter in Greece

Tim Frodsham

For my family, the celebration of Easter has always been an Easter egg hunt on Saturday, Easter baskets Sunday morning and a special Easter program at church. The real celebration in the west is Christmas. Weeks, or even months before December 25, we begin our selection of Christmas presents, choose a tree and decorate it as a family. Christmas letters, Christmas cards, gifts, baked goods and other treats to neighbors and fellow saints at their doorstep. Christmas hymns and talks at church throughout the month and the preparation and delight of Christmas morning.

Christmas in Greece

Eastern or Greek Orthodox Christians do it differently. Christmas is a subdued affair compared to the western commercialized extravaganza from October through December, although there are strong traditions. Christmas celebrations in Greece run from 6 December, the name day of St Nicholas, to 6 January, the Epiphany or baptism of Jesus.

The Karavaki involves decorating a wooden boat instead of a Christmas tree. Greece is a maritime nation, and the boat symbolizes the prayer for the sailors to return safely home.

Kallikantzaroi are evil spirits that appear during the 12 days of Christmas, from 25 December to 6 January. They climb down the chimneys to instigate their own kind of mischief. To foil them, a yule fire is kept burning the entire 12 days.

Agios Vassilis or Saint Basil is the Greek version of Santa Claus and is tasked with bringing presents to the children. His birthday is 1 January, which makes for an interesting New Year, Christmas mix.

Kalanta are Greek Christmas carols which are sung Christmas Eve by the youth, in the streets and door to door. The expectation is to give them a little cash for their performance. We did not know this our Christmas in Greece, and I am sure there are a few youth disappointed in those stingy foreigners.

Smashing the Pomegranate. When leaving for church services on New Years, the husband puts a pomegranate in his pocket. He re-enters the house, right foot first, then turns around and smashes the pomegranate in front of the house. The bigger the splash and the better the seeds spread, the better the new year will be.

Some of the traditional breads and treats prepared during the Christmas season are Christopsomo or Christ’s bread, Vasilopita or St Basil’s cake. Cookies such as Melomakarona, Kourampiedes, Melomakarona and Kourampiedes.

The Epiphany is the final celebration of the Christmas season which commemorates the baptism of Jesus.

In General, Christmas celebrations are powerful, but subdued. Other than the Christmas singing on Christmas Eve, we did not see a large outward expression of Christmas. The big celebration is Easter

Easter

Much of the Easter description and some of the pictures below are borrowed from a presentation by our Mission President, David Nelson. The Easter celebration begins well before Easter Sunday.

First is Apokries, which essentially means, “No More Meat.” It is a 3-week prelude to the 40-day Great Lent prior to Easter. Lent is a time of solemnity and fasting, so the Apokries is a time of indulgence: Eat, Drink, & Be Merry! Costumes and masks offer anonymity and freedom of expression. These festivities date back to Ancient Greek feasts organized to honor Dionysus, god of wine, fun and fertility, as a celebration of spring and nature’s rebirth. Red and white Easter bracelets are worn through March, then put on a tree on April 1st and hang on a tree branch for birds to use to make their nests.

Τσικνοπέμπτη or “Thursday of the Smoke of Grilled Meat” is a BBQ feast where the Greeks roast a pig. This occurs the Thursday of the second week of Apokries. Lent is considered meat-free (but not dairy-free), Wednesday and Friday are days of fasting in the Greek- Orthodox Christian tradition, this makes Tsiknopempti one of the last opportunities for people to eat meat. The last two Saturdays of Apokries and the first Saturday of Lent are also times to remember the dead.

Clean Monday: 40 days before Easter, begins the days of Lent. It is a traditional day of house cleaning, began when women would clean their pots of grease from cooked meat, in preparation for the Lent fast. This is also a day for flying kites. We saw stores filled with colorful kites, though not many were flown while we were in Greece because of the weather.

Images of Kira Sarakosti (Lady Lent) from David Nelson

Children bake or paint the figure of a seven legged women, then break of a leg each of the seven weeks till Easter. The last leg is cut on Holy Saturday and hidden in a dried fig or walnut. The one receiving it is lucky.

Lazarakia, sweet, spicy Lenten bread. From David Nelson

Eight days before Easter, is Lazarus Saturday, celebrating the raising of Lazarus from the dead. Tradition holds that in order to escape Jewish persecution, he fled to Larnica on Cypress. His traditional burial sight is the Church of St Lazarus and there are unique celebrations on Cypress for this day.

Holy Week

Palm Sunday, celebrates the Christ’s entrance into Jerusalem. Greeks are allowed to eat fish on this day, commemorating the miracle of the loaves and fishes.

Tuesday of Holy Week, Athenians gather to hear the Hymn of Kassiani, or Hymn of the Fallen Woman. It is heard only once a year.

On Holy Wednesday, children go out to gather grape leaves from the freshly budded vines.

On Holy Thursday, these grape leaves are used to make dolmadakia, which is rice wrapped in the leaves. Greeks may also visit a church for a small bottle of olive oil which has been blessed. They then apply this oil to their children’s hands, feed, forehead, etc.

Children dye hard boiled eggs red. The egg symbolizes the sealed tomb, and the red signifies the blood of Christ. One egg is saved until the next Easter season. On Saturday, last year’s is taken to the church and cracked. The prosperity you will see the next year depends on how well the egg was preserved. Also on Thursday, They make butter cookies called Koulourakia and breads called Tsourekia and Tsourekakia. These are not to be eaten before the end of Saturday.

Holy Thursday evening is the longest service of the year, depicting one of the darkest times in the world. It consists of a reading of 12 lessons depicting the crucifixion and burial of Christ.

On Good Friday is a candle lit procession through the streets, following the “Κουβούκλειο” (Kouvoukleio) depicting the coffin of Christ.

It starts inside the church where a picture or statue of the crucified Christ is lowered into the coffin. It is then taken outside the church for a procession through the streets, with men, women and children following with candles.

Great Saturday is the day between the crucifixion and resurrection and is the day for the tradition of the “Holy Fire” in Jerusalem. for 1200 years, tradition has that divine light descends into the Church of the Holy Sepulchre.

Today, the “Holy Fire” is distributed by air to all Eastern Orthodox nations from the Church of the Holy Sepulchre, and is then brought to each parish before the day is over. People gather before midnight at their church, most waiting outside. The flame is brought out, usually into a darkened cathedral, and the fire is spread from candle to candle. People then pour out of the cathedral to light the candles of those waiting outside, so all are lit before midnight. At the stroke of midnight, the day of the resurrection, fireworks and music celebrate the coming day.

Almost as impressive is the stream of people, walking to their homes carefully preserving their lit candles. The flame from the candle will be kept burning for days, weeks and even months to remember what happened in the tomb Easter morning.

Easter day is for celebration. Families gather for traditional meals, games and family time. After our church services, I enjoyed a traditional Greek Easter meal with family in our building.

Young Lamb or Goat is roasted along with kokoretsi (lamb offal, or parts of the liver, heart, kidneys and tongue, wrapped in the intestines). As I walked home from the metro station, I saw families, out in their yards, turning the lamb or goat and the kokoretsi. It is definitely an acquired taste.

For many Greeks, these traditions are their only link to knowledge and faith in their Savior. Their faith requires little other veneration and works other than these Christmas and Easter traditions. There is much more to say about Greek Christmas and Easter traditions, but our focus here is to show the power of these traditions in the lives of the Greek people, and how tradition can strengthen and maintain our own faith.

Family Traditions

As a family, we built traditions through the years. We held a simple shepherd’s meal Christmas Eve. Placing a sheet on the living room floor, we brought out simple foods, crackers, cheese, figs and other dried fruit. My children looked forward to that as a highlight of the Christmas season and brought the tradition into their own families. We focused on giving, baking gifts for friends and neighbors, serving and being mindful of others. My eldest daughter’s most powerful memories are from just such an experience.

For Easter, we followed the normal traditions of Easter, egg hunts, the Easter bunny and of course, church services, but as I have watched the Greek people celebrate the resurrection, I wish we had done more.

Traditions are powerful. One of the reasons the church is making little headway in the eastern orthodox countries is the plethora of tradition. Traditions bind individuals, families and generations together, and to their faith.

We need to harness the power of traditions, not only as families, but as a church. The brethren are emphasizing the celebration of Easter, and for good reasons. Traditions are most powerful in binding people to true faith in the Lord Jesus Christ.

Tags christianity, Easter, faith, Greece, jesus, lent, Missionary work

Mission

Philippi & Lydia

Tim Frodsham. 13 April, 2025

On a humanitarian trip to the city of Serres we visited a community center associated with a refugee camp on the outskirts of town. We decided to take a small detour on the way home and visit the ancient city of Philippi. The Apostle Paul preached to the Philippians and was imprisoned there for a time. Most scholars agree that the Paul’s letter to the Philippians in the New Testament is authentic, but is most likely a composite of fragments of letters he wrote to the saints there.

King Phillip II conquered the city in 356 BC and named the city after himself. Gold discovered nearby enriched the city, and Phillip II established a mint there.

We spent a few hours walking through the ruins of Philippi, enjoying what some of our more outspoken young missionaries refer to as “another pile of dead rocks”. That may be. After a while, the “piles” of Greek and Roman ruins do seem to blend together.

In younger days, I took my family on a 5 week tour of historical sights of the modern church in the U.S.A. I have walked the streets of Old Jerusalem, tracing the footprints of Jesus. Now, walking the deserted streets of Philippi, I felt that same spirit of sacrifice and testimony. We gazed into the jail where Paul was purportedly imprisoned, where he crouched in the dungeon like cell and wrote encouragement to the saints.

After the city of Philippi, we drove to the traditional site of Lydia’s baptism. She is thought to be the first convert to Christianity in Europe (Acts 16:14,15). She listened to the preaching of Paul and was converted along with her household The traditional site of her baptism is a quiet, peaceful stream surrounded by rather rugged, dry, hill country.

We have our own unique challenges in these the last days, but we have a common bond with all generations of believers. From the time of Adam, the adversary has plagued all generations. From slaying Abel, the persecution and death of prophets throughout Jewish history, the crucifixion of Christ and the martyrdom of his apostles, the sacrifices of the reformists to the death of Joseph Smith. We don’t worship the sites of early Christian struggles, but learning the history of Christianity gives us history and perspective into our own spiritual journey.

Tags bible, christianity, faith, god, jesus

Mission

An Apostle in Greece

Catherine Frodsham 28 March 25

In October of 2024, Elder Stevenson of the Quorum of twelve Apostles visited Greece, speaking with members and missionaries. During his visit, Elder Stevenson shared a meal with an official from the United Nations High Commission on Refugees (UNHCR). Elder Stevenson explained in profound detail the four pillars of the Church of Jesus Christ: Live the Gospel of Jesus Christ, Invite all to receive the gospel, Unite families for eternity and Care for the needy. He ended with care for the needy and bore powerful testimony of the humanitarian work done by the LDS church.

Elder Stevenson and the young missionaries on Mars Hill

Pres. McConkie of the Central Europe area presidency came a few days before Elder Stevenson to set things up and meet with priesthood leaders. His wife Lauren came and she is delightful as well. Tim and I were asked by our Mission President to please pick up the McConkie’s from the airport and take them to their hotel. It was fun to meet them and visit as we drove them from the Athens airport. They asked about us and our mission and how the seniors are treated and the blessings of serving as senior missionaries. They had not been home more than 4 days in Frankfurt Germany in the month before they came to Greece. They are very busy and do many things for our Area. They came to church with us in Athens and both of them spoke. Sis. McConkie is such a pleasant, beautiful, kind and loving sister. Everyone loves to listen to her because she is like your best friend. Pres. McConkie is the same. That night all of our missionaries came from Cypress, Crete and Thessaloniki to be here to meet President Stevenson on Tuesday. Monday our mission rented a bus to take all of us to Corinth. Isn’t that so cool that we live only an hour away of CORINTH where Paul taught the Saints.

We had to drive up two missionaries that needed to do a medical exam to renew their visas. So we met every one in Corinth. Then we had to leave early to drive our mission president and Sis. Nelson back to Athens. Tim and I had been working with a man named Manolis from UNHCR -. Pres. Stevenson wanted to know if there were any Humanitarian projects that he could be involved in by giving them a plaque or a thank you, etc. So we had given them several ideas and waited to see what he wanted to do.

Manolis of UNHCR has been working with the church for several years, but Elder Stevenson’s visit opened doors we had only imagined. Not long after his visit, two ministries of the Greek government, the Hellenic Police (National police force) and the Ministry of Migration and Asylum approached Manolis for help from the church. As a result, we are implementing a series of projects to bring bedding and hygiene supplies to tens of thousands of refugees.

Members came from all over Greece to meet with Elder Stevenson

Elder Stevenson ended up wanting to have dinner with Manolis (who is not a member of the church but has contacts within the government) The church likes to establish friendships with the governments so that down the road, when we want to build a temple they know we are friendly, kind and helpful to a country. So at the dinner was the Stevensons, the Nelson’s (mission president and wife), The McConkie’s, Tim and I and Manolis. It was so interesting to listen to Elder Stevenson bear testimony to Manolis about our church and why we do things. He bore testimony about family and our Savior Jesus Christ. Why we do humanitarian work throughout the world. I wish I had a recording of all that he said. I was in awe. He looked right into Manolis’s eyes and touched his soul.

We had to hurry because Elder Stevenson was supposed to drive across town to our church building and speak to all of the members and missionaries in Greece. There were about 30 missionaries young and old and about 40 members and friends that came. So Elder Stevenson, the Nelsons and the McConkies got in their car with their driver. I wish they would have taken Manolis. I think he would have felt so special. But Manolis , Tim and I got a taxi to drive us to the church. They beat us but they had a driver and one thing we have learned in Greece is – if you hire a taxi they get paid by time and distance- ugh. Our taxi driver was going so slow because of time. We should have thought to pay him 20 euros more to get us there quickly. So we rush in about 9 minutes past 7:00 and the missionary choir that I AM LEADING had just stood up. I run up to the front and Sis. Christensen handed me my binder. I smile and we begin! hahah! It was great. We have very talented missionaries.

(Note, we are nearing the last month of our mission and are cleaning up and publishing posts that have been languishing in the drafts folder. Since Elder Stevenson’s visit, we have worked extensively with Manolis of UNHCR and have developed a fast friendship. We will miss him and many others we have worked with in Greece)

Tags christianity, church, leadership, missions

Mission

Our Area Presidency

Catherine Shaeffer Frodsham. 14 March 25

Tim and I have had the wonderful experience of meeting and talking with all members of the European Central Area Presidency in the last few months. They are President Ruben Alliaud, Jack Gerard 1st counselor and James McConkie III second counselor. They are all wonderful men with wonderful wives. It is a joy to be around them.

Elder McConkie was the first to come just before Elder Stevenson and his wife came to Athens. He came to make sure everything was in place and ready for the visit of our sweet Apostle. Tim and I were asked to pick up the McConkie’s from the airport and take them to their hotel. We had a very pleasant chat in the car as we were traveling. They are such kind and engaging people. Sister McConkie made me feel as though we had been friends for awhile. They came to church the next morning and both spoke to our little branch. They have such a way with speaking and motivating people around them and bearing testimony of our Savior Jesus Christ. Sis. McConkie spoke of being thirsty and what that feels like. She told some sweet stories of quenching our thirst and then related her talk to how we should year to quench our thirst of the Savior and knowing Him and seeking Him. I wish I had her talk to post here. I need to take better notes….

President McConkie

Then we get to President Alliaud. Tim and I got a call right after we had just returned home from visiting a refugee camp near Ioannina. We spent a couple of days there visiting the Habibi group that our church funds to help refugees with food, clothing and teaching languages and skills so they can learn to be self-reliant. We were tired and we thought we have nothing his weekend except church so we can just rest and catch up on sleep and some projects we were working on. Late that night, our mission president, Pres. Nelson, calls us and asks are you guys home? We said yes. “I need you to pick up Elder Alliaud from the airport and then go pick up our branch president and take them to a sisters home so he can bless a room in her home. She will be translating the temple endowment in Greek.” Pres. Alliaud had been given a letter from Pres. Russel M. Nelson, our prophet to do this right away. So Tim picked up our branch president and then went to the airport to get Pres. Alliaud. They then went to this sisters home and Tim watched as they blessed a room in this sisters home. She can only use that room to do the translating. The Lord has things done in such a special way to keep the endowment sacred and special. We have a room in our church building upstairs that had also been dedicated for the translation of temple ordinances. Then Tim took our branch president and Pres. Alliaud around to visit members of our branch.

The next morning was Sunday and Tim and I picked up Pres. Alliaud up from his hotel and took him to church. He spoke to us and it was so touching. I wanted to write things down to remember them. Here’s what he said:

He said that he gets to see the Apostles and the first presidency often and they attend the temple together. The leaders were having lunch together. President Nelson our sweet prophet was eating soup. President Alliaud said President Nelson always eats soup. Pres. Alliaud said that was amazing you announced 20 temples in Conference. He said Pres. Nelson didn’t even flinch or stop eating he just said, you haven’t seen anything yet. The best is yet to come.

Pres. Alliaud said a lot of older people look back at the past and talk about things long ago. The First presidency looks to the future! He said when they sent to the temple he saw 4 wheelchairs lined up – the first presidency and one for Elder Holland. He said sometimes they act like they are racing each other. Elder Alliaud said Elder Bednar calls Elder Holland “Lazarus the 2nd”. Because he was brought back to life! He also said Elder Holland gets up at 4 am and has a two hour dialysis treatment every morning then he goes to work. Elder Holland is amazing. We have such strong leaders in the church.

Elder Frodsham, President Stimagkiotis, Gogo, President Alliaud

About 6 weeks later, Pres. Gerard and his wife came to visit Athens on a mission tour. We all met at Mars Hill for a testimony meeting. It is a tradition in this mission that all new missionaries and those going home bear their testimonies on Mars Hill right next to the Acropolis. It is special to be there on that high mountain near the Acropolis and know that the Apostle Paul stood right there to preach his sermon “The Unknown God”,

It was that time that Aubri and Ben were visiting with us and they were able to go to Mars Hill and hear the testimonies and meet our fellow missionaries!!

How blessed we are!! I am grateful to be a member of this church. It is true and we are led by men of God.

Tags christianity, Greece, Missionary work, missions

Mission

Athens – Mars Hill

Tim Frodsham 8 March 2025

Serving as a missionary in Athens, Greece, we periodically trek to the Areopagus, or Mars Hill to welcome new missionaries to Greece and bid farewell to those returning home. We hear instructions from our mission president and on occasion, from an Apostle or another general authority. Powerful testimonies of the Lord Jesus Christ.

Greece was a hotbed of Christian evangelism in the meridian of time. Paul wrote two letters to the people of Corinth, two letters to the people of Thessalonica, another to the saints in Phillipi. He wrote two letters to Timothy, who was leading the church in Ephesus, now in modern day Turkey, but Timothy himself was of Greek and Jewish descent. He also wrote a letter to Titus, who led the saints on the island of Crete.

In the time of Paul, the Areopagus was the legal center of Athens. The supreme court of Athens tried criminal cases including murder, civil cases, and ruled over religious matters as well. Philosophers such as Socrates debated the issues of the day at this the philosophical and religious center of ancient Greece.

It was here that the Apostle Paul boldly revealed to the people of Greece, the unknown god. Luke summarized Paul’s speech in Acts 17, as there is no way our loquacious Paul would have given a discourse to the council in under three minutes.

Paul was not there to give a sermon, it is most likely he was on trial. In verse 19: “And they took him, and brought him unto Areopagus, saying, May we know what this new doctrine, whereof thou speakest, is?” They took him to the Areopagus, which implies he did not stroll up the hill willingly.

Elders Kanellis, Xanthos and Fronk,
Sister Kristensen

Paul was an apostle of controversy. He was accused in Thessalonia of turning the world upside down. In Ephesus, he was a threat to the god Artemis

In 339 BC Socrates was on trial for “impiety” and “corrupting the young.” He didn’t “acknowledge the city’s official gods, and also — here it is — that he was introducing new divinities.” Paul’s defense over 400 years later was brilliant. He did not introduce a new god, but declared to them one that they already worshiped.

Today, the Greek people embrace their Orthodox faith, or at least the traditions inherited from millennia of Christian worship in this historic country.

Greece has never seen a reformation, a renaissance. The people here have never searched for the hidden God of the Old Testament, and Jesus the Savior that was missing from the New. The first convert in modern Greece, Rigas Pofantis, was baptized in 1905. Not much more occurred until a visit by Church President Ezra Taft Benson, when church leaders organized a small branch in 1965, which was reorganized in 1967. The Greece Athens mission was established in 1990 and the first meeting house in Halandri in May of 1999. In 2016, Elder D. Todd Christofferson of the quorum of the 12 visited Greece. For a time, Greece was in the Adriatic South Mission, and is now in the Bulgaria Greece mission, which comprises Bulgaria, Greece and Cyprus.

In the 1990’s, there were six branches in Greece: The Greek Athens branch, the Thessloniki, Pireas, Faliro, Haldndri, Omonia. Today, after COVID and the exodus of saints after the Greece entry into EU, there are two small branches in the country. One in Athens, presided over by a native Greek convert, and in Thesssaloniki, where a senior missionary serves as branch president.

Something will happen to arouse the people of Greece. The Lord, in his infinite wisdom, will awaken the people of Greece to the restored gospel of Jesus Christ. Houses of the Lord now dot the world, and in the not to distant future, one of those dots will be in Greece, dedicated to the once unknown God.

We love the people of Greece. They are warm and engaging. From store clerks to people on the street, we enjoy the interaction. They are a good hearted people, and we will miss them terribly when we return home.

Tags Greece, Maars Hill, Missionary work, temple

Mission

Zone Conference Feb 25

Tim Frodsham. 2 March, 2025

Every six weeks, give or take, the Athens Zone of the Greece Bulgaria Mission gather for a conference. This comprises all of the young missionaries in Greece: Four young missionaries in Thessaloniki, six young missionaries in Athens and four young missionaries on the island of Crete. Also attending are senior couples and a duo of single sisters who run the office in Athens. The conference is small, but this thin leaven does incredible things. “For I am not ashamed of the gospel, for it is the power of God for salvation to everyone who believes.” Romans 1:16

President and Sister Nelson, Hornbarger and Christensen

We start out at Mars Hill to hear from missionaries who are arriving as well as departing.

The young elders and sisters provide most of the training, focusing on precepts from “Preach My gospel”.

Our mission president Nelson focused on building branches and eventually wards and stakes in a sustainable way. After decades of missionary work in Greece, there is one small branch in Thessaloniki, and another in Athens. Several decades ago, there were five branches in the country.

Recent converts have been migrants and asylum seekers, who have been led to receive the gospel where they could not in their own country, but most are transient and bring little long term strength to the latter-day church. What is needed is strong, permanent members who serve as branch presidents, bishops, relief society presidents and other leaders. Leaders who prepare the this country for a temple.

This is The Church of Jesus Christ. We are commissioned by our Savior to spread his gospel: “And he said unto them, Go ye into all the world, and preach the gospel to every creature.”Mark 16:15

Tags bible, christianity, church, Greece, history, jesus, Missionary work, missions, Zone Conference