By God's grace, I am on Mount Athos in route (in a vehicle filled with the intermittently comprehensible but extremely familiar sounds of Romanian) to Lakkosketti--one of the two romanian sketes on the mountain.
As is always the case, all my anticipatory anxieties and fears have proved valueless, and a few feeble prayers joined to those who are praying for me, have won out.
A few quotes from my journal written earlier in the day:
"There are four big boats here! How do I know which one to get on? There are many monks. How do I know which is my contact? By God's grace!"
"Thank God! I met a monk from Karyes, Chesarie, who is so kind and generous, desirous of showing us around when we get there (at the end of trip). He also introduced me to my monk contact from Lakkou, Silouan ."
"Thank God! The boat, Agia Ana, is moving and we are on our way to the Holy Mountain! All anxiety and fear have fled in the face of God's bountiful love!"
