Saturday, June 19, 2010 -
       Dear Fr. Dn. Daniel,
       Well, it's looking like my long-awaited trip to visit you all will have to wait a little longer.
On Thursday afternoon, all public employees in Greece (including us priests of the Church of Greece)
received a surprise, urgent notice from the government that we must all re-register all our paperwork
on specific dates over the next month. I've had 48 hours of frantic calls trying to sort this problem
out before I was supposed to leave tomorrow, but I can't get any special exception. I must be here in person.
If I leave, I could lose my job.
       I've just now finally given up on my hopes of going and have resigned myself to missing the trip.
I called Fr. David and told him about the situation. I told him I would try to help find some priests
who could come serve for you all.
Unfortunately, my tickets were non-refundable, but this is better than losing my job.
       I will see Fr. David when he comes through Thessaloniki around July 17, and I will give him a check
the parish sent me.
I'm very, very sorry both to miss the opportunity to get to know you all, and for the problem this will cause you all.
       Unfortunately, this whole fiasco is very characteristic of Greece.
       Please convey my apologies to everyone there.
       Yours in Christ,
       +FG