Feb 21st, Ash Wedneday. Iceland has a peculiar custom for today. Children dress up is costumes and go around to various stores asking for candy. If they receive none, they hand over small bags of volcanic ash. However, this custom doesn't apply to homes.

Later today I go to Grafavogurkirkja for the weekly prayer meeting which takes place in a side chapel. That church has four priests, and usually 3 and sometimes all 4 show up along with a group of 6-8. It's a nice little break during the week, followed by a simple lunch. This custom started about 15 years ago and has spread to several (Lutheran) churches. The original idea was to set aside a brief period of sacred time and space for folks on lunch break. While there, I had a good talk with Gunnar, the youth leader, who´s studying to be a priest. He´s taking introductory Hebrew, required of all theological students, so we had a lot to discuss and will in the future.

I didn't get to the Nesgill area as planned yesterday but saving for this Saturday if the weather is reasonable. While the temp got as high as 10C around 4pm, the wind made it feel colder than usual. However, it was great to feel the sun's warm increasing rapidily each day, actually, by quantum leaps.