Turkey + Greece

Sorry everyone, I know this post is way past due. Things have been crazy and busy here between all the traveling and getting settled into classes and life here in Malta. But here's a recap of the main places we toured during our two weeks of travels through Turkey and Greece. It was a crazy adventure, and it brought the whole group together much faster. Robert, our director, made sure we were able to see as much as possible, and it was a huge blessing.

+ I S T A N B U L +

We all arrived in Istanbul, Turkey and spent a couple days touring about.

Sitting on top of the roof of the first hostel

Hagia Sofia - a muslim mosque. Still blows my mind how ornate they make these places, yet it's all for a god that doesn't even exist. My heart still aches for the darkness and deception these people live in. There is so much bondage in their lives...

We had to dress appropriately to get into the mosques :)

Blue Mosque

+ H I E R O P O L I S  //  P A M U K K A L E   H O T   S P R I N G S +

While traveling Turkey, we were able to see almost all of the 7 churches mentioned in Revelation 2 and 3.

This is a 1st century ixthus that was etched in the ground at the very front of the main shopping area. Pretty cool that there's a symbol representing God right in the front of a public area.

I know it looks like snow, but that's actually calcium deposits from these ginormous hot springs. Sorry CCBC Murrieta, but this place has got you beat.

+ H I E R O P O L I S +

Where Paul founded a church according to tradition and where Philip was martyred 

+ P A T M O S +

We took a four hour ferry (8 hours total of ferry travel) to the Greek island of Patmos, where John was exiled and wrote the book of Revelation. I gotta say, this side of the "Big Pond" is GORGEOUS. 

The Aegean Sea

This is most likely on the top of my list (if not the number one) favorite place we've been. I could easily spend tons of time here, but we just had a short day trip.

+ E P H E S U S +

Revelation 2:1-7 // The Loveless Church

Below is a photo of the Celcus Library, which was the 3rd largest in the Roman world. Pretty amazing sight

+ S M Y R N A +

Revelation 2:8-11 // The Persecuted Church

+ S A R D I S +

Revelation 3:1-6 // The Dead Church

+ P E R G A M O S +

Revelation 2:12-17 // The Compromising Church

Then, it was off to Greece! Even though I missed Turkey I really enjoyed the short time we spent in Greece.

+ M A R S  H I L L + 

In Acts 17:16-32, Paul preached a message regarding the numerous false idols and gods that the people in Athens worshipped from this very place. Pretty amazing!

We did some worship as the sun set - an awesome opportunity to worship our God in the midst of the unsaved strangers around us. A lot of people stopped by and watched and it was a blessing to know we were standing up for Christ in a place that Paul himself took a stand so long ago.

+ A T H E N S +

We stayed in Athens, so one of the days we went to the Acropolis. Below is the Parthenon

Later, we walked over to the nearby Agora (ancient shopping center) where there was a sudden rainfall. Considering that a good chunk of us are from California, we all got pretty excited. It felt super refreshing after all the heat and humidity of the past week and a half.

+ R H O D E S + 

As an optional trip, Robert took some of the group to another Greek island called Rhodes. Paul stopped here on his third missionary journey in Acts 21.

Those Greek islands though....

+ A C R O   C O R I N T H +

Up on the top of this giant hill sits Acro-Corinth. This hill used to house 1000 prostitutes that used to go down and service the city below every single night during the ancient times. Crazy how the world really has held the same problems for so many years... Maranatha... Lord, come quickly. 

The view from up there was SO beautiful. Unfortunately, we didn't have time to hike it, but I guess it's ok to say I took the bus up. I climbed Masada so I was ready, but maybe I'll just come back one day and do it :)

+ S O U N I O N  //  T E M P L E   O F   P O S E I D O N +

Well, let's just get this out there - I have a pretty bad bias concerning views that include cliffs and water. Especially really blue water. Especially really great cliffs.

I basically loved this place. The temple of Poseidon, the god of the sea, was also up here (for obvious reasons). I could have easily spent all day here in the sun with my Bible resting in the peacefulness of the water...and cliff edges to sit on. No, I did not get THAT close to the edge to any of you who are having panic attacks right now ;)

Me and Beth :)

+ T H E   M A L T A   F A M I L Y +

Here's the gang! So blessed already by all of these great people and so stoked to see how the Lord is going to use this group to continue the ministry of Paul himself when he shipwrecked on this island centuries ago. Please be keeping us in prayer and we desire to know Him and make Him known here in this little island called Malta.

from L-R: Mike (dean of men), Robert (director), Daniel, Nate, Erick, Maddi, Austin, Dimitri, Rachel, Bekah, Bethany, Ellie, Chase, Amanda, Brooke, Shelby, Meredith, Mark, Beth, Chris, and Donny