Journeys of Paul Tour

What a privilege it was to be able to go on the Journeys of Paul tour, May 10-20.  Coming back, it's hard to put into words all that I am going through. 

It was something I had anticipated for a couple of years, and now it's over.  Being away from email, phone, and news for ten days made me feel almost like I was in a "bubble" on a retreat; and now I feel like I'm just thrust right back into real life with the many pulls on my time and attention.

But, I do want to remember some of the highlights of the tour.  I got to see many of the sites mentioned in the Bible:  Athens, Corinth, Patmos, Ephesus, Rhodes, and Crete; and I became more familiar with that Asia Minor region.  From those that I encountered in Turkey, I found that while 90% are registered Muslim, the population, being quite young, seem to be more open to Scripture and to Christianity.  I will be trying to keep in touch with one person who said she has been reading through the Bible and was in Matthew.  Our tour guide in Kusadasi (Ephesus) mentioned that he believed the same as we did and wanted to hear the message.  I pray that the Light will truly shine in that region.

I was able to get crosses both in Corinth (Greece) and Ephesus (Turkey).   And, I got to know people at my church better.  It's been fun to putting together video slideshows of the pictures.  I will be showing one in my Community Group and another one in my Sunday class.

One interesting thing I learned while on the trip is the etymology of the word "enthusiasm".   It's root is in the Greek words "En = In" "Theos=God" =>  In God.