Ephesus

9/30/11

Today is the day I’ve been most excited for while in Turkey after reading the New Testament.  We’re going to Ephesus.  It’s the largest biblical site we’re going to.  The entire book of Ephesians is written to the people here in Ephesus.  There is a very large number of roman ruins.  The people here were very righteous.  The entire site is very beautiful; there is a giant library (110,000 volumes), the largest amphitheater known of holding 25,000 people (acts 19:24-34 talks about Paul in this exact amphitheater), and it also used to have one of the 7 wonders of the world, which was the Temple of Artimus.  However it has since been destroyed and only one column still stands today.  As we sat in the amphitheater we sang hymns together as a good and once we stopped everyone starting clapping for us and asking for an encore.  It was unreal to be able to sing there and have everyone in this incredible place watch and listen to us.  After singing two hymns another group of Christian Americans were there and we were able to sing How Great Thou Art and Amazing Grace together.  The spirit was so strong as we sang together.  Then we walked over to the church of St. Mary, which stands next to the old port, which used to be near the harbor by the sea.  After we were finished we headed out to the shops and I finally bought the one thing I’ve wanted the entire trip, a belly dancing skirt!  Now I just have to learn how to shake my hips.  Hahah.

After some lunch we headed up the hill in Ephesus to find the supposed house of the Virgin Mary.  It was very small for todays standard but I’m sure in their standards it was very large. 

Next stop the church of Saint John (John the Beloved).  There is said to be the tomb of John (empty anyways).  This church was the last of the seven churches of the revelation found in the 2^nd chapter of Revelations. 

Now to a Turkish leather factory!  It was very fun to be there because they started off with a fashion show for us of their entire collection.  They had many beautiful leather jackets.  Unaffordable, yet beautiful.  They always try to make you a “good deal” on all they have to offer but they didn’t get me!  Early Early morning tomorrow! YIKES! 

The Temple of Apollo

9/29/11

We got to sleep in till 7 today!  Trust me that is sleeping in on this trip.  We started the day off in ancient Smyrna which is now modern day Izmir.  We were only able to see the agora (or market place) because of the bad area in which the town is located.  But we were able to see many old shops and archways.  Smyrna was a city in the book of revelations that had many ups and downs due to its location on the Aegean Sea.  It only had a short space in the New Testament (Revelations 2:8-11) but very deep powerful meanings.

Then we headed to the Temple of Apollo in Didyma.  The temple had massive columns standing at least 3 stories tall.  They were unreal.  it got me really excited to see the real Temple of Apollo in Delphi, Greece!

Then we had lunch...more like I had crackers, ice cream and water...Then off to our next site of Miletus.  There we had a site report over Acts 20:16-24, 28-38 and 2 Timothy 4:3, 6-8, 10, 20.  The site was very large with an ampi-theather that could hold approximately 15,000.  As we were exploring the ancient city I had some time to explore and walk off on my own and the peacefulness  and spirit i felt was very calming. The city used to be a near a harbor but now the water has gone out a few miles.  You can still see the remnants of the sea in they city from all the shells imbedded in the dirt.

Next we went to what is known as the most beautiful place in Asia Minor, Priene.  We had to walk up to the city because it was on a hill.  Once on the hill we could look out and see the mountains behind us and the entire city and Aegean Sea below us.  It was so incredible!  Alexander the Great also had a house here back in the day which was later turned into a memorial but now is just all in ruins.

Seven Churches of the Revelation

9/28/11

5:30 comes so early!!  We had to be on the bus by 7:15 so we could get to Laodicea before the crowd.  Laodicea was an ancient city in the Bible found in Revelation 3:14-21 and was one of the 7 churches of the revelation.  The spirit and calmness that was at this site was so incredible.  The city is stil being excavated today and it was so interesting to watch the archeologists piece together this puzzle of a city.

Our next stop was philedelphia which was also one of the churchs found in Acts 3:7-13.  They were a very righteous people.  The church was very small but pretty at the same time.

Following Philidelphia we went to the city of Sardis which had the 2nd largest and 2nd oldest synagog in the world.  At Sardis the gymnasium was incredible. (oh and also one of the churches found in Revelations 3:1-6)

Then we headed to our lunch stop for lamb meatballs (more like rolled meat).  Interesting to say the least.  Then off to Thyatira yet another church found in Revelations 2:18-29.  Thyatira is rather bare but still very calming and beautiful.

Our next and last stop was the beautiful acropolis of Pergamos.  In order to get up to the acropolis we had to take a gondala ride.  After we got to the top we walked up to the temple.  There we talked about Revelations 2:12-17.  Afterwards we just walked around Pergamos looking over the city.  It was such a beautiful ancient city.

After all our touring was done for the day we rushed to the hotel in the city of Izmir

Hot Springs of Pamukkale

9/27/11

**sorry for the delay...no internet!**

Today we started the day off early and were out of our hotel bye 7:15.  Our first stop was an ancient city called Antioch (Acts 13).  It's starting to get very interesting to be able to put names with faces so to say.  Antioch was our first sign of true ruins and it was very fun to start seeing those.

Our next destination was Colossae which was a tel...also known as a large mound of dirt.  Hopefully one day they will begin uncovering all the ruins.

Our final destination was the beautiful Pamukkale.  It was a natural hot spring ( calcium bicarbonate).  There were also beautiful ruins there.  I had to run all over the site to try and catch a glimpse of all it had to offer before we had to head out.  We were there right at sunset so we had beautiful light around he ruins.

After it was time to leave we headed to our amazing hotel and all hurried to eat so we could get in the pool which was water from the hot spring.  43 young adults in the pool makes for a fun fun time...at least for us anyways!