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 2nd 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!
No comments:
Post a Comment