Alright, this post has been a SUPER long time coming! Super. There’s a reason that I have been waiting so long to post it, however, and that is that there were SO many pictures that I had to wait until I found the time to edit all of them. Otherwise, this trip wouldn’t have been done justice. So, here it is…finally!
After I graduated college, I decided to do something very unconventional. Something that I hadn’t originally planned on doing but now…well, now it has been one of the best things I have ever done. The year after I graduated college, I spent 9 months doing a Bible training program called the Kanakuk Institute. We took a little less than a year to dig deep into God’s Word, learning how to study it, teach it and let it be what it was meant to be. The living Word of God that is our greatest tool in doing this thing called the Christian life. While I came away with SO many things after that year, the greatest was a love for the Bible in a way I had never known. I am forever grateful to that ministry for the way they equipped me.
Well, the Kanakuk Institute takes its students and whatever alumni wants to tag along on a tour of Israel so that they can see their studies come alive. I had been planning to go with them to Israel as soon as I could but this particular year, with the unrest going on in the country, they opted to do something different. They decided to go to Greece on a journey of the Apostle Paul’s footsteps as told in the book of Acts. When I got the email, I just couldn’t resist. A chance to tour ancient Macedonia from a Biblical perspective with people who I admire and respect? Bring it on! So, I set off with a group of about 30 and we spent 9 days traveling where Paul traveled. Let me tell you…it was a trip of a lifetime. My faith was strengthened as I saw the pages of the Bible go from black and white to color. Not only is the country of Greece stunningly gorgeous but its history is so deeply steeped in the message of the gospel. I was forever changed.
So, since I have way too many pictures to put into one blog post, I have decided that the rest of the week is Greek Week! The next four days will be dedicated to my time in the gorgeous country of Greece!
So, in the name of travel, history and reading the Bible in color,
I Say, Take Me Back!
(The rest of the week will include more installments of Greek Week!)
Lydia’s Pool | Acts 16: 14-15 The church dedicated to Lydia. So beautiful. My sweet friend Joy and I decided we would take a thumbs up picture at every stop…I have no idea why! Scripture in real life. Starting to read it in color. The Ancient city of Philippi | Acts 16 Our tour guide, Andy, was the greatest…and so stylish too! She is telling us about the building of the city. The road Paul would have walked on. The Ignatia Road. The ruins of the ancient city. So amazing. The prison of Paul and Silas | Acts 16: 20-40 Reading Scripture in color… The whole group! We had to make it on the bus!!! Run! The theater of Philippi. So cool. Modern day Neapolis, the port city Paul came in through. Now known as Kavala. This is where my phone got stolen…not a good moment. Reading Scripture in color…. The city of Thessalonica…now known as Thessaloniki. Crazy city!!! People park wherever they want, even if it is in the middle of the road. I’ll close with this one of for today because it sums up the fact that the Greeks sure do know how to eat! They LOOOOVE their pastries and I can’t blame them!