Thursday, June 20, 2013

Journey to Turkey & Greece 2014

standing on the Island of Patmos looking down at the harbor
beautiful islands along the coast on the way to Patmos
Island of Santorini
Have you ever wanted to go where the Apostle John wrote and spoke about the 7 Churches of Revelation or journey through some of the places where Paul went on his missionary journeys? I sure have! And now God is at work on making that dream a reality....Greece/Turkey is becoming more and more a reality each day.


sunset from Santorini with the cruise ship in the distance
a main street in Ephesus which led to the port/harbor
I've had 3 wonderful people in my life who have already travelled to these parts of the world; my son Brandon on his way home from Bible school in England journeyed on his own throughout Europe, including Greece; my friend Donna from my Tuesday night Bible study group who toured Israel/Greece with her husband this past March and she was gracious to allow me to use her photos to share with you; and my friend Lorna Dueck from Listen Up TV/Context with Lorna Dueck had led a tour to Turkey and made a teaching video from it...such a great resource! If you'd like to watch them, go to this link to watch Lorna Dueck's Video Journal Through Turkey  I've learned so much from these three people and they have played a key part in this dream becoming a reality.
library at Ephesus

large amphitheatre near the Acropolis in Athens

Temple of the Goddess of Fertility in Athens Acts 17 - 'Paul
was deeply troubled by all the idols he saw everywhere'

Mars Hill at Athens Acts 17

The Bema Seat where Paul spoke from Acts 18
"Since my 2nd journey to Israel in 2009, I’ve been dreaming of continuing on to the footsteps of the Apostle Paul and also to ‘see’ the Churches of Revelation through the eyes of the Apostle John while walking through the land. On my 3rd journey with a group to the Holy Land, my tour guide Arie Harel and I began planning for the Greece/Turkey tour for 2014. It was so exciting! God had now brought me to the Holy Land with all of my family – 2008 with my hubby, son and pastor; 2009 with my middle daughter, 2011 with my youngest daughter – and now my heart yearned to go even deeper into the history of the church and the apostles….to continue the story of the New Testament after the time of Jesus. OH! I couldn’t wait! But in 2012, Jodi Kozan, Founder/President of Women's Journey of Faith (WJOF), asked if I was willing to take WJOF on a tour to Israel in 2013. After prayer and discussion I agreed, still knowing that my heart was yearning to go to Greece and Turkey in 2014. So the journey to Israel with WJOF became my first venture to the Holy Land without a member of my family, but my 4th trip in total. Jodi and I discussed the possibility of partnering together for this journey to Greece as well, so that is how we’ve come to this place…and now you will know… the rest…of the story. :)  It’s been an absolutely amazing journey that God has had me on! Oh how I praise Him for instilling the yearning in my heart to venture deeper with Him in this way! It is such a joy and a delight to take women on these tours and to grasp the writings in Scripture in such a brand new way walking in the footsteps of Jesus and the Apostles!"  Continue reading on the WJOF Tours blog...