"Declare his glory among the nations, his marvelous works among all the peoples!" Psalm 96:3

Saturday, November 26, 2011

Playing catch up...

It has been TOO long since my last blog post and for that I apologize. Thank you so much for the kind messages and e-mails around Thanksgiving as it was my first major holiday away from home. Fortunately I was able to skype with the family while they were at Memaw's :) I definitely missed my family terribly, but I feel incredibly blessed to have been able to be a part of the Thanksgiving festivities here with some families I have become very close with. My director and his wife were so gracious to include me and a few friends in their feast. I cooked my first pumpkin pies, which turned out okay thanks to Grandma's instructions via e-mail, and my roommate made some really great stuffing. We ended up having a pretty "all-American" meal thanks to friends who have base access.

Thanksgiving definitely wasn't the same, but I am very thankful for the opportunity to be where I am, doing what I'm doing, with the people God has placed in my life.

Friday, November 4, 2011

Kurban Byram

Throughout the Kurban Byram holiday, some friends and I were able to travel a bit. We went to Izmir, which is on the western coast of Turkey and then to Solcuk which is where Ephesus is located. It was an awesome experience to see so many places from Bible times and actually walk where John lived with Mary after Jesus' death and where Paul had visited and preached. We were able to walk through Ephesus (a few pictures are below), visit the Basilica of John the Apostle, see the Temple of Artemis, Mary's church, and last but not least, the beach :)

What they believe to be Mary's house after Jesus' death
It is now a little chapel.

Coffee break at a cafe on the sea in Izmir :)

Ancient ruins in Izmir

In Ephesus

 The library in Ephesus


The amphitheater in Ephesus


The whole gang

 The Aegean Sea