August Footsteps 2022 - Rome and the journey home

We have had an incredibly full two days since we arrived in Roma! Our guide, Giuseppe, met us at the airport and we have been trying to keep up with his energy ever since. He's kept us laughing - and running - through Rome! 

Yesterday, we began our day at the Vatican Museum, Sistene Chapel, and St. Peter's Basilica. We then made our way to Piazza Navona where we had lunch and fueled up for our afternoon seeing the Pantheon, Trevi Fountain, and Spanish Steps. We got rained on a bit in the afternoon but that didn't keep us from making it to Giolitti's for gelato!

Today we began the day praying in Mamertine Prison, enjoying the sun and the views at the Roman Forum, and being moved by the experience of time at St. Paul's Outside the Walls where Katherine Ellis led us in a time of reflection on what witness means in our lives. 

Tonight we wrapped up with a time for reflection and communion together led by Rev. Jasiel Hernandez and followed by a dinner where many joyful toasts were shared as we praised God for a transformative journey together. 

This journey has transformed our lives. We are thankful for the saints of Second who provide for this opportunity and the ones who paved the way -- including Rev. Brian Shivers whose legacy was felt and treasured among us. We go home carrying with us tangible reminders of the breadth and depth of the Church and a sense of conviction about how we are caught up in the mission of God in the world. 

"Come to him, a living stone, though rejected by mortals yet chosen and precious in God's sight, and like living stones let yourselves be built into a spiritual house, to be a holy priesthood, to offer spiritual sacrifices acceptable to God through Jesus Christ." -- 1 Peter 2:4-5 (NRSV)

A video of our first day can be found here. Our final day video can be found here.

August Footsteps 2022 - Ephesus

Today was a SUNNY and sanctified day!

We took a boat over to Kusadasi and then a bus to Ancient Ephesus for a tour of the city with our guide, Ayca. While in Ephesus, we took a break in the Agora and Rev. Chris Palmer led us in a study of the story of Paul in Ephesus found in Acts 19. 

Once we finished our tour, with a little singing in the theater, we moved on to lunch at Bizim Ev Hanimeli; it was a favorite meal for many!

After lunch, we headed to St. John's Basilica where we saw the burial site of John of Patmos. There we were also able to look out and see the remains of the Temple of Artemis (which we discussed when studying Acts 19 and which is one of the Seven Wonders of the Ancient World). 

Afterward, we made a quick visit to Isa Bey Mosque before heading back by boat to Samos. We ended the night with small group dinners and evening prayer on the beach.

Tomorrow we get to sleep in before we depart for Rome! 

August Footsteps 2022 - Patmos

Today we ventured to the island of Patmos to see the Grotto of Revelation, the cave where John of Patmos was exiled and received the vision which he recorded in The Book of Revelation. We also saw The Monastery of St. John the Theologian with its awe-inspiring frescoes. We now understand why people call Patmos "The Jerusalem of the Aegean." After these powerful experiences, we had a wonderful salad and seafood lunch where many folks tried new foods. We then had a few hours to explore Patmos and relax so there was more swimming and hiking for all. 

Finally, we made our way back to Samos on the boat and had a late dinner with our small groups. 

We're hoping to get some good rest tonight and praying for calm seas tomorrow as we boat to Turkey. Thank you for praying alongside us!  

The group headed to Patmos. 

Before entering the Grotto, we studied selections of Revelation together. 

The Grotto. 

The view of Patmos from The Monastery of St. John the Theologian. 

The group in the courtyard of the monastery. 

Frescoes inside the monastery's courtyard. 

 

August Footsteps 2022 - Samos

Today has felt like a mini-Sabbath as we traveled from Athens to Samos. We landed around lunchtime and have since enjoyed a leisurely lunch, settled into our hotel, played at the beach, and napped. We finished the day with dinner by the water. 

We are resting up in preparation for our morning ferry to Patmos tomorrow where we will see St. John's Monastery and the Grotto of Revelation. 

August Footsteps 2022 - Athens

Today was a day overflowing with beautiful sights, powerful learnings, and lots of walking! We explored Athens with our wonderful Tour Manager Eleni at the helm. We began the day at the Acropolis where we saw the Theater of Dionysus, the Sanctuary of Asklepios, the Erechtheion, and the Parthenon. We then journeyed to Mars Hill before taking a break in the shade for cookies and a time of reflection and prayer on Acts 17 led by Jessie Trawick Garcia. 

We made our way to the Agora and the Stoa of Attalos which houses the Museum of the Ancient Agora. We then had the chance to see the Temple of Hephaistos before we headed to lunch at Mystilli. The ice cream was a huge hit! 

We then had an opportunity to rest in the afternoon. Eleni met us later in the day and we walked to the New Acropolis Museum; there we were able to learn more about the archaeological findings of the Acropolis. We ended the day with dinner at Attikos Greek House with a spectacular view of the Acropolis. 

You can catch a video summary of today here. 

Tomorrow we venture onto Samos and will have time at the beach. We covet your prayers as we travel! 

August Footsteps 2022 - Corinth and Nemea

Today we had the opportunity to learn from Eleni in Corinth and Nemea. 

We started the day seeing the Corinth Canal as we made our journey to Ancient Corinth. Once we arrived, we visited the Archaeological Museum of Ancient Corinth and the ruins of the ancient city. While there, Rev. Jasiel Hernandez Garcia and Rev. Chris Palmer led us in a powerful time of Communion reminding us of Paul's instructions to the Corinthians on Communion. We then ate our lunch overlooking the ruins of the city at Taverna Gemelos. 

Following lunch we made our way to Nemea to see the archaeological site and the ancient stadium where we raced to the finish line. 

You can see some of the highlights in a video here. 

We wrapped up the day with dinner in small groups and are resting up now for a big day tomorrow exploring Athens. 

Grateful for these sacred moments and the witness of the saints who go before us. 

August Footsteps 2022 - Arrived in Athens!

We arrived today in Athens and are now closing out our first day! 

    Our flight landed around 11AM. Once we got through passport control, we got all of our luggage and then met Eleni, our guide while we are in Greece. We got on the bus and Eleni gave us a wonderful tour of Athens with a pit-stop at the Panathenaic Stadium, where the first modern Olympics were hosted in 1896. 

    Once we got settled into our hotel rooms, we then took the opportunity to explore in smaller groups prior to dinner. We had a beautiful and delicious group dinner just downhill from the Acropolis. 

    We wrapped up the evening with a gathering on our hotel terrace where we shared our hopes and prayed for the journey ahead. It was full of words of gratitude from a group that has waited for this trip for a couple years now. We are thankful to be following in these footsteps and looking forward to being surprised by the ways God will meet and transform us here! 

Footsteps 2022 - Back in Indy with Our Lives Transformed

 

Footsteps 2022 arrived back safely to Indianapolis last night, but we’re still dreaming of Rome!

Our final day in Rome was another full day! We visited Mamertine Prison, the Roman Forum, and St. Paul’s Outside the Walls. 

We finished our time together with a beautiful meal followed by communion. 

While the trip has ended, the impact of this journey will last forever. Our lives have been transformed by this experience.

Footsteps 2022 - You are loved. You are enough. You are not alone. 

Footsteps 2022 - Rome! Rome! And more Rome!

 

Yesterday we started our morning on the beach at Samos, swimming in the Aegean Sea and we ended our day in Rome, enjoying a delicious meal at Ristorante Alessio. 

Today was a VERY full day in Rome. Vatican Museum. Sistine Chapel. St. Peter’s Basilica. Piazza Navona. Pantheon. Trevi Fountain. Spanish Steps. And, of course, we visited Giolitti’s for some gelato!

Now we’re off to dinner with our small groups!