Footsteps 2025 - Roma! Roma! Roma! (Day Two)

 

Our final day in Rome was another wonderfully full day! We started our day at the Mamertine Prison, where tradition holds that St. Peter and St. Paul were held as prisoners. We then spent a large amount of time exploring the Roman Forum ending at the incredible Colosseum. 

After all our walking and learning, we were all quite hungry, so we took a nice break for lunch. 

Then, after a quick trip on the metro, we arrived at the incredible and beautiful St. Paul's Outside the Walls. While we were there, we got to witness and watch a Holy Mass. 

We then made our way back to the hotel for a small amount of down time before heading out for our final group meal together. We closed the evening sharing communion together (and a rap battle!). 

Our hearts are so very full. Our lives have been transformed. 

Footsteps 2025 - Roma! Roma! Roma! (Day One!)

 

Our first full day in Rome was a full and transformative one! 

Vatican Museum. Sistine Chapel. St. Peter’s Basilica. Pantheon. Trevi Fountain.

And, of course, we visited Giolitti’s for some gelato! We finished up our day with delicious small group meals and time for reflection and prayer with our prayer partners. 

Today we're off to visit Mamertine Prison, the Roman Forum, and St. Paul's Outside the Walls!

Footsteps 2025 - Ephesus!

Yesterday we spent the day in Turkey where we visited and explored the ancient city of Ephesus, the Terrace Houses, the Basilica of St. John, and Isa Bey Mosque. We also enjoyed the always fabulous Turkish buffett lunch at Bizim Ev Hanimeli. Once we got back to Samos, we enjoyed dinner at the pier in our small groups.

The word of the day for today is travel! We are currently at the airport getting ready for our second flight of the day. We're on our way to Rome!

Footsteps 2025 - Samos!

(So sorry for the limited pictures! The internet is a little tricky on Samos and uploading pictures isn't working great. These are views from our hotel! )

Yesterday we arrived in Samos! It was a day for rest and recovery. It was a day of sabbath as we traveled from Athens to Samos. We landed in the early afternoon and enjoyed a leisurely day at the pier for lunch at Robinson's (the best gyros in the world!) and some exploring. This followed by a whole lot of fun in the pool. We then got to enjoy a delicious meal together outside at the hotel. 

Pastor David and Pastor Hannah then closed the evening with a beautiful time for devotion and reflection. 

Pastor David reminded us that while only for a brief moment, Paul did, in fact, stop in Samos. He then reminded us that sometimes this is what we need - after the hustle and bustle of Athens, Samos is a sacred opportunity for us to slow down a bit, to step away from the flashy and the noise. We were then invited to find our prayer partners and reflect on the ways we hope to live in the "good way" of God.

Pastor Hannah then led the group through a beautiful exercise where we sat with our prayer partners and, together, crafted prayers. Each pair was invited to write down any and all prayers they have on a 3x5 notecard and then each pair prayed their prayer together. 

Pastor Gracie then closed us with a beautiful and powerful prayer. 

And, unfortunately, we were unable to travel to Patmos today. The winds were too strong, so for everyone's saftey, we stayed on Samos. But, we still had a wonderful day! Instead, we visited the Monastery of Panagia Spiliani, explored more of Samos, shared a delightful lunch with each other, swam in the Aegean Sea, and had dinner in our small groups!

Pastor David closed us with another time for devotion and reflection where, with our prayer partners, we reflected on these two questions:

(1) What stayed with you today? An image, a symbol, a word, or a moment? What might God be saying to you through that? (2) What does this unexpected stop in Samos, this crossroads, have to teach you?

And now, we're off to bed to get some rest before a full day in Ephesus tomorrow!

Footsteps 2025 - Acropolis, Areopagus, and the Agora!

 

Today has been a FULL and AMAZING day! 

Led by our incredible guide, Eleni, we toured all over Athens, exploring both the Acropolis and the Agora!

Some stops along the way included the Erechtheion, the Parthenon, the Stoa of Attalos, Mars Hill (Areopagus), the Temple of Hephaistos, and so much more!

During our journey, Pastor Hannah spent some time reflecting on Paul's experience in Athens, especially when he addressed the Athenians while at the Areopagus. 

After a full morning and afternoon, we then enjoyed a delicious lunch together at Mystilli Restaurant. 

We are now taking some time to rest and relax (and shop a little bit more!) before ending the day with dinner at Ella's Urban Greek Cuisine for dinner!

Somehow, it is our last night in Athens. Tomorrow morning, we're off to Samos!

Footsteps 2025 - Nemea and Corinth!

 

What a wonderful day! We visited both Nemea and Corinth. 

This required about an hour-long bus ride, but along the way we took a brief pit stop at a local shop for refreshments and snacks and for an opportunity to look at (and down!) the Corinth canal.

Our first stop was to the ancient city of Nemea where we got to visit both the museum and the archaeological site. We also did a bit of Olympic training while we were there! (Congratulations to our champions, Sarah and Harrison!)

After our time in Nemea, we then stopped for a delicious lunch overlooking the ancient city of Corinth.

With full bellies, we then explored ancient Corinth, spending time at both the museum and the archaeological site. While we were there, Pastor Hannah and Pastor David led us in a beautiful teaching moment, followed by a service of communion.

Once we got back to our hotel, we had a bit of time to settle and relax, then it was off to the Plaka where we spent some time exploring the city on our own. (Yes, there was shopping involved!) Then it was off to dinner with our small groups! 

And now we’re off to bed to get some sleep in preparation for another wonderfully full and transformative day tomorrow!