Single Womens’ Missionary Retreat - the rest of the story...
Wow! What a week. We have spent time in fellowship and encouragement; learning or remembering how to truly “rest” in God; and have walked in many places where Apostle Paul ministered as a missionary. Let me try to adequately tell you a little of this wonderful trip.
THANK YOU’s....
Before I continue with my story tho’, I would like to thank my Memorial Road church of Christ family for their financial support for this experience for me. They truly care bout their missionaries and know how to do missionary care. (I am aware that many others contributed for this retreat and to you I offer my thanks as well). Also, Joy Crouch deserves a BIG SHOUT OUT as she has made it part of her ministry to put these retreats together every other year to make sure the single women in missions have a retreat and learn to care for themselves. If Joy ever contacts you requesting support for this part of her mission, please help her out. She not only plans the retreat, but she also raises all the funds to ensure that any single missionary lady who wants to come is able to come with no financial burden. And lastly, but definitely not least, HUGE HUGS of appreciation and thanks to Cherry Hart and Nancy Hartman who use their own personal funds to attend these retreats to offer counseling and support from their years of experience. These ladies provide a service to each of us that is truly “priceless”. We continually Praise God for all He does for us and the paths which He prepares and leads us down. May God bless each and every one who made this retreat possible.
THE STORY
We began our journey in Athens, Greece where we visited the Parthenon and Mars Hill where Paul spoke in Acts 17:16-34. Tho’ we came here during our 1st retreat, I appreciated it so much more this time. I remember last time just feeling like being there was a dream, not really real somehow. This time, I was more in awe. To see the huge temple on the hill, and to realize that Mars Hill was a much smaller hill than that which the huge temple sat; yet Paul boldly spoke to the people about their UNKNOWN GOD and who He is and that He does not live in temples made by man. Our tour guide, Dino, quoted Paul’s words to us in Greek. It was quite an experience as I read along in the Bible.
On Wednesday, we traveled by bus for 6 hours to the area of Berea. The way was very rocky and hills were more than plentiful. I cannot imagine what the walk was like for Paul and the others with him. How long it must have taken them. How tired and sore their feet much have been. Paul’s time in Berea is in Acts 17:10-15.
We actually spent the night in Meteora, Greece where we visited 2 of the 6 monasteries. They were built on top of grand rock formations. The monks lived in the monasteries on top of the rock formations and hermits lived in the cave-like areas around the bottoms of these formations. The view from our hotel was absolutely breath-taking and peaceful. As we sat outside with this view, the was no doubt about how great our God is.
Thursday took us to Thessaloniki (Acts 17:1-9). We drove through upper and lower Thessaloniki and were blessed to see parts of the ancient city walls. The view of the Aegean Sea from upper Thessaloniki was beautiful.
Friday took us to the city of Philippi (Acts 16:11-40). Our tour of this area truly enhanced this story for me making it much more real. As you have noticed if you are following our journey in the Bible, our route was taking us backwards along the story. So, in order to understand the story in Philippi better, you need to read the first 10 verses of Acts 16 as well. We traveled to the place where it is believed that Lydia was baptized (vs 15). It has been preserved and is a very quiet and peaceful area. One of our ladies felt so moved that she went down in the cold water to experience what her baptism would have been like. It was a memorable moment for all of us.
From there we went to the excavation site for the ancient city. This site is very large and is continuing today. We walked a lot of the site, but my knees wore out so I had to stop before I was able to see it all. However, I was able to see where they think the jail was that Paul and Silas were put in prison. (Vs. 22-40).
Saturday, we made the 7 hour trip by bus back to Greece. Again I was mindful of the difficult terrain and the difficulties, Jesus, the Apostles and the disciples had to walk.
Sunday, our group returned to the city of Corinth. (Acts 18). We stood at the area where Paul would have been taken before Gallio. Paul stated in Corinth for 18 months during this visit. Although the site of the ancient city Corinth is smaller than Philippi, I still did not make the walk and really hated to sit it out. However, I had been to Corinth before.
Glyfida church of Christ
Church at the Glyfida church of Christ in Athens was an absolutely uplifting and encouraging experience. I was able to attend services on 2 Sundays during my stay in Athens. This church is truly a church who reaches the nations with 10 church services every week. They have services in English, Russian, Farsi and Greek (that I remember). We were able to witness two men from Iran being baptized. One of the men sang a song to us in Farsi which he wrote praising God. Our services were in English and translated to Farsi.
This week was a wonderful blessing to all. God in Heaven was praised, worshiped and Glorified throughout.
THANK YOU’s....
Before I continue with my story tho’, I would like to thank my Memorial Road church of Christ family for their financial support for this experience for me. They truly care bout their missionaries and know how to do missionary care. (I am aware that many others contributed for this retreat and to you I offer my thanks as well). Also, Joy Crouch deserves a BIG SHOUT OUT as she has made it part of her ministry to put these retreats together every other year to make sure the single women in missions have a retreat and learn to care for themselves. If Joy ever contacts you requesting support for this part of her mission, please help her out. She not only plans the retreat, but she also raises all the funds to ensure that any single missionary lady who wants to come is able to come with no financial burden. And lastly, but definitely not least, HUGE HUGS of appreciation and thanks to Cherry Hart and Nancy Hartman who use their own personal funds to attend these retreats to offer counseling and support from their years of experience. These ladies provide a service to each of us that is truly “priceless”. We continually Praise God for all He does for us and the paths which He prepares and leads us down. May God bless each and every one who made this retreat possible.
THE STORY
We began our journey in Athens, Greece where we visited the Parthenon and Mars Hill where Paul spoke in Acts 17:16-34. Tho’ we came here during our 1st retreat, I appreciated it so much more this time. I remember last time just feeling like being there was a dream, not really real somehow. This time, I was more in awe. To see the huge temple on the hill, and to realize that Mars Hill was a much smaller hill than that which the huge temple sat; yet Paul boldly spoke to the people about their UNKNOWN GOD and who He is and that He does not live in temples made by man. Our tour guide, Dino, quoted Paul’s words to us in Greek. It was quite an experience as I read along in the Bible.
On Wednesday, we traveled by bus for 6 hours to the area of Berea. The way was very rocky and hills were more than plentiful. I cannot imagine what the walk was like for Paul and the others with him. How long it must have taken them. How tired and sore their feet much have been. Paul’s time in Berea is in Acts 17:10-15.
We actually spent the night in Meteora, Greece where we visited 2 of the 6 monasteries. They were built on top of grand rock formations. The monks lived in the monasteries on top of the rock formations and hermits lived in the cave-like areas around the bottoms of these formations. The view from our hotel was absolutely breath-taking and peaceful. As we sat outside with this view, the was no doubt about how great our God is.
Thursday took us to Thessaloniki (Acts 17:1-9). We drove through upper and lower Thessaloniki and were blessed to see parts of the ancient city walls. The view of the Aegean Sea from upper Thessaloniki was beautiful.
Friday took us to the city of Philippi (Acts 16:11-40). Our tour of this area truly enhanced this story for me making it much more real. As you have noticed if you are following our journey in the Bible, our route was taking us backwards along the story. So, in order to understand the story in Philippi better, you need to read the first 10 verses of Acts 16 as well. We traveled to the place where it is believed that Lydia was baptized (vs 15). It has been preserved and is a very quiet and peaceful area. One of our ladies felt so moved that she went down in the cold water to experience what her baptism would have been like. It was a memorable moment for all of us.
From there we went to the excavation site for the ancient city. This site is very large and is continuing today. We walked a lot of the site, but my knees wore out so I had to stop before I was able to see it all. However, I was able to see where they think the jail was that Paul and Silas were put in prison. (Vs. 22-40).
Saturday, we made the 7 hour trip by bus back to Greece. Again I was mindful of the difficult terrain and the difficulties, Jesus, the Apostles and the disciples had to walk.
Sunday, our group returned to the city of Corinth. (Acts 18). We stood at the area where Paul would have been taken before Gallio. Paul stated in Corinth for 18 months during this visit. Although the site of the ancient city Corinth is smaller than Philippi, I still did not make the walk and really hated to sit it out. However, I had been to Corinth before.
Glyfida church of Christ
Church at the Glyfida church of Christ in Athens was an absolutely uplifting and encouraging experience. I was able to attend services on 2 Sundays during my stay in Athens. This church is truly a church who reaches the nations with 10 church services every week. They have services in English, Russian, Farsi and Greek (that I remember). We were able to witness two men from Iran being baptized. One of the men sang a song to us in Farsi which he wrote praising God. Our services were in English and translated to Farsi.
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| Matthew 5 in Farsi |
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