Laodicea

Honestly, I was pretty weary about this day simply because I’m not the best automobile traveler and 4 hours one way is a long time – not to mention that we had practically been living on the buses already. But as it turned out, it was one of the easiest travel days. I had some really fantastic conversations with my fellow travelers, getting deep with them and learning about who they are. Plus, our tour guide not only gave us some great info (which I have neglected to really mention, but he had been doing all along), even throwing in a pretty hilarious story about his wife and daughter (which began with, “My wife, the other day she…she…(and here he was searching for just the right word)…she really pissed me off!” It was pretty funny. Additionally, we had a pit stop about half way there where we indulged in Turkish Delight (a chewy gelatin-like candy covered in powdered sugar…think Applets & Cottlets, only considerably better), apple tea (a local favorite) and fresh squeezed (over-priced) orange juice. I think all the sugar rejuvenated us because we made the trip in what felt like no time at all.

The church at Laodicea was located up on the tippety-toppety of the mountain, which overlooked the entire valley region below. It was a city and culture of absolute opulence and the people of Laodicea looked down on others much in the same way their city looked down over the valley. As such, the letter to the church in Laodicea (in Revelation 3:14-22) begins with a harsh word, warning them to be either hot or cold instead of the lukewarm to which they have become accustomed. Interestingly, we learned that due to the natural surroundings, both hot and cold water were easily attainable for the people living in the valley below Laodicea, but that because of the plumbing system the rich Laodiceans only ever had lukewarm water – which is good for nothing. Imagine making coffee with lukewarm water, or trying to relieve yourself from the heat with lukewarm water – ugh! Thus, Jesus warns them that instead of comparing themselves to others whom are cold and considering themselves hot, they ought to be one or the other.

After Pastor Mark’s teaching in this incredible site, we made the short drive over to Hieropolis, a historical site with a somewhat funny juxtaposition of recently excavated buildings and a modern café. Additionally (and most interestingly) there were also naturally formed pools in the ground there, covered completely with some kind of calcium carbonate (honestly, that’s probably wrong – but I wasn’t really listening as I was in total shock at the white substance covering everything.) It looked like snow on a mountaintop from a distance. It was the most shocking thing! In order not to damage the natural formations, we had to take off our shoes, but we were allowed to wade in the pools and enjoy the water (too bad it was lukewarm – ha! No but seriously, it was. Such a tease – it looks cold and refreshing, but it was like bathwater. And after enduring the near 100 degree weather….torture).

After exhausting ourselves in the sun (and exploration) we piled back onto the bus for our four-hour journey home. The ride home wasn’t quite as jam-packed with fun as the ride there, but mercifully, it went quickly enough. We made it home in time for a late dinner and fell into bed. With only one more day in Izmir, it was promised to be the best yet! Tomorrow: Ephesus.

Philadelphia & Sardis

On our second day of touring, we loaded back onto the bus for a 75-minute drive to see the ancient remains of the Lydian city Sardis. Once there, we were rewarded with several different (much more intact) sites including a gymnasium (which is really like a gigantic “high school”), the synagoge, as well as ancient shops. Think of lots of columns and arches with a fair amount of greek writing and marble everywhere. Because there are so many earthquakes in the area, there were no complete buildings still standing and certainly no existing roofs. Still, there was plenty to see under the boiling hot sun and with the help of two greek dudes in our group, we were able to understand some of the ancient greek writings on the walls (of course, I don’t remember what any of that says now…)

After perusing the ruins, we traveled a few minutes drive to another site to hear Pastor Mark preach on the letter to the church at Sardis. Found in Revelation 3:1-6, this church receives a harsh word of Jesus as he calls them spiritually dead. It seems that Sardis is doing everything “right” on the outside – he doesn’t criticize their doctrine or their immorality – but on the inside, there is nothing: no passion for Jesus, no genuine love and affection for their neighbors and the world around them. Sardis is its own worst enemy. They have become apathetic and satisfied with the routine of faith instead of taking true joy in the rituals of faith. They simply don’t care.

This sermon was a particularly good one (though to be honest, they were all quite good) and has an easily applicable message into my own life: where have I become spiritually dead? What do I just not care about anymore? As part of the message, Pastor Mark talked about the difference between deadness and dryness as well. The latter being a season in which I’m not connected to Jesus or the church, but it bothers me. I am disconnected and uncomfortable about it. Deadness, on the other hand, results in no discomfort at the lack of Christ in my life. Good stuff, eh?

From there we ate lunch nearby and then settled in for another 75-minute drive to the teeny remains of the church of Philadelphia. Similar to the church at Thyatira, what remained was literally the shell of the ancient church, fenced in and tucked away within a city square. This letter, found in Revelation 3:7-13, acknowledges the church’s ability to keep to the Word. However, Jesus admonishes them to keep the strength and to not give up, as they have been doing. In a later sermon, Pastor Mark informed us that the small church of Philadelphia did in fact heed Jesus’ words and remained faithful for hundreds of years, until eventually the Turks invaded (during the Ottoman Empire) and wiped them out. What a legacy: to have remained faithful for so many generations! As an American with such a short national history, it can be difficult to fathom that kind of faithfulness.

After snapping a few pics, we (again) filed back onto the bus to escape the relentless sun and made our way back to the hotel for dinner and to rest up for Laodicea tomorrow: four hours away. (Yikes!)

I'm Going to Turkey!!

Hello dear readers!!

I know it has been unforgivably long since I last posted anything of substance, and for that I apologize. But it is with great excitement that I am (belatedly) happy to tell you that I have the incredible opportunity to travel in Turkey for 10 days!!

Here's the scoop: Mars Hill Church (my new church home in Seattle) is taking a group of folks from all over the world (172 of us, to be precise) on an expeditions tour of the seven churches of Revelation (See Revelation 1-3.) The apostle John wrote seven letters to the early Christian churches at the time to both encourage and discipline them. We will be seeing a number of the early churches as well as studying both the biblical history and the accompanying scripture (mostly the book of Ephesians and Revelation 1-3).

We will be spending the first week in Izmir, using the city as our hub as we venture to a new site each day. For the final three days we will travel to Istanbul and explore the enchanting metropolis.

I can't tell you how thrilled I am to be traveling again and on the precipice of sharing my new adventures with you, dear reader. While this won't be quite the same type of free-styled adventure I had in Italy, I'm confident the experiences will be no less memorable. My hope is to post daily and share my Turkish adventures as they unfold. (My secret hope is that I can easily fall back into the habit of blogging again and not have another year-long radio silence...heh heh. But we'll just have to see how that goes.)

So stay tuned! There is more to come - beginning with a day-long lay-over adventure in Chicago...

I Made It! (Part II)

I made it to Roma!! It got hairy there for a spell when I was racing to make my connection in Paris (after Germany, before Rome), I honestly thought I wasn't going to make it. Apparently the French think it is necessary for everyone to go through security right in front of their gate instead of one collective security point. So even though I had already been through security in Germany, I had to go through it a second time in France and I almost missed my plane because of it. But it all worked out - va bene!

Once I arrived in Rome, I collected my bag (yay!) and headed for the signs that said "Nothing to Declare". This took me directly out of the terminal, where all the cabbies are. So much for customs! (Don't worry, technically I went through customs in Germany, so I'm okay - you can unpucker your butts.) I grabbed a taxi, paid way too much for it (ah well - it was bound to happen) and arrived safely at the hotel. When I knocked on our room door I met the first of my two traveling companions: Micall. She is the friend of my friend whom I was meeting (Amy). But as it turned out, Amy had a delayed flight from Seattle to Newark and she did miss her connection! So Micall and I headed out for dinner (as it was now almost 7:00pm) and then back to the room to wait for Amy.

On our way out, we met two gals from New York who decided to join us for some vino while we ate. They were thankful for English speakers and we were thankful for the company, the more the merrier! Dinner was good, but nothing to brag about just yet (although, certainly nothing to complain about either). After a few glasses of monte pulciano (which I'm happy to report was considerably better than your home-brew Dustin - heh) , we headed back to the room and learned that Amy wasn't going to make it in until midnight :( So Micall and I made plans to see the Vatican first thing in the morning and called it a night.

Above are a couple pics of our room; it's not much, but we have our own bathroom (a major perk) The little red bed is mine!!

*Sidenote: On the last Sunday of the month, the Vatican is free...so guess who got to tour 4 miles of incredible art today for the low, low cost of 0 EU?? That's right, baby! Stay tuned!

I Made It! (Part I)

I was unable to connect to the internet while at the airport in Munich, so this first part was written Saturday morning:

My flight from Chicago to Munich turned out to be a breeze. Thanks to my dad’s bonus points, I was able to make the 7 hour flight in first class, baby. That meant that I not only had my own movie selection to choose from (and personal screen from which to watch it), but I was able to order my meals from a menu (and dictate when I ate them) and, most importantly, to lean back, put my feet up, and recline my way over the big blue ocean. It was pretty fantastic. If you have the means, I highly recommend flying first class – such a different experience. Sidenote: As it turns out I was the only first class passenger, can you believe that? There were 10 seats total and I was the only one. It was kind of weird…made me feel like a snooty aristocrat who doesn’t want “others” around. Ha-ha. So to say I got personal, attentive service is an understatement.

Despite all the perks, I’m proud to say I only indulged in one movie on the flight (it helped I had already seen most of the selections) and was actually able to get in about 5 hours of sleep. That sounds really crappy, but it was actually great. As I wait for my next flight, I feel well rested and ready for what’s ahead. As I write this, it’s 11:00am in Germany and it doesn’t feel too far off.

So as I sit here typing this, a middle-aged man (clearly German) has sat down at the table across from me and is arranging his belongings. When he first came over, I noted the enormous stein of beer he set down, but didn’t think much of it. (I mean, hey, I’m in Germany; it’s too be expected, right?) But it has just occurred to me that it is 11:00 in the freaking morning!! Kinda early for a brew, don’t ya think?! So I quickly glanced around and have noted that several people are drinking already. Hmm…not sure if this is an airport thing, or a German thing. Perhaps both?

One Leg Down, Two to Go

Alright blog fans, I have officially begun my sojourn and there is no looking back.

The first leg of my trip has been 100% successful and I am currently holed away in the first class international lounge (thank you so much Dad!!) in Chicago, enjoying free perks ranging from coronas by the bottle to fresh cheesecake. In fact, this post is coming to you via free internet courtesy of United Airlines. Woo hoo! The first class really know how to travel in style; I have a feeling I'm going to come home a few pounds heavier...(but that is what all the walking is for, right?)

In any case, the next leg of the trip is the long one - going straight through to Munich. I'm going to attempt to resist the offers of free movies and catch some shut-eye. (The fact that I got about an hour of sleep last night should make that easier...but I'm just so easily distracted! There is really no guarantee.) After I arrive in Munich I'll wait out my last layover and then board my final plane of the day, to Rome. I'm scheduled to arrive at 4:30pm local time (which to all of you in the Pacific NW, that will be 7:30am Saturday morning). So while you are all cozy in your beddies, I'll still be wearing what I wore the day before and really ready to brush my teeth.

Despite the fact that I am sitting in an airport lounge right now, I still don't think the fullness of what I am doing has hit me (or my second free beer). I can already tell this trip is going to be chock-full of personal growth. I hope I'm ready for this...

Two hours and counting until my next boarding call. I'll be sure to check in and let you know when I've arrived in Rome!

Trip Update - T-Minus 5 Days (and Counting...)

Good news. In the kind of freak coincidence that couldn't have possibly be predicted, my RA from freshman year of college randomly contacted me out of the blue and we discovered that we are both headed for Italy on the exact same day. (Insert Joey from Blossom style Whoa! here.)

Obviously we will be meeting up soon after we land and spending the first couple of days together (praise the Lord for answered prayer!) in Roma. However, she is also traveling with another friend from college, so I'm not sure how long I will (get to) tag along with them; but I'm absolutely stoked that as I land on a different continent for the first time, I won't be completely alone. So far, this couldn't be going any better. (Didja see that sky today? Talk about blue.)

HOLY CRAP - I leave in less than one week. Eke! How is this happening!?

I hear that a lot...

So one of the fun advantages of wreaking total havoc on your life is that you always have something to talk about. Meeting somebody for the first time? No problem. Talking to a stranger at the store? Easy-peasy. Chatting it up with awkward/lingering co-workers? Piece of cake. Your life is suddenly ripe with topics of conversation with seemingly endless segues into useful tid-bits of travel recomendations (or warnings) as well as fodder for stories (upon stories) of travel nightmares.

But surprisingly, the piece of information I hear the most (and that I know the least what to do with) is this: Italian men are really aggressive.

So, does this mean I should avoid prolonged eye-contact with all men while I'm in Italy? Should I take an Italian focused self-defense class? Should I feign a language barrier difficulty if one should (God forbid) ask me to hang out? I realize this is silly, but at the heart of it is an honest question: What is the "making friends" protocol for a young woman while traveling in a foreign country? Because, let's be honest - I'm not going eight weeks without making new friends*. I'm too darn social; I'd probably go insane. So how much caution is truly necessary? What are realistic boundaries for a single travler looking to both meet people and stay safe?

I welcome your thoughts, dear travelers.

*I don't mean to imply that all "new friends" will be men per se, but it's a 50/50 chance, so you know what I mean.

My Life in a 10 x 10 x 10 cube

I wouldn't say I typically think of my life in material terms, but last weekend I did exactly that. With Step 2 of "the plan" completed, it was now necessary to vacate my house in order for my new renters to move in. (Believe it or not, they didn't want all my crap in the house when they moved in. I know; weird, huh?)

Now, under normal circumstances moving usually forces one to come to terms with what he or she truly "needs" vs. what he or she "would like to keep". But let me tell you, when you're moving into a tiny space that you're paying for by the foot, this confrontation of need vs. want is transformed from the typical problem child to something more like a kid freaking out on an overdose of ridalin. In this world of consumption and possessions, accumulation is suddenly a large and looming enemy. Simplicity and minimalism is the goal, the new idea of perfection. And that is how I came to store my entire life in a 10 x 10 x 10 cube for $69 a month (buy two months, get one free!)

None of this would have been possible without the super-packing skills of Andi Vann-Lo ("Oh wait, cram this in before you seal it!"), the let's-err-on-the-side-of-throwing-it-away attitude of Diana ("Are you really going to miss this two months from now??), the uber-tetris skills of Brian and Corey ("Wait. I think if we move this over here, we can fit an extra box over there...."), the brilliant space saving ideas of Kelly ("Ya know, the carpets take up less room if you unroll them on the ground and your furniture won't get dirty"), the faith of the Bedients to counter my it's-never-gonna-all-fit attitude ("Remember the japanese maple?? We never thought we could move it and now it's the tree of faith!") as well as the many, many other helping hands over the last week (Terps, Mausses, Bowkers). Just when I'm feeling like I can't get it all done, the Lord reminds me just how many helping hands he's given me.

All I can say is thankyouthankyouthankyou.

Did you just say sushi tape?

As it turns out, when the Terps came over Monday night to help me begin the daunting task of packing up my whole house, we discovered that the only packing tape I had was covered in pictures of sushi.

Yeah, I said sushi.

My only defense for owning this particular item is that it was actually a gift to me from the Bowkers. Apparently the combination of tiny, raw bites of food with tightly bound, secure boxes makes them think of me. (*shurg*) I'm down with that.

I began my inaugural evening of packing by asking the simple question, "What do you think I should do with all my condiments?" Immediately Dustin walked directly to my fridge and began reading off expiration dates. Much to our mutual disgust, over 90% of the items were expired. Now, before you go and judge me for having a nasty, ill-kept fridge, please note that most of the items did not belong to me. It turns out my fridge had become a monument to the eating preferences of roommates past. As you can imagine, Dustin went to town emptying old, rotten salad dressings, expired relish, and sour piña colda mix down the drain (and with minimal gagging too!) By the time he was finished, my recycle bin was filled to the brim-tip-top.

So as Dustin tackled the fridge (randomly yelling out expiration dates or poignantly asking, "Horseradish sauce? Who buys that?" Abby and I packed up the dining room. We focused our efforts on the liquor cabinet, carefully wrapping all my wine glasses and swizzle sticks first in paper, then bubble wrap while simultaneously rationalizing we might as well take all the alcohol to their house. :) Since we'll be roomies for the next few weeks, it seemed like the best way to "pack" it. (Heh.)


(In unrelated news, if you're Jonesin' for a cocktail in the next month, you might want to stop by the Terps.)

Step Three: Secure Ticket

So it's not exactly a ticket to Italy...but it'll work ;) Thanks Dad for cashing in the miles on my behalf! (And first class too!!) Muahahha!

Go big or go home, baby.

Step Two: Rent House

The second step in my plan to take over the world...oh wait - wrong blog. The second step in my crazy plan to turn my life upside down and embrace some "growth" (thanks Brett) is to rent out the good ol' casa de Champoux. I can't very well pay my mortgage and be fancy free (not to mention footloose) in Italia simultaneously. Thus, finding renters is a must.

Now after the obnoxious and less-than-awesome nine month process it took to sell the bug last year, I have been a bit weary about embracing this whole "renting thing". Especially because there is a very real deadline in which I have to meet; renting the house is absolutely pivotal in my cuckoo plan actually coming to fruition.

Fortunately for me, my good friends the Bedients have recently become landlords themselves and have been a great resource of information (not to mention a reassurance that it can be done) for me. As it turned out, while I was tapping into said resource, Diana mentioned that our old friends the Pfriems would soon be moving back to Bellingham. Perhaps they would be interested in renting??

Brilliant! Spot on! Good show old chap!! (sorry - went British there for a sec) What a great idea! After a few phone calls (thanks Andi!) I learned the rumor was not only true, but they were still in need of a place to live. Woo hoo!!

Long story short - after lots of pictures, a two hour tour (anyone else hear the theme song to Gilligan's Island in their head right there?), still more pictures and a second brief tour - the Pfriem's signed a one year lease!! Move in day is set for August 27th.

As if that wasn't easy enough, the Terps have also agreed to be my property managers while I'm gone. Wow. Can you say ridiculously cool? I still can't believe how perfectly it has all come together. Talk about the exact opposite experience of selling my car. If I needed any more confirmation from the Lord that this was the direction in which I should be moving, I guess I just got it. :)

P.S. HOLY CRAP I CAN'T BELIEVE THIS IS REALLY HAPPENING!

(okay, I'm fine now.)

This is NOT a Test.

I quit my job yesterday.

Seriously.

Now what? you ask.

Ah, well. That's where "The Plan" comes into effect.

The Plan:

1. Quit Job (check)
2. Rent out the House
3. Go to Italy for two month (yes, really)
4. Come home and find a new job (possibly in a new state)

Yikes. The whole thing makes my butt pucker just thinking about it. But there's no turning back now. Here's to taking a risk!!