Arrivederci, Roma!

We had an uneventful crossing via a modern and well equipped ferry to Bari, where we were met by a British fellow, Christopher, who has been a stellar guide for the last two days in Roma.  We had a delightful ride through the pastoral countryside, full of grapevines and olive trees.

How exciting to finally meet up with my good friend Karen and her two teens, Luke and Isabel, who have be roughing it throughout Italy for the last 5 weeks.  We ate all our meals with them, catching up on all our adventures. It was a short, but sweet reunion, and hard to say goodbye, since we will not see each other for another year!

Rome is a fast paced city, with thousands of shops, people, and years of history.  We toured just about every historical site as allowed in two days (see last blog).  The pizza, gelato, cappuccino, and granita (frozen expresso, strong enough to curl your hair...soo good), were a welcome treat.

Tomorrow morning, we head to the airport to begin our journey home, stopping in London (hopefully to meet up with Andrew and Katie), and then on to JFK, a taxi to Laguardia, and a flight out to Chicago...we arrive, Lord willing, late Sunday eve.

It has been a wonderful trip, but we are exhausted (just this afternoon, we ran for 6 blocks to catch a shuttle to our hotel).  It will be good to get home, and share all that we have experienced.  Thanks again for all your prayers...ciao!

Addendum: We did indeed have a whirlwind tour of Pompeii, and Rome. First, the Vatican, and all it's treasures (I loved the Hall of Maps...the ceiling paintings, some of which looked 3D were amazing), and then St. Peter's. Later in the day, we visited the Church of the "Three Fountains" where supposedly Paul was beheaded. As he was, "tradition" says that his head bounced three times, and at each bounce, a fountain sprang forth! What amazed me was the original Roman Road that led up to the Church. The next day, we visited the Forum (similar to the Agora in Greece), where business, politics and religion met. Paul would have stood here as he was being convicted and sentenced. The Mamertina Prison, where tradition says Paul would have been held, was just a sewer hole in the ground, and located just off the Forum. Earlier, we visited the Coliseum, where, interestingly, we are told that there is no record of Christians being martyred here (maybe in the Circus Maximus down the road, they say). It was awesome to see the lower level, under the platform, where the animals (and probably Christians) would have been kept. Even the catacombs, it seems, were just a burial ground for Christians, given to them by the Roman gov't. Authorities claim that it is too damp, and not conducive for living. And yet, I find it revealing that we are told of a hated brother of a Roman Emperor who ruled just for a short time, and was stricken off the records (and the capital of an arch in the forum), pretending he never existed..hmmmm.
The Treve Fountain was beautiful...no, we did not throw in a coin to assure our return (we had none), or make a wish, but, as we ate pizza across from the fountain, a couple was engaged, and a young man escaped from the Polizi up the street with stolen goods. Yes, it happens, even (and especially) in Roma!

"The Time is Near..."

Our cruise has come to an end at the Island of Patmos.  It is fitting, for it was here that John wrote Revelation, the last book of the New Testament.  John, the "Apostle whom Jesus loved", stood at the foot of the cross, and was first of the disciples to reach the tomb.  Jesus gave his precious mother into the care of the beloved Apostle.  It is a revelation to me that he was the first to hear from his dear Savior, after He ascended to Heaven.  He was also a disciple who lived out his natural life on earth.  Why?  It was suggested to me by a brother in our group (who studies Scripture like the Bereans, along with Greek and Hebrew, alongside his wife), that he was the only Apostle who stood faithful at the cross, and did not scatter as the others.

We travelled with our 'Red Bus" of faithful Christians (mostly pastors, teachers and missionaries from around the world) to the Monestery of St. John, a fortified Medieval Monastic Comples, built in 10888 by St Christodoulos (Greek for servant of Christ), in honor of St. Paul.  It houses frescoes, art objects and manuscripts from the early centuries, including 33 pages of the Gospel of St. Mark, inscribed in the 5th century on purple vellum.

One mile away, we visited the grotto (cave) where tradition says he wrote the Revelation of Jesus Christ with the aid of a scribe (it was common to bring one along to prison if needed).  John was banished to Patmos under Roman law...looking across the rolling hills, and down to the harbour below, one could imagine John having the inspiration and "quietude" needed to write the Words of the Lord.  It brought a sense of peace to the soul.

We are busy packing, ready to head off the ship tomorrow morning in Athens.  We take a bus to another port 3 hours north, where we board an overnite ferry to Bari, Italy.  There we will be transported to Pompeii, tour the site that day, and be taken to Rome in the evening where we will lodge at the Jolly Midas.  Here we will have two intensive days touring the sites where Paul would have visited...Marmertina Prison, the catacombs, and the Coliseum.

Then on to the Vatican, the Sistine Chapel and lastly, the Forum.

We will meet up with my dear friend Karen DuBert and her son and daughter, who have been touring Italy for 4 weeks now...a pilgrimage any homeschooling family would envy!  Hopefully, in between the sightseeing (they will not be with us) we will be able to spend all our meals with them, having fellowship, and catching up with with eachothers travels.  Our time will be short but sweet...then we part for another year.  The DuBerts serve the Lord in Mozambique, where they plant and grow churches.

I may not be able to blog until Saturday eve, which is the night before we return to the US.  Please continue to pray that the tracts passed out in Greece, Turkey, and soon, Italy, will bear fruit for the Kingdom of Jesus Christ.  Thanks for your prayers on our behalf...we have had a blessed experience, and look forward to sharing it with you, either in person, or on our blog (complete with photos).

It's not the end of the story...Read Revelation, especially the first three chapters, where John writes in chapter one verse three: " Blessed is the one who reads the words of this prophecy, and blessed are those who hear it, and take to heart what is written in it, because...THE TIME IS NEAR"!  "Read and heed," Paul would say, if he were here on earth...there is still time, but it is short.  Ciao!

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"Jesus Christ Himself is the Chief Cornerstone..."

What an amazing day we had...not only was the weather partly sunny and warmer, but the ruins we saw today in Ephesus equalled the number we had seen in total all week long.  Believe it or not, only 10% of the ancient city has been excavated, because of the lack of finances.

Ephesus was the crowned jewel and capital of the Roman province of Asia, and had the primary seaport of the region (think NYC).  The streets were lined with temples...the most famous was THE temple of Artemis (largest building in the Greek world), one of the 7 wonders of the ancient world, now reduced to a lone pillar.  I was thrilled to hand a tract to a man at the site,  who was actually selling the same idols that the silversmith in Paul's day would have!  The sea, in that time, flowed up to the temple, but has receeded 2-3 miles.

Ephesus was the first of the seven churches to receive a letter from John, where a 30 ft wide stone paved and pillar lined road lead from the city to the sea.  We could just envision Paul walking those streets, praying for strength as he encountered opposition.  The main part of the city contained a theatre that seated over 24,000 people.  Our group of 800 were privileged to experience a non-denominational communion service in the very place where Paul's companions were dragged during a protest by Demetris, the silversmith, because his livelyhood creating statues of the gods was being threatened...The crowd shouted for two hours, "Great is Artemis of the Ephesians"...and it was here that we prayed and sang praises to the God of the Universe!!  Paul himself was prevented to enter by friends for fear of his life, because had told the people that these idols were not gods at all.  Thousands of people burned their idol worshipping belongings, in response to Paul's teachings.  He spent over two years here, making it his home base during his 3rd missionary journey.  The Apostle found opposition here like no where else...he mentioned being "pressed beyond measure".  Ephesus represented the pinnacle of Paul's ministry...his best season ever.  The Gospel went throughout Asia from here.

Aong with the other standing structures, was a stadium, the famous library whose facade is well known in history books and tourist guides, the agora, baths, and even terraced apartments for the weathy.  John brought Mary, the mother of Jesus here during the persecution of Jerusalem, and she lived out her days in Ephesus.

Timothy, during a procession for Artemis, courageously protested to the crowd, and was dragged away and beaten...he died soon thereafter.  John assumed the duties of elder/leader, and wrote his 4 epistles in this city.  I John pleads with the Ephesians to love one another...little did he know that a few years later, he would be writing from Patmos, giving Christ's Words to the church, commending them on their knowledge of doctrine, and protecting the flock from false teachers, but was reprimanded for "losing the love they had at first" for one another.  There was need for balance, and John had the sensitivity to speak out.

As I wandered away from the ruins, with the buildings of antiquity in pieces before me, I recalled the words of Paul to the Ephesians in chapter 2, verses 20-22.  "Jesus Christ...the chief cornerstone, in Him the whole building is joined together and rises to become a holy temple in the Lord...a dwelling place in which God lives."  Will our lives be built on Christ, and stand the test of time, or will it crumble as the temple of Artemis?  Who is your "Chief Cornerstone?

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Wake up, and Strengthen What Remains...

Capitals, pedestals, columns, inscriptions, mosaics...over and over again.  But each site has just enough variety to fascinate us.

Yesterday we visited Pergamum and Sardis...two of the seven churches of Revelation chapters two and three.  All seven stood on an important circular route that brought together the most popular and prosperous part of Asia Minor.  Their order in Scripture is the same as you find them on the Roman Road, between 26 and 98.5 miles apart.

Pergamum was one of the most beautiful cities in Asia Minor...being built on terraces 1165ft above sea level, which led up to the acropolis.  The city included an altar to Zeus (now in the Berlin Museum), a temple to Athena, and a theatre and Ampitheatre dedicated to the gods of wine and the arts.  This, and the fact that Pergamum allowed the Roman government to take over their city, could be what the angel is speaking of when he mentions that "Satan's throne is there"...and that some held to the teaching of Balaam...eating food offered to idols, and practiced immorality.

Above, was the library, which was second to the one in Alexandria, Egypt.  In fact, the Egyptians were so jealous of the competition, that they refused to send more papyrus for the making of "books", so allegedly, the founder of the Pergamum library invented "parchment" which was made of goat's skin stretched thinly for a writing surface.

Nearby, we wandered through the Asklepieon, or health center of Pergamum, which was dedicated to the god of healing, Askclepios, and his daughter Hygiena. (Are you understanding why Christians had such a difficult time with idol worship?  It was all around them, every day and in every way...)   One was allowed in to the center only if his disease was "cureable", so as not to discredit the gods!  Mud baths, sound of running water,  meditation, and comedy shows in the theatre, were all therapies used in the healing of various conditions.  At one point, the priests (doctors)  would tell jokes to the patients who walked below them in the passageway through holes in the stone structure!  When one was healed, he would have his name inscribed on a white stone, with the description of the disease he was released from.  The angel to the church in Pergamum says "to him who overcomes, I will give him...a white stone with a new name written on it, known only to him who recieves it."  Could it be that our new name will signify the besetting sin that we have overcome with the Lord's help?  It's exciting to consider...

Sardis was known as the "great, wealthy and impregnable city against which no one could strive and prevail", but it was hard hit by an earthquake in AD 17, and never quite recovered.  It was also broken into because the guards were lazy at their watch.

The two structures remaining, located in opposite parts of the city, were the Temple of Artemis (yes, another one) with a stone church backed against it, and a gymnasium, where young and old men would work out to make their bodies "strong and handsome", and a place to chat and debate, to strengthen the mind.  It was more like a social club.  Curiously, a synagogue was built as an extention to the gym. It was a dangerous mix of "God of the Universe" worship adjacent to god, godess and bodily worship.  Maybe that's why the angel to the church of Sardis accused them of being asleep, because of their confidence, and of soiling their clothes with worldly influences.  Such lessons are appropriate for the church today!

It's been tough to keep up with the blogs, with such a busy schedule...what we have seen has been overwhelming at times, but totally worth the trip.  Because of internet time limits, I have only shared a few highlights...there is so much more.

One addendum to Istabul, which is on the Bosphorus, dividing the city into European and Asia sections...Turkish, we found out, is a curious mix of Finnish, Hungarian, and, of all things, Japanese.  We were assured that if you learned one, you could easily understand the others.  That, in itself, is amazing to me.

Ephesus was absolutely the best preserved site of all...today was an extremely full day.  More on our tour tomorrow...

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I Left My Heart in Istanbul...

What a city...it was everything I expected and more!  The history, people, harbour, Turkish Tea, the bazzaar, and the opportunity to share Gospel tracts with the folk left a soft spot in my heart for this unique city.  Napoleon said that if the world were one empire, Istanbul would be it's capital.  Osama Bin Ladin calls the people of Istanbul "half brothers" because they are sympathic with America.

We began the day boarding buses at 8am, heading to the Blue Mosque (so named for the beautiful blue designs painted on the ceiling), in the European part of the city. It is still active, so we removed our shoes, donned clothing from shoulder to toes, and the women respectfully covered their heads.  Twice during the day se heard the call to prayer from the minaret, now complete with loudspeakers so the meuzzin(sp) need not climb to the top!

I prayed that the people of Istanbul would have open hearts for the Gospel...the majority are only nominally Muslim. 

We walked across the square to the Haggia Sophia (Church of Holy Wisdom) that was built as a church in Constantine's reign, but converted to a mosque during the time of the Ottoman takeover.  Now it is a museum, and is being restored to it's former beauty. At one point, it had burned and been rebuilt...thankfully, the Turks covered the ceiling murals with plaster, so they were well preserved.  Green marble columns from the temple of Artemis in Ephesus, and salmon colored pillars from Babylon support the high domed ceiling.  It's imposing sillouette takes prominence in the city and skyline as we tour the area.

We broke for lunch at an authentic Turkish "fast food" restaurant (which was anything but) and we all agreed that it was a delicious meal...beans, greens, eggplant and meal cassarole, veggie stew on rice...and Mario was thrilled to have permission to order a Turkish coffee.  You would have thought we handed him a gold coin!

Afterwards, we walked to Topkopi Palace, the habitation of the sultans in the Ottoman Empire. It consisted of  a complex of buildings hidden behind ancient walls, reminescent of The Forbidden city or the Kremlin. Inside, we strolled in the open courtyard, where processions  would be held, through the Festival Gate, where we saw the court and buildings where the sultan would recieve guests...on a truly "sultan sized" bed (think three king beds attached together).  Three of the buildings held Ming dishes used to serve the over 800 residents, an kitchen, displays of silver treasures, and the gifts and spoils from various countries.  Wherever we looked, we saw cats...Mario was pleading to take one home!

Then the Bazzaar...it was a cold, cloudy, damp and windy afternoon as we made our way through the maze of covered streets (4 miles total) studying the variety of neatly displayed and brightly colored goods for sale...glass lamps, textiles, dishes, jewelry and clothing.  The labryinth of shops seemed endless.  We discovered a few replicas of Aladdin's lamp to admire.  We were told that it was the custom to barter...asking half of what we were willing to pay.  I was shocked to have my first offer accepted (much less than the asking price, or what others in our group paid).  I think the shop owner felt sorry for me, as I returned twice to examine the scarves, and was afraid to insult the shopkeeper with my low bid.  Mario was tickled to find a small dagger for 1/2 the asking price.

Three times we were asked (by a shopkeeper, elderly Russian woman, and two Turkish young men) our nationality.  I was please that we were not immediately identified as an "Ugly American", since we as a whole can have that reputation.  Dan thought it was because of M&O's appearance...hailing originally from Soviet Georgia, (which borders Turkey), they blended with the Turkish.  I, on the other hand, stood out with my silver locks.  Very few if any Turkish people had grey hair from what I could see.

All in all, it was a wonderful adventure...but, I was only able to pass out 7 or so tracts.  I completely forgot them in my purse.  Please pray, as we tour Turkey for 3 more days, that I will take the opportunity to pass on the Good News.

Tommorrow, we head for Pergamum and Sardis.  Good night!

"Because of my chains...the brothers have been encouraged to speak the Word...more courageously"

This morning we docked at Kavala (Neopolis in Paul's day), in northeastern Greece (Macedonia).  The ship met with troubled waters overnight, and the rocking kept us awake.  But all went well as we disembarked, planting our feet firmly the ground at the port where Paul entered Greece for the first time.  On his way to Philippi, a distance of 10 miles, he travelled on foot via a Roman road called the Egnatia Way, which ran through Macedonia and beyond.  Our tour bus had the distinct privilege of taking a walk uphill for a mile on that very road!  I marvelled as I glanced down at the stones still in place after centuries of wear, and realized that Paul's sandals had been worn by this very path on his way to Philippi...awesome.

When we arrived at the ruins of Philippi, we saw the usual rectangular field that housed the agora, stoa, and bema seat where Paul would have be judged for his "crime" of releasing a slave girl from demonic influences. Just across the street (Egnatia Way, again), was the traditional site of the prison where Paul and Silas would have stayed.  It was just a small shallow cave, housing maybe 5-7 prisoners at a time.  We could just imagine them cramped but still singing praises to the Lord as the earthquake set them free.  (Quakes were responsible for laying Philippi in rubble many years later.)  Our group also sat in the ampitheatre, which was being restored, and again, "Paul" appeared to encourage us to wait in expectation for the Lord's coming.  Just after he left the ampitheatre, a group of Koreans began to spontaneously sing "How Great Thou Art", and within a minute, the English speaking groups joined in!  It brought tears to my eyes...

Our group travelled a short distance to the "baptistry of Lydia"...a quickly flowing stream where this wealthy cloth merchant's heart was opened to the Gospel when Paul came to the quiet stream to pray.  Lydia and her family were baptized soon after in those very waters, and invited Paul and Silas to her home for a "new life" celebration.  This act established the first Christian church in Europe.

Tomorrow...Istanbul!

Addendum to Thessaloniki blog...yesterday was the very day that the Olympic torch was being carried through the city on it's way to China.  I don't know if I imagined it, but I thought I saw it in the fields near Veria (Berea) that morning.

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They Examined the Scriptures Every Day...

The days have been cloudy and cool, but we have hardly noticed as we move from site to site, drinking in the history of Macedonia.

We began the morning with a visit to Vergina, where the Royal Tombs of assasinated Philip II and Young Alexander (father and son of Alexander the Great) were discovered in 1977.  The stunning burial wreaths (oak leaves for men, myrtle leaves for women) worked in brilliant gold caught our eyes. As Christians, our treasures are in heaven, where moth and rust cannot destroy...

On to Veria (or Berea...Greeks pronounce "V" as "B') where we found 3 Byzantine style mosaics dedicated to the Apostle Paul by the people of present day Berea.  To our surprise, a Pauline actor appeared, dressed in a red robe and white cloak, quoting the Apostle's words with emotion.  In Acts, Luke mentions in chapter 14 that "the Bereans were of more noble character than the Thessalonians, for they received the message with great eagerness, and examined the Scriptures every day to see if what Paul said was true..."  I wondered if I was as eager to study God's Word?  Do I use it as a magnifying glass to compare God's Word to man's?

Before we left the area, we stopped to use the WC at a cafe' nearby...of course, we bought an expresso and 3 small pastries so as not to take advantage of the opportunity.  And what an opportunity it was...we found a curious ceramic hole in the ground to make our deposit!  We were warned, and it came to pass...

On to Thessaloniki or Salonika, which in Paul's time, was a world cultural center because of it's strategic location on land and sea routes.  The slave trade was common as well (...neither slave nor free...).  Among Paul's first converts were "many Greeks, and not a few leading women".  The incensed Jews followed Paul and Silas to trouble them, and attacked the house of Jason, which was near the city wall (still in existence in parts), close to the port.  They were not found, as they had escaped to Berea to be with the Christians there.  In I Thessalonians 3:3, Paul reminds the converts in the city that they should expect persecution, and commends them for their faith in I Thess 1: 7-8.  In the 4th century AD, Thessalonica was a center of Christian persecution.  I'd like to think that they passed on this Word to their descendants, in preparation of these future trials.

We were disappointed to find that downloading our specially chosen photos for you is impossible on the ship.  I will wait till Rome, or attempt it when we return. 

Next stop...Philippi.

Dan& Vicki Del Boccio and Family
"ON THE HEELS OF THE APOSTLE PAUL"

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"Ye Men of Athens..."

As you can see, we have arrived!! And so has Samuel Gabriel Fernandes, my sister's second son, born yesterday...safely, and without complications.  He needed no extra care, just testing.  We have much to be thankful for.

Thank the Lord for His graciousness.  Our trip to the Aegean was seamless, serene and safe...although we had little sleep.  There was a superb sunrise that greeted us in London...in the splendid shade of fuschia.  We had a tumultuous descent into Athens...one could see the effect of the wind on the waves below.  It was sunny, but cool, and we admired the mountains surrounding us.  At the base of them, in every direction, were a multitude of sand colored concrete block homes with red tile roofs, clustered like sheep.

We arrived at the Cristal and settled into our stateroom (M&O loved the bunks), had dinner,and turned in for the night after a brief orientation.  All of us were experiencing "jetlag".

At 6am, we awoke reluctantly with a wakeup call, and after breakfast, headed out for our Corinth/Athens tour.  I felt clausrophobic as we drove through the narrow and congested streets in Athens...highrises closed in around us and the traffic beat Chicago's rush hour.  We traveled for 2 1/2 hours before we reached the ancient ruins of Corinth.

The most striking structure was the remains of the temple of Apollo...7 columns silhouetted against the sky. Nearby was the rectangular agora or marketplace area where Paul would have argued the gospel.  Remains of columns, statues, capitals and arches were scattered like loose Legos on the grounds.  Corinth was a wealthy city, due to commerce, including slaves and prostitution, which lead to immorality.  This is why Paul talked about the body being God's temple (I Cor 3) and running the race with self control (I Cor 9)

As we headed back to Athens, we could see the Acropolis in the distance, rising 230 ft on an enormous rugged rock, surrounded by the thousands of closely clustered homes of the modern city below. To one side, we could see the sparkling Aegean.  I thought of our lives as Christians being like a "city on a hill" to be seen by mankind, and wondered if mine was worthy of emulation.

Our tour bus wound its way up to the Acropolis site (Paul walked up the marble steps), through the crowded streets, and dropped us off at the entrance.  We walked up as a group through the Propylea or ornamental gate, and as the view opened  before us, we saw the famous structure of the Parthenon to our right...partially covered with the scaffolding of its restoration project.  This building was dedicated to the worship of the goddess Athena.  From the gate, we could see below us the large rock formation of Mar's Hill, where Paul preached to the Areopagus. As he spoke, he could have seen below him, the agora of Athens, with a temple to the left side dedicated to the god of fire...fire used to create the idols they worshipped.  Paul, in Acts 17, speaks to the Athenians of the altar to the "Unknown God"...declaring the Creator God of the Universe to them, who did not "dwell in temples made by hand"...what a picture that would have been, as the two temples were before them...the source of their idol worship.

Dan& Vicki Del Boccio and Family
"ON THE HEELS OF THE APOSTLE PAUL"

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Pressing Towards the Mark...

We are packed, and ready to go!
Tomorrow morning, Lord willing, our first leg of our journey will commence at 11:45am, flying us to NYC, and then on to London, where we will pick up the flight Tuesday morning (London time) that will take us to Athens. If all goes well, we will reach Athens at 1:30pm, Tuesday afternoon, go through customs, and head towards the Cristal, a ship that will be our home for the next 7 days. After finding our room, and touring the ship, we have dinner and begin our orientation of the events to come.
To be honest, the planning of this trip has been such a pleasure, since I have had very little to do with it's preparation. Normally, I act as travel agent for the entire family, which is tiring, but worth the effort. This time, I can relax with the rest of the family and enjoy!
We look forward to finding our "sea legs" and "planting our feet firmly in the steps of Paul" (as my friend Karen put it). As I've mentioned, Scripture will come alive, and we will have the privilege of seeing the New Testament in a whole different light.
Just having celebrated Easter, the Christian's most significant "holy day", it occurs to me that our faith, and it's companion freedom, did not come without a price. History's path is strewn with martyrs that have paved the way. We have them to thank...may we never forget the faith for which they have so boldly stood.
Hopefully, I will be able to blog every two to three days, when the internet is available on board. Again, we would appreciate your prayers for safety, contentment and a bold witness for Christ. Oh, yes, that we will share our tracts with wisdom, and be received by tender hearts.
We look forward to sharing our journey in person with you as well..."grace be with all who love our Lord Jesus Christ in sincerity" Ephesians 6:24

Bring the Books, But Especially the Parchments...

It was exciting to finally receive the parcel that contained our e-tickets, itinerary, luggage tags, ID "packet" (shown in photo), and a booklet describing the ports and places we will be visiting, with accompanying Scripture. I was thrilled to find a tiny hymnbook (words only) in each of our packets...evidently we gather to worship together at certain points. What a memorable occasion to recall: meeting and worshiping with other like-minded Christians in the cities where Paul preached!
So what does one do to prepare for such an experience?
For the last few weeks, we've been using a children's devotional called, "From Paul with Love...", which is a brief summary of his journeys and letters. Mario and Olivia have completed a study of their own on the "Missionary Journeys of Paul". We have also watched a few videos of Paul's life, and one that highlights the seven churches of Revelation.
I have done research on my own, and am bringing a novel entitled, "Great Lion of God" (the life, of course, of St. Paul) by Taylor Caldwell, and to balance it with Scripture, "A Prayer Journey with the Apostle Paul", a devotional by Michael Green. I will also carry a small New Testament to concentrate on Paul's writings. This will be the bulk of my reading, with time in between to take in the sites, journal, blog and take photos. Good thing that we are taking buses just about every where we go...there will be time, hopefully for these pursuits.
The kids are taking a pile of reading books, their Bibles, journals and sketch pads to keep them busy...Dan will decide last minute what he will bring besides his Bible and camera. Mario, being the resident photographer, will be toting two cameras with lenses and plenty of memory on his digital card.
I have asked each one in our family what he/she is looking forward to most on this adventure. Here are the responses: Dan: "This will be the biggest dose of ancient history I have experienced in the last 20 years. I look forward to seeing the ancient Greek and Turkish sites...especially Ephesus." Olivia: "I can't wait to visit Philippi, where Paul and Silas were imprisoned. Also the artwork in the Sistine Chapel" (we have been studying the Renaissance). Mario: "Rome...and the Sistine Chapel" (something tells me he's looking forward to an expresso!) And me? Istanbul (Constantinople)...there is so much intrigue that surrounds that city, and it's a place like no other I have visited. I have already asked a friend for help in composing a prayer for the citizens of that place to be used whenever I hear the "call to prayer" from the minaret. A highlight for me (which will be ongoing) will be never seeing scripture in the same light again, as I bring to mind Biblical cities that I have visited.
Things are slowly falling (like the snow outside) into place as we look towards our departure date...we appreciate your prayers!

Perils of the Pauline Traveller...

I can't remember a time when I have had so many frustrations that
barred my way to a goal. I feel as though I have done something very
right, or very wrong to cause my perils. I believe I am doing
both...it just depends on the point of view. We would like to be a
testimony, and share God's Word on our journeys, in places that are
considered "enemy territory". That explains the road blocks thrown
in the way. On the other hand, the Lord just wants us to have a
taste of slipping into Paul's shoes, just to test us. He wants to
see if we are willing to let go, and watch Him work. He wants us to
be content along the way as well. I am understanding in a miniscule
way, what Paul went through to bring the Gospel to the Gentiles.
For instance...the first barrier was Mario's passport. We renewed it
in exactly one week. Amazing. The second, my 98 year old Mother was
admitted to the hospital a week ago to rule out TIA's which the
physicians discovered she did indeed have. The unexplainable thing
was that it did not impair her speech, thinking or mobility. How is
that for a miracle?! But there was a road block...she couldn't go
back to her assisted living facility (where she dearly wanted to go),
unless they could transfer her from bed to chair with one person
assisting. That's no small feat for my arthritic Mom, who was lying
in a bed for a week without therapy...one loses muscle control. But
it is no problem for our awesome God, and that afternoon, she was
able to transfer easily with one therapist, and was on her way back
home. Double amazing! I now didn't need to stay behind to arrange
her stay at another facility.
Thirdly, Saturday evening, I began having upper molar pain, and
thankfully, was able to schedule an appointment for Tuesday morning.
When I arrived, they took x-rays, and determined I probably needed a
root canal, but the endodontist, who was great with child, was
working out of her Chicago office that day (I was at that point, in a
far western suburb of the city), but they would call and see if she
could take me. I breathed a prayer to my omnipotent God, and
waited. To make a very long story short, by 5:30pm that evening, my
root canal was successfully completed. The God who asked,"Is
anything too hard for Me?", answered with another miracle. Two
patients had cancelled, leaving time to finish the job, and the tooth
had only one root, simplifying the procedure, which normally takes
2-3 appointments.
That same day, we received our itinerary, name tags, electronic
tickets and other important documents. Now, two more potential
perils stand in our way...the upcoming snowstorm from the west, and
our three long flights scheduled close together. I think you can
imagine the possibilities without much thought. Our first leg of the
journey (Monday, March 24th at 11:25am), lands in NYC, which is where
the storm is headed after it hits Chicago tonight. If that is
delayed, the connections fall like dominoes (I believe you can
visualize that one,too) and we will be seen running a breakneck speed
with our luggage yelling, "Wait for us!!", as the StepsCristal throws
anchor and leaves the dock (that's the most fun to visualize.)
But, instead of worrying, as I traditionally do, I think I am going
to pray again to our almighty God, and leave the results with Him.
You all can pray, too. "The fervent prayer of a righteous man
avails much..." Book of James

All Things Through Christ

Our departure date is drawing nigh...one week from tomorrow!
This last week has been one of testing, especially for me. But one praise item before I begin. Mario's passport arrived on Thursday, and for that we are most thankful to the Lord.
Besides the passport incident, my 98 year old Mother was admitted into the hospital on Thursday, to rule out TIA's which, upon closer look, was the case. Tomorrow the rehab doc will evaluate her, to see if she goes back to her Assisted Living quarters, or to the Alexian Brothers Rehabilitation Building. Although this was the last thing I or she wanted to happen, the Lord is working this out to everyone's good...she now will have lots of attention. Mom needs that to keep her mind off the fact that we will be gone. In fact, the doctor has requested that we keep our departure from her if possible, so she doesn't get worked up and return to the hospital again.
Now, it looks like sore throats are in order for us, and my upper right molar is causing me grief. I have left a message with my dentist, hoping that he can attend to it before the weekend. And so it goes on. I can't remember a time when so much uncertainty surrounded us as we approached our travel date. As Paul, I am learning to be content in all circumstances, and have been experiencing peace as I do. Please pray that everything will work together for good, and that we will be a good witness through it all.
Our itinerary packet with all our travel documents should arrive early this week. My next blog will include more news and info concerning our tour. Oh, by the way, we just discovered that we will be on three flights (count them...three) before we reach the shores of Athens. That spells exhaustion for me...but...I am learning that whatever state I find myself...I am to be CONTENT.

...Almost Missed the Boat!

Something happened on Tuesday that proved to us once again that God is working on our behalf,  behind the scenes, when we are totally unaware of a need.

I had visited our local library to return some school materials, and noticed a display of cruise related books.  I thought it might be a good idea to spend an hour or so flipping through a few of them, in case there were some tidbits of info on packing, embarking, touring, and the like.  So, I checked out three of the thinnest (I don't have much time to spare) on the topic.  One in particular, was the size of a jello container (kind of cute...I'm a visual learner), so I began with "The Essential Little Cruise Book" when we reached home.  Little did I know how "essential" the book would be.  Within 15 minutes, my eyes fell on a tip that made me panic: "Make sure that your passport's expiration date is more than 6 months from the time of embarkation, or you will not be allowed on the ship".  Mario's passport immediately came to mind, so I rushed to my "safe keeping" drawer, opened his passport, and to my dismay, discovered his expired in 5 months.

I immediately emailed my travel agent, who is a liaison  between the Greek company who is organizing the tours, and ourselves.  She confirmed that yes, I needed to renew Mario's passport by the time we left for our trip, which at that time was a little over two weeks.  Well, at first, I panicked, but I am learning to take everything to the Lord in prayer.  I did some research, and in doing so, almost used an agency that would have charged us over $100 extra to expedite the process.  Again, the Lord was with me, and I discovered it just in time, with help from my agent.  I was able to gather all the documents (photos, renewal form, Mario's immigration and birth certificates and a signed and notarized form that allowed Dan to give his consent without his presence and a bona fide itinerary to prove the necessity to expedite the renewal) in less than a day.  My experience gathering adoption documents was a help at this point.  I took it to our local PO, (an approved passport processing center), and mailed it Wednesday.   On Thursday, it arrived at it's destination.  It's now in the Lord's hands...we pray that it will arrive back in time for our travels.  Had the Lord not brought that to mind, we would have been sent home when we arrived to embark on our cruise...

To quote a verse of the hymn, "Rejoice, Ye Pure in Heart" will summarize how I feel at this point:

With voices full and strong, As ocean's surging praise,

Send forth the hymns our fathers loved, the psalms of ancient days:

Rejoice, rejoice, Rejoice, give thanks and sing!

Dan and Vicki Del Boccio

http://www.shaklee.net/creatorsway

Plans Realized, Preparation Begun!

Hello Friends!

     We at the Del Boccio home are excited about the doors the Lord is opening for us.  On March  24th, the four of us will be leaving for the Mediterranean (D.V.) for a "Footsteps of Paul/Revelation of John" tour that takes us to Greece, Turkey and ultimately, Rome.  I, being the primary educator of our children, and dubbed "the field trip queen", have been planning and saving for over 5 years to bring this about.  Of course, we can make our plans, but the Lord directs our steps (Proverbs 16:9).

     We will fly to Athens, where we will board a small cruise ship (that allows us to access tiny ports), and make our way to Thessaloniki, Philippi, Istanbul, Pergamum & Sardis, Ephesus & Miletus, the Island of Patmos, then back to Athens/Corinth.

     From the port of Piraeus, we head via ferry to Bari, Italy where we "cross the boot" and land in Pompeii.  Here we will walk the cobblestone streets, tread upon by the citizens of that ancient town during the eruption of Mt Vesuvius (A.D. 79), which destroyed everything in it's path.  Hopefully, we will be reminded that life can be short, so we need to live for the Lord.

     Then on to Rome, where we visit the Coliseum (where many Christians were martyred for their faith), Mamertina Prison (I believe Paul was sequestered here), the Forum, Vatican, and of course, the Catacombs, where many Christians hid to enable them to freely worship the Lord their God.  Do we really appreciate our freedom of religion as it stands today?

     We fly from Rome, then, on April 5th, somewhat reluctantly, but definitely weary (I am already, just thinking about it!), towards home...please pray that every aspect of this trip will honor our Lord.  We trust that this experience will allow us to view Scripture as never before, and that it will change us so we can be more like Christ.  Bible tracts, in Italian, Greek, and Turkish, which we have purchased, will be passed out as the Lord lead...again, pray for wisdom in this task.

     I plan to blog (best laid plans...they keep us very busy) every other day, so you can live vicariously through our travels, and maybe add a photo or two... I will need to rely heavily on the males in our family for that technical support.  If we could take unlimited baggage, you all would be joining us!

     We would love to hear your comments, and look forward to sharing our trip with you in person when we return.