How amazing is it that in 24 hours, you can travel halfway around the world? In just over a week, I have crossed 13 time zones between our family vacation and this trip. I am in a part of the world that I have never been before. English is not the primary language, but thankfully most people speak it. However, the phrase, “It’s Greek to me!”, takes on a whole new meaning as I try to read menus, signs, and products. I arrived in Greece to start a new month. How much there is to explore!
Started it off with a day at the beach! I have never seen a beach with so many rocks. There is sand, but all these smooth, flat rocks. We are staying right on the Aegean Sea. I can walk out each morning and watch the sun rise over this body of water. The fishing boats are up and out early. So peaceful and quiet, as it is just entering the season of travelers arriving for their holiday at the beach. I was told Greeks don’t enter the water until June 1st. The water was cool but refreshing after the warmth of the sun. I love walking along the edge of the beach as we come closer to the town center. The other side of the street is lined with flats to let. They are quite inviting with the bright flowers, colorful accents and quaint balconies. I can see how ready they are to receive their visitors and offer rest and restoration.
In our first adventure, we headed to the ancient city of Philippi. Set off the coast of the Aegean Sea about 8 miles, this is considered the place of entrance for the Gospel to Europe and the west. This village sat along the Via Egnatia, the Roman road created to connect many Roman territories through the region, a major highway of sorts in it’s day. The ruins that exist now tell stories of antiquity. From BC to AD, the empires that occupied the area left their marks through architecture and design. Grass and flowers grow among the ruins. Without visitors, what is left would be swallowed by what grows wild today.
We followed up with a day in Thessaloniki. What was once an important trading hub, also on the Via Egnatia, is now a vast metropolitan city. It is the second largest city in Greece, and engulfs the ruins and remaining walls of the former metropolis. As we toured one of the museums and the basilica, slowly I begin to see the ways Paul spoke to the people of his time, in their Greek understanding, to present the Gospel to them. Our guide told us many stories of Greek tradition that he believes prepared the hearts to receive the Good News of Jesus Christ.
The next visit was to Berea. There was a historic Jewish settlement outside the city walls. It is slowly being refurbished to its original state as no Jews have lived there since the Nazi occupation during WWII when its inhabitants were all taken. The village was beautiful and so peaceful. We left there to go to Vergia to the ruins discovered in 1984 of King Philip’s tomb. The displays of the tomb’s content was amazing–so many artifacts still intact and with such creative detail. Viewing something that is close to 2500 years old is hard to wrap your mind around.
We have had time to wander around this beach town, take in Greek culture and food, and reflect on where we are. A great lightening storm danced across the water one night…Thank you, Kayla, for capturing the beauty on camera! Pictures hardly ever do justice but do help us remember all that we were experiencing when we took them.
I am reading the book of Acts and beginning to see a glimpse of what the disciples may have understood their task to be in sharing their firsthand experiences with the rest of the world. The journeys by boat and by foot were no small undertaking. The sacrifices were great. However, the Good News they had to share surpassed them all. I am so grateful for their obedience!
His final words…”But you will receive power when the Holy Spirit has come on you, and you will be My witnesses in Jerusalem, in all Judea and Samaria, and to the ends of the earth.” (Acts 1:8)
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