Turkey
So this
past week was crazy we did so much this week.
I got
to try Turkish delight (which has been on my bucket list for the past couple of
years)
We went
to so many places. All of them were amazing.
I think
one of my favorite parts was the boat ride of the Bosphorus. It was just peaceful and smooth.
Day 1 of Turkey
Flight
to Turkey!
Hotel
Hamidiye
 |
| Walking in Istanbul (Starting from the Right Marissa, Kimmy, Luiza, Amy, Bree, Me, Kendall, Courtney) |
Day 2 of Turkey
( Don't judge me for wearing the same outfit that I posted about the other day, I only have a few outfits)
Blue Mosque
 |
| Me at the Blue Mosque |
 |
| Outside of the Blue Mosque |
 | |||||||||||||||
| Kendall and I at the Blue Mosque in our headscarfs (that is Scott in the back)
Basilica
Cistern
(didn't get any pictures of me there but this is what the Grand Bazaar looks like)
Gallipoli Battlefield Memorial
Don't have a picture of this on my camera, but I have a few friends that have pictures. That I will get from them at the end of semester. Troy 
Assos  Pergamon Acropolis
Church of St. John  
Church of St John! (there is even a Baptismal fount here)
Ephesus ( Super amazing Ancient City)
The Library at Ephesus
Look in your scripture and you will see the picture I am holding. I have been there.
Theater at Ephesus!
Priene
Super Beautiful Priene
Day 6 of Turkey
Sardis
 
Thyatira
(Ashisar)
Grand
Mosque, Bursa
Bree, Rose, me and Summer
Day 7 of Turkey
    This a piece of my paper I wrote about my turkey trip... |
Ephesus,
I believe, was one that was easiest to imagine what it looked like during its
prime. In Ephesus, I really thought about the daily life of those that lived
there. If I were alive would I have listen to John or Paul when they came to
preach. I learned that John was exiled to the Island of Patmos; at the time I
think that he could have doubted. He supposed be preaching the gospel of
Christ, but instead he was given the opportunity to save so many by writing the
book of Revelations. Paul also came to Ephesus, because there were people there
that were ready for the gospel in their lives, which is just like now, with our
missionaries out in the field.
One
of the Places that I learned from and I really felt the spirit in was when we
went to Constantine’s Lakeside Place or the Nicea and talked about the meeting
to decide what Christianity entails or is. I think this site just brought this
whole new love for Joseph Smith and his role in the restored gospel, which I
thought I already had. The confusion that was on the earth and the clarity that
I have in my life because of him. Another inspirational place was Gallipoli; we
talked about the battle that happen there and draw that ensued that caused so
many to loose their lives. My grandpa was in the military and I thought about if
he had lost his life I would never have had the family that I have and that I
am so thankful for. I also thought of all those that had lost their lives and
that they never had the change to raise their families, but I know they will
have that opportunity in the next life. I just really felt like we can all
learn from this place, because it reminds us of the shortness of life and how
we need to be thankful for each day that we have been blessed with.
Assos,
with that beautiful overlook, it just really hit me, how true and real the
Scriptures
really are. I have never thought about the places that scriptural events
occurred until I came here, the reality that all these places are real not
fictional. Paul really came through this city on his way to Troas. As we
visited Smyrna I had some of the same thoughts, I remember reading about Smyrna
before and the letter that was written from his place to encourage the on going
faith of the saints. I though about the faith that they must have had. These
Saints brought forth we some of the teachings that have saved millions.
Once
we came to Miletus and Priene, which is where they have city streets that are
much like the cities in Utah because they are set up like a grid system. I have
always wondered how these ancient cities are just left to riot. I learned about
this was that the land changed that so much in the years, since the scripture
were written, what at one time could have been a busy seaport, is now just a
few miles away from the seacoast now. Paul wrote letters to the saints from
these places and goes to that the leaders of the time really cared for there
saints as do the leaders of the church care for us. Sardis inspired me in a way
that I didn’t think it would. The reading we had for Sardis was in Revelations
3, in which the we are told to “Be Watchful” and to strengthen those that
remain in the church. It reminded me the importance of friendship in the gospel
and how that essential that is the church, to strengthen members and bring
people back. It was as important then as it is now.
Thyatira
was this peaceful and calming place for me. I never expected that we would be
in the middle of the woods, before I can I always expected that we would visit
places in more tropical areas, but here really bought me back to the fact that
gospel can be true anywhere in the world and people are being prepared for the
gospel all over the world for the gospel. Just like Lydia, who was in a wicked
place but she was ready. Like Lydia who was in the world but of the world, we
have the saints that were in Pergamum. John shared that even though they lived
in wickedness the held fast to the gospel. Just as those saints held fast so
can I in my own life, because we live in a wicked world also.
No comments:
Post a Comment