I figured I should probably get these Moldova updates rolling- though currently the computer thinks I'm spelling everything wrong because I'm not typing in Greek. If that didn't give it away- or if you haven't been up to date on twitter, facebook, or instagram- I'm in Greece! Aaaand I left about a week early. As I looked at flights I was getting exceedingly frustrated, everything that first week of July was astronomical, a long string of events I wont dig into too much led me to investigate multi city tickets (as much as I wanted to hang out in Chisinau for a week....) Somehow discovered that by flying into Athens and then making my way to istanbul prior to Chisinau I'd save around 300 bucks... and that's factoring in travel, hostels and a bit of food and so, here I am! Without planning to had an 11 hour layover in Paris- which was fortunately during the day as well. Epic adventure.
The majority of the travel was farely uneventful. There were a few times where I was hit with this odd sense of empowerment- managed to get myself from the airport (which is an hour away from the city) to Notre Dam, meandered around a bit, then hit up the eiffel tower- then managed to track down a random Metro station, and though I had to make 4 transfers and one of the lines had two different trains, managed to get on the correct one... (For all you who've ever given me guff about being directionally challenged-evidently I'm a rockstar with directions as long as it involves the Metro) Arriving in Greece everyone I spoke with was baffled that I was traveling by myself and so late and still was determined to take the metro rather than a taxi (missionary budget+adventurous spirit=always opt for public transit) Caught the absolute last train and found my rather lovely hostel- greek buildings are amazing!
Today I spent most of my time at the Acropolis and Parthenon hiking around and accidently happened upon Areopogus Hill (otherwise known as Mars Hill) It was kind of bizarre because initially I didn't realize what it was, I saw a sweet rocky looking hill with a cross, started climbing on it(wrong way of course- which is why I didn't notice the sign) and sort of got chills... when I found out what it actually was I definitely had a moment... such amazing things for the Lord happened in that spot- in fact just days ago I was talking with a friend of mine about Pauls sermon there- in acts 17 something that really jumped out at me is how before Paul launches into an explanation of who the one true God is, validates the people of Athens- almost commending them for their devout religion, and then referencing one of their monuments to an "unknown God" He approaches the Gospel in a way that would be tangible and clear to his audience- he doesn't sugar coat it, but he sees where they're at and uses that to effectively minister to them...
The majority of the travel was farely uneventful. There were a few times where I was hit with this odd sense of empowerment- managed to get myself from the airport (which is an hour away from the city) to Notre Dam, meandered around a bit, then hit up the eiffel tower- then managed to track down a random Metro station, and though I had to make 4 transfers and one of the lines had two different trains, managed to get on the correct one... (For all you who've ever given me guff about being directionally challenged-evidently I'm a rockstar with directions as long as it involves the Metro) Arriving in Greece everyone I spoke with was baffled that I was traveling by myself and so late and still was determined to take the metro rather than a taxi (missionary budget+adventurous spirit=always opt for public transit) Caught the absolute last train and found my rather lovely hostel- greek buildings are amazing!
Today I spent most of my time at the Acropolis and Parthenon hiking around and accidently happened upon Areopogus Hill (otherwise known as Mars Hill) It was kind of bizarre because initially I didn't realize what it was, I saw a sweet rocky looking hill with a cross, started climbing on it(wrong way of course- which is why I didn't notice the sign) and sort of got chills... when I found out what it actually was I definitely had a moment... such amazing things for the Lord happened in that spot- in fact just days ago I was talking with a friend of mine about Pauls sermon there- in acts 17 something that really jumped out at me is how before Paul launches into an explanation of who the one true God is, validates the people of Athens- almost commending them for their devout religion, and then referencing one of their monuments to an "unknown God" He approaches the Gospel in a way that would be tangible and clear to his audience- he doesn't sugar coat it, but he sees where they're at and uses that to effectively minister to them...
“Men of Athens, I perceive that in every way you are very religious. For as I passed along and observed the objects of your worship, I found also an altar with this inscription, ‘To the unknown god.’ What therefore you worship as unknown, this I proclaim to you. The God who made the world and everything in it, being Lord of heaven and earth, does not live in temples made by man,[ nor is he served by human hands, as though he needed anything, since he himself gives to all mankind life and breath and everything. And he made from one man every nation of mankind to live on all the face of the earth, having determined allotted periods and the boundaries of their dwelling place, that they should seek God, and perhaps feel their way toward him and find him. Yet he is actually not far from each one of us, for
“‘In him we live and move and have our being’;
as even some of your own poets have said,
“‘For we are indeed his offspring.’
Being then God's offspring, we ought not to think that the divine being is like gold or silver or stone, an image formed by the art and imagination of man. The times of ignorance God overlooked, but now he commands all people everywhere to repent, because he has fixed a day on which he will judge the world in righteousness by a man whom he has appointed; and of this he has given assurance to all by raising him from the dead.”
Now when they heard of the resurrection of the dead, some mocked. But others said, “We will hear you again about this.” So Paul went out from their midst. But some men joined him and believed, among whom also were Dionysius the Areopagite and a woman named Damaris and others with them.
He met them where they were at... pretty powerful stuff- and though some men mocked him, the ones who didn't were so worth it... That's kind of my prayer with this trip- and my ministry in general... that I would be able to effectively minister and love on people- regardless of where the Lord leads me- by seeing them and valuing who they are and speaking truth into their lives.
Finally- some specific prayer needs- travel safety... I'd already planned to travel through Turkey and now there's a lot of unrest there- may need to be prepared for an alternate travel route and not really in a spot with much of a cushion to do that- pray for favor and safety- and in general, provision... things have really fallen into place in a crazy God way for me to even get here but I definitely need to trust Him to continue to provide! Blessings!
