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  Harding University in Greece

HUG/HUF Fall 2017​

Israel

10/27/2017

1 Comment

 

Day 1

What a special group of students! We have one more week together before we send them to their next home-away-from-home for the semester.
Our flight to Tel Aviv is smooth, which is what we want. Caesarea Maritime is our first stop in Israel. We watch a cheesy but informative video, telling us of the different ruling powers throughout time; I appreciate this video on each tour and catch more facts every single time. As we overlook the sea at Herod's Palace, my husband reflects upon the fact that Paul stays at Philip's house. The last time Philip saw Paul might have been at Stephen's stoning, although both were in and out of Caesarea and Jerusalem. We ponder about the conversations they might have had across the supper table.
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We make our way to Nazareth, passing bougainvillea, citrus trees, olive trees, and a few evergreens. Architecture similar to the Greeks is used. Most of the roofs are flat, not pitched for snowmelt. The Church of the Annunciation is our goal. This church has gifts from different countries all over the world - sculptures lining the outdoor portico and lining the inside of the nave of the modern church, atop an older one, still atop where tradition holds that Mary grew up as a girl.
Our day ends having supper with the Church of Christ in Nazareth. The church body here has known Harding people for a long time, and we appreciate being among friends. Traditional Arabic food was tasty! Our brothers and sisters in Christ are praising God together with us. We have family across the globe.

Day 2

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The Italians have created a beautiful park on the supposed site of the Mount of Beatitudes. We hear different languages surrounding us, also worshipping our Creator. I think it's a little piece of heaven. Under some sycamore trees, we find benches and recite Jesus's sermon from Matthew 5-7 together and share in our own worship. The group hikes down a mountainside in a more rustic and private setting and its quieter than it was in the crowded park. Heaven must be some sort of combination of the two - languages colliding, beautiful florals, seaside background, greenery, peaceful water, and shared friendships all worshipping God and bringing glory to His name.

​Boats are in the Sea of Galilee, so we catch a ride and have some peaceful time on the water. We end with a few songs and some reflection time in the Gospels. The ancient boat museum is next to the water which houses the 2,000-year-old boat recently found and displayed now beautifully surrounded by lit turquoise stones, reminding me of the waves of the Sea.
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Lunch is St. Peter's fish, which is a traditional food on the Sea of Galilee. The restaurant provides a beach for swimming in the Sea of Galilee right beside the village of Magdala, the residence of Mary. Ryan, a son of our faculty family, chooses to be baptized in the Sea. His brothers and sisters in Christ surround him with prayer, song, and celebration.
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Capernaum is our last site of the day. We see an octagon church. We know that Peter's mother-in-law is healed here. We also know that Jesus raises a twelve-year-old girl, referring to her as Talitha, which means "pure one." He also heals a lady who has bled for twelve years, and we know that this is a sign of uncleanliness among the Jews. Along with these stories, we discuss Peter's later vision in which a sheet is holding unclean animals. This sheet isn't really a sheet; we learn that it is a prayer shawl called a "tallit" that the Jews use to enter into their prayer time. Similar to the little girl's name, it means pure and unblemished. It is a holy thing to the Jewish people. Unclean animals on such a special piece of cloth would have been especially offensive. Jesus's healing of the bleeding woman and raising a dead girl and Peter's vision of the animals on a prayer shawl are all stories that turn the religion of the time on its heel. Mixing holiness with uncleanliness is unheard of and Jesus is consciously shifting thinking here. It's a big concept to contemplate.
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After our tour, we meet in the hotel synagogue and read from Exodus 25:8. We learn about the traditional way to open the synagogue cabinet, the finger pointer (because the scroll is too holy to touch). We also are shown a white prayer shawl with the tassels on the edge. We learn of many traditions and discuss the moon city of Jericho which we will visit soon, the moon people, and the change of people and practices over time. I pray that this Israel adventure will change each of us and remain with us throughout our lives.

Day 3

It's Shane's birthday, so we celebrate him as we begin our third day together in Israel. We rode past pomegranate, olive, and date palm trees on the way to the edge of the Jordan River, where we compare the gospel accounts of Jesus's baptism. Private reflection time is beside the waters of the Jordan. Some read; some pray; some ponder.
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We drive to worship with the church in Nazareth and share a special time together. We are all encouraged by the service and the visit afterwards where we were recipients of sweet treats and joyous fellowship.
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On the way to the oldest city in the world, Jericho, we pass corn on the left and think we are in Arkansas. Then we shift our view to the right and remember that we are most definitely not. Date palms, heavy with fruit ready to be harvested, dominate. We also see pelican birds, migrating their way south to Africa. We are told that we share this particular vertical highway with the birds from Asia. Vineyards appear before we arrive. The Gilgal kibbutz is on our right. We remember when His people crossed the Jordan and put the twelve stones in a circle.
We eat at a tourist stop in Jericho. People from all over are here. We learn about the nearby Monastery of Temptation; the monastic life started here.
Jerusalem greets us right after we emerge from a tunnel on the drive. It's as if we go from dry, barren land to a hustling city in the blink of an eye. The bus pulls over, and we take our first group photo in Jerusalem with the Dome of the Rock in the background.
We walk from a panoramic view of the old city walls down the Mt. of Beatitudes to the Garden of Gethsemane. Gethsemane is really two Hebrew words meaning oil press. We stop just at the entrance to a beautiful park of olive and cypress trees and read from Luke 22 and Matthew 26 of the story when Jesus prays in the Garden. We flip to Mark 10:38-39 where the text refers to "drinking the cup," which to Jews means to share one's fate. This anguish and sweat like drops of blood was a fate in which one didn't want to participate - not even the human side of Jesus. Matthew 26:39 states that He prayed that the "cup" be taken from Him but He knew that the Father's will would be done time and time again. Isaiah 51:17 also talks about the cup - this time the cup of the Lord's wrath. This idea of the cup is one with which we are usually unfamiliar. After asking the disciples to stay awake and pray, He was arrested. We split up into small groups and have time to meditate on the occurrences in this special place.
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Mud mask girls' night ended our Sunday together. Our time together was beautiful, spiritual, edifying, uplifting, questioning, searching, and loving. I delight in these girls' company and am cherishing our last days in Israel together.

Day 4

The City of David sits atop Hezekiah's tunnels which were carved as water tunnels in ancient times. Today there is a wet tunnel and a dry one that people can go through. Our students are adventurous and trail through the spaces that are sometimes too short in which to stand up straight.
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The Old City of Jerusalem is our destination for the remainder of the day. At the Western Wall we approach respectfully and back away from the wall and the people praying after we have our time there. We not only witness but are drawn into a bar mitzvah celebration by what we think is an extroverted uncle. The market center/heart of Jerusalem is the perfect spot for lunch and shopping.
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The Temple Mount is where Abraham almost sacrificed Isaac, where the Jewish temple once stood, and where Muhammad ascended. Now on that spot is the Dome of the Rock.
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St. Anne's Church and pools of Bethesda are nearby. We love the acoustics there, so we enter the church and sing Amazing Grace and a couple of other songs. Another group comes in to listen, and we share the gift of song. Our guide David sang a solo called "Hallelujah." Still in the Old City, we wander down the Via Dolorosa's stations of the cross and make our way to the Church of the Holy Sepulchre. Along with the crowds, we see the possible sites of Jesus's crucifixion and resurrection. Thank goodness Jesus is in our hearts and not trapped in a physical place.
A large portion of the group goes on an evening jog with a Harding friend named Yossi to the Old City and sees the Dome of the Rock and the Western Wall lit at night. Also seen is the possible site of both the Passover supper that Jesus shared with his apostles the night He was arrested and of the Holy Spirit coming on the believers on the Day of Pentecost. Yossi is a renaissance man and gives a flute recital onsite.
At the supper table, we process what we've experienced today and why we believe what we believe. We wonder what we'd believe had we been born elsewhere and give our parents thanks for the inherited faith that has been passed through the generations we know and love back home. Our world view is expanding and developing. We are thankful for the exposure to different thoughts, different ways of loving our Father God, and ways of living. We commit to working on Christian unity in our own circles of everyday life when we return home.

Day 5

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Zedekiah's Cave, which is also called King Solomon's Quarries, is under the Old City and was used for all of King Solomon's builds. King Solomon, the greatest builder of the Biblical period, is said to be the patron of the Freemasons. This type of limestone which hardens with the passage of time was used to build many Jerusalem monuments and the Temple Mount area.

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​The Israeli Museum has a mosaic which we study to understand the map/happenings of the city. Next we ascend for the best view of a model built of the Old City of Jerusalem that is outside of the museum. Then we go inside to see the Dead Sea scrolls that were found in the nearby caves.
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In Bethlehem we learn a bit about the politics of the time from our new Palestinian friend who guides us in this area (Israeli citizens are not allowed to guide in this territory). Bethlehem means "house of meat" in Arabic but "house of bread" in Hebrew. Jesus is called the bread of life; there seems to be no coincidences in the Bible. King David was born here, as well, and we remember that Joseph and Mary were making their way here to their homeland for the census. We make our way to the valley to visit the Shepherds' Fields. We enter the church that was built in the 1950s near the field and sing "I Am a Sheep." Groups of people stop to listen. We enter a manmade cave that was similar to one that the shepherds might have used when they were guarding their flocks.  Dr. Matlock leads our thoughts around Micah 5:1-2 in this place. We then sing a couple of songs together. Dr. Ganus tells us of a missionary who began the settlement called Bethlehem, Pennsylvania. He then asks us, "Where is Bethlehem? Yes, it's here. But it's where Christ dwells. We are temples. It's wherever we go."
The Church of the Nativity is the oldest standing church in the Holy Land and is from 600 A.D. There is evidence that Jesus was born on the ground in this place. When Persian soldiers came to destroy the Church of the Nativity, they saw a fresco of the three wise men who came from the east; this fresco saved the church. We take a look inside the crowded church and also inside the neighboring mosque, noticing the vast difference in decor (elaborate vs. plain).
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Back at the hotel, we enjoy another girls' time by sharing a "hill" that God conquered for us. I love these girls and guys. They really look out for each other and have become a family. What a sweet group!

Day 6

We make our way into the Judean desert and stop at the lower Jordan River. There are people in white robes baptizing themselves in the water. We dip our feet in as our eyes take in the reeds, palms, and eucalyptus trees.
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Camel rides are next on the list today. Seeing everyone's faces as the camel fully stands up high is always my favorite photo-opportunity. The camels we rode were trained to be nice to tourists. But we saw a pack of camels with their herder on the side of the road today. The desert drive is pretty in its own way. The soft blue of the sky above the light brown of the desert hills is certainly dry, but the colors are soothing.
Qumran is where the Dead Sea scrolls were found in 1947. We watch a quick video about the men living in the desert who wrote these scrolls before they hid them in caves. They used what they thought were the purest of tools and special utensils to copy the texts and to live and to cleanse themselves as holy out in the desert. These guys could have influenced John the Baptist. They lived as monks alone in the desert before the days of the monasteries. After lunch of falafel, schnitzel, or shawarma, we shop 'till we drop at a store with Ahava skin products from the Dead Sea and other Israeli goodies.
Everyone is geared up for the Dead Sea swim! Excitement is in the air as we make our way down to the water. We fish down under our toes for just the right mud to put on our skin. We have body mud masks! After sitting back and floating for a while, careful not to splash our friends, we shower off and head back to the hotel.
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​We had a meeting at the hotel on our last night in Israel. Silas put together a slide show for the first half of the semester. A few tears were shed because we know that we will miss this crew, but we are looking forward to our most special day tomorrow!

Day 7

The Garden Tomb is our first stop of our last day together in Israel. We make our way over to where people think Golgotha (Aramaic) might be. Calvary (English, Latin based word) refers to the same place. The words mean "place of the skull." Below is a busy place of transport. This would not have been "on a hill far away." It was brutal, and the Romans would have wanted their power and boldness known. It was right outside the Old City walls because death wasn't holy, so crucifixion spots had to be outside the walls. But they were close enough to be known - and feared.
​There is a garden (original word in the Greek Biblical text meant garden for agriculture);  there is archeological evidence that this particular place was used for a vineyard two thousand years ago. In 1924, archeologists uncovered an ancient wine press resembling that of the first century.  There is also an ancient cistern on the property.  The tomb is nearby, discovered in 1867. It belonged to a wealthy family because it has two chambers and three places for bodies. First chamber is known as the preparation room, called the mourning chamber. Then the body was transferred to the chamber to the right. Silence prevails as we take turns entering the small space.
It's my favorite place.  After some quiet individual reflection time about Jesus's sacrifice for all of us, we meet to share communion and song.  We hear other nationalities sing in their languages and are so incredibly thankful that Jesus died for us all.
The Jerusalem Prayer Center is our last stop of the day.  Most people are familiar with the story of the inspiration for the hymn "It is Well with My Soul."  Horatio Spafford was the writer of the words.  A native of Chicago, he and his wife had more children after their tragic losses.  They decided to move to the Old City in Jerusalem with a couple of other families to live as missionaries.  The community grew and the surrounding people came to call this group the American Colony.  The Spaffords' house today is officially called the Jerusalem Prayer Center.  Run by American families on a rotation of a handful of years, they are welcoming always to our group. When we arrive, after a picnic lunch, we gather downstairs in a room where the host tells the story of the Spafford family and the continued work of the American Colony.  There is a prayer center upstairs that has all sorts of stations for people to pray as best suits them.  There is art paper, there are poems, there are scriptures, there's a rolling computer screen of His names in the Bible, etc.  Everyone goes through the upstairs in silence.  It is always very moving and a needed end to our emotional week in Israel. 
It's been a roller coaster of a week in Israel.  Every single time we go, I take a bit more of it away with me in my own heart.  People with whom we come in contact in Israel always ask our group to pray for the people there.  And we will continue to do so.  What a special land and a special group of young people with whom we were able to share this experience!  Thank you parents for sending them to us.  We count it an honor to be a part of this special chapter in their lives.  
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Peloponnese Excursion

10/8/2017

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DAY ONE

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The Corinth Canal is massive and connects the two seas, technically making the southern Peloponnese an island, although most consider it the mainland. Allowing for ships to pass through, it helped to cut travel time significantly and made Corinth a major city in the Roman Empire. After we marvel at the canal's depth and straight, narrow sides, we begin our way to the ancient city. On our way, we learn about the culture of the region at the time that Paul wrote his letters to these people to which we have access today. Women covering their heads had to do with a sexual cult of the day, but Paul is encouraging unity ("neither male nor female, Greek nor Jew, slave nor master" is referred to numerous times in the Bible) when he is talking to them about shaved heads or short hair or head coverings. We must be careful when we interpret letters written to specific people in different lands in different times from which we live. The context is simply often unknown to us in our free world today.

Only five percent of the ancient city of Corinth has been uncovered. Grape vines and orange trees dominate this area. The oranges are "new" from the east. The grapes have been cultivated here since the time of its heyday.
After learning about the medical problems of the day and the sacrifices (statues of thanks), we sit in front of the agora where the meat that was leftover from the sacrifice to idols was sure to be sold to the public. The bema where Paul stood before Gallio is just a few steps away. It seems that the church in Corinth was full of gifts, but perhaps they weren't using them in the proper way or for the proper glory to God. We discuss Aquila and Priscilla's exit from Rome and their meeting Paul here in Corinth. Their common occupations gave them common ground. We discuss Paul's ability to meet people using his skills - leather working could be used for tents for lodging at the time of the Isthmian games, sandals, awnings, and ships' sails. He had multiple opportunities to meet people and tell them of Jesus Christ. When God tells Paul not to be afraid and to keep speaking, this indicates that Paul was afraid and was at least considering going silent. God tells him to keep going. He tells us the same when we face our own uphill struggles.
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We eat a picnic lunch at Acro-Corinth. Some of our group venture to explore the gated city above us. The view contains an open, turquoise sky with olives in numerous rows of grapevines and olive trees way down below.

Later we head to Nafplion to stroll the city streets in the evening just like the locals. The cafes are buzzing, the shops are welcoming, and the flowers are sadly losing their blooms but holding on as well as they can. Many students tell me it's their favorite town we've visited yet. I grin, "I told you so!"

DAY TWO

The ancient Palamidi Fortress sits atop the city of Nafplion. We explore it first thing this morning, learning about war strategies of the day.
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On our way to Mycenae, we are taught about this ancient civilization and hear stories of the people of that time. At the Beehive Tomb, we sing The Lord Bless You and Keep You to James. It is a significant time together. Arriving at Mycenae's entrance, we see the Lion's Gate at the beginning to the city. We talk about the palace of the king, the storehouses, the other houses of people, and the graves where they found the golden masks that we saw in the National Archeological Museum earlier this week.

Driving to Olympia, where we will begin our day tomorrow, was the afternoon agenda. After a lunch of our choice of beef, chicken, or pork, salad, cheese pie, and grapes for dessert, we pick up James' family. They will join us for supper and stay the night.
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We had our girls' devotional time at sunset overlooking the hotel's outdoor pool and the beautiful hills of Greece in the background – olive trees, grape vines, and mountains surrounded us. We are each sharing a little bit of our journey; opening up about a piece of our life where God has helped us, through whatever form He knows that we need, is encouraging to all. Being His witnesses is what we are about.
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Supper is too much food again, but smiles and laughter are seen throughout the room. The KINS class jogs down to the ancient Olympic stadium, a soccer ball is kicked around, and a handful go to bed early to fight off oncoming colds/sore throats. We must conquer - all in our own way.

DAY THREE

Today begins with a tour of the ancient site of Olympia. These games were sacred events in honor of Zeus, starting in 776 BC until being outlawed in 393 AD, after Christianity became the official religion of the Roman Empire. We begin at the gymnasium, where the athletes would have trained. We step into the workshop of Pheidias, the designer of the statue of Zeus in the temple (one of the seven wonders of the ancient world that stood in this area); he was also the designer of the statue of Athena that dominated the interior of the Parthenon. On the ancient track, HUGer Grady sprints to the finish line ahead of the rest of the race participants. The neighboring museum houses artifacts from the ancient ruins including statues, helmets, and wall art of the buildings
The village of modern day Olympia greets us with food smells, colorful buildings and blooms, and stores inviting us inside. After we feast on Greek salads, lamb chops, and gyros, we stroll around to see what gifts we can locate. I stop in my favorite store that sells face cream, soaps, hair products, honey, and olive oils - all made in Greece. The owner recognizes me and greets me with a smile and conversation. Their tourist season was busy, and she is ready for rest. It's a good problem. She asks when we will return again and gives me her email and suggests that I contact her beforehand so that she can be certain to open the shop. It won't be high season yet when we return with next spring semester's students, but she wants to make certain that she is available for us. Buying gifts for people makes me happy, and her store is so pretty; I have Christmas goodies stocked. She gives me a bottle of her family's olive oil as we leave with our arms full of her shop's products. Hospitality abounds in Greece.
We are on our way back "home" on the bus that is full of sleepy eyes. They'll get a nap and then stay awake too late tonight. Oh, the life of a college student. The sleep habits aren't ideal, but they form bonds that last a lifetime. They can sleep when they're my age. I was told today that we are making the students feel like a part of our family - more so than they were even told that we would, which makes my heart soar! Sweet words. That's the goal! Maybe if I tell them it's bedtime, they'll say, "Ok, Mom," and know that I want them healthy. We are trying to avoid stuffy noses and itchy throats, but not all of us are succeeding. Maybe I need to get my mom-voice turned up so that they'll REALLY feel like family! We MUST get healthy again this week back at the Artemis - our home-away-from-home for the first part of the semester.
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Greek Coffee

10/2/2017

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Words by HUGer Abby C.

​Greek coffee was an incredible and educating experience. Ms. Vicky thoroughly demonstrated how to make Greek coffee in a way that was fascinating to all of us listening. Still being early on in the trip, this experience came at a wonderful time to ponder on what the semester will hold. This experience changed my view from what can I get out of this trip to what we as a group can do to get the most out of this trip.
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​Ms. Vicky really pointed out how in order for the coffee to taste delicious the ingredients, sugar and coffee, had to come together above the flame and become one. Although she compared this to also being the secret to a good marriage, I thought about the similarities between the sugar and coffee and our group of people on this trip. Coming into this trip I was excited about the new friends I would soon make, but as I arrived an old fear of making new friendships came into my mind. Most people in this group had at least one friend coming onto this trip, but many friend groups remain at school and learning to mesh with a new group of people is difficult yet rewarding.
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​In order for this group to be everything that it can be, we have to be united, similar to the sugar and coffee in the process of making Greek coffee. We have to come together, as one unit, in order for us to thrive. Like sugar and coffee which by themselves are just pretty good, we are all the same, just pretty good on our own. But when we decide to bring all of our “pretty good’s” together for a purpose bigger than ourselves, the outcome in unimaginable. Luckily, this is not only up to us. While we have to use the opportunities given to us we also have a flame, The Lord, not only beneath us, but all around us who wants us to be united. He desires for his children to be one with each other in order for us to be one with Him. I love the works of The Lord, but one of my favorite things He chooses to do is His way of bringing people with different backgrounds, different viewpoints, and different mindsets to each other for encouragement, relationship, and most importantly for His glory. My experience with Greek coffee, reminded me of just that.
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Markopoulo Market

10/2/2017

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Words by HUGer Isabel.  Photos by HUGer Brandi.  Here's a special experience from earlier this semester...

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Walking through the Markopoulo Market and interacting with some of the vendors was a
new and unique experience for me. During my time there and as I reflected afterwards, I thought
a lot about the farmers markets that I have been to in my life. There is a large one every Saturday
morning in my hometown, and it is a very popular thing to go to. Many of us go there to get
some breakfast, look around at the handicrafts, and maybe buy some fresh fruit and vegetables.
Although the basic idea of farmers markets in America is the same as that of the Markopoulo
Market, the ideas surrounding it and the implementation are very different. Through
experiencing the Markopoulo Market, I realized that markets in Greece are a lot more about
sustaining a living than markets in America. Setting up their booth at a market each day of the
week is their day to day job, not just something they do to get a little extra money. At first, this
observation made me feel sad that they relied on such an unpredictable means of getting money,
but then I realized that this may just be a very American way of at looking at it. I don’t know for
sure how these vendors feel about their work, but I bet that farming, creating wares, and selling
these products in this way is something they may feel very proud of. Perhaps their families have
done this for years and this is their way of connecting with family tradition. Perhaps they love
the sense of community participating in markets brings them. Even for the short time that I was
there, I was able to sense the feeling of community around me. These people work together to set
up a condensed place for people to buy everyday necessities, enabling the vendors to bring in
more customers than each could bring in individually. 
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As I thought through this way of thinking about markets in Greece, it reminded me of the idea that we all have a worldview that affects how we interpret everything we see. Oftentimes we forget this, but it is sometimes necessary to realize that different people and especially different cultures have a whole different view of the world than we do. When we do think about this fact, however, and make an effort to put on the worldview of another person, even if only for a few minutes, we can learn a lot about others and show them much more respect and love than if we assume our view is always right. I think that experiencing a Greek market has taught me that as I travel, I need to recognize that my view of the world is shaped by my upbringing in America, and that I will receive a greater travel experience if I can try to put on the view of the world that different cultures have.
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Athens

10/2/2017

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We began Emily's birthday by singing to her, and everyone's eyes lit up when they spied the chocolate cake that accompanies that song here in Greece! After that, our Sunday morning called for prayer and singing in the bus as we began our day trip into Athens. Our driver said, "Heaven just came down to me. Thank you." This group can really sing. And they share their gift of song with me and everyone around them. The driver requested more songs, so we will sing for him on the way back from Athens. All people long for connection, and music provides that easily.
The Acropolis Museum sits below the real thing, and we tour that building first, as we prepare for the climb. The Acropolis is next; we learn about its architecture, its builders, and the patron goddess of the city. Even with scaffolding, the Parthenon reigns as the shining star at the top of the hill. It's cloudy today, but the sunset normally makes the Parthenon a golden hue, and I hope the students take time to glimpse this scene before they leave this country.
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Just a few downhill steps away, Mars Hill is our next stop. Acts 17:16-34 tells the story of Paul's journey to Athens. We hear about the time Paul was here, speaking to the philosophers of the time atop the rock that is in the shadow of the temple to Athena on the Acropolis. Every single time I ponder Paul's time in this place, I admire his academic connection to these Greek thinkers. And then I admire his impact of the people in this land who have a cross on their blue and white flag still flying today.
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On the top of Mars Hill, my sweet-hearted husband helps our minds focus on Jesus and on what should drive our thoughts and purpose and actions. The Greek language helps us here, and we continually learn what the Father teaches us in His word. We share in communion up here and connect like we haven't quite yet. It's a special time together.
After some free time of shopping in Athens, we share some singing on the bus on the way back to our campus. Our driver thanks us and says, "Thank you. Paradise. Paradise on earth." Singing is a gift that we are able to give freely anytime. It lifts us up when we feel a fervent need to be close to God and even when we are not conscious of that need.
A pizza party awaits us back on campus, so I'll sign off now. These students can contemplate important ideas and can throw a rockin' pizza party when it's time. They're keeping us young.
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It's a First for All of Us

9/29/2017

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HUG and HUF are combining forces like never before! The fall semester students are beginning their overseas semester in Greece and switching to Italy halfway through their time while studying abroad. These students will be able to live at two of Harding University's overseas campuses. Right now, HUF is preparing for them - getting classes perfected, working together by updating the villa that the school owns outside of Florence, and doing some team building with their staff. We Beasons in Greece will do the same after our precious-ones-already depart from us to go to the Shackelfords.
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​I consider this blog a gift to our students' parents, so enjoy these words as they guide you through your students' travels with us. Your not-really-kiddos-anymore are GREAT (usually) at posting pictures, but sometimes they are sparse with their verbal descriptions. Hence, this is my gift to you.
​Before I start with the travel stories, let me thank you for sharing your students with us. This group in particular is quickly making efforts to become a family. They are being inclusive and kind to all and are setting solid examples for each other and us. Your molding them to do so shines! So thank you for making them who they are - delightful young people whom we are enjoying already.

DAY ONE

​Mountains surround us as we head north on our first out-of-town tour with this new group. Olive trees, grape vines, cotton, citrus trees, olive trees, rice, and solar panels are the "fields" we see. Fall makes me think of family stories, yummy food at special mealtimes shared with family I love, and football games together with fellow fans - all sweet and wonderful things from which we can learn good life-lessons. The fall season of the year has long been my favorite.
​We share lunch overlooking a beautiful village nestled in the distance. Delphi is our first class of the day. We hear of the ancient oracle and culture of the day and God's working through His plan even there in pagan Delphi. After the Delphi tour, we drive further north and spend the night in Kalambaka.

DAY TWO

​Meteora's rock formations greet us as we leave the hotel. The word means lofty or elevated. I'll say. These rocks shoot up from the ground in a show of strength. It's unlike any other place I've ever seen. There are six remaining monasteries sitting atop the giant stalagmites that dominate the view. We tour one of them where monks still live and worship daily. The Orthodox church's walls are covered with paintings, dark in color from age and years of incense smoke, depicting the stories of the Bible. "Ornate" doesn't seem enough of a description.
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​Down the road, the Tomb of Phillip II, recently found around 1980, holds my favorite museum in all of Greece. We descend under the domed ground and admire the gold death crowns, the tombs, and all the things buried inside that are still intact. It's incredible.
​Nearby Berea has a synagogue. We learn about the Jewish people in this area before WW2 while we are invited inside.
​Aristotle Square welcomes us all to Thessaloniki upon arrival in the evening. Always a busy atmosphere, we join the square's guests and enjoy a trio of stringed instruments playing for the passersby.

DAY THREE

​The Greek Orthodox Church built in honor of Lydia is lighter in color than that at the monastery. White marble and lighter, brilliant colors in the murals on the walls and ceilings make up the interior here. We sit around the octagonal baptismal font and sing songs to our Savior. Music touches us in a way that words sometimes can't. It's especially beautiful when meaningful lyrics are set to melodies that speak to our hearts. The combination of them is our gift to our holy God. And He shares His joy of our worshiping Him with us. He gives back continually.
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​Near where Paul met Lydia at Philippi, our favorite Greek guide and Christian brother James (your students will tell you how they've already come to appreciate our friend James) continues the story of Paul's and Silas' violent beatings in Philippi (leaving out none of the gruesomeness of this punishment used in their day), their imprisonment (including the conditions of the jails at that time - not sanitary after beatings leaving open flesh wounds, animals crawling, and more nastiness that makes us squirm and feel awfully spoiled), the singing of Paul and Silas after receiving such brutality, and the miraculous earthquake that opened the doors and scared the prison guard, which was a big deal; the man was trembling with fear - that's significant. A guard fell in humility and fear to his knees before Paul and Silas, asking what he must do to be saved. It was a quick conversion. Luke likes medical details, and we note that finally Paul's and Silas' wounds are tended to. James tells of the frightful realization that the Romans have beaten a Roman citizen. We ponder the seeds that were planted that day by Paul and Silas. We also discussed how scared that newborn church must have been since such harsh treatment happened to Paul and Silas; those new Greeks weren't Roman citizens; maybe this is why Paul didn't flash his Roman citizen card before the beating - to be an example for these particular people because Paul got the beating and the church did not. Paul continually shows a drive to move the gospel forward. May we have such dedication and determination.
We then tour the ancient site of Philippi together and learn even more about the culture and city of the time. What a rich day of learning we've shared.

DAY FOUR

​The Mt. Olympus climb deserves a full post by itself!  More on that adventure next time... Parents, please enjoy these blog entries from this special semester!
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    Written by Loren Beason, Students, and Special Guests

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