May 7-10
Back to Istanbul for the Remainder of our Journey

After our amazing journey this morning into the hillside ruins of Assos and Troas, we departed for our long journey back to Istanbul. This was going to be about a six hour ride, but somehow we didn't mind. We enjoyed the company with each other, our guide, and our bus driver; we enjoyed the prayer with each other and the conversations about sacred Scripture; and we enjoyed the beauty of God's creation, the countryside of Turkey, and of course marvelling at the new life God granted today, Adem's baby.

When we finally arrived back in Istanbul, we were ready to share another wonderful meal together, and then to relax in a room that we wouldn't have to move out of so soon. This would indeed be a treat to be able to wake up and not have our luggage outside the door within a half an hour.

Friday morning we were off again as a group, today we went to the Blue Mosque, and Hagia Sofia, two ancient amazing wonders. both buildings were full of beauty. The workmanship and architecture were indeed wonders in themselves. I was so moved in Hagia Sofia, built initially as a church and later turned into a mosque, and now today it is just a museum. The images of the frescoes on the wall were truly beauty that allowed me to adore more deeply the God whom I love so much. Seeing the images of Jesus, Mary, and St. John the Baptist made my heart leap with joy, just as in the visitation of Mary to Elizabeth St. John leapt for joy within his mother's womb. I felt like my heart was rejoicing, do you see here the God who loves you so much, do you know him? Come and adore him, he wants to know you!

This was exactly what my heart was really feeling the entire journey of this pilgrimage, a deepening of my own call to mission, just as St. Paul was being called and sent, so too I felt that same call. And now that I am writing this, I do want to shout out to all who would hear, come and know him, come and adore him, he loves you so much!


Later that evening back in the hotel, we were able to have Mass and hands on prayer together
It was moving to all of us, but I realize now that what I voiced as my desire for prayer was indeed the call of the Lord for me, which was deepening with each step of the journey of this pilgrimage. How good God is, how faithful, and loving, and tender. Again I feel His shepherding.

And so I pray today:

Here I am Lord, is it I Lord. I have heard you calling in the night.

I will go Lord, where you lead me. I will hold your people in my heart.

-Here I Am Lord

__________

Saturday, May 9

Today left us with one less pilgrim, Father had to return home, but we are holding him in our prayers, and his presence is still very much a part of this group. This morning we are off to Chora church. What an amazing ancient church. I think that for this sight, the pictures will tell it all. Every wall, every area of the ceiling was covered with the most beautiful mosaics and frescoes. This was a highlight for many of us, as we stood in awe at the mysteries of our Lord there in the artwork displayed for the many generations that have continued to pilgrimage here. Everyone, seeing the beauty and all of us being drawn deeper by what was not seen, the prayer of the Holy Spirit which was certainly being prayed in the soul of each of us who were there adoring the images, the wonder, the grace. The song that kept coming to me there, and even now as I remember this part of our journey is from the song Amazing Grace, by Chris Tomlin:

My chains are gone, I've been set free.

My God, my Savior has ransomed me.

And like a flood, his mercy rains.

Unending love, amazing grace!

After our visit here, I am just left with the echoes of the Spirit of God praying in me. I really just felt like I needed to go and be, but we were on to immerse ourselves in a part of culture and tradition of Turkey, the Grand Bazaar. Wow, what a place, 4000 stops for all of those shop -a-holics. We didn't even make a dent in what was there to be seen in the hour we spent. But somehow I felt like it was enough. From there our group split up to go separate ways, and we all had to say good-bye to someone who had been such a big part of our journey, our guide, Barch. I felt that God had so blessed us with him, what a gift he was to us all with his passion for life, history, ancient Greek, and an understanding of the sacred Word that meant so much to all of us. How beautiful that God had worked it all out that even through this Turkish guide, His hand would be guiding us and touching our hearts so deeply. We will continue to hold him in our hearts and to lift him to the Lord. Again I feel that the words thank you are so inadequate, but I know that God understands the depth of the gratitude that is really unspoken in my heart.

So in the afternoon, John and I were off to the Spice Bazaar, another interesting place that was like being immersed into Turkish culture and life. The sights, and sounds, and smells filled us. It was a lot of fun and we didn't have to stay that long. Then we decided to walk some of the way back to the hotel, that was fun for me too. We went through ordinary neighborhoods with parents taking their kids to the playground, and kids playing hopscotch, and some kind of fancy jump rope on the sidewalks, and little boys running after balls in the street. With so much of the ancient world a part of their life, right in their back yards in some cases, they were very much a part of the same world we knew. Everyday life goes on, and I can't help wondering what of it will be passed on to the future generations. I pray that the song in my soul that wants to shout: Jesus is Lord! Do you know him? He loves you! His love, and his mercy, and his grace endure forever! Come and let us adore him!, that this song, this prayer will somehow echo on even here in this place that I have come to love as I have been called to be a pilgrim.

We are pilgrims on a journey,

we are travellers on the road.

We are here to help each other

walk the mile, and bear the load.

-The Servant Song