Today was again busy but oh so blessed by the sweetness of the Lord's love. We were off for Tarsus today, the home of St. Paul, and we were able to see the site of an ancient Roman road, ruins, and the well of St. Paul. It's amazing to reflect on life at the time of Paul walking on that road. The service that he provided after his conversion and formation in the Lord, and the love and commitment he had for God and the people on his journey, how passionately he surrendered all.

The next part of our day was a surprise of love, and amazing grace, a witness for us all. We left the site of the well of St. Paul where we went on to the Church of St. Paul in Tarsus, opened most often as a museum. But during this year - the year of St. Paul, the Sisters have allowed it to be open for pilgrims to have Mass there. When we arrived at the convent just minutes after leaving the well, we were filled with the water that only God can provide. Since there was already a Mass going on in the church, they had made another space for us in the convent itself. Watching one of the three Italian sisters care for all the details of attending to making the space ready, and providing hospitality for us, was touching. They are the only Catholics in Tarsus, and they stay to witness Christ's love for His people. How tenderly they hold and care for the people of God and how passionately they surrender all. What a loving witness!

The sister even stayed to celebrate the Mass with us, what a beautiful anointing of grace we received during our liturgy and fellowship together. Answering the call to serve we were moved to encourage and support their work in Tarsus. And so we try to continue to be open to the journey, open to the call of the Holy Spirit, and to follow the Good Shepherd.

Later on in the day, we were on to the sites of two other ancient cities that are merely mounds right now, because excavation has not officially begun. Derbe and Lystra two other places that Paul spent time preaching and healing. Interestingly enough, we needed to be guided back in the right direction by a young shepherd boy herding his flock of sheep back home from the pasture. How many times do we need to be guided back onto the right road by the Good Shepherd himself and to come back to the well to which we are called, the well of living water. Only then can we be refreshed and restored to live, to love, and to serve. Only then can we receive the love and healing that we need.