Day 5
Saturday, April 13, 10:15am
After a relaxing time with the Lord and getting ready for the day, we are off to Philippi but our first stop is for Bougatsa (correct spelling:) and coffee. I know God is a God of second chance so I decide to give Greece a second chance at coffee. This time I tried an eight oz. cup to find the standard one oz. of mud on the bottom. Oh well that is it. Starbucks has my euro.
1:00pm
The speed limit to Philippi is 130km but Br. Angelo drove a gentlemanly 110km. The scenery is so beautiful here. The rolling hills, lakes, cows, goats and sheep. We saw a shepherd crossing the bridge with his sheep and it reminded me of Pastor Carlson’s Sunday night messages on Psalm 23 and how we have such an awesome Shepard who cares so much for us.
Just walking around the coliseum, old ruins, Prison St. Paul, underground church, bathhouse & WC we just so much wanted to know what it was really like; just trying to picture the past and how they lived. Entering the prison that Paul apparently spent time in… it’s hard to explain. Elisabeth and I sang a song that maybe Paul sang, Rejoice in the Lord alway! but did he sing that? did I take that moment as serious as I maybe should have. I think back to this afternoon (it is now almost midnight as I type my report) and realized I did not take time to meditate on what it would have been like if I was imprisoned for my faith like Paul was. How blessed I am to live in a country and not be persecuted for my faith. To live in a country where I have the liberty to tell others about Jesus and what He has done for them and that the Lord allow me to come to Thessaloniki and share the gospel. God is so good to me.
Br. Angelo being the ever host with the most took us up that mountain Emoji that God has given me Emoji and it was quite the climb. I think we began at about 3:00pm so although it was warm, there was a breeze. I needed to bring up the rear just in case someone fell, I could help them…and I’ll just leave it at that. We made it to the fort and what a view. So beautiful and the pictures just do not do the view justice.
5:20pm +24C
We went to Lydia’s shrine and where she was baptized. It is a beautiful spot, great for resting after a brisk mountain climb. I noticed in the photos that Elisabeth and David look as fresh as ever and you’d never know they did anything but relaxed all day. Laura and I look… tired? Anyway, Br. Angelo spoke with a boy named Angelo and gave him a tract. The boy came by where we were sitting and kind of just hung around and then finally spoke to Br. Angelo and asked, “Where are you from and what are you doing?” Br. Angelo spoke with him about the Lord and asked him if he wanted a Bible and that God will speak to him if he will let Him. So little Angelo got his Bible and was looking through it when we left.
8:30pm
We walk into Br. Angelo’s favourite pizza place and greeted Kyaday (incorrect spelling:) but I am torn between eating and wanting to go to bed. Apparently eating is more important than my beauty sleep:) It was so good, I had the Super pizza but I still am in love with Angilina’s pizza in Snow Lake. There is nothing like it. Sorry Greece! After finishing our pizza at 9:40pm we decide to rush over to the pastry shop for ice cream. We all pile into the small car with Elisabeth, me, Laura M and David in the back. Elisabeth politely asks us to all move over so she could have more room! She is so sweet and funny and we don’t move! We arrive 1 minute passed 10:00pm but the lady has graciously stayed opened for us. She is a real neat lady and I think she has taken to Br. Angelo. It would not surprise me if he wins her heart to the Lord. That would be so exciting! It was a great time and the desire to sleep is set aside as we are really enjoying each others company.
We are home now and I’ve spent 2 hours getting this report ready so…
