Our BIG 3/4 empty bus (w.bathroom)

I came up with an idea so I don’t have to worry, about my large suitcase or, about messing up my back.  We have placed the suitcase on the last seat of the big bus. I only take the clothes I need for that night, in my small carry on! Plus I have access to all my stuff on the bus during the day.

We drove for four hours today. We visited the Shrine of Rumi.  http://www.sacred-destinations.com/turkey/konya-mevlana-museum.htm  Rumi’s son was the one that created the Whirling Dervishes, based on this father’s philosophies.  I now appreciate  more having seen the dancing ritual yesterday and understand the exhibits in the museum better.

Allan from New Zealand serving The Minister's wife

Here is part of a story about the Holy Spirit.  Our guide made arrangements so that we could celebrate the Eucharist today in the Catholic Read more »

It was a full day today and we saw a number of interesting things. We saw some underground churches today, check it out  www.hitit.co.uk/tosee/cappy/goremeoam.html There is a mosque on every corner and you can hear the call to worship through out the day. Didn’t talk about Paul much today focused on the early church and how “Christians” at the time  were being persecuted. Read more »

May 26, 2010 9:20pm

We started with Eucharist this morning, breakfast and then a very interesting bible study on Paul’s letter to the Galatians.  It is only 6 chapters, so give it a read.  You could also look at the synopsis in The Life of Paul book-I think it is page 69.  I will post my class notes at the end of this entry.

Our transportation is a Greyhound bus for the 13 of us!  Everyone gets a whole row and a seat for  backpacks! Our first stop was www.ankaracityguide.com/anatoliancivilizationsmuseum.htm it was interesting, but history is a challenge for me; I find it difficult to put all the pieces of history together. Dates for a dyslexic are murder. We drove for four hours Read more »

Mehmet on left is our guide and driver.

I slept most of the afternoon and feel much better.  My roommate Jenny arrived around 4:30.  She is from New Zealand as are four others, 2 are from Australia and three of us from the U.S. There are 13 of us including our Turkish driver/guide.  Jenny and I are the only “singles” the rest are four married couples.

Jenny helped to write the New Zealand Book of Common Prayer

My classmates are the mirror image of our congregation; most are retired but very active with a few still working.  I am the youngest in the group, but I am used to that!  The books I gave to the congregation on Paul last Sunday, I brought for my class as well, and they seem to like them very much.  I am going to read for a while and call it a day.  Good night.

Business Class Accommodations

May 25, 2010 1:30pm in Turkey 6:30am in the US.

I am in my hotel room in Ankara!  It was a good thing that I spent the night in NY, because American Airlines had really messed up my Turkish Air tickets and it took me all most three hours to get it straightened out before I left.

Business class was really nice!  The food was great and it was wonderful to be able to stretch out all the way. Plus I got some new slippers and a make-up bag.  My back is telling me that it prefers a bed.  My mind is trying to tell my body it is 1:30pm and my body is saying I hate mornings and this feels like morning to me!

On the trip from Istanbul to Ankara the geography started out with the densely Read more »

Stop, so you can go down Gift Blvd!

Our celebration of the Holy Spirit on this Pentecost Sunday was full of color and joyful music!  The Spirit was flying high.  I thought I was going to be flying high on my way to Turkey today too, but I got grounded! The flight to (JFK) New York was delayed so that I was going to miss my connection to Istanbul.  After looking at all my options-even taking a cab to Dulles. I decide to take the flight to New York as scheduled, spend the night in a hotel, and take the same flight to Read more »