2022 年 3 月,由於醫療緊急情況,我將土耳其之行從十二天縮短為五天 ( 我的“半個”土耳其之旅 ) 。讚美主,2024年3月,我不僅完成了土耳其之旅的“另一半”,而且還享受了額外的「紅利」,那就是造訪了美麗的希臘的聖經遺址。
In March of 2022, due to a medical emergency, I cut short my trip to Turkey from twelve days to five (My “Half” Turkiye Trip). Praise the Lord that in March of 2024 I was able not only to finish “the other half” of my Turkey trip but also to enjoy an extra bonus, that of visiting biblical sites in the beautiful country of Greece.
In March of 2022, due to a medical emergency, I cut short my trip to Turkey from twelve days to five (My “Half” Turkiye Trip). Praise the Lord that in March of 2024 I was able not only to finish “the other half” of my Turkey trip but also to enjoy an extra bonus, that of visiting biblical sites in the beautiful country of Greece.
本次行程共有38人參加,其中青少年及兒童12人。 吹號者事工旅遊學習團和退修會的特別之處就是鼓勵全家一起經歷。 我相信,當我們聯結世代時,將為我們的土地帶來復興(瑪拉基書 4:6)。 例如,在我們的旅途中,當其中一個年輕人扭傷了腳踝時,我們團隊中的一名成年成員(一位醫生)立即對她進行了檢查,令人感動的是,我們團隊中的其他女孩立即跑去找冰塊。 讓我們建立一個跨代的社群 – 讓年輕人和成年人一起享受生活、互相支持!
We had a total of 38 participants on this trip, including 12 young people and children. A special aspect of Trumpeter Ministries tours and retreats is that the whole family is encouraged to share the experience together. I am convinced that when we unite the generations, we will bring revival to our land (Malachi 4:6). On our trip, for example, when one of the young people sprained her ankle, an adult member of our group, a medical doctor, examined her right then and there and, in a touching act, other girls in our group immediately ran to get ice for her. Let us build a community in which young and old can enjoy life together and support one another!
We had a total of 38 participants on this trip, including 12 young people and children. A special aspect of Trumpeter Ministries tours and retreats is that the whole family is encouraged to share the experience together. I am convinced that when we unite the generations, we will bring revival to our land (Malachi 4:6). On our trip, for example, when one of the young people sprained her ankle, an adult member of our group, a medical doctor, examined her right then and there and, in a touching act, other girls in our group immediately ran to get ice for her. Let us build a community in which young and old can enjoy life together and support one another!
首先我要感謝主恩旅遊Grace Tours為我們安排如此精彩的旅行。 在短短的十二天裡,我們獲得了豐富多樣的體驗:爬上山丘和高山、下到低谷、爬進洞穴、乘坐熱氣球上升,欣賞加帕多家奇特火山地質的壯麗景色並乘坐遊輪遊覽地中海上的希臘島嶼。 我們搭乘長途巴士、接駁巴士、接駁船、纜車、飛機,當然還有步行。 我們優秀的土耳其導遊/“教授”可汗(擁有波士頓大學碩士學位)不僅對許多學科領域知識淵博,而且就像一位充滿愛心的朋友。 可汗會說土耳其語、英語、中文和日語。 我們的巴士司機(“船長”,土耳其人對他的稱呼)也非常熟練和周到。 陡峭蜿蜒的山路,狹窄的小巷,對他來說都沒有任何困難。 他總是盡最大努力將巴士停在我們酒店前面,即使這需要費額外的功夫。我們的榮幸和祝福是,主恩旅遊的負責人熊弟兄全程親切地陪伴我們,他的妻子和兒子在我們旅行的最後四天也加入了我們。 這已經是我第三次和熊弟兄一起合作安排聖地旅遊學習了; 我深深受到他和他的家人愛土耳其人民的激勵。 我強烈推薦主恩旅遊給大家!主恩旅遊見證(基督教今日報)
I would like to first of all thank Grace Tours which arranged such a wonderful tour for us. In a short twelve days we were provided with a rich variety of experiences: hiking up hills and mountains, going down into valleys and caves, going up in a hot air balloon for breathtaking views of Cappadocia’s volcanic rock formations, and traveling by cruise ship to visit Greek islands on the Mediterranean. We traveled by coach, shuttle bus, tender (a small boat that shuttles passengers from a ship to land), cable car, airplane, and, of course, by foot. Our exceptional Turkish tour guide/”professor” Kahan (who has a master’s degree from Boston University) was both extremely knowledgeable about many subject areas as well as like a caring friend. Kahan speaks Turkish, English, Chinese, and Japanese. Our bus driver (“Captain”, as he would be addressed in Turkey) was also very skillful and thoughtful. Neither steep winding mountain roads nor tight alleyways presented any difficulty to him. He always did his best to park the bus right in front of our hotel even if it required extra maneuvering. It was also our privilege and blessing that Brother Spade, the leader of Grace Tours, kindly traveled with us for the entire time, and his wife and son Elias joined us on the last four days of our trip. This is already the third time that I have worked together to arrange a tour with Brother Spade; I continue to be inspired by him and his family and by their love for the people of Turkey. I highly recommend Grace Tours to everyone!
I would like to first of all thank Grace Tours which arranged such a wonderful tour for us. In a short twelve days we were provided with a rich variety of experiences: hiking up hills and mountains, going down into valleys and caves, going up in a hot air balloon for breathtaking views of Cappadocia’s volcanic rock formations, and traveling by cruise ship to visit Greek islands on the Mediterranean. We traveled by coach, shuttle bus, tender (a small boat that shuttles passengers from a ship to land), cable car, airplane, and, of course, by foot. Our exceptional Turkish tour guide/”professor” Kahan (who has a master’s degree from Boston University) was both extremely knowledgeable about many subject areas as well as like a caring friend. Kahan speaks Turkish, English, Chinese, and Japanese. Our bus driver (“Captain”, as he would be addressed in Turkey) was also very skillful and thoughtful. Neither steep winding mountain roads nor tight alleyways presented any difficulty to him. He always did his best to park the bus right in front of our hotel even if it required extra maneuvering. It was also our privilege and blessing that Brother Spade, the leader of Grace Tours, kindly traveled with us for the entire time, and his wife and son Elias joined us on the last four days of our trip. This is already the third time that I have worked together to arrange a tour with Brother Spade; I continue to be inspired by him and his family and by their love for the people of Turkey. I highly recommend Grace Tours to everyone!
在我們旅行之前,我並沒有意識到聖經中從創世記到啟示錄(尤其是新約)的許多關鍵事件都發生在土耳其土地上。 現在很多地方對我來說不再只是名字,而是我實實在在的踏足過的地方。 我的大腦需要很長時間才能消化這次旅行中學到的一切。 我只是想在這裡分享一些特殊的記憶:雖然這應該是我完成“另一半”土耳其之旅,但這次的大多數景點對我來說都是新的。 除了啟示錄七教會所在的古城遺址之外,我們還參觀了加帕多家的一些與信仰相關的遺址:早期基督徒躲避宗教迫害的地下城 Kaymakli Underground city, 哥樂美露天博物館 Goreme open air museum-保羅在此地設立神學院,於是在4至9世紀間小鎮哥樂美成了小亞細亞的信仰中心,以及 11 世紀的厄哈拉谷 Ihlara Valley拜占庭洞穴教堂。 加帕多家是早期基督教最虔誠的地區之一。 走在古老的小路上,我想起了早期聖徒所遭受的苦難和迫害。
Prior to our tour I had not realized that so many key events in the Bible from Genesis to Revelation (but especially in the New Testament) took place in the land of Turkey. Many places are now no longer just names to me but are actual places that I have set my foot upon. It will take a long time for my mind to digest all that I have learned on this trip. I just want to highlight some special memories here: Although this was supposedly the completion of my other “half” Turkey trip, most of the sites this time were new to me. Besides the ruins of ancient cities where the Seven Churches of Revelation had been located, we visited a number of faith-related sites in Cappadocia: the Kaymakli Underground City where early Christians hid from religious persecution, the Goreme Open Air Museum (a UNESCO World Heritage site: 10th-12th century churches dug into the volcanic rock and decorated with frescoes), and 11th century Ihlara Valley Byzantine cave churches. Cappadocia was one of the most pious areas in early Christianity. Walking the ancient paths I was reminded of the suffering and persecution endured by the early saints. |
這次旅行對我來說有幾個「第一次」:
1)我第一次搭乘熱氣球。 從高空俯瞰,我們欣賞到了難以形容的山谷奇景和日出的壯觀景色,天空中還點綴著大約兩百個彩色熱氣球! 確實,「諸天述說 神的榮耀, 穹蒼傳揚他手的作為。」(詩篇 19:1)
整個體驗開始於我們所有人都早起穿著保暖的衣服,5:30 就從酒店出發,在日出前驅車穿過一片看似荒野的黑暗、沙質和蜿蜒的山路,到達我們指定的熱氣球,爬進藤籃,看到氣球升起,慢慢升上天空,到達幾千英尺的高度……繼續在不同高度隨風向慢慢飄浮在空中約一個小時然後逐漸下降“返回地球”,每個氣球都被一組人拉動的繩索引導到平板卡車上。 我們從藤籃裡爬出來,喝著傳統的香檳飲料(我們的不含酒精)慶祝,並獲得了證書! 熱氣球公司精心策劃的努力令人印象深刻,做得如此出色,有條不紊這本身就是一次非凡的體驗。
我們認識到,熱氣球只在某些天氣條件下允許飛行。 2022年,儘管分配了兩天時間,我們的團隊還是無法飛行。 今年,靠著上帝的恩典,我們能夠體驗熱氣球之旅,從高空一睹地球的風景是多麼特別的經驗。
This trip included a couple of “firsts” for me:
1) My first hot air balloon ride. From high above the ground we were treated to an indescribably spectacular view of the valley and the sunrise, the sky additionally dotted with approximately two hundred other colorful hot air balloons! Truly, “[t]he Heavens declare the glory of God; the skies proclaim the work of his hands.” (Psalm 19:1)
The entire experience began with all of us bundled up in warm clothing and being picked up from the hotel at 5:30 am, taking a pre-sunrise drive through a seeming wilderness on dark, sandy, and tortuous mountain roads to our designated balloons, climbing into the balloon baskets, seeing the balloons fired up and rising slowly up into the sky to a height of a few thousand feet… continuing to slowly drift about in the sky following the direction of the wind at varying altitudes for about an hour, then the gradual descent “back to earth”, each balloon being guided down onto a flatbed truck by ropes pulled by a team of men. We climbed out of the balloon baskets, celebrated with the traditional drinks of champagne (ours were non-alcoholic) and were presented with certificates! What an impressive, carefully orchestrated effort by the hot air balloon company, so well done that seeing that was a remarkable experience in itself.
We learned that hot air balloons are only permitted to fly in certain weather conditions. In 2022, our group had not been able to fly even though there had been two days allocated for it. This year, by God’s grace, we were able to experience a hot air balloon ride in which we were given a glimpse of just how beautiful the landscape of the earth could be from up high.
1)我第一次搭乘熱氣球。 從高空俯瞰,我們欣賞到了難以形容的山谷奇景和日出的壯觀景色,天空中還點綴著大約兩百個彩色熱氣球! 確實,「諸天述說 神的榮耀, 穹蒼傳揚他手的作為。」(詩篇 19:1)
整個體驗開始於我們所有人都早起穿著保暖的衣服,5:30 就從酒店出發,在日出前驅車穿過一片看似荒野的黑暗、沙質和蜿蜒的山路,到達我們指定的熱氣球,爬進藤籃,看到氣球升起,慢慢升上天空,到達幾千英尺的高度……繼續在不同高度隨風向慢慢飄浮在空中約一個小時然後逐漸下降“返回地球”,每個氣球都被一組人拉動的繩索引導到平板卡車上。 我們從藤籃裡爬出來,喝著傳統的香檳飲料(我們的不含酒精)慶祝,並獲得了證書! 熱氣球公司精心策劃的努力令人印象深刻,做得如此出色,有條不紊這本身就是一次非凡的體驗。
我們認識到,熱氣球只在某些天氣條件下允許飛行。 2022年,儘管分配了兩天時間,我們的團隊還是無法飛行。 今年,靠著上帝的恩典,我們能夠體驗熱氣球之旅,從高空一睹地球的風景是多麼特別的經驗。
This trip included a couple of “firsts” for me:
1) My first hot air balloon ride. From high above the ground we were treated to an indescribably spectacular view of the valley and the sunrise, the sky additionally dotted with approximately two hundred other colorful hot air balloons! Truly, “[t]he Heavens declare the glory of God; the skies proclaim the work of his hands.” (Psalm 19:1)
The entire experience began with all of us bundled up in warm clothing and being picked up from the hotel at 5:30 am, taking a pre-sunrise drive through a seeming wilderness on dark, sandy, and tortuous mountain roads to our designated balloons, climbing into the balloon baskets, seeing the balloons fired up and rising slowly up into the sky to a height of a few thousand feet… continuing to slowly drift about in the sky following the direction of the wind at varying altitudes for about an hour, then the gradual descent “back to earth”, each balloon being guided down onto a flatbed truck by ropes pulled by a team of men. We climbed out of the balloon baskets, celebrated with the traditional drinks of champagne (ours were non-alcoholic) and were presented with certificates! What an impressive, carefully orchestrated effort by the hot air balloon company, so well done that seeing that was a remarkable experience in itself.
We learned that hot air balloons are only permitted to fly in certain weather conditions. In 2022, our group had not been able to fly even though there had been two days allocated for it. This year, by God’s grace, we were able to experience a hot air balloon ride in which we were given a glimpse of just how beautiful the landscape of the earth could be from up high.
2)我第一次坐遊輪的經驗。 我們行程的三分之一是在希臘。 我們搭乘中型的遊輪天國探索號,訪問拔摩島(約翰被流放的地方,並在那裡寫了啟示錄;啟示錄1:9)、克里特島(使徒保羅差遣提多去的地方;提多書1: 5)、雅典(保羅在亞略巴古講道;使徒行傳17:16-34),以及聖經中未提及的兩個美麗的島嶼:聖托里尼島和米克諾斯島。
遊輪本身很有趣,因為工作人員和其他客人來自不同的國家。 此外,船上還有許多不同的活動可以參加。 巧合的是,在上土耳其語課時,我甚至遇到了一個參加過我的線上課程的人! 這位基督徒姊妹與她的丈夫和女兒一起從加州前來。 世界多麼小啊!
2) My first experience on a cruise ship. A third of our tour was in Greece. Traveling by our medium-sized cruise ship the Celestyal Discovery, we were able to visit Patmos (where John was exiled and wrote the book of Revelation; Rev. 1:9), Crete (where Titus was sent by Apostle Paul; Titus 1:5), and Athens (where Paul gave his Areopagus sermon; Acts 17:16-34), and two beautiful islands not mentioned in the Bible: Santorini and Mykonos.
The cruise ship itself was interesting in that the staff as well as other guests came from a variety of nations. Additionally, on the ship there were a number of different activities one could participate in. I joined a class giving an introduction to the Turkish and Greek languages which was quite enjoyable. (By coincidence, while attending the class, I even met someone who had taken my online biblical worldview class! This Christian sister had traveled from CA with her husband and daughter. What a small world!)
遊輪本身很有趣,因為工作人員和其他客人來自不同的國家。 此外,船上還有許多不同的活動可以參加。 巧合的是,在上土耳其語課時,我甚至遇到了一個參加過我的線上課程的人! 這位基督徒姊妹與她的丈夫和女兒一起從加州前來。 世界多麼小啊!
2) My first experience on a cruise ship. A third of our tour was in Greece. Traveling by our medium-sized cruise ship the Celestyal Discovery, we were able to visit Patmos (where John was exiled and wrote the book of Revelation; Rev. 1:9), Crete (where Titus was sent by Apostle Paul; Titus 1:5), and Athens (where Paul gave his Areopagus sermon; Acts 17:16-34), and two beautiful islands not mentioned in the Bible: Santorini and Mykonos.
The cruise ship itself was interesting in that the staff as well as other guests came from a variety of nations. Additionally, on the ship there were a number of different activities one could participate in. I joined a class giving an introduction to the Turkish and Greek languages which was quite enjoyable. (By coincidence, while attending the class, I even met someone who had taken my online biblical worldview class! This Christian sister had traveled from CA with her husband and daughter. What a small world!)
作為基督徒團體旅行的美妙之處在於,我們每天早上都能以敬拜歌曲、聆聽神的話語、分享弟兄姊妹的奇妙見證來開始。 我感謝每一位加入我們的人,特別是那些帶著孩子一起旅行的人。 我的希望和祈禱是,孩子們能夠與父母一起度過如此豐富而有意義的經歷,與去迪士尼世界這樣的主題公園度假相比,這可以提供一個機會來加強家庭內部聯繫,與其他家庭互動,最重要的是屬靈上的影響。
此行的主要目的是跟隨保羅的足跡,參觀啟示錄七教會遺址。 透過實際沿著使徒的腳蹤,我們可以更深入地理解,這些敘述是真實的敘述,而不僅僅是「故事」。 我們實際上可以站在保羅和約翰曾經站過的地方; 使徒行傳和啟示錄都活過來了! 過去有很多東西值得我們學習的,這使我們能夠面對今天的挑戰。 神是阿拉法和俄梅戛,是昔在、今在、以後永在的那一位! 神帶領約翰寫信給七個教會的目的是讓教會成為得勝者(正如每封信末尾重複的那樣)而不是失敗。 教會並非指其會眾聚會的建築物。 在土耳其的古城中,我們沒有發現任何被標記的結構,例如薩迪第一浸信會或別迦摩第二長老教會。 希臘文的教會,Ekklesia,其實是指決定當地事務的一群人。 今天,我們的教會需要超越我們建築物的圍牆,再次成為一個 Ekklesia,傳播好消息並影響這片土地! 使徒行傳並沒有在第28章結束。讓我們繼續忠心地ㄧ起「書寫」第29章! The beauty of traveling as a Christian group was that we were able to start each morning with the singing of worship songs, with the hearing of God’s Word, and with the sharing of amazing testimonies from brothers and sisters. I am thankful for each person who joined us, and especially for those who traveled with their children. My hope and prayer is that children can have such rich and meaningful experiences together with their parents which, in contrast to going on a vacation to a theme park like Disney World, can provide an opportunity for bonding within families, for interacting with other families, and most importantly for being impacted spiritually. The main purpose of this trip was to follow the footsteps of Paul and to visit the sites of the Seven Churches of Revelation. By actually going along the path of the apostles, we can understand more deeply that the narratives are actual accounts rather than simply “stories”. We can actually stand where Paul and John had stood; the books of Acts and Revelation come alive! There is so much to learn from the past which enables us to face the challenges of today. God is the Alpha and the Omega, the One who is and was and is to come! The purpose of God leading John to write the letters to the Seven Churches was that the churches would be conquerors (as is repeated at the end of each letter) rather than falling short of what they should be. Churches are not defined as the buildings their congregations meet in; in the ancient cities of Turkey we did not find a structure which was labeled, for example, The First Baptist Church of Sardis or The Second Presbyterian Church of Pergamum. The Greek word for church, Ekklesia, actually means a group of people or an assembly of people who decide about local affairs. Today, our churches need to go beyond the walls of our buildings to become an Ekklesia once again, to proclaim the Good News and to affect change upon the land! The Book of Acts doesn’t end with Chapter 28. Let us together faithfully continue to “write” Chapter 29 ! |