Efes/Ephesus--see facebook for pics.

this is the first time i have heard thunder in at least 5 months. it's so strange.. i had not thought of it until today but i really miss thunder.. almost to the point of crying because it is finally here. the rain looks like it is about to pour from the clouds, but as i wait they crash together.

thursday i went to efes/wphesus with the memphis group. it was the most amazing place i have ever seen. walking on the streets paul walked on...ceasar walked on... down steps that so many who formed our history walked on.. was simply amazing.

the ruins that have been preserved made me stand in awe when combined with the beautiful landscape behind them and the rolling, dark, thick clouds up above. all day it looked just as the clouds look today, as if they are about to burst and pour forth the rain that is making them so full and dark up above. but, it did not rain the entire time we were in ephesus which was a special blessing. the lighting and the shape of the clouds provided for even more spectacular pictures.

the stadiums..the library...the arches...the walls...the streets.. the mosaic floors... the marble... everything was absolutely breath-taking..

as we came to st. john's bascillica, the rain came down as a fresh breeze, so light you could barely call each one a drop. it was refreshing in a way i cannot explain..

the ancient ruins at the bascillica were equally stunning... the more i walked around, the more i discovered. it sat upon a hill that overlooked the village on one side and had mountains rolling on the opposite side.. from the edge, you could see the ancient pillar which was to worship the goddess artemis and a newer mosque very close beside..

thinking about how three such different belief systems could exist in one small area amazes me.. it also shows me how easy it is for His people to forget what he has done for them and how far he has brought them and to turn to false gods and worship another.

at the end of the trip, we vistied a carpet making and selling factory. it was very interesting and a good end to the day...