Today was an adventurous day on beautiful Crete and Santorini. We enjoyed wonderful views and time on the islands with terrific weather and had some profound and moving experiences together.
At 1:00 pm, we gathered in a private room for worship. In worship, we remembered that the "big story" of the early church consisted of many "small stories," stories of welcome and the hospitality of neighbors; stories of prayer and faithfulness; stories of hope and freedom. We shared communion and sang together while passersby peeked in to see what all the commotion was about.
We have all been incredibly moved by the words of Pope Francis and his visits to the US. We have read from his speeches and sermons and considered the power of his messages, especially his words of encouragement and challenge to Christians and all people of faith.
Tonight, we enjoy our last evening on the cruise, getting ready for our first day in Athens tomorrow. Thanks to John and Kay for their beautiful photography as always, especially with wifi that has been pretty spotty.
Our hearts are full of gratitude for the gift of this time. There is a deep sense of community that we are experiencing as we travel together, over meals, walking together, sharing stories, praying, and worshipping our Lord. We love one another and are challenged to take these experiences, these visits, and this time, and live with new understanding and renewed faith back in the US.
On to Athens!
Sean
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