This morning we set off on a three and a half hour drive to Laodicea. I was excited because my presentation site is Laodicea (all students present on one of the sites that we visit). On the way, Jim shared a powerful devotion- we also have a devotion each morning on the bus, shared by a member of the group- about his experience of God, and the beautiful power and river of peace, which in the face of so much conquest and war in the history of the places we are visiting, and looking at the state of the world, is so very needed. We need life, and to see what love and life and victory look like through Christ the gentle lamb. Afterwards, Emily led us in a lovingkindness meditation to help us process some of what we have seen and heard. I am feeling so grateful for the wisdom of this group, and the kindness and intellect that we share with each other.
Laodicea is a huge site, which is only recently excavated within the last 22 years. The excavation has been fast (the nickname of the head excavator is “Speedy Gonzales), and that means that new discoveries are happening nearly every month or even week. The excavator of this site was a shepherd who came from a poor family, who used to live at this site. He would see columns and marble blocks around and became curious about what they were. Now, he gets to know! Laodicea is one of the seven churches mentioned in Revelation (3:14-22). There is a lot of fascinating research on what that reference to “lukewarm” might mean– likely not about water, though the wealthy Laodiceans had a pretty extreme water and sewage system. They were drowning in abundance! It could have to do with food, with the idea of sitting around a dinner table and God being nauseated by the lukewarm food. Certainly it is about the weak faith of a wealthy people. In any case, I encourage you to look this up. The site is impressive and the scriptural reference is just as complicated and impressive.
From Laodicea, we went directly to Hieropalis and Pamukkale, where the Martyrium of St. Philip is located. He is the one mentioned in Acts 21:9, having four daughters who were prophets. The journey at Hierapolis was fun because we all piled into two vans which took us all the way up the side of the mountain. We were zooming! Let me just say that I don’t think these vans were meant to be off-roading it up the hill at that speed. But it was sure fun! And we were grateful for the lift up the steep hill. I am sorry that I do not have a picture. I was holding on to stay in my seat!
We then had free time at the wonderful Pamukkale, site of the Travertines– also known as Cleopatra’s pools. The white color of the travertine terraces is visible from far away. The color is from the calcite that is within the waters of the hot springs that settle in the pools. Now in the dry season, these pools are not filled with water. But if you come when it is not to dry and hot (and it’s VERY dry and hot!), you can see beautiful blue pools flowing down. We were happy for the water, even thought it was warm, because today it reached 98 degrees, and it has been this hot for many days now, and will remain this hot until we leave. Many of us took the opportunity to swim in the ancient pool as well, which has many fallen columns within the water that you can swim over!
When we arrived at our hotel, we were so glad to have an evening free. The pools in the hotel are also mineral pools, with both a hot pool and a cool pool, and a spa. We took many trips between the hot mineral water and the cooler plunge pool. I feel so rejuvenated, after spending the morning under the hot sun at the sites, to have had so much time in the water today. I also absolutely housed my dinner (this is lingo for, “I ate a lot and very fast”) because I burned so many calories swimming between all the pools!
Tomorrow we leave bright and early for our next location. All best to our night owls who do not appreciate an early morning! I am so grateful for this special day in the amazing waters of the hot springs. I'm feeling ready to go!
-Liza
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