Day 06 - Pergamum, Rug Shop, Smyrna

We are capping off a day of study and fun cultural experiences! The theme for the day was restoring power!

We began in the lower part of Pergamum. We toured the asclepion where people would go to worship the god Aclepios and be healed. They believed this place had the power to meet there needs and heal them. With a small sacrifice, one would be permitted to enter and seek the help they needed. How easy would it have been for the Christians in Pergamum to go to here for the power of healing rather than our Rapha (healer). 

We then had the wonderful experience of going to a local rug work shop. We toured the facility and saw how difficult and time consuming hand made Turkish rugs can be. Many of us also bought some!

Next, we headed to Smyrna. Another city that has been difficult to excavate due to the current city surrounding it. Smyrna was an intensely persecuted church. In this great city, Christians were met with hatred. Yet they were faithful. They turned to the God who has power over death. The Romans could only threaten death to the body. How does their power compare to the One who raised himself up from the dead and offers us eternal life? We have nothing to fear with God. The power of Rome seems silly when stood next to the power of the Almighty God.

We later got to try Turkish Delight, which was delicious! We ended the day with a delicious dinner at our last hotel of the trip! Only two more days, so we are trying to soak up every bit of it.

Megan McGaughey