When in Rome...

When in Rome, 

I learned a lot, a lot, a lot. By the end of our stay in Italy (from Saturday, Oct. 6 - Sunday, Oct. 14), I was under information overload mode and ready to sleep in my bed back in Vienna. 

Our itinerary looked a bit like:
10/6 - overnight train to Rome
10/7 - walking tour of the Ancient Roman Forum and Colosseum
10/8 - visit to Catacombs of San Callisto
10/9 - visit to San Pietro in Vincoli & Musei Capitolini
10/10 - Pompeii & Mt. Vesuvius day trip
10/11 - tour of Florence, visit to Medici Chapel & Accademia 
10/12 - visit to Bargello National Museum & Galleria degli Uffizi
10/13 - Siena day trip 
10/14 - travel day back to Vienna


The day that impacted me the most spiritually was October 8th; this was our visit to the Catacombs of San Callisto. There were over 1/2 a million Christians buried in just this one catacomb from the 2nd to 5th centuries. I loved learning of all the things Christians did in honor of their dead. They lit candles in oil lamps by the graves that they always kept lit - this symbolizing eternal life. Personal prayers and the term "rest in peace" were put on many of the tombs. The fish (Greek word: hectus) was also put on many tombs as an acronym for "Jesus Christ, Son of God the Savior"; also appearing often on tombs, was a dove, as a symbol of peace. "Irene" (how we would say it in English) is the Greek name the means peace. 
It was so humbling, convicting, and overwhelming to be in such a sacred place where Christians buried their loved ones who were persecuted in terrible ways for boldness in their faith. It was uplifting to hear that all day every day there are still mass services held in the catacombs in celebration of all of these martyrs. At the end of our tour, our Lipscomb group remained in one of the tomb rooms underground and sang "Holy Holy Holy." I could hardly sing the words due to the tears that effortlessly flowed from my Spirit in awe of God's assurance and faithfulness throughout all of time. Those martyrs possessed the same powerful Spirit that is within us. I am so thankful that I live in a place and time where I can freely live out my faith in God. However, I wish I were like these martyrs too, completely dependent on God because they had to be. It was God who gave them the boldness to profess and glorify His Holy Name in the face of evil. What will it take for us to be bold and experience the power the of Spirit the way they did?? 

"My soul is downcast within me; therefore I will remember you." Psalm 42:6

"But you remain the same, and your years will never end." Psalm 102:27

"For God did not give us a spirit of timidity, but a spirit of power, of love and of self-discipline." 2 Timothy 1:7

Help us put our trust in you, Oh God. 

Give us boldness to bring your kingdom 

to this earth so that your name 

will be lifted high!

Amen.

ROME

The Victor Emmanual II Monument... aka THE BIG WHITE BUILDING

The Pantheon.

         THE COLOSSEUM                           

 Sending letters from the Vatican City!

SISTINE CHAPEL. oh michelangelo oh.

Michelangelo's Pieta in St. Peter's Bisilica 

 GIANT NUTELLA and crepes! 

A beautiful sunset in a beautiful city. Something funny about this blurry picture above: upon jumping up on this ledge to get this picture, I underestimated my strength and the width of the ledge and ALMOST propelled myself into the river below. Thankfully, "my reflexes are sharp and I'm crazy agile". (thanks Hot Rod).   

WISHING away the Roman way at the TREVI FOUNTAIN with Kels!

SAN PIETRO in VINCOLI, ROME.
Displayed to the left are the "chains" that St. Peter was bound by when he was imprisoned in Rome. Above is Michelangelo's Moses! Michelangelo is by far my favorite artist. He made that out of a block of marble.. mind blown. 

"Dear friends, do not be surprised at the painful trial you are suffering, as though something strange were happening to you. But rejoice that you participate in the sufferings of Christ, so that you may be overjoyed when his glory is revealed. If you are insulted because of the name of Christ, you are blessed, for the Spirit of glory and of God rests on you."
1 Peter 4:12-14

ITALIAN CAPPUCCINOS.


**Here is a recommendation: if you ever find yourself hungry at the top of the Spanish Steps, take a right and check out the "Ristorante - Trinita De' Monti"and eat the most expensive meal that goes by the name of "pasta with truffles" (or something like that). Regardless, it's the 35 euro dish that you will most likely immediately look over and move on, like I did, and try to find something cheaper. My advice: DON'T. This home-made pasta with white sauce blended in with tasty truffle mushrooms and all presented in a fired bowl of parmesan cheese, is the most amazing Italian food that my mouth has ever experienced. Thank goodness we had one among us brave enough to try it and she did NOT regret it! Plus their cappuccinos ROCK!

Perched up on a ledge above the Spanish Steps to watch the sunset! Poor Rachel (on the far left) lost both her black flats off the edge.. Naturally, we went shopping for more and found that some new Italian, suede loafers would suffice. 

 PIAZZA DI SPAGNA  (view from the steps)

 Pompeii  is a partially buried Roman city near modern Naples,  
    Italy. Pompeii was partially destroyed and buried under 13 to 
    20 ft of ash and pumice in the eruption of Mount Vesuvius in 
    AD 79. 
  The picture below reveals the uncovered remains of a temple in the ancient, ash-covered city of      
    Pompeii.

MOUNT VESUVIUS 
We rode a bus up Mount Vesuvius and hiked up the remaining distance to get to the very top! To the right is a picture of the crater in the mountain. Mt. Vesuvius is still an active volcano and is actually predicted to erupt in the near future! That was a little nerve racking when we were up there and saw that there was smoke rising from this crater in one place! 
Worries aside, the view was breath-taking - as you can see behind me in the picture below!

BENVENUTI A FIRENZE

WELCOME TO FLORENCE

Basilica Santa Maria del Fiore

Basilica of Saint Mary of the Flower

Florence is the city where the Renaissance began. The whole city is a masterpiece. 

Below is the Piazza della Signoria where famous artists found fulfillment when their sculptures were put on display outside in this square for everyone to see. It is an outdoor museum. Piazza della Signoria keeps many of these original statues to this day to honor the original purposes for them by their makers centuries ago. 

How many girls can say they've flirted with the David??

Well... we couldn't take pictures of Michelangelo's flawless David that was in the room behind me (inside the Accademia museum). Thankfully, Hans Peter Feldmann made this version for me to show you all!




the gucci museum. 
the gucci sugar. 
the gucci cappuccino. 

= 4 euro well spent. 

I introduce you now to the famous Florentine dish called by the name of "RIBOLLITA".  I realize that is looks like mush; and the texture pretty much is mush. However, it's a vegetable soup/much something and it's DELICIOUS! I miss it.

leather. leather. leather. You can assume that I bought some leather gifts in Florence... I did. I also bought awesome leather boots!!   ... along with every other person on the trip pretty much haha. 

PONTE VECCHIO

the famous bridge in Florence. 

Legend has it: if you buy your wedding ring here, you'll have an everlasting marriage. *better keep that in mind LU sweethearts ;)

Looking over the city from Michelangelo Square

 a day in Siena, Tuscany, Italy 

 SIENA DUOMO siena cathedral

Piazza del Campo in Siena where the different city wards compete twice a year in a huge horse race around the shell shaped open space. 

















This is Daniel. We have Daniel to thank for starting the Lipscomb in Vienna program! Daniel became a tour guide after attending college at the  University of Vienna. He was visiting a friend in Tennessee when he decided to check out Lipscomb University wondering if there was any interest in a global learning program. He met Dr. McVey in an elevator on LU's campus, and look where we are now - 17 years later, is it?? Daniel is awesome. Thanks for being awesome, Daniel!

 

 Goodbye for now Florence!

 Love, 

Lacy 

Salzburg, Austria & Burchtesgaden, Germany

*Apologies for the delay of blogging! The whole month of October has flown by!

GRUSS GOTT (:

On Friday, October 5th, the group of us below made a day trip to Salzburg, Austria. After experiencing The Sound of Music Tour through the filming locations in the mountains and city, we ventured out to the border of Germany to visit Hitler's Eagle Nest. 

Long story short, we paid to take the first bus connection to get there and missed the second one. At this point, I didn't want to waste the bus fee and we were in Burchtesgaden, Germany! I'd never heard of it, but I thought, "why not explore?" and thankfully, so did Lexie, Molly and Meredith! So, we kept walking uphill in the direction of the beautiful mountains, skirts, dresses, Toms and all. Little, private owned farmland trails presented themselves, one after the other, and we found ourselves on top of a mountain with a breath-taking view. This was one of the best moments I've had traveling. Therefore, my advice: when you see a mountain, climb it. It's a blessing. Psalm 121:1-2.

SALZBURG 

THE SOUND OF MUSIC TOUR

The garden from the house in the back was the garden used for the Von Trapp family's house in filming! Also, the scene with Maria and the children falling out of the boat was shot on this lake. It happened to be freezing and they had to shoot it 3 times. The third time, Julie Andrews accidentally fell  and knocked all of the children out and they decided to keep this take for the movie because it looked natural. Little Gretl almost drowned in this incident and that actress, to this day, has a fear of deep waters.

This is near the birthplace of Mozart in the mountains of Salzburg!

 Below is the church where the wedding scene was filmed! (And pictures from inside of it!)

 creepy skeleton saints in the church.. I wonder if these were shown in the movie too??

This is the best apfelstrudel and ice cream that you can find in ALL of Austria!! YUM.

 This is a famous hat. The bus driver in the movie wore it. I wore it. Therefore, I am famous too. 

BURCHTESGADEN, GERMANY 

 This is a sweet, little German cow we met when hiking through a farmer's land to go up the mountain. He is one spoiled cow because the view below belongs to him.

Not only did we find a mountain; we found a secret waterfall/creek going down the mountain!

^ hahahaha. This has a story. So, when the group got split up (some going back to Salzburg, others hiking the mountain), Sam had Meredith's eurail pass to ride the train back home.. YOU DO NOT WANT TO GET CAUGHT RIDING THE TRAIN WITHOUT YOUR EURAIL. We realized this when we were on the mountain and we had no way of getting in touch with Sam.. So, we came up with plans A through D of how we would pull off getting Meredith home. Our resolution: laying down all of the seats in our train compartment to make it into a huge pallet that we would all lay across while Mere hid on the ground under them the WHOLE 4 HOUR RIDE BACK. It worked! Meredith McFarlin might be one of the BEST sports I've ever met in my whole life. 

No matter how hard the mountain you're hiking may be, the view at the end will always be worth it!

With love, 

Lacy

Finding Blessed Bled & Versute Venice

Venice, Italy was beautiful and was everything that I expected it to be. However, Bled, Slovenia was the most delightful place I think I have ever been. What an unexpected treasure of a destination it was for me! Getting to know a culture means getting to know it's people. People are fascinating. Especially people who have grown up and lived under completely different circumstances, standards and beliefs than you. We were blessed to have met so many kind hearted people in Bled. As breath-takingly beautiful as the nature in Bled was, it was the people who revealed it's true beauty. I'm learning more and more about our Father through learning more about the lives of His children. Prior to this trip, I wanted to travel to the big touristy cities to see the big sites and do the things every tourist does to say that they did it. Now, I'm realizing that true enlightenment lies in the unique, savored moments with a free and willing spirit. 

I'm starting to like this whole "no control over anything" thing. I am so weak. I always am. It's silly that my feelings of control over my life in the past (in more comfortable settings) have caused me to feel strong. Now I see that any strength I've ever had, has not been my own. I was a wreck yesterday - I cried a lot. I was just sad. Pride and my fear of not being accepted have kept me from being vulnerable, opening up and seeking relationships here. Truth is, I cannot do this on my own. Like I said, I'm weak. I need encouragement, acceptance and love. I know God's love in my head, but it's hard to feel it in your heart when you're not letting in the people that he tangibly loves you through. I am so thankful for His loving pursuit of me shown through my passionate friends on this trip. Sometimes it takes a friend holding you in bed as you cry for a bit, a nap, and then a wake up call to bring your focus to His faithfulness in His promises. I was encouraged to write verses on colorful papers that I had bought to decorate our apartment with - this turned my whole day around.  Of all the nourishing verses     discovered, the two that have completely resonated with me and renewed my hope, peace and joy is: 

"But he said to me, 

"My grace is sufficient for you, 

for my power is made perfect in weakness."

Therefore, I will boast all the more gladly about my weaknesses, 

so that Christ's power may rest on me. 

That is why, for Christ's sake, I delight in weaknesses, 

in insults, in hardships, in persecutions, in difficulties. 

For when I am weak, then I am strong."

2 Corinthians 12:9-10

"But God disciplines us for our good, 

that we may share in His holiness. 

No discipline seems pleasant at the time, but painful. 

Later on, however, 

it produces a harvest 

of righteousness and peace for those 

who have been trained by it. 

Therefore, strengthen your feeble arms and weak knees. 

'Make level paths for your feet,' 

so that the lame may not be disabled, 

but rather healed."

Hebrews 12:10-13

I am beautifully broken because I am graciously saved by the unconditional love of Jesus Christ.

Because of Him, I am able to DELIGHT in my weaknesses.

These weaknesses keep me dependent on Him.

This is exactly where I want and need to be.

I am so thankful for super-natural eyes to see that He is training me.

His plans are always to prosper me and to "fill me with the

knowledge of His will through all spiritual

wisdom and understanding."

AMEN.

"Oh to grace how great a debtor 

daily I'm constrained to be!

Let thy goodness like a fetter, 

bind my wandering heart to thee.

Prone to wander Lord I feel it, 

prone to leave the God I love

Here's my heart, 

O take and seal it, 

seal it for thy courts above"

BLED, SLOVENIA.
These pictures are of the relaxing Vintgar Gorge in Bled, Slovenia, of course. The water was the prettiest color and so crystal clear! Hannah, Shelbs and I paid 3 euro to walk over a mile along the gorge by the wooden walkway!

Above is one of the many places I spotted a cross placed in God's beautiful creation of Bled, Slovenia. If you can't already see the beauty of God through the nature all around, these crosses directly claim glory to God in such a peaceful place. Bled, Slovenia is a good place.

The nature in Bled was so magnificent. 

I couldn't help but sing praise songs to God 

the whole way walking through the Vintgar Gorge. 

His presence was so tangible. 

THE VINTGAR

Breath-taking.

**Side note: Brandon, Lexie, Michael and I went canyoning in Bled the first morning that we spent there! The only pictures we got of it were on an Australian girl's camera who was also canyoning and we forgot to give her our email... but somewhere out there, a picture of us canyoning in the Slovenian mountains exists! The water was FREEZING and we looked SO SILLY zipped up in our layers of wet suits!

PLUG: Above (and a few other pics I've included in this weeks blog belong to the wonderfully talented Shelby Smith's handiwork) http://shelbymlynnphotography.wordpress.com

 Below is another snapshot of happiness from good 'ole Shelbs. We rented a boat and the boys rowed us out to the precious church on the small island in the middle of Lake Bled!

 Inside the church on the island! I loved the shining cross from the sun through the doors of the church. It reminded me of the resurrection and His coming again!

This is our group (on the island!): Michael, Shelby, Brandon, Hannah, Lexie and myself!

 It was the coolest moment as we were rowing back to shore: we looked up and the clouds were moving, revealing the most majestic mountain looking over Lake Bled and the castle.

"In the future you will see the Son of Man sitting at the right hand of the Mighty One and coming on the clouds of heaven." 

Matthew 26:64

 We all fall short of the glory of God. Romans 3:23

Heck yeah, that's some slap-your-mama-good lasagna right there!

Bled, Slovenia: 

You are so special to me. Thank you for being lovely. 

<-- Now here's a short story to tell: We really wanted to knock out Bled, Slovenia and Venice, Italy in one weekend. I'll have you know that it is indeed possible. However, you just might be apt to reserving a night train to spare some time. Then your train might arrive an hour later than expected: at the late hour of 1 am. There might not be seats for you on that 1 hour train ride, so you might be subject to sitting outside the bathroom door, on the floor, at the caboose. Albanian drunk middle-aged men may or may not try to step on you and your tired friends trying to make it to the out-of-service bathroom. Language barriers. Then you might have a 3 hour layover in the sketch-cold-uncomfortable Villach train station until 5 am... Then you might jump on a 4 hour "overnight train" to Venice and possibly find yourself arriving around 830 am facing the beautiful Venice, Italy. What's that saying about "it's not the destination, but the journey?"... Because in this case, I beg to differ!

 VENICE, ITALY. VENEZIA, ITALIA.

Our humble hotel: Hotel Villa Serena

HAHAHA. I think the boys were a little tired on the water taxi ride to Murano and Burano.

MURANO is an island off Venice known for it's glass blowing! 99% of the stores are glass stores, go figure. We bought Christmas ornaments for our families and friends! 

(photo cred: Shelby M'lynn)

BURANO is the next stop we made to a teeny, crayola box of an island. It has always been known for it's production of lace! Burano and I got along well (: I bought a delicate leather watch from a gentle Italian man who spoke soft words in Italian to me. I only understood his kind smile, and that was enough!

 ...doors.

 THESE lovely ladies. I love their hearts. 

Heel clicking all over the world.

MAX, our gondolier, took us for an authentic gondola ride! 

...doors.

 Max whistled and sang quietly a little bit. I hope you can hear part of it!

I appreciate asian tourists who ask me to be in their pictures... I was so confused, I thought he wanted me to take the picture for them, but he put me IN the picture, HA!

 VENEZIA @ nighttime. 

That pretty bridge is the famous Rialto Bridge!

I love this woman. We stumbled upon her quaint store - how could you not be drawn into this shop?? LOOK AT IT! It turns out, she and her daughter make the leather journals in their workshop, just up that ladder! I love Italians. 

YEP. NUTELLA CREPES. would it be too much to eat these every day for the rest of my life?!?

P.S. I also experienced my first NUTELLA GELATO!!

 stuffin my face with NUTELLA!!!!! no shame. 

 Ciao Venice, 

         it was an adventure. 

Thank you for your souvenirs to take home to loved ones.

This was yesterday on a class tour to the Parliament building in Wien. Haha, I live here.

God is so good.  
He is more than enough. 
Please be in prayer for me as this trip continues.
Pray that my focus is ALWAYS first and foremost on HIM.

And thank you for all of the prayers and encouragment (:
Peace and Love and Joy be with every one of you!

Lacy