LTY INTERVIEWS SISTER FERIAL
In August of 2019, John and I went to Israel to scout the way forward for what was to be a 2020 Holy Land journey, taking 100 people. As we all experienced with the Pandemic, it was not yet to be. Amongst the miraculous places and people we discovered, we were led to the Carmelite Convent in Bethlehem built mostly by Palestinians under the living inspiration of a young divine mystic, Mariam Baouardy. She was canonized in 2015 by Pope Francis. She is called the ‘little Arab’ or the ‘lily of Palestine’, and more formally as Saint Mariam of Christ Crucified. Her life story is full of the miraculous, as well as full with the greatest of challenges. She was pure love and demonstrated herself to be a true and deeply faithful servant of the Christ, and the Holy Spirit, fully dedicated to serving those in need.
This Carmelite Convent in Bethlehem, was once the home of Saint Mariam. It is now visited by thousands of devout Christians and Muslims. The caring of the visitors and the Convent is guided by Sister Ferial. Sister Ferial is the most knowledgeable guide and guardian of the life and works of Saint Mariam and of the Convent itself. She is a humble and delightful ambassador of goodness.
I am sharing a brief video with her so that you can bless her precious self.
Leigh
LTY and John Morton Prepare the Way for The Traveler’s Tour in Turkey 2020
Leigh and John on their scouting tour around Turkey.
John and LTY in front of Ataturk’s tomb. I am having my first exposure to the greatness of Ataturk and what he did for Turkey. A visionary change agent for a new time of progress for the Turkish people. Turks are full of gratitude for him.
Our divine lunch with fresh squeezed pomegranate juice! They take pride in everything to come straight from the farm. The yogurt is truly remarkable. Those who serve light up with our delight. Grace greeting us everywhere. Allah HU Akbar God is Great.
Our new friend who came right up to greet us….in an amazing very ancient place, Cappadocia. Natural rock formations and caves that housed first century persecuted Christians.
Well well well ?
Sunbathing Yurkish style.
In Turkey so many cats and dogs live in the streets. They are loved by the people, fed, tagged and taken care of. They are everywhere and are so gentle, and have no fear. I am going to send a brief series to show the mutual loving that is so common. The lady is waiting for a bus and the dog came to say hello and get some love.
These caves were early Christian churches starting in 4th century after the Nicene Creed. This place is called Goreme.
One of the greatest Turkish potters: Galip. Utterly delightful and looks like Einstein’s twin. He is 5th generation, the skill is passed father to son and he is passing the ancient Hittite skill to women, his daughters.
He wanted his own starring moment!
MARY, mother with Jesus, halos in place in a 4th century cave in Cappadocia, early persecuted Christians alive in faith.
I asked Johnny to look like the Marlboro man!
A doggy we fell in love with, very thin, newly delivered of babies…the most gentle and loving being blessed by the Traveler. I thanked God her life has met the Traveler’s loving. She so touched my heart with her sweet and humble Spirit. I told her her name was Love and she kissed me.
I love the balloons rising at dawn in Cappadocia. You get the perspective of the land below, a land truly radiant with the spirits of early Christians surviving in these caves. It is easy to experience the aliveness of their love of Jesus the Christ.
More balloons at dawn.
A beautiful silk small carpet from Tarkan’s that we loved. The Dervishes are dancing like Spirits with Rumi’s words: “Come Come again whoever you are…heathen, fire-worshipper, or idolatrous Come.”
Going back a few days in Istanbul, facing Ataturk’s mausoleum. The experience of the Turkish people is adoration of him as giving them ‘everything’. To show me the response, Ali asked our waiter who he did not know, “What do you think of Ataturk?” He immediately put his hand on his heart looked up smiled and said, “He is everything and he gave us everything” I am learning more about him, and I am understanding the truth of their respect and reverence for him.
Meet Mehmet. This was a very unusual man in Van who for over 50 years has been a self-assigned caretaker of the significant palace, fortress ruins of the Urartu dynasty of 900 BC He has become a foremost de-coder of Urartu cuneiform that is engraved all around the fortress. Few are left alive who know of it. For decades he has been drawn to sleep among the ruins, slowly becoming immersed in that time, that culture. He dreamed often of being there in another life. He knew nothing of how to de code the cuneiform, but through dreams and archeologists of the region he began. He now reads it and writes it. And he made time to also have a beautiful family of 9 children.
The cuneiform of the Urartu palace wall, 900 BC.
At the ruins of Urartu, stored rice from 900 BC.
On our way to Mt Nimrut and crossing a 2nd century Roman bridge young girls surrounded me with such joy, practicing broken English….”Where are you from?” “California”, and yells of excitement and hugging, holding my hand and photos photos photos. Their eyes and my eyes embracing in pure happiness as if a reunion again from forever ago. John has the video…They were with their Turkish English teacher and our communion immediately expanded, Ali joined in and we shared why we were in Turkey and that we would be bringing people next year to visit…that we loved Turkey. The English teacher asked if we would come visit their school….the girls all screamed as I said, “Let’s see”, and information was exchanged. John wants to do it if it works!!! Innocence and joy and hearts connecting. Nothing is better!!”
Our Traveler blessing the magnificent Ataturk Water Reservoir. It is directing the ancient Euphrates River to the benefit of serving the agriculture of this part of Turkey. It is very successful. It took 20 years to build. We are in Adiyaman.
John and I visiting traditional beehive houses, still lived in today but in history their design and presence is thousands of years old. We are in Harran on the border with Syria. Considered the first city built after the Great Flood.
The living room of the beehive home. Pretty lovely to me!
Our guide Ali Riza on the left and our fabulous driver Ali (I call him Ali 2) and our Traveler John in Urfa, city of the Prophets. So looking forward to sharing this place with all of you.
This is the first find of Jesus here in Urfa. Very possible Jesus came here in his youthful travels as Abraham was here, they say Moses and Joseph and a number of great Islamic prophets were here or studied here. The real Silk Road on the way to Damascus was passed through here. Alexander the Great created a large garden of Mosaics to tell of the Greek presence. The ancient world is wildly alive here.
John and new friend inviting us to delicious fresh Turkish lunch!
Boutique Hotel Turkish style!
The Mecca of Turkish Baklava in Gaziantep…full of fresh walnuts or pistachios. Unlike any baklava I have ever tasted…one lasts a lifetime in divine deliciousness!
On the left is Antiochus I shaking hands with the sun god Apollo. You see he is looking directly into the eyes of Apollo. Antiochus impresses me as a King/Leader of a high spiritual nature and great integrity. His kingdom in the mountains (Mt Nimrut area and called kingdom of Kommagane) It lasted barely two generations of peace and goodwill before the Romans conquered. Antiochus reminds me of Akhenaten in seeing himself as one with God, and the difference being Antiochus expressed inclusion and respect for other Gods as well. In his writing he spoke of honoring the Sacred.
Baklava for lunch with our Johnny!
The Loquat fruit, indigenous to Turkey… I find the fruit trees here so full and luscious and fragrant.
Pisidian Antioch is an ancient Roman city estimated to have 100,000 inhabitants including Paul, formerly Saul of Tarsus. He lived here for a year and was preaching to the gentiles about Jesus Christ.
John and Leigh amongst the ruins of Pisidian Antioch where Paul preached when a booming city in first century. Paul could travel to such big Roman cities freely as he was a Roman citizen from Tarsus and he could do the business of his family, tent making. Excellent ‘covers’ to give him access all through these lands to preach and speak of Jesus Christ. His first preaching to now include Gentiles, occurred here in Pisidian Antioch.
The Traveler, feet on the ancient stones, embraced by the clouds, blessing the earth
Pisidian Antioch was a thriving Roman city in the early first century….felled by earthquakes over time. Turkey is vulnerable to earthquakes each century.
Magical Tarsus….beautiful waters and still present is a sense of the Orient. Other times, other rhythms.
I had been sleeping in our van on our way to Konya, the ‘city’ of Mevlana Rumi. I was startled by a strong voice ”get up”. I sat up just at the moment of arriving in Konya knowing it was not an outer voice that had called me. I knew something ‘other’ had begun. I was in the city of hearts. Rumi’s home.
The beautiful tomb of Rumi/Mevlana in Konya/Iconium.
We are arriving at Rumi’s place of burial. I began skipping, feeling a giddy joy …so happy. The sweet Presence was so strong. I was in Rumi’s field and I could feel the welcome and embrace like a wafting fragrance.
Rumi wrote poetically of the tulip, Turkey’s flower. The writing of the name of Allah is shaped similarly to the open tulip. It is Spring here and they are everywhere.
Mevlana Rumi’s place of burial. It is a Turbe, or place of holy burial for Holy people.
Our Traveler blessing Rumi.
Mevlana Rumi’s sarcophagus.
Life-size replicas (amazing) of two Dervishes sitting and possibly discoursing of the Teachings.
The very ‘hat’ worn by Shems of Tabriz, Rumi’s great teacher and beloved, who shattered Rumi’s heart open to being the Beloved.
Shems, Rumi’s teacher on the left and Rumi on the right. Around Rumi are books all about studies of the Koran. Around Shems are no books. He IS the book. His teaching with Rumi was to awaken him to his soul…to know he is the beloved, and he is the beloved in everything. The Living Love.
Clouds dancing at Rumi’s place.
If you want a nap after you eat, this is an option in the dining room!
And should you want to take a swing!
Hmmmm, not sure I buy it!
Here is the actual hat of Shems from the 1200’s.
Cherry trees in full bloom all over Turkey. It is Spring!
A Turkish kitty cleaning up after a feast shared with John and Leigh.
After lunch visiting with Naciye, our guide Ali’s mother in a small town called Dazkiri where she is the Vice Mayor. She is a powerhouse of light and love…and the best hugger!
Yep, we are up there!… in the ancient theatre in Aspendos. It held 15,000 attendants!
This is an enchanted part of Turkey on the Mediterranean Sea with the Taurus Mountains stretching in great beauty across the way and the air is heavenly…
John and LTY in front of the entryway to Aphrodite’s Temple. In the far distance is Mt. Babada where some beautiful marble is sourced for sculpting and facades and walkways.
John and Leigh in front of ancient outdoor sculpting school in Aphrodisias.
Our true pillar.
Aphrodisias is absolutely gorgeous. One of the most stunning sites we’ve seen. It housed one of the most valuable sculpting schools in the Hellenistic, then Roman times. You are looking at the outdoor school…a vast area with abundant pools of fresh water to cool the sculpting tools. Gardens and beauty all around. A truly creative oasis for sculpting masters for over 5 centuries: 2 BC to 400 AD Some of the great sculptures were made here and then shipped to Rome.
Red Poppies everywhere. Many earthquakes over time have felled these cities. More than wars. And now it is very peaceful with fields of poppies, caressing fresh breezes and birds singing.
A remaining gentleman in the outdoor sculpture garden. A God of the times.
Our beloved amongst the magnificent ruins of Aphrodisias.
A moment for Bacchus.
This was an unusual place dedicated to worshipping the Emperors as Gods, and if you refused, like the early Christian converts, you were executed. Light being placed!
Some Turkish roses and bees. The bees are plentiful in Turkey and the honey in the comb is served almost everywhere. Including black honey in the comb. In some areas there are Black roses. Yes, truly black.
She is beautiful. Two different marbles to distinguish her hair from her skin. Life size from 2nd century AD.
Roses among the ruins of one of the seven wonders of the ancient world. The mausoleum of Mausoleus and his sister, also his wife, Artemesias. After his death, she strategically and brilliantly outfoxed an invasion from Rhodes. She is given little mention for her strength and intelligence. Mausoleums thereafter are named after this one, felled by earthquake then the crusaders.
Johnny pushing a pillar back into place.
In front of Mary the Mother of Christ’s home in mountains outside of Ephesus. It is a re-build on the original foundation. The Presence is profound. For me a very high energy, energy above any projection upon the place itself. It is a Christ peaceful of the soul energy. Palpable and divine. Easy to consider infinite protection from Spirit here.
John helping/healing a dog named Fox at a magnificent place of rug making in Ephesus. It was very touching.
The patriarch of the Greek Orthodox Church between us. Bartholomeos giving communion.
Underneath these four pillars is the suggested burial place of John The Beloved.
Ready for a stroll in Ephesus.
