Tour Leader’s Blog

Wow, what a pilgrimage our tour in Syria has been! We just had a very meaningful visit with Bishop Battikha of the Greek Catholic Church. Earlier we were welcomed at St. George’s Monastery of the Greek Orthodox Church and yesterday the Patrician of the Syrian Orthodox Church hosted us at his seminary for conversation and then for a special meal at a nearby restaurant. Discussions on the bus as we drove back to Damascus have been lively.

We also visited Krak des Chevaliers, the famous crusaders’ castle, and we are amazed at the rich layers of history in this beautiful country.

Tomorrow we will fly to Turkey to continue our “Exploring the World of Paul” tour. We are grateful that we could experience the current life of the Christian church in Syria and get a glimpse of how they interact with their Muslim neighbours. Virginia Dawson commented that they have so much to teach us.

~ Wilmer Martin

Our pre-tour to Damascus and Syria is exciting. We arrived in Damascus last night and are lodged at the beautiful St. Christopher’s Monastery.

There is so much to see in four short days. Samer, our step-on guide, told us that only 13% of the people in Syria are Christians, but Muslims and Christians live together with respect and harmony.

Jesus came from Palestine, but Christianity came from Damascus, Syria. We walked several times today on a street called The Straight. After Paul’s blinding vision and conversion, he stayed here. We visited the memorial chapel of St. Ananias where tradition says Paul stayed for 7 months. As we walked on The Straight, the group reflected with Tom Yoder Neufeld on the beginning of Christianity.

The group enjoyed Adam, the one and a half year-old son of MCC workers Ben and Amber Younan as we met in their home to learn about their work in Damascus.
Later, we took pictures of the window outside the wall where Paul was lowered so he could leave the city. A map showed the three missionary journeys Paul made as he spread Christianity, all originating from Damascus.

Jake Klassen is amazed how bonding and fellowship has emerged among our group in such a short time.

~ Wilmer Martin

TourMagination invited Georg Glas, owner of Hotel Turmwirt, to come and share about his hotel and the Oberammergau Passion Play which will be performed in 2010. All TourMagination groups that include the passion play will stay at Georg’s hotel.

On Tuesday, April 14 Georg met staff in our Waterloo office and spoke in the evening to a group of interested persons at the Stone Crock Restaurant in St. Jacobs .

Georg Glas

The next day Wilmer and I flew with him to Pennsylvania and he again gave his power point presentation to persons who will be traveling on our Pennsylvania to Europe tour in June 2010. Enthusiasim was high at the meeting at the Chambersburg Mennonite Church both for those registered on this tour and persons interested in other tours.

On Thursday we had another event at Yoders’ Restaurant in New Holland. What an exciting evening as persons asked questions and learned from Georg who has played various roles in the passion play including Pontius Pilate in 1980 and 1984.

Another group traveling on one of our 2010 Oberammergau tours gathered early Friday morning at DJ’s Diner to meet Georg and to learn more about the tour. The excitement of the 28 persons gathered made Wilson, the leader, say, “Why do we have to wait one more year?”

At all of these events, gifts that Georg had brought along from Oberammergau were given to the three lucky winners.

Then it was time to get Georg to the airport so he would be home on Saturday to join the citizens of Oberammergau in renewing the vow made in 1633 to present the Passion of Christ. This service of worship will be attended by the 2400 citizens of Oberammergau who will participate in the 103 performances of the passion play next year.

Thank you, Georg, for coming to North America. We are looking forward to coming to your hotel.

~ Janet Martin