Team Time

We have been chomping at the bit to see our co-workers who live in another city down the coast.  Since Thursday was the last day we were expecting any type of workman or delivery we set a date for Friday.  They suggested a beautiful place just up into the mountains from their city.  So we met close to their home and headed out!

They did not exaggerate!  The place they took us to was beautiful... the perfect escape from the heat, Ramadan, and moving madness!

We started out with a picnic feast!

The bread out here is HUGE!  This is half of the small loaf!

 Then after we ate and chatted for awhile we hiked up to an abandoned monastery.  You may remember that we visited a monastery built into the mountainside like this in the fall.  That one has been carefully protected and refurbished, but this one has not.

We hiked about 2km up a mountain road to a trail.  The trail was a little steep, but it wasn't too long.  We sort or came alongside the rockface and hiked up to the monastery entrance.  Noah was completely fearless and didn't hesitate to climb all around.  After we saw that he had survived the rest of us followed!  Ha!

Looking out from a second story window.

Now it's Callie's turn

My adventurous son!

These arches were amazing!  They have been around since the 1400's and support so much weight!

After awhile, the fog rolled in and it started to rain lightly.
Our friends say it rains almost every day up in these mountains.

The opposite view from earlier.  I was looking out the second story window down at Noah.
He was standing outside the chapel.  You could still see some of the chapel frescos although most of them had been vandalized.

We hiked back down to our picnic site in the drizzle.  Our friends brought tea in a thermos.  So we had perfect hot tea and cookies!

We had dinner together at the mall food court before we headed out of town.  While we were at the mall we had to find a place that sells coffee beans so that we wouldn't wither up and die.  Ha!  I had to fight the urge to get, like, 2 kilos, since we haven't found a coffee source in our town yet.  In the end we bought a two weeks supply in hopes that we find a little shop that sells coffee beans before that runs out!

This adventure was such a change of pace.  It was just what we needed to recharge and refresh.  It was such a blessing to be together as believers enjoying the Lord's great creation and fun fellowship!