connecticut @ 8:08am

pins marking progess @ 5:24pm

{. follow their progress via Selah GPS .}

Swiss Alps. 5:23pm

33mm, f4.5 @ 1/1600

49mm, f5.6 @ 1/800

70mm, f2.8 @ 1/2000

18mm, f5.6 @ 1/2000

I sat on the hill and watched the peaks and valleys. The view was the definition of grandeur. I was awed. Every crevasse and peak was crystal clear in my vision—nothing was hidden by clouds, fog or mist. I hadn't been sitting for more than 10 minutes before a heavy fog began to roll in—it enveloped every tree and every stone... what was once perfectly clear only minutes before had now been completely hidden in the fog... and you know what? Everything was still just as breathtaking; I was still in awe. The majesty and grandeur had not been lost in the fog... no... I was, strangely, still filled with awe by just knowing that these stunning crags were still there... simply invisible and unseen.

I think the feeling and experience is similar to that of walking with God. When you can feel and sense Him, or when you see Him work, you are captured in wonder... yet, even when He has withdrawn the sense and feeling of His presence, I am still brought to my knees in humble adoration of His glory and majesty—because, even through He may be hidden in the fog, He is still out there... more real, concrete and Holy than I will ever understand in my life.

Yes, this is the God I serve.

Back in Germany. 3:49pm

55mm, f5.6 @ 1/50

55mm, f5.6 @ 1/60

55mm, f5.6 @ 1/60

Last day in Turkey... 4:21pm

44mm, f5 @ 1/80
Turkish coffee

55mm, f5.6 @ 1/80
Twila Klippenstein

55mm, f5.6 @ 1/80
Twila and Turkish coffee.

18mm, f5.6 @ 1/2500
Hurrem, Twila, me

Mountain village of Sirince. 9:32am

55mm, f5.6 @ 1/250

55mm, f5.6 @ 1/200

55mm, f5.6 @ 1/200

45mm, f5.6 @ 1/160

49mm, f5.6 @ 1/250

28mm, f4.5 @ 1/80

33mm, f4.5 @ 1/460

21mm, f4.5 @ 1/400

We traveled for two hours into a small mountain village called Sirince. It was AMAZING.
The people were just like what 'Turkish village people' should look like. I could easily
live in this quaint little haven hidden among the mountains and olive trees.

Some streets in Izmir. 1:48pm

45mm, f5.6 @ 1/500

55mm, f5.6 @ 1/640
Turkey's flag hanging from a house window

33mm, f4.5 @ 1/640

55mm, f5.6 @ 1/640

47mm, f5.6 @ 1/500

These are just some details of the back streets near Hurrem's house.
Every morning we go and buy fresh baked breads for breakfast, and we walk these
streets to get to the bakery.

To market. 11:17am

30mm, f4.5 @ 1/125

55mm, f5.6 @ 1/125

55mm, f5.6 @ 1/160

31mm, f4.5 @ 1/60
Hurrem, myself and Twila enjoying Ayran, a Turkish
drink made from yogurt, water and salt. Pretty awesome.

Izmir - City Center

87mm, f4.5 @ 1/5000
Buca, Izmir

200mm, f4.5 @ 1/2000

70mm, f4.5 @ 1/3200
Izmir harbor

Hurrem and I having lunch

[. I am not as comfortable taking pictures of people here yet... I already stand out more than I would like,
being as I am tall, blue-eyed, have lighter hair, and am a girl... the camera just makes me that much more
visible. Haha, when people are already staring at you, it is hard to 'whip out' a hurkin' huge camera
to discretely take a picture of them... so... for now, you will have to simply accept my pictures of the city
center of Izmir, Turkey. Hopefully I will be able to capture some of the people and culture in the next few days .]

Last day in Rome. 11:37am

87mm, f5.6 @ 1/200

70mm, f3.2 @ 1/400

148mm, f3.4 @ 1/250

100mm, f3.2 @ 1/400

55mm, f5.6 @ 1/320

Me, trying my first Italian Cafe Latte... yeah, it's pretty darn good.
35mm, f5.6 @ 1/200

Dan & Alice Simmons

35mm, f4.5 @ 1/320

39mm, f5 @ 1/320

22mm, f5.6 @ 1/100

55mm, f5.6 @ 1/100

43mm, f5 @ 1/160

Dan and Alice Simmons; their mission is to build up the body of
Christ in Ostia Italy.

Graffiti in Rome. 5:01pm

70mm, f5 @ 1/500

70mm, f3.2 @ 1/200

70mm, f3.2 @ 1/500

70mm, f3.2 @ 1/200

People are so desperate to leave their mark on society, culture and this world...
sometimes, painting on the wall of a back alley, or on the side of a public train are only
ways they can think of doing it...