For our day off "Wednesday" we took a trip south. We first visited the site of Pont du Gard - which is a Roman aqueduct that was built at 1 AD, when Jesus was just a child. The aqueduct was built to carry fresh water to the city of Nimes and it took 15 years to build. The span that we visited is where the aqueduct spanned over a river gorge. It truly is an impressive bit of ancient engineering.
Our main stop was at the city of Aigues-Mortes, which was the first French port on the Mediterranean Sea. This city was used as the launching point of the 7th Crusade to the Holy Land, led by Louis IXth of France. Later it was one of the last strongholds that the French Protestants held before King Louis XIVth revoked the Edict of Nantes and basically made it illegal to be a protestant in France. We saw the Constance tower where protestant women were held as prisoners of conscious for up to 28, 36 and 40 years for refusing to recant their faith. It is a humbling site to see how much some of our spiritual fore-fathers suffered for their faith. It challenges us to examine how much we are willing to suffer?
Our last stop was the city of Avignon, where the alternative Pope ruled from during the Great Schism in the Catholic church during the 14th and 15th centuries. We just missed the last time to get in for a tour of the interior of the papal palace there. We did get to see the outside and to learn some of the church history there also.
Our main stop was at the city of Aigues-Mortes, which was the first French port on the Mediterranean Sea. This city was used as the launching point of the 7th Crusade to the Holy Land, led by Louis IXth of France. Later it was one of the last strongholds that the French Protestants held before King Louis XIVth revoked the Edict of Nantes and basically made it illegal to be a protestant in France. We saw the Constance tower where protestant women were held as prisoners of conscious for up to 28, 36 and 40 years for refusing to recant their faith. It is a humbling site to see how much some of our spiritual fore-fathers suffered for their faith. It challenges us to examine how much we are willing to suffer?
Our last stop was the city of Avignon, where the alternative Pope ruled from during the Great Schism in the Catholic church during the 14th and 15th centuries. We just missed the last time to get in for a tour of the interior of the papal palace there. We did get to see the outside and to learn some of the church history there also.
3 comments:
PTL for the invention of BLOGS- I felt the rain and laughed at the Peanuts underwear and the loooong French lunch - the enemy was NOT able to thwart the PLAN - and PTL for the young reinforcements from LU- God is good! It is in the 60's here- very freaky Christmas weather - 24/7 prayer is a COOL thing and we are continuing to lift you up! Hugs to all- or is that a kiss on each cheek, vive la France?? Either way - love you, miss you, greetings to your hosts! Cindy
Thanks for the encouragement. Yes, for the French it is the Beez (a kiss on each cheek), for the immigrants from the south it would be 4 kisses (2 on each cheek).
It sounds like you all are having a grand time! Just wanted to remind you that you are missed and being remembered in prayer daily or more frequently! Roni & Kim, our small group has soldiered on without you these past two weeks, but it has been fine. Carol joined us this past Wednesday! Annie and I can't wait to pick you up next Wednesday! Lots of love...
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