Our next stop on the itinerary was Berlin – a city with fantastic restaurants and museums, a very German-style public transport system that runs like clockwork and a heck of a lot of modern European history. Some highlights of the city included checking out the Processional Way from 6th century BC Babylon at the Pergamonmuseum, seeing the remains of the Berlin Wall and learning more about the pre-1989 divided city (including a family who escaped from East to West by strapping themselves to a homemade cable-car and literally flying over the Wall) – who said this wasn’t going to be an educational trip?!.
We also noted some rather odd pedestrian traffic lights (see photo – does anyone else agree that this is a little strange?!).
Our favourite Berlin moment had to be seeing Amy’s brother Huw play with the Australian Youth Orchestra at the Konzerthaus for the opening night of the Young Euro Classic Festival. The concert hall was packed and the AYO were absolutely amazing, earning a standing ovation from the entire audience. The first oboe was of course particularly superb. Well done Huw!!!
In addition to learning about history and culture, we’ve also started listening to a sermon series by Dick Lucas on the letters to the churches in Revelation 2-3 (in anticipation of our upcoming visit to at least one of those featured!). At the beginning of chapter 2, after praising the church in Ephesus for their endurance and loyalty to the truth, Jesus admonishes them as they have “forsaken [their] first love” (2:4) in declining in their previously vigorous outreach with the gospel to Ephesus and beyond. This is a warning for all the churches (2:7), including those today, which fuelled our passion to be “lampstands” and shine our light to everyone around us….
In addition to learning about history and culture, we’ve also started listening to a sermon series by Dick Lucas on the letters to the churches in Revelation 2-3 (in anticipation of our upcoming visit to at least one of those featured!). At the beginning of chapter 2, after praising the church in Ephesus for their endurance and loyalty to the truth, Jesus admonishes them as they have “forsaken [their] first love” (2:4) in declining in their previously vigorous outreach with the gospel to Ephesus and beyond. This is a warning for all the churches (2:7), including those today, which fuelled our passion to be “lampstands” and shine our light to everyone around us….
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