Rome, Italy

We went to Rome February 6-8. It was amazing. We were there during their 1st snow in 27 years! So we were cold to say the least. However, I still enjoyed every minute of walking around Rome in the snow. It was beautiful as we saw and learned so much. We got there monday night and walked through the main part of rome. We enjoyed chestnuts roasting on an open fire, live music in front of the Pantheon, artists painting and making creations, old incredible buildings, the Trevi fountain, experienced mass in St. Augustine's basilica, and some italian food and language... beautiful. All in one night before heading to our hotel outside of Rome. :)

Neysa, me, and katie in front of the Trevi fountain:

Above is early century Rome around Paul's time

Above is Neysa and me on St. Angel bridge in Rome with SNOW. Did I mention first snow in TWENTY-SEVEN YEARS? :)
This is in St. Peter's cathedral which is the most extravagant "House of God" in the world by worldly standards. However, this place was absolutely incredible. It took over 30 minutes just to walk through it all without hardly stopping to really look at anything. It was HUGE and each inch was covered in beautiful art and the ceiling, wall, everything was gold, marble, or bronze. Words and pictures can't describe how amazing this place was. I was just in awe.

Above is from outside St. Peter's cathedral

My most favorite part of the Rome trip was visiting the catacombs outside of Rome. It was incredible. Catacombs are tombs under the ground who once held early Christians. We stood in the mist of witnesses before us singing praises to God as a group with Dr. Edwards. It was just a huge help for me spiritually... to see and touch the places were Christians that were persecuted and executed for their faith and still lived it out... to see their remains. I mean there are not words to explain this. It was just gives me courage. From now on throughout my life I can remember that moment of being down in the catacombs remembering the strong, courageous, faithful Christians before me... some of those tombs may have even held Peter or Paul or any of the apostles. No one knows who they were. However, the symbol above emphasizes the fact that these were definitely followers of Jesus Christ from the 4th century and earlier.
Colosseum! This was awesome to see after seeing it for years in the movies! :)
The road PAUL would have WALKED ON in rome!!! SO AWESOME!
Down here is the prison where Paul and Peter supposedly were in jail in Rome. Just... so REAL. This trips emphasizes the fact that this faith that is my life really is REAL. It just backs up my faith so much. It's incredible to just know that I know that I KNOW Jesus Christ walked on this earth, died and rose again, established HIS church and that HIS church is still alive today. The true faith. The faith Christians DIED for... faith I should at least step out of my comfort zone for... Faith I just trust in and take confidence in... Faith I will never ever give up. This just adds to my firm foundation. Just words truly cannot describe how helpful this trip is spiritually and how I will forever keep this images in my mind the rest of my life. It's crazy to SEE this. There is no way, no way something could survive this long, for so many years, through dark ages and everything and still live on, the same faith still being found after 2,000 years.

Above is the prison of Peter and Paul the Apostles