Hello everyone.

Well we are in the last day of waiting and it has been something of a wild ride.

I'm excited, I'm packed ... I'm having panic attacks. I ADMIT it. AHHHHH !!!!

So I went to my Dr. for a little something to calm me down while waiting. I've done this before and I will confess it. So I have my two drugs, for just in case. Being air sick is not fun for anyone either. I think I've got the two necessities to by-pass any problems. Usually once on the plane and on the way ... I'm fine. It's just the ole brain playing games with the mind. I can pray about it ... Give it to God ... and then ... low and behold there I am again taking it back again to stress about.

We all favor your prayers for this trip and appreciate your support.

More later,

Linda

Less than two weeks to go and counting.

Greetings ...

Are you ready to go??? I am ... just about.

My suitcase is packed and a large "see through" fishing tackle type box is filled with camera and computer accessories to be carried on in a wheeled back pack. While I often travel with my computer, as many do these days, I've never had to pack for doing video documentation. Even though this documentation is at a minimum level, there are still lots of items to take. Extra batteries, cables, memory cards, electrical converters, etc., etc. I keep wondering what I've forgotten. Well, it's not like we're going into the bush so to speak and they have stores in the places where we are going. I just don't want to waste the time shopping for "forgotten items" when I could be shopping for "fun."

I'm looking forward and excited to be part of documenting this trip. It's impossible to take it all in. I don't suppose that we can video it all either, but it will certainly help this person look back and remember what was said and forgotten. How many times have you watched a movie or reviewed an online lecture and saw or heard something you hadn't seen or heard before. I need review, review, review.

I don't think I've ever been so ready to go and still have so much left to do. It's my own fault of course. I keep adding things to the "to do" list. If I don't write it down ... well, it just may not get done. Is it because I'm getting older. Perhaps partly, but mostly because I'm trying to do something else when I think of it.

I think we treat God that way. If He's not on our lists ... we just don't get to Him. It's really quite a shame that we've gotten so busy. Do you have God on your list? Whether written or just in your head ... is He on it? Is He the first one you speak to in the morning and the last before heading off to sleep, at the very least?

If He's not ... write Him on a list ... and post it where you can see it.

And now I need to get back to my list. And I can check "blog" off my priority list.

Have a great day and see you back here soon.

God Bless you and yours.
Linda

Excited to be going.

Greetings,





I really don't consider myself one to seek out adventures. But once in a while an opportunity comes along that just cannot be passed up. Last fall I overheard a conversation about a trip that was being sponsored by Ozark Christian College. How I overheard this conversation is another story too long to tell here, but is shared on www.biblestudyforkids.com/lindatour.htm . It sounded like an adventure that was right for me. I've always wanted to "travel the world" so to speak. But I'm not into setting out on a trip alone, and the financial aspects of taking long trips kept me grounded. But this one wouldn't. I would find away. This trip was different. The hosts were going places I wanted to see.

Two full weeks of traveling Turkey, Greece and Italy. May 17 - 31, 2009 We will stand in ancient places like the Ephesus Theater as described in Acts 19:29. Just think, it would hold 25,000 people. I'll show it to you.

My love is teaching children and publishing materials for teachers of the Scriptures ... the Bible. Now I am to have an opportunity to see the places that are described by the Apostle Paul. Travel through 3 countries, visit ancient Biblical sites, listen to two accomplished lecturers that I've studied with before and enjoy, and be with a group of people who share the same love of the Lord. It' couldn't be better.

So within days of learning about this awesome trip "Journey's of Paul" I sent in my deposit, signed up and started making plans. This is a God given opportunity and I want to share it with you as much as possible. People go on trips and then tell you about it when they get back, with hundreds of pictures that they don't remember where they were or who the people are. Well, I've that desire to take loads of pictures, but promise to document where they are and more. I've also been given permission to video the onsite lectures. It is my hope that I can upload video clips and stream parts of the lectures so that you might learn awesome facts about where we are and what we are seeing. Right now I'm working on finishing the webpages that this blog is part of. It's coming together.

For what ever reason, this talent is what God has given me. For over 30 years I've worked with computers. I only know enough to do what I want to do or have the ability to read and figure it out. It's enough and it behooves me to use it for making Biblical educational materials available and teaching the Word in a manner that speaks to God's kids (of all ages). Paul only had what Jesus gave him...a personal conviction...and feet to get him to where he needed to speak. Two thousand years later we are still telling his story and teaching the same message of Jesus. Never in his wildest imagination could he have invisioned the technology resources we have today. But they should be used. Scribes wrote the words down in longhand and it took months of painstaking efforts to copy them. Now in a flash we can share a message around the world. I'm using what's been given to me.

PRAYER
Thank you Lord for letting me be part of this wonderful effort being made by Mark Moore and Mark Scott and the facility at which they teach. Bless all those who will be traveling with them and may we be a blessing to them and most importantly ... you. In Jesus name. Amen.

I am so excited to be going. See you back here later.

Linda Shanks
http://www.biblestudyforkids.com/