New Syria Update

(corrected previous post)

Dear CPC, friends and family,

It is very late here, but we wanted to send you a quick update and some photos from our first full day in Syria. We were glad to have Sara Larson join us for this leg of our trip. Sara is volunteering with Questscope in Amman and decided to come up and see some of Syria with us. We spent most of the day in the breathtaking Old City of Damascus. We saw the famed Street Called Straight where Paul went to meet Ananias and we visited the House of Ananias which is now a parish operated by the Franciscans (see picture 4). Later we visited the very beautiful and famous Omayyad Mosque (see picture 3). We also visited one of the largest Bazaars that any of us have ever seen; it was bustling with everyday Syrians and tourists from Iran, Pakistan, and Europe, though not too many U.S. Americans (see picture 2).

The Syrian people have been very gracious and hospitable. The food has also been incredible -- the falafel is some of the best we have ever had. We are getting a wonderful introduction to a vibrant and very modern Middle Eastern nation and people. It seems like our entire team is really enjoying the intercultural learning experience. Tomorrow we will head up north of Damascus to visit some pilgrimage sites in more rural areas and then we head to Jordan on Wednesday. At dinner this evening, Nadia Rhodes, one of the daughters of Questscope founder Curt Rhodes, joined us for dinner (see picture 1). It was a delight to meet her and she will be joining us on our journey to Amman.

We will update again soon. Thanks for your interest!

Blessings to you,
The CPC Team