And Alaska, then Home!

Brad here. After leaving England, we headed to Alaska, to see family before landing in Tennessee. It was a treat to see family, and the 10 days in Alaska seemed to help "soften" the landing after having been gone so long.  We landed in Alaska on August 2, and flew to Tennessee on August 12 (flying overnight, and landing August 13).

Enjoying my new Cambridge sweatshirt, while enjoying the Alaska summer.

Picture of the cousins on Sport Lake.

My (Brad's) Mom and Dad, with a bunch of the cousins.

Kenny getting ready to enjoy the lake!

Kristie and Tuckerman enjoying our group birthday celebration.

The Green children love being on the wave runner on the lake!

Having a blast.

Caleb coming back in to shore.

Daniel and his cousin Noah on the lake.

Tori and Mei about to take off!

Tori bring the wave runner in to shore.

Dianne and Tori enjoying the lake.

While in Alaska, we celebrated birthdays for my sister Kristie, my nephew Connor, Victoria, and me. A lot of fun!

Home at last, on August 13, 2017!!!

So, after 14 months and two days (June 2016 to August 2017), 25 countries (see below), we finally arrived home.  We are very thankful for the wonderful adventure.  An amazing trip, with numerous first-time ever (and possibly last-time ever!) adventures.  And good to be home in Tennessee.

For those interested, the countries visited on the trip, roughly in order:

1. England

2. Scotland

3. Belgium

4. Germany

5. Austria

6. Wales

7. The Netherlands

8. Switzerland

9. Kenya

10. Tanzania (while on safari in Kenya, the safari took us into Tanzania)

11. New Zealand

12. Australia

13. Italy

14. Vatican City (Hey! They even have their own army!)

15. Greece

16. France

17. Hungary

18. Poland

19. Czech Republic (while hiking in Poland we stepped "into" the Czech Republic!)

20. Israel

21. Republic of Ireland

22. USA (we stopped in Boston for a day on the way to the UK, and to Alaska on the way home)

The following we "counted" on our trip--but really just airport stops as we were traveling! :)

23. United Arab Emirates (Dubai)

24. Istanbul

25. Iceland

. . . And Back to Tyndale House!

For the last month of our big adventure, we had a great month back at Tyndale House, in Cambridge (July 2-August 2).  It was great to spend the last month of our adventure in this special place. It was a great time of getting lots of work done, and seeing folks--and simply enjoying Cambridge.

A real treat during our trip was meeting the Bernsteiners in Austria (here is one of the Bernsteiners, Lea).  We were thrilled that Lea was able to spend three months in Cambridge as an intern at Tyndale House.  She is a special friend of ours, and we will miss her!

Our good friends the Haywards hosted a July 4 party at their home (Rebekah Hayward is an American, currently in the UK). Here is Tori and Emma Hayward, enjoying a nice summer day. 

Lea's sister Miriam was able to come over from Austria, and spend time with us in Cambridge.

We had a great time at Pete and Katie Myers home outside Cambridge--with a fun river in their backyard!

Caleb was an apprentice at the Round Church in Cambridge.  What a great experience!

It was super that the Gobbetts were able to come over from Wales to visit Cambridge.  Dave and I here with Kings College in the background.  Miss the Gobbetts!

Caleb, Daniel, and I outside Stephen Hawings' office at the University of Cambridge.

Tori and I on the "backs" in Cambridge.

The three Green children enjoyed a week at "CB3"--a Christian camp in Wales.  Here is Daniel on Mount Snowden.

The three Greens and Lea at CB3 in Wales.

Dianne, Tori, and Lea enjoying a beautiful summer day in the back garden at Tyndale House.

The GBU in Gaubert, France

I

After our time in Rome, we headed to France. We had a nice opportunity to speak in France--with the GBU (the Groupes Bibliques Universitaires), essentially the French version of the International Fellowship of International Students (or InterVarsity Christian Fellowship).  We flew into Paris (Orly).  This was quite an adventure, because our flight was late, and had to rearrange things--spend the night at Paris-Orly, head into the city the next day, catch a train back south to near Orleans, then go from there to Gaubert.  It was an adventure--but in the end it all worked out fine.  It was a treat to speak with the GBU.   I was speaking to Ph.D. students, and I shared some of my "The Gospel and the Mind" material.  I hope it was helpful.

The one church in Gaubert, France, a Protestant church. This is something of an anomaly in France.

Inside the church in Gaubert.

We enjoyed walking down the streets of Gaubert.

Walking in the fields outside the village of Gaubert.

The good group of folks in Gaubert, France.

Rome Scholars Network

Brad here. After a great time in Cork, Ireland, we flew to Rome for the Rome Scholars Network. We flew to Rome on June 25, and flew out on the 29th. The Rome Scholars Network is led by Leonardo De Chirico, a super fellow, a pastor, and a theologian.  It was an honor to have the opportunity to give some talks at this week of training.  Rome is of course an endless adventure, and in addition to the talks, we were able to see some sights.

When we first arrived in Rome, and made it to our accommodations, it was time to find some food.  Thankfully, we discovered this great pizza place within walking distance of our hotel.

More fun in Rome.

A super meal outside in one of the piazzas.

Walking home after a good meal.

It was a real treat to go on a walking Reformation tour in Rome.  Here we are at the Martin Luther piazza.

The Church of Saint Ignatius of Loyola.  Ignatius was founder of the Jesuits, who were central to the ferreting out of the Protestants.

This sculpture is found in the Church of St. Ignatius of Loyola.  It is tragic.  I took several pictures--generally zooming in over the next few pictures that follow.  In the sculpture, Mary or the Church is stomping out, or attempting to destroy something.  As one looks further, one sees that the book on the left is by Martin Luther.  The book on the right (more visible in the pictures below) is by John Calvin.  For one who upholds the beauty and necessity of the Reformation, this is tragic.

Here (and below) one can see that it is a book by John Calvin which is being held by the man being held down.

A notice in the church for the availability of indulgences, dated 1860. Sadly, indulgences are still issued by the Roman Catholic Church today.

A pulpit in the church.

The light streaming in through a window in the church.