Day 1 in Turkey (of really doing things)

I've been trying to upload photos this evening, and I finally got two to load. Maybe it is the connection here in Pamukkale, Turkey. I'm here on a study tour for my seminary January term. Today we visited the ruins of the temple to Artemis in Sardis (that's where we are in the photo) as well as the other cool ruins there. I'm in the photo with my friends Juli, Adam, and Nate. The largest synagogue of the day was also there, and we heard a lecture on the Revelation message to the church in Sardis there.
We also visited Philadelphia and the recent excavations in Laodicea. The photo above is a brief lecture by Prof Weima at the theater in Laodicea. I hope to get more photos uploaded when the connection is a bit better. Tonight we also took some time to relax in the mineral hot springs at our hotel. Learning theology can be pretty tough, but if it makes me a better pastor, so be it!