All roads lead to Rome

The Roma crew:
Daniel Robert Koontz, American, WOLBI intern. Laura Wilson, New Zealander, French MK, WOLBI 1st yr. student. Antoine Houle, French Canadian, WOLBI 1st yr. student. Johanna Lutter, German, former WOLBI intern, WOLBI 1st yr. student. Abi Mahon, Canadian, WOLBI 1st yr. student. Mishaela Parker (moi) Brazilian/American MK, WOLBI 1st yr. student.
Mission:
Walk till we drop. See Ancient Rome. Eat gelato...as much as possible. Eat pizza at least once. Find Kim Hagar. Have a picnic. Find cheap travel. Walk to the Mediteranian. Enjoy the sunshine.Find Luigi. Appreciate every moment.
Mission Report:
We Departed from Budapest, Hungary Monday evening March 29, 2010, and Arrived at nearly 10 pm in Roma, Italy. With a renewed burst of adrenaline and a fresh sense of adventure our team of 6 scouted out an appropriate floor space for our airport camp out. Setting up camp in a perfectly magnificent corner on the second floor, we dozed off one by one only to awaken one by one tired, achy, and cold and desperate for anything but a cold marble floor to stretch out on. At long last morning dawned, and not one person remained in our miserable little corner.
With waning energy but expectant spirits we once again set out in search of transportation to our youth hostel. Several hours, many salesmen characters, a couple hikes across the airport, and bus ride with a very helpful, friendly old man later we found our selves walking down an old dirt road to our cabins at the "Country Club Castel Fusano" in Ostia, just 1 euro away from Rome, and 45 min, walk from the Mediterranean. It took all of 2 minutes for us collapse into our oh so very soft warm beds only to awaken several hours later, shower, and set off on our first excursion to Rome.
The fascinating thing about Rome was that the entire time i was there there was never a moment when i walked down a street and couldn't find something impressive, historical, or just flat out beautiful surrounding me. We spent a total of 5 fantastic days in Rome seeing the sights, lounging on the shores of the Mediterranean and picnicking by the ancient monuments that date back to the time Paul and the Apostles walked those very same streets proclaiming the gospel for the very first times.
I thank God constantly as i remember that trip, how we would pray together every morning on the Metro before we did anything else,How he allowed us to live and experience Rome in a way that most never will. What a privilege that a group of friends could walk the footsteps of those who witnessed the life and resurrection of our very best friend and Savior, and that we, his children, could walk those footsteps each day remembering what a rare and precious gift it was to be there.
Photo Archives of the Journey:

our camp out in the Roman international airport...
(Dan, me, Laura, and Abi)

we had a picnic in a park out side the impressive monument designed by Michael Angelo pictured below.
(Me, Abi, Antoine, Laura, and Dan)

Like i said...very impressive monument.

The Spanish Steps...at the time we didn't even realize that these were the Spanish steps...sure glad i stopped to take pictures =)

The Circo Maximo...where Romes chariot races and such were held...like the place in Ben Hur...there's not very much left of the place.
(Antoine, Dan, Laura, Me, Abi, Johanna)

Chillin out above the Ancient Roman ruins watching all the lucky people who actually got to walk through them...see the coliseum in the distance?
(Me)

the girls of the trip...the Coliseum was phenomenal...incredible to think of all the early church saints that went through this place. We just have no idea...
(Laura, Johanna, Me, and Abi)

climbing around the old city...pretending to be statues =) good times
(Me, Dan, Antoine, and Abi)

This picture of Abi and I was taken on one of my favorite nights of the whole trip when we sat out side the Pantheon by the fountain of love, as i later learned, we had a picnic and listened to street performers...it was the type of night that you see in a movie, and I'll never forget it.

walking along the shore of the Mediterranean sea at the sea side town of Ostia, Italia.
(Laura, and Antoine)

The Trevi Fountain.we tried to have a picnic here too...however there was an italian guard with something of an attitude who informed us that the Trevi Fountain was a National monument, not a playground there is no food allowed any where near the fountain. oops =P

I met up with Kimmy in front of the Coliseum...amazing day and I'm soooo glad I got to see her! Talk about worlds colliding!

Wondering around rome Antoine took it upon himself to find someone named Luigi, he would randomly ask men on the street if their name was Luigi...until finally...he found someone who knew a Luigi...it was the closest we got =)
(Laura, Luigi's son, and Antoine)

We had looooots of gelato on the trip...but this was our best find...a whole kilo of gelato for 9 E!!!!!! jack pot!
(Me, Dan, Abi, gelato people, Laura, Johana...hiding..and Antoine)

The Vatican on Good Friday, I must say this place sort of gave me the chills on good friday...behind us is St. Peters, thats as far as we were allowed to go on Easter weekend.
(Dan, Me, Laura, Abi, Antoine, Johanna)

Official journey conclusion: Mission Accomplished, and the trip of a life time!!! I'll never forget it!