Valletta, Malta

This day of sightseeing was a half day which I think our feet were very thankful for at this point! The day began with us watching our huge ship enter the port of Valletta where the Knights of St. John and European merchants used to off load their goods!  The island of Malta is a lot bigger than we thought.  We entered the port and it was beautiful with the old fortified walls that stood firm at its edges.  We took pictures as we towered over buildings and people.  Next on our list for the morning was our first lecture by Dr. Roy Lawson on "Politics and the Church"post our time in Rome.  Roy is well known by many and has filled many significant roles in our church community as pastor, Bible College President, Professor, Author, Consultant, and (my favorite) friend.  He is an easy going and fun individual who happens to be a Consultant for CMF.  He and his wife Joy traveled with us and celebrated their 53rd Wedding Anniversary.

After lunch we ventured into Valletta, Malta were we first took pictures that over looked the port.  It was beautiful with the blue sky (that was nice to see after several days of gray) along with blue blue water!  We walked through Valletta the architecture was beautiful.  Paul described "the islanders" as people who "showed unusual kindness" (Acts 28:2.)  And I can now say that I would concur with Paul!  Especially coming from Rome!  Lovely city but the people are not all that friendly in Rome!   We toured St. John's Co-Cathedral which is a highlight to the Maltese people.  The church is covered in paintings and frescoes and topped with amazing Caravaggio paintings of the "Beheading of John the Baptist."  There was a lot of "bling" in this church!  The artwork was amazing but it did get a little busy in that place and a little distracting.  However, outside its the sound I found most meaningful.  I love hearing the sounds of the church bells.  I would stop in the midst of the group to listen.  I am so used to hearing the call to prayer that it was lovely to hear the bells of churches all through Italy, Greece, and Malta!  We also saw the church that stands in memory of Paul's shipwreck on the island.  Our tour guide talked about the storms that come and how in a very small boat it would be easy for that to happen.  The Maltese people have their own language and are proud to be known as the oldest Christians in the world.  During the crusades they held strong during the invasion of the Turks.  I also pondered throughout the day if Milo's roots are in Malta since the people are called Maltese and Milo is a Maltese breed.  (Just a side note of the thoughts for the day!!)  

February 10th is known as the Feast of St. Paul's Shipwreck and is a day very important part of Malta's culture and history.  Paul is believed to have spent three months on the island shipwrecked en route to Rome as prisoner in 60 A.D.  Malta is the site where in Acts 28 Paul is bitten by a viper.  Being transported as a criminal the islanders thought Paul to be a murder but after his miraculously unharmed result from the bite was seen as a god.  Paul was then invited to the chief official of the island's home where he continued to perform miracles of healing from a deadly plague.  


I don't believe it of God's Will for Paul to be in prison. My reason is because our God that loves desires good for those who serve Him.  The misfortune that continues today is that the enemy does not desire good and he prowls this Earth seeking to devour us in this fallen world we live.  But, this is what I do believe that our God can restore any situation for Kingdom's sake and sometimes it just might take a storm to get us to land in a place that we didn't even know existed.  Paul blessed those everywhere he came in contact with the love of Christ.  His faithfulness was evident as I walked the streets in 2013!  The island is predominately Christian (if not all) and the sounds of church bells ring loud!  Would Malta be a country today that praises the Lord without Paul's time there?  It could have easily fallen in the hands of the Turks and after being in that part of the world (later in the trip) I can tell you would be different streets today.  What I do know is that Paul was obedient in loving God and loving people.  Malta was beautiful especially as we pulled out of the port that night the island aglow in the middle of the sea.   I closed my eyes that night and was deeply encouraged.  Sometimes we get washed a shore places and we wonder why.  But the why really isn't that important when there are "islanders" about.  The wonder that I pray continues to burn in my heart is that there is a Creator of this beautiful world.  He loves me and as a result I need to love the "islanders" whether brought on the finest cruise ship or washed up from the sea.  Paul never knew the impact he had on that island in those three months.  I want to leave a legacy like Paul of people who know the love of Jesus as a result of "shipwreck faithfulness!"  
(But, I'll admit I could really go for never being bitten by a viper in my career!!)