Day 5: Eastern Mediterranean University, Beach Time

Day 5 Wednesday 03-07-07
2:30 a.m.
These long days are beginning to take their toll on us as we get up early in the morning for another day on the island of Cyprus. But we can't complain, and haven't yet, because we all feel so fortunate and extremely thankful to be here and learn and exchange so many things about our cultures. Today we went to the city of Famagusta and visited Eastern Mediterranean University, the largest university on the island with about 20,000 students. We split up into groups around the campus to mingle with other students. There are many students from all over the world studying here. Some from Nigeria, Turkey, Sweden, China and America and probably many other cultures on this campus. Almost everyone we met was surprised that we chose to come to Cyprus, and even more so for the purpose of just meeting people. One of the girls from our group and I met three girls who were from Turkey. They barely spoke English, and it took us probably 10 minutes for us to grasp that their vacation to go home is in April. But despite the calendar hurdle, we were able to share some laughs about us, our families and our studies. We were able to exchange e-mails with the three girls and some photos before going to lunch for some pizza and chicken across campus.
 
6:15 a.m.
Our next stop was the ruins of Salamis where Paul and Barnabas landed on the first missionary journey from the book of Acts chapters 12 and 13. The ruins were beautiful with the high columns in the courtyard and the original tiling on the floors at our feet. We gathered in the ancient theater coliseum and had time together as a group. Before we boarded back on the bus, we were able to walk along the sandy beaches, jump in the Mediterranean, play frisbee on the shore and view the amazing horizon across the clear blue sea, glistening and shining from the hot sun above. We loaded back on the bus towards our hotel with a short stop at St. Barnabas Church where the tomb of Barnabas is. The sun was setting smoothly and bright behind the bell tower of the church, emitting pastel colors across the Western Cyprus sky. Tomorrow will be spent in Nicosia, which is the capital of Cyprus that is now split to separate Greeks to the south and Turks to the north with a UN-controlled wall to guard the two sides, which stretches the entire island. Sure to be a long day that will be met with more amazement and thankfulness without a hint of a tired and drowsy complaint.