Jarom in Jerusalem: Day 6: Hot Springs, Earthquakes, a Church at a Bar

Today was a neat day. We went to the ancient city of Hierapolis. There are huge white pools caused by calcium deposits in the hot springs. So you have this huge hill covered in something that looks like white cotton candy. There was aslo this super-hot pools that had a resort-thing build around it. The city itself has hardly been excavated. There are several acres of rocks sticking out of the ground. It’s wet there, and it reminded me a little of Scotland or some wet country. A theatre was excavated that we also sat in and read from Revelations. IN revelations 3 John writes to the saints of Laodicea, which is within sight of where we were sitting in the theatre. Also, the city of Colossae was in the distance. The Lord tells the saints of Laodicea “I know your deeds, that you are neither cold nor hot. I wish you were either one or the other! So, because you are lukewarm—neither hot nor cold—I am about to spit you out of my mouth.” (NIV) This comparison makes sense when you find out that Hierapolis is famous for its hot springs, Colossae for its cold water, and Laodicea for neither. The saints were probably not living the gospel like they could have, so they were good for nothing, neither hot nor cold, and they needed to “be earnest and repent.” The area was also famous for healing due to the waters there. We drove a lot, and our teacher pointed out 2 or 3 cities also of the 7 churches found in revelation. We even stopped very briefly at one.
The church policy for the middle east (except for Israel) is to have sacrament meeting on Friday. So, Friday night we asked for a free room in the hotel. The room where we had it had a bar and I sat at it. Two firsts: church on Friday and at a bar. I was glad to see the two elders from our group who brought their white shirts and blessed and passes the sacrament, and it was a sorely needed respite from all the rushing of the trip. It was crazy to think we were nearly the only members of the church in that city- and probably made the better part of members in the country at the time. It was a reminder that there are countries out there where the church hasn’t gone yet.
Oh, also, the night before this we experienced an earth quake! I thought there was someone under my bed shaking it so I was freeked out but then I saw the table moving and realized in was just an earthquake. It was very mild, but a reminder of the natural disasters which sometime strike this land. At the theatre at Hierapolis we sang “how firm a foundation” which went along with the earthquake as well as the teachings in Revelations!

How firm a foundation, ye saints of the Lord,

Is laid for your faith in His excellent Word!

What more can He say than to you He hath said

Who unto the Savior for refuge have fled?

In every condition, -- in sickness, in health,

In poverty's vale, or abounding in wealth,

At home and abroad, on the land, on the sea, --

The Lord, the Almighty, they strength e'er shall be.

Fear not, I am with thee, oh, be not dismayed,

For I am thy God and will still give thee aid;

I'll strengthen thee, help thee, and cause thee to stand,

Upheld by My righteous, omnipotent hand!