Senior Trip 2014 Reflections
May 14, 2014
Members of our senior class of 2014 spent time in Italy and Greece over spring break along with Silverdale Baptist Church Senior Pastor Tony Walliser and members of the high school faculty. Read below as some of our students and Pastor Walliser reflect on their time together:
"My favorite part of the Senior Trip was going to the Grecian island of Hydra. I enjoyed having a relaxed day on a beautiful island where we were free to explore. Everywhere you looked there was beauty. From the ocean that varied from deep blues to the clearest of crystal waters that married with the natural greens of the island, everything was just absolutely breathtaking. The first thing we did was just walk around and take everything in. We shopped and then hiked the island to where we had lunch that overlooked the ocean. After lunch, we went down to the beach and laid out for a little while and then Brad and I started our hike back to the village. On the way, we stopped at this bench that literally overlooked a huge scope of the island. It was absolutely gorgeous. Hydra was for sure my favorite part of the trip. The best part of the trip as a whole was just how close everyone got. It's really sad to think that we're going to be leaving and everyone will be going their separate ways. I created bonds with people that I never had before the trip. This trip and the friendships that were made will really leave a lasting impression of my high school memories. The trip was really a blessing."
- Brooke Willingham, Class of 2014
"One thing that stood out to me on the senior trip was the beauty of God's creation. It gave me a greater appreciation for nature. The trip gave me a once in a lifetime experience and I got to see another part of the world. I got to see different landscapes and monuments that I could only dream about seeing. I am defenitely glad that I went on this trip. It was an enjoyable experience."- Phillip Evans, Class of 2014
"While I made several incredible memories throughout Greece that I will never forget, my absolute favorite memory was hiking Mount Olympus. On our first day in Greece, Kostas gave us the opportunity to hike on an aqueduct between the pass of Mount Olympus. I was absolutely flabbergasted by the overwhelming array of artistry exuded through God’s creation. The many religious monuments throughout Rome were breathtaking, but they pale in comparison to God’s incredible creation. I have never been so enthralled with God’s invisible attributes."
- Ben Crabtree, Class of 2014
"Senior trip to Italy and Greece was amazing. The monuments and cathedrals in Rome were beautiful and the architecture was very impressive. The landscape in Greece, however, was beyond beautiful. It was the purest form of God’s creation that I have ever seen. The Aegean Sea, Mount Olympus, and Hydra (the Island) were breathtaking. Another thing that blew me away about the trip was going to Corinth. It was amazing going to where Paul went and kneeling where he stood."
- Casey Hayman, Class of 2014
"In Greece and Italy I learned how to appreciate cultures all around the world and the beauty of creation. I was in awe of the mountains, the sea, the sky, the water. I was amazed. One of the most impactful thing that happened in Greece was the behma. The behma in ancient times was at the center of the town square. It was a pillar that stood before the political figures of town. The accused would stand beside the pillar and after being accused would be whipped against the pillar. The translations in Revelation show behma as the pillar we must stand against when standing before God. It was probably one of the most humbling experience of life."
- Jessica Gilbert, Class of 2014
"My favorite part about the trip was when we took a day to visit the Greek island of Hydra. Are day started out in the port of Athens where we boarded our boat on route to Hydra we arrived about two hours later. It was a very sunny day and we started to walk around and look at stores and shop. Then we took a hike to our restaurant that was on the other end of the island and we had a burger patty and fries. The ocean was very blue and you could see right into it. The wind was very strong and there were horses roaming the hills. It was the best day because we got to relax and have sometime to ourselves."
- Brad Britton, Class of 2014
"It was a privilege and blessing for me to be able to be a chaperone on Silverdale Baptist Academy’s Senior Trip this year. Getting to be physically where Biblical and historical events happened was at times overwhelming. In Rome, we walked through the Catacombs where early Christian martyrs were laid. We also stood in the Coliseum where millions of Christians died for our faith. But the highlight for me was in Corinth. The ruins there are from the first century, when the apostle Paul stayed in Corinth for two years. We saw the synagogue where he preached. We stood in front of the same Bema Seat of judgment that he stood in front of in Acts 18:12. It made Romans 14:10-12 come alive, knowing that Paul wrote it from Corinth. ”For we will all stand before the judgment seat of God. For it is written, ‘AS I LIVE, SAYS THE LORD, EVERY KNEE SHALL BOW TO ME, AND EVERY TONGUE SHALL GIVE PRAISE TO GOD.’ So then each one of us will give an account of himself to God” (Romans 14:10-12).
Kneeling at the same judgment seat and by the same Roman column where Paul stood, made me realize that one day, I would kneel before the ultimate King, Jesus. And I would give an account of my life to Him. In that moment, it humbled me and made me grateful for His amazing grace and salvation for me."
- Pastor Tony Walliser, Silverdale Baptist Church Senior Pastor
You can find more photos from the trip on social media by searching the hashtag #SBASrTrip14 and by checking out our photo album on Facebook.
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Senior Trip 2014: Italy and Greece from Silverdale Baptist Academy on Vimeo.