Are you a Pilgrim or a Tourist?
Laura Hunter, MA Christian Leadership, 2008
This is an extremely important question to ask yourself before signing up to go to Ireland with Dr. Reg Johnson! I must confess, I planned to be a tourist. I wanted to see the beautiful countryside, meet fascinating people, and maybe take in a few ‘holy sites’ along the way. My condition could be defined as ‘wander lust’, a strong desire to wander, rove or travel 
about. Maybe you have the same condition.
I signed up to take the Pilgrimage to Ireland but really intended to be a tourist. As I read the books prior to our trip, my eyes were opened to why we as Christians need to experience pilgrimage. NT Wright tells us, “a tourist visits to see, to take in, to learn about, to buy souvenirs from a certain place and then move on; but a pilgrim comes to offer oneself and to share personally with the people who live and work there in order to 
further inner growth.” This sounds like the Christian life doesn’t it?
In August of 2015, Thirteen of us journeyed together through sacred sites, we stopped to pray, we sang hymns, we ate together, we traveled over 1000 miles, we met each evening to pray again and through all of those acts we encountered God. I found there were three primary means of grace during my pilgrimage. Space, time and people become sacred when processed through a pilgrim’s eyes. God used all three of these as gifts in my life. If you plan to go, first read some books on pilgrimage, take a journal to write down your thoughts and finally remember there are no solitary pilgrims. Look for God’s presence in all of your surroundings including the person sitting next to you in your travels. Don ‘t plan to come home the same person. Pilgrimage always leads to a new place in life.
Just imagine your own story and adventure with Reg Johnson! Don’t miss your chance to travel to Ireland on this spiritual journey!
What: Trip to Ireland with Reg Johnson, Tammy Cessna, & Asbury Seminary
When: June 21-30, 2016
Cost: $3268 from New York/$3616 from Lexington *Prices are estimated
Who wouldn’t want to see Ireland and all of its glory with Professor Reg Johnson, Tammy Cessna, and others from the Asburians past and present? This exciting ten day trip will excite and delight! Ten days of rolling hillsides, ten days of castles, ten days with Asbury abroad… It will take you to the corners of Ireland and some of the most beautiful sights!
Here are a list of some of the sights you might see… Hill of Slane, Downpatrick, Glendalough & Rock of Cashel, Cobh & Blarney, Cliffs of Moher, Bunratty Castle, and more.
If that wasn’t enough, you can extend your time for four days for a Scotland and Lindisfarne Extension for an extra estimated cost of $1678. There you can see Edinburgh Castle, Lindisfarne, St. Andrews, and much, much more…
More Information can be found at: http://elink.asburyseminary.edu/alumni-trip-to-ireland/
Or you can contact the Alumni Office at alumni@asburyseminary.edu and we can send you a brochure with more information about this wonderful opportunity.
Want to register, visit www.EO.travel/mytrip and enter the following information: http://www.eo.travelwithus.com/tours/ir16-55601#eotours
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