Footsteps of Faith

Michigan TLT reflects on Faith Identity Trip, an opportunity offered by the Youth department. 

After a long day of travel, I finally landed in the Eternal City—Rome, Italy. After navigating the busy airport, I somehow flagged down a taxi and paid an exorbitant amount to get to my hotel, where I met up with the other Michigan TLTs for the Faith Identity Trip, led by the Michigan Conference Youth Department. We were excited to be in Italy but exhausted from our travels. However, we still found time to praise God together for safe travels and, finally, a place to rest.

At dawn the following day, we were ready to go. As we loaded the bus and headed into Rome, I couldn’t help but marvel at the beauty of the city. The traffic was appalling, and after an hour of stop-and-go driving, we finally arrived at San Paolo alle Tre Fontane. This monastery marks the place where Paul was supposedly beheaded for his faith in Jesus. It was a solemn moment as we contemplated Paul and the other martyrs who were executed at Tre Fontane.

Later in the day, we visited the smallest country in the world—the Vatican. I couldn’t help but be awestruck by the overwhelming beauty of St. Peter’s Basilica. There was so much intricate detail, it was impossible to take everything in. It reminded me of the verse in Matthew 6:29, which says that Solomon in all his glory cannot be compared to the simple lilies of the field. Man can create beauty, but God’s beauty is so much greater.

We spent the Sabbath in Torre Pellice, which is considered the heart of the Waldensian Church. The town sits in a quiet valley surrounded by the Italian Alps. On Sabbath morning, we headed into the mountains and took a short hike from the bus to a cave where some of the Waldensians hid from persecution for keeping the Sabbath. Entering the cave was challenging, but once inside, it was worth it. 

 

 

We also visited the Waldensian college and church higher up in the mountains, but the highlight for me was the cave. I tried to imagine myself living in that cave, my life on the line for daring to follow God. While it was spacious once inside, it was cold and wet. The thought that these people loved Jesus so much that they were willing to leave comfort and civilization to live in a cave deeply moved all of us. They knew Jesus had given up His life for them. To them, the greatest privilege of their lives was being able to serve God.

After the Sabbath, we went to Annecy, France, a town nestled in the mountains beside a beautiful glacier lake. All five Michigan TLTs, including myself, spent some relaxing time in God’s nature, watching birds on the lake. 

 

 

Since Annecy is so close to the Swiss border, the group traveled to Geneva, Switzerland, for the remainder of the day. During our visit, we saw the Reformation Wall. At the center of the wall stand statues of John Calvin, William Farel, Théodore de Bèze, and John Knox. To the right of these four reformers stood our very own Roger Williams, the founder of Rhode Island. It’s encouraging to think that God has always raised someone up to deliver His people from the world. These reformers were a light in the darkness to those around them. It makes me wonder: am I a light to others?

 

 

My last day of the tour was both sad and exciting because the group was going to Germany for the afternoon. I had always wanted to visit Germany, so I was thrilled—yet sad—to be ending the trip so soon. That morning, we left for Zurich, a beautiful city rich in history. The city had a group of Anabaptists, believers in baptism by immersion. In the very river running through the city, Felix Manz, an Anabaptist leader, was thrown into the icy water to his death. I want to have a faith like Felix—a faith that will not falter even when faced with death.

After waiting all week, I finally got to go to Germany. I had wanted to visit for a very long time and was excited to finally get the chance. Though I only had a few hours before needing to head to the airport, I still enjoyed my time. The architecture was beautiful, and Konstanz was rich with Reformation history. At the end of the day, we visited a neighborhood built around the area where Jan Hus was burned at the stake. We spent our final minutes together reading from The Great Controversy about Jan Hus’ last moments.

I am incredibly grateful for the time I had in Europe. Seeing for myself the places where the reformers lived, preached, and even died was truly inspiring. I find myself longing for a faith that can move mountains—a faith strong enough to go to the mountains if needed, to draw closer to Christ. I want a faith that makes me strong in Christ so that I need no one but Him. A faith that can withstand the threat of death—or even death itself.

“O death, where is your sting? O grave, where is your victory?”
—1 Corinthians 15:55