China, March 2007:
Two weeks of adventures in China and still there are few words to describe our time there. So many contrasts: ancient and proud, new and more modern than anything we have in the U.S., familiar (KFC in Yangshuo) and unfamiliar (mystery meat in Beijing), cold (snowstorm!) and tropical (did I wear deodorant?), slow (pedaling through sand in a graveyard) and very fast (8 flights in 14 days), old (Great Wall of China) and new (Hong Kong skyline), loud (Chinese tourists on vacation) and silent (deafening silence in the dunes of the Gobi desert). What a perfect way to see incredible continuity and change in our planet’s most populous nation!

Peru, South America, June 2006:
From mountains to mountains, with a whole lot of animals and marching bands in between: Our trip to Peru was a fantastic, high-altitude adventure, starting with the mountains around Cuzco and Macchu Picchu and ending in the Cordillera Blanca and the town of Huaraz in central Peru. We were completely captured by the charm of old Cuzco, the ancient Incan culture and ruins, the beauty and simplicity of rural life in the Sacred Valley, and the grandness of Macchu Picchu. The mountains of the Cordillera Blanca also offered us many adventures, including scrapping our way up to Laguna Churup, Tim waking up from his fever-induced nap to a staring bull below Laguna 69, and marveling at mountains so gorgeous they defy explanation.

Tunisia, Africa, March 2006:
Our trip to Tunisia is a mosaic of so many beautiful moments: Wandering through the Carthaginian and Roman ruins, Blowing three tires in the middle of the Sahara, Searching for words to describe the beauty of the desert, Trundling along on the back of a camel through the sand dunes, Wandering the Old Town and bicycling around the oasis in Tozeur, Beautiful green waterfalls and the sets of Star Wars, Making friends with the locals and enjoying their great hospitality.

London, England, March 2006:
I took my Dad on a trip to London to get a taste of the huge world outside of the US. We didn't have enough time to explore the other historic, friendly, and charming villages and towns in England, but we were able to experience the diverse culture, see the buildings of old standing next to the modern, place our feet on the grounds of knowledge and history in the British Museum, sit back at a coffee shop and view the painting of daily life, and eat sushi in the underground watching train after train go by.

Central Japan, March 2005:
Skiing in Nagano, Bullet trains, Hiking in the mountains outside of Kyoto, Eating sushi from the basement of Daimaru, Total surprise at the warm toilet seats, Sound effects everywhere, Huge swans in the moat around Himeji, The somber peacefulness of Peace Memorial Park in Hiroshima, The hot dog that was really a fish dog, Hot canned coffee. All of this sandwiched between two twelve hour flights. Pure travel bliss. Click Here for Video Gallery

Northwest Italy, March 2004:
Gelato. What more do you need to say about Italy? Well, maybe there were the mountains. The Alps of Italy in the Aosta Valley were stunning, even better when you are on skis. From mountain peaks to the Mediterranean beaches in one day, we strolled the paths along the mountainous coast and ate, what else, gelato! On to Florence, and then Rome for some incredible "in your face" history. and more gelato.

Bratislava, Slovakia, June 2002:
What do you get when you combine 60 middle school students and a trip to the mountains of Slovakia? You get an incredibly powerful experience showing the love of Christ to teenagers. Students from the Church School of Bratislava and members of our team from Church of the Open Door teamed up to do a "School in Nature" camp in the mountains for the students. Hilarious fun, no sleep, and beautiful scenery.

Canadian Rockies, Canada, June 1998:
Some of the most spectacular mountain scenery in North America, we started in Calgary and spent a week exploring the area around Banff, the Icefields Parkway, Jasper, and Mt. Robson. Highlights of the trip include Morraine Lake in the Valley of the Ten Peaks, and the glaciers along the Icefields Parkway. We also made our way over to British Columbia and the town of Radium Hotsprings.