the story continues

So this weekend was beautiful. On Friday we went to the Western Wall to see the Jewish people praying at the wall. There was prayer, dancing, and singing. The guys and girls separate into different sections. Friday night after the service the city was eerily quiet, compared to the rest of the week. Everyone stays inside for the Sabbath. There are clubs and restaurants all around our campus, but everything was dead quiet during Shabbat. I am amazed by the respect people have for their faith and heritage here! Saturday was quiet, as well, until after sunset. We went to a Messianic Jewish service last night and it was quite an experience. The worship and the message was all in Hebrew—we had our headsets with someone translating in English.  It was absolutely crazy that the speaker spoke from Matthew 16:13—where the Messianic confession takes place, in Caesarea Phillipi, the place we just visited! The Bible is coming alive for me as I am seeing places and then reading about the events and people who were there. God is so faithful to reveal himself to me.

            Today is the beginning of a new week.  We went to see the Church of the Visitation today. That is the church where Mary met with Elizabeth when they were both pregnant! The church was lovely. Then we went to see the Israel Museum—where the Dead Sea Scrolls are kept. It was unbelievable to actually see them, and realize how insane it must have been to be the shepherd who discovered them after so many years! We also watched a video on the Secret Community of Believers who separated themselves and lived in the desert. We had lunch in the city and ate falafels that were very delicious! After lunch we visited Knesset, and saw a huge Menorah. Mark explained EVERY detail of it! Then we took a walk and saw where the Prime Minister’s office is. We also had a brief lesson in the politics of Israel. I think we walked a little over six miles today. So, the night is young. Supposedly we are starting a big campus wide “rock assassin” game. I’m afraid this could get viscous. : ) We need to be downstairs to review in about twenty minutes. Then we are going to get some coffee with the guys later, and then hopefully I’ll be working out with the girls as usual. We are all still pretty sore from Mandy and my work out the last two days. Good night for now from Israel.