last day in I S R A E L.

What an incredibly sad day. Last trip through the old cemetery/park filled with broken glass...last meal at our favorite little pizza place... last time through the busy Arab market with all our new Arab friends... last time through the new open air mall- hello Jerusalem!...last time to witness the hush of a quiet Shabbat Saturday morning...one more time before we get on a plane heading h o m e... at least for a little while. I think most of have already decided in our hearts: we will be coming back someday. 

V I A D O L O R O S A

Today was very simple, yet very meaningful. We attempted to go back to the Temple Mount, but it was not open to visitors today. We went to all the stations of the Via Dolorosa- the Way of Suffering. There was something about visiting all the places Jesus crossed on the day he was crucified. There were so many people in the streets of the Old City today. There were so many tours and people praying and carrying crosses on the Via Dolorosa. Lastly, we stopped at the Church of the Holy Sepulchre. Yesterday we visited the Garden Tomb- and today the Church of the Holy Sepulchre, the other place he might have been crucified and buried. The church was very elaborate, although I think it is much easier to imagine the actual place being at the Garden Tomb. 

It is hard to imagine leaving this captivating place. I could stay here for the whole semester, and still desire to learn and experience this city even more. I don't want to leave at the end of this week! Tomorrow we have a free day to spend however we want. I think we might try a sushi place for lunch, and then explore the Old City a little bit. I just want to take advantage of every opportunity I have while I am here. It is difficult, because every moment I spend in our dorm, I feel as if I could be outside these walls- seeing more of Jerusalem. I love living life to the fullest. I love making the most of my time... and yet, I know that it is in the quiet moments where I am just enjoying the stillness, that God captures my heart. He shows me things I didn't see before- and I am completely in awe. We are walking WHERE JESUS WALKED. I feel so incredibly blessed, and undeserving. God is so faithful. I LOVE life here... but I also look forward to the moments I can share what I've learned here with people in Florida. I cannot forget this place.

Hezekiah's Tunnel

We walked around the City of David this morning. I learned that Muslims actually consider Abraham to be the first Muslim. The city of Jerusalem is known as the center of Monotheism. After that we went through Hezekiah's Tunnel. It was A M A Z I N G! It was so much fun. The tunnel was carved by King Hezekiah to bring water from one side of the city to the other. The water in the tunnel only reached about mid-calf or up to our knees, at times. The water was above the waist of the group that came last spring! We all were given little lights to guide us through the pitch black tunnel; but half way through, we decided to turn them off and feel our way through. I loved it! It kind of reminded me of the little tunnel Noelle and a couple of the guys and I went through a couple weeks ago- except that one was a little more intense. We actually had to crawl/swim through the tunnel at times. We also visited the Pool of Siloam. That is the spot where Jesus put mud on the blind man's eyes and healed him. The pool is located in the southern slope of the City of David. 

We ate lunch at a delicious little Thai restaurant called Thailandi- and it was wonderful. After lunch we went to the Garden Tomb- one of the places believed to be the place where Jesus was buried before he rose from the dead. It was such a beautiful garden- flowers everywhere. The tour guide made a point to say that they do not know for sure if he was actually buried there- but after all, thats not the important thing. The key part of the story is that we know he is alive. It was very awesome, nonetheless, to be there. We found a new coffee place tonight- Dolce Latte. Justin and Jeff also found a new place so we are getting a little more variety than the usual four places we have been going. Oh, and we finally went to Sambooki and found some delicious little pastries. It was a great day. 

Rosh Hashanah

This weekend has been very chill and relaxing. We are celebrating Rosh Hashanah- the Jewish New Year. It was absolutely wonderful. We kicked the weekend off right with our Shabbot  service and then a party afterwards on Friday night. Saturday we went to the Great Synagogue on in the morning. It was very traditional, and all in Hebrew. The women sit on the second level and the men on the first. The men all where their prayer cloths and their heads have to be covered. I am thankful for the opportunity to see how the Jewish people spend their Shabbot, even though we couldn't understand what they were saying. You can feel the intensity of their prayers just by observation. Yesterday was Lauren's birthday, so we took her out for coffee and dessert later on. It was so great! It was extremely hard to find something open, with the holiday all weekend. We randomly found a lovely little cafe' called Focaccia. We had Tiramisu and Creme Brulee and some delicious iced coffee. 

Today, we visited an Arabic Baptist Church. I am always fascinated by the variety of religions and how people worship in other countries. The service was actually in English, so that was rare, considering the places we have been before. We ate at a quant little Italian place that we found be chance, when we realized Thailandi was closed... again. I had the best eggplant, garlic, herbs, and goat cheese penne pasta today! It was so wonderful. I want to try making it myself when I return home. Later this afternoon we went for a scavenger hunt! I love scavenger hunts. We were split into groups and sent out to take pictures all around Jerusalem. It was such fun. I also feel as if I know my way around even better than before. It was also fun just getting to run around making memories in Jerusalem. 

Our new guide Aton, whose name is incredibly close to the rapper Akon, took us around the Old City today. We went through New Gate, instead of Jaffa Gate to get a sense of a different area. We went to the church where the upper room is remembered to have been. It is extremely old because we know it was reconstructed after Titus burned down the second temple. We listened to a funny little nun talk about how the Holy Spirit is right there in the church. She was adorable. We also went to The Burnt House of Kathros and watched a video of the story of the priestly Kathros family. It was really interesting to learn about how a family was personally affected when the Romans invaded Jerusalem. This is the only house they have found that was from the time when the Temple was destroyed in 70 A.D.

At lunch we had two pizza places across the street from each other competing to give us a better price for pizza and drinks. It was hilarious, but we actually got a great deal. Who knew you could barter for food, too? We went to visit a quaint shop of an orthodox Jewish man who was so sincere. He enlightened us on the origin and specifics of Judaism and how it differs from Christianity. This man said something that I know is engraved in my heart forever. He said, “If you think you made the decision to come to Israel, you can just kiss that idea good bye. God chose you, and brought you here to his chosen country for a specific purpose. You will not be able to get Israel out of your mind, because you leave a piece of your heart in the Holy Land… and you will be back.”  We also went to the Temple Institute to listen to the history of the first and second temple. The lady giving the tour was absolutely crazy, so it was hard to concentrate on the material. It was really cool to hear of their plans to build a third temple.

After all the touring we took our time going back to campus and did a little more shopping. I went back to some of the same places we went last weekend, and I had two different guys tell me, “You are making me crazy!” But I almost always walk away with the best deal possible. I love bartering. I miss traveling overseas with my brother! Some of the thing these shopkeepers come up with is hilarious.  However, I think my favorite so far is, “Because of your nice eyes, I will give you good price.” What will they come up with next? 

N E G E V

Today was a little slow. We went to the Negev and learned about the Bedouin culture. I love learning about the people who live in the desert. Most of the Bedouin people are Muslim. The men are allowed to have up to 4 wives. Can you imagine?  It was really interesting to learn more about their unique lifestyle, since we had the chance to spend the night in the desert in a Bedouin camp. There are so many culture codes and ways the Bedouin people can express something without even speaking. There are also specific ways they dress in order to express a specific message. They served us a delicious, sweet hot tea, and learned how to make fresh tortillas like the Bedouins make.

We also went to see the grave and desert home of David Ben-Gurion. The view of the desert was beautiful. People compare the view to the Grand Canyon.  The view of the desert really is incredibly overwhelming.  Lastly, we went to see Abraham’s Well in Be’er Sheva.  We watched the funniest video about the history of Abraham and the story of Be’er Sheva. I learned that Be’er  Sheva means “well,” and a well is a place a single women go to meet men.

At dinner, one of our hosts gave us a small gift of an apple, candy, and honey. Rosh Hashanah is this weekend, and traditionally people dip apples in honey to bring in a “sweet” New Year.  I am excited about celebrating a Jewish holiday this weekend. Tonight we went to Coffeeshop and we talked about Theology, hunting, and our lives before Southeastern. 

..s i f t i n g..

Oh my goodness. I am speechless. We visited the Holocaust Museum today, and it is so incredibly extensive. I went through in about two hours; however, I feel as if I could have stayed about 6 hours or more. There was so much to see! Some of the things that really struck me was seeing the journal entries and the artwork of the Jewish people who went to the concentration camps. Some of them were writing right before they were murdered. I honestly couldn’t believe the mass destruction of a people group, and how anyone could ever think that would be “ok.” It breaks my heart to think of the fear the Jews must have lived in.

We also went to sift through rocks searching for archaeological treasures at the Temple Mount Salvage Project. This organization is dedicated to sifting through all the ruins found at Mount Moriah. They have been sifting for the past five years, and are still only about twenty percent through it all. So Gabe and I were joking around that we were going to do another twenty percent in our short afternoon there! However, I am sure they will still be working at this project for many years to come. We had so much fun! Mandy and I found quite a few missing links to civilization from a time long ago. Kaleb and Gabe found a really old Byzantine coin, and that was definitely a big deal.  Tonight I called my Dad for his birthday and got to tell him all about my day.  Oh, and I video chatted with Michael the other night and that was amazing. Life is beautiful!

BETHLEHEM!

J E S U S. Today was went to Bethlehem, the place Jesus was born. We visited the church of the Nativity.  It was really pretty, but there was so much stuff. I would have imagined something much simpler, as the place I believe Jesus was born must have been. Instead, it was filled with lights, pictures, candles, and just cluttered with valuables. It was so surreal to be able to touch the place where Jesus is believed to have been born! It was definitely a very special place.

This morning we visited Herodian. This was Herod the Great’s summer palace, and the only palace to be named after him. The ruins were spectacular. I like to close my eyes and imagine what it would have looked like in all its splendor so long ago. Herod must have been brilliant to build as he did in that time period. Sadly, his story is tragic, and he ends his life as a psychopath. He ends up killing his wife and three sons, all out of jealousy.

This afternoon we had a lecture at Bethlehem Bible College. It is so crazy that Israeli citezens are not allowed into Bethlehem, a Palestinian controlled area. We had to switch our bus driver and tour guide so we could go into the city. It was really fascinating to hear the Palestinian perspective of someone who strongly believes in Jesus Christ but also strongly believes that Palestine is his home. So who belongs in Israel? I look forward to learning more about the Jewish/Palestinian conflict. 

Japanese Documentary!

We had such a refreshing weekend! Our Shabbat service on Friday was beautiful and Saturday was very relaxing. Today we had a lecture with Dr. Waddell for the first part of the morning. Then we had another lecture with a guess speaker, Peter Tsukhira, after that. He spoke about the prophetic significance of Israel. I thought it was really cool to make all the parallels we have read in the Bible and see that many have actually come true! He emphasized the importance of having the revelation of God, to go along with the prophecy.

This afternoon we visited Christ Church and the small museum right next door. The lady speaking to us was so precious and sincere! She was very passionate about Israel and talked a lot about how Christianity has Jewish roots of faith. It was interesting to walk around and see a little of the history of Israel. Unfortunately there was a wedding going on so we couldn’t actually go inside the church.

We took the long way around the Old City to get back to our campus. We split up with a little free time before dinner, so a few of us went shopping. I saw a bunch of cameras and joked around with Mandy that I wanted to be interviewed. Approximately ten minutes later a Japanese man approached me and asked if he could interview me for his documentary. How ironic is that? Suddenly I had about five cameras surrounding me and they were interviewing me questions about my faith and myself.  It was so much fun! Tonight we had dessert at Coffeebean and talked about life and relationships with a small group. Wonderful ending to a pretty chill day. 

l e a r n i n g

Today we visited Megiddo, a tell with 26 layers of the ruins of ancient cities. Isn’t that crazy? The name mentioned in the New Testament, Armageddon, is a derivation from the word Megiddo—meaning Mount of Megiddo. We went through their waterway tunnel that they built for safety. Megiddo was in a very important location that guarded a trade route that connected Egypt and Assyria.

After that we visited two churches in Nazareth. The first was a very elaborate Catholic church where Gabriel is said to have visited Mary to tell her she was pregnant with Jesus. There was magnificent artwork of Mary and Jesus, gifts from all over the world, hung up around the church. We then spent time at another smaller and simpler church, a place commemorated for when the Priests gave Jesus the scrolls to read from.

We went to a lovely little park to visit the place where God brings the Israelite army from thirty-two thousand men to three hundred men. He wanted the Israelites to see that his hand of protection was on them, instead of winning the battle in their own strength (Judges 7). I think Gideon’s story is an incredible example of faith.

Lastly we went to the old ancient ruins of Beit She’an. It reminded me so much of Pompeii in Italy! This was an old Roman city in the North District of Israel. The Bible mentions it as a Canaanite city in Joshua. This place obviously in ruins—but it was incredible! The Romans lived in luxury. There was a very elaborate theatre, spa, shops, and restaurants found when archaeologists began to excavate the area. I definitely enjoyed exploring the ruins and then later climbing the mountain for an exceptional view.

Tonight we are going to Coffeebean to chill and play cards. 

What Just Happened?

Today was a really short day. We went to see Samuel’s tomb. We went up on a roof with a beautiful view of the city and we could look down and see Samuel’s tomb. Unfortunately, people were praying so we were unable to actually go into the area and see his grave. Our new guide, Aton, gave us a lot of information on the areas and wars surrounding the grave area. It was very long and boring, but I was trying to keep up.  I miss Mark, and his crazy commentary.

After lunch, we were supposed to go sift at the Temple Mount Antiquities Sifting Project. It is like being on an archaeological dig! They have been sifting through the remains and dirt from the Temple Mount for the past five years and they are still only about twenty percent into the project. Unfortunately for us, they didn’t have the proper water and conditions for us to sift today, so we have to go back another time. So instead, we had a very long lecture on archaeology and how the project is going, as well as some of the items they have found. It was incredibly long. Actually both places we went today there was a lot of talking and very little action.

We went shopping this afternoon. I found some really great gifts for some of my friends and family. I love exploring Jerusalem. There is so much life and color and culture everywhere you go! Tonight we are going to get coffee and then watching a movie.   

What a fun and insightful day. We went to the Nature Reserve of En Gedi.  En Gedi is the desert area where David hid from Saul when Saul was trying to kill him. As we explored the extensive rock formations and fresh water springs you cannot help but wonder if you are on the same path as King David! David also wrote many of the Psalms in En Gedi, too. So… we took some time out of our exploring the desert to each write a Psalm of our own! I really liked taking time to just sit in the desert and write a song/poem to God.

After that we went swimming! We swam for a little while in the small Spring the guide showed us, but then we decided to find a larger one some rock climbing possibilities.  We found a deeper spring and Caleb, Lauren, and I climbed up to the (near) top to jump. It was amazing. It definitely reminded me of all the incredible waterfalls I went to in Mexico and all the cliff jumps we enjoyed during that trip. The waterfalls and springs are so refreshing here! This afternoon we had a lecture on the Cultural Aspects of Reconciliation. We discussed the Jewish and Palestinian worldview—which I honestly think is very important to know for people spending time in this country.

Tonight I think we are going to go shopping and get gelato after dinner and review time. We had a delicious and very authentic Arabic dish for dinner tonight. “I have a feeling… That tonight’s gonna be a good night.” That has been the Jerusalem theme song. 

Walking Where Jesus Was

When you visit Jerusalem, arrange to visit the Western Wall Tunnels! The excavations lasted about twenty years, and have revealed so much history and discovery of life during the Herodian period as well as the history of the Temple Mount. We visited the Western Wall again—but this time it wasn’t on Shabbot so we could go down and touch the wall. Many people were still there for their morning prayers. It was really moving to be there as Jewish people cried out to God. People leave prayers and tuck them inside the cracks in the wall. Security removes the prayers twice a year, but evidently the ink is all washed away from rain, but they are all buried in a Holy Place. We also visited the Dome of the Rock. We are not allowed to go in, because we are not Muslim, but it is a magnificent structure.

Lastly, we visited Jerusalem Archaeological Park. The park includes the steps p to the Hulda Gates (a place we know Jesus was!) from the Second Temple Period. Remnants of the stairway that led to the Holy Temple remain here. People used to make sacrifices to God right there! We also watched a short video.

Today we had a little bit of the afternoon off. I attempted to nap but the girls were laughing way to loud and I ended up just chilling with them and talking. Dinner was delicious, as always. After a review downstairs in five minutes, we are going out!!

So tired!

Today was awesome. We were able to see the 2000-year-old wooden boat that very well could have been the boat that Jesus was in on the Sea of Galilee. We rode on a boat over Galilee! It was gorgeous! We also went to Capernaum, where the incredible story of Jairus and his dying daughter was raised from the dead. Jairus’ house was right by the Synagogue of Jesus. Peter was also lived in Capernaum. We visited two churches and the Synagogue today.  At the Church of the Primacy we talked about the significance of Peter and how Peter was chosen and set apart and later became the first Bishop of Rome. This place is remembered in John 21:15 as the place where Jesus asks Peter three times if he loves him.  The correlation is found when Jesus asked Peter three times if he loves him and then Peter later denies Jesus three times.

We had a delicious lunch of “Peter’s Fish” on the Sea of Galilee. It was actually the whole fish, with the body and head and everything. It was so good! The last place we visited was the Church of the Beattitudes. We talked about resistance without evil intentions. It was such a beautiful church. I loved how it was on the water, and there were beautiful flowers everywhere. It was so windy because we were right by the water.

Lastly, we went to the Jordan River and people were baptized. I have personally already been baptized, but I was very excited for everyone who made the decision to be baptized. It is a really awesome opportunity to be baptized in the same place as Jesus! We stayed up until past 2 am talking so 6 am came really early today. It was an incredible day. 

What a Day

Last night we had a delicious dinner at the Bedouin Camp. We all sat on the floor and ate from very low tables. It was really great. We walked around in the desert for a while by the light of the almost full moon. Unfortunately you cannot see too many stars, because the moon was so bright and reflects on the light colored sand. I love camping and hiking so this little trip was perfect! The camp was lovely in a very rustic sort of way. It reminded me of being at some sort of a camp for backpackers in Africa. We learned about some of the culture and customs of the people at the camp. 

            We had a campfire and sang songs and I had the most wonderful moment just being silent in the presence of God. I feel closest to God when I am outside in nature. I love taking time to be silent and just listen. We were sleeping across from the guys so we had a sugar packet war right before we all fell asleep. I am still in the rock assassination game so I fell asleep clutching my rock, because Kevin was just too close for comfort.

            We woke up just in time for the sunrise. I caught my breath as the sun came up over the mountains. It was gorgeous. Some things you just cant describe with words. Breakfast was delicious. We then climbed up a mountain to get to the fortress of Masada. Herod originally built it—but later on there was a dramatic story of the Jews revolting against Roman rule. The Romans came to attack and the Jews had to decide if they wanted their women to be raped and their children to be slaved. They killed each other off, except for a few women and children who lived to tell the story. What a tragic and moving ending.

 Lastly, we went on an open-air truck through the desert with the view of the beautiful Dead Sea. The driver freaked us out a couple times but I love heights and danger so it was exciting. Then Mark took us to a little fresh spring but no one wanted to swim at first. The spring was full of Middle Eastern men. Noelle and I put our feet in and Noelle slipped and got soaked… so—we decided to go in! A couple of the guys went in with us. Then one of the Middle Eastern men standing around told about a secret water tunnel that led out somewhere. It was i n c r e d i b l e! Definitely one of the highlights so far of the trip was this secret tunnel we had to crawl/swim through. It was pitch black at times. Then we found a little waterfall and let the refreshing cool water wash over us. Amazing. Mark told us to change into dry clothes behind a tree... however, one of the men offered to let us in his house or shed or something. It was sketch but we can laugh about it now! Dance party tonight. What a memorable day. 

A Paradise in the Desert

OH MY GOSH. The last two days have been incredible.  I will start with yesterday.

            Yesterday we went to see Qumram, right in the desert. Parts of the Dead Sea Scrolls were found in caves in Qumram. It was a beautiful view, and we also watched a video about the place. After that, we headed to the Dead Sea for a swim! It wasn’t cold at all, and the water is so salty! It is made up of 35% salt, as opposed to the normal 3% salt in other oceans. So, your body actually floats to the top of the water on its own! I had so much fun floating around with everyone in the Dead Sea. Then we rubbed Dead Sea Mud all over our bodies and it was amazing. My skin was so soft and felt like silk after that (only for a few hours, and then it was dry again because we were in the desert!)

After that we had lunch in Qumram, and tried falafels with schnitzels in them. It was like a piece of breaded chicken in a falafel pita. I really liked it! I seized the opportunity to make my kill and get Shelly out of the game of Rock Assassination when she got up to get some sauce. After lunch we headed further into the desert, and drove to the Bedouin Camp, where we stayed the night. We went on a camel ride through the desert. I kept thinking Justin and Jeff’s camel (right behind mine) was going to take my arm off. They have really sharp teeth, and seem to be easily annoyed with people. It was so much fun, though. I love experiencing things for the first time. This night at the camp was incredibly fun... more to come in the next blog. 

Mediterranean Sea

Today I swam in the Mediterranean Sea! It was absolutely beautiful. It really wasn’t cold at all, as I imagined it might be. We swam out to these piled up rocks a little offshore. It was quite a swim out there… but the view was spectacular!! Swimming around in the cool, clear, bluish-green water was refreshing. This morning we started out with a Museum. It covered so much Jewish History. It was a little overwhelming, but very interesting to learn about all the Jewish Holidays and customs. We also got to see models of the Jewish Synagogues around the world. They were incredibly intricate and detailed. I definitely appreciated seeing how the different places around the world have their own style represented in their place of worship.

For lunch, I went with the girls to a lovely little place called LoveEat in Tel Aviv. Mark magically appeared behind us as we were ordering to make sure we weren’t having trouble with the menu. Mandy and I split a delicious pasta with chicken, herbs, olive  oil, and some vegetables. It was really, really good!

The last place we visited was called Joppa in Biblical times, but today is called Jaffa. Jonah visited Joppa right before Tarshish (Jonah 1:3) Jaffa is one of the oldest functioning harbors in the world.  It was a beautiful view.  Peter also came to Joppa from Lydda when he raised Tabitha from the dead in Act 9. While he was there, he stayed at the house of Simon the Tanner, where he had a vision on the roof. We went by Simon’s house.

Tonight we had coffee…again. There are some pretty adorable coffee shops near our campus. Coffee Shop is our favorite so far. Original name right?? : ) It is so much fun, though. We will be gone for a couple days on a little camping/safari trip. I am so excited!! I love camping. The club music has already started outside, but we have gotten used to the sound now, so it puts us right to sleep.