The Land of Benjamin

This past Monday we returned to travel for a day of field study. We traveled through all of the land that was given to the Tribe of Benjamin. This included Jericho where Joshua began his conquests to take the land for the nation of Israel. Benjamin was given such a large variety of land and many kings in history fought over the land for it's great resources. This is where Joshua and the Israelites began taking over all the land because this was a gateway to Jerusalem and had amazing resources. We started the day walking through a Wadi...which is a natural gorge between the hills where fault line, erosion, and folding of the rock created these deep gorges where water runs. Because we are still in warm weather season, there was no water running through the wadi and we were able to hike through it and walk along the ancient road to Jericho. It was ridiculously hot but also an incredible hike through this kind of land.
As we were down in the Wadi we read through Deuteronomy 32:9-14. This passage talks about this kind of land that we were hiking through and metophorically uses the geography of the land to show God's protection over His people. Verse ten talks about God's people being the "apple of His eye". However, in discussing the whole of the passage and the original word to "apple" we came to understand the vastness of this statment. The word for "apple" is actually "little man" and "eye" is"pupil". If you have ever looked into the pupils of another person's eyes you can see your own reflection in their eyes. In this passage then, it is suggested that we are considered to be the "little men" in God's pupil. Our reflection is in His eyes as we are in relationship with Him. It also suggests that as He looks at us His reflection is also in our eyes. Much like we are created in the image and reflection of our parents, God has created us as a reflection of His image. He sees himself in us and we have the opportunity to see Him in us as well. I'm not sure if you will find this discovery nearly as exciting as I do, but it definitely had me thinking twice about how God has created me and how He looks at me as His own. It's pretty powerful to me that He can look into my eyes and see His own reflection as I look into His and find myself created in the likeness of Him.

Wadi Qilt

View of Wadi Qilt.....there were cross set up sporatically around the Wadi

St. George's Monastery in the Wadi

The undergrad students walking through the Wadi....we walked behind them on the same trail....the Jericho Road

Scott talking with some kids from the Bedouin community

View of Jericho

A view of the Aijalon valley while the sun was setting in the other direction......It's amazing that Benjamin was blessed with land that not only had a vast desert landscape but if you travel 10-20 miles West, you hit fertile and vegetative land. They had the best of both worlds which explains why everyone was fighting over their land in scripture. Their land also accessed all the main routes to the coast in the West and had the best resources of water, agriculture, economy, and security.

The Beautiful Mediterranean

Well, it's been another week since I blogged....I'll try to be a little more frequent. However, it seems as if all the fun things, worth blogging about, happen on the weekends. Anyway, here's the update. Classes have been getting a little more challenging and Biblical Hebrew seems to need a great deal of my attention. I think if I stick with it daily I'll get the hang of it. All of the homework and studying necessitated a day off this weekend and a group of twelve of us headed to the beach. We took a Sherut (group taxi/shuttle) to Tel Aviv and sat on the beach of the Mediterranean all day. It was so nice and a much needed break. We spent the extra twelve shekels ($3) and rented lounge chairs for the day which was an added bonus. The water was so warm but still refreshing from the heat. We also sipped smoothies and went out for Mexican food for dinner (not our best decision....it's a little weird here in Israel). The beach was beautiful and the company likewise. Here are some pics from the day!

A view of the hotels along the beach in Tel Aviv

The Sunset!

Natalie, Jenna, and Me
Love these girls! We had so much fun!!

Yehuddiya

Just after a long day in the field on Saturday, about fifty of us signed up to head north to the National Nature Preserve called Yehuddiya. It's up in the Golan hills and is so beautiful. As we were driving along the road the area looks dry, desert-like, and even slightly desolate. However, when you hike down in between the hills there are many waterfalls and beautiful sights. It was a really difficult hike and we even had to swim a little ways to continue on the trail. But, it was most definitely worth the effort and swimming in the water holes under the falls was magnificent. It was a gorgeous day!! Here are some pics!

This is a before picture with some of my friends (also girls in my small group)....we were looking ready for a hike!

Beginning of the hike...it was so hot and desertlike that it seemed like I would never survive this hike if it was like this the whole time!

However, we arrived at the first waterfall and were very relieved

Sometimes we would have to climb down little stairs in the rock because it was too steep...we were climbing over rocks and boulders most of the time anyway

Some of the girls in my small group!

The last waterfall we came to was my favorite. The mist in the back right was so fun to stand under and it was a constant stream of water...it felt so good!! It was such a fun little place to swim and jump in off the cliffs! It was beautiful!!

This would be our "after" picture...we were still a bit wet from the swim even though we had just hiked straight up the mountain (the ascent was incredibly difficult...not to mention it was in the afternoon...in the heat of the day!)

The best hike I've been on yet!!!

Jerusalem Approaches

On Saturday we spent another day out on the field, traveling around Jerusalem and nearby towns. I still cannot believe how much I am learning everyday I am here and am loving learning in this kind of environment. The information seems to be fixing itself to my mind and I am remembering so much more learning in this method. Saturday we learned more about the land we are living in and could see how much the land changes in such a short distance. Only about a mile away from the Western, more wet, lush, and green land, is the Eastern, dry, and arid lands. We stood on top of the North slope of the Mt. of Olives and could see both kinds of land at one time. Amazing! Anyway, we traveled around Mt. of Olives and recited the triumphal entry passage in Luke 19:37-44 while picturing the journey at the same time. We then walked down to the garden where Gethsemane is remembered, back up into Jerusalem, on to one of Herod's palaces, and them to Bethlehem. We ended the day at Ramot Rachel where one of Hezekiah's palaces has been somewhat excavated and we could see a vast picture of Jerusalem from a distance. It was a full day but we learned a ton! Here's some pics:

Me looking out over Jerusalem from the Mt. of Olives

Where the Garden of Gethsamane is remembered

The church at the garden that has the rock inside that supposedly Jesus wept on

The view from Herod's palace....overlooking the East...the Dead Sea is off to the right

Herodian Palace ruins

Supposedly the place where Mary gave birth to Jesus in the Church of the Nativity

Church of the Nativity in Bethlehem

A picture from outside the church

Austrian Hospice

Yesterday, Anna and I found ourselves walking through the Old City after visiting the Western Wall during Rosh Hashanah and came upon the Austrian Hospice. We have been told that this particular building has a really European look to it inside but more importantly, we were told to climb to the top and check out the view from the roof. So, we went in, didn't end up having to pay the few shekels to climb the stairs and walked freely through the building. We found our way to the top and sat on the bench over looking the city. The Austrian Hospice is in the Muslim Quarter of the city and you can hear, very clearly, the broadcast of the call to prayer for the Muslim. This also happened to be the first day of the fast of Ramadan. It was kind of eerie and spiritually tense being on top of the building when the prayers were broadcast. However, it was also very ironic to see a Jewish man on his roof just below, hear the prayers of the Muslims, see the Dome of the rock in the nearby distance, and to be on top of a Christian building with a cross mounted on the top. I've posted a video to give you an idea of what it was like....what a coming together of the three major world religions....it is a reminder to pray for a place that once was the beautiful Jerusalem where God only dwelled. I am so glad He no longer only lingers in the temple here, but walks with me no matter where I am and everywhere He will call me to go.

Black Eyed Peas....all for free!

Since we don't have class today due to the Jewish holiday, Rosh Hashanah.....I have posted again. This post is especially for Sarah :).......One think I neglected to mention in my last post was that to conclude our long day of field study, we came to find out that the stage being put up in the little valley just down the hill from our school was for the Black Eyed Peas!!! So, from our hillside we got a free concert and Fergie herself was in attendance. We could see the jumbo screens from the hill and could hear perfectly clear. It was so funny to have spent the day learning the ancient just to spend the evening listening to Fergie belt out lyrics like, "I'm missin you like a child misses their blanket.....but big girls don't cry, don't cry, don't cry". It was pretty ridiculous and very entertaining all at the same time.

Biblical Jerusalem

Well friends...I have discovered that this will be great accountability for me to make sure I remember the places I have been and what I have experienced in traveling around Israel. It seems hard to sit down and write on the blog and post pictures as I am developing new relationships, trying to stay ahead of homework, and traveling around at the same time. However, I must tell you of the joys of learning here. I have learned so much in the short time I have been here and we are just scratching the surface in the three months I will be spending here.

This past weekend we had a 11 hour field study day and walked around Jerusalem studying some of the Biblical significance of the area. We went to the city of David which is inhabited by Jews today, but is also a large excavation site for the remains of the city during the time of David. We saw old remains of the city gate towers, parts of the palace, and walked through the tunnel Hezekiah built during his reign. The tunnel was used to bring water into the city so that people could stay safe from the Assyrians and not have to leave the city walls to get their water. It was incredible to walk through water that flowed as it would have during those days and to see how difficult it must have been to carve out such a long (500meters) tunnel. We also saw what may have been the pool of Siloam, or a pool where people would have gathered to retrieve their water. We ventured into the current old city to see part of the city wall Hezekiah built and the magnitude of the project.

Next we walked along the main streets of the second temple. It was unbelievable to walk along stones Christ walked on and to see how the temple was destroyed and some of the damaged remains that allow us to figure out how the destruction took place. It's incredible that we were even allowed to sit on the temple stairs where the Sanhedrin would have held council, where people would have brought their sacrifices, and where Rabbis would have taught their disciples. After the temple we walked by the Western Wall, along the Old City Streets, and on to St. Anne's church. St. Anne is considered to be the mother of the virgin Mary and is said to be buried there. However, another treasure inside the church's walls is the pool of Bethsaida that is found in John 5 where Jesus healed the paralytic man. We finished the day by walking into St. Anne's church, after learning so much about God's word and the land in which He chose, and sang worship songs together. The acoustics were so incredible in the church that we had to sing the songs slowly, allowed the words to bounce off the walls and allowing our hearts to hear the words we were singing about God. I have rarely been so moved by a group of people singing together. One of the women here is classically trained and sang Amazing Grace and Be thou My Vision from the front altar, facing the wall. The way those words flew along the walls allowed us to sit in worship. It was an incredible day.

Well, I realize this is a very long post but wanted to give you an idea of what I'm up to. For the sack of our slow internet, it was easier to post some pictures on Facebook from this trip. Here is the link for anyone to click on and view the pictures :
http://biola.facebook.com/album.php?aid=2031422&l=3261e&id=68600710


This is such an interesting place to be because although it once was the only dwelling of God, and His presence can still be felt here in overwhelming ways (like it can all over the world), there is still a great sense of spiritual warfare taking place. As the three largest world religions converge over one land, specifically over such a small area, tension can be felt...especially spiritually. It's crazy to see Jews praying at the Western Wall while the Muslim Dome of the Rock towers the wall on the other side. Pray will definitely be needed as we all choose to study in this land and I'm sure we will not be free of facing our own evils while we're here. So, if you could pray that we as a school and that I could stay focused on the Lord, not be hindered by what Satan might try and do, and that this would be an experience of learning, growth, and renewal in Spirit...that would be great! I have also just started leading a small group of undergrad girls and am loving it! They are such incredible women and I'm looking forward to learning with them this semester. If you think of it, keep them and myself in mind as we journey together! Thanks friends and family!! I do miss the pleasure of your company while I'm here and pray God's many blessings on you while I'm away!

Shalom!!

Wandering the New City

It is still rather surreal to think that I am here, living in Jerusalem, and being fairly immersed into such a different culture. I wake up to the bells of the Greek Orthodox church/school that is right next to us every morning at 7. I definitely don't need an alarm clock as they ring for five minutes straight. That doesn't seem like a long time....but it makes it hard to fall back to sleep....that's for sure :).

Classes have begun and I am really excited about what I am going to learn this semester. I am taking a class from a Rabbi who is teaching us how Rabbi's think, interpret scripture, and the ancient literature about scripture that they hold very sacred. There methods of interpreting scripture are quite different and it is very evident how Westernly we all think and process information. What a stretch it will be to adopt another mindset when reading the TaNaKh (also known as the Old Testament). I am also taking a class called, "Jewish Jesus to Christianity". We are looking at how Jesus was a Rabbi, the culture in which he lived and did ministry, and will develop a better understand how he used scripture in his speaking ministry and how what it was like for him culturally during those days. That class is also taught by a Jewish man who is extremely knowledgable about the New Testament and life of Jesus. Should be interesting. He is also my Hebrew professor and I am sure that class is going to be a challenge! My only other class is called Physical Settings of the Bible and is going to have many trips around the land and many long days of traveling during the semester, but I cannot wait to go out and discover new things. Sunday is our 11 hour day during a Biblical tour of Jerusalem...should be incredible, I'll post pics!

With classes starting I have already realized the tension between wanting to get out and see new things but also having an abundance of homework to do! The reading has kicked into high gear and I'm really needing to study my Hebrew frequently. But amongst the tension I have found some time to go out in the New City and look around with some friends....I took a few pics and this will give you an idea of the night life in the New City...It's a very busy place in the evenings!

This is the city center square....there is something called, "The United Buddy Bears of Tolerance" that is somewhat of an art exhibit. These bears are from all nations and line the sides of the city square and are decorated according to their nation. It's pretty interesting!

The United States of America....Statue of Liberty...This one is the tallest because of the torch....of course we had to go one step above to be the biggest and tallest! Pretty funny!
I forget what nation this represents but all these bears are really colorful!
This is Ben Yehuda street at night...there are usually tons of people around and stores to go in...it's busy every night!
Damascus Gate into the Old City...a little blurry without a tripod!
So this is a shot of some of the steps that you would see all over the city. In the Old city some of these steps have smoothed over so much because of the many people that come through, that they almost create a little slope instead of steps. Anyway, these stones are all over the city as walkways.

For you Biola Fans

In the Christian quarter of the old city (it's quartered off in different sections - one Christian, one Jewish, one Armenian, and one Arab or Muslim), our school has a good relationship with one of the merchants. They don't typically recommend any one person, but he is the most honest out of them all and he can change our money. Anyway, during one of our visits he saw us walking around and called us over to his shop. He asked us what schools we had come from and showed us the different stickers and emblems he had from each school. He had one from Gordon-Conwell as well, but I was excited to see that he had a flag from Biola hanging right outside the front of his shop! Who would've thought someone had a little Biola pride all the way out here!!

Living in the Old City

Well Friends,

I have finally gotten my room settled, started to get to know people around school, and been out discovering the city quite a bit. I have posted some pictures below that show you the room my roommate and I share and it seems to be a pretty good set up. The building we live in is actually built right on top of the old city walls and is an incredible stone building. Even the floor in our room is old Jerusalem lime stone, pretty incredible. There are many, many, many stairs on campus and it takes about two and a half flights of stairs to go down to the bathroom from our room. It makes showering an interesting process ;). I’m still trying to wrap my head around the idea that I am even in this city or in a very, very different place. I have a strange sense of comfort, as if this city is already home for the semester, even though it is so different and can seem to be an incredible uncomfortable place. I am sure it helps that I have other American students around me all day, but even as I walk in the old city, it seems as if the pictures I have seen in magazines have come alive. It’s kind of paradox of feeling like being here makes perfect sense even though I’m all the way across the world in a very complex and different environment. The people here are very nice, both at the school and the native folks. I traveled across town today to pick up a cell phone and our taxi driver was a very nice man. They are all very friendly. We do have to be careful in how we conduct ourselves, just like in any other city, but over all I find this place very safe.

One class started today (Sunday), the class that we do all of our traveling and field study in, and we walked all over the Old City discovering the physical elements of the city and how it developed over the years. We haven’t even talked about the Biblical significance of this place and already there is so much to learn. I posted a few pictures below of the journey around the city from our class and I’m sure there are many more to come as the semester goes along. I am continually praying that my mind and my heart can be a sponge that never grows heavy, constantly absorbing the information I am being taught. I can only imagine that as I start all my other classes tomorrow, one taught by a Rabbi, that my horizons are about to be burst through and expanded to places I never thought possible. What a journey this will be!

One part of the dining hall area...up the stairs to the left is where we get food

The Dome of the Rock on the Temple Mount -
and the wailing wall is just below it

Mount of Olives

Part of the Old City Wall

One of the views from my room...the inner courtyard of the school

These are the beloved stairs we walk down to get to the bathroom (and everything else)

A view of the new part of the city from the roof just outside our room

And this is the room...sorry about the angle here....that is a mural of Jesus on the wall, my roommate and I are thinking about covering it up...it's a little cheesy....the lockers on the right are our closets and the floors are made of stone!