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!!