Daniel!!!: It feels nice to finally get this blog on the go-go! I’m thinking this will be a good tool to use to keep friends and fam updated on life over here in Israel! I think first things first, it’s good just to let you in on a little insight: Israel is not America. Now… I know that I am stating the obvious – but I think it’s ONE thing to know that in America and a totally different thing to be in Israel experiencing it! It’s going to be a big challenge to try and literally put you in my/our shoes and give you a taste of what we’re experiencing, but hopefully you can at least have some idea!
Some stuff that we’ve been able to do so far is: visit the Old City (on a number of occasions) and venture through the Holy Sepulcher where Calvary is located, trek through The Temple Mount area (and get in trouble for being too loud on holy land), view The Garden of Gethsemane, walk up the Mount of Olives (get big leg calfs like Jesus and the disciples), visit the City of David, crawl through Hezekiah’s tunnel (while all 40 of us belted a Little Mermaid’s “Part of Your World” – Ibex style), visit the traditional spot for the Upper Room, watch orthodox Jews pray in front of the Western wall, sing hymns in crusader churches, visit the Pools of Bethesda where Jesus healed a man in John 5, the Pools of Siloam where Jesus healed another man in John 9, sift through the rubble from the City of David looking for pottery and other treasures, and much, much more. On top of all these field trips, we’ve got to experience the dorm life within the Moshav, which has been an all-together different experience!
Me and Jordan – though not nearly as crazy as room 17 in the girls dorm (Rach, Kristine, Abs) – have had a very enjoyable time getting familiar with room 25 (our room). Fortunately we have managed to find no rat-hair-ball looking things anywhere, our electricity has stayed faithful through the 2 weeks, our fire alarm has remained asleep, and with our heater and 6 night lights (the fluorescent lights remind us too much of the doctors office), we have been able to create a “home-like” atmosphere that is welcoming to all who choose to knock on our door. As well, we have what we like to call the “welcoming nindow”… the nindow (window) is a our window that looks over the main walkway that outlines the dorms – our curtain is almost always open and people seem to have made a habit of either: A. Coming to our window just to have a sanctifying chat and or make plans for the coming day or night or B. Sneak up on us when we are doing homework peacefully and slam on the window really hard – nearly shattering the glass and almost managing to successfully give us both heart attacks - then briskly run away. It’s been quite the experience so far!
Apart from all of this, there are a lot of specific things we have seen, learned, and heard that have given me a greater understanding of my Lord and His love. God has really been showing me His omnipotence and His greatness. Learning about His redemptive plan for Israel and how he has orchestrated His will to bring forth salvation to those who believe in Him has really been humbling. When we were sitting in the Garden of Gethsemane and reading Matthew 26 when Jesus prayed, “"My Father, if it is possible, may this cup be taken from me. Yet not as I will, but as you will." Knowing that Jesus would have seen Judas and the large crowd approaching Him and thinking that Jesus loved us so much that He didn’t fight, but submitted to the will of the Father in order that salvation may come to those who believe – was really humbling. I know myself: I know I’m prideful, selfish, arrogant, annoying, wretched, and sinful – I know that I offend God daily and am really hard to love. To think that God initiated His love on me while I was still an enemy and in a state of total depravity destined for hell and how He chose to love me. How He chose to die for me and show grace and mercy to me. And how he continually forgives me day after day even though I prove myself unfaithful to Him. Thinking on this while being in the spot where Jesus submitted to the will of the Father to be taken away, beaten, mocked, crucified and ultimately raise again and defeat death was indescribable. I look forward to what else the Lord has to show me!

P.S. I haven't thrown new photos on my computer so I'll try and post them asap!

Rachel: Being here the past couple weeks has caused me to realize how much of the Old Testament I have never known. I am learning how many truths are embodied in the Mosaic Covenant. We are not under the Law because Christ ended that for those who believe but it does have value. It is so saddening to see the people here who do not recognize this freedom. I think of the slab of rock in the Church of the Holy Sepulcher that is thought to have supported Jesus' body after His crucifixion. People swarm over it, kissing it and running fabrics over it to get a piece of its healing powers.. those who are sobbing and praying in the supposed tomb of David and reciting the Torah in tears at the wailing wall. They don't realize Christ has come and are left clinging to powerless symbols. We can look at the places in this country and be affected by the reality of the Word of God that records events occurring in our realm of time and space.. but we KNOW the God of those events. We have that power within us - we ARE His temple. We can still find worth in the Law and see that it is applicable because it shows what He expected of His people, we can see His attributes, His promises, His standards, His character. But we can look to more than that.

A Shrine they have built over the place where they believe Jesus to have been crucified

Stone that Jesus' body was laid on after he died-these women are wiping their scarves on it because they believe it to have healing power

Recounting the stories in the Old Testament and visiting the sites where many of them occurred makes me realize how big God is. I am brought back to a common place of contemplating my perception of God. I think I all too often over-simplify the gospel and think of God's character as much more basic than it actually is. God is my closest friend who i can interact with all throughout the day, who knows the deepest parts of me. God is also holy and to be feared. He is huge. He is magnificent. I know this isn't a profound discovery but as I am reminded of it i am filled with wonder at the God we serve.

Becoming familiar with the history continues to challenge how I think of the present and the future. Studying the Old Testament makes me so thankful for our freedom in Christ. It makes me thankful that we can worship wherever we want, that we can talk directly with God every second. Seeing His promises makes me anticipate the future. It makes me long to understand what is still coming. It makes me excited for Christ's return.

Because we do so much and want to keep you all updated....

Kristine: We planned on doing this blog when we first got to Israel, sat down for a few hours, decided on a title, and then got too busy to post anything! We've realized that there is sooo much that we do and sooo much that we are learning that it's really hard to give everyone an individual e-mail that fills you in! We thought this could be a recap of the past couple weeks and we'll try to keep it updated in the future.

Rachel: It has only been two weeks and it seems so much has happened that trying to give you a feel for the whole experience would be IMpossible. Culture in Israel is SO different and so fun to experience.. our rooms are also quite fun to experience - me, Kristine, and Abi have managed to knock our the electricity three times and have set off the fire alarm. I'm thinking the front desk people really like our room. Our classes are really fun and go at a pretty quick pace.. we get to take field trips all over the land of Israel and are attempting to learn Hebrew. Last week I unknowingly announced to the class that I looove wine.. thinking it was water.. everyone really enjoys reminding me of that one. Learning such a different language is definitely fun. We sound like we are 4 trying to sound out the words.. the food is much better than what we expected and Kristine has managed to make friends in the kitchen which gets us extra coffee and desserts :)

Kristine: Most of our time has been spent in the Old City of Jerusalem. It's a massive conglomerate of different cultures, architecture, foods, smells, people, ideas, and religions. The marketplace is a maze of hole in the wall shops with scarves, jewelry, fruit, pottery and funny shop keepers! They always yell things as we walk by. We have been told many times NOT to look at them or pay them attention but sometimes what they say is sooo funny! "Your eyes are beautiful!" "Hello ladies!" One man said I was the princess of the marketplace and gave me a free cookie! One guy said to Rach, "You dropped something...my heart." The accent makes it even funnier...where do they pick up their phrases? One day I saw a scarf that was really pretty and cost waaay too much so I told the man I didn't want it and he kept lowering the price until it was 100 shekels less than originally...how could I say not to that??? So I gave him the money and he immediately told me to pick two different ones (definitely not as pretty and I definitely didn't want them). I said no thank you and he wouldn't give me my money back! I probably should have been scared but I got irritated and told him I really didn't want it and I wanted my money back! After arguing like that for some time I tried to nicely take the money out of his hand (Why? I don't know...I don't know why I do a lot of the things I do) and he told me "Do not touch me!" I said really loud and clearly," I DO NOT WANT THOSE SCARVES. I WANT MY MONEY BACK!" and then I got an earful..."Do you tink you are a custamer? Well you are not! Do you think we like you? We do not! You are driving me crazzy! You are so annoying! No body likes you! You are garbage! Go back to America!" I guess I wasn't a very good testimony (hopefully he thought I was Mormon... a lot of them think we are Mormon) because I said "Fine! Keep it! Happy Birthday!" And then he threw it at me! I hope I don't run into him again...or the man that got up in my face and said really loud, "YOU ARE A FREAK!" Different? I guess. I've seen some pretty crazy things in Santa Monica too!

Rachel:One thing that we've all loved since we've been here is singing! I for one, cannot carry a tune so it's kind of a surprise.. but on our field trips we have gotten to stop in a few different churches from the Crusader period- so many of them are so beautiful... they have vaulted ceilings and awesome arches made of stone that create amazing acoustics..our group will hang out for a while and worship and it sounds so beautiful - none of us can figure out why they don't still make churches like that...no wonder they sang the way they did!

Then on Sundays we have been going to The Jerusalem Assembly, a church nearby that our professor attends. The pastor preaches in Hebrew, a man translates to English, and there are headsets for Russian, German, French, and Spanish! Can you believe it? So during worship it is a beautiful thing.. I can usually hear Master's students around me belting out the songs in English and the whole congregation singing in Hebrew (sometimes we attempt the Hebrew for fun). But me and Kristine have talked about how cool it is to worship and hear multiple languages all at once singing to the same God.. it makes me wonder what it will be like in heaven.

Rachel: The church is such a blessing to us in the midst of Jerusalem where the Messiah is rarely worshipped. They are in the process of renovating a building and their love for each other is so evident. Listening to them pray for each other, watching the updates of all the work that is getting done, and listening to the preaching of the Word is definitely encouraging.

Kristine: I wrote this after we went to Temple Mount and thought I would add it because it has really impacted me more than anything on this trip...Sometimes it is difficult for me to picture places that Jesus went when they have been made into shrines such as the Church of the Holy Sepulcher and the site of the Upper Room. Our first stop today was the Temple Mount. It is built on the eastern hill of Jerusalem and as you look out to the east the Kidron Valley and the Mount of Olives are clearly visible. The history associated with this place is truly remarkable. It begins 1000’s of years ago when Abraham packed for a journey and trekked up the mountain with his son of promise. I always wonder what went through Abraham’s mind when he held the knife poised over the body of his eldest son….did he know that God would provide? Much later, Solomon (1 Kings 6) is given clear instructions on how to build the Temple of Yahweh over this same spot. It was hear that the Israelites would purify themselves that they may walk holy before God. It was here that the Holy of Holies resided. It was here that Yahweh himself was present. Sin, disobedience and war later led to the destruction of this holy place in 586 BC by the Babylonians and the Israelites were dispersed and exiled from their land. It wasn’t until 539 BC that the construction of the Second Temple began and 37 BC when Herod the Great began to completely revamp it. It was here that Mary’s newborn babe was dedicated. Here that Simeon’s “eyes saw salvation.” Here that Anna “began to give thanks to God and to speak of him.” It was here that the boy Jesus was found “in his Father’s house.” It was here that Jesus overturned the tables because the people were turning the house of God into a “den of thieves.” And it was here that the curtain was torn in two when the earth shook as Christ gave up his Spirit and became death for all of man. And today? What do we see as we walk around this platform? A great Dome that is a tribute to the Muslim God. A great Dome that seeks to declare that Allah is God. Although it saddens me to know that a special place in history has been made into a Byzantine style mosque around which then pray to a pagan god, it is a great reminder of the reality that has taken place. Christ has become the sacrifice once and for all. We don’t need a High Priest to enter into the Holy of Holies for us. We have access to God and we are sealed with his spirit. There is no longer a separation between Jews and Gentiles. We are all one in Christ. The Christ that walked along those stone steps and gazed upon that Mount of Olives, lives in me wherever I go and the knowledge of that impacts me more than anything that I have seen.

Rachel: Hopefully you have a little taste of what we are experiencing over here in the Holy Land! We are learning so much and having tons of fun. We'll be posting soon! Love you all!