Last time I'll look at blogger in Hebrew

Welp. It's over. Headed to the airport now.  This is the last I'll type from the bus wifi. Our flight doesn't leave for a couple hours yet.  It'll be about a 12 hour flight. Switching time zones so I'll get to relive about 7 hours of my life tomorrow. Interesting thought, yeah? I've got a lot to think and plan over the trip back, and many sweet fresh memories to reflect upon. Should be a good trip. But oh, so long. CUFI, It's been great.  I've loved it, and I'll never forget.  So long Israel, God's chosen land  and people. Farewell my first trip to the Middle East. Hello 25 hours of travel Home.

I Write with a Very Heavy Heart

Today was a super intense day for me.  We visited an IDF Paratrooper training base (which we were not allowed to photograph). They showed us weapons and obstacle training courses.  When I walked through the obstacle course and they described the speeds required of the fully armed soldiers, I realized how real the military is for the Israelis. It's not a joke. They're required to join sure, but that doesn't slacken the intensity of their military.  Kids younger than me and my same age were serving their country. One soldier described to us how important preserving their country is to them and said, "None of us want to be out here wasting three years of Our lives. We've got everything ahead of us just like you. But if the Israelis put our guns down, we will die. If the Palestinians put their guns down, there will be peace."  We talked with some of the soldiers (this is the second time) and they seemed almost shy. Interesting enough. They've told us before that they wish they could be in school like us. After the base we went over to the Gaza strip and met with a colonel who led us to the top of a hill.  The first house I saw stepping out of the bus, had 2 rockets stuck in the roof. Real rockets. At the top of the hill we could see clearly into Gaza.  He spoke for just a few minutes then ushered us down the hill saying "Sometimes they can spot groups here and might shoot. That got reaaaal real for a minute.
When he took us down the hill, he shared with us how the Israeli military functions. It was an excellent lesson.  At the end he shared a story of his mother, who was experimented on at Auschtwitz during world war two and the terrible abuses she suffered at the hands of Nazi men. That was a time when the Jewish people were helpless and could do nothing of their situation.  "We are not doing Israel a favor by serving in the armed forces; Israel is doing us a favor by providing for us to defend and protect ourselves, which is something we've not been able to do for a long time in history." boom. wow. After this, we  drove over to look at some of the rockets shot over.  Each rocket is marked with the date, location (?), and the number of deaths it caused.  I had to imagine one of them getting swung like a baseball bat at me. Then times a thousand. Flying through the air, and I have 15 seconds to find shelter.  Ten times a day. And this is people's lives.  We stopped at a teeny bomb shelter along the side of the road-and there were several scattered down through out the street- the closest thing I can compare it to is a very very teeny bus stop- both in size and frequency along the street. We climbed in just to see. You could only fit about 5 people. So should you be on the street when a rocket comes this is where you'd go.  It smelled of urine.  Makes sense, if I had a rocket flyin at me I might too.

Then we went to a children's facility. The U.S. donated money for Israel to create a safe place for children to gather. If a child wanted to have friends over, or say, a birthday party, there would not be enough room in a family's bomb shelter to shelter all the children.  So this is a location they can all go and fit.  This place was high traffic.  So many children.  The sides of the building and certain rooms were  rocket proof, but the center could not afford to rocket proof the center of the building. So should a rocket come, they would set off the alarms and all the children and families would run to the sides of the building.  This is how these children live.  There was an indoor soccer field, because it isn't safe for these children to play outside. The rockets consume the way the people have to live. Even the toys inside the building were strategic.  There was a short climbing wall that wouldn't let you climb very high but was designed for you to climb sideways across. Why you ask. Because it would take more than 15 seconds for a child to jump down from the top of a tall climbing wall to seek shelter from a rocket. There's more, so much more.  I guess today I was just kind of hit with the reality of it all.  That Israels not political theories or experiments. They are a people who are fighting for their right to survive and live peaceably. They are people who live in scary, uncertain times and have to make scary, uncertain decisions.  My heart is broken for these people. I want to adopt three Jewish sons. That I'll keep thinking about, but really.

On the Shores of my Soul

Last night I took some time out to  myself to enjoy a relaxing evening. I climbed on top of this big old rock, turned on some music, read and planned some and enjoyed this beautiful view. Jersusalem  is unique in that the city seems to surround you no matter where you are. Love it:)

There is Always Hope

Today we traveled over to Bethlehem which is technically in Palestinian territory.  We were confronted with an immediate shift in setting after crossing the border.  Upon approach, there was a large blank concrete wall and I wasn't for sure exactly what to expect on the other side. Graffiti. The Palestinian side of the wall was covered in graffiti. Some of the most beautiful graffiti I've ever seen, but also very disturbing.  Conflicting political and societal messages overlapped one another and the bus was driving so fast I kinda felt like Alice in Wonderland sailing through a tunnel of pictures and phrases flashing by. There was a sign that read "Thank you for coming to Bethlehem , We welcome you as you just as we did the savior. Pray for the freedom of Palestine." You see, there's two sides to every story.  We asked the cheerful tour guide who had attended a Bible college, how we could help the Palestinian Christian people.  He answered quite abruptly, "Send them over to tour like you guys did." Economics was not our question, but it seemed a topic best not discussed with this man at that exact moment.
During our tour I was able to touch the exact spot where Jesus was born.  Often we're unable to know for certain the precise location of things associated with Jesus, but the birthplace is a for certain spot. It was a really beautiful moment as our whole group gathered together and sang "O Come, O Come Emmanuel" and " "O Come all Ye Faithful"  It was a real powerful moment.
We'd begun the day discussing the political situation of Israel and meeting with the Mayor Deputy of Jerusalem.  We ended the day with the Israeli Museum where I was able to see the actual Dead Sea Scrolls (which I spent a ton of time studying last semester.) There was more to the day of course, but this will have to suffice. There is a saying in the  Jewish culture describing the Shabbot dinner that says "It's a time of just being, after a long week of becoming."  And that, I believe, I'm going to  apply to this day right now at this very moment. Time for an early retirement and a peaceful nights rest!

The Sun will Rise

Sunrise over Masada this morning. The skies here are truly breath taking.

Quick Catch up

Well, there are several reasons why I haven't kept my blog up very well here lately. Names because Google is in Hebrew here...so every time I type something....it types backwards....and I cannot read the buttons required to click around and publish what I need to.  Second reason,  I have found myself coming to the close of my evenings completely overwhelmed by the thought of trying to put to words the things that have meant the most to me, the things which would most interest those reading, and  the very thought of attempting to capture the ambiance of this land in a a short blog post is just quite simply appalling. Today was truly wonderful friends. Truly, truly wonderful. The Lord's goodness has reached no limit on this trip. He has unified this group threw his spirit and song.  I  am so grateful for this group of people. They've made this journey a true joy:) I go now to join in a short worship session as we over look Jerusalem this night.  I will catch up on my posts later, perhaps tomorrow, but for tonight the city and God awaits. I am over-whelmed with His Goodness.  Prayers continued would still be accepted:)

First touch of Israeli soil

Last Bacon Breakfast for a bit

Passed interrogation in the airport! Israel has staff here in Newark that interrogates everyone before they can even continue on to customs. This is a wonderful group of people. I'm already enjoying the trip. A couple of us went into the little cologne shop and doused ourselves. One of my buddies mistook some perfume for cologne. It's hilarious.  Walking back from the shop, I ran into another group of friends and I joined them to go check out the swatch shop. Then to the the electronics store to improv flashmob to Adele. Now we're just waiting on the flight. Someone suggested we all pray over the flight together and we joined hands in unity and asked God to bless the trip. I am so honored to be here. None of us can remember each others names so for now, we just kinda call each other whatever we want. Also they gave us cute little old men hats, that say CUFI and I adore mine so I'm already officially "the girl with the hat." It'll be in all my pictures, I'm certain;)

                                                     Any moment now!

    I can't believe I'm about to enter the land. All that stand between us is the Great Atlantic.  My posts should get more meaningful from here on out. This is really happening.

Just a Summary of My journey here

Today was good. I bribed my brother to come with me to the airport so my car wouldn't be there all week.  Problem was I still needed to do some last minute shopping so we had to leave at 5 in the morning for my 9:30 flight. He set some terms and conditions of course. He had control of the radio (Sports Talk, no surprise), I buy him breakfast and a monster drink, and of course gas. He was a good sport when I forgot the monster, didn't have time for McDonald's, and he had to put in his headphones.  My sweet younger brother stayed up last night begging me to wake him before I left this morning. I promise I tried, Nate! Flight One was good. I spent most of it huddled by the window as the large man next to me leaned over entirely too far, grumbled about his work that caused him to travel far too much and airline conspiracies. Planes are for thinking, cloud imaginating, and talking to God, in my opinion.  Second flight was on a teeny propeller plane. HA! That, my friends, is adventure. Flying in a baby propeller plane over New York City:) A sweet memory I'm sure not to forget. I had no seat at first because some man was on the wrong plane. I ended up sitting with a girl who had just graduated with her Public Relations degree and was headed to New York, New York to search for her first job there while living with a variety of people for a few weeks. From there I hopped in a shuttle from Laguardia Airport to Newark. There was a kind looking young lady sitting behind me who said hello when I got in. She told me she was from Norway, traveling the world! She was simply delightful truly! At the next stop just a few feet down the road another girl entered the shuttle and I recognized her from Christians United for Israel because she had just friend requested me on facebook that morning. I found out she was also a Public Relations major with a heart for ministry.  Needless to say, we hit it off just fine.  We spoke with Ingrid, my new Norwegian friend of God, country, and travels. The Lord put it together I'd dare say. Our shuttle driver, Christopher, age 53, was from Jamaica and terrified of snakes. He is a cow whisper/tamer, believes pork is deadly according to medical books, quarrels with his children but loves his grand children, and has finding a wife constantly on his mind. I told him to get dreads. He's bald. He said he would get one. Then he decided he could get his whole head dreaded with some fish oil stuff and the day after he is married shave his head. Because ya know, his wife would only marry him for his dreads. His leaving words of wisdom: Just read you Bible and keep loving God and don't get involved with Chick-fil-a. Thanks man.  A God ordained journey I think would fairly accurately describe this day, I might say.Then we had a delicious final American Dinner and listened to Christians United For Israel's National Director, David Brogg speak on 3 myths of Israel. Excellent and Informative, of course. Now I am doing my best to stay up as late as possible so that tomorrow I can sleep on the plane and awake in Israel bright and early their time.

Here we go, Baby!



I own the most Wonderful of Nights

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My last expression of introvert freedom: car, dusk, windows down, smooth windy silence, then sing. Alright Israel, I'm all yours now.

                                                                     Lets Do This.




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This Land is Calling my Name

Well here we are).  All packed.  well, nearly. I mean technically most of my clothes are still in the laundry...and my bag is already full. Oh dear. I'll manage. It'll all fit somehow.  It always does. I'm uncertain right now of my emotions towards this trip. I don't think I understand that this is really happening.  Seems like I'm dreaming and need to hurry and wake up before this awesome real life adventure takes place! How can anyone ever be ready for a Holy Land? How could I ever have studied enough? At the same time, I've read about this my whole life. I'm going to the homeland of a dearest friend-in fact, a lover. And I'm going to learn about where He grew up and the places He always talks about, visit His favourite little hide-away spots on earth and for once feel like I'm a part of those stories because I'm where He was and now it's real to me. I want the Lord to share with me what this place means to Him. I want to see His heart and know the depths of how Israel moves Him.  I won't. I may hope for a glimpse, but I can't handle the whole of it I'm nearly certain. I feel entirely too unprepared, though I'm told I'm not. I don't want to forget a single thing, though I will. I want to realize the significance of each and everything, and I just quite simply won't. I want to be more ready for the Holy Land, but I'll never be ready enough. This is my time, this is my present state, and this is the grandest opportunity of which I am about to partake.   This Land is Calling My Name. Perhaps I'll wake up tomorrow morning ready for this adventure-this grand, grand land. :) Surely. Well that's more than deep enough for tonight, I'm certain! Prayers for me, the trip, those journeying with me, and travels would be much appreciated! My flights leaves bright and early! First New York, the Newark, NJ.

I'm dying to see that Holy Land

'Give me Adventure' scream my eyes:) Israel I can wait no longer:) Come very quickly and pass very slowly. [Scarved and covered]

Oh, Jerusalem

the wailing wall. the wailing wall. the wailing wall. the moment my fingers touch and a prayer escapes my lips at the wailing wall... eek:) [ONE WEEK.]

Warrior Poet

A fine obsession.

The Summer of 12: Dreams are reality

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