The days are too long and the nights too short here. It's hard to keep with blogging when there is so much going on. But I need to blog so I can remember all of the things that are happening over here.
SUNDAY JUNE 8
We started off the day on a "walking tour" of Jerusalem.
These three boys hitched a ride on the back of an oblivious man's cart. It was so cute and hilarious to see them watch the cart pass and seize the opportunity.
First we went to the Rabbi's tunnel, which is the underground tunnels below the Western Wall
There were Roman ruins down there (like this column) and I was in a very happy place! You'll see me hugging multiple columns in this post!
Then we did a walking tour through the Muslim quarter of the city. Shown above is the Damascus gate, the most hustling and bustling gate in the city.
Then we walked to the Muslim entrance to the Dome of the Rock (which we were not allowed to go into, but wow what a view of the golden dome. There is a coffee place right outside the entrance and I had the BEST tea ive ever had there. And while we were sitting enjoying our baklava there were three boys walking down the street and snatched some of the candy from the neighboring store. It seemed straight from Aladdin, but they didn't get caught, nor did they have a magic carpet.
It's so quaint, I hope to go back
TEA!!! I tried to look excited in this picture, but let's be honest, you can tell by my eyes im exhausted, and I am!
Then we walked around East Jerusalem on the street that seperates the Muslims from the Jews and into an Orthodox Jewish neighborhood. It was amazing to see the stark contrast.
Then we walked back into our neck of the woods to a food distrubution center where we packed food packs to give out and were able to participate in actually handing them out. This distribution center mainly helps Russian immigrants and we provided them with food. So humbling, like most of the things we do here.
Then a few of us went to congregation at King of Kings which was right down the street, and wow. It was awesome, If I lived here, I would attend there. Such a powerful service (when I wasnt asleep) and their music was amazing.
Also today was our leader of the group's birthday!! So we had been sneaking around trying to sign a birthday card for her and at dinner we got the waitress to bring her a dessert with a candle in it so we could surprise her. It was a lot of fun.
MONDAY JUNE 9
We woke up early and went to Netanya to help at a soup kitchen. But first, we stopped at the Mediterranean to celebrate ANOTHER birthday
The two birthday girls!
It was a beautiful beach
At the soup kitchen we got put to work, we were there late and the other local volunteers didn't come so it was just us 12 cooking a meal for 40, setting up boxes upon boxes of clothing and bread for the people to take as they left. They were all Russian immigrants and didn't speak any english. But we sat with them during the meal. I'm really good at just smiling and nodding. I had no idea what they were talking about, although one woman said she liked my hair!
When we got back to Jerusalem we celebrated Christie's birthday with a restaurant down an alley in a corner with a lamp post (very narnia) and then went to a coffee shop for dessert, which was also down an obscure alley way and up some stairs to the cutest place ever, it would totally fit in in Denton.
TUESDAY JUNE 10
Wow, what a day. We left before 7am and got back at midnight. WE WENT TO THE NORTH TO GALILEE!!!
Desert, outside of Jerusalem
We get to leave the city a different way than we normally have so far, it was absolutely beautiful, I love the desert landscape, must be the West Texas in my blood.
and we drove towards the Jordan River
5 people in our group got baptized in the Jordan river and it was an amazing experience. This is the boundary of Israel and Jordan, Israel is on the right of the river, and Jordan on the left.
Our drive throughout the entire day we could see the looming mountains of Jordan, which are extremely beautiful and intimidating.
We drove to Bet She'an (spelling?) WHERE THERE ARE ROMAN RUINS! This city is part of the decapolis (ten cities) mentioned in the bible and was taken out by an earthquake around 700CE, and was left like that. It reminded me of Pompeii.
hugging a pillar
sitting on a pillar
selfie with pillars
It's safe to say I LOVE PILLARS! They tell so much about a time period! Art major problems.. am I right?
So, my phone decided to stop working for about 2 hours or more, and in that time frame we waded in the Sea of Galilee and Saw the "Jesus boat" that they pulled out of the mud and dates back to the time Yeshua walked the land.
And then a guy on the team fixed my phone, and we were at Capernaum!
self explanatory
The temple in which Jesus taught
so Herod, who is a BA architect btw, used these "heart shaped" columns. I've never seen columns like this before, nor knew that they existed! THEY ARE SO AWESOME!!!!
Capernaum was amazing, and just outside the temple are ruins of a house, or maybe a garrison, but it puts a lot into perspective
THEN we went to the Golian Heights! Which provided an awe-strucking view of Galilee and the surrounding areas
I was able to do a devotional here overlooking the sea with the wind and the sun setting in the background, what a humbling experience, Yeshua taught the beatitudes somewhere there on a hill, and I was able to read his words in the same area.
Like I said, we didn't get back until midnight, this trip is totally wearing me out. But I wouldnt trade it for the world.
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