Forty-four days, twelve hours, seven minutes and 35 seconds!

Until I come home. This is what my mom wrote on my facebook wall yesterday and it made me laugh, but ah! The end is coming so soon.

I have evening shift today. The only thing that I like about evening shift is my mornings off. I can’t even describe how it feels to wake up early and go to breakfast; and then to come back full and tired, crawl back in a warm bed, and fall back asleep. It’s like getting two nights sleep! Reading back over that, yes it does sound like the epitome of laziness … but it just sounds that way. It really isn’t. 🙂

There have been a lot of goodbyes in recent weeks. My roommate Heidi returned to Finland; Eri left for his new volunteer position in Tel Aviv – and even though that is relatively close, it is still a breaking up of the old group; Yu also left for more travels around the world before returning to Japan. So they are gone. A new couple from the Czech Republic came last week, in perfect timing too, for Felipe and Noemi are leaving in a week or two, and they can replace them – as far as work goes. By the time I leave it shall be an almost entirely new group and I don’t think I like it – this yo-yoing of volunteers makes for too much uncomfortable change.

Many things have happened since I’ve last written; the days are beginning to feel a little blurred together as I look back and think of what I should write. How can one really write of the evenings the volunteers spend together, making pancakes and talking with the hilarious confusion of multiple languages? Or of the little conversations we have while working, the funny things we laugh about that wouldn’t be funny to anyone else? Or lingering long over dinner with IBEX or moshav people? Ice-cream runs, movie nights, bible study, corporate prayer…these things can’t be transfered to paper (or cyberspace) with any real meaning, I feel… something is lost for the reader that only firsthand participation could really understand. But at any rate, these things are happening, and being treasured up in my heart.

I went with IBEX on their last field trip. Today, being Wednesday, they are out again. I did their Shephelah trip, and it was wonderful to experience it again, especially with a different teacher. Bill took us places I hadn’t been before, (like Gath! I am so excited I finally went there!) and they didn’t go places that my group went, on this particular field trip. It was a fine day out, and because of all the rain, the valleys were  green and fertile; with the sun warming us through we traveled through the Sorek, Elah, and Guvrin Valleys. I’m not sure if it will work, but the link below is a video one of the IBEX boys made that pretty much sums up the day. One of the best parts of the whole trip was the field of red poppies in the Elah valley; the workers there wanted us to pick them, so new ones would grow. A few of us gathered handfuls of the bright red flowers, and I am proud to say mine are still on my desk in my water bottle, a dash of color to brighten my room.

One thing I’ve been contemplating (and not understanding) is God’s blessing me to come here again. When we’re reading the story of Samson, and looking out into the Sorek Valley, and seeing where Zorah and Eshtaol would be, I am amazed! When I’m sitting in the 185, complaining to myself about the new and more complicated bus system, I stop myself, wondering that I am even here to complain about it! When I’m sitting in church, a host of Jewish believers raising their voices to praise Yeshua their Messiah, I am so excited to be a part of it. God help me to use everything here I am learning for only His purpose and will;  God help me not to waste the short time I have here, but to use every moment, to soak in every moment, and to come back to Washington the same, and different, and better for having been here.

http://www.facebook.com/video/video.php?v=1340721045532&ref=mf

Congrats to Eric on his first time flying his Hercules!!

I love to discover new places, that have always been there, but that I have somehow just missed. In this case it was like discovering chocolate and peanut butter together. Both were there separately but when you discovered how they tasted TOGETHER … heaven. And that’s how it was with Shabbat and the Garden of Gethsemene. I’d experienced both, of course, but never together, until this last Shabbat, and now I’m addicted. I’d only been to the Church of all Nations, and the little walled garden before, and I didn’t know that on the other side of the street the gardens extended into a little green wilderness of olive trees with little paths winding about, and a hazy glamor of sloping hill dashed with wild red poppies. A few of us took our lunch there after Shabbat service, and sat on white stones. There was something so still and peaceful about the place; something special too. Here is where my Savior prayed with such agony over the fact that He was about to face the wrath of, and complete separation from, His Father. Perhaps one of the little caves down in the valley was where the three disciples fell asleep, unable to keep watch with Yeshua. I think that everything that happened there, and after, is what makes it so special, though it is certainly a beautiful place in and of itself. The walls of the old city stood straight and sturdy across the valley, and the Dome of the Rock rose up shimmering in the slanting afternoon sun. As I watched it, thinking about the temple that was there before, and what it must have been like, and looked liked, I noticed crows circling lazily around and around the dome … as if it were some kind of dead thing. Ironic symbolism, perhaps. Anyone who does not have Christ is dead, and their religion dead.I foresee many more Shabbats spent in the quietude of the garden, with Bible and food and friends. A Sabbath can hardly be more perfect.

It was funny to see Valentine’s decorations in the stores, for I’d always imagined it was a fairly American thing to celebrate. All the volunteer girls had a party the evening of the 14th. We dressed up, ate chocolate and strawberries, read and studied the book of Ruth together, ate chocolate and strawberries, watched Emma, and ate chocolate and strawberries.

I have been to many places in Israel already with IBEX, but I have a growing list of little things I want to do before I leave. Like ride a bike around the Sea of Galilee, and walk around the top of the walls of the Old City; I’d love to  go to Petra in Jordan, and Haifa and the Baha’ai Gardens are on the list too, since I didn’t make it there last time around. My roommate Heidi and I took a trip to Haifa the other day, but I’m not sure it means I can check it off the list … for if anything could go more against our plans that day, I don’t know what it would be. I have been to Haifa, but I have not really seen much of Haifa. I don’t have time right now to expound on it, but suffice it to say that everything we wanted to do or see was either closed or under construction or non existent (like a park to have our picnic in). Still we managed to keep a sense of humor about it all, and enjoyed the trip despite everything. One excellent thing was visiting a former volunteer, Sarah, who is an Au Pair in Haifa. We got to spend a little time at the big German house she lives in, and see the children she cares for. The German Colony of Haifa is very historical – an interesting subject to google, and as such it has created a sort of racial tolerance between Germans, Jews, and Arabs, and Haifa is known for its non-segregation in many parts of the city. It makes for a diverse and interesting cultural experience, and I am grateful to have seen that. All that to say, I may or may not check it off my list, but we’ll see as time and God allows. I cannot believe that in about a week my time here will be half over. I have realized that three months is so incredibly short. I am beginning to feel a sort of frantic urgency … but I’m not sure what for. But it is the right amount of time. The time He has for me to be here. And already I can say that should I learn nothing else than what I have already learned about serving, and giving, and fellowshipping, and praying, and worshiping, and working, and loving, and on and on, it would be enough. What I have had already is more than I could have imagined, and it’s only been a month. God’s is blessing me abundantly.

I do miss my family though – that is always the hardest part about being away. But it is worth it because having an amazing family to come back to is the best part about being away. 🙂

Love to all in Yeshua.

… with love from Jerusalem

8 February – Day 22:

Let me tell you about Finnish saunas. I know all about them now. Because Yad HaShmonah was founded by Finnish people in the early 1970’s, it has influenced the whole atmosphere of the moshav. The lovely log buildings are built from imported Finnish logs, and the food (before they changed kitchen staff) would often have a Finnish flair to it. There is also a Finnish sauna. I don’t know much about saunas in general, so I guess I don’t have much to compare it to. But I do know now that old naked Finnish women like the sauna HOT.

I went the other day, with an IBEXer. Since my roommate is Finnish she gave me different tips, like don’t wear your jewelry because it will burn you, shower first, go naked, put some eucalyptus oil in the water you pour on the coals for a nice aroma … and so on. We took all this advice (except the naked part … just couldn’t do it) and went in. It was hot (we thought), and we sat in the heat and could just feel the toxins being sweat out. And then they came. They trooped in naked, and old. One was older than anyone I have ever seen. That in itself was interesting, but to see the oldest person you have ever seen naked is in a class all of its own. At any rate, we moved over to give them some space; all of a sudden they started pouring pitchers of water on the coals … and the dry heat immediately rose at least 50 degrees, and I thought my face was going to explode. Every breath caught half way. They must have seen the look on my face, because they glanced over and grinned. “We like it hot.” They said, putting another dipperful in. Just as the air began to clear, and I realized I had come through it okay, they did it again. We couldn’t take it, couldn’t even make a graceful exit but burst out into the shower area, drawing in weak, gasping breaths. All that to say, now I know what a Finnish sauna is! 😉

Friday evening a man came and recited the whole book of Revelation by heart – so crazy, and inspiring, and perfect. He spoke afterward about hiding the Word of God in your heart, and when it speaks about meditating on the Word it’s talking about drawing up scripture to mind, and rolling it over and over. Like chewing cud. How amazing to be able to draw it up from ones mind, and heart, without even needing to get out one’s Bible.

Yesterday our Volunteer Trip was called The Footsteps of David. For a whole day we traveled through the Shphelah, and down into the Negev, stopping at different places and reading the stories of David, where they happened. There were a few places that stood out. One was the Elah Valley, where David killed Goliath. I had been there before, but it was interesting to go with a different guide and a different group. Our leader talked about when David filled his pouch with rocks. He said that David filled up his “magazine” so-to-speak. All soldiers do that … they don’t fill it up part way, they usually fill up their magazine to its maximum capacity and David was no exception. But then he made the point that we need to be filling up our “magazines” with the Word of God. Not just part way, but every morning filling ourselves up, so that we are ready, and able to face whatever might come our way.

Another incredible place was Hebron. One of the largest cities in the West Bank, not many people go there anymore due to the fractious political situations, but I am so glad that I had the chance. David reigned here for something like seven years, if I’m not mistaken, and it is also the burial ground of Abraham and Sarah. The city is divided into two sectors now, Arab and Jewish, and a dividing wall between. It was a strange place, and much in disrepair around the Cave of the Patriarchs. But it was interesting to see the Orthodox who come in masses to visit the resting place of Abraham and Sarah.

The other place I loved was when we sat in the desert and looked out onto Moan and Carmel, where the story of David and Nabal and Abigail played out. We read most of the story and could see exactly where Abigail would have come down in the “cover of the hill” to meet David, on a path that would be hidden from the sight of her husband who was doing business in Carmel. There is something so surreal about the fact that I am here again; it was almost shocking to read passages, and see the dates from two years ago that I had penciled in when I was there before. God’s blessings on me are far greater than I can explain, or understand, but I am intensely grateful. And housekeeping does keep me grounded. 😉 It is not easy to be here, but it is wonderful to be here, and I love that it can be both.

In other news, I am no longer to be the “new volunteer”! This is nice, because no matter how long you are here, you are always the new volunteer to the others, until someone else comes. A girl from Sweden is arriving today, and I am excited to meet her. We are so few now that it is always fun and interesting to have newcomers.

Of course so much more has happened this weekend that I don’t have time to write of, but for now, I have to go clean some more toilets.

I like hummus now!

28 January – Day 11:

One of the German volunteers Snejana left last night. It brought back so many memories and lessons learned about people coming and going from ones life, and I realized afresh how painful it is. I did not know her for many days, but I could tell in the short time I knew her that she was special. The volunteers put on a goodbye party for her – and we had tea and cake, and sang worship songs, and prayed together. I can only imagine how hard it was for people who have lived with her for months, to suddenly be cut off completely. God’s perfect will and timing is sometimes hard to understand, but people are brought in and out of our lives for a reason … I feel like that has happened already so much in my life, and it is hard to understand. But at the same time I would not have missed meeting her for anything. And I think about if I had come in February like I had wanted and planned I would not have met Snejana, nor Rebecca, and how much I have been blessed by them already, by their sweet encouragement, and godly lives.

4 February – Day 18

Housekeeping is many things. It is humbling to clean toilets and the messes people make. Sometimes it is only disgusting. It is a hard lesson to seemingly degrade oneself to picking up after someone, to be dirty all day, and to work long hours. But there is also something in the attitude of all these volunteers here that inspires me to be a servant, to forget my pride and be used in anyway that I can; for while it is a hard lesson, being a true servant is more rewarding the in end than being served. At the same time, by being served, we better know how to serve, for we know how it feels. Jesus showed us that in His coming as a servant, and showing what it truly means to be served. We know how to love because He first loved us. We can also serve because we can see His example of perfect servant-hood.
This last Shabbat I went to the church service on the moshav instead of going in to the city. Shabbat is special at home too, but here, for me it is like something I strive for throughout the week, living each day as best as I can, to it’s fullest, but looking so forward to the rest that the Sabbath brings. It was Tu’bishvat and we had dried fruits and nuts afterwards in celebration. It made me decide to plant a tree somehow before I leave. Just one tree so I can say I have a tree in Israel somewhere. 🙂 At any rate that Saturday already feels like a long time ago and we are approaching another weekend. I am so excited for this one. After my night shift tonight I am off until Monday morning. During my last night shift, Sari, the evening receptionist, got out a map and showed me quite a few places in Jerusalem to go, more out-of-the-way places that IBEX doesn’t really get to see. So I’m hoping to take that map and do some exploring at some point this weekend. And Sunday is the first volunteer trip that I am here for – there is one every month. I have no idea where we are going … there are even rumors of going to the amusement park in Tel Aviv … but whatever it is it will be fantastic, I am sure, for the people you go with make the trip, and I am with some amazing people here for certain.
A little about the other volunteers: we have four Brazilians right now – and they are all so completely different that one would never guess there were all from the same country. Nelson is going to Ulpan and works here as a night guard…thus he’s always sleeping or in Jerusalem at class all day or working. We don’t see him that much, but when we do he is cheerful, funny, sings American songs, and laughs a lot. His English is excellent. Erivelton, or Eri (almost like eddie, but not quite), seems quite and sweet, but has a mischievous glint in his eye that manifests itself in sundry ways, the more you get to know him. The last two Brazilians, Filipe and Noemi, are a couple from Sao Paulo who are on a year long adventure (most of it was spent in England) to get some breathing space from a huge overbearing Brazilian family. They are sweet and kind people and I’ve enjoyed working with both of them.
Jaime is from Venezuela, and in constant struggle with the Brazilians, who speak Brazilian Portuguese; however Jaime himself, though his native tongue is of course Spanish, learned Portuguese as they speak it in Portugal. Constantly on a tirade about how Spanish from Spain, and Portuguese from Portugal are each the better, purest forms of the language, it is hilarious to watch him make fun of the Brazilian’s Portuguese. He insists that he is from America, and argues good naturedly all the time. But he is sweet and sentimental at heart, is touched by little things, and worships his Savior with all his heart.
My roommate Heidi I have already spoken about briefy. God keeps blessing me with amazing roommates … and I am so thankful for this one: she is a sweet and gentle spirit with a tender, caring heart, and a great laugh that makes you crack up even if you don’t know what she’s laughing about. There is one other girl from Finland, Nathalie. I don’t know her as well as some of the others, but she has an incredible work ethic, a preciseness that our boss loved in her, and a quiet strength in God that is beautiful to see.
Robin is the only American left, now that Rebecca is gone. She is just 18, and quite the little extrovert, at the age where falling in love is easy, but there is something mature about her in her faith, and in a life style that is others focused, unlike so many teenagers of the U.S, that is refreshing to see.
Anneleis is from Holland. This is her second time volunteering, but I have only known her a few days; I cannot say much because I do not know her well, but she seems very nice and fun-loving. Johannes is from Germany, and plays guitar and piano well. He just got back for the third time, just a few days ago, so he is another that I do not know well, but in just a few days I have been struck by a seeking out of righteousness in him … and not just him, but in most of the boys. Yu is from Japan, and he is no exception either. They are not ashamed to pray and be tender, it makes them all the more real men, for their desire to follow after their Savior, and it has been a blessing to see, for it is becoming more and more rare to see such young men, strong in the Lord.
So there is only the few of us now that Rebecca has left. I did not want here to leave … in just over two weeks it is surprising how close we got. But it was her time to go, and just as it is, so I look forward to my time to leave. There is a season for everything. Coming and going, sunrise and sunset, hello and goodbye, there and back. There will be new volunteers to meet, these here to build deeper friendships with, and who knows but God what else is in store. There is something exciting in the unknown, albeit sometimes a little uncomfortable, but I have learned in past years that God’s plans are far, far better than mine could ever be, and I am content to let Him decide what will happen next.

All the volunteer girls can’t live without chocolate. I think we’ll get along just fine.

20 January – Day Three:

I felt so good yesterday that I thought I had cheated jet lag somehow, but today I have been so tired that I realize it’s going to be awhile before I feel back to normal (which is usually tired, anyway, so I’m not sure how I’ll know I’ve recovered from jet lag – haha.). However this morning Gregory and I did walk to the fruit store in Abu Ghosh, and despite paying rather exorbitant prices, I am happy to have some fresh fruit in my room.

Yesterday was my first day of work. Because it is the off season, there are not so many guests as usual, so the work was fairly light in housekeeping, but there are always other odd jobs that need to be done. I find volunteering to be a completely different experience than IBEX so far. The cultural diversity is so awesome, and I think that I will end up improving my Spanish as much as my Hebrew. I love working around people from all these different countries; love that we can still communicate, and sit around after work and talk and laugh, though everyone has such a different path that has brought them here. There is one young man from Japan whose name is Yu – pronounced you. Of course this is always cause for some confusion and much mirth, for no one knows when someone is talking about Yu, or you. I am excited to build friendships with them all, and am looking forward to fun times with them, but also the serious ones too – it is wonderful to see the bond that everyone has in Yeshua. We pray together, for the people who will be coming to the moshav, for each other, for anything and everything, and that will bring us closer to each other than anything else.

Another big difference is that there is no homework to do in the evenings, like last time, and so when I am off at 3:30, unless I have an evening shift, I can do mostly as I please.

24 January – Day 7:

It never ceases to amaze me that you can feel like you’ve been somewhere forever, when it’s only been a few days. I’m starting to feel that way, and it is partly I think because the days seem long, since we do so much. This first weekend in Israel was wonderful. I had to work on Friday, but afterwards came a wonderful Shabbat dinner in the restaurant, and chapel with the IBEXers. Meno from the Jerusalem Assembly messianic congregation spoke. I remember him from last time, a very intelligent, fervent believer who spoke with an inner passion that was encouraging and inspiring. We went to his church the next morning. I hitched a ride in with the IBEX group. It is nice to have a connection to them, to save on bus fare if nothing else. : )

We spent the afternoon in the Old City; with work all last week I still hadn’t had a chance to go, and I can’t describe how it felt watching out the window of the bus as the Old City drew nearer, and all the familiar places rolled by – King David Hotel, the park by Jaffa gate, the Kidron Valley … and then to stop and step out in the warmth of a pale January sun, in Jerusalem again after two years. I felt relieved, almost, as if I had thought I might not make it back. Gregory and I didn’t go in right away – we went to the park and finished lunch. I sat remembering all the times I’d been there before, mostly with Chelsea and Cassandra, reading the Bible together and eating ice cream, lying in the sun, talking …

Jaffa Gate is under construction, for reasons unknown to me, and the street just inside is all blocked off. I don’t know what they are working on, but I was disappointed that Gregory cannot see the beauty of the gate, since it is completely covered. I’m sure he will yet, though.

It’s been so long that I have to relearn my way through the streets, for, excepting places I frequented often, much of it seems similar and unfamiliar. But the over all flavor and atmosphere is so wonderfully familiar that I could hardly stop smiling. Shabaan looked at me and tapped his head – “you have been here before, you look familiar,” he said, offering us drinks. Christ Church is unchanged and I almost ordered a mocha in honor of Molly, but bought a scarf instead – letting others use their superior bartering skills to get me good prices. I really am horrible at it. Some of the girls flirt and charm and get good prices. The boys are just stubborn enough to get the price they want. But I can do neither, and have decided that, though I will practice at it, it may be best to let Gregory get a good price for me.

I went back into Jerusalem with the volunteers that evening, to church. I love believers in Israel, and they are growing. Just the fact that I was able to go to two good-sized messianic congregations in one day testifies to that. There is something so special about the fact that they are here, and they have it right. And the passion they have for Israel and the salvation of the people here is incredible. We sang one song that said ‘I believe that all of Israel will be saved,’ and it was repeated over and over, the voices of the congregation swelling with emotion and honest belief. It made me feel alive and eager to do something, to help in someway, to show the lost Jews true meaning and life in Yeshua HaMashi’ach. Meno, who spoke this morning, made a wonderful connection with how God views Jerusalem to how He views us. How many verses there are that talk of the beauty of Jerusalem, the surpassing loveliness of its gates, and on and on. There are far more beautiful places than Jerusalem. But there is something special about it, because God is there, and He is viewing His Holy City as it will be … the eternal Jerusalem in the world to come; just as He views us as we will be … breathtakingly lovely and righteous. There is nothing that seems so very special about us at first glace; but by the love and mercy of the Heavenly Father, who sees the blood of His Son covering us, we are glorious to Him, bought at so great a price. Just as people look at Jerusalem and feel that it is made precious and wonderful because the Holy One has chosen to place His Name there, so when people look at us they should feel that there is something beautiful and different about us, because the Holy Spirit is dwelling within us, changing us, for He has placed His Name upon us, and called us to Himself.

“Your name has not been forgotten. Your name will be remembered forever and ever. Your holy name, Your precious name, has not been forgotten by Your people. It will stand forever. / The name Yeshua, we will speak Your name, Yeshua. In Israel and in Jerusalem. / Your name has not been forgotten. Your name is on our lips forever and ever. We will all be saved by this name. And we will tell of Your name in every nation and land. I believe that all Israel will be saved.” – Shimcha Lo Nishkach (Your Name Has Not Been Forgotten)

There are no more donkeys. Someone stole them.

18 January – Day 1:

The 25+/- hours of travel were worth it. Three different flights, all in the middle seat of the very back row of the plane; M. Night Shyamalan, or someone who looked just like him, working furiously, and rather loudly on a power point about synergism and pharmacology all of one flight … the med students who talked all one flight about sine and cosine functions for the MSAT … the 9 and a half hour flight from Newark to Tel Aviv feeling horrible for continuously knocking the seat in front of me while trying to stretch out my cramped legs … it was all worth it. I was able to get a ride with the new IBEX group, and as we sped through the Sharon Plain in the growing dusk, I felt like I was coming home after a long absence.  I sat by Becky, who remembered me from my semester, and who didn’t work here last semester – she was the only familiar person, besides Moshe the bus driver, for a new professor, Benj Foreman, was in charge, and I realized with a twinge of sadness that a lot would be changed from two years ago. But the main things would be unchanged, I comforted myself. Bill would be there to meet us. The moshav itself was still there. The walls of the Old City would still be there, strong and sturdy, when I was able to go. All that drew me to Israel, the people, the culture, the history and enormous biblical significance, it is still here.

The moshav has changed in little ways since last time. Ami does not run the kitchen anymore, and the tent behind the restaurant that they made us eat in so often is now a spacious room, with thin floor length windows for walls. We ate in the restaurant though, last night, and I smiled to see the IBEXers dishing up the strange food, and already sitting in little cliques, sticking to their friends from school in their nervousness. I am not worried about them. They will “gel” properly in time. 🙂 It was very interesting seeing this new group, and I didn’t quite know quite how I felt about it. I don’t wish my semester back anymore – am eager for this new adventure – but I know that everywhere I go will bring up some endearing, nostalgic memory in me, that was made with the people I was with, and it will be strange to see these new students living in “our” dorms, in our old rooms, doing the things we did, in their own way. It seems like a nice group (I have to say that because my brother is in it 😉 ) and I know that they will have as special a semester as I did – and I must be open minded about that and not think, as it is easy to, that my semester was the best. But all former students are partial to their own semester, I have found. 🙂

After dinner, Gregory, Cassia, Katrina, Kim, and I walked to Elvis in and back, to stretch our legs after the long flight. The night was still and fairly warm, and I took deep breaths, enjoying the familiar smell of Israel that I cannot describe. Cassia and Gregory and I explored the biblical gardens later that evening; even there has changed – for the better; it is very beautiful. But it was so dark and changed that I could not even find the donkeys (I hadn’t found out yet that in fact the donkeys had been stolen some time ago). I was excited to show them both the amphitheater, my favorite spot on the moshav, and so we wound our way down the little roads, and I proudly presented it to them. It was beautiful even in the dark. The stone benches built into the grassy hill shone out whitely, and the lawn in front of them was as thick as a carpet. And then the stage, wood on that same light stone. We lay on our backs on it, and it was very still and quiet, and almost breathless feeling, for a storm was coming. Lightning was already flashing, and every once in awhile a low deep rumble of thunder. The storm came a little before I went to bed, and I would wake periodically to the pounding of rain, and lightning that lit the room, and thunder that actually shook the room.

I was a little disappointed that this morning it was still raining hard, for I was planning on going in to Jerusalem. I was given this first day off, to sleep in (which I did gratefully) and adjust. I have met quite a few of the volunteers already. Rebecca, who is an American, met me last night, and showed me to my room. The other girls were all in the city, having a little party for one of the girls who is leaving tomorrow, but I met most of them today. It is a nicer room than I expected; I have my own cozy little space sectioned off with a curtain, with a bed, a little desk with two little shelves and a mirror above it, and a funny plastic and cloth closet with a couple shelves to put my clothes. And instead of sharing a shower with ten girls like last time, I now share with only one other! My roommate Heidi (pronounced Haidy) is Finnish, and wonderful. She has been showing me around all day, acquainting me with other volunteers, the moadon (the volunteer’s clubhouse), and different places I will be working. I know that I can choose two days off a week, that once a month we are given pocket money, and a day trip somewhere, and that I can have two extra days off a month, or save them up for a longer vacation later. Other than that, I really have no idea what to expect, or how the other volunteers will be, although so far those I have met have seemed very nice.

God has been so incredibly gracious to me in allowing me to come back. So have my parents. 🙂 And because this is not a study abroad program, my whole focus is going to be different, and I pray that in these three months I will be able to give. Besides volunteering, I want to give of myself, and my time, and whatever else I am called to do … I have spent so much of my life taking, and want to use this time to = allow God to soften my heart and grow my desire to give and love.

“Let nothing be done through selfish ambition or conceit, but in lowliness of mind let each esteem others better than himself. Let each of you look out not only for his own interests, but also for the interests of others.” Phil. 2:3-4

Benj was saying on the way from the airport that, though we all may have more specific, individual reasons too, we are all here because of the Bible. And I thought that that was very true. It was here that it all began; here was the life of our Savior, and His death that brought us to life. There is so much to learn from Israel, so many ways to use the experiences to grow closer to Him, and I pray earnestly, not only for me, but for everyone here this semester that a special and wonderful closeness to our Father will come of the experiences here, and that we all would guard against a very dark nation, and remember and cherish the incredible things that have happened here, and that we would remember that God has not abandoned Israel – and one day all of Israel will turn in repentance to the Messiah and King of Life.

“… yes indeed I also count all things loss for the excellence of the knowledge of Christ Jesus my lord, for whom I have suffered the loss of all things, and count them as rubbish, that I may gain Christ and be found in Him, not having my own righteousness, which is from the law, but that which is through faith in Christ, the righteousness which is from God by faith; that I may know Him and the power of His resurrection …”