The Re-Entry

I have been back for over a month now and am just starting to really slide back into life here. I definitely had some culture shock.

The first thing I noticed when I got off of the plane was that there were billboards and advertisements everywhere! Pop culture was all up in my face. I did not like it. For an entire four months I was free of the pressures and expectations of American media, I didn't even listen to popular music in Israel. I actually found that in Israel I was way more comfortable with myself, what I looked like, and how people saw me. I didn't know necessarily why that was but was talking with my mom one night and she said, "Well, you are not surrounded by a culture fixated on outward appearance and you are not being influenced by television, commercials, and magazines." It was such a relief, and almost an ideal environment! Luckily, seeing the difference when I got back has helped me to realize the phoniness of it more and more. I hate the pressures that this country puts on young girls and boys, and really, all people.

It was also very strange to enter a family structure again. In Israel I was taking care of only myself and I was responsible for only myself. It is like that at Azusa too, but in a completely different way. I am literally across the world. I have to handle everything. It was fun for me, and even though I love my family it was hard to be under that mantle again, especially with younger sisters who still live in the house and are under a very different set of rules. But don't get me wrong! I loved to be home and to be able to hang out with them for a few days.

Aren't they lovely? I got to be home just in time for Mother's Day!

Getting back I realized so much about Israel. There is something about that place. I have never missed a place that much. I know I have said that over and over again throughout the semester, but I realize it even more so now that I am back. I have been absolutely nostalgic for Israel. I would have times where I was praying and would start thanking God for the opportunity I had to be in Israel and would just start crying because of how much I missed it and because it was just such an amazing time!

The Bible. Oh the Bible! I do not read the Bible the same anymore. When before it was in black and white, now it is in color!!! It is totally 3D now. I literally have the scene set in my head when I read. I remember the first Sunday back I was sitting in a Bible study and we were reading a story about Jesus at the Sea of Galilee. I started tearing up while reading because I could picture it. I did not expect that to be such a powerful thing for me!

Since being home I knew that I could not go back to how my faith was. Usually when I come back to an old situation my faith goes back to how it was. But not this time! God took hold of me way too much in Israel for me to try and squirm away out of his arms. I learned so much and now am putting it into practice. Please pray that it never ends!!!!

I will NEVER forget my semester in Israel. I grew in every aspect of my life! I grew spiritually: God taught me about His Spirit and power and how to really pray. Emotionally: I matured in knowing just how to simply be in relationship with others who I am constantly with! Physically: I hiked a lot.... My calves looked great! And yes, even romantically! ;)

God has provided for me so fully. I cannot even describe how securely he is holding me in his arms. I LOVE HIM!!!!! I am now on to the next opportunity. I am interning down in Lake Elsinore this summer at a church as a Pastoral Intern. Wow, again, what provision God! Thanks to all who helped in sending me on this awesome trip and those who covered me in prayer while I was there. I am so grateful to you all! Thank you for joining me on this adventure!

Prayer requests: Please pray that I would be disciplined and consistent in my time with God and that I would never forget how He has and is taking care of me. Pray for this time in Lake Elsinore, that God would lead. And, PRAISE HIM FOR TAKING ME TO ISRAEL!  

SHABBAT SHALOM!

The Final Countdown

Although I am already home, I thought I would catch you up on what happened during the last part of the semester since I slacked on the blogging then. 

One of the first things we did when we got back from Jordan was trying the Jesus trail (from Nazareth to Capernaum) for the second time. Now we were determined to do it before we left, and to do it right. If you remember, we tried it once before but got terribly lost and had to go home before we finished.

Our journey up the hundreds of stairs to get out of Nazareth.  Do not let the smiles fool you, we are miserable. 

We ran into the literal land of the Bible while we were there....

Hosea 2:6 says, "Therefore I will block her path with thornbushes; I will wall her in so she cannot find her way." (In regard to Israel's unfaithfulness). These are the types of bushes (seerim) that God was talking about. Walking in them hurts and actually traps your foot in. I love living in a land that is so relevant to the text. 

We even came across a shepherd with his goats. There was a mother goat and her kid. The kid was not even 24 hours old and the cutest thing! The mom goat had gotten loose and was running away from the shepherd. The boys in our group ran with the shepherd and finally caught the goat after about half an hour. It was such a great image of God as our shepherd, running after us when we are trying to go our own way. 

We walked through a lot of harvested wheat fields with the unharvested wheat right next to the path. I felt like Jesus walking through the fields and plucking the heads of the wheat! 

A little rest stop on the Horns of Hattim, overlooking the Cliffs of Arbel and the the Sea of Galilee. Ian is having a deep time in reflection.... probably.... :)

Me hiking through Galilee. Walking in the footsteps of Jesus not just spiritually, but physically!

Reading John 2 (water into wine story) at Cana, where the story took place! Wow!!! Throughout the trip we also read the Gospel of Mark together. I love my friends here. One example of why they are so amazing is that every single one of them had a Bible with them at all time.... such awesome people.

We camped the second night on the shores of the Sea of Galilee. This is literally a picture taken from where we were sleeping, right when we woke up. Surreal!

This is my favorite picture from my entire time in Israel. It describes my time. I am with wonderful friends, on an adventure, in an unreal place, the Sea of Galilee.... almost like it's no big deal!

WE MADE IT! 40 miles later we are in Capernaum all sweaty and sore and smelly but feeling so accomplished! 

Here are a few of the fun, random things we did towards the end of our time in Israel.

We walked through Hezekiah's tunnels one afternoon. These were underground tunnels that brought water from the natural springs to the city of Jerusalem built during the time of Hezekiah to bring water to the people during the siege of the Assyrians, meanwhile keeping the water out of the hands of the Assyrians who were outside the gates. I cannot believe they are still intact!

I got to visit the Temple Mount/Dome of the Rock. Do you see my funky tights? I had to put them on because I was dressed too immodestly to go onto the plaza. Also, because I am not Muslim I could not enter the actual building, I had to stay in the courtyard area around it.

Went to the Tower of David Citadel and overlooked the city from a new perspective. The Temple Mount is behind us. 

The final trip we took after all classes were over and some of the students had already gone home, was Cultural Backgrounds. We had been learning about this subject in class all year and finally got to see it in action. We went to Jordan because Jordan, more so than Israel, is a place where time has stood still. There are still real bedouins (nomads) that like in the middle of the wilderness living like Bible characters such as Abraham Isaac and Jacob. So, all of the Biblical imagery in the Old Testament was still true on this trip. The trip was a week long and we stayed with bedouins in remote places each night.

Our bedouin guide showing us how to make soap out of local plant life.

A bedouin man making us Arabic coffee (fresh!) Personally, I hate Arabic coffee, but when they offer you it, you drink it, all of it. 

I am plowing! It is way harder than it looks.

Sitting under my own fig tree, just like Micah! 

The mother that hosted us and her baby. There was the main side of the tent and then the woman's side of the tent.

He is scraping salt from the rocks in the caves where his family lives.

Sunset in Wadi Rum. Beautiful, yeah?

Bedouin tea is the greatest thing ever. I drank about 50 cups of this throughout the week. They always offer you tea... always. It is hospitality. 

We drank milk straight from the goat. It was warm and foamy and not really that good....

Grinding grain with Rachel. According to this picture, we would make wonderful bedouin wives.  There are many passages in the Bible that talk about the grinding stone being a pleasing and comforting sound, especially because it meant that there was food for your next meal!

Our host's son, Fad, about to cut the sheep corpse with a machete. Yikes!

The tent that we stayed in for a few of the days.

I rode a camel! Three hours later and I realized that I never want to ride a camel again. 

Abu Fad, our host, and his youngest son.

Silently lead to the slaughter, just like Isaiah 53. The biblical imagery!

Slaughtering the sheep. Aw, so gross. I gagged.

Just kissing a beautiful goat head.... post slaughter.

Where we stayed the first night.

Riding in Jeeps in the wilderness with bedouins and these lovely girls.

The camel bit Rach..... and we got it on camera.

We got one luxury night in the ecolodge that is run on solar panels and is in the middle of a bedouin area. They had candles in little nooks in the wall with mirrors that reflect the light. 

Eating mansef, the traditional dish of Jordan. It is a "coming together" dish. You eat it at events such as weddings where two groups of people are coming together. This is because mansef it eaten around one plate and you cannot share a meal that close with your enemies. When King Abdullah, King of Jordan, took the throne one of the first things he did was have mansef with the most powerful bedouins, to create unity during his reign and to show cooperation. 

One of the most amazing places I have ever had a quiet time. 

They put the seasoned lamb in a barrel, cover it in sand, then put a fire over the top of the sand and let it sit and cook for four hours. It is wonderful!

The view when I woke up in the morning!

Our little camel caravan. Amazing that I did this, yeah?

Re-enacting the Jael story from Judges. It makes perfect sense how she could have put the peg through his head. The pegs are huge and sharp!

We put up and took down a bedouin tent just like the imagery in the Bible that talks about God pitching His tent among the heavens as a metaphor for creation. These tents are super heavy and made of pure sheep wool.

We got back from the trip and the next morning I was off to the wonderful USofA!

When each person leaves, the rest see them off at the gate. What wonderful people!!

Layover in Newark, last time with any Israel friends!

FIrst meal in America. A non-kosher burget from IN-N-Out! YUM!

My roommates picked me up at the airport then we met my papa at In-N-Out in Burbank. It was so wonderful to see them and be able to actually hug them instead of just seeing their faces on a Skype screen. But, the re-entry will be in the next blog post.... this one is long enough! Shalom!