Last Day...

Hey everyone, this is going to be short because I don't have much time but I just wanted to say hi and let you know that I'm still doing fine and kicking here in Jerusalem. We leave this amazing place in about 12 hours and I still find that hard to believe. This place, people, and their stories have changed my life. I will blog more when I get home and have more time so keep checking up on this because I have stuff to write about Jerusalem, the elections, the sights, and everything inbetween. Thanks for reading this and I love you all and can't wait to see some of you at least in a day or two. Shalom/Salam/Peace and God/Allah/Adonai bless!

Adventures with Adnan III

The next night...

By this time Adnan's fame had spread throughout our group and this time a large group came to the store with us. Hospitality was not lacking again and we had snacks, juice, and drinks for the second night in a row. People did a bit of shopping this time but there was plenty of fun after the business portion of the night. After the group thinned out again we had some good laughs and met a few of Adnan's friends that included some very nice Palestinian policemen. We got pictures, talked some more about life, made some new jokes, and made Adnan promise that we could treat him out the next night.

So, the next night rolls around and a group of us is ready to go out. Part of the plan was to find a place that had water pipes or hookas (nageelas here) because a couple of us either wanted one or to try one. So, Adnan had the hook up and we all rode in his taxi and his friend's car to this great restaraunt a couple blocks away from the store. We got some scotch, vodka, and a lot of water pipes and just sat back, relaxed, talked, and enjoyed each other company. We all had a great time even though it was very mellow. I must confess, I tried the water pipe which was interesting because I have honestly never smoked anything in my life. It was apple tobacco (not weed or anything in these, just tobacco) which sounds weird but is really good. It was fun and I didn't really feel anything (and anything I did which as little I attribute to the scotch). It was great conversation and the perfect way to spend our last night in Bethlehem.

This was authentic tourism at its best!!! I think most of us learned more from Adnan than we did from seeing the sites or listening to our tour guide (who is awesome I must say but you know what I mean). This was a real person who is living in this situation and his views were honest and real. This is what keeps me grounded and reminds me why I am here. His story is something I will carry with me home from this trip and that I hope to share with people. It shows that this occupation is more than just a large cement wall. It affects the people and their lives in ways we can't imagine till we hear it first hand. So, this has been the very short, abbreviated of a shopkeeper named Adnan who welcomed us with open arms, showed us what it means to be a Palestinian Christian, what hospitality should be like, and that there is hope to be found.

Jerusalem Finally!

We are here. Jerusalem! And it was all that we thought it was going to be and more!!! The first night we actually dropped our stuff off and then went back to Bethlehem where it all started to see a Palestinian dance program. This was one of the coolest things I've seen on the whole trip. I love music and dance as most of you know and it very cool to be so stimulated for 1.5 hours. The dance movement is so hard to explain but I loved watching their hand movements. They were very graceful and yet rhythmic (Note: I also apologize for all the spelling errors on this blog as a whole, the spellcheck doesn't work here). Plus, they did put a political spin on it and yet there was a message of hope at the end. The dancers were also all kids, grades 4-12 probably from the refugee camp that we had visited earlier which made this all the more poignant.

Then, Jerusalem!!! That night we decided to start out with a bang and a group of us (Karis, Mugaas, Lindsay, Mark, John, Daniel, and I and a friend who knows the area) went out in search of a good club or bar. It was also Mugaas and Karis' birthdays so we had more reason to celebrate. :) We found a dance club/bar in the New City and got down. It was a really cool club for a few reasons. First, the music was all very old school and there were a lot of stuff I didn't recognize but yet it was from the US. Second, it was really diverse! The styles of dance varied and we had people from the US, natives of the area, soldiers, travelers, etc. and it was also very racially diverse which we all really appreciated. Dancing style was also a bit of throwback and included forming a circle and watching people try to break dance. Good times!

Then, today we started our tour of the city. We worshipped at the English Service at the Church of the Redeemer which was great. Even though we do not worship at the exact same time, it really reminds me that there are many of us out there, no matter what denomination that all set aside time to worship and praise God and share in the sacarment of Holy Communion all over the world. I felt very connected to the community of Christians today through that. Then, we talked with the pastor (which I will write about later) which was great and he had a lot of really important things to say. Then, we started touring the city.

First, we are staying in the Old City of Jerusalem which has a lot of the classic buildings and historical-religious sites. There is a Jewish, Christian, Armenians, and Muslim Quarter. We toured the Jewish quarter today which was very cool. There are some old ruins and museusm and most importantly, the Western or Wailing Wall which is the only remaining part of the Jewish temple. People go there to pray and worship which is quite the sight. We went there and I got to go up and touch it and pray a little bit and reflect. I don't quite know what I was expecting but it wasn't what I was expecting. I very much respect my Jewish brothers and sisters and their faith and dedication and their hope. And my beliefs are also tied to theirs. Yet, the wall is something that I don't really connect with. And yet, this wall and this hope of the rebuilding of the temple is such an important issue especially with the Dome of the Rock being there in place of the temple. So, I didn't really know how I felt or what I thought. However, the wall felt cold(not cold as in hot cold) and I don't really think I liked the feel and I don't know why. I'll see if I have any answers in the trip.

Shalom and I'm jealous of all of you that get to watch american football today. ;)

Adventures with Adnan II

Just to remind you, this is back in Bethlehem the first couple of days on the trip...

So, we decided to take Adnan up on his invitation and went back to his store that night along with Lindsay and Paul. And, let me say that the Palestinians should very much be known for their hospitality! He welcomed us with open arms into his store and rolled out the nice rug and grabbed us snacks and liquor. It was more than any of us were expecting. And then we just joked and talked about pretty much anything and everything from the siege on Bethlehem in 2002 to scotch to being a fighter and not a lover (related to relationships) and what he thought about the wall. We were there very late and it was a great experience for all of us and a highlight of the trip. We were invited back for the next night and we knew there was no way we were going to turn down the invitation.

What struck me the most from this conversation and everything was how he has every reason to be bitter and hate the world. Jerusalem is 10 minutes away and he cannot go there. They are basically penned into this city and they cannot leave very easily. Yet, he kept on insisting that we are brothers, Muslims, Jews, Christians, etc. Hearing that from someone who has been affected so much by the wall and the occupation really made an impact on all of us. He is a shop owner, he has a family and four kids and he works so hard for what he has. I can't help but admire his resiliency and his respect and his hope for a better tomorrow. We did ask him what gives him hope. His answer was a both us being here and listening to his story and the hope that is promised in the Bible and in the second coming. So, I find hope in his answer and in his hope for a better tomorrow for him and for his people and for the world.

Marathon Touring II

The next day unfortunately was much of the same. The beginning of the day was actually pretty interesting because we met with a bunch of ""Jewish hippies" as we affectionately called them. They live in a kibbutz which, for those of you who have seen the Village, is kind of like the Jewish equivalent of that except for not creepy. It's based on socialist principles and they all live in a communal setting and pretty much share everything. I know I could never do anything like that but I do admire them for what they do in the kibbutz and the values they uphold. An interesting note though is that all the adults have been trained in the military and they have a bomb shelter.

We also stopped at a site called Tel Dan which was had some cool ruins and then also at this beautiful park that had streams that flow to the river Jordan so we all got some holy water. Plus, we went on this great hike which was a nice contrast from sitting in a bus for four hours...

The rest of the day went a bit downhill. We stopped at a random town and walked around it and stopped in a synagogue for all of 5 minutes. This actually would have been a much more enjoyable and informative experience if we would have had more time. Then, we went to lunch which was a disasater. Basically, we were trying to feed a group of 24 in a restaraunt in under 30 minutes. For those of you who have ever gone on youth retreats you know this is impossible. Then, we went to stand in a site in the rain for 15 minutes for no apparent reason. Needless to say, group morale was down.

However, today it went up again. We stopped at Bet Sheán which is a site full of ancient ruins. The best part was we were given an hour and half to wander around on our own. It was just what everyone needed. Plus, it was sunny out and beautiful. Karis and I ended up on top of some pillars which was great and the view was beautiful. We also stopped at Megiddo or the place where Armageddon will someday take place. This was a really cool site to see and it also does make you wonder...

Then, we finally arrived in Jerusalem for a seven night stay. And let me say, the view from the roof of the hostel we are staying at is to die for. We have the Dome of the Rock on one side along with the Mount of Olive and the Church of the Sepulchre on the other side. It's amazing! It was sunny and warm and I'm looking forward to seeing what the view is for tonite.

Anyway, I miss you all and I'll keep you update on Jerusalem. Shalom!

Marathon Touring

We have spent the last three days in the Nazareth/Galilee area and it's been quite the trip. I like to refer to it as marathon touring and unlike the real marathon, I'd rather not do this again. Basically, we started traveling from Bethlehem to Nazareth where we were staying and stopped at sites along the way. The first day was actually a very good day. We stopped at an organization called MIFTA which stands for key. It is "The Palestinian Initiative for the Promotion of Global Dialogue & Democracy" and what they do is post articles from various sources on this website in order to spread the word and get multiple views out there in circulation and to get people talking about it. The website is: http://www.miftah.org/ I was really impressed by their methods and by the people that talked to us. They had their own opinions and agendas, yes, but it was very educated and they offered counter points as well. It was a breath of fresh air from our Hebron experience. I'd suggest checking out the website and seeing some of the articles.

Then, we went to Caesarea which was a beautiful archeaological site off of the Mediterraean which I really loved. It was windy so the waves were crashing hard and we got some beautiful pictures of the site and of the water. Finally, we arrived in Nazareth which is a cute city and our place has a great view of the surronding area.

The next day was marathon day number one. We started early and hit up four different sites and spent way too much time on the bus. However, we started the day with a boatride on the Sea of Galilee which was a great time. It was quite the trip to be on the water and wonder what it would be like out there during a storm like was the case for Jesus and his disciples. It was beautiful and it was great to see the area and countryside. Then, we started our great church tour. We hit up Capernaum and the Primacy of Peter, the Church of Fishes and Loaves where Jesus fed the 5,000, the Church of the Beatittudes where Jesus gave the sermon of the munt, and the Church of the Annunciation in Nazareth where Jesus was raised. We were basically given 15 minutes at each site which isn't my style. But, the area was beautiful.

I think what hit me the most was the Church of Fishes and Loaves. None of these sites are for sure, it's mainly tradition that places the locations there which isn't necessarily accurate. However, despite all of that, when I was listening to the story of the feeding what struck me was the importance of miracles. Even though this might not be the site, something special had taken place at each of these places and that gave hope and wonder to the people. I certainly believe in miracles now days but they're smaller and simpler. However, I also need to believe that something bigger is possible and that miracles happen every day in small ways and in large ways as well.

Off to the bus, this will be con't later...

Adventures with Adnan Part I

Alright, after all the serious posts I promise this is more of a fun one! :) Also, this story got quite long so it requires a couple different parts.

This story all starts a few days ago after we had already spent our first day in Bethlehem. Daniel, Karis, Mugaas, and I all went in search of an ATM after we had visited the Church of the Nativity. We started walking around and a shop owner that had invited us to his shop the night before met us on the street and invited us in again. We told him our situation and he gave us directions to a machine. In return we promised we would visit his shop after we found the machine. He introduced himself to us as well and his name was Adnan. We followed the directions and found the ATM. And there was much rejoicing. However, the machine only spit out hundred dollar bills which is not good here especially when you are bartering. Therefore, we need a money changer. There was a Western Union by Adnan's shop so we tried there but to no avail. In the process another shop owner noticed what we were trying to do and offered us his help.

We followed him to his shop which turned out to be a small restaraunt and not a moneychaging place. So, we ended up giving him our money which was strange. Handing over $400 to a complete stranger is not normal and it kind of just happened but we figured since there was four of us we would be fine. He had us sit down and we ordered food while we waited for our money. The food was really good too! So, he came back and gave us our sheckels for a very fair exchange rate and then we paid for the dinner and ventured to Adnan's store finally.

The store was quaint and smaller than many of the shops we had been in before but he had really nice stuff so we looked around. We bartered of course and I ended up with a fair enough price on my items and then Mugaas was the big spender of the day. We were offered some Turkish coffee which was really good and Daniel bought a couple of things as well. Then, when we were paying we found out that he did not have a credit card machine and Mugaas did not have enough on him for the purchase. Therefore, Adnan offered to drive him to the bank to an ATM machine to take out the money. Now, we had been bartering with Adnan but we had also been talking to him and getting his views on what is going on in Palestine and Israel and about what was going between them and also about what had been happening in Bethlehem. So, we were building trust and a friendship of sorts. So, we all hopped into his car which happened to be a very nice taxi cab actually and headed to the bank which wasn' t far away. We settled up on money and then he dropped us off right at the door of the place where we were staying. He also invited us back to his shop that evening for drinks and food...

Hebron

The latter part of the today we journeyed to the West Bank and the town of Hebron which is has special significance because it is holds the tomb of Abraham. So, it is a place where the dysfunction family of Abraham can be at its worst. The town in a part of Palestine but yet there have been squatters there in settlements in random places in the town. Basically, these groups have come to this place, claimed their place, and refused to leave even though it is a part of Palestine. I think it is understandable that they want to have a presence here because of the tomb of Abraham. However, I don't know if this is the best way to do this. And, an intersting thing is that there are approximately 480 Israeli settlers and there are 1200 Israeli troops there protecting them!

Today the place was particularly charged for several reasons. First, a couple of people had been killed the day before because of this continuing conflict. Second, there was an Israeli settlement that had been ordered to leave by the Israeli government that was basically refusing to leave. These groups are very Zionistic and won't even listen to their own government. So, there was press near the area and people were nervous.

And then there was us. We somehow ended up here in the midst of all this conflict. The reason we were there was to meet the Christian Peacekeeper team. They were a group advocating non-violent resistence that seemed to use the civil disobedience as a main part of their method. We met up with two members of the team and then split into two groups to walk to their center in Hebron. It was quite the trip and I don't even know how to explain it. It was a mix of emotions and feelings from around us. First, there was a feeling of tension in the city due to the events and forced exit of the settlers. Also, there was this big group of Americans walking around through a part of the city that was predominantly Muslim and therefore we stuck out more than we ever had on the trip. It was even a bit more awkward for me being a minority in our group. There was a lot of staring and wandering eyes and I don't know what any of us were supposed to think in that situation. I myself was guarded and also a bit protective of the group so I was more alert to those around me. I do think part of the staring was due to curiousity. Either way, it was a difficult situation for the group and for our leaders.

We arrived at the Peacemaker's place which happened to be right there on the front lines. In other words, we were two blocks from where they were forcing the Israeli settlers to leave. So, there were soldiers with guns on the roof top right next to us. We looked out to the town from the roof, saw more soldiers assembling with press, and then watched them march off. We didn't have a clear view of the settlement which wasn't necessarily bad thing. We then went in a talked to one of the CPT team members for a bit and then ventured back to bus.

All in all it was a very odd experience. To some extent, it almost felt like we were being put on parade and marched through this very dangerous place and put in a situation of conflict just to show us off. It was also apparent that they weren't used to being responsible for a group of people. When we were up on the roof the CPT member that was with us mentioned that sometimes the soldiers would order them off the roof and that if they were to to that today that we would just "take our time getting off the roof." Umm, when two soldiers holding large guns tell me to get off a roof, there will be no hesitation. At the same time, they did really believe in what they were doing and you had to respect them for that. I may not have agreed with their methods but I'm glad there are people out there taking chances and in a time like this the Palestinians need all the help they can get.

Safetywise, I suppose I felt a bit threatened and there was tension in the air but it was never necessarily directed at us. And as for the leering comments or whatever the people were saying to us on the street, well, it's not like I don't hear those kind of things in English in the US or that people in the US don't do the same thing to travelers to our country. Maybe I'm naive but I do expect stuff like this when I am walking around a foreign county. I have had the same thing happen to me in Greece and I was almost more worried there. It's not that I'm not cautious or what not, I just think it was all blown out of proportion within our group. Either way, we were safe and it was a once in a lifetime experience that I was happy to have. And, hey, the roof we were standing on may have even been on the news last night. Peace everyone!

Today we experience more of an everyday experience in Palestine. We started off by going to the Christian School in Bethlehem. This is the equivalent to a private school in the states. We met with the principal and she told us about this school. It actually had about 60% Muslim students and 40% Christian students. It had a great deal to offer to the students academically and it also fostered Christian values while respecting others. It had both Christian and Muslim religion classes. I thought this was great and this is one thing I really love about Bethlehem. They have gotten to a place that we need to get to in the United States. There is a great deal of respect for each other and ultimately, it does not make a difference to the people. They are all brothers as our Palestianian friend Adnan has said over and over again. The Jewish/Palestinian conflict is another story of course but in terms of the United States, I think we have something to learn from the peaceful coexistence between the Christians and the Muslims.

Back to the school... The principal was very gracious and really cared about what she was doing. There is no doubt that it has been a tough job between the occupation, curfew, and the wall that blocks many former students from coming to school. And yet, when we went to tour the school, these were normal kids. We visited many classrooms right before the end of their class period and it was great fun for us and for the students. I saw many of the kids we had played football with and we all remembered each other of course and exchanged greetings and high fives. One class was learning the rules of basketball and another was learning Arabic reading and writing. We also got to see a kindegarten class that was adorable. We helped with puzzles, watch them make crafts, and smiled and laughed. It was a great experience and I think the kids really enjoyed it too (hey, they got a great excuse not to pay attention for 10 minutes at the end of the period).

Then we went to the health and fitness center below the school. This is similar to a small version of a lifetime fitness or a gym in the US. It was a great center that offered something unique for people living in Palestine. It also offered psychotherapy and audiology services and even had yoga and karate classes. While we were looking into the room used for yoga, karate, and dancing, there was a man in there practicing his martial arts form. We came in and looked around the room which was really nice and I did a standing yoga pose I remembered for fun and then went back to paying attention to our leader for a bit and cleared out of the room. He started practicing his form again and it looked very much like tae-kwon-do which I know a bit of. I watched him go through the routine which look very good and precise and then tried to ask him what he was doing. Communication was a bit rough because I don't speak Arabic obviously and he didn't speak English. However, we finally got it and he showed me that he was doing a combination of Karate and tae-kwon-do called karate-do. I had almost lost site of the group by this time so I went back over quickly thanking him in Arabic (one of the very few things I know how to do but do it constantly). Then, he tracked me down again and basically asked me through a little english and some hand motions whether I knew martial arts and I communicated back that I knew a little. And then, it was back to the group.

This little encounter was one of the great moments of the day because it sounds so simple and trite and I don't even think anyone else knows that I had it. But, it reminds me that this can be a small world if we make it one and that we aren't all so different. Even though we weren't able to really speak any of each other's language we were able to talk and find something in common. I have already found football to be a universal language and now I can add my very little knowledge of tae-kwon-do to the list. I think we can find something in common with everyone if we really try hard enough and that is a starting point. And, I think we need to remind each other about this because otherwise it is going to be a very lonely and scary world. I know that yes, we need to be cautious and safe and everything else but I also think we need to trust other people. As my friend Daniel said earlier on in the trip, "you need to give trust to get trust."

These past couple of days have been dedicated to doing the more touristy stuff of the area. Yesterday, we visitied the Church of the Nativity which is the place where they say Christ was born. The site is shared by three different churches, the Roman Catholics, Greek Orthodox, and Armenian. They are connected together and have beautiful sanctuaries over the cave where the birth took place. I always find it interesting to visit places like this because you feel that you should be silence out of reverence for the occassion but at the same time, it is a place of great joy. So, I never really know if I should talk, laugh, smile, or simply be silent. I usually go for the latter with a bit of a smile. I don't really know what I expected to feel at the place or if I really felt anything at all but I did admire the reverence that people visiting the site, especially the Greek Orthodox had for the sacredness of the occassion. I also felt that it was fitting that there was a funeral going on at the Roman Catholic church at the same time as a wedding was going on in the Greek Orthodox church above the Nativity. It was a feeling of bittersweetness tied in with the promise of a little baby boy born right under their feet 2000 years ago.

Today we had quite the day planned out. First, we went to Massada which was the place where Jewish rebels made a stand against the Roman Empire on the top of a cliff overlooking the Dead Sea. It was amazing to see the town they had built on top of this rock. And, they held out for around 3 years against the Roman Army! The place was amazing and they were so self sufficient. I think the most amazing part was learning they had stored 860 million gallons of water on the top of this site!!! We got to go into one of the cisterns which was this huge cavern and it was very cool and beautiful! Then, some of us got the chance to float in the Dead Sea. I neglected to pack my swim suit so I waded but it was fun watching my friends swim and freeze (the water was Lake Superior cold!) and collected some salt crystals from the bottom. Then, we finished up the day at Qumran which is the place where they discovered the Dead Sea Scrolls. So, full day!

Then, we finished up the day with a rousing game of Arab-Israeli War Jeopardy which was abotu one of the funniest things on the trip. And, our team won also. :) Now, off to wash off the salt from the sea and figure out where we're going out to tonite (one of the probably good things about Bethlehem is there is no real late-night night life so we can't get into too much trouble and we won't be out later than 1 generally). Peace!

The Importance of Stories

My first impression when I started this trip out is that it would be more about the pilgimage. I thought I would get the most out of seeing the sights that are considered holy such as the place where Jesus was born or walking the same place many Jesus, Mary and Joseph, or the disciples walked. But, in our first day I found that I was wrong. Instead, as we met with three Palestinians, two who are Christians, one who is a Muslim, I found that I was totally wrong. Instead, I found myself drawn in by their stories, their struggles, and their hope for the future.

Bethlehem is actually a part of Palestine and not of Israel. It has a wall around it that is twice as high and five time as long as the Berlin wall. And this wall serves as a barrier. People cannot get in or out very easily. This means that the people here cannot visit Jerusalem which is a mere 20 miles away. It means that the daughter of one of the people we visited cannot fufill her dream of seeing the sea anytime soon. It can kill hopes, dreams, and ambitions of the people living in Bethlehem whether they are Christian or Muslim. There is a refugee camp in the very city of Bethlehem.

And yet, despite all of this, we kept on hearing messages of hope and unity and peace. Muslims, Christians, and Jews are the "dysfunctional family of Abraham." But yet, we are family and people here still refer to it as family. And, the goal of many of the churches, organizations, and even the leaders of the refugee camp is to offer hope to the people. Hope for peace. Hope for a fair solution. Hope for justice. Hope for a better day. And they carry this hope with them and share it with us.

At the same time, I feel that we have been given a responsibility to share the stories of the people here. There are human faces behind the news and behind the headlines. And I hope I can bring a little piece of these stories to you through these postings, pictures, and thoughts that I put before you now. I know I cannot do them justice but I promise I will try my best. God's blessing to all you who are reading this and please feel free to comment. I would love to hear your thoughts. I love you all and will talk to you soon!

Football = Universal Language

First off, I'm going to make multiple posts today because I have been given quite a lot to think about in the past two days. So, this way it's a bit easier for y'all and it makes it easier for me to collect my thoughts.

After church today in Bethlehem we headed back to the guest house we are staying in. On the way, about 7 local boys came to us with a fairly flat football and asked us to play with them. There is a small space between the center and our rooms and in the matter of moments we were picking teams. And, game on! Soon we were going at each other in a rousing game of football with most of us seminarians wearing our Sunday best. And wow, these kids knew how to play. We were soon kicking, checking, laughing, and cheering and having the time of our lives. The space was small and crowded so we all became fast friends. It seems that football is a universal language. Some of the bolder kids were calling "penalty" for no apparent reason and giving themselves free kicks. We all did the traditional "GOOOAAALLL!!!" And, at one point, I started a chorus of "Ole!" which suprisingly everyone joined in on. It was a great game and it was the perfect way to start out a day.

I think what struck me the most was how a simply game of football can be so uniting. I didn't know the name of any of the kids we were playing with yet I was readily passing the ball to them and they were readily passing it to me. We were cheering each other on and high fiving after every goal was scored. And, it is no secret to us and them that these are hard times in Bethlehem. Chances are that their parents are struggling to make a living and it is very easy for people in their situation to lose hope very rapidly. Yet, what I saw in this simple pick up game of
football was an escape. It was a time to forget these things and play for the sake of the game. And, I'm pretty sure we all had a great time.

Now most of you know that I'm the captain of the seminary soccer team and I am missing the first games of the season while I am gone. This game meant more to me because of this. We have had our issues with the team this year because of various reasons which tainted the game a bit for me. However, a simple pick up game like this has put new meaning back in the sport for me. The game is more than competition and winning. It was a game yes, but it was so much more. To me, it was a sign of unity and hope. It showed me that sport should ultimately be about respect and it should serve to unite people instead of divide them by teams or individuals. And, of course, it should be about having fun.

Finally Here!

Alright, for the record, I wrote my entire post and then lost it. So, here we go again. After a fairly interesting day of travel including lost tickets, forgotten passports, very frisky german security guards, and kids that screamed for two hours straight on the 8 hour flight (and I am not exagerating!!!) we made it to Israel safely without anything too major or life threatening happening. Disclaimer: I don't on long flights so I'm going off very little sleep so I apologize for any blatant grammatical or spelling errors or if something just doesn't make sense.

Travelwise, we all had a decent time. I had aisle seats which was a life saver and my ipod was also key. We arrived in Tel Aviv around 4:30ish and drove via bus through the outskirts of Jerusalem and finally arrived at the International Center in Bethlehem. Needless to say, we were all a bit punchy by dinner time but had a good time and went wandering around the city which was dead because of various religious traditions. We went to Major Square which is a central part of the city and saw the outside of the Church of the Nativity and caught some great views. It has narrow roads, fast drivers, Christmas lights, political posters, and graffiti in arabic and some beautiful stone buildings including churches and mosques and the like. The views at night are beautiful and I can only imagine what it is going to be like in during the day. The cities don't have any skyscrapers but there are lights everywhere so is very much normal city.

For my research and reading for this class I have been given quite a bit to ponder and it's been quite the journey so far. For this class we are discussing and reflecting on the relationships between Muslims, Jews, and Christians in this land that we all call Holy. And yet, this land seems far from holy sometimes especially when we hear about the bloodshed that happens because of this religion or that. It's as if this experience that we are supposed to call holy has somehow been tainted. And yet, this is a part of the history of this very land. And this causes us to ask the question, is peace possible? How can we achieve something so seemingly unatainable? And, we have so far to go. This is very visible in the form of the wall that acts as a barrier in this city of Bethlehem that is very reminiscent of the wall in Berlin. This wall has been built because of a combination of fear, hatred, and violence that seems to mock the title "Holy Land." It is a symbol of something that I think all three religions that have a stake in this land would normally be fighting against.

It is only the first day and already we are being faced with many tough questions including: what can I do in a situation such as this as Christian? I know that this is going to be a challenging and difficult but rewarding journey over these next two weeks. I'm thinking and praying for you all and I hope to hear from you soon!

T minus 2 Days

Alright, I thought I'd give this whole blog thing a try. We'll see how this all goes. I leave for my trip to Israel in less than two days and I don't think it's quite set in yet that I'm actually leaving. Oh well, plenty of things to do till then.

My class is called "The Holy Land: It's Prayers, Peoples, and Places." Much of it will be focued on Israeli-Palestinian relations and the topic seems quite fitting with all that's been happening there within the past year and past week even. We fly out on Thursday and arrive in Tel Aviv on Friday and spend the first 5 days in Bethlehem. Then we move to Nazareth and Galilee for about 3 days. We finish up our stay with a week in Jerusalem.

Needless to say, I am very excited! I have traveled to what would be considered holy places before including Greece and Rome. I have stood many of the same places Paul stood including the Acropolis in Athens or on the ruins of Philippi. I have been to the grotto of Revelation where John dictated the book of Revelation. It's a powerful feeling to be in a place that is so significant to my religion, to history, and to the world. I can only imagine what it is going to be like to find myself standing where the disciples or my Lord Jesus had stood two thousand year ago. Anyway, I'm off to pack (and possibly freak out, I'm leaving in two days!!!). I will update this as frequently as possible and will try and keep it entertaining.