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.