Shalom! I am in Israel!!! So, apparently some of my readers who shall remain nameless (Greg) call me a sorry excuse of a blogger. In attempts to keep the people happy, I am blogging. And on the Sabbath! Or shall I say Shabbat? Even then, it's really Saturday. It's kind of funny that we observe the Sabbath on Saturday here. I don't know if I'll ever get used to it.
Thus far nothing too exciting has happened - other than the fact that I am in the Holy Land. I have come to realize that I do not comprehend the gravity of the situation. I feel like I am living my normal life, and this is just a cool place I'm visiting. I don't realize that I am in a special land. I do, but I don't. I know a lot of what I feel is because I'm still learning. I know that while I am here and learn more, I will come to understand and appreciate where I am, and what happened here. It's no fun being ignorant, and becoming a more knowledgable person will definitely help make this more real. Even if not while I'm here, probably sometime later in my life.
This place is incredible. (The Center). They take such good care of us. The food in the cafeteria is fabulous, and our rooms are top notch. The security they have implemented for us kids is beyond average, and the views are incredible. My room overlooks the newer part of the city, but other dorms and the classrooms overlook the Old City including The Dome of the Rock. Pretty amazing. Every morning at 4 am we here the call to prayer sounded from a tower in the Muslim quarter of the Old City. It's a different world.
So far we've had two classes (Old Testament and Middle Eastern Studies History). Both are great. My teachers are very smart. The rest of my time has been spent getting to know the Old City. Today, between church and dinner, we spent our time in the Orson Hyde garden and the Garden of Gethsemane. This experience was funny to me. Probably because there is a lot of speculation about where things happened. There are two possible sites for where Jesus suffered for our sins, and even then those sites are not dated back to the time of Jesus. (Trees have been dug up and replanted.)
I had a problem about all of this speculation. How come no one knows where it happened? Then my good roommate Didi reminded me that it doesn't matter. Everyone was feeling such a strong spirit in the Garden, and again, I'm sure with a better knowledge and understanding I too will feel something, but today I didn't. Today I just thought to myself that I already know that it's true. It doesn't matter if I even see the exact spot because I know it happened. It all happened. Everything that I'll study and see while I'm here happened, and I already know it did. But being here will give me a better understanding. And that my friends is something to be excited about.
Glad to see that you are finally blogging, many (Greg Mom,Wynne and others!) have been waiting patiently for news. Take it all in and tell us more!
ReplyDeleteSo glad to read your news. I can relate to your reaction. I often wonder if I have a missing link when I fail to react to things the way others are reacting. So it is a relief to find a kindred spirit. I would just want to soak everything in and savor the experience. I love that you hear the call to prayer each morning. I wonder if it will become so routine you will stop noticing it.
ReplyDeleteMan I thought the soul sessions on pange were good, I can't imagine those convos with dith in jerusalem :)
ReplyDeleteremember the orson hyde gardens were paid for with cody money. olive and glenn nielson were the major donors
ReplyDeleteThat's what I was wondering. My dad keeps talking about going to see the Neilson gardens, but no such thing exists. (I obviously knew they were donors to some other garden, but didn't know which one.)
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