Just walking with Jesus: October 2013

         First off I am so extremely sorry for being so negligent on keeping up with this blog, yikes It has been weeks and so much has happened! I can't promise I will be faithful to blog weekly but I will try.
        We are officially half way through the semester! I feel like I have been here my whole life...yet at the same time like I have just arrived. Israel is beyond breathtaking. Seriously if you have not been here, COME!! This week is a travel week so two days ago we got to go to Bethlehem and see the church of the Nativity (and get kicked out, ill explain in the next blooper post) and also the Shepherds field where they believe Ruth and Boaz met and also where the Angels appeared to the Shepherds to tell them to go see Jesus when He was born! Then after we went to Jericho (yep the cxity where the walls came a tumbling down), and got to see the ruins of what's believed to be the oldest city in the world dating back 10,000 years. After we ate some grub we hiked up Temptation Mountain to a crazy awesome monastery! haha I know, what a ironic place for monks to hang out.
        Yesterday we had a really packed day, it started off with driving to Masada, known for being where 900 Jews had their last stand against the Romans, and for its crazy military advantages, and also where King Herod built one of his many fortresses. We hiked up that bad boy, which halfway through I wanedt to die, but the view at the top made it all worth it! Then after we had a refreshing time cooling off in the pools of En-Gedi! We got to see beautiful waterfalls and I went up to the one they believe David went to when he hid from King Saul. I may or may not of have jumped a fence to go under the waterfall! Then our last stop of the day we got to go float in the dead sea, and cover ourselves with the thick black mud that is known to work wonders on your skin. Because of all the salt and minerals in the water you just float, I felt like I was in space! It tasted sooo bad and you do everything you can not to get it in your eyes! The sea was truly beautiful and beyond clear. After we washed off all the mud we loaded back onto our tour bus and headed back home to Jerusalem. This Sunday we head up North to the Galilee for two weeks where we will be able to tour around but also take our second class on the Life of Christ.
        Let me fill you in on what I do when we aren't traveling and site seeing. During the week each morning we have devotions in the garden at a church that's a two minute walk away from our hotel at 8am. Then we have our first class at another church from 9-11am, we meet again from 2-4pm for our last class of the day. Afterward we do homework, hangout, or help cook dinner which we all have together around 6pm. Our weekend is from Sunday-Tuesday. On Monday and Tuesday we have our M-1 from 9-noon. An M-1 is where we can live out practically what we have been learning. So we help clean the church we have devos at and help clean the hotel where we stay. It's a huge blessing for them but also for us as we serve each other. Also every week we make a Shook run. The Shook is a local farmers market kinda sorta. This is where we do the majority of our grocery shopping. Fruits, veggies, humus, pita and coffee pretty much sums up my grocery list with the occasional delicious baked good or pizza at midnight.
        We have met some amazing people of all different backgrounds and religions which as been simply fascinating. And on our free time we walk around the little shops and explore the beautiful old and new city of Jerusalem. By God's grace everyday somehow turns out to be an adventure and a blessing!