We have now had two field trips. On field trip days we leave JUC around 6:50am and head to the bus. For the next 11 hours we drive around various parts of Israel, stopping four or five times throughout the day to hike and visit various sites. Yesterday we spent our time exploring the region of Benjamin. Which included marching around Jericho at our last stop.
Today started off with a trip to the Mt. of Olives. Beautiful doesn't even begin to describe it. There are three main churches or religous centers there. We were only able to enter one, the Church of All Nations. It was beautiful. I am quickly discovering that I would much rather spend my time in churches exploring and praying then looking at piles of rocks which could possibly be something. :) The ruins are awesome too, but the churches are my favorite. This church, the church of all nations is located right next to the Garden of Gethsemane. It was here that it is said Jesus wept over the city of Jerusalem. I was struck not so much by the fact that he may have walked here, but more by the fact that he looked out over Jerusalem and was deeply grieved for and by his children. And that, that is still the same. He cares so deeply about us that he still would weep because of us and on behalf of us.
Towards the end of the day we ventured into Bethlehem. I had been told by several people that it is very disapointing...but because I had been told that, it exceeded my expectations. Two quick things that facinated me:
(1) Where it is said that our Lord Jesus Christ was born, is right next to the church where Jerome's study was. Jerome is the one who wrote the Vulgate (latin translation of the Bible). I also saw a statue of St. George who stabbed a dragon.
(2) This is more theological in nature. Bethlehem was very noisy, there was some outside festivalish type thing taking place, tourists everywhere, people trying to sell you things...people coming just to touch where Christ had been born, not necessarily looking to be deeply touched by him...and I was stuck...this is the enviornment he came into. No one really cared, no one really paid attention, they just went about doing their normal life...and yet he came, he came and everything changed. And so for me Bethlehem became a powerful experience... We discovered this quote on the door on the Church of the Nativity:
"If you came here a tourist, we hope you leave as a pilgrim. If you came here as a pilgrim, we hope you leave as a more holy one."
On a lighter note. Rachel and I have found some american bus buddies who provide yummy american snacks to us, about an hour before "snacky-poo" time. (Dr.Carl has lots of funny sayings we are adopting) Tonight I think will consist of some more adventuring around Old Jerusalem exploring the festival of lights.
Bye Bye
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