For Pictures of My Semester so far... go to this link:

http://www.new.facebook.com/album.php?aid=2013997&l=26ce3&id=176801233

Amazing People....

So, I have talked a lot about what things I have done and seen, but little about the people I have met! I have made some incredible friends and am excited about the amazing professors that I have!

Yesterday, Megan (one of my room mates) and I went to the Arab Quarter of the Old City to do buy these dresses that we say a few days earlier! SO CUTE!!!!!!! They were only 30 Shekels which comes out to be about $9... and they are two of the cutest dresses anyone has ever seen.... ever... really. I will post a picture of them soon! Megan and I had such a good time going through the city and I really enjoyed hanging out with her. We have had incredible conversations about God and Jesus and life. It is so good to finally have someone to talk to about all of that again.

My other room mate, Laura is an amazing girl, as well! She is so sweet and I have totally enjoyed her friendship. The other day we had amazing conversations about faith and trust. It was wonderful!

As for professors, they are absolutely wonderful! I am excited for my Archaeology class to start this Friday. My Archaeology professor is Gabriel Barkay. He is the Archaeologist that was able to take remnants of the Temple Mount and interpret some of the findings! How insane is that! So Cool! He is a well known Biblical Archaeologist here in Israel and I am so excited that he is my textbook! Thats totally rad!

My Hebrew professor is Dr. Revelson. He is from Ohio, but moved here to Jerusalem to study Judaism and is Jewish. He cracks me up and I am so excited to be able to learn from him!

My Physical Settings Professor is Cindy Parker. She is one incredible woman! Her passion for God and the land of the Bible is infectious. I love learning from her!

Lastly, my Gospel of Matthew Professor is Akiva Cohen. He is a Messianic Jew from Canada who's knowledge and passion astounds me. I am learning so much in his class!

Well, those are just a few of the amazing people I have met so far. I will tell you more as the semester goes on. Smiles and Blessings to you all! :)

Sweat, Smiles, Biblical Jerusalem!

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Today we went out on our second field study! We stopped by an overwhelming amount of places, but it was so wonderful to be able to experience them all. We went to the Broad Wall, Hezekiah’s Tunnel, the City of David, the Pool of Shailom, an unlikely place for the Upper Room in Dormition Abbey, an archeological site on part of the Western Wall, the Southern Steps, and the Church of the Holy Sepulcher. The Broad Wall, located in the Jewish Quarter, is part of Hezekiah’s city walls. It was interesting to see where the location of the particular wall is. It is situated on a dip of the Transversal Valley which bisects the Old City of Jerusalem. The City of David is located on the Eastern Hill, a very narrow and low finger-like hill. It is surrounded by both the Hinnem and Kidron Valleys and is seemingly enveloped by the Western Hill and the Mount of Olives. This symbolizes God’s arms surrounding and protecting the city. On our walk, it was interesting to discuss the likely places where David’s palace was in relation to the city. It is believed to have been at the top of the City below the biblical Mt. Zion which held the Temple (which is now where the Dome of the Rock is located). There is currently a dig being done and there have been lots of recent finds. In the past, there was lots of confusion regarding David and Soloman because they were revered as these great and wealthy kings, but since no one has found any remains of their wealth and power, there was a great deal of skepticism regarding their empires. Understanding the location of the palace truly made the David and Bathsheba story come alive. If David’s palace was higher than other structures and homes, it would have been very easy for him to see Bathsheba bathing on the roof of her home. And with all of the men of the city gone away at war, it was possible for him to request her presence. While in the City of David, we climbed to the top of a tower and looked over the city, as well as, Silwon Village, which is situated adjacent to the Mount of Olives. We could clearly look upon all the rooves of the city. While in the City of David, we watched a fascinating movie about the city. In 3D! It was very exciting! Then we made our way down to Area G of the City of David where a Millo (retaining wall) was discovered. In Area G there were also remnants of the classical 4 bedroom home. After that we went down to the spring where Hezekiah's tunnel began.

Hezekiah’s tunnel was constructed in order for water to flow and supply the city in times of war. It was chiseled by workers from both ends who met in the middle to complete the tunnel. In the 1880’s an explorer by the name of Warren discovered some of the shafts that lead to the tunnel. These shafts were rediscovered later on as well. Walking through the tunnel in the water was an incredible experience! We were in water up to our knees and hunched over as to not hit our heads on the ceiling for about 15-20 minutes. It was amazing to see where the water source came from. The water started at the spring where the water was kept for the City of David. There were excavations being done there on the towers of the spring. At the end of the tunnel was the pool of Shailom, which looked like a place of social gatherings. It was interesting to see the many steps and landings of the pool that people used as the water levels fell. After that we made the long trek back to school for lunch stopping at several different tombs along the way. It is so funny because tombs are everywhere in Jerusalem. Literally. They surround the city. The walk seemed like it took forever and it was all up hill. My legs were killing me and I was so out of breath when we reached the school. God was clever in choosing a place for his people in the mountains. I can't imagine being an army planning to siege the city. There is no stinkin' way!

In the afternoon, we visited Dormition Abbey where tradition says the Upper Room was located. However, this is very unlikely considering the architectural nature of the building. It resembles much later times and points more towards a later empire than the time of Christ.

Following the abbey, we went over to the Western Hill archeological site. Many excavations were done here. On this particular site, the Robinson Arch was discovered, and a Roman Road and marketplace was discovered. This lead to a greater understanding of the Temple Mount and how people were to arrive there. Upon entering the city, people would go to the money changer, then purchase a sacrifice, and finally go through a ritual cleansing called a Miq’vot in order to enter the temple. Once this was completed, they would go toward the Southern Steps, close to the Mount of Olives, walk up a narrow staircase which was made of one long step and one short step in order for people to be forced to take their time and prepare their hearts before entering the presence of God. Once the sacrifice had been given, the person leaves the Temple from a narrow door and a wider portion of the Southern Steps. This is a very likely place Jesus would have preached. In the Temple is where He overturned tables because the money changing and sacrifice sales were being done in a Holy space upon the Mount itself.

Lastly, we went to the Church of the Holy Sepulcher, which is where, as tradition has it, Jesus was crucified, prepared for burial, and finally buried. It is not known for sure, though. There is a small room at the bottom of the church which is where Constantine’s mother, Helena, found wooden fragments, which she considered part of the real cross. These fragments were more than likely not the real ones, considering if you take all the fragments of the cross in the world, you would have several crosses. We also went into one of the small chapels in the church which has a tunnel coming off of it that extends to Jaffa Gate and houses many tombs. It was pretty fascinating and kinda creepy.

Finally, at the very end of the day we went to a roof top near the church and reflected on the day. it had definitely been a long one!

Today.... kinda boring, but also interesting

Today I had class all day, did some organizing on my free time... and had only one very exciting thing happen... I learned/memorized Genesis 1:1 in Hebrew! So cool! I know... I am such a nerd.

Friends and Adventures

Today, Laura, Taran and I went wandering around the Old City hoping to find a few things... to no avail. However, we did have an amazing time! We just kinda meandered around and looked at shops. We went into the Church of the Holy Seplucher and also went over to the Wailing wall to take more pictures. It was amazing! I love being able to explore and enjoy! It is a blast!

Class! Already?

So, yesterday (Sunday) we took our first hike around the Old City learning about some of the topography of Jerusalem and how it has affected history. We ventured along the wall from school and stopped in a shaded grassy area to discuss the valley below the Western Hill where JUC sits. It is the Hinnem Valley. In the Bible there are several occasions in which the Hinnem Valley is discussed. It is a place where garbage was dumped and child sacrifices from the Old Testament were held. Insane! Then we discussed the wall and how old different blocks are. It is interesting to think of how the topography of the land has changed so much. The land is slowly becoming more and more flat and is losing the topography of Jesus' day. Anyhoo, after that we ventured through the Old City to the Damascus gate, then saw one of the seemingly five million places where Jesus was buried. Word to the wise: if you come to Jerusalem and people tell you this is the real thing (for many of the claims, but not all)... they are generally lying and they do not know. The City has been built on top of and covered so many times that it is very difficult to decipher the hows/wheres of many biblical stories from the time of Jesus. Though some things have actually been found. For example on our walk we went to St. Anne's church where an archeological site is located. There was found the pools of Bethesda as described in John 5. Right next to the pools was another pool for the Greek god Asclepio (not sure how to spell that) who is the Greek god of healing. In John 5 the sick man would try to make it into the pools of Asclepio to become healed when the waters stirred, but could never quite make it in to be the first one. When Jesus found him, he told him to walk and pick up his pallet for he was healed. It was incredible to be standing where Jesus stood... (well, close to it anyway) and realize what he had done there. Absolutely incredible!!!! After we finished in the Archaeological site, we went into the church, which is the only crusader church left in the Old City and I got to lead our class in some hymns. It was so amazing to hear the acoustics and the echo! It sounded so beautiful! Laura, Megan and I are already planning on going back to the church to spend some more time in worship. After the church we headed over to the Western Wall. It was amazing to see Jews from all over the world there praying, hoping and crying out for their nation. It was so beautiful! I can't believe I am here and that my classroom is Israel. It is incredible! I love you all and I am hoping to get some pictures up soon!

Arrived!

I made it! Finally! I came in through the gates of Jerusalem University College this morning and climbed the 104 vertical steps to my room and say the glorious balcony right outside my door! My room overlooks the entire city! It is spectacular! I met my two wonderful room mates Laura and Megan. Laura is from Oregon but goes to Wheaton College in Chicago. And Megan goes to school in South Carolina at Columbia International University and is from Ohio. They are both super sweet and I am stoked to get to know them this semester! Anyhoo, it is time for a shower, especially after climbing those stairs so many times today. I will post pictures of the school very soon! :)