My Oasis

In all the hectic times of life, I keep my cool with a bit of crochet or knitting. Here's my latest:

This is a gift for a couple at church who recently flew to Jordan and had a baby! Congrats Neil and Charlie!!


Thanks to Alli Crafts blog for the free pattern: http://allicrafts.blogspot.com/2011/12/free-pattern-earflap-hat-9-12-months.html

My New Favorite Time of the Year

Holy week! That's what everyone calls it here. This week begins with Palm Sunday and remembers the events of Jesus's last supper, trial, crucifixion, and resurrection. AKA Easter. So often in the West, we forget everything that happened except for his resurrection on Sunday. We might take a moment to think about his death on Good Friday, but other than that it's a normal, busy week.

Many people pilgrim to Jerusalem for this special week to reflect on every event of Jesus that's recorded about his last days in Jerusalem. Here are a few of my Holy Week highlights:

- Palm Sunday: Processional on the Mt. of Olives. Hundreds of people walked down the Mt. of Olives into Jerusalem's Old City! Palm branches and choruses of song filled the air.

- Maundy Thursday: This day remembers the New Covenant that Jesus proclaimed during the Last Supper. I attended Christ Church in the Old City, and then walked across the Kidron Valley, as the Biblical account records. The church met up again for a devotional in the Russian Orthodox Garden of Gethsemane on the Mt. of Olives. It was on that hillside that Jesus prayed and was taken into the hands of sinners.

- Good Friday: I attended my church here in Jerusalem - the Nazarene church - which held a quiet service of readings and songs to remember Jesus's death. Christ's words on the cross were read, followed by the extinguishing of a candle after each statement.

- Resurrection Sunday (tomorrow): I plan on adventuring to the Church of the Redeemer's sunrise service on the Mt. of Olives. Yes, it is VERY early. Yes, I will be a zombie. However, I'll see an amazing sunrise (Plus, they provide breakfast afterward! Complete with bacon!) Then I'll join the Nazarene's brunch and my school's BBQ for dinner. It'll be a full day with lots of fun and celebration! ... and food...

Hope your "Holy Week" has been memorable, wherever you are. The truths are the same around the world. Praise Jesus for His love for us!

Winter Wonderland

A few weeks ago, Jerusalem experienced a strange phenomenon - Snow! The temperatures here have been low ever since my return in January, but I was glad to reap a benefit of the cold temperatures for one morning. It snowed pretty heavily for an hour or so, leaving a bit of white accumulation on the ground and smiles all around. The city-folk were about as happy as I've ever seen them - children and adults alike. All ages were out in their snow gear building snowmen or trying to catch a snowflake. It was like a magical holiday or something. Here are some snapshots from the adventure! (Thanks to my friend, David, for the pics)

Sadly, the sun soon came out and the snow was gone within an hour's time. Oh well. Such is life.

Re-do

So, it's been awhile. A long while. I know my last entry was a memorial to the non-existent state of this blog, but I think it's time to begin again. New life is coming to this blog, just in time for Easter! How ironic. Anyway, here's to a fresh start, Wahoo!

RIP

Here lies my blog.

Un-updated and forlorn.

It is time to say goodbye.

At least for now.

Probably forever.

Blog, you have been faithful,

Unfortunately, I am a bad updater.

So long!

Just a Glimpse

The view of the Old City of Jerusalem from the Mt. of Olives. You can see the Temple Mount and the Dome of the Rock on top.

A beautiful church in the Garden of Gethsemane. All of the stained glass windows are a deep purple, so from inside it seems like nighttime, symbolizing Jesus' last night as He prayed in the garden.

Wilderness!! Perhaps Jesus wandered here for 40 days. Looks a little dry... but just beyond is Jericho, an oasis with palm trees and everything.

...Speaking of Jericho

The woman at the well! It was a very picturesque moment.

Sunset at Gezer through a cool tree!

Jerusalem At Last

Shalom! I have now officially begun my first semester studying here in Jerusalem. After a 5 hour walking tour through the Old City, I couldn't be more excited! There has already been so much activity just in the few days I have been here.

Here's a summary of my time here so far: I flew to Tel Aviv on Thursday night through Friday afternoon, then caught a sherut (10 passenger van) for an hour trip to Jerusalem. The sites were amazing even from the window of the van! It caught me by surprise to see so many mountains and green trees, with cities built on the slopes and tops of the mountains. Saturday was full of orientation on campus, a scavenger hunt in the Old City, then a walking tour through the new city area around the school. An extremely full, but awesome day.

This morning I woke up to an excellent breakfast of eggs, fruit, yogurt, and instant coffee (not too bad, by the way), then caught a ride to a church in town. It was a cute little church and I enjoyed their warm welcome! After lunch the whole group of students were led in a walking tour of the Old City of Jerusalem. I didn't know much about the city before we began, but I sure feel like an expert now! Everything is so important to history and religion, almost like a living, thriving museum. But unlike a museum, things are constantly changing and modernizing, yet still centering around the past. Strange concept, kind of unexplainable. Anyhow, wandering through the Old City was great and I saw all the "touristy" things, such as the Upper Room, Temple Mount (Dome of the Rock), Church of the Holy Sepulcher, Mount of Olives, tons of tiny shops and trinkets, and a whole lot of mosques and churches. I know I'm forgetting an important landmark, but you get the picture. My teacher (who gave the tour) also did a great job explaining the history and importance of each location.

Already, I have such a better understanding of the background and culture of modern-day Israel. It's quite complex and I have a TON to learn, but I sure am looking forward to it!!