Jean-Pierre is living in the basement of a house about a 5 minute walk from my house. He is living with one housemate, Rafi and they seem to get along great, or maybe they just have no choice! ;) Soon they will add one more to their number, Matthew, of whom I know practically nothing.
Everything in Israel is within walking distance, but it might take you 3 months to walk there!
Which brings me to my great news! I'm free! Today Jean-Pierre and I bought bikes, meaning we can actually go places! A bike is such a necessity here, if I wanted to go to the beach, if I wanted to go to a cheaper market, if I wanted to go to the congregational meetings (church) I need a bike. For example the other day we had to walk approximately an hour to get to the store then walking back took the same time. That trip had eaten up our entire morning and into the afternoon. Whereas on a bike it take about 15 minutes to get to the same place.
With my new found freedom I took advantage of the nice hot weather and went to the Mediterranean sea to go swimming ! We (Jean-Pierre , his housemate, Rafi and I) got there around 5pm. The sun was setting in a gorgeous array of colours, the blush of gold and crimson sweeping over the sky and the sea. We floated, swam and talked until we got out at around 6:30 when the stars were overhead and the water was reflecting the lights of Netanya. Pure bliss!
What is a necessity in Canada? Here, some are: sunglasses, a cold shower each night, internet, a bike, flexibility, a cell phone, a water bottle, an encouraging spirit and a camera.
The day after we got here we had some orientation classes and our first official class. The very next day we headed off for a two day field trip. Early in the morning we all piled into something like a 13pass van and headed due North. First we stopped at a tell, which is a mound of layered cities. One city would build there, then get destroyed or abandoned thus causing it to be a heap, then the next people instead of digging to get the old foundations just built on top of it. This process is repeated until our day and age where they are just a large oval hill the ''home'' only for archeologists. It was amazing to see the history of the place. In Canada we've got only relatively young history, but here there are tells and ruins all over the place!
At every stop or every different piece of history our guide, Sheila Gyllenberg, would show us from the Bible what had taken place there, of course along with a whole heap of other sources. Next stop was Mount Carmel. Who was the prophet that totally showed up the other prophets on that mountain by proving that the Lord was God and the One who is in control of all nature? That's right, Elijah! From that mt, we saw a BEAUTIFUL view! We could see so far and wow, isn't Israel breathtaking!
Our next stop was Nazareth where Jesus grew up and where Mary was from. Well, I suppose we didn't actually go into Nazareth, because there really isn't anything to see! But we climbed up a mountain just across for that town and could see it clearly along with many other places which also had Biblical references. Really, the more you dig into history, the more you find out that the Bible was right the whole time! Too cool to get a history lesson from the One who sees all of time! We saw a sleepy, low town that Jesus was raised in. I knew that probably Jesus daily saw the very mountain that I was standing on and probably hiked it with His friends. :D We also talked about the fact that in one of the gospels it says that He was called a Nazarene like the prophets foretold, but when we look at the prophets we don't see a direct reference to Him being a Nazarene. Thus instead of throwing the Bible out as false, you can find a very reasonable explanation from Isaiah. It's funny how we think that God isn't bigger than the ''mistakes'' we find, but always discover that it was us that had made the mistake of not believing the truth of the Bible.
I don't know what your picture is of these places, but if you're thinking of low, primitive houses and towns, you've got the wrong picture! Here is very modern. A typical looking house is with a orange/red roof with a white, cream or yellow house.
Coming face to face with history has really opened my eyes. Israel is small with a very family oriented view on life. As much as they can be in your face, they will be helpful and care. Standing in line and saying excuse me take on a pretty different importance here.
Presently I've only had 3 days of actual classes and the next week and a half I get off. Why? Holidays/Feasts! It seems like God really knew what was best when He commanded time off and celebrations! I have never seen such a country-wide embraced event in my whole life. Last weekend was Yom Kippur (day of atonement) and it's the holiest day of the year. No work is to be done, and it's a national day of fasting. Also no cars or electronics are to be used. It's like a hush has fallen on the whole of Israel. All that is to be heard is the birds singing and the happy shouts of children. From sundown on Friday kids take their bikes and fill the streets. We have a synagogue right next to our house and so there was constantly kids out playing by it while their parents were inside. Religious and non religious alike celebrate this day. Maybe I shouldn't have used the word, ''celebrate'' it's a VERY solemn day for them. They were all praying that their sins from the last year would be forgiven, but they had no assurance that this would be the case. Seeing as their sacrifice system is no longer possible they have made traditions to compensate. It's heartbreaking to see them try to get to God, not realizing that their Perfect Sacrifice has come and paid for every single one of their sins and that same God loves them! It seems like the whole world tries so hard (consciously and unconsciously) to get to God, but they don't see through their unbelief to see that it's a free gift that God gives us of acceptance! Wow! I fasted too, not just to do what they were doing, but to pray for them. I also visited 2 synagogues too (there is like one on every main street corner!) . They are very interesting. I loved the music. It made me feel like getting up right there and dancing a large line dance or something! :)
So far, this experience has been wonderful! I really can't wait to see all that God will do. From this mornings Bible reading I was once again reassured that God is going to look after me. '' Consider the ravens... and god feeds them: how much more are you better than the birds?...Consider the lilies... Solomon in all his splendor was not clothed like one of these. If then God so clothes the grass... how much more will He clothe you, o you of little faith? And seek not what you will eat, or what you will drink, neither have a doubtful mind...your Father knows that you have need of these things. (!) But rather seek the kingdom of God: and all these things will be added to you.(!) '' God knows my needs and is going to take care of me! If you ever begin to worry about me or anything else, remember. Remember His great faithfulness!
Enough news? Good, because I was starting to think I was writing a book instead of just a news update! ;)
I have a very big favor to ask you. Could you continue to pray for us? That would be greatly appreciated!!
Specifically for:
- the learning of the culture and Hebrew, also settling in.
- Our testimony
- Internet for my computer (a necessity for school and communication!)
- that I would lack ''homesickness''. I'm not homesick, but sometimes I get little waves of missing people. Honestly, I miss you all a lot!
- Finances.
I loved reading this and I am waiting with anticipation for your next entry! PS! SUPER JEALOUS! :P You know me and my archeology...you've beat me to it. Love you! <3
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