Culturally opposite | Experiences | Lessons
Wednesday was a field trip through Jerusalem sites in the New Testament. I felt like a true archeologist as we sifted rubble from the Temple Mount in an excavation tent outside the Old City. Nicole, Hannah and I found a square copper coin from Well, actually our guide pointed it out to us...we had classified it as just another dirty rock. Oops. We also found a pot shard from the first temple period!
* That night, 10 of us chose to forgo homework and stay to experience nightlife in the city!
[caption id="attachment_221" align="alignright" width="300" caption="Despite our faces at 6 am, it was still worth it."]
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[caption id="attachment_221" align="alignright" width="300" caption="Despite our faces at 6 am, it was still worth it."]
[/caption]Throughout the long night we walked an additional 5-7 miles. // bought falafals in the Muslim quarter// walked outside the Old City up Jaffa St, where it felt surprisingly similar to American nightlife // coffee shop + 3 hr study session // moved across the street to another coffee shop // played in a park at 1 am // 
walked back to the lively Old City to visit the Western [Wailing] Wall // saw masses of people praying at 2 am // "slept"/bummed on a stone in the Jewish courtyard for 2 hrs // walked an hour to catch the 6:30 am bus from the outskirts of Jerusalem // back to school in time for classes : 8 am-3:15 pm.
walked back to the lively Old City to visit the Western [Wailing] Wall // saw masses of people praying at 2 am // "slept"/bummed on a stone in the Jewish courtyard for 2 hrs // walked an hour to catch the 6:30 am bus from the outskirts of Jerusalem // back to school in time for classes : 8 am-3:15 pm.Saturday was Yom Kippur//The Day of Atonement. We started a 24 hour fast on Friday evening. Also, there are NO cars driving on Yom kippur so everyone went out to chill on the freeway. I would pay to see that happen in America. I spent the night sleeping on the stage of an amphitheater by the moshav with 13 other girls! We woke up with the sunrise, welcoming the day of remembering Christ's atoning work. We had prayer sessions throughout the day & my group prayed for the Messianic Jews (Jews who believe that Jesus was the Messiah). Before coming here, I didn't realize the persecution that they face from the Jews. Most Jews want to outlaw missionaries in Israel and they hate Messianic Jews so much that they would kill them. They often say, "the world tries to destroy Jews physically, but Messianic Jews are worse because they destroy the inner soul of Judaism."
At 6 pm, we broke the fast with a "small feast". I can't say my stomach felt good after eating that night, but I loved the experience of fasting and seeing the comparison between physical hunger and hunger for the Lord and His Word.
I have not departed from the commandment of his lips; I have treasured the words of his mouth more than my portion of food. | Job 23:12
Life here has been full. My schedule leaves room for a sufficient daily nap, an extra online class, random adventure hikes & skype dates! No complaining here.
* tomorrow's task | new photo roll post | prepare for a visual feast
