Israel: Day 1, Bet Shamesh

Bet Shamesh (Hebrew): House of the Sun

Logan and Joey (the Medic)

Little foxes caught on fire running through this field... (Biblical reference: Judges 15:3-4.)

We determined that Samson made big ("dumb") mistakes because he had earlier made little ("dumb") mistakes. The small compromises he made earlier led him to the big compromises later (and thus, the big consequences).

"Oh how easily we stray away..."

Cistern (with Kelsey)

Israel: Day 1, Kiriat Jearim

There is a college campus here (Masters/ Ibex) that recreated locations that would have been common in Israel during the B.C. (There was a tomb and an olive press and a vineyard and such things.)

At every location we visited, our group (of 70 or so) would gather and be told the historical reference of what we were looking at. (Or rather, we were reminded. Because as Joshua students, we had already studied the historical context of these locations. Visiting Israel was a "field trip". This was hands on learning.)

Rich, the Director of Joshua, is in the center.

Shiloh

from inside the tomb
(Tim, Jenae, Alli)

On the hill in the background was a small house. In this house was the Ark of the Covenant, which represented and "held" the presence of GOD. The Ark stayed in that house for twenty years. (Biblical reference: 1 Samuel 4-7.) It's a pretty neat story. I hadnt heard it before. Check it out.

Rich. Wine Press.

"All the Single Ladies!" Culturally, the young ladies of a town would come to the wine press and stomp the grapes, while all the young men would look on and take note of who was eligible.

with Kelsey

Israel: Day 1, On the Bus

Do you speak any Hebrew? Well, let's start with this one: "SHALOM!" 

--Ronan (the tour guide)

"April 4:
Woke up this morning early.
(Factoring time zone change.)
It was raining.
I slept very well last night.
I tried new things at breakfast.
We had our first stop.
Now on the bus.
Thoughts. Thoughts. Thoughts.
Eyes and hands open."

Israel: Pre-Adventure

"April 1: The trip has begun, I suppose. We are still in the United States, but are progressively making our way towards the airport. A small caravan departed from Hume Lake this morning. The rest will meet us at the airport tomorrow. It was a more leisurely drive today. I seem to be getting used to the road trip from Hume to LA, as we have driven it several times. And I am a littler eager to be a complete Joshua class once again. There is a certain comfort in community, and I have felt the lack of it..."

(The Israel trip came directly after Spring/Easter break. We had not seen each other for a week or so.)

In Bakersfield, CA.

 

by Alli

 

A Few Missed Things and the Time in Between.

Time is short, people.
There has been a seemingly ridiculous amount of things-- of the large and small varieties-- that have happened since I posted anything here. (And even more so since I wrote anything with... substance.)
I can try to explain my way through it. I could list several "whys" and "buts" and "because of"s. But they arent really relevant. They dont matter much to me, or I expect, to you either.
All that needs be said is that I havent shared in a while.
Id like to change that.
Starting with the next post, which is about our Joshua trip to Israel (from April).

Thank you for "following", or at least checking back in on this page.
I appreciate it. Very much.