It's been a very interesting few days as Israel played host to President Obama and his entourage. While traveling on the Arab bus the other day, I noticed several new posters on the highway that read--
Unbreakable Alliance, President Obama's Israel Visit 2013. The theme for the visit was everywhere--Unbreakable Alliance. I saw a white stationary blimp next to the King David Hotel where Obama stayed--must have been used for security purposes. I walked up the hill from Jaffa Gate to Jerusalem University College on Wednesday and encountered two groups of police officers just watching. Yesterday, Friday, Obama was to helicopter into Bethlehem to visit the Church of the Nativity. About 11:30 am it became very windy and hazy and before long a Chamsin had struck our area. This is a sandstorm from the desert that lasted most of the day. Literally, I could barely see Bethlehem from the campus. This necessitated a change in plans and Obama arrived in Bethlehem by motorcade instead of by helicopter. Much to our delight, about six of the staff at Tantur and Larry and I went to the lower level of the campus and climbed one of the rock terraced walls and stood there trying to catch a glimpse of the motorcade as it drove right in front of the campus on Hebron Road. Just a reminder--the campus is only about 300 meters from Bethlehem and we can see the checkpoint and the separation wall very clearly--except when there is a Chamsin. Before long we saw about 15 to 20 motorcycles followed by the President's limousine, then numerous SUV's, two ambulances and one small fire truck were also a part of the motorcade. We were waving but could not see anything through the tinted windows of all the cars. We even played host to a security car with two undercover agents in the drive of the school. The road had been closed most of the morning with some of the Palestinian staff unable to get through the checkpoint until later in the day. Afterwards I joined some of the staff at the reception desk who were watching the events at Manger Square on TV--all in Arabic. They told me Obama would be in Bethlehem exactly 26 minutes. What a reminder to me of all the details that surround an official State Visit and what it can do to a country. I'm sure everyone is heaving a sigh of relief that the visit went so well. Many churches and Christians in the Land were praying over this visit. I heard Obama's name on the lips of many tourists as I walked through the Old City and heard a variety of languages being spoken. It's never dull here!
I thought I would share with you odds and ends in this posting. We have a new Study Group with us that includes participants from Ireland, Poland, Australia, India and the US. We participated in prayers last night at 5:30 pm just before dinner. Different members take turns each night leading this special prayer time. The group is made up of Catholics, Presbyterians, a Lutheran pastor and the Secretary General of the Catholic Council in India. We have already experienced some great conversations with this group.
Two stories I want to mention that happened several weeks ago and both added to our repertoire of life experiences that I am grateful for. As we were preparing to leave for Israel, we flew from Fort Wayne to Chicago then to Istanbul and finally to Tel Aviv. While waiting at the Gate at Fort Wayne, I was sitting next to a man who told me he was legally blind with 5% vision in one eye and 15% in the other. He was on his way to a hospital in Chicago that was going to begin to teach him to read Braille and learn how to use a seeing-eye dog. He had been a trip planner for visits around Indiana to Branson, MO and other places. Due to his diabetes, he had been going blind for 11 years. I told him God would lead him through this experience in Chicago and he told me he was a Christian also and it was good to meet someone who cared about God. His last comment was, "There are others worse off than me."
He is a brave man as he was traveling alone. I was touched by his words and silently prayed for God's comfort and peace for him
As we landed in Chicago and made our way to the international terminal, I met a young college student from the Middle East. She approached me to make sure she was going in the right direction. She said she was from Abu Dabi and when I told her a friend's son worked for the US State Department in Dubai her face lit up and she said, "It's only an hour away from my country." She was glad I had heard of Abu Dabi and with animation she told me it was a beautiful country. Another reminder that most people love their home land and want to share it with others.
I've just finished reading Dr. Gary Burge's book, The Land and the Bible. Dr. Burge is a Wheaton College professor that we have known over the years and a former Taylor University parent. I highly recommend this short but very informative book about the Land of Israel. He develops powerful spiritual applications from the images the Bible uses when the writers speak of water, rocks, the shepherds, etc. It's a great resource for beginning to understand this amazing Land and how God used the Land to teach His people to trust in Him for all their needs. Wonderful reminders of God's provision for all His children and a personal reminder to me of God's care and protection.
Joyce Helyer's Blog
Saturday, March 23, 2013
Monday, March 18, 2013
A Day in Hebron
Last Monday Larry and I joined the Study Group here at Tantur for a field trip to Hebron. I had not been back there since 1968, the year that Larry and I lived here as students--a long time ago! We had an informative, heart-wrenching day as we saw once again the division in this wonderful land between the Palestinians and the Israelis.
The Study Group consisted of 11 Catholic Priests, 2 Anglican Priests, and 1 British Nun who had been serving in France. What a fun group to be with! They are from all over the world--Ireland, England, Scotland and France with a few from the US. We have shared in evening prayers with them and I found it to be a rich experience worshipping together and praying for the needs of the world. They were so kind in praying for my Mother during her hospitalization. We all set off last Monday and spent the morning with a representative from Al Haq, a Palestinian Human Rights Group, who gave us a tour of the Old City of Hebron, walked us through the streets, led us to the Mosque that covers the cave graves of Patriarchs Abraham and Sarah, Jacob and Leah, and Issac and Rebekkah. Many ultra-orthodox Jews live in the area and come to pray outside the mosque in a special area and the Muslims go inside. There were soldiers located in strategic places and we went through several checkpoints. This is a very volatile area and tensions run high between these groups. We felt very safe and seeing it firsthand helps me to understand how difficult and complex the situation is. This is a very strategic site for both Muslims and Jews.
After our tour and hearing children behind the walls in school playing and studying, we headed up the hill (lots of standing and walking that day) to a Palestinian home for lunch with a family that lives right across the street from Jewish settlers. They were very welcoming and served us huge mounds of saffron flavored rice with chicken on two huge platters. They gave us bowls to fill and then yogurt is spread over the top of this dish. Very tasty. We all sat on their sofas and were entertained by their children coming home from school--we met four of the five. All the time we were there they were Skyping with their relatives in Jordan and wanted different ones from the group to speak to their relatives. They had several cats and the children brought out four baby kittens for us to admire. I was grateful for the opportunity to be in a Palestinian home and to meet a family. They had pictures of their ancestors on their walls (just like we do) and explained about their family to us. Their house overlooks one of the streets in the Old City of Hebron and on the roof the laundry is hung out.
After lunch we drove through the modern city of Hebron--I believe well over 100,000 people--to a glass factory where we watched a glassblower shaping vases and, of course, the opportunity to buy some lovely Hebron glass--one of their top sellers. We were served small glasses of delicious hot tea as we walked around the store.
The soldiers we encountered were such young men--18 to 20 years old. Israeli young men serve in the military right after high school for three years active duty then they move to reserve status for 20 years or more. Women serve for two years right after high school. There were several women soldiers helping check as we went into the Mosque. Even though I was dressed appropriately for the Mosque, as a woman, I still had to put on a gray robe with a hood. Larry said I looked like a monk and I felt like the hunchback of Notre Dame as I had my backpack on my back and underneath the robe. The rugs and wall coverings in the Mosque are beautiful. The women can pray off to the side when the men are in the room but on certain days when it is crowded the women are moved to another room separate from the men. We all took off our shoes and walked on these lovely carpets as we toured the area.
As I viewed Hebron and listened to our tour guide, my heart was heavy as I saw firsthand the deep distrust and both sides claiming this holy site as their own. The military are there to protect the settlers and to keep the groups from fighting with each other. They have lived this way since 1967. This experience reminded me to pray again, and more intensely, for both Jews and Muslims and that somehow there would be a peaceful resolution to this complex situation filled with so much intransigence. We were all touched by what we saw and prayers are often uttered here for God's peace to come and reign over this Land. Here are a few photos from that memorable day.
The area between the buildings leads to the Mosque--the building on the right housed a gift shop and restaurant and the buildings on the left were Muslim homes.
The little "cabin," as the tour guide called it, is a checkpoint. Everyone has to walk through the cabin to get to the other side for shopping, visiting the mosque, or visiting family and friends.
The Mosque. This is the side the Israelis can pray at.
Inside the Mosque.
Another view inside the Mosque.
Our chicken and rice.
Our Palestinian hosts and one of their sons.
One last note. Larry presented a lecture on the Apostle Peter to the Study Group here and received a very positive response. They were engaged in good discussion and Larry has been invited to give the same lecture next week to a new Study Group that will be joining us--with some of the members arriving from Australia. Israel is a magnet to the curious, the religious, and the sincere pilgrim.
I am so grateful to have the opportunity to meet people from all over the globe.
The Study Group consisted of 11 Catholic Priests, 2 Anglican Priests, and 1 British Nun who had been serving in France. What a fun group to be with! They are from all over the world--Ireland, England, Scotland and France with a few from the US. We have shared in evening prayers with them and I found it to be a rich experience worshipping together and praying for the needs of the world. They were so kind in praying for my Mother during her hospitalization. We all set off last Monday and spent the morning with a representative from Al Haq, a Palestinian Human Rights Group, who gave us a tour of the Old City of Hebron, walked us through the streets, led us to the Mosque that covers the cave graves of Patriarchs Abraham and Sarah, Jacob and Leah, and Issac and Rebekkah. Many ultra-orthodox Jews live in the area and come to pray outside the mosque in a special area and the Muslims go inside. There were soldiers located in strategic places and we went through several checkpoints. This is a very volatile area and tensions run high between these groups. We felt very safe and seeing it firsthand helps me to understand how difficult and complex the situation is. This is a very strategic site for both Muslims and Jews.
After our tour and hearing children behind the walls in school playing and studying, we headed up the hill (lots of standing and walking that day) to a Palestinian home for lunch with a family that lives right across the street from Jewish settlers. They were very welcoming and served us huge mounds of saffron flavored rice with chicken on two huge platters. They gave us bowls to fill and then yogurt is spread over the top of this dish. Very tasty. We all sat on their sofas and were entertained by their children coming home from school--we met four of the five. All the time we were there they were Skyping with their relatives in Jordan and wanted different ones from the group to speak to their relatives. They had several cats and the children brought out four baby kittens for us to admire. I was grateful for the opportunity to be in a Palestinian home and to meet a family. They had pictures of their ancestors on their walls (just like we do) and explained about their family to us. Their house overlooks one of the streets in the Old City of Hebron and on the roof the laundry is hung out.
After lunch we drove through the modern city of Hebron--I believe well over 100,000 people--to a glass factory where we watched a glassblower shaping vases and, of course, the opportunity to buy some lovely Hebron glass--one of their top sellers. We were served small glasses of delicious hot tea as we walked around the store.
The soldiers we encountered were such young men--18 to 20 years old. Israeli young men serve in the military right after high school for three years active duty then they move to reserve status for 20 years or more. Women serve for two years right after high school. There were several women soldiers helping check as we went into the Mosque. Even though I was dressed appropriately for the Mosque, as a woman, I still had to put on a gray robe with a hood. Larry said I looked like a monk and I felt like the hunchback of Notre Dame as I had my backpack on my back and underneath the robe. The rugs and wall coverings in the Mosque are beautiful. The women can pray off to the side when the men are in the room but on certain days when it is crowded the women are moved to another room separate from the men. We all took off our shoes and walked on these lovely carpets as we toured the area.
As I viewed Hebron and listened to our tour guide, my heart was heavy as I saw firsthand the deep distrust and both sides claiming this holy site as their own. The military are there to protect the settlers and to keep the groups from fighting with each other. They have lived this way since 1967. This experience reminded me to pray again, and more intensely, for both Jews and Muslims and that somehow there would be a peaceful resolution to this complex situation filled with so much intransigence. We were all touched by what we saw and prayers are often uttered here for God's peace to come and reign over this Land. Here are a few photos from that memorable day.
The little "cabin," as the tour guide called it, is a checkpoint. Everyone has to walk through the cabin to get to the other side for shopping, visiting the mosque, or visiting family and friends.
The Mosque. This is the side the Israelis can pray at.
One last note. Larry presented a lecture on the Apostle Peter to the Study Group here and received a very positive response. They were engaged in good discussion and Larry has been invited to give the same lecture next week to a new Study Group that will be joining us--with some of the members arriving from Australia. Israel is a magnet to the curious, the religious, and the sincere pilgrim.
I am so grateful to have the opportunity to meet people from all over the globe.
Wednesday, March 13, 2013
BACK IN ISRAEL
On February 25, 2013, Larry and I left Chicago helping host another Taylor University Alumni and Friends Tour to Israel. Along with 49 other tour members from all over the US, we began another adventure in this amazing land. For eight days we traveled all around the Galilee in the north then down to Jerusalem and the area of the Dead Sea and Masada being the farthest distance for us in the south. What a trip! Larry was the Bible teacher again and Pamela Suran, an Israeli and lover of the Messiah served as our Tour Guide. They make quite a team. We so enjoyed getting to know the people on the tour and felt very privileged to have several neighbors join us along with our Pastor and his wife and other friends from our church family and former Taylor employees I had worked with at the University. Gene and Marylou Habecker, President of TU, and Ben and Lisa Sells, VP for Advancement, also helped host the tour.
We are enjoying beautiful sunshine and times to sit outside in the sun and relax, think, pray, journal, read and reflect on our recent tour. I'm learning to use the drying rack on the balcony for all our laundry and getting acquainted with the staff who have been so friendly and helpful. In the midst of this great experience the only cloud I'm feeling is concern for my dear mother. She is hospitalized in California with pneumonia and atrial fibrillation plus congestive heart failure. I spoke with her last night and the new heart meds are helping but her heart rate needs to drop even more. My dear sister Dorothy is close by and keeping us informed about her condition. Your prayers for Mom are appreciated.
In the days ahead I intend to share more with you about the people we have met, our projects and the sights we will be seeing. I'm reading Henri Nouwen's book, The Genesee Diary. For seven months he lived in a Trappist Monastery and these are all excerpts from his diary. His diary reveals a very human, vulnerable man with many insecurities and yet a heart that wanted to know God better. I'm finding it insightful and a good read. Here's Larry standing near the apartments for families at Tantur. Our room is behind him on the second floor.
Sunday, March 25, 2012
Update on Life in Jerusalem--March 25, 2012
I apologize to family and friends for not posting on my blog more frequently since we have been in Israel. Larry and I have been dealing with frequent internet connection problems at JUC that have stymied our efforts (and our patience). The school is working on resolving these issues but there are many interruptions. Needless to say, life has been full of interesting encounters and many valuable learning lessons.
First of all, Larry and I have decided to return home three weeks earlier than originally planned. Larry has an opportunity to write an online course on the book of Revelation for MA students at a divinity school in England. They are eager to receive the course and Larry's resource materials are at home. We are also missing our dear family and friends and realized we are ready to be home. We departed Indiana on February 18th and have been privileged to experience Israel amidst the rain and sunshine. Temperatures have been in the 70's all week and it looks like rain may be coming again this week. The drought has been broken.
We welcome our grandson, Jacob, on Friday and will be picking him up at the airport and exploring the land of Israel with him. We are so thankful he will be experiencing Easter with us in Jerusalem.
This morning we took the Canadian parents of a JUC grad student on a walking tour of the Old City and tried to go to the Temple Mount area but the line was extremely long. We made a quick change in plans and substituted other sites to visit and plan to return to the Temple Mount early in the morning on Tuesday. We even visited Oscar Schindler's gravesite and from the cemetery had an amazing view of the Hinnom Valley right where it turns westward from the Kidron Valley. We enjoyed our time but climbed many stairs and walked several miles. We both found ourselves in need of a rest following our "hike."
We spent the evening of Purim in the Huerva Synagogue in the Jewish Quarter. This festival remembers the rescue of the Jews by Queen Esther. It was fun to see so many children and even adults dressed in various costumes and laughing, singing, and dancing in the streets. I sat in the women's section at this Orthodox synagogue and looked into the beautiful faces of many women and young girls following along the reading of the book of Esther. One young girl was dressed like a Princess. My heart aches when I think of all the turmoil here in this land and the suffering that has happened among Israelis and Palestinians. We must continue to pray for the peace of Jerusalem.
Larry and I attended the Redeemer Lutheran Church several weeks ago and then had lunch with our friend Tom Powers at the Ecole Biblique Research Center where Tom lives. Larry was delighted to see Jerome Murphy O'Connor there--author of the definitive Guide to the Holy Land. He has lived here for years and has a very helpful guide to all the sites in the Holy Land. Larry had met him on our last trip and had his photo taken with him but accidentally deleted it so we were pleased to have our picture taken again with this scholar. What a lovely lunch among these Dominican priests and others who come to study and research at the Center.
I walked to Jaffa Gate on Friday to pick up a hostess gift for friends and marveled again at the picture before my eyes. It's always crowded at Jaffa Gate but on this particular day I saw military soldiers, nuns, priests, tourists, Orthodox Jews on their way to the Western Wall to pray, and Muslim women in their special clothing with their heads covered. What a microcosm of ethnic diversity!
Larry was invited to speak at the chapel service at the IBEX school which is an extension campus of the Master's College in California. They have a similar semester program as JUC and the coordinator has been a friend over the years and is married to a Taylor alum. We enjoyed our Friday night experience and tour of their campus in a suburb of Jerusalem but found it interesting
to discover the chapel service is held in the Moshav's bomb shelter! The campus is located on a Moshav (Israeli cooperative) that is owned by Christians from Finland. The students sit on double-decker bunks and there are chairs in rows and it makes for a very cozy atmosphere. We sang and worshipped together and Larry spoke on Jerusalem--Past, Present and Future with scripture from Isaiah. I'm thankful for every experience!
We are eagerly anticipating the arrival of friends, Ken and Beth Smith, who will be volunteering at JUC for the next month. They will be a great help. Some of my volunteer work has included working in the school's gardens and also helping with some computer work in the library. I was even asked to make some orange marmalade from bitter oranges gathered from a tree in front of the East Jerusalem Baptist Church we attended one Sunday. It was a challenge in several ways but we managed to make it edible at least.
I have enjoyed reading a variety of books and several for research work on my book. The book is a slow process but I have been doing some heavy editing and it needs more work. One of my most enjoyable reads is a book by Caroline Weber titled
Surprised by Oxford: A Memoir. She is an excellent writer and shares her journey of faith during her first year as a grad student at Oxford in the 90's. I highly recommend this book.
Larry is teaching a Bible Study on Isaiah for the students on Wednesday nights. We have had some excellent discussions with good questions from the students. The days are flying by and we will soon be making our way home. Our presence here has reminded me again of God's amazing grace by condescending to take on human flesh and live his earthly life in this land. The events of the life of Jesus took place in a troubled land that is still experiencing difficulties. However, I rejoice when I think that from this troubled Land the Kingdom of God spread out around the world and many have come into the Kingdom because of what Jesus did on Good Friday culminating in his resurrection that first Easter. The coming "New Jerusalem" will replace the current troubles with the promises found in Revelation 21. I, for one, am so grateful for the "living hope" that is vital to our faith.
First of all, Larry and I have decided to return home three weeks earlier than originally planned. Larry has an opportunity to write an online course on the book of Revelation for MA students at a divinity school in England. They are eager to receive the course and Larry's resource materials are at home. We are also missing our dear family and friends and realized we are ready to be home. We departed Indiana on February 18th and have been privileged to experience Israel amidst the rain and sunshine. Temperatures have been in the 70's all week and it looks like rain may be coming again this week. The drought has been broken.
We welcome our grandson, Jacob, on Friday and will be picking him up at the airport and exploring the land of Israel with him. We are so thankful he will be experiencing Easter with us in Jerusalem.
This morning we took the Canadian parents of a JUC grad student on a walking tour of the Old City and tried to go to the Temple Mount area but the line was extremely long. We made a quick change in plans and substituted other sites to visit and plan to return to the Temple Mount early in the morning on Tuesday. We even visited Oscar Schindler's gravesite and from the cemetery had an amazing view of the Hinnom Valley right where it turns westward from the Kidron Valley. We enjoyed our time but climbed many stairs and walked several miles. We both found ourselves in need of a rest following our "hike."
We spent the evening of Purim in the Huerva Synagogue in the Jewish Quarter. This festival remembers the rescue of the Jews by Queen Esther. It was fun to see so many children and even adults dressed in various costumes and laughing, singing, and dancing in the streets. I sat in the women's section at this Orthodox synagogue and looked into the beautiful faces of many women and young girls following along the reading of the book of Esther. One young girl was dressed like a Princess. My heart aches when I think of all the turmoil here in this land and the suffering that has happened among Israelis and Palestinians. We must continue to pray for the peace of Jerusalem.
Larry and I attended the Redeemer Lutheran Church several weeks ago and then had lunch with our friend Tom Powers at the Ecole Biblique Research Center where Tom lives. Larry was delighted to see Jerome Murphy O'Connor there--author of the definitive Guide to the Holy Land. He has lived here for years and has a very helpful guide to all the sites in the Holy Land. Larry had met him on our last trip and had his photo taken with him but accidentally deleted it so we were pleased to have our picture taken again with this scholar. What a lovely lunch among these Dominican priests and others who come to study and research at the Center.
I walked to Jaffa Gate on Friday to pick up a hostess gift for friends and marveled again at the picture before my eyes. It's always crowded at Jaffa Gate but on this particular day I saw military soldiers, nuns, priests, tourists, Orthodox Jews on their way to the Western Wall to pray, and Muslim women in their special clothing with their heads covered. What a microcosm of ethnic diversity!
Larry was invited to speak at the chapel service at the IBEX school which is an extension campus of the Master's College in California. They have a similar semester program as JUC and the coordinator has been a friend over the years and is married to a Taylor alum. We enjoyed our Friday night experience and tour of their campus in a suburb of Jerusalem but found it interesting
to discover the chapel service is held in the Moshav's bomb shelter! The campus is located on a Moshav (Israeli cooperative) that is owned by Christians from Finland. The students sit on double-decker bunks and there are chairs in rows and it makes for a very cozy atmosphere. We sang and worshipped together and Larry spoke on Jerusalem--Past, Present and Future with scripture from Isaiah. I'm thankful for every experience!
We are eagerly anticipating the arrival of friends, Ken and Beth Smith, who will be volunteering at JUC for the next month. They will be a great help. Some of my volunteer work has included working in the school's gardens and also helping with some computer work in the library. I was even asked to make some orange marmalade from bitter oranges gathered from a tree in front of the East Jerusalem Baptist Church we attended one Sunday. It was a challenge in several ways but we managed to make it edible at least.
I have enjoyed reading a variety of books and several for research work on my book. The book is a slow process but I have been doing some heavy editing and it needs more work. One of my most enjoyable reads is a book by Caroline Weber titled
Surprised by Oxford: A Memoir. She is an excellent writer and shares her journey of faith during her first year as a grad student at Oxford in the 90's. I highly recommend this book.
Larry is teaching a Bible Study on Isaiah for the students on Wednesday nights. We have had some excellent discussions with good questions from the students. The days are flying by and we will soon be making our way home. Our presence here has reminded me again of God's amazing grace by condescending to take on human flesh and live his earthly life in this land. The events of the life of Jesus took place in a troubled land that is still experiencing difficulties. However, I rejoice when I think that from this troubled Land the Kingdom of God spread out around the world and many have come into the Kingdom because of what Jesus did on Good Friday culminating in his resurrection that first Easter. The coming "New Jerusalem" will replace the current troubles with the promises found in Revelation 21. I, for one, am so grateful for the "living hope" that is vital to our faith.
Wednesday, March 7, 2012
BACK IN JERUSALEM
Friends and Family: We are back in Jerusalem! Another adventure in the land of Israel. On February 18th we left with 14 members of the Taylor University Alumni and Friends Tour of Jordan and Israel. It was called the Pre-Jordan trip and we spent a day at Petra, that famous Nabatean city in the desert, then traveled through Jordan's "Grand Canyon" on our way to Mt. Nebo where Moses viewed the Promised Land. Just before we joined up with the rest of the Tour group at Tiberius in the Galilee area, we made a wonderful stop at Bethany on the Jordan (the place where John the Baptist baptized Jesus on the east side of the Jordan River. We were right at the border of Israel and the temperature was warmer plus we were able to dip our hands into the Jordan River. The color reminded me of the Missisenewa River in Indiana--very muddy. Jordan has really developed this site and it is huge. It was a meaningful experience and one of the more authentic sites. At that point we were only about 15 miles from Jordan. We turned north and arrived at our hotel in Tiberius about 10 minutes before the rest of our Tour arrived. We had a grand total of 52.
Larry and I helped host this group along with Ben and Lisa Sells and Mike and Traci Falder, Taylor administrators. Larry was the Bible teacher for the Tour. Our group consisted of alumni, former and current parents of Taylor students, friends, former Taylor administrators, and Larry's sister, Linda Forbes joined us. I can't say enough about this great group of people. They were all enthusiastic about being in Israel, friendly, very easy to get along with, and just a delight to get to know. Larry was in his "element" as one friend stated as he shared at each site visited along with the Israeli guide who accompanied us. Pamela Suran is an Israeli believer who made the trip very special for all of us. We traveled far enough north to look over into Lebanon and from the Golan Heights we were only about 50 miles from Damascus looking into Syria. The farthest south we traveled in Israel was to Masada which Herod the Great developed and while in the area of the Dead Sea we visited Qumran (think Dead Sea Scrolls) and Ein Gedi, one of King David's hide outs while fleeing from King Saul.
What an experience. The weather was great and due to good rain this year in Israel the Galilee was in bloom with red anemones and lupin with the hills covered in green. During our boat ride across the Sea of Galilee, we had a very savvy captain who played Christian music and God Bless America while raising the American flag, One of his crew also taught us the Israeli folk dance, The Hora. We had a good time together laughing at our beginner attempts to learn this dance to Hatikva.
We shared some special moments in reflection at the Mt. of Beatitudes and at Capernaum. Several of the group commented on the spiritual insights they gained while also learning the history of many biblical sites. It was a joy to sing together and with other tour groups when we were in several churches--St. Anne's in Jerusalem and a church near Shepherd's Field in Bethlehem. The last day of the official tour ended with a communion service at the Garden Tomb amidst rain and wind. The weather changed right at the end of the tour!
When everyone left very early on Thursday morning, Larry and I had a chance to sleep in and have a leisurely breakfast at the Dan Panorama Hotel on Mt. Scopus before we moved on to the campus of Jerusalem University College. What a change! We moved in pouring down rain and it did not stop until Sunday night, March 4th. We even had snow on Saturday morning. Because we were students here for a year in 1968-69 and returned many times we love this place but it has been an adjustment moving into a building that dates back to 1853. We are finishing winter so we are in that transition season and with heat and hot water only available between 5:00 am and 10:00 am and then again from 5:00 pm to 10:00 pm at JUC and temperatures dipping into the low 30's at night it has been an adjustment. I managed to strain my back on our move-in day so I have been recovering ever since but my back is so much better. Thanks, dear friends, for praying for me. Yesterday a major water pipe burst so we were without water and flush toilets on campus all afternoon, but Hooray! they were able to fix it. There are about 55 undergrads and graduate students on campus.
I have had several opportunities to practice what the Apostle Paul went through when he said, "I have learned to be content in all situations" (my paraphrase). At the end of January I helped lead a workshop at our Women's Retreat from our church along with our daughter Alicia. We called it "Getting Past the Rind: Trusting God in the Every Day." I'm learning to practice what I have been teaching. God has a wonderful sense of humor and I am so grateful for His faithfulness, strength and mercy. Larry and I have been resting and being low key since the end of the Tour. We had 12 days of touring so it felt good to "stop and rest" for awhile.
There's much more to tell you but I will save that for another day. Since Monday the weather has been sunny with beautiful blue skies. I walked into West Jerusalem this afternoon and Jerusalemites are getting ready to celebrate Purim beginning at sundown on Thursday night. There were kids dressed in costumes and even some adults wearing funny hats. This feast celebrates the deliverance of the Jewish people from the Persian empire in the days of Queen Esther. I noticed that the waitresses and waiters in the outdoor cafes all had some type of costume or hat also. It reminded me of Halloween and how children and others dress up.
I'm including some photos from Jordan and our tour. We are enjoying the students at JUC and renewing our friendship with old friends here. Grace and peace to you for now. Internet connection at JUC can be sporadic. I will be adding photos whenever I can.
Larry and I helped host this group along with Ben and Lisa Sells and Mike and Traci Falder, Taylor administrators. Larry was the Bible teacher for the Tour. Our group consisted of alumni, former and current parents of Taylor students, friends, former Taylor administrators, and Larry's sister, Linda Forbes joined us. I can't say enough about this great group of people. They were all enthusiastic about being in Israel, friendly, very easy to get along with, and just a delight to get to know. Larry was in his "element" as one friend stated as he shared at each site visited along with the Israeli guide who accompanied us. Pamela Suran is an Israeli believer who made the trip very special for all of us. We traveled far enough north to look over into Lebanon and from the Golan Heights we were only about 50 miles from Damascus looking into Syria. The farthest south we traveled in Israel was to Masada which Herod the Great developed and while in the area of the Dead Sea we visited Qumran (think Dead Sea Scrolls) and Ein Gedi, one of King David's hide outs while fleeing from King Saul.
What an experience. The weather was great and due to good rain this year in Israel the Galilee was in bloom with red anemones and lupin with the hills covered in green. During our boat ride across the Sea of Galilee, we had a very savvy captain who played Christian music and God Bless America while raising the American flag, One of his crew also taught us the Israeli folk dance, The Hora. We had a good time together laughing at our beginner attempts to learn this dance to Hatikva.
We shared some special moments in reflection at the Mt. of Beatitudes and at Capernaum. Several of the group commented on the spiritual insights they gained while also learning the history of many biblical sites. It was a joy to sing together and with other tour groups when we were in several churches--St. Anne's in Jerusalem and a church near Shepherd's Field in Bethlehem. The last day of the official tour ended with a communion service at the Garden Tomb amidst rain and wind. The weather changed right at the end of the tour!
When everyone left very early on Thursday morning, Larry and I had a chance to sleep in and have a leisurely breakfast at the Dan Panorama Hotel on Mt. Scopus before we moved on to the campus of Jerusalem University College. What a change! We moved in pouring down rain and it did not stop until Sunday night, March 4th. We even had snow on Saturday morning. Because we were students here for a year in 1968-69 and returned many times we love this place but it has been an adjustment moving into a building that dates back to 1853. We are finishing winter so we are in that transition season and with heat and hot water only available between 5:00 am and 10:00 am and then again from 5:00 pm to 10:00 pm at JUC and temperatures dipping into the low 30's at night it has been an adjustment. I managed to strain my back on our move-in day so I have been recovering ever since but my back is so much better. Thanks, dear friends, for praying for me. Yesterday a major water pipe burst so we were without water and flush toilets on campus all afternoon, but Hooray! they were able to fix it. There are about 55 undergrads and graduate students on campus.
I have had several opportunities to practice what the Apostle Paul went through when he said, "I have learned to be content in all situations" (my paraphrase). At the end of January I helped lead a workshop at our Women's Retreat from our church along with our daughter Alicia. We called it "Getting Past the Rind: Trusting God in the Every Day." I'm learning to practice what I have been teaching. God has a wonderful sense of humor and I am so grateful for His faithfulness, strength and mercy. Larry and I have been resting and being low key since the end of the Tour. We had 12 days of touring so it felt good to "stop and rest" for awhile.
There's much more to tell you but I will save that for another day. Since Monday the weather has been sunny with beautiful blue skies. I walked into West Jerusalem this afternoon and Jerusalemites are getting ready to celebrate Purim beginning at sundown on Thursday night. There were kids dressed in costumes and even some adults wearing funny hats. This feast celebrates the deliverance of the Jewish people from the Persian empire in the days of Queen Esther. I noticed that the waitresses and waiters in the outdoor cafes all had some type of costume or hat also. It reminded me of Halloween and how children and others dress up.
I'm including some photos from Jordan and our tour. We are enjoying the students at JUC and renewing our friendship with old friends here. Grace and peace to you for now. Internet connection at JUC can be sporadic. I will be adding photos whenever I can.
Wednesday, February 2, 2011
Last Blog Entry for a Season
Well, it's been eight weeks since our return from Israel. I'm sitting at my computer looking out at the most severe snowstorm Indiana has had in years. We are now experiencing bitter cold but we managed to escape major power outages in our area and we are thankful. This storm will probably go down in history as one of those "Remember the storm of 2011...?" I must admit a tiny part of me was thinking back to those warm days of sunshine in Jerusalem a little wistfully. However, the extreme heat was a challenge at times.
As I typed "eight weeks," I could hardly believe it's been that long since we left. It's been a whirlwind ever since and just this week I feel as though I am on top of most things--perhaps the enforced weather conditions has had something to do with that. I'm teaching a Ladies Bible Study and we had to postpone this week's study due to weather, and I was going to share a power point presentation on our time in Israel with another ladies group on Thursday, but that also has been postponed due to the weather. That gives me some additional time to prepare, relax, ponder and reflect over this past fall. It has been fun for me to share with friends about our various experiences. Our Pastor has invited both Larry and I to share about Israel with our church family in early March on a Sunday night. All of these opportunities are welcomed as we love to talk about Israel, the people we met, and the insights gained. As I have stated before, God's faithfulness and mercy is so abundant and we have experienced it.
Our hearts are saddened as we see the turmoil in Egypt and the heartache that exists in the lives of these people. Our prayers are for peace and freedom for this particular situation and for all that is happening in the Middle East--a strategically important place in God's plan.
Our Christmas with our children and grandchildren was blessed and refreshing to our hearts. Since our return, two former colleagues from Taylor University have died, a college friend from our student days at Biola University has been diagnosed with cancer and a former colleague at Taylor has become engaged. Life is full of joys and sorrows and these last eight weeks have reminded me again of this truth and that life is like a vapor. My constant prayer is that God will help me to redeem the time and to be cognizant of the fact that our lives are in His hands and to value each day and opportunity He brings into our lives.
Larry and I count ourselves blessed to have spent August through early December teaching and volunteering at Jerusalem University College. It is an experience we are willing to repeat if God opens those doors again. Even though we were stretched and out of our comfort zones at times, the experience was enriching spiritually, emotionally and even physically. We walked and walked!
My current goal is to return to my writing this month and have a first draft of the book on my brother Ron completed by June. The time I had to write in Israel was so valuable. I am grateful for those uninterrupted moments. I hope to come back to my blog in the future but for now will focus on my book, studying and teaching my Ladies Bible Study, and ministering to women God brings into my life. Thanks to those who have encouraged me and allowed me to enter into your life via Jerusalem Jottings. Shalom for now.
As I typed "eight weeks," I could hardly believe it's been that long since we left. It's been a whirlwind ever since and just this week I feel as though I am on top of most things--perhaps the enforced weather conditions has had something to do with that. I'm teaching a Ladies Bible Study and we had to postpone this week's study due to weather, and I was going to share a power point presentation on our time in Israel with another ladies group on Thursday, but that also has been postponed due to the weather. That gives me some additional time to prepare, relax, ponder and reflect over this past fall. It has been fun for me to share with friends about our various experiences. Our Pastor has invited both Larry and I to share about Israel with our church family in early March on a Sunday night. All of these opportunities are welcomed as we love to talk about Israel, the people we met, and the insights gained. As I have stated before, God's faithfulness and mercy is so abundant and we have experienced it.
Our hearts are saddened as we see the turmoil in Egypt and the heartache that exists in the lives of these people. Our prayers are for peace and freedom for this particular situation and for all that is happening in the Middle East--a strategically important place in God's plan.
Our Christmas with our children and grandchildren was blessed and refreshing to our hearts. Since our return, two former colleagues from Taylor University have died, a college friend from our student days at Biola University has been diagnosed with cancer and a former colleague at Taylor has become engaged. Life is full of joys and sorrows and these last eight weeks have reminded me again of this truth and that life is like a vapor. My constant prayer is that God will help me to redeem the time and to be cognizant of the fact that our lives are in His hands and to value each day and opportunity He brings into our lives.
Larry and I count ourselves blessed to have spent August through early December teaching and volunteering at Jerusalem University College. It is an experience we are willing to repeat if God opens those doors again. Even though we were stretched and out of our comfort zones at times, the experience was enriching spiritually, emotionally and even physically. We walked and walked!
My current goal is to return to my writing this month and have a first draft of the book on my brother Ron completed by June. The time I had to write in Israel was so valuable. I am grateful for those uninterrupted moments. I hope to come back to my blog in the future but for now will focus on my book, studying and teaching my Ladies Bible Study, and ministering to women God brings into my life. Thanks to those who have encouraged me and allowed me to enter into your life via Jerusalem Jottings. Shalom for now.
Thursday, December 2, 2010
Shalom Jerusalem
Well, it's very close to that time when we will say, "Shalom, Jerusalem." It's with mixed feelings that Larry and I are leaving this very special city for our home in Indiana. We have had a very positive experience here, made new friends, learned more about the complexities of life in Israel and how difficult it is to be unbiased as it relates to the Palestinian/Israeli peace talks. I am so grateful for the contacts we have made, the opportunities to travel throughout Israel and Jordan, and to see God's faithfulness throughout our stay. Now it's time to say farewell and adjust back to life in Upland, Indiana. We are excited about seeing our family and friends again and look forward to sharing with them our pictures and stories. I hear it is cold in Upland with light snow, so as I sit here with my sandals on I realize I will miss the sunshine we have had every day since we have been here. I have already written about the extreme heat we felt through September, October and part of November. Temperatures have moderated but we are still in the 70's.
It's been unbelievable weather wise. The Jerusalem Post described the Israeli Cabinet meeting that met to discuss the drought conditions and what to do in light of the lack of rain. Some are predicting the rains will not start until January. I certainly hope and pray it will yet be this month.
Our last week in Jerusalem has been one of our most fascinating. On Sunday afternoon we toured the Yad Vashem Memorial to the six million Jews murdered in the Holocaust. Even though I have seen some of these photos before, I was shaken. To visually see and read about the systematic extermination of a people is heartbreaking. The museum has been totally remodeled since our student days years ago and it is amazing. The photos of the children in the Warsaw Ghetto with their bodies reflecting all the signs of starvation and standing alone by themselves crying without anyone caring for them have been imprinted on my mind. O Lord, may this never happen again! With anti-semitism on the rise and the demonization of the Jews, I feel the need to remind Christians that our Savior came to earth as a Jew and to do all we can in our everyday lives to halt this insidious hatred and to speak out against derogatory remarks that are made against any people group--not just the Jewish people.
On Monday afternoon we joined the Christian Communities in the Middle East class taught by Dr. Petra Heldt for a tour of the area surrounding the Church of the Holy Sepulchre which encloses Golgotha and the tomb where Jesus rose from the dead. It is huge. Dr. Heldt is a German Luthern who came to Israel over 30 years ago to study at Hebrew University. She has been here ever since and was even burned as a result of a suicide bomber in the Mahane Yehuda Souk in the "new city" area during one of the Intifadas. She is a healing force in this land for peace. She took us to the roof of the church and the views of the Mt. of Olives and the Temple Mount area were fantastic. We went into each section that surrounds the church--the Greek Orthodox, the Coptic, the Ethiopic, and the Catholic. We were even allowed to enter the Greek Orthodox Patriarchate's private chapel with icons from the 7th and 8th century that were absolutely beautiful. Over 2,000 families and monks live in the Greek Orthodox section with schools, chapels, and apartments. It's like a tiny city within another city. While visiting the Coptic Church chapel we met a priest who prayed a blessing over us and then as we went to leave we discovered we were locked in the courtyard area. No one was around to open the gate. We started walking around to find someone and finally a man came out of his apartment and we tried to explain we needed to get out or we would have to sleep there. When he heard that he just burst out laughing, "Sleep here!" He managed to get someone to open the gate but it was an interesting experience as it was getting dark and stray cats were running everywhere. The Old City is full of cats and rarely do I see any dogs there. Both Larry and I found this entire experience at the Church of the Holy Sepulchre fantastic and we felt so privileged to be seeing this wonderful area. It covers almost an entire block within the Old City.
On Tuesday Larry and I decided to walk on the walls of Jerusalem. It's called the Rampart's Walk and we chose the northern Rampart's Walk. Even though Nehemiah walked around the entire walls of the city of Jerusalem, we can no longer do that. There are restrictions that no longer allow people to walk the wall near the Temple Mount area. We walked from the Jaffa Gate area to Lion's Gate (also known as St. Stephen's Gate). It was quite a workout for us as the stairs are steep, deep, and in some places very narrow but the view was certainly worth all of that. We were the only ones there in the afternoon so we could go at our own pace. These walls were built by Suleiman the Great around the 16th century. The present wall does not follow exactly the walls that surrounded the city in the days of Jesus. Again, I chalked that up as another memorable experience.
Students are staying up all hours of the night studying, finishing papers. . .and also having a lot of fun! One of our male students ran a Marathon this morning between Jerusalem and Bethlehem. He had wanted to run in the Jordan Marathon but it did not work for his schedule so he ran his own marathon with other students working his own personal water station. He had to run a total of three round-trips between Jerusalem and Bethlehem. I was surprised when he told me later that he still had a final to study for and a paper to finish by 5:00 pm tomorrow! Each to his own. He planned to sleep a little and then get up and probably study most of the night. Ahhh...the life of a college student.
I've certainly enjoyed some extra reading this week and also studying the words "grace" and "mercy" in light of my book project. After reading more intently I and II Kings and I and II Chronicles, I hope to teach a series on the Kings of Judah and Israel at some point in the future for my Ladies Bible Study. There are so many lessons we can learn from these men and those around them. Yes, Scripture has opened up to me in new ways during these months.
Recently, I enjoyed reading Anne Bronte's The Tennant of Wildfell Hall and now I'm reading P. D. Wodehouse's My Man Jeeves. It's some light entertaining reading. National Geographic has a wonderful article on King David and the debate among archaeologists about whether David and Solomon really ruled a large Kingdom. It's been fun for me to pick and choose a variety of books and articles to read while I have been in Israel.
The verse God gave me for this journey is just as precious to me today as when I first claimed this promise back in August for our time in Israel. The verse is Isaiah 33:6. . .He will be the sure foundation for your times, a rich store of salvation and wisdom and knowledge; the fear of the Lord is the key to this treasure. God's presence, love, mercy and grace have been my anchor during these days and, dear reader, He can be all of that and more for you too.
Since we depart for home on Sunday, I won't be writing in my blog for several weeks since Christmas is just around the corner. I'm hoping to wrap up my blog with some overall impressions and reflections after I have acclimated myself to life back in the good 'ole USA.
Thanks to those of you who have made comments and contacted me by email about your observations. A blessed Christmas to all of you!
It's been unbelievable weather wise. The Jerusalem Post described the Israeli Cabinet meeting that met to discuss the drought conditions and what to do in light of the lack of rain. Some are predicting the rains will not start until January. I certainly hope and pray it will yet be this month.
Our last week in Jerusalem has been one of our most fascinating. On Sunday afternoon we toured the Yad Vashem Memorial to the six million Jews murdered in the Holocaust. Even though I have seen some of these photos before, I was shaken. To visually see and read about the systematic extermination of a people is heartbreaking. The museum has been totally remodeled since our student days years ago and it is amazing. The photos of the children in the Warsaw Ghetto with their bodies reflecting all the signs of starvation and standing alone by themselves crying without anyone caring for them have been imprinted on my mind. O Lord, may this never happen again! With anti-semitism on the rise and the demonization of the Jews, I feel the need to remind Christians that our Savior came to earth as a Jew and to do all we can in our everyday lives to halt this insidious hatred and to speak out against derogatory remarks that are made against any people group--not just the Jewish people.
On Monday afternoon we joined the Christian Communities in the Middle East class taught by Dr. Petra Heldt for a tour of the area surrounding the Church of the Holy Sepulchre which encloses Golgotha and the tomb where Jesus rose from the dead. It is huge. Dr. Heldt is a German Luthern who came to Israel over 30 years ago to study at Hebrew University. She has been here ever since and was even burned as a result of a suicide bomber in the Mahane Yehuda Souk in the "new city" area during one of the Intifadas. She is a healing force in this land for peace. She took us to the roof of the church and the views of the Mt. of Olives and the Temple Mount area were fantastic. We went into each section that surrounds the church--the Greek Orthodox, the Coptic, the Ethiopic, and the Catholic. We were even allowed to enter the Greek Orthodox Patriarchate's private chapel with icons from the 7th and 8th century that were absolutely beautiful. Over 2,000 families and monks live in the Greek Orthodox section with schools, chapels, and apartments. It's like a tiny city within another city. While visiting the Coptic Church chapel we met a priest who prayed a blessing over us and then as we went to leave we discovered we were locked in the courtyard area. No one was around to open the gate. We started walking around to find someone and finally a man came out of his apartment and we tried to explain we needed to get out or we would have to sleep there. When he heard that he just burst out laughing, "Sleep here!" He managed to get someone to open the gate but it was an interesting experience as it was getting dark and stray cats were running everywhere. The Old City is full of cats and rarely do I see any dogs there. Both Larry and I found this entire experience at the Church of the Holy Sepulchre fantastic and we felt so privileged to be seeing this wonderful area. It covers almost an entire block within the Old City.
On Tuesday Larry and I decided to walk on the walls of Jerusalem. It's called the Rampart's Walk and we chose the northern Rampart's Walk. Even though Nehemiah walked around the entire walls of the city of Jerusalem, we can no longer do that. There are restrictions that no longer allow people to walk the wall near the Temple Mount area. We walked from the Jaffa Gate area to Lion's Gate (also known as St. Stephen's Gate). It was quite a workout for us as the stairs are steep, deep, and in some places very narrow but the view was certainly worth all of that. We were the only ones there in the afternoon so we could go at our own pace. These walls were built by Suleiman the Great around the 16th century. The present wall does not follow exactly the walls that surrounded the city in the days of Jesus. Again, I chalked that up as another memorable experience.
Students are staying up all hours of the night studying, finishing papers. . .and also having a lot of fun! One of our male students ran a Marathon this morning between Jerusalem and Bethlehem. He had wanted to run in the Jordan Marathon but it did not work for his schedule so he ran his own marathon with other students working his own personal water station. He had to run a total of three round-trips between Jerusalem and Bethlehem. I was surprised when he told me later that he still had a final to study for and a paper to finish by 5:00 pm tomorrow! Each to his own. He planned to sleep a little and then get up and probably study most of the night. Ahhh...the life of a college student.
I've certainly enjoyed some extra reading this week and also studying the words "grace" and "mercy" in light of my book project. After reading more intently I and II Kings and I and II Chronicles, I hope to teach a series on the Kings of Judah and Israel at some point in the future for my Ladies Bible Study. There are so many lessons we can learn from these men and those around them. Yes, Scripture has opened up to me in new ways during these months.
Recently, I enjoyed reading Anne Bronte's The Tennant of Wildfell Hall and now I'm reading P. D. Wodehouse's My Man Jeeves. It's some light entertaining reading. National Geographic has a wonderful article on King David and the debate among archaeologists about whether David and Solomon really ruled a large Kingdom. It's been fun for me to pick and choose a variety of books and articles to read while I have been in Israel.
The verse God gave me for this journey is just as precious to me today as when I first claimed this promise back in August for our time in Israel. The verse is Isaiah 33:6. . .He will be the sure foundation for your times, a rich store of salvation and wisdom and knowledge; the fear of the Lord is the key to this treasure. God's presence, love, mercy and grace have been my anchor during these days and, dear reader, He can be all of that and more for you too.
Since we depart for home on Sunday, I won't be writing in my blog for several weeks since Christmas is just around the corner. I'm hoping to wrap up my blog with some overall impressions and reflections after I have acclimated myself to life back in the good 'ole USA.
Thanks to those of you who have made comments and contacted me by email about your observations. A blessed Christmas to all of you!
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