Israel was an interesting month for “work.” Our first month was spent with two couples with Southern BC. It was a really good time interacting with them…hard to explain but they were both just so down to earth and so normal. They were both relatively new to the mission field compared to past contacts, and I really enjoyed getting to interact with them. We passed out pamphlets at a market during several of the days, and in the evenings would teach English in a neighborhood and at a community center. These kids were WILD, especially at the community center. Gained a new respect for every 1st – 4th grade teacher in these sessions, though it is my hope and prayer that these kids are not the ‘norm’. All the same it was a neat experience to talk to both the kids and their parents when they picked them up. The couples really use the English classes to get to know their parents. It is funny in my little interaction it was very easy to see that as in the states, parents took quite a bit of pride in their children. The parents were all great people and in the communities we were in, most of the parents spoke a decent amount of English. They were definitely a better educated village.
The second part of the month was spent in Jerusalem at a soup kitchen. It was an orthodox Jewish soup kitchen so I really felt that just us being there with a good attitude was a huge testament. Most of the staff working there were younger guys, younger as in around my age. It was actually one of my favorite places we have worked so far. The guys were fun people and I wished we could have worked at this location longer. As it is we only got to spend about a week there, but I know there were teams before us and there will be a team after us to continue living life beside these guys. We also spent many a hour at prayer houses in the city. There are four prayer houses in the city – North, South, East, and West. We spent time at two of them. This was a very cool experience in both getting to pray for the city and its people but also the people we got to meet at these places. I met a couple from Uganda, a guy from Germany, a lady from Canada, a Korean lady, and several Americans. Its so cool to see these people unite for such a wonderful cause. I was touched and humbled at the amount of time these people spend fighting behind the scenes for both Jerusalem as well as the nations.
Over all the month was both a very good one and a very hard one. Like I have said before I loved getting to see the Jewish culture and understand the people. I had the opportunity to attend a very traditional Shabbat dinner as well as two more Friday night Shabbat dinners, and I was able to deepen my biblical knowledge greatly. Mainly I learned how little I actually knew and really gained an appreciation for biblical history. I gained a passion for wanting to understand the origins of my faith where I come from. It was a great month, but one not without its battles. None-the-less, Israel is a place that I will not soon forget and I recommend that everybody come sometime to see it. There’s something I just can’t describe that just brings things to the front of the mind. I can now see the sites I read about and understand the geography of areas. It is something in my opinion, everybody needs to experience. But don’t come for a couple days, come for at least a week, watch a Shabbat and watch the people. More than anything realize that for all the religion these people have, know that they are still in need of “the truth.” Religion is not something these people do, its who they are, what they need however is a savior and he walked their very lands and stood on soil where they trod 2000 years ago. How badly they need a savior.
P.S. I recently broke my camera, computer, and to a certain extent my ipod. It has no doubt been a frustrating month in that regard, but lucky for me there is a technology ban being implanted from the 3rd-16th. If you try to email me for facebook me between those dates I will be unavailable.
P.S.S. Had an absolutely wonderful thanksgiving and was indeed able to watch the A&M vs. tu football game. Was proud of the Ags and think we have a hell of 2010 team shaking up. Hope everyone’s thanksgiving went well too and I hope the Christmas season is in full swing.
