Holy Land Adventures

     Well, it only took about 2 days, but I'm homesick. This is truly a new experience for me. From the age of 8, I couldn't wait to turn 18 “so that I can move out of the house.” And here I am, 20 years old – almost 21, in a new country, without the ability to text or call as I please, with wonderful new foods and cultures, but I am deeply homesick. I'm starting to realize the little comforts of life that I miss. I miss being able to walk around outside on my own without a male escort, I miss having internet access in my room (just to update my blog, check skype messages, and maybe watch an episode of Star Trek on Netflix), I miss being able to text people (just to tell them I miss them and update them on my day), I miss my group of friends – however small and select it may be. I know I'm supposed to be here, and I know I should be clinging to God with every silly sorrow and complaint that I have. I know that I shouldn't be complaining! I'm in the Holy Land. How ridiculous is it that I have things to complain about? (Except for not being able to go places on my own. I feel like that's a legitimate complaint.) But I digress... It has only been 2 days, and I am a strong and stubborn woman. I know that no matter how much I miss home and no matter how much I miss certain freedoms, I will get through this just fine. I'm sure that at the end of these 10 months, I will cry because I know what I'm leaving. And I know that things will get easier. I just wanted to complain a little because the people I normally complain to (Erinn, Jesse, Josh, and my Mom) aren't here.

     Now on to the things that are pretty cool. I've taken two walks around the Old City in the last two days. It doesn't look too big, but it sure feels like it when you've spent 3-5 hours walking it. That being said, it's certainly interesting. I haven't formed a real opinion about it yet, mostly because, both times I've walked around it, I've been exhausted and hot. For those of you who don't know, JUC is on top of modern day Mount Zion (which is in a different place than the Biblical Mount Zion), and it is right outside the Old City gates. Literally maybe a block or two away (you have to climb a giant hill to get there... Imagine my joy). The gate closest to the school that leads inside the city is Jaffa gate, and it enters into the Armenian quarter. So the Old City is broken up into four quarters – Armenian, Jewish, Christian, and Muslim. Yesterday was spent in the Armenian market area. The market is kind of like a grid of narrow pathways , walled with mall kiosks. Of course it's not literal mall kiosks, it's just the best way to describe the place – hundreds of tiny shops and stores with very pushy sales people out front, all shouting things like “Don't look sad young lady...”, “Excuse me miss! Excuse me!”, “Scarves for 5 sheckles or 1 dollar!”, and other variations of asking if I'm lost, if I'm looking for something, if I need help, etc.

     Today was spent in the Christian and Jewish quarters. I have to say that I'm really looking forward to going back to the Jewish quarter at some point. The physical settings class was walking through to look at the Herva Synagogue, but right across from it was a sandwich shop, two bagel shops, a bakery, and an Italian restaurant :) Imagine my delight! Scores of tantalizing smells wafting through the air and calling my name. And between all these shops is a beautiful, spacious, clean courtyard where little Jewish boys were playing – already growing their little Jew curls. It was pretty heavenly. Definitely the highlight of my day. It was just so peaceful and full of life. Unlike anything I've ever experienced in the states. It wasn't polluted with tourists or people shouting for my business (/money). I have a feeling that I'll be spending a lot of time there.

We spent the rest of the day visiting the Holy sights like the Western Wall and the Church of the Holy Sepulcher. There was also something very comforting and spiritual and the Western Wall. I'm looking forward to praying there on a regular basis, hopefully. All I can say about the Holy Sepulcher is that it was... diverse. I'm a pretty hands on learner, but I didn't feel a need to wait in line for hours just to touch the rock that Jesus was supposedly crucified on or to see the tomb he was supposedly buried in. Even if this is truly the place where these things happened, it didn't make me feel any holier, any closer to God, or any more well learned. The place is so overrun with tourists, pilgrims, churches, and buildings that I can't visualize anything about the death and resurrection of Christ. I ended up just doing a lot of people watching instead. Right inside the door, there is a marble slab that was put there in the 1800s to represent the slab that Jesus was laid upon to be wrapped in linens after His death, and women were bent over it, praying, and kissing it. They all know it's not the real stone, and yet the weep and worship it any ways. Our professor said that it's supposed to be an object lesson – something to help with visualization and learning. But it just made me feel sad and uncomfortable. Like the people worshiped the items more than the event. I even joined in touching the bedrock under the hill in which Jesus was supposedly crucified, but it didn't make me feel holier. I didn't have this oncoming knowledge from the Holy Spirit. You know what I felt? Cold rock under my hands and the need to pee because I had drank so much water. I know. How can I possibly contain my excitement over such an event? And somehow I think I knew I'd feel that way. I remember watching a History Channel show with the Holy Sepulcher in it, and I felt just as empty seeing it on the screen as I did when I was there today. Not that I was expecting some huge spiritual onset. But I think I was expecting more than just emptiness and hopelessness. At least I can say I've been there, though. I've experienced it, which I think every Biblical scholar probably should. But that Western Wall... that is truly a spiritual place. It's quiet and a representation for the hope of Jews and Christians everywhere. I can see why there might be political strife over the area.

     The last really cool thing that I'll mention is church. I went to the East Jerusalem Church this morning, which is a small church (about 25 people) that is more Palestinian based. It's an English speaking church, with some Arabic thrown in. I met my Arabic professor there this morning, actually, and I think I'm going to really like her. The thing that I liked the most about the church (and I have a feeling that it's indicative of most churches here) was the worship. When the church worshiped, it wasn't centered on the music leader. In fact, the speakers were turned down quite low, and what you could hear was the loud and beautifully distinctive voices of the congregation. You could close yours eyes and hear everyone around praising God. I think it's one of the most amazing things I've ever experienced. Just to be surrounded by a group of believers that are surrounded by many more prominent religions in there town, who are probably often persecuted by family, friends, and strangers, and who love God so much that they aren't afraid to lift their voices to God. They aren't afraid to fight for Him. These are a kind of people that I can get used to. People that are truly hungry for God and who truly want to be in a community of strong believers. This is something I can get used to.

All this being said, I have class tomorrow and I'm sure I will have many updates about that in the coming week. Also, I haven't had a whole lot of time to read, but I will try to continue with my reading updates as I get more situated to my new home.