hesed and the way it feels

Hey guys! so I have officially been at IBEX for 8 days! WOOO! Some of me is wondering how I have managed to survive thus far considering all the walking and not-sleeping I've been doing. Trust me though. It is so worth it.

not loving to belong...

One thing that has been a constant battleground for me spiritually is loving the people that are around me. It's not that anyone has been mean or even hostile towards me, it's just- well- different.

For starters, we're all in a different country which means we are all experiencing a different culture with different people with different past experiences. Some of us have traveled or lived outside the USA before, but for others this is a brand, spankin' new experience. Others of us tend to be more outgoing and others run the gamete of  mildly shy to won't- talk- none- hardly- at- all.

An additional interesting little wrench is that some of us have lifelong friends here....and others, like me, don't.

So the trial is, how do I love people who I don't fit in with? How do I choose to hang out with people that I can't even have a smooth conversation with?
Answer: Common bond of Christ

At least we're brothers and sisters in Christ- we all have common goals and a common salvation. We should be able to maximize on that- right? Well, living it out is pretty hard. It actually takes the work of Christ to live out this love for others. Sure, you can say "Hi" to someone who's socially awkward...but what about caring? What about asking them how they're doing and actually meaning it?

I'm not saying I have this all figured out- in fact I don't. I feel like I'm playing improvisationally. Thankfully though, the Lord has been working in my heart in more ways than one. Even though my situation here has gone from good to better to worse to slightly better and then back to good all within the course of a week- I know that the Lord is using it to work out my sin and selfishness and draw me ever closer to Him.

One passage that meant a lot to me is John 13:34 which talks about the love we should for one another that is found in Christ. We are merely reflectors of love- the same love that Christ gave to us. The group read this passage in a location that is quite possibly the Upper Room where Jesus actually said these things to His disciples and now- not to sound mystical and stuff- to us!

What is Hesed?

Now to explain "Hesed." This is the Hebrew word that encompasses all of God's love and mercy and goodness- it's usually translated "lovingkindness" which doesn't even come close to how strong and powerful this word is. It's the love that is perfect. It's a constant.

This word has been such an encouragement to me. When it seems life is one sorrow after another- Yahweh, Adonai's Hesed is ever sure. I think of the Shakespearean Sonnet 116 about the love someone has for another that goes something like... "Love is not love that alters when it alteration finds or bends with the remover to remove."

 God's love for us is not "altered" when He sees something gross in us- no, He has staked His claim- we are His.


You probably thought this post was going to be more about Israel. Which it is- I promise. But I wanted to do more than just report on the weather and different field trips. I'm hoping that by being open it will do two things: encourage prayer and growth...for the both of us.


Your patience has been rewarded- BLAM! Pictures! Sorry for the lack of Hezekiah Tunnel pictures...I have no explanation other than it was wet and I was feeling lazy.

Fallafal in New Jerusalem

Hookas a'plenty

Turkish delight....sorry for all the food pictures. I just love the food out here

Supposed location of Upper Room

His grave. buried in the land where he called them "His Children."