stones and spectacles

Can I just say...I LOVE when it rains in Israel. Sure, it would be nice to have some hot n'sunny dry weather...but the rain is so refreshing and relaxing. It hitches a ride on the west wind from the Mediterranean and stops to bless this little Moshav. grey. grey. grey. but so much vivid green afterwards!

As I'm writing this blog I'm sitting on the lower bunk in my cozy room feeling tired but so full of emotions and thoughts. Today I got done with the second test of this week. phew. So many dates are floating around in my head and places we've visited and random facts like the Old City Walls were built in 1535 AD by the Ottomans.

This, I feel, is going to be life every Friday, which is our exam day every week for the next month or so. But I'm not complaining, trust me. A few of the girls and I were talking about how cool it is that we got to label a map of Jerusalem for the test- BECAUSE we've been to all those places! It wasn't difficult for me, being a visual learner, I just thought back on the times we walked up the Western hill and past the Zion gate until our legs were crying...or when we read Zechariah 14 on the Mount of Olives (btw- I posted earlier on this here :))

Today, for the first time in about two weeks I have a whole day of free time- so I plan to take a nap, study for a Life of Christ test on  Monday, and just hang out with the wonderful people God sovereignly put in my group- and I do mean sovereignly. If you were to look at our pasts or the type of friends we have back at home- you would never see most of us hanging out. But here, we are free from social stereotypes and the cliques to which we so desperately cling- myself very much included!

The Lord has been showing me each and every day just how much I need Him. One verse that I have chosen to be my semester verse is Psalm 19:14 "Let the words of my mouth and the thoughts of my heart be acceptable in Your sight, O Lord, my Rock and my Redeemer." I plan to memorize it in Hebrew- so when I get back- ask me and I'll teach it to you :)!

Well, enough of the mushy stuff- the mainest reason I wanted to post was to give an update on life over here in Israel and to get you guys some lovely pictures of the TEMPLE MOUNT!!!!

A few thoughts about the Temple Mount
I just wanted to say that this past week, with all it's little hardships like getting sick, being way too busy, and feeling lonely/ homesick at times, was so so so so worth it.  Going to the Temple Mount and reading about it in the Bible (Jesus in John 10 and Peter and John in Acts 3), was one of the highlights of my time here thus far. I hope that even if you haven't been to the Temple Mount, you understand just how significant this place is to our faith and our hope in a returning Messiach!!!

The "Shrut" Open Market in the New City

bartering and pomegranates- two of my favorite things

Spices at the Shrut

cute lil' arab girls waiting for a bus

Dome of the Rock- Temple Mount

Just outside the Temple Mount with some lovelies- originally the place where the Jewish men would buy their offering

John 10- on the Temple Mount Steps

Love this woman! She is such a source of godly wisdom and cute moments!

Mai is excited to be standing on the steps where Jesus once walked!

Love this girl!

Looking up from a Mikveh- sorry I didn't take a shot of one. That was dumb.

I don't think Chris knew what he was getting himself into...but we are so thankful for his kindness in taking the class for the day while our usual teacher had the day off so he could spend sometime with his new baby.

I think I'm going to like Jerusalem

One of the many crazy things we do here. poor truck. photo cred. Jenna



Shabbat Shalom!