My Exodus

Hugging the Great Pyramid of Giza

Tender Mercies from the Lord. I often have wondered why the Lord places us in certain situations. Why this time and this place?

Our camel ride..it lasted 2 hours...results...sore bum

I’m was able to  learn and experience everything I needed...before everything got so hectic. We were carried out, and unharmed. I never felt unsafe. All the students were in the best of hands. I was able to interact with and see the people of Egypt. I briefly walked into their lives and realized our freedoms and privileges. Tender Mercies.  Seeing what they have to live through everyday and fight for....unreal. One day later we would have been caught in the middle. Leaving Egypt we saw the remains of the night before's turmoil, but we were never in danger.Thank you for all who shall remain anonymous for preserving your rights and your culture.  Thank you for each life that touches mine for good. 

On top of Mt. Sinai 

Be strong and of good courage

Where the Israelites ran into after the wall of Jericho fell

A great shout and the wall fell flat!

We were able to make a field trip out to Jericho. This is one of the Palestinian areas that we were allowed to enter. It’s interesting the images we get from mass media that formulate our own geography of the land and our own ideas of how the people are. The people and places are nothing but friendly and welcoming. Jericho is beautiful and full of a rich history. Seeing the sights of the bible really solidifies the stories. The Israelites could not conquer if left to their own means, but with the Lord on their side they overcame what they couldn’t on their own. With the Lord’s help nothing is too BIG!

Let me not forget

Trying on Marissa's dress ;).

Marissa's beautiful dress.

Henna at Shanna's baby blessing

I’m here in Jerusalem, Oy vay! There is so much to say and so much I wish I could transplant over to each of you. I will try my best to somehow express my experiences and my pilgrimage to the holy land. Before I left I was with my loved ones and I miss you guys dearly. I will miss my best friend’s wedding and the birth of my other best friend’s baby.  I am in awe with the surroundings of this beautiful land. I thought it would be a lot more…dusty? Haha This though, is the land flowing of milk and honey. It is lush and green with a lot of vegetation. The streets are all made of limestone and the air smells like it did in Greece of citrus and olives. I love the people here. It’s difficult to feel any allegiance to one side of the political turmoil here. I have had more than once the strong conviction that we are all children of God. Highlights of my pilgrimage have been going where the last super was held and singing sacrament hymns, singing and dancing with Jewish girls by the western wall during the Sabbath, singing, He has Risen, my the garden tomb, sitting in class and pointing out the window where all the bible stories took place, seeing the dome of the rock at every point from the city, and feeling the spirit testify to me every day that Jesus is the Christ and Redeemer of the world.