Hey, everybody. :) I just wanted to let you all know that after twenty-seven hours of flying, I made it here alive! Alhamdulillah! (I haven't figured out how to type in Arabic on these keyboards yet, and I'm too afraid to plug my computer into anything to use my own computer).
The flights went well! For me, anyways. My little group of ten ran into troubles in Virginia with a delayed flight by two hours, cutting our two-hour layover in Vienna short, but our gates were right next to each other, so everything (for the most part) went smoothly. In Virginia, they made us check out carry-on bags, so one girl accidentally checked her passport, creating problems in Austria. In Virginia we also had a huge delay to our flight, making us think it was cancelled. The group that is in New York is actually currently still in New York - their flight was actually cancelled. Sixteen of them are there. Ten have flight reservations for today, but six are flying standby. Keep all of them in your prayers.
But, as for me and my group (we will serve the Lord! - haha, scripture joke), we made it here safely, altogether, and with all of our baggage. (Another group had all of their checked baggage lost.) So, overall, I feel completely blessed about how smoothly my flights went. They really did go well, and I am very grateful.
I have been thrown full force into things here at the Jerusalem Center. I can't make this a super long e-mail because I have so much to do. When we finally got here, we were bussed through the hills of Judea (NOT PLAINS. JUDEA HAS NO PLAINS. THE SONG LIES.), to the Old City of Jerusalem. We sang "Israel, Israel God Is Calling" on the bus, and enjoyed every minute of the ride. It is absolutely gorgeous here. Never have I felt so at home away from home. I feel like I could live here forever.
When we got here, they had a full itinerary for us. We ate dinner (outside, with a view of the Dome of the Rock and the rest of the Old City), and then we had full orientations. We were given a tour of the Center, found out who our religion teachers are (mine is Brother Judd), met in the Chapel, and did tons of other stuff. I actually think we might have had our first classes tonight. Our teachers went over the syllabii, anyways. So I think that constitutes a class. I can't believe how fast things are moving.
I absolutely love my teachers. My Old Testament and New Testament teacher has his Ph.D. in Biblical Studies with a focus on the New Testament, and my Modern Near Eastern Studies teacher has his Ph.D. in archaeology, specifically in the Holy Land. I haven't met the others yet, but I am excited for my Modern Near Eastern Studies classes, one of which is taught from a Muslim perspective (by a Palestinian) and one of which is taught from a Jewish perspective (by an Israeli). I'm excited to learn Hebrew and learn how to sound out the letters. I am excited for everything.
However, my Old Testament class is flying at the speed of light. We have 27 chapters of reading to do for class. Essentially, the class is two semesters worth of Old Testament crammed into a term. It's going to be killer. But I know I'm going to love it.
The Center itself is gorgeous. I'll write more about it when I've gotten to know it better. I can hardly believe that it was built just to accomodate students. It is one of the most gorgeous buildings I have ever seen in my life, not to mention the fact that my room overlooks the Old City of Jerusalem. Have I mentioned that? From my room, I can see the city where Christ Himself once walked. I am so unbelievably blessed.
I have so much do, I can hardly believe it. Beyond my reading for my Old Testament class, I have readings for my other classes, and need to work in time to see the City. Beyond that (and my Mom will get a kick out of this), I have been asked to speak in church on Saturday (we have church on Saturday, the Sabbath, here). I have been asked to prepare a 10-15 minute talk on the importance of following the guidance of the spirit. My mom will find it funny because just last week in Church I was telling her that I haven't been asked to give a talk since I've been in college. HA! Never say that. You will, without fail, be asked to give one within the next week. And I just happened to be asked while I am in my jet-lagged, weary, busy state. I have one day to prepare it, and I don't want to disappoint anyone on their first Sabbath here, so keep me in your prayers, everyone. :)
Well, I'd better head out. My life is amazing. I can't believe how blessed I am. I might go roam the Center for a few minutes before I go to bed. I FORGOT TO MENTION. On my first night here, we are having a huge thunderstorm. I got a picture of lightning over the Dome of the Rock (thanks to my awesome camera!). I love thunderstorms. I can't even begin to describe how beautiful it is.
I love it here. I love it. Love it. I want to live here forever. And I love the people that I'm with. Already, when I see people that were on my flight or were traveling with me, I feel love towards them, and I hardly know them. I can't wait until I can feel that way about everybody here. This is such an amazing experience.
To keep this note from getting too verbose (too late!), I'm going to leave now. FAREWELL, EVERYBODY!
The flights went well! For me, anyways. My little group of ten ran into troubles in Virginia with a delayed flight by two hours, cutting our two-hour layover in Vienna short, but our gates were right next to each other, so everything (for the most part) went smoothly. In Virginia, they made us check out carry-on bags, so one girl accidentally checked her passport, creating problems in Austria. In Virginia we also had a huge delay to our flight, making us think it was cancelled. The group that is in New York is actually currently still in New York - their flight was actually cancelled. Sixteen of them are there. Ten have flight reservations for today, but six are flying standby. Keep all of them in your prayers.
But, as for me and my group (we will serve the Lord! - haha, scripture joke), we made it here safely, altogether, and with all of our baggage. (Another group had all of their checked baggage lost.) So, overall, I feel completely blessed about how smoothly my flights went. They really did go well, and I am very grateful.
I have been thrown full force into things here at the Jerusalem Center. I can't make this a super long e-mail because I have so much to do. When we finally got here, we were bussed through the hills of Judea (NOT PLAINS. JUDEA HAS NO PLAINS. THE SONG LIES.), to the Old City of Jerusalem. We sang "Israel, Israel God Is Calling" on the bus, and enjoyed every minute of the ride. It is absolutely gorgeous here. Never have I felt so at home away from home. I feel like I could live here forever.
When we got here, they had a full itinerary for us. We ate dinner (outside, with a view of the Dome of the Rock and the rest of the Old City), and then we had full orientations. We were given a tour of the Center, found out who our religion teachers are (mine is Brother Judd), met in the Chapel, and did tons of other stuff. I actually think we might have had our first classes tonight. Our teachers went over the syllabii, anyways. So I think that constitutes a class. I can't believe how fast things are moving.
I absolutely love my teachers. My Old Testament and New Testament teacher has his Ph.D. in Biblical Studies with a focus on the New Testament, and my Modern Near Eastern Studies teacher has his Ph.D. in archaeology, specifically in the Holy Land. I haven't met the others yet, but I am excited for my Modern Near Eastern Studies classes, one of which is taught from a Muslim perspective (by a Palestinian) and one of which is taught from a Jewish perspective (by an Israeli). I'm excited to learn Hebrew and learn how to sound out the letters. I am excited for everything.
However, my Old Testament class is flying at the speed of light. We have 27 chapters of reading to do for class. Essentially, the class is two semesters worth of Old Testament crammed into a term. It's going to be killer. But I know I'm going to love it.
The Center itself is gorgeous. I'll write more about it when I've gotten to know it better. I can hardly believe that it was built just to accomodate students. It is one of the most gorgeous buildings I have ever seen in my life, not to mention the fact that my room overlooks the Old City of Jerusalem. Have I mentioned that? From my room, I can see the city where Christ Himself once walked. I am so unbelievably blessed.
I have so much do, I can hardly believe it. Beyond my reading for my Old Testament class, I have readings for my other classes, and need to work in time to see the City. Beyond that (and my Mom will get a kick out of this), I have been asked to speak in church on Saturday (we have church on Saturday, the Sabbath, here). I have been asked to prepare a 10-15 minute talk on the importance of following the guidance of the spirit. My mom will find it funny because just last week in Church I was telling her that I haven't been asked to give a talk since I've been in college. HA! Never say that. You will, without fail, be asked to give one within the next week. And I just happened to be asked while I am in my jet-lagged, weary, busy state. I have one day to prepare it, and I don't want to disappoint anyone on their first Sabbath here, so keep me in your prayers, everyone. :)
Well, I'd better head out. My life is amazing. I can't believe how blessed I am. I might go roam the Center for a few minutes before I go to bed. I FORGOT TO MENTION. On my first night here, we are having a huge thunderstorm. I got a picture of lightning over the Dome of the Rock (thanks to my awesome camera!). I love thunderstorms. I can't even begin to describe how beautiful it is.
I love it here. I love it. Love it. I want to live here forever. And I love the people that I'm with. Already, when I see people that were on my flight or were traveling with me, I feel love towards them, and I hardly know them. I can't wait until I can feel that way about everybody here. This is such an amazing experience.
To keep this note from getting too verbose (too late!), I'm going to leave now. FAREWELL, EVERYBODY!
Yay! You made it! You posted! I love you! Brother Judd hehehehe!
ReplyDeleteYou sound just like me!!!!! :)
ReplyDeleteHahaha! I liked your scripture joke! It is so good to hear from you and that you are safely there! :)
ReplyDelete