This land is amazing. I don't know what it is but something intrigues me about it. Maybe it's all the Biblical history that took place here, but I don't think so. Maybe it's the drastic difference in culture here from mine, or maybe it's the beauty of the hills and valleys. Whatever it is, I feel as though something good (in the biblical sense of the word) is going to happen this semester, beyond learning about the cultural backgrounds of the bible and all my classes.
Even though my faith does not depend on where I am (as Matt so eloquently stated), my location will inevitably affect my life; what I learn, with whom I interact, how I feel, my world view, etc. And to me, it seems as though all those things enhance my walk and my life. The relationship I have with my Lord will definitely reflect things going on around me (in the sense of my interactions with and my understanding of Christ), while at the same time my relationship to the Lord will never change. That is constant--it has been from the "moment" I was saved and it always will be. He is (among other things) my Savior, my redeemer, my friend, my Lord. What a greath thought--to know that for all eternity the faith I am given is from God who is constant.
I've never been so excited about rain in my entire life. We're in the middle of hte worst drought Israel has seen. Everyone is concerned if February passes by with little to no rain, there's practically no hope of any til October. I normally don't like rain--okay I strongly dislike it! One of the things I hate most is the bottom of your jeans getting soaked from walking on the wet ground during or after a rain. Yet I found myself praying for rain two nights ago with my roommate. The next morning I woke up to a wet ground outside, but the sun once again shining. We all thanked God for the rain overnight and humbly but excitedly prayed for more. It came during the affternoon some (as I was standing outside at the checkpoint back into Jerusalem--dont worry Ill explain), and once again around 10pm it started up. The Lord is gracious! Thanks be to God, who gives all good gifts, and who created and sustains life! He is the provider of the living water that falls on the land (Deuteronomy 11:10-12). I love watching the rain fall outside and hearing it hit the hard, slick stones. The thunder literally sounds like it is rolling, as it starts to the south and gets louder each second as it passes overhead.
The Lord is so good and has been answering my prayer in exciting ways! Before I left, I asked many of you to pray that I would find a ministry here so I could get involved in the culture outside of our campus, our little western bubble, if you will. God has given me not just one, but two places where I hope to minister this semester. Both are so neat, and such unique opportunities to cross paths with people who I normally wouldn't see even walking around Jerusalem. The first, Shevet Achim, is amazing for a couple reasons. When we got here, I saw it on a list of possible ministy sites from the university. It is a place that houses children who come to Jerusalem to get heart surgery done, because it is not available where they are from. They come from Nothern Iraq as well as some from Gaza I believe. First, it is amazing that I will have the opportunity to interact with Iraqis here in Jerusalem, hanging out with the kids as they recover and spending time with the moms. The thing that i found most amazing at first, though, is that Matt's friend from Church was in Kurdistan (in Northern Iraq) for a year, working with the organization that sends those kids to Shevet Achim for heart surgery!!! What an amazing connection, and a small world.
The second place I am planning on going is near Bethlehem in Bet Jalla, at a Christian school for Arab kids. This is why I had to pass thru a check point. It's technically in the west bank. I will be forming a soccer team for the middle school girls there along with one of my roommates. We are also hoping to do a Bible study with the 10th grade girls. I cannot wait to get to know these kids and to understand a little bit more what their life is like. It is going to be difficult, but great.
So thank you for all your prayers concerning this, and I appreciate continued prayers as I now try to jump into these ministries. I feel as though I am just beginning to scratch the surface of the differences in culture and worldview here.
I wish I could express how much is going on in my brain right now. I'm sure I'll update at some later point with some thoughts on Islam and the muslim way of thought as related to the world situation, as that has been on my mind much. My class on 'Classical Islamic Thought and the Modern Middle East' will, I'm sure, open my eyes to many things...
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