Jon the Baptist.

Beth Shean

This picture above was taken as Beth-Shean.  One of the major cities of the Old Testament where Saul went ant took over.  It was a really beautiful city full of many different layers of time.  You had the time of Israel ruling, Egypt ruling, Persia, and then the grand pillars of Rome as you can see in the back.

These past two weeks have been absolutely crazy.  Having had a 4 day trip to Galilee really made a mess of every other class.  Though of course I don’t mind, I mean, I got to go stay at a hotel and learn about the Galilee for 11 hours a day.  We basically wake up at 6 am, eat breakfast, then head out on the bus making stops wherever our teacher has planned.  This goes on until 6pm or 7pm. We write notes, we take pictures, we stand in the sun, we stand in the rain and learn!

B-e-a-utiful

Galilee was one of the most beautiful places we have been so far.  It actually reminded me much of Canada, minus the really huge mountains all over the place.  We hiked up Mt. Arad where there were cows all over the place and really amazing flowers.  It is prime season time for all the wild flowers to be out, so basically you are walking through a garden the whole time.  But as well as hiking I was able to find a nice rock and think about stuff as I like to do.  Thinking about how Jesus grew up in this area and seeing why God chose it.  I mean I’m sure there were greater eternal reasons, but just to think about the smaller things like perhaps he chose it for its beauty and abundance of agricultual possibilities.  Jesus was able to grow up in and area that has been one of the most beautiful I have ever seen…  The smells alone would make me want to live there.  People kept making fun of me because I would be sniffing the whole time.  I love smells.  Smell of open air, flowers, and sweat!  haha.

Me and Stephen Carr Eating at our Hostel / Hotel

It has been really encouraging and fun to be around a group of people my age.  Basically everyone here is either 21 or 20.  We have been able to really connect and do amazing things together.  Though we have been together for only two months now, it is amazing to see how close we can come having God as our basis for what we are doing.  Just the other day we had some visitors who were Christians but going to a secular school and living the non-Christians.  They said the thing they loved the most about coming to our school was the people that love God.  They were able to be encourage just by being around us.  It made me really see just how important it is to have those around you who love God and are seeking him.  Perhaps I have taken it for granted because I have been around them for basically the past 3 years.  Quest, Trek, School, Jerusalem, next…Camp Malibu.

Our Classroom...

Well, I’ve got about a month a half to go.  I will be praying and hoping for the best back home.  God Bless!