A long post about Masada

For those of you playing along at home it’s time to take out your map of Israel and follow along! Yesterday we went on a field trip. No it wasn’t for any class and we did not receive credit for it. We rented a car up in Jerusalem, a tiny little Hyundai hatchback. We greased ourselves up and squeezed into the little econo-car for day of fun. We started out from Bethlehem in the morning and traveled up to pick up Josh and Lauren in their neighborhood just north of the Old City of Jerusalem. From there we headed due west. That may seem a little counter intuitive seeing as our ultimate destination was Masada to the south and east of us, but we had our reasons. The pleasure is in the journey. We went out Highway 1 and stopped in a little town known as Kiryat Ye’arim. Kiryat Ye’arim was where the Ark of the Covenant was for a little while until it was moved up to Jerusalem. (See 1 Chronicles 13:5) It’s a beautiful spot where you can look out over the Hill Country. There’s also a small church there and we stopped to take a picture.
Shortly after that stop we turned south down Highway 38 made another stop at the Soreq Caves. This was not a Biblical spot. In fact it was discovered in 1968 when an Israeli company was doing some quarrying in the area. A blast uncovered a beautiful stalactite cave. So we stopped to take the tour. Unfortunately it was in Hebrew but the stalactites were still really cool even though we couldn’t catch much of what the guy said. Josh & Lauren could understand a bunch though and they translated when they could.
From there we continued down 38 through the Elah Valley where David fought Goliath and over the brook where David picked up his 5 stones to Highway 35 where we again made a westward turn, this time to avoid driving straight into Hebron. We traveled through the Shephelah, the Low Hill Country or Foothills. Then we turned south at Kiryat Gat onto Highway 40. Gath you might remember as one of the Philistine cities. We were out on the coastal plain for a while here. It’s much flatter than the Hill country and there’s a lot of agriculture on the coastal plain once the rains come.
A little bit north of Beer Sheva, we turned eastward. Beer Sheva you will perhaps remember from the Biblical expression “from Dan to Beer Sheva.” Dan was seen as the northernmost Israelite city while Beer Sheva was seen as the southernmost city. Today, of course, the border extends all the way from the Golan heights to the Red Sea. Beer Sheva was also a popular Patriarch hang out. We traveled east along Highway 31 to Arad. Through this part of the trip the country becomes significantly more desert like. We stopped for lunch in a little park under some trees, they would be some of the last trees we saw for the rest of the day except for the occasional Palm tree or Acacia tree. At Arad we turned slightly to the north and began the winding descent to Masada. Being now completely in the heart of the Judean wilderness and months from the last time this region saw rain it was very arid. Even though the hills are completely bare this desert landscape is beautiful. We passed Bedouins with camels and their flocks out on the hills.
Masada lies at the bottom of this descent. It is large plateau that Herod the Great fortified. Herod the Great was a terribly paranoid man. (Hence the fact that he slaughtered all the Jewish babies to prevent king from being born among the Jews.) As a result of this paranoia he was constantly building desert getaways to which he could escape if necessary. Masada is one of these. Of course Masada’s story doesn’t end there. It fell out of use until after the Jewish Revolt and the destruction of the Temple. A last remaining group of Jewish rebels hid out down at Masada. Here they were able to eek out an existence until they were found and besieged by the Romans. Now the Romans who had built Masada found themselves on the outside looking in. But as often seems the case the Romans were patient in their wrath and they built an enormous siege ramp to enter Masada. On the night before the Romans were to breach the wall and take the fortress the Jewish rebels all committed suicide rather than be taken by the Romans. The last few drew lots to see who would kill whom. This grim scene and the mountain of Masada have now become a symbol of Jewish nationalism and the determination of the Jewish people to survive under persecution and hardship.
Perhaps what could be called the last chapter of Masada before the present day would be the Byzantine presence. There was a group of Byzantine Monks who began a community atop the rugged mountain. Their church and it’s beautiful mosaic floors along with some of their humble dwelling caves can still be seen.
Today there are several ways to get up Masada: Difficult – the Snake path (so named because it snakes its way up the long way, Medium- the Siege Ramp path (taking the road the Romans made up to the top) and Easy (the Sky Tram). We took the Medium difficulty road up the Siege Ramp.
It was an absolutely beautiful day. We could see clear across the Dead Sea into the mountains of Jordan. After our time at Masada we went back up to Arad where we got on the road that goes down to the Dead Sea. The Dead Sea is the lowest spot on the face of the earth. We took some pictures by the Dead Sea. We passed the front of Masada, Ein Gedi, and Qumran but we’ll have to do these on a different day. We enjoyed some wine by the Dead Sea at sunset and we on up Highway 90 back up into the Judean Hill Country. We dropped Josh and Lauren off in Jerusalem and made it back to Bethlehem by about 8:00. It was full day but a good day.

I promised I would tell...

It's Thursday and we have a long weekend! Praise God. I think that technically it's because it's the start of Ramadan I'm not really sure all I heard was 3 day weekend and the rest sounded like "blah blah blah." We had grandiose plans of going up to the Galilee this weekend but it is also Rosh Hashanah (Jewish New Year) this weekend. As Del Griffith once said "We'd have better luck finding a three legged ballerina than a hotel room" in the Galilee right now. All in all I'd say it was a good week for both Mandy and me. On any given day we either want to cry with these kids or cry because of these kids. It really is day to day.
I got into a great discussion with my 10th graders this week. I don't even remember how we got on the subject but they were talking about how fed up with their country they are. They were complaining because it's hard to be Christians in amongst so many Muslims. They said it's also really hard because when they travel to the States and elsewhere in the West and people find out that they are Palestinian they say things like why are you wearing a cross, is everyone there a terrorist, or where's Palestine? They feel like nobody even knows or cares that they exist. I almost cried standing there in front of my class. I tried my best to encourage them with the words of Christ that he sends out "like sheep among wolves." (this was in the passage we were studying this week, God's timing or what?) I said to them you live in an area that used to bee 99% sheep and 1% wolf and now it's like 80% wolves and 20% sheep. And it gets worse everyday. I told them that I can't promise them that I can change anything but I could promise that I would tell their story. I said as long as I have breath I won't stop telling people that I meet that there are Christians in Palestine who need our prayers. But you've got to do something for me, I told them. You can't give up on your country, because Palestine needs Christians now more than ever.
So here's step one of my promise. I'll tell all of you folks. THERE ARE CHRISTIANS IN PALESTINE WHO NEED OUR PRAYERS! Imagine what a group of committed young Christians who are committed to the Gospel and fear nothing but God himself could do in this context. The Gospel hangs by a thread here. These young Christians want nothing more than to give up and leave this place. I believe Christ is calling them to stay. I believe it is the only hope for this land.
Love to all.

Sunday in Jerusalem

Today we went up to Jerusalem to go to Christ Church again. It really is quite a lovely church and they run a nice church service. It’s just hard to go to church on the other side of the wall. When we go up to Jerusalem we, in effect, cross a border. It is the “border” between Palestine and Israel. And Christians on the other side of this border tend to like to forget about what lies on the other side. They like to let the wall do its job and block out the “bad people.” We sat in church this morning and listened to an impassioned prayer for Israel, for Jews all around the world, even for Muslims. It was well spoken and I agreed with most of it. There was just, in my opinion, a glaring omission. As I sat there I couldn’t help but feel a little sick to my stomach. What about the Palestinian Christians?

It’s so easy to put them on the other side of the wall with all the “undesirables” and not have to face the fact that our support for Israel often comes at the cost of some very dear brothers and sisters in Christ. Take Miss Grace for example. This woman works tirelessly for this school, for the idea of Christian education in a Middle Eastern context. She has never married probably because she’s practically married to this school. Her sister has just undergone surgery for a brain tumor. In spite of what has been going on with her family as of late she has stopped at nothing to make us feel welcome and appreciated ever since the day we got here (now just over a month ago). She is a wonderful woman with a deep faith in Jesus. So as I sat there this morning listening to this prayer I thought of Miss Grace. Not of number or of a percentage but of a person who was a face and a name.
So please join us, as you pray for us, please pray for Palestinian Christians. People ask me my opinion all the time about the problems here in the Middle East and I can honestly give no better answer now that we’re here. Jesus is still the answer. If you press me I can clarify my answer a little better now. It’s up to believers. When Palestinian Christians and Jewish Christians can come together to pray we’ll really have something. What something? I don’t honestly know. An end to all this? Probably not. But maybe a beginning to something better.

Things are looking brighter here

Thank you for the words of encouragement posted. It's been very tough, but like Doug and I say everyday, "It is only through the strength of Christ are we able to do this task..." He gives strength. Each and everyday. Even when my fifth grade language classes bomb and the kids lose it so that I can't hear myself think. Even when I have to walk out the door and leave them to climbing the walls (as I did yesterday). I do it knowing there will be better days ahead.

I then walked into my fourth grade classroom and discovered it quiet. At that particular moment I discovered progress. The days I received Christ's strength was paying off. All those days of questioning my abilities and calling, head banging against the whiteboard because the kids didn't even realize I was there. Days of thinking I should quit and walk out, telling my principal that I just was not cut out for the task. Those days ending somehow with me staying firm and strict to the end.

I honestly did not think it would ever get to quiet in my classroom. I wasn't expecting it to. That to me is a sign of respect. It had been loud and rowdy during supposed "work times." Not a good working environment. They were now respecting each other with quiet work time.

Then we had one more period of the day, and that went well. The children earned 10 minutes of free time outside! It was awesome to see smiling faces on our way out, including mine:-) We were successful! I just needed that one day to spur me on. I see students who want things to go well now. It's soooooo awesome.
Another verse I've been taking to heart is found in John, when Jesus talks about being the vine and we are the branches. He goes on to say, "...apart from me you can do nothing." I've discovered that in the past weeks.

Please pray my students become more independent learners and learn to appreciate each other's gifts. They are coming, but need more work in those areas. Pray that I can love one of my students who drives me absolutely bonkers. We clash all of the time.

Doug and I appreciate the prayers. We couldn't do this without all of you. Thanks.

Proverbs 31

“A wife of noble character who can find? She is worth far more than rubies. Her husband has full confidence in her and lacks nothing of value…he praises her: ‘Many women do noble things but you surpass them all.’ Charm is deceptive and beauty is fleeting; but a woman who fears the Lord is to be praised.”
I’ve been reflecting on these words recently as I have been watching Mandy over the first few weeks of the school year. Other translations say “a woman of valor.” Valor, noble character, which ever you prefer is fine with me. They describe my wife. I have known her through three Second Grade classes, two in which I knew the kids and with which I actually spent a lot of time. Each year seems to present her with a new challenge, some student or group of students who need some extra…love, let’s say. But I have never seen her work harder, or be more challenged than I have in our first few weeks here in Beit Jala. To say these kids need extra ‘love’ would be the understatement of the year. These kids don’t know the meaning of the word discipline. They don’t understand respect. Last year this class went through three teachers. Read that again slower. Three teachers over a 9 month span! No wonder these kids need extra ‘love.’ It’s kind of a which-came-first scenario. Are they a tough bunch because they’ve had so many teachers come in and out the door or have they had so many teachers come in and out the door because they’re a tough bunch? Who knows? It doesn’t really matter. What matters is that Mandy has been given this task.
I would be lying if told you there haven’t been tears. I would be lying if I told you there haven’t been days where Mandy has wanted to quit. BUT she hasn’t. I have watched as she has poured herself out for these kids day after day. She is a masterful teacher. (And I know that she has a masterful mentor/mother.) I have been amazed with my wife. She is a model of perseverance, of skill, of beauty, of Biblical “Valor.”
The summer I worked for Cedar Lawn doing landscaping I woke up everyday knowing that I was physically unable to do the work that lay ahead of me that day without God’s strength. Without a doubt that was one of the most profound times of growth in my spiritual life. It sounds strange but I think it has something to do with the first Beatitude. “Blessed are the poor in spirit…” In other words, blessed are those who realize they are empty before God and can only accomplish the task in front of them by crying out to him. That’s how our day begins here in Bethlehem: spiritually bankrupt. It is not by our own strength that we are able to succeed but by the Lord’s. We’re working on the Kingdom of Heaven part.
Today has been odd. I came up at my lunch break and turned on the news for a bit. One of the few English channels we get on TV here is CNN. Today they were showing a lot of footage from September 11, 2001. So of course I remember where I was that day, how I first heard etc. as I’m sure most of you were doing today. Then I remembered how that day ended for me. My friend Oliver and I went to this absolute dive of a bar up by Gordon. It was just one of those nights where you wanted a beer. I remember sitting by this guy that was drunk and angry. He was saying things like why don’t we just nuke the entire Middle East, who needs them, bunch of you-know-whats, and yadda yadda yadda. And here I am trying to witness to this guy and explain how everyone over there is not like that. I remember wishing that day that there was something I could do to help. Help that guy with his perception, yes, but more importantly to help these people that I was trying to defend to my inebriated neighbor. Well friends, be careful what you wish for as they say.
But today as I watched the news and thought about fanatics and where they are born and bred I thought to myself, not here, not in this school. Not on my watch. Not in 4th grade. Not on Mandy’s watch.
We thank you all for your prayers. We deeply appreciate each and every one of them. It has been so comforting to know that we are covered by your prayer support; to know that as we cry out to God we are not crying out alone.

Prayer Request Update

Thank you to all of you who have been praying for Miss Grace's sister. It almost 10:00 Wednesday night here in Beit Jala and we're both so exhausted. I don't think I'll write much tonight. I did however want to update you on this situation. Miss Grace's sister (whose name is Nuha) went up to Haddasah Hospital in Jerusalem on Monday for surgery to remove a brain tumor. The surgery was successful in removing the brain tumor and the doctor was very pleased with the results. As with all cancer I'm sure there will be future tests and doctor's appointments etc. but this is definately a big praise. Miss Grace was out on Monday to be with her sister and when she returned on Tuesday I wish you could have all seen the Joy on her face. She's such a dear, wonderful and I don't think we realized quite how much this had weighing on her until we saw her on Tuesday so full of laughter and sheer joy after the successful surgery.

Please keep Mandy and I in your prayers. The kids here are so different from American kids in so many ways. At heart, kids everywhere are still kids. But these ones sure do seem to require a person to have extra measure of God's strength to be able engage them in a classroom situation. We love you all and we deeply appreciate your prayers. God is listening! Keep it up! :-)

Sunday in Beit Jala

Well, here we are. We survived the first week. Now we take a deep breath and prepare for another. I looked forward to a half day Saturday, but it felt like a full day. We cram everything into a shorter time period. I was exhausted Saturday afternoon and am still recovering today. Miss Grace's sister has her surgery tomorrow, so Miss Grace is using the van. Please pray that all goes well tomorrow. Since we don't have any transportation, it's nice to have an excuse to stay put. With much around to see and do, sometimes I feel guilty for sitting in the apartment. Anyway, the day of rest is much needed.

Yesterday Doug and I went to the Old City of Jerusalem (after school). We toured the Church of the Holy Sepulchre, had a moment at the Western (Wailing) Wall, and enjoyed seeing the beautiful architecture in the Jewish Quarter.

Seeing old rocks preserved in the Holy Sepulchre was neat. I touched a stone like that of the one around Jesus' tomb. I saw a slab of rock that Jesus would have been laid on during his burial. I wasn't able to enter Christ's tomb because my shoulders were not covered. I was really excited to go in there. I will have to visit again.
The large rotunda was gorgeous. The sites we've visited so far have struck me as odd. I didn't picture them being so decorated (okay, gaudy) I pictured them to be much more earthy. I know many people lay claim to most of the sites, and that's why it's decorated fancily, but I just want it to be tombish. I guess that's why the Church of the Nativity was one of my favorite spots so far-because it looked how I thought it should look. (well at least by the Grotto, in the underground) I didn't feel removed. I could reach out, touch it, and it felt real to me. I could picture my Lord there. For me, rock does it, and that's why I was so fascinated by encased slabs of rock! And rock is excavated, and therefore not built over yet, so it's closer to where Jesus would have been.

The Wailing Wall was interesting. I experienced it by myself because the men and women are separated. I received a shawl to cover my arms this time. It was neat seeing the pieces of paper that people had left with notes on it and such. Women were reciting Psalms and prayers. There was even a class of children meeting up by the very far right of the wall. When you leave, you must not turn your back on the wall, so I walked backwards, and caught a glimpse of a child not yet 2 with the long curly sideburns walking behind me. So cool. Then we went back via the Jewish Quarter. I enjoyed seeing many synagogues by the Wall, and people going there for Shabbat. However, I began to realize we were "going against the flow" of synagogue worshippers, and was worried about being trampled on. It was quite the experience! Orthodox Jews intrigue me. I enjoyed being surrounded by them (after feeling like an intruder in their space)
We visited Josh and Lauren and they showed us the grounds of Hebrew U. We then viewed the Judean Wilderness, and I saw the Dead Sea! I can't wait to go there!!!!! The sight is breathtaking, and we tried to capture it by camera. Look for more pictures to arrive soon! (Doug is sending them now)

Highlights from my first week at school:

1. On the first day of school, I welcomed my students, and a young girl couldn't find her desk. She was beginning to panic after a short time. I prayed and she says, "I'm not in 4th grade, I'm in 3rd grade!" We helped her find the right class.


2. A Beta fish was visiting our classroom (along with songbirds, a hamster, a turtle, etc) on the second day of school. Things had gone smoothly for much of the day. No escaping animals, all animals stayed in tact, except for a zebra fish that died early in the day. The last 10 mins of class-a loud screech rings in the air. I found out that the Beta fish's bowl had gotten knocked over, and sure enough, there it was, flapping wildly on the floor. Nobody did anything but screech, so I had to tell the child to pick up the fish, put it back in the bowl, and then fill up the bowl (because there was very little water left) Kids are slipping and sliding all over the wet floor, not helping clean it up. The other child returns from filling up the bowl with the Beta fish, and can't see movement in the bowl. He's got tears in his eyes. The bell rings. I quickly dismissed them so the child could share the loss of his fish with his family.


3. My children sang, "Lord I lift your name on high" in Arabic. It was beautiful.

4. My class was doing wordsearches. I checked on a student who hadn't circled any words yet. They had been working for at least 15 mins already. He looks up at me and says, "Miss, I am halfway!" I look at him confusingly. He goes on to say, "Miss, I circle them in my head." I ask him how he can keep track. He says, "I just can." I tell him that that's interesting way to do it and say it will be much easier to circle them. As I walk away, I see him start circling the words. I have never had that experience before.


5. "Meeeees" is my name now. (Remember that Sara Nelson?)

Please pray that I can connect with my class. I talked with Miss Grace extensively yesterday, and she told me lots about the children's home life. It's shaky. They had a rough year last year with 3 different teachers, so they don't really remember how to do school. Pray that I can figure out how to reach them. They are tough to handle sometimes. Thanks.