Shabbot #2

Shabbot Shalom all! Well, it's actually over but for you, your still have a couple hours left! Friday night at 4:30 a group of us walked to the Western Wall from our house. At 5:12 Shabbat was finally opened and was signaled by the ringing of bells. It was crazy because also at that time the siren for the Muslim call to prayer went off... it was quite phenominal. Being at the Wall for Shabbat was probably one of the most amazing experiences I've ever had. There were so many orthodox Jewish people there to pray and the "secular Jews" (which are people of the Jewish faith who are not orthodox) had parties going on everywhere! They were mainly young kids from Hebrew University. There was so much singing and dancing; it was a very joyous occasion. I had been to the wall before, but I was more amazed by the beauty of the people there than what it actually stood for. I was more interested last time in taking pictures than realizing the significance of where I was standing. This time there was a sign that said NO PICTURES! Ugh... but this brought me somewhere where I never would have gone before. (I still snapped a few though :)). While others were watching the traditional things going on, I decided that this was a great time that God and I could have together. I walked up to the wall, very intimidated by all the people and the dress. I wasn't quite sure what I was going to do, but I knew that I needed to be there. As I got closer to the wall, it was like as if everything slowed down. My steps became slower, my breaths became shorter and I was noticing things as if they were in slow motion. I walked up to the wall and because of the day, there was no room on the wall to pray; that was OK. I stood right where I was and began to pray. Since I've been here I've had such a burden for the Jewish community. One girl who was giving a devotion last night said something that really struck me. She said "It was as if they are seeking so fervently and so revrently, but they are seeking in vain." And it breaks my heart to know that. It makes my heart hurt to realize that my own family doesn't get it. That hits so close to home. I wish I could tell them "Jesus has come! Jesus has come for you! To love him, to have conversation with you! You don't have to do things to be right, you just have to BE!" Dr. van der Laan was speaking last night also and told us this story about his son and said "I don't care what my children do, I will love them anyways! I will support them in all they do as long as they just know I love them." That made me think so much about God's "perfect will" for our lives. I feel like so often as Christians, we search for the exact path that God has made for us, that if we miss the boat there's no hope. It's like we search just for God just as hard as the Jewish people, but the difference is, we've seen the hope! Why must we search? Can we not just live? It's hard for me to understand the depths of God's love, but as I've been studying within the Jewish community, I seem to grasp more and more everyday. I was readin in Psalm 120-134 which are the Psalms of Ascent. These are the Psalms the Jewish people would sing when they were making their up to Jerusalem for the holidays to make a sacrifice in the temple. As I was reading I was remembering all I've learned about the culture: The Exile, the Diaspora, the Holocaust and other things that has happened to break up this population and how time and time again God has been faithful to bring them back to Zion! These are just some thoughts...
It's 11:00pm and tomorrow is Galilee. I have to be up by 6am for breakfast and we leave by 7am. I am very excited for a few reasons; #1- I'm in Israel (still blows my mind) and #2- I'm getting baptized in the Jordan. I was baptized as a child at 2mo. but this is the first time I've been baptized having a knowledgeable relationship with Christ. I am beginning to be very sick though, and I'm thinking 60 degree water might not be the smartest idea :-/

Psalm 128
Jessica