Final Weeks

It's hard to believe that our time in Israel is quickly coming to an end and we will soon return to the States to the next chapter of life!  We leave a week from today and although we're excited to be reunited with family and friends we have missed over these last 10 months, we are sad to be leaving behind the life we have come to love in Jerusalem.  There is so much we have learned and we have been challenged more than even we can understand right now...the lessons will continue to unfold throughout our lives, but we do know we have been changed forever by our experiences here!

Over the last month, we've been busy trying to cram everything in that we have wanted to do over this year - making sure we soak up every bit of what time we have left.  In between school work, exams, and wrapping up volunteer experiences, we had a chance to do most of those "little things" we had hoped to get in before we leave.  You know how it goes when you are in the swing of life and just don't get to things until you have to...like people who live right by the mountains, but never go hiking...we've just been busy with life and had to really make a point to get to these things we know we'd be disappointed if we didn't get to.

Church of the Holy Sepulcher -
 traditional Christian site for the crucifixion and burial of Christ.  
In Jesus' day, this location would have been on a busy street just
outside of the Old City walls.

inside the Church of the Holy Sepulcher

Cardo street - original road undergoing renovations to restore it.
This was a main street in the Old City lined with shops
in Jesus' day.  Today, the modern Cardo is above this road and
looks similar to what it may have been like in the 1st Century.

Temple Mount and Dome of the Rock

Lutheran Church in the Old City

Dormitian Abbey

Hezekiah's Tunnels.  An aquaduct system built by King
Hezekiah underground...water still flows through these narrow tunnels
 about up to our calves, and in some places higher.  

The Garden Tomb - most likely not the actual location of Jesus' burial,
but holds the memory there...either way, it's a tomb that looks
similar to where Jesus was buried. 

Celebrating Israel Independence Day in Tel Aviv and
the Old City of Joppa/Jaffa.

Samaritan Passover - the Samaritan community continues to sacrifice
lambs on Passover in their village on Mt. Gerizim.  Here are the sheep being
brought in for the sacrifice....I think they knew what was coming b/c they
kept trying to run away.

Huge fire pits where the sheep would be BBQed after the sacrifice
and the community celebrates. We had a hard time seeing the actual event,
because of all the people, but there was a lot of liturgy, singing, and celebration.
Here is a Samaritan placing a sheep skin on the edge of the firepit. 

This week Matt is in wilderness deserts of Jordan living the Bedouin life - learning the customs of the Bedouin families, sleeping in tents or outside, learning desert farm life, killing cooking and eating sheep, riding camels, hiking in wadis, and braving the nights against camel spiders (tartantulas) and scorpions.  I'm eager to have him back home again and can't wait to hear about his experiences! I'm sure he'll write about it when he gets back.  So, until then, I'll be packing for our big trip back to the States!  Please keep us in your prayers as we prepare for this transition, say goodbye to dear friends, and head back to America.  See you soon!