The End

Well, I feel badly that I have not written in such a long time. I don't know if anyone is still reading this or not, but for those of you who faithfully continue to check for updates, this goes out to you =)

My trip was cut short by two weeks. I came home last Friday, the 26th, on a direct flight from the Ben Gurion International Airport in Tel Aviv to the Philadelphia International Airport. It was a really smooth 12 hour flight, and I was able to get 6-7 hours of sleep. My bag was lost in the airport and I needed to report it once I realized it was missing. I honestly felt like I was going crazy .... because that had never happened to me before. Maybe I was tired, but it was inconceivable to me that it could have been lost on a direct flight. The next day as I walked into the house, our neighbor children came running over and said "Hey Jess! Some man came and put a suitcase in your shed! Hahahaha!" I felt so relieved!

I was disappointed to leave early, but at the same time, the program was not what I had been expecting in terms of ministry opportunity. Nonetheless I had an incredible experience. My favorite part by far was being able to get my bearings almost anywhere in Jerusalem. Also, mastering public transportation was quite a feat. Well, not exactly mastering, but being capable of getting from one major city to another. I was able to go to the CBS (central bus station) by smaller bus and navigate my way to my mom's friends in Haifa. It was a highlight of my trip. It made me feel so independent, being in a country so far from home and not speaking the language and yet getting where I needed to go with ease. Israel has a really awesome public transportation system. You can basically get a round trip ticket to and from any given city for an insanely cheap price and be at the opposite end of the country in less than 8 hours.

All in all, I would totally go back and do the entire trip over again. I absorbed a lot of Israeli culture, even from a distance, learned a lot about myself, made great friends, and grew in my understanding on multiple levels: faith, prophesy & how strong the pull of the world is. I've come to the realization that at times, life is crazy and there is absolutely nothing you can do about it. You have to accept your circumstances and rise to the occasion. Do the best you can, and don't look back.

Psalm 73:

²¹ Thus my heart was grieved,
And I was vexed in my mind.
²² I was so foolish and ignorant;
I was like a beast before You.
²³ Nevertheless I am continually with You;
You hold me by my right hand.
²⁴ You will guide me with Your counsel,
And afterward receive me to glory.