The Western Wall & Burger Bar

Last night I had the opportunity to go to the Rabi's house again for dinner! It was another awesome gathering and I had a lot of fun listening to what he had to say about the feast of Purim. He said unfortunately, it is often used as an excuse to get drunk and by doing so, most people miss the significance of the holiday. Purim is also the feast of which most charity is given, and people are overly generous to anyone and everyone. I thought that was really neat. In fact, on the way to the Western Wall, I walked past a full-scale meal where the needy were being served a really nice, hot meal for the feast. I almost wasn't going to make the trek out to the Rabi's house last night, which is about a 25 minute walk, due to the rain but decided to bite the bullet and go. The company and food made the walk really worth the trouble. It was really distracting however because there was this one Jewish grandpa type character who had a flask of whiskey in his coat pocket and routinely made a habit of offering me, and anyone else interested, some of the stuff. He was incredibly noisy the whole night and at one point tried to pour some on Stephania and myself! She took it from him and wasn't going to give it back, which of course agitated him immensely and exasperated the situation. Other than that, I had a really great time and would like to try to attend every Friday. I can't adequately articulate the atmosphere.. There is just something really special about being at his house that I really love.

Today I was REALLY tired and slept in until 1! I don't think I have ever slept in that late before, as far as I can remember. Please pray for me if you remember; I have been feeling ever so slightly under the weather. I don't have a fever, but my throat hurts a bit and my head just feels kind of weird. I've been staying up late and getting up early, and after two weeks, I think it is starting to catch up with me. The weather has also been interesting as of late. The first week I was here, the sun was shining, the highs were in the low 70s, and I wore short sleeves everyday. The past few days, the temp has dropped dramatically, and it has been raining since Thursday almost nonstop with scattered thunderstorms throughout the day and night. I like the cooler weather, but I fear it will have a devastating effect on my tan!

After taking it easy this morning and afternoon, I went out to the Western Wall to pray (whenever I say "I", I mean with other people; I don't go out alone due to safety). After being at the Wall for a while, I walked around to Mt. Zion and enjoyed the incredible array of architectural beauty the city offers. I went for dinner at a place called Burger Bar. Of all the places I've been to eat since I've been here, this is one of the best. They serve burgers (obviously), fries, schnitzel, wraps, salads.. I got a schnitzel and it was delicious. Everyone else grabbed something to eat at an Italian pasta place down the road, and I met up with them after I got my meal. Just as I had sat down to eat, the manager came to serve my friends dinner. He saw my food and told me it was not kosher, and that I was going to need to eat somewhere else. Because that request seemed so absurd, I almost didn't know what to say. He kept repeating himself until I "got it" and walked back to Burger Bar. I didn't want to eat there because one of the guys had already asked me out, and another had offered me a beer, so Stephania came with me.
Because tonight was Purim (I was wrong in my previous post - Purim was not on 2/25) everyone was wearing a costume of sorts. I always love Ben Yahuda because there are so many people having a good time, tons of music and dancing, and really, really good food =)

Purim

Today was Purim, the Jewish equivalent to Halloween. Everyone got dressed up and took to the streets and had a blast. I went to a party tonight, as an American.. I didn't have a costume. Haha. We left at 8:35, and the party started at 9... It was raining REALLY hard though and we didn't end up getting to the cafe until almost 10! Regardless, the company was great, the food was awesome (sushi and hamantaschen!). We all danced to oldies and some brave souls did karaoke... It was a really fun night, despite the rain. Finding the right bus to get where you want to go is challenging when the sun is down, the wind and rain are whipping your face, the language is one other than English, and you don't know your way around the city all that well. We (Kat, Geoff, and myself) managed to find the party and have at. It was a really sweet deal.

Earlier in the day I swept and mopped the first floor, changed the waste baskets, and straightened up the media room. Tristan heard me singing and said I was going to have a Mic tomorrow! Yikes.. Maybe he'll forget!? After that I rested, ate too much pita (what else is new), and went shopping for produce.

I love parties. End of story.

Goodnight =)

Update

Wow, these past two days have been filled with lots of awesome worship, teaching, and fellowship. I haven't written because I've been so tired... But I'll try to give some updates now. Believe it or not, I always have an extremely hard time making myself sit down to write these updates; they're a real test of diligence for me! Haha. Once I sit down to get my thoughts out, I feel fine, but getting to that place, and making the time to get my days onto here is hard. I want to be able to keep you all informed though as to how I'm doing on a daily basis, as well as be able to look back later and see, in detail, the significance of this trip. All that said, here are my past two days (Tues 2.23 & Wed 2.24):

Yesterday was a blast! My team of Living Bread staff and volunteers joined up with Global Celebration, Georgian Banov's ministry. We left our house around 12 and were in Jericho within a half an hour and met up with his team. In total, Georgian had 42 people with him and our group had 10. It was so much fun worshiping with such a large group, in addition to all of the refugees who joined us for the meeting. We gave out food coupons; 250 total and those were only given to fathers, young men, and some mothers (meaning that there were a LOT of people!!). I was asked by Karen to take as many pictures as possible, as was Kat. We clicked away the entire afternoon and between the two of us ended up with tons and tons of great shots! I had a lot of fun using my camera for something significant like taking pictures for Karen. I was able to transfer them to the ministry's computer, so she might use some for who knows what down the road. It was really awesome to have a specific job assigned to me yesterday. Also, I was asked to watch all of the unused instruments, bags, and sound equipment for the team, and to keep all the adorable kids off of the stage.

Us Living Breaders took Georgian's team up to the Mount of Temptations and had a great worship time together. We all payed half price, 25 NIS, took a few cable cars up the mountain, and sang together. I had a lot of fun haggling in the gift shop with an employee who was trying to charge one woman $42 for a 2GB Sandisk memory card.. I ended up being able to get it down to $25, which was still a bit pricey, but better than before. I didn't realize how exhilarating bargaining is! Watch out Israel! After that we went back to the Prophet's House and enjoyed the oranges off the trees, the spring, and some delicious falafel.

Next was the service! We sang for a long time and continually alternated between English and Arabic. In such free worship though, language becomes insignificant because everyone is having so much fun dancing and praising God. Haha... No one discussed cultural standards or taboos before the service, and a lot of guys from Georgian's team ended up dancing with the women of Hamas and Fatah! OH MAN! That really made me laugh because even at significant events, such as weddings, the men and women are perpetually segregated and do not dance with one another, and here we all were, a bunch of white foreigners, all joined together breaking taboos and dancing with one another. Oh well, right? No one seemed to be offended and everything worked out beautifully. Towards the end however, when the food coupons were being divvied out, some of those present became very demanding. Some of the women were forcefully into bumping me and I got shoved quite a bit haha... But we got out soon thereafter and everything was ok. Actually, never mind. When we were packing all the sound and camera equipment, I carried out a single guitar and tripod, and one of or staff thought I also had a camera. Well, I didn't and it ended up being quite a scare because everyone thought we had left it behind. The "missing" camera though was just inside, sitting there untouched. Whoops! We backed everything into the van, piled in, and drove home. During dinner and after, Karen shared part of her testimony with Kat and I for nearly 2 hours! I had so much fun listening to her and was undone by all her experiences; coming close to death, being pursued by the mafia, coming to Christ, losing all of the media equipment... The list goes on and on. Talking to her and hearing the unwavering faith she has developed as a response to all of her trials was a phenomenal blessing to me.

We had the same type of meeting this PM with Georgian's team, except it took place in Jerusalem at the church. We congregated at 5 and worshiped until around 7:45. Again, it was a really good time and I got to take pictures!!

Banov

I'm seriously pumped for today - worship with Georgian Banov in Jericho!!!!!!!! And after, the cheapest falafel in Israel @ 3.5 NIS each (about $1 USD).

TODAY IS GOING TO BE AWESOME =)

Sweet Surrender

Worship this morning was awesome. I've really loved being able to recognize and immediately join in with the other Living Bread staff because I listen to a lot of the music they sing daily: Leeland, the David Crowder Band, Hillsong United, Misty Edwards... Its been awesome! We usually worship for an hour or so and then Karen or Tristan will give a short message. We've really been focusing on fully following God with reckless abandon. Some of the things we've gone over since Sunday have been:

• Life will swallow death in victory!
• We are merely pilgrims passing through this life - if you're too comfortable, somethings up.
• We really can attain death of the flesh and total life in the Spirit because we are crucified with Christ.
• If anyone suffers as a Christian, let him be thankful and accept the trial with open arms.
• Believe it or not, we're not going to die...But rather, live forever.
• We're all going to suffer, of course, and God will allow it. It is not a work of ours, but a work of the Spirit to bring us to Himself. We can respond in two ways. Firstly, we can shrink back and say "no" to trial, pain, and suffering, and miss the blessing. Or, we can accept the tribulation and grow intimately close to God as a result. To obey is better than to sacrifice.
• To get to that next realm, we've got to press in and continue to praise God, following the incredible example of Job. He was able to praise despite the horrible agony God allowed in his life, and as a result, was rewarded double blessing.
• We must learn to bless His name when He gives, but more importantly, when He takes away.
• The more we give to the Lord, we become less, enabling Him to fill the gaps.

I was able to go to Yeriho again today for a Bible study with Rachel, Cay, Geoff, and Kat. Before the study at the Prophet's house though, we went to the Education Directorate of Jericho. We met with the head of education in the whole Jericho district! Ahh! How incredibly exciting. We met to discuss the possibility of Living Bread offering English classes to the students of Jericho. He was very receptive, asked questions, was open to change, and was aware that we were Christians and respected us nonetheless. In Jericho, there are 10,000 students within the 30 schools of the area. Us at Living Bread being able to teach conversational English would be awesome. They would learn English, and at the same time, we would pick up Arabic. Right now, because of the limited staff, LB is thinking of having a monthly workshop just for starters. I would love to be able to go and help every week though. But then I immediately convicted "do not despise the day of small beginnings." And that was that.

After the meeting, I went to the Prophet's house and we had a Bible study with three Arab/Palestinian men. I was having a hard time keeping my attention on Rachel and Isa as they spoke because I obviously don't speak any Arabic! Haha. But it was good regardless and I was happy to be able to pray Psalm 37:4 over Isa.

My Lovely Neighbor

Outside my window lives a rooster.

I've decided to name him Lucifer.

He loves to make me crazy.

I wonder if anyone would be sad if he died?

Fresh Bread

I love having internet here... I was legit terrified when I arrived that I was going to have to spend the next two months fasting from the web. I'm sure I would have managed to survive, somehow, but it would have been rough. When I first arrived, I couldn't figure out the password and asked Tristan. He told me Karen doesn't want the internet clogged with volunteers slowing down the connection, so I wasn't allowed to know. My initial reaction was "Gosh, that's not really fair, considering the ALL the other volunteers know the password..." I asked one of them and now am able to use my laptop in my room all the time. I'm glad because I want to keep everyone updated on my trip and do my best to keep in touch with my family... And use Facebook. =)

I woke up around 7AM and church was at 11AM, so I spent some time reading my Bible on the roof. I really wish back home we did our roofs the way the Israelis do. For one, its almost like having another floor on your house, and a great place to hang the laundry (go green!). But the best part of having chairs and an open roof is the view. Jerusalem is "the city on the hill." It is the truth! And within the city on the hill, there is hill after hill. Everywhere I walk, there is some degree of incline no matter which direction I choose to go. From our roof, you can see so far in every which way.. It's an incredibly spectacular view. I love sitting up there to read because of the view. Despite the noise of a bustling city three stories below me, there is a serenity on the roof that I haven't found anywhere else yet. One of the nicest parts other than the calm is the breeze. Even in the hottest heat of the afternoon, there is always a soft breeze gently sweeping across the roof. All of those factors make it an excellent place to read my Bible and talk to God.

After church, I bought fresh pita from a little shop right around the corner from my house. Wafts of fresh bread scented air always emanate from that shop, which makes me hungry every time I walk by. I bought 10 pitas and a loaf of challah. Apparently, the challah I bought wasn't as fresh as it could've been and I now know to ask for a freshly baked loaf. After lunch it was my rotation to clean the bathroom. It wasn't bad at all but reminded me a lot of Panera. Haha.

Tonight I went to the King of Kings church off of Jaffa Street. It was an awesome service with a charismatic, free flavor which made it a lot of fun. We had a guest speaker, Evan something, from Brownsville Assembly of God in Pensacola, Florida talk to us about being a remnant. My favorite part though was the worship because we sang in Hebrew. On the screen were the words first in transliterated Hebrew, then in English, and finally Hebrew. It was really awesome to be in Jerusalem, praising Yeshua freely in his own language. Singing like that made me really want to learn Hebrew.. Once I got past all those crazy "CHAAAs" that you have to constantly make, singing was easy. I love being surrounded by different languages and seeing a totally different culture all around me.. I think cultural immersion is insanely exhilarating! I wish though that I knew more of Hebrew and Arabic. I would have loved to have been able to yell something at that kid who slapped me last night...! But on a more practical note, being able to say hello to people would be nice too ;)

Shabbat & Bennn Yahuuudaaa

I'm kind of disappointed because I wrote a relatively long post, saved it, and can't find it now. Oh well. But I do want to say thanks for all the awesome comments! I never knew how to check my comments and I had a great time reading through all of your encouragements. I'm still doing really well, I feel safe where I'm staying, and the people who I'm with are awesome. Like anywhere, it takes a while to really feel comfortable being with new people all day, everyday. But I've been blessed with warm and welcoming volunteers to greet me, so that hasn't been an issue really.

On Thursday, I went to the Dead Sea! I have to write more on that later.

On Friday, yesterday, I went to church and then a traditional Shabbat meal at a Rabi's house in Jerusalem. It was phenomenal to say the least. We had a 5 course meal with dessert as he shared in Hebrew and in English about the incredible significance of Shabbat. We sang, shared insight into the Bible or Torah, and ate together. There was nearly 100 people packed into the small house and I do not exaggerate when I say I was sitting in someone else's lap. All of us were like sardines in a can, but in a strange way, it felt really comfortable being so close to one another. I was at a table with some really nice 19 year old girls from England and the US who are here studying for a year. It was really neat being able to chat with them throughout the meal... Jews from Guyana, the US, Israel, England, Argentina, and Chile were at the meal. The Rabi hosts anyone who wants to come, regardless of religious orientation, every single week for a traditional Shabbat meal. The food was fantastic and delicious!!!! I really hope I'll have the opportunity to go again next week.

Today I woke up kind of early and talked on Facebook for a while and cleaned my room and reorganized everything now that I no longer have a roommate =( Unfortunately, Briana had to go back home to South Dakota and I now I have my own room. After cleaning, I ate and decided to clean all the windows on my floor because they were absolutely disgusting... Shabbat or not, they needed to be cleaned! Haha. After a long afternoon of more Facebook, soaking up sun on the roof, reading my Bible, studying Arabic, and dinner with Karen and the other staff, I walked to Ben Yahuda Street. There was a group of Korean Christians singing worship music and people dancing all over the place to the songs. It was awesome because our group knew that they were singing about God, but no one else had any idea what they were saying! On our way home, this kid ran up and slapped my bum pretty hard. Ouch. I really don't like how people drive by and stop their cars and drive up next to you and ask you to get in. Or tell you they are looking for a wife. I love it here, don't get me wrong - but don't like that part of the culture in this Arab section of Eastern Jerusalem. Or the catcalls. Being an American in other countries can be really challenging sometimes. Because of the way America's entertainment industry portrays its women, and the way we often dress so provocatively in the US, Americans are often thought of as loose. It makes it hard for people like me, who are not looking for that kind of attention whatsoever . . . . . Oh well =/

Warm Weather & the Dead Sea =)

It has been so nice here! At night, the temp drops, but it has still been amazing. Most days, the highs are in the upper 70s, the sun is shining and there is a soft breeze that weaves through the whole city. I'm pumped that I've already started to get tan from all this sun... I can't wait to come home and be so much darker than everyone else for once!!!

Yesterday was another laid back day (Friday) and I went to the Dead Sea on Thursday. The sea was so beautiful - even more so than I remember. Pictures don't do justice to the awe inspiring landscape of the Dead Sea. Everything is covered in layer upon layer of brilliant, white salt. I think the water is 7-8x saltier than a regular ocean, so one has to be extremely careful not to get the water in their eyes. Unfortunately, I did happen to get some in this time and it burned like crazy and I couldn't open my eye for a good 10 minutes because of the sting. Geoffry dove into the water and had the same experience... I can't imagine how much more that had to hurt though; completely submersing your entire face into the salt. OUCH. He was ok in the end though! I was able to swim way beyond the rope and out to a tiny island of salt. Before I reached the island, I got out and walked for a bit. There were so many different types of salt: rock salt, sand-like salt, crystallized hunks and chunks, mud mixed with salt... It was crazy! I realized that there are also tons of different colors of mud too, with different textures even! Black, dark grey, grey, light and dark brown, tan! Also, some was more like clay and thick while other mud was smooth and soft. We caught the bus from Jerusalem to Mineral Beach at 9AM and it took about an hour to get from A to B. We soaked up the sun and stayed almost all day... We didn't get home until nearly 7PM! The weather was awesome, as usual. Instead of the water temp being like a hot tube like the last time I was there, the water was a perfect temp this time... We were all having so much fun and went out so far that the guard actually CAME out us on his paddle board and said we needed to come in closer to the shore... Haha whoops! In the Dead Sea, unless you're totally inept, it seems almost impossible to drown. The water is so dense with salt that your body literally becomes a buoy in the water!!

On the way home, there were no seats on the tour bus so I sat on the ground. I was fine, but felt really carsick after an hour or so of the rhythmic back and forth of the bus going up and down mountain after mountain.

I'll add more to this tomorrow! I'm soo happy I found the drafts. Hahahah!!

2/17/2010 - Off Day in the Old City

Today I had an off day, meaning that I went to church in the morning and had the rest of the day to do as I wanted. I came back from church and made lunch with Briana. We made salad with balsamic vinaigrette, guacamole, and sliced lots of fruits and veggies. Within our organization, we are on a tea & coffee fast, but a Daniel fast as well. This means that we do not cook with spices, use salt in or on or food, do not eat meat, and do not have any sugar or sweets in the house. We are supposed to keep the fast outside of the house as well... But lets just say some of us are stricter than others! I have had lots of ice cream, treats, and meat since my arrival. But today two of the full time stuff, Cay and Christine, came back from Gaza, and things became a bit more strict since then, in terms of our diets, assignments, and chores. I have to clean all the windows tomorrow I think. And I could possibly be the new secretary who answers the phone, which kind of worries me... I can't really see myself being very good at that.. But I'm willing to do whatever, so I'll just have to wait and see what happens.

Overall though, I had a relaxing day. It was another hot one, and I think it reached 75F. It really felt like it in the sun, even with the awesome breeze here in Jerusalem. The locals say not to enjoy the weather too much because soon enough, it will be freezing cold again. I hope they're wrong!! The other volunteers have repeatedly told me how cold it was right before I arrived... like 20-30F everyday with sleet and rain. With no central heating, tile floors, and non-insulated windows, really cold weather sounds potentially miserable! I With Geoffrey, Briana, and Kat, I went through the Damascus Gate into the Old City and walked around in the Jewish Quarter for a while. I got some good pictures, but don't feel very motivated because I know I have ALL the same ones from my last time here. I guess I just have to be creative and get a different angle or something this time around. Nonetheless, we walked through the Via Dolorosa, where Jesus carried His cross. It was really neat because as we walked down the ancient road, an Arab man carried two large crosses on his shoulders. I really wish I would have gotten a picture...

Speaking of cameras, I am having a hard time with my Nikon! I love the quality of the pictures and am so glad I invested (err, my parents invested, rather. Haha.) in getting one, but it is so incredibly awkward to carry the 1.2 lb SLR camera opposed to a sleek point and shoot. I also really hate putting something that large into someones face... And the noise that it makes, that nice "clicccck!" when I take a picture immediately makes someone turn their head as soon as I press the button. It is just taking some time to get used to, thats all =)

I was able to see the Western Wall again today, the Dome of the Rock, the Via Dolorosa, the Jewish Quarter, the Church of Mary Magdalene, and lots of other historically significant places. Israel, speficically Jerusalem, is soooo unimaginably rich with history it is literally overwhelming and startling. There are so many cites, so many churches, so many places to see for Jew, Christian, and Muslim alike. Simultaneously, it is a bustling home to almost a million people (I think) and is a totally modern city. Its crazy!

2/16/2010 - Jeriho

I traveled again to Jeriho today, but instead of doing outreach, I was able to tour around and see some of the sites tourists typically hit. In the morning, I had worship as I will everyday. It was awesome! I love how free and relaxing it is. There is no projector or screen for the words, so Tristan and Mike sing as they feel led and we all go along with them. Also, because our group is so tiny at the moment, you don't have to worry about 'finding a seat' or 'fitting in' or anything like that. Worship is totally personal between you and God and no one interrupts or takes attention away from Him. It's really, really nice.

After church, which ended around 10:30 or so, Kat, Bri, Jeffry and I walked to Ben Yehuda Street and milled around for a while. But I have to say, it might have been THE best day yet for this reason only - I finally found the pants I could not find in the States!!!!! Oh my goodness, they are the most comfortable thing I have ever worn. Actually, when I wear them, it feels like I'm not even wearing pants. Like a skirt, Aladdin pants are very wide. But at the bottom, like pants, there are holes for your feet. I'll add a picture to this post from online...

2/15/2010 - Jericho / Yeriho / Jeriho

At 2pm our group left for Jericho!

I had forgotten the stark, amazing contrast between the various cities of Israel. Within highly populated areas such as Tel Aviv and Jerusalem, there are many high rise buildings and apartments like any city in the United States. But as soon as you leave those crowded areas and head for the smaller cities, the land turns into mountainous rolling hills and desert. Its seriously insane to go from a modern city to a barren wilderness of Bedouins, goats, and camels within 10 minutes or less. I would love to put pictures of the difference in landscape on this blog or on Facebook, but it seems that the internet is too slow, unfortunately. I can try again, but every time the pictures fail to load.

Jericho is within the West Bank, which means that it is not under Israeli authority but rather, Arab authority. I think, and I could be wrong, at this time the West Bank is under the control of Fatah or Hamas. Either way, because it is under authority other than that of Israel, citizens of the West Bank are restricted of free travel in and out of the territory. I cannot imagine being "stuck" in Jericho indefinitely. It was beautiful and lush like an oasis in some parts of the town, but for the most part, it seemed to be extremely dry and oppressively hot. For example, today and the month of February is considered a winter month in Israel. But today, in the winter, it was almost 70F out, if not hotter! If that is winter in Jericho, I don't want to think about summer.

I'm really tired and its 12:30PM here and I need to head to bed. I'll finish this post tomorrow though. Night from Israel!

*2/16/2010*

So when we traveled into Jericho, we got in around 3:00PM and visited the Prophet's house, which is a part of the Living Bread property. It was a small house lost in an oasis of orange trees. You could just reach out and grab one off the tree and eat it. They were super succulent and very juicy... much better than any I've eaten in the States. Actually, the Jericho orange is so tasty that all of Israel relies on Jericho to grow them instead of the surrounding farm areas growing the fruit independently.

After seeing the house, we went to the place where the meeting was to be held. It was basically a wedding or event hall that Living Bread rents out once a week to hold meetings. It was really big! Arab weddings are held there and within the main larger building is a stage with two giant green armchairs for the bride and groom to use during the ceremony. The stage was surrounded by lots of plastic white chairs that the people who came to the meeting sat in. All in all, there may have been arounf 20-30 people present and then 10 children or so. For the past 9 months, the meetings in Jericho have been less advertised and as a result, less people come. In the past, Mike told me that on good days, as many as 500 people would come to a single meeting!!! That would be crazy awesome. But the meetings became more sporadic because Living Bread believed the Christians in Jericho needed to be able to stand on their own in a way and not be entirely dependent on the organization. In addition, milk used to be given out and I think that may have been the main reason people were coming (possibly; I'm not positive) and not to learn about the Bible or Christianity.

When I was there, we worshiped in Arabic for a while and then I went to work with the children with Rachel. She speaks Arabic really well even though she just began to learn a year ago. She was able to communicate our story to the children as I helped with balloons, coloring, and holding the poster board. Not being able to communicate because of the massive language between myself and kids. It was kind of frustrating not being able to understand them whatsoever. With a relatively familiar language, such as Spanish, as an America I can get by with the minimal amount of words that I know, and throw some English in that a Spanish-speaking person would understand. But with Arabic, every single words is completely and totally foreign. I know some words..

• afak - you're welcome
• shukran - thank you
• habibi - my love
• marhaba - welcome
• ma salami - goodbye

And in Hebrew I know the minimal also . . .

• shalom - goodbye, peace, hello, see ya later
• toda - thank you
• meetah - bed
• chamuda - cutie

I had a really nice time playing with the children. They were SO cute! Even with language barriers, a smile is universal. You can never go wrong with a smile and sometimes when that is all you can do, it really means a lot because without words, you're showing interest in the person you're looking at.

2/15/2010 - Our Staff

Today the Living Bread Staff traveled to Jericho / Jeriho / Yeriho. I've seen it spelled multiple ways and I'm not sure if there is a wrong way to write it as long as you pronounce it correctly. Haha. But before I share about my outing, I want to give you a background about what most days are going to be like for me to give you an idea of how to pray for me.

• Mondays - Worship @ Living Bread Church - 9:00AM
• Tuesdays -Worship @ Living Bread Church - 9:00AM
• Wednesdays -Worship @ Living Bread Church - 9:00AM
• Thursdays -Worship @ Living Bread Church - 9:00AM
• Fridays (Shabbat begins sundown) -Worship @ Living Bread Church - 9:00AM
• Saturdays (Shabbat ends at sundown) - Off / free time
• Sundays -Worship @ Living Bread Church - 11:00AM

Most days, it seems like I will be having fellowship at church and from there go on to other activities, such as going to Jericho. We'll come back from church to the ministry house and prepare for the service, eat, pack up and take off. It seems like a pretty relaxed schedule. Things might change though after Pastor Karen comes back from Gaza. . . I think either way I'll have a really good time just because of the people I will have the opportunity to work with.

• Mike (Canada): 21-22: full time staff
• Stephania (Italy) 40-something: volunteer
• Kat (North Dakota) 18 going on 19: volunteer
• Rachel (Australia) 40-something: full time staff
• Briana (South Dakota) 28: volunteer
• Jeffry (Washington) 28: volunteer
• Tristan (Singapore) 25 : full time staff
• John Mark (?) ?: Karen's son / full time staff
• Karen Dunham - the leader of Living Bread

There are a few other staff that I have not yet met and whose names I do not know. Volunteers come and go constantly and stay anywhere from a few days to months at a time. But everyone here is so incredibly kind and welcoming I feel like a part of the team after 3 days! I talked with Briana and Kat for a long time tonight and shared testimonies and life stories and we're all on the same page. It feels awesome to be with people who are really focused on and dedicated to God in the same way that I am. Everyone here was willing to put their life, their agenda, their plans, their financial situation, their stress, their job on hold and come to be a part of a dynamic group of people looking to see Israel changed for the better. Because of this almost sacrificial lifestyle that everyone in the ministry has come to lead (for whatever amount of time) we are all really free to listen to God's direction and are able to be totally spontaneous. Not to say that the organization is discombobulated or irrational, but there is an easy freedom that I feel that I have not yet experienced before. Maybe its the presence of God =)

Off to Jericho

Hello to all who have been reading my updates!

I am about to head out for Jericho. I'll be working with the kids there and doing evangelistic work with poster boards that our staff colored this morning. I'm really excited because this is our very first outing as a group and I'm interested to see what we're really going to be doing the next 3 months.

I'll post more later!

First Full Day: 2/13/2010

I had a totally great day!

I woke up around 8 AM because at the house next door, there is a rooster. Haha that really is the only downside I’ve come across thus far. According to the other members of Living Bread Staff, the thing goes at random 24 hours a day. Joy! So, I woke up, took a shower, and ate breakfast. Here in the ministry house, the kitchen is on the third floor where I am staying. It is fully equipped with a stove, oven, sink, and lots of tables in the adjacent room. Because of the Daniel Fast that is continually undertaken by all members of the team, there is no meat, coffee, tea, or sugar anywhere in the house. However, when I go out, I am free to eat whatever I like, which is awesome because I am dying for a shawarma right now! Shawarma is pita with humus, diced cucumber and tomato, and some kind of meat. It is absolutely delicious.

But in our kitchen, there is a plethora of fruits, lots of pita, tons of humus, yogurt, milk, and leftovers from previous dinners. We take turns making meals, which kind of scares me because I have no idea what I’ll make. When its my turn though, I’ll find a way to make things interesting. But for breakfast, I had:

* Pita with humus

* Cashews

* Dates

* Water

The main thing that I’ll be drinking is water. Its so crazy because here, water is sold not in little bottles of 16 ounces or so, but 1.5 liters each!

In the morning after I ate, I read Isaiah. I never have before and felt strongly that I needed to. I read chapters 1-12. On Saturdays, the staff is free to do whatever they want, so I had no time constraint. I read some in my room and some on the roof of our house, which was awesome. Two flights of stairs up, and there is a set of double doors. Instead of being another apartment, it is the roof! Its so awesome because there are chairs and a clothes line on the top and it is a really nice place to relax and talk. From up there you can see so much. I was taking pictures and was shocked when to the right of the building I turned and saw the Dome of the Rock through my lens! It was insane! I am really in a great location because I am in such close proximity to the Old City.

After reading, I was able to get to know the other staff as we talked and ate lunch until 2:45. Right now, there are four other people in the building with me: Tristan, Kat, Valerie (Val) and Stephania. There are a few others that are on a trip to Gaza and will be back tomorrow. When they come back to the house, then I’ll get to meet my roommate. We shared God stories, talked about family and home, and life in general as we soaked up the Israeli sun. Apparently before I got here it was incredibly cold for Israel with weather in the 20s-30s (Fahrenheit). But lucky for me, my first day had a high of around 72F! It was so nice coming from Philadelphia where there was almost four feet of snow on the ground to be transplanted into Israel with such spectacular weather.

After talking and lunch (pita, humus, green olives, dates, water and cheese) we got freshened up and went for a walk before dinner. I always forget how much people stare when you’re from out of the country. Not just in Israel, but when I was in Rwanda, Kenya and Congo also, if you’re a white woman, people stare. It’s fine, in the beginning it just feels awkward until you stop noticing. We walked out of East Jerusalem, where the Christian and Muslim population lives (where the ministry house is located) and into the Orthodox Jewish Quarter. Because it was Saturday, and Shabbat was not yet over, people were far and few in between and the streets were practically barren. Cars were non existent. There is no work done from Friday at dusk when Shabbat begins until Saturday at dusk when Shabbat ends. In the Jewish Quarter, that means all shops are closed. As we walked, there were only children and young adults around for the most part. All were modestly dressed in long skirts or pants, and long sleeved shirts or sweaters. Modesty is incredibly important to the Jewish people to the degree that they have placed a sign atop one street in the Quarter. I’ll take a picture the next time I pass. Due to the Shabbat, picture taking is not allowed. Stephania had her camera out and was graciously asked by one woman to not take pictures because of the Shabbat. The sign said something like this: “Modesty required. Residents extremely offended if visitors do not comply. Women and girls please dress accordingly. No tight clothing or trousers. Dresses, long skirts, and shirts below the elbow.” It probably said more but I can’t remember what else was on the sign. It made me kind of worried though because it literally came out of nowhere and my outfit was totally inappropriate (by their standards of course!). We decided to turn back then and go to Ben Yehuda Street.

Ben Yehuda is a really popular street in central Jerusalem. It’s a party street. There are tons of little shops, places to sit and sip a latte, and cute restaurants to grab a bite to eat. The first time we passed, the street was practically empty because of Shabbat - all the stores were closed. Until dinner, we sat on some of the benches and I talked with Kat and took pictures. After that, we walked to a park and then to dinner. We ate at an Italian place called “Focasia.” It was delicious, but at the same time I was totally disappointed because I was craving a falafel, shawarma, or schnitzel all day! I was dying to have something totally Israeli again! But it was ok because I know over the next three months I will have more than enough opportunities to experience the local cuisine. So for dinner I had a wonderful salad instead. It was chicken and goat cheese, and absolutely delicious. I was really hungry by that point and even thought it was enough to feed like two people, I ate the almost all of it myself. I really liked that everyone shared their meals though. Everyone was like “oh that’s good!” or “try some of my pasta!” or “can I taste that?!” Everyone seems to be like on big happy family. Actually, Stephania said that Kat and I should call she and Val our moms. Kat is 18 and I am 16, making us the youngest in the house by almost 20 years or more. Tristan is 25, but he is full-time staff here. For the volunteers, I am the youngest person. I’m not worried though because everyone is on the same page spiritually I think, which is the most important and critical aspect of why we are all here, together.

For dessert, I had a fabulous slice of hot chocolate cake. It was like a slice of heaven. It came with French vanilla ice cream and a load of warm chocolate syrup. I split mine with Kat. It was hilarious because Rachel (a full-time staff member who does not live in the ministry house) had Tierra messou and started laughing. Her teeth were caked with the chocolate pudding and were totally brown. Everyone pointed and laughed, but because our desserts were all brown as well, our teeth were just as discolored! Haha. I think it was one of those “had to be there” kind of moments.

After dinner we walked back through Ben Yehuda Street. By that point, it had gotten dark and the shops were all open and filled with people. It’s crazy because during the day, people go to synagogue or stay at home, and it feels like at night they come out of the woodwork! After Ben Yehuda, we walked towards the Old City because that is where Rachel’s apartment is. I was able to see a lot of places that I recognized from my last time here. It was really neat being able to come back and have a frame of reference and have a relative sense of where I was. We crisscrossed between street and alley in the Old City and during the process I was able to get an Israeli SIM card and an adapter for the outlets. Once we got back it was around 9:30PM.

I hopped on Facebook using Karen’s computer downstairs and got a distraught email from my mom. Both of my parents thought it was really unwise to get in a car with three people I had never met before and go to a city in another country forty minutes from the airport. They were probably right. But Ian was so helpful the entire trip that I felt confident that I would be totally fine if I caught a ride with him. I called home and cleared things up for my parents and they felt much better. Because Ian was coming to do volunteer work on ambulances, had been to Israel less than a year ago, and spoke English (and was just an all around fun person) I really didn’t think it would be an issue driving from Tel Aviv to Jerusalem with he and his friends. But I can totally see why my parents felt the way that they did, because at the time they read my Facebook posts, they had hardly and details and it seemed like a irrational and completely unwise decision on my end. So, I cleared things up and was able to say hello to everyone and let them know that I loved them. I’m going to try to make Saturdays the day specifically that I call home and check in with everyone. I’d like to call more often if possible, but we’ll see what happens. My cell phone can only call inside of Israel because the SIM card isn’t international.

All in all, I had a great day in Jerusalem.

I Made It! 2/12/2010

I Made it to Israel!

I got absolutely no sleep last night but had a really good time anyway. Before boarding the plane while waiting at gate A19, I was asked by a young guy if I knew him or had met him before. I hadn’t; but we still had a lot of fun talking and getting to know one another. His name is Ian, he’s 19, Jewish, from Maryland, and loves Owl City, wrestles, is into music production, has a younger brother, and loves Israel. The seat to his left was vacant so after a while I moved to where he was sitting and had someone to talk to the whole time, which was awesome because it was a LONG flight. Before I moved I had been seated in between to really nice older women. But they were really talkative (in a didn’t-know-when-to-stop kind of way) and I didn’t regret switching seats. After two hours of de-icing the plane, we took off for Tel Aviv.

Dinner was nasty! I had chicken, or what was supposed to be chicken, with a barbeque gelatin sauce smothered all over the place. Luckily Ian had Trader Joe’s beef jerky and we both ate that instead. He taught me some interesting info about tweaking music and creating songs and showed me the different programs he uses. After that we watched Step Brothers. Haha … Weird movie. We each tried to get some sleep but we were both so uncomfortable it was really challenging. The woman next to Ian was sleeping the entire trip and was spread out over the two seats to his right. Because of the way that she was laying, it was really hard for him not to knock into her. So most of the time he ended up squished next to or into me. We talked about school, friends, drinking, Christianity, Islam, Judaism, why we love Israel, parents, being alone in another country, and other things. He really reminded me of Evan in the sense that he seemed to know a lot of information on almost any subject. He works as a volunteer EMS at his fire station and was really good at describing injuries and effective medical responses he uses on the way to the hospital in the ambulance.

Overall, it was a relatively was a smooth flight with the best landing I’ve ever experienced. I arrived in Tel Aviv around 5PM. My bags took a long time to be processed from runway to conveyer belt, so Ian and I ended up waiting around for a while. After grabbing our bags, I expected we needed to go through customs. But apparently, at random times Israeli security decides not to check people, and fortunately for us, we arrived at one of those lax times. Ian’s Israeli friends drove he and I into Jerusalem. It was a lot of fun just getting to listen to Hebrew naturally by people my age. It took us about 40 mins to get from Tel Aviv to Jerusalem. It might sound unsafe to go into the capital with 3 strangers, but I felt confident that everything would be ok. The people of Israel, both Arab and Jew, are very welcoming and outgoing.

After being dropped of at Ian’s friends’ house, we walked to a main street and loaded my bags unto a taxi. I realized then that I had lost the paper my address and emergency contact information for Living Bread. I guess when I was in the house I put it down and forgot it when we left. Regardless, I got a taxi and found where I was going. He spoke little English, but wanted to know if I had a boyfriend. I said no, and he promptly, and repeatedly, asked me why. I said I was focusing on schoolwork and my job right now and that seemed good enough for him! Once I reached 12 Nur Ad-din Street, the ministry house was totally dark and visibly empty. Only then did I feel a bit nervous and slightly -panicked because I was in the predominantly Arab Quarter of Jerusalem (aka East Jerusalem) and no one was really around. But on the adjacent side of Living Bread’s house was a very warm Arab family. I was able to get help from them and call home and call Tristan with their help. While I was waiting for Tristan to get me, I sat and talked with Gabi, Ramses, Eve, Salmon, and Maahh(???). They fed me tea, cookies, and a Banana as we discussed Arab words, Obama, and the economic turn of events in America. Apparently, the whole world is feeling this economic crunch, including Israel.

All in all - AWESOME day and I would totally do it over if I was able =)

Time to Go

LEAVING FOR THE PHILADELPHIA INTERNATIONAL AIRPORT!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

2/10/2010 - The Best Snow Day of My Life Thus Far

Today a the East Coast received an inordinate and unheard of amount of snow - 15 inches or more! And this was on top of the previous snow left over from last Fri-Sat. It is up to my knees! =) The Philadelphia region was no exception. It was snowing so hard that we all donned goggles! I spent the day outside making a mountain-like pyramid of ginormous snowballs with Abby, Caroline, Hannah, and our neighbor, Chantal. It currently stands about 10ft high, and we plan on adding width and height tomorrow! It is pretty beast, I have to say. I'll post pictures tomorrow of our masterpiece. I didn't want to run the risk of getting my camera wet, as it was snowing incessantly today and there was no break until now. The snow is absolutely perfect for making snowballs and other frozen engineering feats because its easily packable and stays together really well.

However, despite the fun of today, the snow may prevent my plane from taking off tomorrow night. I'm hoping that I'll still be leaving as scheduled, but if not, I trust that God has a better plan for my day. As of right now, all flights from the Philadelphia International Airport have been cancelled until 2PM tomorrow afternoon, so I should be in good shape!

Still Packing =)

I woke up this morning to a phone call from a friend in Israel. I was able to share about what I plan on doing, etc, and then we got to talking about the weather. He said one day this week, it was 32F and the next day, it was 72F! OY VEY!

Matthew 9:35-38

35Then Jesus went about all the cities and villages, teaching in their synagogues, preaching the gospel of the kingdom, and healing every sickness and every disease among the people. 36 But when He saw the multitudes, He was moved with compassion for them, because they were weary and scattered, like a sheep having no shepherd. 37 Then He said to his disciples, "The harvest is truly plentiful, but the laborers are few. 38 Therefore pray the Lord of the harvest to send out laborers into His harvest."

Friday-Sunday; 2/5-7/2010: Goodbyes

2/9/2010

I am continuing to pack for my trip. I absolutely adore international travel and all the wonderful experiences and opportunities that come with the ordeal - except packing. OH MY GOODNESS! I struggle immensely with knowing what to bring and what to leave at home. If there was not a weight limit and fee charged for exceeding that specified limit (which I believe is now 50 LBS.), I would be in good shape. I usually have enough space in my suitcase and carry-on to accommodate all of my belongings. However, I always have an incredibly hard time knowing what to bring in terms of clothing. If I was able, I would bring my entire closet! Unfortunately, that is impossible and space does not allow me to do so. Because of this, I am forced to pick and choose between what is necessary and what is not. I am told that this time of year in Israel, it is winter. This means that the temperatures are in the 40s-50s in Jerusalem and not much higher. In different parts of the country, at lower elevations such as the Dead Sea, temperature can differ dramatically and be much hotter. In addition, when in Israel the seasons will change and transition from winter to spring. Spring in Israel arrives with temperatures in the 60s and higher. This transition is the cause of my worry over attire! I just don't know what to bring so that I am not too hot, but not too cold. From friends and the help of the internet, I have been advised to dress in layers. Layers it is! =) Other than that, I have basically everything I need.

• Camera + case
• Laptop + case
• Towel / wash cloth
• Sheets
• Toiletries
• Sneakers + sandals
• Reading material
• International cell
• Chargers and various cords
• The anointing of God(!)

Today I was able to go to Wilmington, DE and give my grandmother one last hug good-bye. She is naturally bent to worry about her family, and my going to Israel does rest easy with her. Please pray that she would feel at peace with my trip and comfortable with the fact that I am going away. I know all the biased media portrays Israel as a chaotic war zone unfit for a lone 16-year old American girl. I'm going to do my best to change her mind on the subject incrementally. Haha!

I have really been struggling with selfishness lately. Or better stated, feeling selfish. I feel as though I've been sucking all the attention and time from Abby, Caroline, and Hannah. Over the past three weeks so many aspects of our family life have revolved around my trip. The details have consumed so much time and energy. My passport needed to be renewed, ticket booked, camera purchased in another state, and so many other minute details such as buying all the supplies I'll need for being away from home. These tasks were in addition to home schooling and the other daily routines of life. Thank you mom and dad for caring for me as much as you do and giving me the trip of a lifetime. I'm apologize that I have not been more openly thankful.

I can't believe as I look out the window, as the snow softly falls, this time Friday I will be in Israel! WOW! Everything came together so quickly and perfectly that the weeks flew by. I was able to drop my classes painlessly and recieve a 100% refund from Bucks County Community College, my passport was returned in two weeks, I have a brand new amazing camera, and my friends saved the day by loving me above and beyond more that I could have ever deserved. Yesterday, my mom's mom sent an additional $105 and friends today gave me another $100, bringing the total donations to $1751!!! How awesome is that?! Without even asking, God has showered me with blessing after blessing, from person after person. I am literally in awe of His love, but also at the love my friends have demonstrated towards me. I should go away more often! ;)

On a serious note, I am really getting pumped about this trip. I feel the excitement building every time I think about being in Israel again and cannot wait to get there. I will be staying in East Jerusalem near the Damascus Gate on 12 Nur Ad-din Street. I actually was right near the guest house before and didn't even know it! The Garden Tomb, which is the site that claims to be the tomb of Jesus Christ, is in very close proximity to the guest house and church. I was at the tomb in 2008 when I was in Israel and touring the sites in Jerusalem.

I'll close for now, but write more ASAP =)

Just A Reminder from Living Bread

Coffee/Tea Fast . All of Living Bread is on a corporate fast of all TEA and COFFEE for souls. We ask that you please comply with this while you are with us.

2. Daniel Fast. At our Ministry Centre location we are on a modified Daniel Fresh and healthy food diet. People leave the Centre feeling wonderful.

Supplies. We also ask that you bring your own laundry detergent (washing machines provided), as well as your own pillow and bedding. (i.e. 1 single bed coversheet and flat sheet, 1 light blanket, 1 pillowcase).

4. Luggage. We ask that for a short term stay of up to 3 months, that you only bring one large suitcase and one carry-on. We do not have much space and will not be able to store all your clothing.

5. Clothing. For men we suggest bringing a couple pairs of slacks, you may wear jeans, however with the temperature being hot it is best to have lightweight pants with a couple dress shirts as well as casual t-shirts.

For women we ask that when you are in the West Bank that you wear pants or shorts that cover your knees as well as shirts that cover your elbows. So bring a couple of dress shirts/blouses, skirts, and long pants. You will find opportunity to wear long shorts in Jerusalem.

6. Cell phone. If you need a cell phone while you are in Israel you can rent one at the airport. If you have an unlocked cell phone you can always buy a local SIM card here in Jerusalem for around 100NIS = 25USD.

7. Lap-Top. Bring your own lap-top. There’s a restricted wireless connection in the Ministry House that can be used when the office is closed.

Alternatively, there is an ‘’Internet Cafe” a few minutes walk from here to do emails.

I Am Blessed

I purposefully did not ask for any financial aid for my trip. I wanted to let myself experience the favor of God and trust in Him in a new way. I believed, but wanted to help my unbelief. The trip was expensive (in my humble opinion, as a part-time Panera Bread Associate making 7.75 per hour!). Here's the breakdown:

Round-trip ticket: 1120

Upfront expenses for lodging, food, etc: 1900

Nikon D5000, lens filter, 4GB memory card, and camera case: 967

So far, God has led my friends to contribute 1496 and it is still coming. My God is amazing. I asked that He would take care of me, and that I would see tangible results. 1496 is very tangible!

"If you then, being evil, know how to give good gifts to your children, how much more will your Father who is in heaven give what is good to those who ask Him!" - Matthew 7:11

Post2: Getting Ready

I found the words of Henry Miller to be true after I traveled to Israel: “One’s destination is never a place, but a new way of seeing things.” Prior to the trip, my mind’s eye pictured Israel as a land plagued with religious strife, where conflicts between Arabs and Jews erupt on a daily basis to create a war-torn nation. I envisioned young, gun wielding men roaming the streets, the whistle of explosives overhead, and the stress of being in a country with such world-wide animosity directed towards her. What I found contradicted all my preconceived notions, reducing them to mere allegories. Not once did I fear for my safety. Not once did I feel like my life was in the balance, even when I stayed in a settlement in the West Bank. On the contrary, I enjoyed every minute of my time in Israel, from climbing Masada at sunrise, to riding camels in the Negev, to dining with Orthodox Jews for the Sabbath in Jerusalem. I was met by a kind and hospitable people, more than willing to share their religion, values, and culture with a foreigner. This natural warmth held true for Jew and Arab alike. The purpose of the trip was to gain a better understanding of the Jewish roots of my Christian faith, but I walked a way with much more: a deep desire to bring a solution of peace to this troubled area of the world.

On Wednesday January 20th I went out on a limb and dropped my classes at Bucks County Community College. The morning before my mom casually tossed out the idea of going to Israel again. I hadn't been in contact with Heaven Sent Ministries in over two months. Nonetheless, I wrote to Andrew Tattersall, whom I had been in contact with in October 2009. Originally, I wanted to go to Israel in early January 2009, and the plans fell through when our house didn't sell. I wasn't sure if Israel was still a possibility.

I had planned out all the classes I would need to take to graduate high school with my Associate's degree, which was no small feat. That is just the kind of person I am; I love making plans and doing whatever it takes to stick with them. I make lists and do my best to check everything on that list off. Completing my A.A. degree by the end of high school was at the top of my mental list. I never thought that I would be so excited to throw all the careful planning away! I felt nervous as I signed my name on the page consciously agreeing that I would not be a student at Bucks the following semester. But I couldn't help to feel an immense sense of freedom and excitement simultaneously with the uneasiness. I was jumping off a cliff into the waters of the unknown, or so I thought.

Well, today marks two weeks after I dropped my classes. I needed to update my passport because it expired this past September. It was expedited and came back incredibly fast - I waited less than two weeks! I am happy to say I booked my ticket! It is official now - my dream has become a reality. The ticket cost $1190 through a Christian agency that works with Heaven Sent. I cannot believe that God has orchestrated this trip so seamlessly. From the classes to the finances to the connections I have seem His had at work on my behalf. This morning my mom, sisters and I went to FedEx Office and sent the check via overnight shipping. It should arrive to its destination tomorrow afternoon by 4:00 PM. This is my itinerary:

SERVICE DATE FROM TO DEPART ARRIVE
US AIRWAYS 09FEB PHILADELPHI PA TEL AVIV YAFO 925P 330P
US 796 TUESDAY INTL BEN GURION IN 10FEB
V ECONOMY AIRCRAFT: AIRBUS INDUSTRIE A330-200


When in Israel, I will be volunteering with Karen Dunham in Jerusalem. Her ministry is called Living Bread International and has locations in Jerusalem, Jericho, Hebron, Bethlehem, Ramallah, Gaza, and Beersheva. She works with the Jew and Muslim alike, and reaches out to all in need regardless of nationality, ethnicity, or religion. She works with the 'least of these' and strives to be the hands and feet of Jesus. The volunteering house where all internationals stay is located in Jerusalem though, so that is where I will be! I remember Jerusalem from my first trip as a busy but beautiful city with great food, wonderfully mild breezy weather, and kind natives. I am thrilled to be going back! The seasons will be different - in September was the hot summer the first time I was in Israel. Now the next three months I will experience the winter and transition into spring.

I have no expectations or agenda for how I will be spending these next 2-3 months. That might sound crazy to go around the world without any plans as to how you'll spend your days. From Karen's ministry website the following are some areas to which I may contribute:

• Worshipers and those that love to prophesy in song and Word
• Outreach to refugees- taking aid to the camps
• Education to refugees- teaching Bible studies, helping the children with homework
• Media and production- camera, editing, P.A.’s- all areas
• Prayer warriors- we need warriors that can help push us through
• Administration- office, media brochures, mail, accounting- all areas

I just am looking for the opportunity to be the hands and feet of Jesus. I felt like anything less than two months away from the distractions and cares of normal life would not be enough time to dedicate to God. I want so badly to be a vessel fit for his use in whatever capacity he chooses. I want to immerse myself in a culture completely different from my own, take lots of amazing pictures of Israeli culture and life, try to learn as much Hebrew and Arabic as possible, and possibly decide a direction for my career! So, I am guilty of an preconceived idea of what my trip will yield! These are not expectations however, but goals. I'm ok with these, because I think setting goals is critical. They are important to think about and formulate so you don't get stuck doing nothing.

Post1: Background Information

Something about the snow has inspired this new love for writing. Maybe its the fact that I've been trapped inside all day. It's possible. Or maybe its the mystique of the softly falling flakes on my windowpane, beckoning me to use a long-forgotten skill. It has been a while, unfortunately. Too long. The throes of everyday life have enthralled me to the point that I cannot remember the last time I picked up a pen and paper and just poured out my heart to no one. Or in a different sense, put my fingers to the keys and spilled my soul into a post. I guess in this fast-paced culture I live in, taking the time to account for the day events is out of the question?.. It is such a remedy to the complications of daily life, writing is; a passive but doubtlessly effective way to release one's deepest fears, aspirations, and thoughts without the nag of ridicule and negativity, unless self-induced. The pen is a haven for the wondering mind, the paper a sanctuary for the restless soul. Regardless of this newfound zeal, I realize now that I have placed a pretty arduous task placed upon my shoulders. I love to write, but it is not a discipline to which much time or effort has been devoted. The reason I have chosen to write down the next stage of my life in detail is this: I believe the next few months are going to be some of the most important of my life. I want to be able to clearly look back years from now and be able to see the person I was before and after the coming experiences. Before I go any further, I should probably share what I am expecting to happen to me and why I believe it will be so dynamic. I'll give some background information on myself before I get to that though.

I home school, and have my entire life save kindergarten. I went to Christian kindergarten, but that really doesn't count for anything because kindergarten is basically the same everywhere. It went well, and I have good memories of naps time, snack time, and the learning the alphabet. On the first day of class in first grade I was absolutely terrified of my teacher and cried and pleaded that my mother bring me home. For some reason, my teacher scared me to death. I have no idea why; I cant rationalize in the least why I felt the way that I did. Nonetheless, she terrified me and I did not want to be there. Actually, she adopted twins from China, so she really must have been a great and caring person. I couldn't see that at the time unfortunately. My mom knew other families in our community that home schooled their children and liked what she saw, and decided to give it a whirl. I was so incredibly excited to not have to go back to school. I felt such relief. Well, I've stayed at home ever since. Over the years, home schooling has fallen in and out of my esteem. Like anything and everything in life, home schooling has its ups and downs; good days and well, not so good days. Overall, I feel that this style of personalized, self-directed education has been really good for the kind of person that I am. I'm curious. I love to learn and ask lots of questions, of myself and of the world around me. I immensely enjoy the way home schooling has allowed me to evade many of the woes associated with peer pressure. Home schooling has given me the opportunity to study whatever interests me in whatever capacity I choose. More than ever before, in these following months I will take advantage of learning unconventionally. I think that is really awesome. In school, there are certain classes you are able choose from and that's all there is. Sure, there may be electives, but that's it. With home schooling, you can learn about anything and everything you want! Just find a textbook online, ask an retired expert to come over once a week, take a community college class and dive in. How cool is that?

The social aspect, which seems to be the biggest concern of the non-home schooling community hasn't been too much of an issue. I get a plethora of questions about what I "do for fun" or "how I make friends" every time I tell someone that I home school. For the first time last night at work, I even got a "come out from under your rock!" Here are some a handful home school kids get the most. Actually, I'll give you a list of the Top 10 Most Frequently Asked Questions to Home School Students from personal experience:

1. Do you get to sleep in every single day?
2. Your parents actually teach you?
3. You do school with your siblings?
4. How do you make friends?
5. Can you wear your pajamas all day long?!
6. Do you go to prom?
7. Do you get sick of being at home all day, everyday?
8. Are you like, really smart?
9. Do you drink or go to parties?
10. Does it bother you that you don't have a social life?

There are lots more that I have been asked over the years, but I would say those above are the most frequent. It cracks me up that the world has this preconceived notion that all home school students wear their pants up to their belly buttons, pull their socks up to their knees, wear mom jeans, and only own sweaters. Be honest, what picture pops instantly into your mind when you hear the word "home school kid" ? A social pariah, right? Its cool, I actually think in some ways we have given ourselves that stereotype by being anti-social and a bit shy. And if you just so happen to know someone who is home schooled and is normal, good for you! But let me tell you this: all home school students are not the same. The way there are jocks, the popular kids, nerds, the techies, and freaks at your school, the same holds true for home school students. Not one of us is exactly alike. Another thing that makes me smile is that no one can tell that I home school. Because I don't find the mold of "home school kid" and can hold a conversation with someone outside of my family for more than five minutes, I tend to fool people. I have a lot of fun debunking the myths that people believe about home school students. I'll just take a minute to answer the questions I'm often asked. Before I do though, I'll tell you this: my answers will vary from other home school students. How I answer these questions is unique to me. At the same time though, some will cross personalities and parents and apply to all who home school. Lets go!

1. Do you get to sleep in late every single day?
No. Unfortunately, I do not. I get up later than my friends who go to regular high school, but I don't get to sleep in until noon everyday. On most days, I try to be up in between 7:00-9:00 AM. Dependant upon what I have going on during the day will get up earlier or later though. Some kids I know have parents who let them sleep in until whenever they feel like and start their schoolwork after that. That kind of structure doesn't work for me because I don't like to be doing work until 8 o'clock at night.

2. Your parents actually teach you?
Yes. My dad works full-time, but my mom stays home and teaches myself and my three younger sisters. Before my mom had us, she was a public school teacher of middle school science in Delaware. She has her degree in education, which makes her more than qualified to give myself and my sisters a good education. Over the years as I've gotten older, I have taught myself and gone outside of the house for classes that cover harder high school level courses. When you're younger though, your parents are your primary educators. In most cases, the dads go to work and are less involved their children's education and the mom does most of the teaching. That's always the way it has been for me.

3. You Do School With Your Siblings?
Yes, I do. When families have a lot of kids like mine, most parents I know teach everyone at the kitchen table the same material and assign the appropriate work to the different ages. The older students will get an essay to write or papers work on and the younger kids might get a coloring page. But the older you get, the less help you need and I now work independently at my computer or at my desk in my room. Its really common that all the children will sit together and learn together and help one another out.

4. How Do You Make Friends?
This is probably one of the most vexing and exasperating questions I am asked. I make friends the same way everyone else does: I talk to people. I may not make friends by going to school and meeting people there, but regardless, the way public schooled students make friends applies to home schooled students as well. I play sports (intramural and high school), go to youth group, go to church, have a part-time job, volunteer, hang out with neighbors, go to classes with other home schooled kids, take community college classes, go to clubs, and travel. As long as you're friendly and outgoing, you make friends the same way even if you don't go to school everyday.

5. Can You Wear Your Pajamas All Day Long?!
Hmmm. Well, I guess I could if I wanted to, but I personally choose not to stay in my pajamas. Some people I know enjoy the freedom of not having to get dressed everyday and take advantage of wearing their PJs all day. I don't like feeling like a grimy bum though and prefer to shower and start off my day fresh. When I was little, my mom made me get dressed every morning, make my bed, and get ready as if I was going to school so my attitude would be in the right place to absorb whatever I needed to learn for the day. But then again, it all depends on your parents!

6. Do You Go to Prom?
No. Home school organizations sometimes put on proms so students can get dressed up and feel like regular kids. Some of my friends have gone to proms with their friends when invited, but I haven't ever gone. I guess not hearing about how "awesome" prom is year after year has effected my view of the occasion. I really don't understand all the hype, and while it is fun to get dressed up and dance, I don't get why all the hopes and dreams of public high school students are vested in that night. I guess that would be my only question for you: why is the prom so incredibly meaningful?

7. Do You Get Sick of Being at Home All Day, Everyday?
Yes. There are days when I wish that I had something I know I had to do everyday. But really, I don't stay at home all the time. I go to classes, work, run errands, and make plans for the weekend. I'm sure once I get my license, I will never have to feel like this again. While part of feeling 'stuck at home' could be attributed to being taught at home, I think age also plays a role.

8. Are You Like, Really Smart?
Maybe! Honestly, I've never been to public school so I can't compare my grades to that of my friends because I just don't know the nature and level of the work they are assigned. I do know that I started college when I was fifteen and have twenty five credits towards my freshman year of college. I go to Bucks County Community College and take classes as if I were a freshman. Classes my first semester were four days a week, and the second semester I was there three days a week. In that way, I do get "out of the house" because classes are with other people ages 18+ at the main campus. Pretty sweet, huh? Actually, the community college option is open to home schooled and public schooled students alike, as long as you're at least fifteen. Math is, and has always been, a struggle for me. I feel as though my brain is not wired to think mathematically. I also feel as though mathematics are a foreign language at times, which is frustrating. I've kept on plugging away at the subject over the years, but it is the one area of my academic career in which I have experienced repeated failure no matter how much time, effort, and energy I exert trying to figure it out. I guess being smart is relative then. Yes, I am smart. However, that does not mean that I excel in all subjects.

9. Do You Drink or Go to Parties?
No, I do not drink, but yes I do go to parties. I know even if I did go to public school, I still wouldn't choose to drink. I think that drinking is really detrimental to your health, and can potentially lead down a path I really don't want to go down. I have wanted to try it, in all honestly, but made a personal decision to stay away from drinking. I don't think its worth the cost, whether it be drunk and getting in a car accident, a hangover, or making a stupid decision while I was under the influence. Also, my grandfather recently suffered 2 massive strokes and died after leading a life of obsessive drinking. That alone was enough to make me not want to get into drinking. In addition, its against the law. Why risk it? Why not just wait until you're 21? I purposefully don't place myself in situations where I would feel the pressure to try drinking As for parties, yeah I do hang out with my friends and go to parties! I may be home schooled, but I'm still a teenager.

10. Does It Bother You That You Don't Have a Life?
What does that question even mean? Define "life" for me, would you? The dictionary states the meaning of "life" as follows: the condition that distinguishes organisms from inorganic objects and dead organisms, being manifested by growth through metabolism, reproduction, and the power of adaptation to environment through changes originating internally. I'm breathing right now, so I must be considered alive. I hang out with my friends, go to classes at college, go to the movies, go out to eat, go to youth group, go on retreats, volunteer, travel around the world, visit friends and family in other states, talk to friends on Facebook, Skype and on the phone, go to work. . . Are only those who go to public school able to say they have "lives" ? I understand that some students who are home schooled don't go out often; that's a totally valid observation. However, I think having a life is a lot more than going to school everyday. This is the only one of the question that hurts. All the others are fine, but I really think living is a lot more than spending nine hours a day in school. A lot of my friends who go to public school don't even want to be there. I enjoy my life, love to learn, and have awesome friends. I just don't understand why school is life. I know that a lot of people find their security in the friends and social position they hold at school. Maybe that's what the question really asks, "how do you go without the personal social benefits that school gives?" I don't compare myself to others; I don't look at a person and think they're popular or unpopular based on the way they look on the outside. Maybe that's why I don't care whether or not I go to school and have people think of me as socially acceptable. I'm confident in who I am, and don't need to constantly surround myself with others to feel that I have a life. I think home schooling has given me a chance to have many, many life experiences that public schooling would not have allowed. Examples would be going to Rwanda, Kenya, Congo and Israel during the school year, being a full-time 16-year old college student, and making friends from around the world. I think I have a wonderful life, and home schooling has only made it better.

I'm sure there are more questions than those above that I've been asked over the years, but these are the ones that stuck out the most in my mind. I love answering questions about home schooling because so many people are misinformed. Home schoolers are definitely the minority, with roughly 1.5 children in the United States.