Jesus Trail

We just completed the epic four day hike of walking in Jesus's literal footsteps from Nazareth to Capernaum on the Jesus Trail while learning what it means to walk in His metaphorical footsteps. Day 1 consisted of walking from Jesus' boyhood home, Nazareth, to where He performed His first miracle in Cana.  Linford challenged us each day with something to think about or a phrase to finish.  Day 1 was "The Kingdom of God is like..."  Hannah Tissue came up with a wonderful analogy. It was along the lines of, "The Kingdom of God is like a well fit Chaco.  If the straps are too tight -- too legalistic, they will rub the wrong way and be really uncomfortable.  If they are too loose, they are no longer good for protection and it is easy to loose your footing and fall." Many could relate to this as blisters were beginning to form on our feet.  She could easily relate to this as by the end of our time on the Jesus Trail, she had 26 blisters.  After around 8 miles, we ended up in Cana and were welcomed into a lovely Arab home for the night.

We started off day 2 in Cana, and ended up around 6 miles later at a goat farm.  Our meditation for the day was, "Behold!"  We were to come up with our own "behold" phrase.  This really encouraged us to pay attention to our surroundings -- to the natural and unnatural sounds of the world.  As the day went on, we talked less and less to each other.  I couldn't tell you if it was because we were starting to get tired, or if we were all thinking hard about our little assignment.  We also had beautiful scenery to take in everywhere we walked today.  We walked through a forest, fields of beautiful wildflowers, and everything else in between. 

Day 3. Around 13 miles. We walked a long time through fields of wheat.  Whenever I think about the size of Israel, I think about it being roughly the size of New Jersey and how small it is for a country.  Now I realize just how much land that means.  We had a whole new perspective on the land today as we walked through seemingly endless fields of wheat.  Somehow, the wheat turned into thistle, and many of us walked for a mile or two with our hands above our heads attempting to avoid the thistle and nettles. We also walked through fields of cows and climbed up the Horns of Hattin to get a wonderful panoramic of where we have been and where we have yet to go. Today was nearly silent between everyone.  Linford talked to us about Jesus' ministry starting when He was around 30, giving him around 3 years to complete everything He came to earth to do.  What would we do with 3 years to do whatever we wanted? I think this question really put life into perspective to a lot of us.  We really don't know how much time we have left on earth.  We shouldn't delay doing what we most want to do in life because we don't know if we'll have the time 10 years from now.  I know it really encouraged me to live my life completely for Jesus.  As I am realizing how hard it is to walk in His physical footsteps in the Holy Land, I'm realizing even more how difficult it is to follow in His Spiritual footsteps.  It is definitely something to strive for!  We arrived at the end of the day to a lovely little oasis which had a pool that many utilized.  They refueled us with delicious food both for dinner and breakfast, setting us out on our final leg of the journey! 

Day 4.  Cliffs of Arbel to Capernaum.  Today was supposed to be the easiest of all our days, but it was far from it for most.  While the terrain was more or less flat, it was hot and there was very little shade for us.  We were supposed to think about the Beatitudes as we were hiking, and to come up with our own.  "Blessed are the trailblazers." "Blessed is the moleskin." "Blessed are the trees that provide shade." "Blessed are those who patiently wait for those who lag behind, for they shall have many friends." "Blessed are the EMU students who hike the Jesus trail to Capernaum and leave Capernaum on the Jesus Trail." "Blessed are those who stay on the marked trail." "Blessed are those who walk in Jesus' physical footsteps while walking in Him." We took a little detour from the Jesus Trail to hike up to the Mount of the Beatitudes and listened to Linford read the Beatitudes and the Lord's Prayer. We looked over the Sea of Galilee and saw towns that are now remnants of Rome's Empire, Tiberias specifically, compared to the everlasting Kingdom of God.  We ended up on the rocky shore of Capernaum learning more about Jesus calling His disciples.  At the end of the talk, we had a little symbolic footwashing in the Sea of Galilee on Maundy Thursday.  I would struggle to think of a more appropriate time or place for this to happen! 

Overall, this experience was probably pretty high on our list of favorite things we've done as a group.  We learned a lot about Christ and how He grew up, and we learned a lot about us, our faith, and our determination.  We all finished this incredible journey together! This time brought us all closer to each other and taught us to be compassionate and understanding of each other's struggles.  It taught us what a team looks like.  It turned us into a little family... Okay. A rather large family :)

32 people.  40 miles.  4 days.  Nearly 75 blisters.  Smiles all around.Once again, sorry for the weird punctuation and stuff. This whole Hebrew computer is lame. 

Palestine to Israel

The time has come for us to leave our host families behind.  It was sad to think that I may never see the Bannoura family again, but at the same time, I think most of us were ready to move on to our next destination just a few miles down the road -- Jerusalem.  I will miss having warm Hobez (bread) in the morning with  different jams, hummus, cheeses, zeit and zatar (olive oil and spices) and hard boiled eggs.  I will miss Mirvates laugh.  I will miss Anwar's passion for peace and Natalie's giggles at our Arabic or her parent's English.  I will miss the delicious food combination that is rice and noodles.  But, our time in Palestine is up, and it is time to say goodbye. So we said bye to all of our friends at ATG through a long hike and a barbeque in a tent in the middle of a desert, our families, the shop keepers we have come to know and love, the olive and lemon trees, and hello to well kept roads, pricey shops, green grass, and expensive looking houses.  Our time in Palestine was intense in so many ways.  First, three hours of Arabic was a little more that most of us were expecting.  It's cool to see how far we have all come in our Arabic skills.  It would be cool to continue, but I'm not sure how useful Bethlehem Arabic would be back in the states!  I definitely enjoyed the hikes that we went on too.  It makes me excited to come back to the beautiful Shenandoah Valley and do a very different kind of hiking!  The terrain here is all rocky with little patches of green occasionally, and random wildflowers popping up between the crevices.  There is never much covering or shade from the scorching sun either.  The terrain is just so very different and beautiful in it's own way.  I've also found that some pretty great conversations happen while people hike!
We just arrived to JUC (Jerusalem University College) where we almost doubled their student body.  I was talking to four girls, and one said that her college roommate had a lot of friends at EMU since she was from Virginia, and I asked who it was, and it turns out that I went to high school and played volleyball with her! It's such a small world! JUC is located in "Old Jerusalem" so all the buildings are obviously... old.  And with that comes a lot of beauty.  It was so refreshing to drop off my bags in our 6 person dorm room (I'm with Rachel Bell, Laura Bowman, Bridgett Brunea, Taylor Harrison, Anna Hershey, Ariel Keiser, and Emily Hodges) and lay in the grass.  I had almost forgotten how good dirt and grass smelled! It is absolutely lovely here! I am excited to see what I will come to love about Jerusalem, and hopefully become friends with local shop keepers like I did in Beit Sahour.  We have the day off tomorrow, but then our schedule is GO-GO-GO for the next two weeks.  Our days start off at 7. We will be tackling our Biblical Archaeology and History class. It will definitely be tiring, but good! We're fitting everything in 2 weeks that most people take a semester of field trips to do.  Hopefully I'll be able to retain most of the information that will be thrown at us! But I'm really glad that we have time to settle into the area and learn about the past some before really learning about the present situation.  I think that we will do more of that after free travel, which is in two weeks! I'm looking forward to that a lot, even though I'm not really sure what my plans are.  Tentatively, I'm looking at going to Eilat, Israel, just to hang out on the beach and have a lot of alone time with God! We'll see if that all works out!
Anyway, I just wanted to give a little quick update and let everyone know that we are all alive and well here in Israel!
Love you guys!

Once again, sorry for the weird punctuation... still haven't quite figured that one out yet

Beit Sahour/Palestine

Sorry ahead of time for the weird punctuation... I can't figure out how get the punctuation to stay where they belong at the end of the sentence!!!

I don't even know where to begin with this update. So much has happened since the last time that I've blogged!  I have been keeping a diligent journal and sometimes forget that I am the only person who can read what I have written thus far.  So here is a brief synopsis of what has gone on.  Once I get back to the states, I will write new posts that are more in depth and have some photos with them.
So what in the world have I been up to?  Well, I am staying with a host family in Beit Sahour, which is right on the outskirts of Bethlehem.  I am with Bridgett Brunea (for those of you who might know her) who is a great roommate.  We've had some really good conversations about the situation in Palestine and Israel as well as simply how we are dealing with all the information, and what we are struggling with, or trying to figure out.  It's so hard to be in Palestine with a family that I have come to love and not pick sides.  We haven't heard much about the Israeli side outside of a short conversation with an American Jew, Mordecai, who walked us down a street in Hebron that has become famous for once being Palestinian, but now Palestinians who live on the street can no longer walk out their front door, since the road is now Israeli territory.  Hebron has by far been the hardest place we have been.  Israeli setters seem to do everything in their power to make life difficult for Palestinians.  They built houses literally on top of the Palestinian homes, and throw eggs down on their neighbors, urinate out their windows, and some have even gone as far as to drill a hole in their floor to pour acid on the family below them.  I really don’t like the word “injustice” because I feel like everyone uses the word for everything.  It has lost some of its original meaning in my opinion.  So I don’t really know what to classify this as, but I know that it’s not loving, and it’s plain wrong.  I’m sure that Palestinians have their fair share of foul play, so I am trying to keep an open mind and love everyone I come in contact with. 
It’s hard too, seeing the 8 meter concrete wall, which American politicians call a fence, separating families, and men from their work.  It’s hard knowing that farmers have olive trees farms that they can’t get to to plant, or harvest.  I never really understood why foreigners come to Palestine to plant olive trees, but now I get it.  As an American, I can access the land they rightfully own, but they cannot. 
I don’t want it to sound like I’m experiencing nothing but hatred in the Middle East, because it is far from that.  I am with a wonderful family who is more than willing to help us with our struggling Arabic without laughing too much.  I met one of the shop keeper’s husbands who I struck up a conversation with.  He offered to show me his shop, which was a metal window and fence welding shop.  He thought it was so nice that an American girl cared enough to see what he did for a living.  Nearly everyone who I have come in contact with on the street gives a smile.  Shop keepers love having anyone come into their shops, even if they don’t buy anything, just for the conversation.  People are very quick to share their thoughts, views, and insights on anything, always in a loving way. 
Another cool person I have had the opportunity to meet is Joel.  He is staying with Bridgett and I.  He hails for San Francisco and is doing an awesome project called Stories from the Checkpoint. (http://storiesfromthecheckpoint.com/)  He is doing a project of the stories that he hears through music.  I think that it’s going to be awesome, so you should probably check it out!
We have also done some rather touristy things, such as visiting the field the angels appeared to the shepherds.   It’s crazy that the angels spoke of peace to the shepherds, because it was something the Middle East was not experiencing then, and it’s not something they’re experiencing now either.  We also visited the supposed place of the birth of Jesus.  To me, these sights meant close to nothing.  Everything was so overdone with icons everywhere.  It had no meaning to me.  So far, the most meaningful thing we’ve done in Beit Sahour was hiking to Jericho.  This land is virtually untouched since Jesus’ time.  There is even an aqueduct that King Herod put in place that is still in use today.  It is generally accepted that this is the land that David talks about in Psalm 23.  I especially love the first three verses. 
“The Lord is my shepherd; I shall not want.  He makes me lie down in green pastures.  He leads me beside still waters.  He restores my soul.  He leads me in paths of righteousness for His name’s sake.”
This land is rocky and barren, apart from a stream which the aqueduct comes from.  We reached a pool of still water with a small waterfall and patches of grass surrounding it.  It’s amazing how experiencing a place will change your perception of certain verses.  I had always imagined a huge field of wildflowers and tall grass as “green pastures” but now, I realize that these patches of grass are pastures.  It was awesome too, because we were all wading in the water when a little boy came with 25 goats or so, leading them to the still waters.  This was by far the easiest place for animals to access water during the whole hike, and I’m sure it’s a popular spot for shepherds to take their flocks.  Shepherds know all the “sweet spots” and are always looking after and taking care of their animals.  How much more will God take care of us?  I am also learning to step more outside of my comfort zone than I thought I would here.  We had the option of walking down into the valley and back up the next mountain, or we could trust Herod’s architects and have our feet on either side of the aqueduct and balance our way across the “bridge” for a lack of a better word.  I kept telling myself, “If you start to fall, fall in the water…”  Well, I guess I told myself that a lot when walking along the aqueducts with water on one side, and a cliff on the other.  Thankfully, we all returned more or less unscathed :)
Last cool thing that has consistently been happening on the trip…   I’m reading John MacArthur’s 12 Extraordinary Women of the Bible and as I have been reading, we’ve been visiting those sights.  It starts off with Eve, and of course, we don’t know where the Garden of Eden is, but we do know about Sarah and Abraham’s travels, which we visited many of those places, and even her tomb.  I then learned a lot more about Rahab then I ever knew, and soon after, we visited Jericho, where her life was turned completely around.  I just finished reading about Ruth who met Boaz in none other than Bethlehem, which is within sight of Beit Sahour.  Next on the list is Hannah.  We’ll see if she echoes this theme I’m beginning to pick up!
All in all, I am loving this trip.  I have an awesome group to be traveling with, and two amazing leaders.  And I know that some of you would be shocked to know that I even love the food here!  There’s nothing much better than four fresh and hot pieces of hobez (bread) for 1 shekel (about a $.25)!  Also, the fresh oranges and grapefruit are amazing as well!
Anyway, I just wanted to let you all know that I love and miss you guys!  Just wanted to let you know that I am doing well and having a great time!
--Janelle

Egypt --> Jordan --> Palestine

Hi all!

Sorry for my very delayed first official blog post!  Internet has been sporadic and expensive.  I will try to give you a brief update on my adventures thus far! (It will probably turn into a book though, knowing me!)

Linford, Janet, and a group of 30 students (including me, obviously) left EMU on January 13, and arrived in Cairo, Egypt on the 14th.  Our time in Egypt was packed with everything -- food, culture, history, people, cars, sand, and stray cats.  We did many things on the more touristy side, such as seeing the pyramids, tombs, mosques, museums, temples, and monasteries. It's amazing how much the history of Egypt has to do with Biblical History.  For instance, Moses married a daughter of a priest.  I just naively assumed that he was some sort of Jewish priest.  Highly doubtful.  He probably worshiped Ra.  Also, it was not unusual for people to worship cows, so Aaron making a golden calf makes a lot of sense.  It was just the Israelites returning to their old habits.  We had a great tour guide, Samer, to lead us.  He was so full of information and knowledge and we are all blessed to have had such an amazing Christian guide. We celebrated my birthday our last day in Egypt, even though it wasn't for a week.  The hotel loves our group, and so when it comes to the last night for an EMU group to be there, they make a cake from scratch, sing happy birthday in Arabic, and make you dance with the chef.  He even fed me the cake! Ellen said, "Little do you know, but you just got married..." I'm just hoping that's not the case :)

We then traveled by boat to Aqaba, Jordan.  The town was much cleaner and relaxing than anywhere we have been in Egypt.  It was nice just to putz around the town for a while before going to the Bedoin camp at Wadi Rum.  Wadi Rum was yet another nice change of pace.  We stayed in tents made of animal hair which were surprisingly wind and rain resistant.  Our first morning there, we went on a four hour camel ride.  It's true. After about an hour, it gets really painful, but then after another hour or so, you become numb, so what difference does it make? :)  It was an absolutely gorgeous day.  The sky was so incredibly blue!! I spent most of my time reflecting on where I've been, the stories that these lands hold, and my relationship with Christ. After our time with the Bedoins, we visited Petra, and Amman, where I spent my real birthday.  Somehow, word got out that I love ice cream, so some strings were pulled for all of us to have ice cream! They brought out a "cake" of chocolate puddingish stuff with sparklers.  I naturally tried to blow them out, since that's what you do on your birthday... nope. I just looked silly :)  Overall, Jordan was very welcoming, beautiful, and less stressful than the traffic and sheer amounts of people in Egypt.  I definitely enjoyed my stay!

So now here I am, in Palestine.  I'm staying for 3.5 weeks with a host family with Bridgett Brunea.  I'm looking forward to getting to know my family and Brigett better, and to learn Arabic! I'm overall excited for a lot of things.  I'll hopefully be able to update you all a little more consistently (but I make no promises) while I'm here.  And I'll be adding even more stories (especially from Egypt and Jordan) once I'm back in the states and have processed everything, or some things :)

I love you all!!
Janelle

Sixteen

Sixteen days.  That's how long I have left here in the USA.  It's so crazy and surreal at this moment.  Jeremy keeps talking about how this weekend, we're doing such and such, then the next weekend will be our last together for 3 months.  It just really puts things into perspective for me.  I only have two weekends left at home. One will be spent at a wedding and ringing in the New Year.  I hope to spend the last weekend just relaxing with my family.  I feel like I can't at all comprehend leaving for such a long amount of time.  I can't comprehend not knowing the next time I'll be in communication with my family and those I love.  I can't comprehend living out of a "suitcase" for three months.  I can't comprehend living with families for more than 2 or 3 days.  I'm nervous and excited.  I'm scared that I'm going to be so under prepared.  I'm scared that Linford will be like, "oh -- you didn't turn in this form.  Sorry.  You can't go."  But you know what?  God has an awesome plan for me.  He knows what He's doing.  I'm going to grow SO much on this trip.  It will be good for me in every aspect of my life.  I just need to really trust and rely on God at this time. (Well, at all times.)

BAHH! I still can't believe I'm only sixteen days away from AFRICA.  (I still don't feel like I'm even going to Egypt!)

I love you all!!
Janelle

Preparation

Vest. Wool socks.  Fleece.  Waterproof shoes.  Journal(s).  Memory cards.  Long sleeve shirts.  Flannel.  Christmas.  Saying goodbye to friends and family.  Tears of joy, sadness, nervousness, and excitement.  These are all things that need to happen in preparation for this trip.
The longest I've ever been away from home (other than school, which doesn't really count considering I live 4 miles from EMU) is when my high school touring choir went to Eastern Europe.  I was nostalgic, so I looked through pictures of that trip and decided to share some with you.  They correspond to what I am most looking forward to about next semester.

Skies that seem to be bluer than in America.

Precious children.

Beauty in everything.

Food. mmmm... Doener

Simplicity and open fields.

History.

Host families!

Music...

of every kind.

Architecture. 

Of course, there are many intangible things I am excited for.  I'm excited to walk where Jesus and His disciples walked.  I'm excited to visit Biblical scties -- to have a deeper connection to them while reading the bible.  To grow in my relationship with God.  To evaluate my priorities in life.  To learn as a disciple of Christ. To be filled with the Holy Spirit.

So.  If you want any sort of updates of my life from January 13-April 24, read this blog :)  I can't promise consistency because I don't know when I will or won't have internet.  Here's a basic itinerary though, for those of you who want to keep me in your prayers as I am traveling.

1.13:  Travel

1.14-24:  Cairo, Egypt

1.25: Aqaba, Jordan

1.26-28:  Wadi Rum, Jordan

1.28-30:  Petra, Jordan

1.30-2.1:  Amman, Jordan

2.1-24:  Palestine
2.25:  Travel
2.26-3.9:  Jerusalem

3.10-17:  Free travel!

3.18-24:  Ecce Homo

3.25:  Travel

3.26-31:  Oranim, Israel

4.1:  Travel
4.2-10:  Nazareth
4.11-14:  Athens, Greece
4.15:  Travel
4.16-19:  Rome Italy
4:20-23:  Free Travel!

4.24:  Home.

Please be praying for the safety of my group.  Pray for friendships to grow.  Pray for peace in all the places we are visiting and staying.  Pray for open hearts to hear what God is saying.  Pray for anything else you feel led to pray for!!