Brief Update

I've known for quite a while now that a blog post has been long overdue. To be honest, it's been difficult for me to find something to write about. Yes, yes, I know there are millions of new experiences and quite a lot, I'm sure, that you're hearing in the news. However, one thing I've learned, very quickly, is that life isn't black and white. I could talk about many things of interest, but I would not feel as if I am doing them justice. With that being said, I hope soon to write a bit on the political happenings over here, as I have seen and experienced them, along with other posts, of course.

Until then, know that all of the YAGMs are very safe. We of course have safety precautions and plans, but please know that things are very calm over here (the news does tend to sensationalize protests in any part of the world). There is an air of peace, but still determination, on the whole of those at the rallies and protests for Palestinian statehood.

It is a very exciting time to be in Palestine :)


Until my next post, here are some pictures taken during these first few weeks. All of them are in or looking at the Old City of Jerusalem.

The Ninth Station on the Via Dolorosa (Old City, Jerusalem). For those who participate in walking the Via Dolorosa ("Way of Sorrows/Grief/Suffering") and remembering the Stations of the Cross, this is the place of remembering  the third time Jesus fell on his way to Golgatha. You can see the wooden crosses many faithful walkers have left at this station (taking a wooden cross into the remaining stations is not really possible, methinks). This image, and the fact that these crosses represented one aspect of the faithfulness of Christians really hit home.

While touring the Old City a few weeks ago, I was able to see quite a bit of archaeological sites (which always seems to be mixed in with the modern life of Jerusalem). This here is a replica of part a mosaic map of Jerusalem, known as the Madaba Map, which dates to the 6th century AD. There is a lot of symbolism throughout (and it really does work as a map if you know what you're looking at). The church depicted bottom center is the Church of the Holy Sepulchre.

A picture of the Dome of the Rock looking in from the East. On the far right of the city walls (about halfway up the picture) you can see the Eastern Gate (aka: Golden Gate) which is believed by many to be the gate which the Messiah will use to enter Jerusalem. For many Jews this means the Messiah, for many Christians this means the Second Coming of Jesus Christ (as well as the memory of Jesus entering through this gate on Palm Sunday). I can't do justice to all of the interesting things about this gate, but do note that it is now sealed (as it has been for about 12 centuries). There is also a cemetery in front of the gate (those buried there believed they would be among the first to be raised). Perhaps more on this later; this gate and the Temple Mount and Al-Aqsa Mosque are of keen interest to me.

We made it!

By the grace of God we have arrived and received a very warm welcome from folks at the Lutheran World Federation. After some volleyball we stopped to watch the sunset over Jerusalem; it was one of the most beautiful sights I have ever seen...

The sun setting over to Jerusalem, as seen from the Mount of Olives.

An excerpt from "Thoughts on Solitude" by Thomas Merton

                                   My Lord My God,
                                   We have no idea where we are going.
                                   We do not see the road ahead of us.
                                   We cannot know for certain where it will end.
                                   Nor do we really know ourselves,
                                   And the fact that we think that we are following
                                   Your will does not mean that we are actually doing so.
                                   But we believe that the desire to please you does in fact please you.
                                   And we hope we have that desire in all that we are doing.
                                   We hope that we will never do anything apart from that desire.
                                   And we know that if we do this,
                                   You will lead us by the right road
                                   Though we may know nothing about it.
                                   Therefore we will trust you always though we may
                                   Seem to be lost and in the shadow of death.
                                   We will not fear, for you are ever with us,
                                   And you will never leave us to face our perils alone.

"Hello Chicago!" [Photo by Laurin-Whitney 2011]

I'm leaving! No, really...I'm actually leaving this time!

After quite the rollercoaster of emotions waiting for approval of our visas, waiting to physically get said visas, and needing to find flights to Tel Aviv (Hurricane Irene changed things up a bit), I am excited to say that our group of six is finally off to Jerusalem. It doesn't seem completely real, yet. Although I've been getting hit with waves of realization: over 40 weeks living in the Middle East.

Tomorrow morning we will pack into a van and scurry off to O'Hare to catch a flight to Frankfurt and then to Tel Aviv. We will be greeted by our wonderful Country Coordinators, Julie and Jeff, and then off to do who-knows-what as we go through our orientation. I've already been feeling the warm hospitality from the community that awaits us; it sounds as they are as excited to meet us as we are to meet them.

Please continue to keep the six of us in your prayers as we travel tomorrow and begin this new journey. Keep your eyes pealed for more blog posts soon, hopefully full of pictures!

As-Salamu Alaykum

(Peace be upon you)