First Feild Study.

Hi Everyone, this is not so much of a personal post, but really a one paged paper that I wrote reflecting on the tour of the Old City we had. Things are good here, but I will admit to being a little lonely. I am used to knowing everyone and it is just different here. Everything is different here, so just keep Jennilee and I in your prayers. Love you. Claire

ps. the internet has been slow today, so I will have pictures up soon, I promise I have been trying.
“Field Trip One: Walking Tour through the Old City”

Israel is not all what I expected. However, I do not really remember ever giving it much thought. I guess I came into this not knowing what to expect, and I had never thought to research the subject. I know for next time I come to a new place. So I was not expecting what I saw on our walking tour, and I have to say it has become somewhat emotionally taxing on me. Everything is so busy and there is one emotionally driven place after another. I can only say that I am happy to have Jennilee with me to go through this.
The tour started out side of the school gate in the grass along the Old City wall. The students spread out in the shade on an Olive tree, which was only a little cooler than in the sun. As we sat we learned about the different layers of the wall, and how the wall as we have it today is comprised of three different walls. I couldn’t believe that I had walking past so many hundreds of years of history built into just one wall. I have nothing to compare this wall to at home. This wall has protected a city for hundreds of years. We continued through the gate where we passed fresh bread and the place of Herad’s palace. We continued down King David’s street and I started to wonder how this strange crowded place came to be. Again, I have nothing to compare this experience or place to and it reminded me of the Prince of Egypt or something. As we walked the stones turned into huge pavers, which were the original Roman pavers of that road. It is hard to believe that were I grew up with wood that everyone here is used to so much rock. Everything here is made from rock. Even the sidewalks are limestone. Well getting back to the pavers, they are huge, and I guess where built pretty darn well to still be there. We then spent a huge chunk of time walking through the streets around to different Gates around the City. Let’s see, the Jappa Gate, the Damascus Gate, the Lions Gate, the Flower Gate, and Later on the Zion Gate. From the Lions Gate we saw a wonderful view of the Mount of Olives and Cindy said something that really got me thinking. I mean it’s not that big, Jesus could have just fled to the other side of it that night when he was praying and would have been safe in the wilderness. However he made the choice to stay and die for us. It doesn’t get much cooler than that. Things just seem so much more real here, but I guess that is because they are. Our next stop was St. Anne Church, which is the site of the Pools of Bethesda. These pools where used to store water for the dry season, and where quite deep. This was also the site were Christ healed the man who could not walk and could not get down to the waters quick enough to be the first one in. We took pictures and then entered St. Anne’s Church, which is the best example of a crusaders church that we have. It was beautiful. The acoustics were to die for, and we all sat and sang some worship songs together as a group. Our voices rang through the church like a bell. Even when were finished the sounds did not stop for seconds afterward. I have never given thought to what heaven will sound like, but in my heart I know it must be something like that. We finished the Day at the Western wall, which was kind of emotional to see. I have been there twice now and I am still not ready to pray near it. I want to go early in the morning and not with class. It is a sight to behold. So many people all coming to see the Oldest wall and closest that one can get to the Holy of Holies. Can you imagine the spirit of the Lord has lived in this city as well! What an exciting day!