You Like Her? Samaria!

The day started like most other field studies here, except this time at five in the morning. I find pride in the fact that I rose before my room mate, and was the first one to turn the light on in the bathroom. I should mention that they decided to fix the showers, and the water pressure and heat were quite the way to start a morning. However, my morning grumpiness lasted most of the day. We were on our way to Samaria, originally the tribal allotment of Manasseh, and on the way stopping in Ephraim, which I am still learning to spell. After the usual hasty breakfast, we stumbled on the bus at seven; the following ensued:

#1 Overlooking Ephraim
Our first stop was a short one. It was a striking look at Ephraim’s cenomanian wilderness. The two buses were together for most of the day because Samaria is a bit of a testy area; at least in the fact that it is behind the “fence.” The sky was clear in the morning, and I might add that it was rather chilly out, because it’s been raining (but more on that later)! We pointed out some aspects of the land before moving on to yet another one of our cultural experiences of the day. This was also around the time I started to have to pee, and yes I went before I left.

#2 Elan More (Elaun Moray)
Our next stop was a Jewish settlement that the school has been visiting for the last few years. It is on a mountain across the valley from two other famous mountains, Mt. Garazim and Mt. Ebal, and of course the chalk moat that divides the two. This is supposedly the perfect place to over look Shechem and Samaria, and definitely the Wadi Shechem and Wadi Beta, which drains east to the Jordan, I hope. (I have an exam in a few hours) Alright so the only way we can get into the settlement is to be taken around by one of its founders. The settlement is a group of Jews amongst a valley of Arabs, and therefore they keep themselves very protected. (Supposedly they have an infrared fence) So we drive and climb half way up this mountain to have this man explain to us why they deserve to be there. He also gave us a pamphlet stating the Jewish history of the land that ended with a murder and the phrase “May G-d avenge their blood.” We were warned that this guy might be a little… opinionated, and he was, but I thought it was funny. My favorite part being when he thought that the Jews today should learn a lesson from Dina’s brothers. Yes he really said that. It was around this time when we found out that they had torn down the bathrooms on top of this mountain, so a few of us ladies decided to make an expedition to the top of the hill and get away from the group. On top of the hill was a tree and a ruin. So we all just kind of picked a place, be inside of this ruin because of course I would never pee outside. Nicole was nice enough to keep watch for me and talk me through my nerves. However, then we come to find out that we had just desecrated some supposed Muslim Monument, go figure. I am hoping that Muhammad will find it in his heart to forgive me. I might also mention that we found a tortoise on the trail, and my girlish squeals ensued. Gosh I just love them. As we were walking away I told Alex that we threw it over the side of the mountain, and he believed me. Poor guy!

#3 Lunch in Samaria
Now you may not know this but there actually is a town called Samaria, which was the third Capital of the Northern Kingdom, and just happened to be where we stopped for lunch at a restaurant called… The Good Samaritan. Go figure. Anyway at least they let us use their nasty bathrooms. I am mentioning this stop because Cindy got on of the high priests from the tribe of Levi to talk to us. Now I didn’t know this, but there is a Samarian religion. I guess that’s where the Jews and the Samarians went wrong. They only believe in the Five books of Moses, and supposedly have the worlds oldest book in their Synagogue. They believe that instead of Jerusalem being where everything happened, it was actually Samaria. We got to stand in a square where one a year all of the families in this religion come with a Lamb and slaughter it. Supposedly if you go in the spring you can watch this BBQ take place. I thought the idea was pretty interesting. We them hiked up to another view of this valley which held the ruins of a byzantine church. On this hill had been an altar to the Lord, a temple to Zeus, and now the church ruins. It was interesting to think about. The wind was really picking up at this point and we struggled to keep out maps open.

#4 Mt. Garazim
We went up to Mt. Garazim to overlook the Tel of Shechem, because you can’t bring a bus into the town. Shechem is built on Eocein limestone and was one of the first Capitals in the New Kingdom thanks to Jeroboam. We read and dicused the story of the woman at the well and pointed out a church that commemorates the event. It was interesting that when the woman mentioned the sacrifices, they were performed on the hill on which we were standing! There are plenty of other stories that include these two mountains, but I will leave you to figure them out!

#5 The Shiloh Tel
Before we got to Shiloh we stopped to over look the valley that it lays in. Unfortunately Cindy took us down someone’s garbage path and we had to walk by a number of dead animal remains. While this was sort of cool, the smell was just to die for, and I really do not remember anything she said about this valley. I then learned you could get Hep from touching that kind of thing, and remembered that I couldn’t afford to get the shot, and walked back to the bus. Their was some pretty terracing going on in that area though. I told Alex that the reason we stopped was to see the Donkey Yard that was on our map, this time he didn’t believe me. Next we went to the Shiloh tel. Now I don’t have to tel you twice that this was the cleanest area I have been to thus far. I could tel that they took care of the place. The coffee shop there was adorable and most of all clean. I just can not stress that enough. So because the tabernacle was at Shiloh, we went to see a small model of it and Cindy described it for us. It wasn’t all that accurate of a model, but we can’t all live in Lancaster can we? By now we were running short on time so we climbed up the tel to the top where there was a nice observation tower… covered in bird poop. It was windy at the top, but the breeze felt nice at the end of the day. As the sun began to set, we explored Shiloh and it’s rich history as a good place to find a wife and to get a glass of wine. (Those were jokes.)

That is were our day ended, and I for sure took at a nap on the bus ride home!

The Wonders of my Redeemer

I cannot express how awesome and wonderful my Savior Jesus Christ is. I was having a hard time lately, thinking about some things. But this night while we were singing praises to our Lord during Vespers, Jesus really spoke to me. He spoke in my heart, and told me that He was going to use me and use my past. My story and my life will be used to glorify my Savior and my God.

God truly directs our steps and uses both the good and bad that happens in our lives.
He let me understand that, that things had to happen the way they did. I mean, I don't know all the details of how He will use me or His specific plan for my life. However, I do know that He knows. And that gives me excitement and peace.

May the Lord bless you all abundantly, as you find peace in knowing that God has a plan for you...'For I know the plans I have for you," declares the LORD, "plans to prosper you and not to harm you, plans to give you hope and a future."' -Jeremiah 29:11 (NIV)

I love you and miss you,
Jennilee

Benjamin Feild Study from Claire's Eyes

MORE PICTURES COMING LATER!

Well everyone, here I am reporting again of another interesting JUC field study. So again Jennilee and I woke at 5:20, because I reset the clock at 4 when I couldn’t sleep. I do not know if it is much help for me to get up this early because I basically stood there in my skivvies for 20 minutes and stared in space while Jennilee went and took a shower. This is when I start thinking that I miss caffeine in my life. I can make coffee when I am still sleeping; I can not get dressed and put on makeup, or in this case sun block. I am definitely a sun block junkie. I am about the same color I was when I left, and I think I may be the only student here who can claim that. I have however developed some adorable freckles which I am sure will take a month to fade. Anyway, about the land of Benjamin:

THE WILDERNESS
We started the day by driving into the wilderness. Now I am not sure what I thought of when I thought of that term, but I will give you some Bible references because I am using this report to study for our exam tomorrow (oh yes, the next day because we are so smart, why wait?) Deut 1:19, Deut 8:15, Isaiah 34:13-15, Jer. 2:6-7, and Hosea 2:3-4. These all basically describe the wilderness as somewhere you wouldn’t want to visit. I really like the Hosea verses because he doesn’t beat around the bush. Anyway if you have time to read Deut 32-33 you can here echos of the creation account! So we got off the bus and headed off the beaten path to walk some of the ancient roman route called the Assent of Adommin. We also got to walk through a Bedowin camp! So what is so cool about this stretch of roadway? Well it’s in the Wadi Kilt (a wadi is a valley). Also, if you read Luke 10:25 about the good Samaritan, this was that road! The road will take you down to Jericho and is the best route from Jerusalem down to the rift valley. We stopped at a highpoint and looked out over the wilderness. When I think about it now it almost brings tears to my eyes. It was so… big. I know that sounds lame, but we all sat in silence and looked at it for a minute, and I just felt so consumed.

HEROD’S PALACE/NEW TESTAMENT JERICHO
The next stop on our list was New Testament Jericho. Basically the city has two cites for two different time periods. This one was Herod’s Palace and it was built in two parts with a bridge connecting the two. The palace was at the mouth of the Wadi kilt which was good because you are right at the Assent so you can keep an eye on the route. The palace had a new building style where you stacked diamond shaped stones together and you could potentially make a curved wall for the first time. I may have taken some mossaic tiles with me that I found on the ground...maybe. Free gifts much?

OLD TESTAMENT JERICHO TELL
The tel was pretty sweet. Yes, we do make tel jokes all of the time! (but it’s hard to tel!) A tel is a city cite where over time a mound has been formed because every few hundred years the city would get leveled for some reason or other and get built on top of. Think of it as a cake with different layer flavors. The city of Jericho has some date issues as far as the history is concerned, but there is some evidence of the story being true if you believe in the early exodus. I really have no idea what I think. Anyway the most recent digging their by Kathleen Keyan, Bible Hater and Archaeologist, (I like her, and I don’t even know why) unearthed this tower structure that dates back to 8,000 BC! WOW! That is the oldest man made building that we have! I could have gone and touched it but I kinda had to pee and the bus was going to be leaving soon…Jericho is called the city of Palms because it’s close proximity to water. It is the backdoor into the Benjamin Plateau because three routes come off of it!

NEVI SAMWEL
We stopped for lunch at a highpoint in the land commemorating the prophet Samuel. Well some people think he’s buried there, but that’s not what the Bible says. It was a great view from the top of the holy place there. We the ruins there are byzantine. From this high point you can see all of the major cities that make up the Benjamin Plateau, so we took the time to figure out the story or the Levite and his...girlfriend. You know the one where he... "breaks up with her" and sends her around to his buddies? Yes that one!

LOOKING OVER MIZPAH
This spot was really cool. We can’t actually get to Mizpah or Geba, because they are in a bad part of the west bank, we drove to a spot where you can look at both of them. We got to see were Jonathan and his armor bearer kicked some Philistine Butt! Maybe here I could mention about the roads in this part of the country. I wish I could get an airial map because they are insane! They twist like nothing I have ever seen before. They built these roads so that Palestinians didnt have to leave Palestine to get from Bethlehem to Jericho.

GEZER
I always assumed you pronounced this geezer, but I guess you don’t! This was my favorite place out of doors so far. Probably because it was so green and reminded me of home. The picture is Jennilee and I in front of an Ebenezer. We talked about how it was important to put reminders of what God has done in our lives as well. I should note that when I saw a picture of this in class I said to Megan, "Look, STONGE HENGE" and I want you to know, that I did not mean to use my accent. The other picture is just a sign for Be'er Sheva, because I thought it was funny.

Love and Miss you! Claire

The Central Benjamin Plateau

Today we traveled around the different entrances and areas around the central Benjamin Plateau. First, we started by walking down part of the Roman road. We went to a really cool look-out area where we could see into the desert. When we think of the desert in the States, we think basically flat with cacti. However, in Israel when the say desert, they mean desert.
Think rolling, sandy hills and wadis that go on forever. One would feel very isolated if they traveled it alone. Plus it is very quiet, I could hear a dog barking from somewhere in the distance because sound just carries across this barren land. Anyway, it was interesting to see what the Biblical definition of desert/wilderness looks like.

Then we traveled to Jericho were we got to see another of Herod's palaces. He is definitely all about building palaces on the top of the highest mountain. Though, it makes sense defense-wise. It is also interesting that Herod tends to incorporate new structure design into his palaces. For instance, at this location he stacked the bricks in the edge (in a diamond shape), so he could curve the wall. This was new because usually the buildings here are rectangular, with straight walls on all sides. This palace was also innovative because it had a tiled floor, at least in one room.

So from here we traveled to the tell of Jericho. Jericho is actually quite small when compared to what one would consider a town or city today (though, that should be expected). When you see it for yourself, it does not seem unreasonable to have walked seven times around it in one day (let alone maybe a few hours, if you consider that they were blowing trumpets and carrying things). There is archaeological evidence from this site that points to the destruction of the wall being instantaneous. Though, as usual different archaeologists date this site at different times. So Jericho remains a mystery as to how exactly it fits historically into the Biblical time line.

From Jericho we traveled to Nebi Samwil ("Prophet Samuel"), which is the supposed site of Samuel's burial. From here we could see the four cities that make up the central Benjamin area. These cities would be Gibeah, Ramah, Mizpah, and Gibeon. Ramah, interestingly enough, sits on in an area that basically connects the five different main roads into and out of the Central Benjamin Plateau. From this vantage point, on the roof of Nebi Samwil, it was interesting to see the land where many a military campaign traveled. A great deal of the Biblical stories happened in the Benjamin plateau.

Our final stop was at Gezer. I really loved visiting this part of Israel, because it reminded me most of home. There were areas that one might call a forest, with trees! There was also sections of the land that was blocked off for farming, which reminds me so much of the view from my deck at home. So I definitely took a number of pictures just of this area. Apart, from it's resemblance to home the site at Gezer that we visited was a Solomonic palace. We got to see the section of the tell that was considered "Solomon's Gate". There was also a Canaanite Gate in another section. This is an active tell, so we weren't supposed to walk in certain areas. Though, most areas we have visited have active archaeological work being done.

This field study I would say was very interesting. So much Biblical history took place in this area, because it is the connector to the two main international trade routes. And as we all know, those who can get to the trade routes get the money; and those with money have the power. No wonder Israel and Judah fought so much over this strategic area.

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I hope you all are doing well, and I am sorry that I do not post on here more. I have tried to upload photos directly into my blogs, but it does not seem to work. Therefore, I will try to be more diligent in posting photos on facebook and posting the links to the albums here (for those without facebook).
Love and God Bless,
Jennilee

Has it been three weeks?

Wow, I truly cannot believe that my time here is going so quickly. True, a week was spent in a sick haze, and then another week getting adjusted, but where did this week go? I pray that I am living this time to the fullest, or at least plan of trying harder from now on. I think a lot of me not leaving so often has to do with the fact that it has to be planned, because I can't leave alone, and also the fact that everything in the country costs so much money. I really am trying to be frugal. However when a water bottle that you need costs $15 and you are running low on shampoo... well I should have brought more toiletries I guess. Just keep my finances in prayer.

So this week went by very quickly, though I am not sure why. I need to refocus and get things done! Jennilee and I have both taken to napping, which is really a blessing considering we had such a hard time adjusting to the sleeping situation. I have heard that the going back jet lag is a lot less worse, praise the Lord. I didn't really go out this week, I guess I was feeling a little bummed out about some things. God has definitely given me reminders of the life I thought I was leaving in the states here, and not necessarily ones that I wanted to take with me. However I am using these things to grow in Him. So here is a secret. I am giving up hummus. Its true, there is no way that the amount of hummus I consume here can be good for you! Well maybe, but still it should be a treat. Like Challah bread! They only make this sweet sweet bread for the Shabbat meal, and I look forward to it every week. It looks like a braid and they cover it in this sticky honey sauce. In the summer months the bees will be hovering all over the bread in the market!

So I have another exam on Monday on the Land of Benjamin. I am trying to study more of the historical aspects of the land this time, which is what I struggled with on the last exam, where as usual Jennilee did better than I did.

OH so heres something. Today at dinner Dr. Wright announces to the ladies that George has found a solution to our problem. What problem? I had no idea. Well these luke warm showers we've been getting arn't the norm I guess. WHAT WHAT WHAT. Cold showers arn't normal? I am rather depressed to find out the boys can barely stand the showers because they are so warm. Go figure. I miss hot showers and water pressure.

Other than that things were pretty docile this week. Someone visiting the campus stole some brass pots, so we were advised to be locking our doors. Though I am having trouble seeing how someone would get up to the roof and down all of the steps and then through the locked gate with my computer, but Jennilee figures its possible, so we've become door lockers.

I am excited for Ramadan to be over so we can go out to eat, Jennilee spoted a veggi resturaunt today and we are pretty excited to try the food there. And speaking of food, I have discovered a love for the produce here that I will really miss. This love comes in the form of figs and dates! I don't think I can ever buy a bag of dates like the other students do, because I would surely eat them all. Its harvest time in the land, and the dates are HUGE. Why don't we eat dates and figs in the states? Someone let me know.

I would like to take this time to thank Tim for burning me all of these C.D.'s before I left, because they have really kept my feet tapping when the internet goes out!

Well I think that is it for now, I love you!
Claire

XOXO

I can't even express the thanks I feel towards all of those you sent me a hug! So I decided to return the favor and give one back to you all the way from the Holy Land. In the right corner you can see the YMCA tower and the King David Hotel, so we have a great view from the roof!

Things are going great here so far, and getting over being homesick is easier with people like you in my life! Keep the hugs coming! I enjoy seeing the pictures so much, I might waste my copy paper and hang them up around our room!

I love you!

Claire!!

Have I not updated in a week? Wow, a longer blog coming later today!

Worth Praying About.

So if anyone was brave enough to read my entire last post, they will remember me mentioning an inncodent which I believe I can now mention it because both my parents and my school were notified as not to make the situation worth mentioning. But I will relay it to you to ask for prayer and also to make you more aware of the situation in the middle east.

Well there are two Physical settings groups at my college, one is for undergrads and one for grads. Our group went into palestine in the morning, and the other group was headed there after we left in the afternoon. This makes it easier not to trip over one another. So the other group had just come into Palestine and was on their way to the Herodian and went a back way to get there. This way went through some neighbors which we did not go through. While going through one of these neighborhoods a group of young boys ran along side the bus and one of the boys threw a rock at the bus. The rock hit one of the front side windows and broke it, hitting two grad students (Charlene, and older lady, and Ada, a student from Africa) in the forehead. The bus pulled over and the ambulance was called. Before it got there however, a police car which was petroling the area passed and with in minutes there was about five army vehicles there. Charlene and Ada where taken to the hospital and spent the day there. It took a while because it was Shabbat which meant only one emergency room was open in Jerusalem, as they take turns as far as who is open. However, they were given the full treatment, catscans and all. Both got stitches and Ada had glass washed out of her eye. The blessing of the whole situation was that the inncodent was considered terrorism, and all of the medical care was free. Otherwise it would have probably been a few thousand dollars each. Both are home and doing fine, Charlene even went to church the next day! Just please keep them in prayer, because Charlenes eye is swollen shut and Ada's isn't far off.

Unfortunely while that is the end of JUC envolvement of this story, it is not the end of the tale. It is tragic to think that I live in a place where a boy throwing in a rock can lead to a death, but it did. Later in the afternoon the police went into Taekoa to find the group of boys that had been throwing rocks that day, and a restitance riot broke out and a teenage boy was shot and killed.

If you would like to read more on this you can visit this link: http://haaretz.com/hasen/spages/1020663.html

It was basically just a bad day to visit Palestine, there were alot of things that happened that day over territory disputes. I am taking it as a reminder to where I am, and that I have to be careful no matter where I am. I mean just the other day I was walking with a huge group when a little boy carrying a bunch of Olive leaves walked by and shoved a the branches into my chest. He also did it to my friend Taryn, and that was in front of people! Life is much different here in the middle east, especially as a woman. I am not saying that I am not enjoying my time here or that I wouldnt suggest visiting, it is just much different than I thought it would.

Anyway I took an exam today, and it only went ok, it was only my first though, and I will know how to study better for the next time.

I love you AND I am safe.

Blessings, Claire