No Words

Dear friends and family,
    There are no words to describe the experience so far.  We spent two days in Jordan, where we experienced their famous hospitality.  Everywhere we went people asked us to sit down for tea and would wave to us with smiles...definitely not the reception I expected!  While you're on the internet, Google image "Petra, Jordan."  That was an incredible place.  At one point in history, this location was the fortress of the Edomites--whom you will find all over Scripture in the Old Testament.
     I only have a few minutes so I'll highlight my most memorable moments.  We stood in Jordan at the top of Mount Nebot, where Moses died.  Here we read the promises to Abraham of the land, and looked out over locations such as Jericho.  The first night we arrived in Israel, we swam in the Red Sea and chilled by the beach.  At night, a few friends and I got coffee and sat by the Red Sea with an amazing breeze and 75 degree weather.  Yesterday we stood on a 10th century Israelite fortress--from the time of David and Solomon!  Incredible.  Today, we looked out over the valley where David battled Goliath, and the Israelites defeated the Philistines.  Then we picked up stones in the brook below where David would have taken stones.  Studying these locations with a Harvard trained archaelogical lights the research fire in my heart and then unleashes the faith within me.  My faith is burning like a Wisconsin bonfire :) (think Manitowish Waters!)  I have many many more thoughts, from many more amazing locations...but I will leave them for when we can chat in person.  We are slowly making our way to Jerusalem, which makes my heart beat faster.  I cannot wait to walk in the footsteps of my Master.  Please pray for my own heart to be cemented in faith and truth.  Love and blessings to you!  Shalom lacha!

      Love in Christ, David

Israel 2011!

Hi friends and family!  Here is an itinerary of my trip to Israel with Dr. John Monson (PhD, Harvard) and a few TEDS students.  Dr. Monson grew up in Israel until his college years, and has guided thousands of students through the Holy Land.  I am looking forward to spending two and a half weeks in the land of Jesus.  This is both an academic research trip, and also a study tour of the land.  I am excited about both faces of the trip.

    Hypothetically, if you want to get to know your girlfriend, or best friend better, one of the best ways to do so is to visit where they grew up--hear all about their childhood and the circumstances surrounding their life.  My whole life is lived for this purpose: To know Jesus and to make Him known.  Thus, I am taking this trip, so I can know Jesus in a deeper way.   I am praying this trip makes me know Him a little better, so I can share Him more faithfully with other people. 

   I hope to update this blog a few times while I'm there!  Blessings!

May 13, Friday: Arrive Amman – Overnight Medaba, Jordan, Mariam Hotel;

May 14, Saturday: Overnight – Petra, Jordan, Petra Palace

Route: Medaba, Nebo, Dibon, Arnon, Kerak, Petra

Notes: Cool morning, warm afternoon walk into the Petra monuments

May 15, Sunday: Overnight – Eilat, Israel (on the Red Sea), City Park Hotel

Route:  Petra, peek into edge of Wadi Ram, cross to Eilat

Notes: Morning walk, long drive, afternoon swim

May 16, Monday: Overnight –Be’er Sheba, Leonardo Hotel

Route:  Morning swim, Mizpeh Ramon, Avdat (site and walk), Be’er Sheba museum (time?)

Notes: Hot day in the desert!

May 17, Tuesday: Overnight –Be’er Sheba, Leonardo Hotel

Route: Ashkelon (tell only), Lachish, Maresha, Azekah, Qeiyafa, Beth-Shemesh, Lahav)

May 18, Wednesday: Overnight – En Boqeq (on the Dead Sea), Prima Oasis

Route:  Tell Sheva, Tell Arad, Masada, Ein Gedi, En Boqeq

Notes: Long hike on Masada, climb to Ein Gedi.

May 19, Thursday: Overnight – Jerusalem, Prima Royal

Route:  Qumran, Jericho, Taiybeh ridge; Bethel/Ai, Gibeon/Nebi Samwil

May 20, Friday: Overnight – Jerusalem, Prima Royal

Route:  Jerusalem intro, OT walk; Citadel Museum, JUC Vespers; Mea-Shearim, Wailing Wall

May 21, Saturday: Overnight – Jerusalem, Prima Royal

Route:  Jerusalem Approaches: Yad v'Shem, Bethlehem, Herodium, Wadi Qilt overview

May 22, Sunday: Overnight – Jerusalem, Prima Royal

Route:  Church, Jerusalem NT walk, 2T model, free time

May 23, Monday: Overnight – Netanya (on the Mediterranean), Blue Bay Hotel

Route:  Yad V’Shem, Beth Shemesh, Neot Kedumim, Jaffa; Haaretz Museum, Netanya swim

May 24, Tuesday: Overnight – Tiberius (on the Sea of Galilee), Rimmonim Mineral Hotel

Route: Caesarea, Carmel, Megiddo, Nazareth, Sephorris, Plain of Tabor

May 25, Wednesday: Overnight – Tiberius (on the Sea of Galilee), Rimmonim Mineral Hotel

Route:  Hazor, Huleh, Dan, Golan, Kaztrin, Beth-Saideh, En Gev

May 26, Thursday: Overnight – Tiberius (on the Sea of Galilee), Rimmonim Mineral Hotel

Route: Around the lake: Boat from Tiberius to Capernaum, Tabgha, Chorazin, Beatitudes, Arbel

May 27, Friday: Medaba, Jordan – Mariam Hotel

Route:  Beth Shean, Harod Valley, Jezreel, Bridge, Um Queis, Ajlun, Jerash

May 28, Saturday: Depart from Amman, Jordan to Chicago, USA