Day Five
Ibilin: Made Some Young Friends!
We started our morning off by going to the classes at the High School of the Mae Elias Educational Institute. This was very interesting place. First of all it is a Catholic School in the heart of an Arab-Israeli town, secondly, seventy percent of the students are Muslims. Jordan and I sat in on the Hebrew class and did a question and answer period with the teens. Their excitement was contagious and I had a lot of fun answering their questions and learning more about them and their lives. They were very astute and asked questions aboyt how we felt about the Arab-Israeli war and wanted to know whose "side" we are on, but they were also typical teenagers concerned about movie and music stars and popular culture. They were particularly interested in Barack Obama and whether or not we had met him. I would have loved to have been ablr to say yes, it would have made their day.
Golan Heights: Tel Dan, it's all about the water!
Our first stop was the site: Tel Dan. It is a nature preserve and we had to walk a nature trail to get to the actual site. I complained the entire way, getting on everyone's nerves around me I'm sure, but I couldn't help it. There were too many variations in terrains for me to enjoy the walk. One step it is on rocks, the next on roots, the next in mud or over a stream. It got on my nerves but it provided us all with a great preaching iilustration that I am sure that you will hear in a sermon near you. The most remarkable and awe-inspring thing about the walk was the water. Water was everywhere! rushing, streaming and sitting. Samir told us that the source of the water was Mount Hermon which is farther North.
The archeological site is sooo going to inform my preaching and teaching in ways that I can't disclose right now. I am still processing, but I can say that this trip and this site in particular, has revolutionized how I think about water. The importance of water to the land and the people, both in ancient times and today. Ahhhhh, when Jesus said that he is the living water, he is saying SOMETHING! I can't wait to tell you all about it.
The archeological site is sooo going to inform my preaching and teaching in ways that I can't disclose right now. I am still processing, but I can say that this trip and this site in particular, has revolutionized how I think about water. The importance of water to the land and the people, both in ancient times and today. Ahhhhh, when Jesus said that he is the living water, he is saying SOMETHING! I can't wait to tell you all about it.
Golan Heights Winery: Holy Spirits You Are Welcome
All I'm going to write is "man-oh-mano-shevits" that was some good wine!