Friday and Saturday, January 29 and 30
WOW! You can pack a lot into two days here! Yesterday, we spent the morning at a museum area. They have this unbelievable model of Jerusalem that they have built. It is probably roughly the size of a basketball court. It seems huge! Anyway, it is Jerusalem in 66 AD, right before the total destruction of the city in 67 AD by the Roman legion. It is fascinating to see how the palace would have looked and the towers that were used to protect them and the walls – walls around the entire city.
Then, in the late afternoon, we walked down to the Eastern Wall – the Wailing Wall. I already told you about the Bar Mitzvahs and women hanging over the partition but this was totally different. It was just as the Jewish Sabbath was beginning. We watched as the Jewish men flooded into the area in front of the wall. There were various services going on. The Sephardic Jews stood right up at the wall and repeatedly bowed toward the wall. Another sect wore round, fur hats. While this was going on, back behind us in the courtyard were about 50 Israeli soldiers – probably anywhere from 18 to about 25 maybe. They stood in a circle, arms around shoulders and sang and danced. It looked kind of like camp to me – I think they were definitely camp songs with the National Anthem thrown in for good measure. There was such a contrast to the holy, dour, praying men and these young men (we’ve seen girls in uniform too but the men and women are usually separate), some with yarmulkes, with rifles slung around their chests, singing and dancing. You kind of scratch your head.
And today…..we headed out of Jerusalem, only about 4 miles from the city, we first stopped at Mary’s well where she and her family would have gotten water when she visited Elizabeth. Then we walked up the hill to a church commemorating where John the Baptist was born. They say he was born in a cave but there is this beautiful church with blue and white tile covering the floor and walls over the site.
Next stop, the Church of the Visitation where Mary was to have visited Elizabeth with Jesus in her womb. My favorite part of this church was they had the Magnificat written out and printed in about 40 different languages on beautiful tiles set into this long wall. Another favorite sight was a sculpture of two pregnant women – Mary and Elizabeth – sort of showing off their round bellies. It was just so natural and like any two women in the world would do. I will try to upload some pictures.
As we were heading into Bethlehem, we had to stop at the checkpoint because Bethlehem is in the Palestinian part of Israel. There is a huge wall and gate and strict enforcement of who comes and goes. It is similar to getting into the US from Mexico. Apparently, for people living in Bethlehem to go into Jerusalem to work is not only very expensive but one had to reapply every month and then they have to be back by 7:30 that evening. It is mostly Christians and Armenians living in Bethlehem.
Then we went to a place called Shepherd’s Field where it is thought the shepherds saw the star to guide them to Bethlehem. There was a cave there showing what it was like for the people back then – as many lived in caves. In fact, it is thought Jesus was born in a cave, not a wooden stable. They have built yet another church on this site and we sat inside and sang – mostly Christmas Carols – it was pretty moving to think about what had happened there.
On to lunch in a place meant to look like a tent – the Shepherd’s Tent Restaurant. Guess what we had? Hummus and pita, of course. They bring you those two items and then plates and plates of various things to go along with it – like spicy red sauce, corn salad, green salad with feta and olives, eggplant, mushrooms (not delicious fancy ones, Edward – more like from a jar), etc. Then they plopped a couple of Falafel on our plates followed by delicious little squares of baklava.
On to the Church of the Nativity, the very site where Jesus was to have been born. That is hard to grapple with even when you are here seeing it for your self. You go in this big stone structure that was built by Constantine and his mother in 320 AD, with stone quarried locally. Nothing fancy at first, then you see up ahead the Greek Orthodox church and more silver, gold and incredibly ornate chandeliers you ever saw while priests are chanting in Greek. Then everyone lines up, off to the side, to wait their turn to go downstairs to the Grotto and get down on their knees to feel the stone ground where it is supposed Jesus was actually born. Then your group is shuttled around to see various other points of interest. The Armenians have an area for “their” church, then you walk through an archway to the Roman Catholic church – an absolutely gorgeous place with its own grotto. It is a little bit strange but pretty awesome at the same time.
Getting out of Bethlehem, back to Jerusalem, took patience as we waited for them to check everyone’s papers. The funny incident of the day was about our coffee break. There is much complaining about coffee here. It is mostly Turkish coffee which is so thick and strong we can’t drink it. Many long for a Starbucks. Apparently there was a Starbucks in Jerusalem but it didn’t make it. Anyway, we were walking up the hill to the Church of the Nativity and spotted a shop called Star and Bucks! Green and white, very similar logo – we all got a kick out of it. On our way back, we made the owners day by stopping in and everyone got something. Everything cost the same for us – 10 shekels which is about $3. Some of us got juice that he squeezed right there – I got OJ (deelish!) but most got pomegranate juice.
Sunday, January 31, 2010
Update #2
Thursday, Jan. 28th
Hi All,
I forgot to tell you something funny about yesterday. We were in a big motor coach (aka bus) on a narrow, traffic-filled road trying to get up to the convent. A road was parked too far out in the road and we couldn’t get by. There were three taxis coming the other way who couldn’t get by us! There was much discussion between these four Israeli men – looking for the driver, etc. Their final solution – you guessed it – they decided to move the car over. What they did was get the car bouncing and then mid-bounce, they shoved it over – until we could get by! Of course, then the frantic owner came over but the deed had been done and everyone drove away.
Today was a really interesting day. Our group of 40+ was divided into groups of four and given a specific quarter (Armenian, Jewish, Christian and Muslim) of the Old City to explore with specific questions to answer. Our group was given the Jewish Quarter. A huge stone wall surrounds the Old City and you may enter by one of seven gates. We went in through the Damascus Gate to the Muslim Qtr. It is again like China Town – stall after stall with everything imaginable – one selling spices, another shoes, another bras! How a woman, who is covered from head to toe with only her eyes showing, can go to a strange Muslim man and buy a bra is beyond me. The shopkeepers are all in the narrow space between the shops beckoning you in – in whatever language they think you speak. Color, smells, noise, jostling people.
On to the Jewish Quarter: Same walkway but you pass through an open gate, and Jewish flags hang from the walls. The walkway widens, it’s clean, light and there are stores with shopkeepers behind their counters – totally different. One owner told us it is so different because the Jewish sector pays their taxes so they are taken care of. Many wealthy Americans are paying to keep it that way too.
I got a Falafel for lunch – chickpeas – fried! And then popped into a pita with hummus and salad. Jay and the other couple were at other vendors in the area. I came out and a man said I couldn’t sit where I had planned to. I thought it was because that table belonged to his shop but actually it was because those tables were dairy so I needed to sit in an area for meat. Interesting.
Our other big event was the Wailing Wall – what a crazy scene that was. Men and women are separated by this long, high divider. We went and prayed at the wall and women all along it were weeping – some sort of camped out by the wall praying. ON the other side of the divider, many boys were being Bar Mitzvahed – joyously toting around the Torah with beaming brothers, fathers, cousins, friends and get this…their mothers and other female family members were standing on plastic chairs so they could see over the divider to watch their sons. The sons would even back up to the divider with Mom and Grandma hanging over it for a family pic. Crazy.
Then we went what is basically upstairs from the Holy of Holy places (the Wailing Wall) for the Jews to the Dome of the Rock which is supposedly the site of where Abraham took Isaac to be sacrificed (Christian faith) and where Muhammad ascended on his famous night journey (Muslim faith). They are all on top of each other – no wonder they have conflict here.
Jerusalem is very safe – or so they say. They have all agreed to live here in relative harmony.
We gave reports when we got back and they were really interesting. Everyone wanted “their quarter” to be the best – like a competition. I look forward to exploring the Christian Quarter next.
Love to all.
Hi All,
I forgot to tell you something funny about yesterday. We were in a big motor coach (aka bus) on a narrow, traffic-filled road trying to get up to the convent. A road was parked too far out in the road and we couldn’t get by. There were three taxis coming the other way who couldn’t get by us! There was much discussion between these four Israeli men – looking for the driver, etc. Their final solution – you guessed it – they decided to move the car over. What they did was get the car bouncing and then mid-bounce, they shoved it over – until we could get by! Of course, then the frantic owner came over but the deed had been done and everyone drove away.
Today was a really interesting day. Our group of 40+ was divided into groups of four and given a specific quarter (Armenian, Jewish, Christian and Muslim) of the Old City to explore with specific questions to answer. Our group was given the Jewish Quarter. A huge stone wall surrounds the Old City and you may enter by one of seven gates. We went in through the Damascus Gate to the Muslim Qtr. It is again like China Town – stall after stall with everything imaginable – one selling spices, another shoes, another bras! How a woman, who is covered from head to toe with only her eyes showing, can go to a strange Muslim man and buy a bra is beyond me. The shopkeepers are all in the narrow space between the shops beckoning you in – in whatever language they think you speak. Color, smells, noise, jostling people.
On to the Jewish Quarter: Same walkway but you pass through an open gate, and Jewish flags hang from the walls. The walkway widens, it’s clean, light and there are stores with shopkeepers behind their counters – totally different. One owner told us it is so different because the Jewish sector pays their taxes so they are taken care of. Many wealthy Americans are paying to keep it that way too.
I got a Falafel for lunch – chickpeas – fried! And then popped into a pita with hummus and salad. Jay and the other couple were at other vendors in the area. I came out and a man said I couldn’t sit where I had planned to. I thought it was because that table belonged to his shop but actually it was because those tables were dairy so I needed to sit in an area for meat. Interesting.
Our other big event was the Wailing Wall – what a crazy scene that was. Men and women are separated by this long, high divider. We went and prayed at the wall and women all along it were weeping – some sort of camped out by the wall praying. ON the other side of the divider, many boys were being Bar Mitzvahed – joyously toting around the Torah with beaming brothers, fathers, cousins, friends and get this…their mothers and other female family members were standing on plastic chairs so they could see over the divider to watch their sons. The sons would even back up to the divider with Mom and Grandma hanging over it for a family pic. Crazy.
Then we went what is basically upstairs from the Holy of Holy places (the Wailing Wall) for the Jews to the Dome of the Rock which is supposedly the site of where Abraham took Isaac to be sacrificed (Christian faith) and where Muhammad ascended on his famous night journey (Muslim faith). They are all on top of each other – no wonder they have conflict here.
Jerusalem is very safe – or so they say. They have all agreed to live here in relative harmony.
We gave reports when we got back and they were really interesting. Everyone wanted “their quarter” to be the best – like a competition. I look forward to exploring the Christian Quarter next.
Love to all.
News from Jerusalem
Wednesday, January 27th
We arrived yesterday around 11 am at St. George’s College in Jerusalem after flying all night from Newark to Tel Aviv. I was pooped so I slept the afternoon away while Jay got set up with internet and got himself situated. We attended evening prayer and had orientation meetings.
Well, this is Day 2 of our grand adventure. I was awakened at 5:30 am with the Muslim call to prayer which is this eerie chanting over loud speakers that is broadcast across the city five times a day (I can hear it right now too – 5:20 pm). We visited a convent for lunch – a beautiful stone building right out of Pillars of the Earth. Except, as soon as you walk in, there was a vending machine with Heinekens! In the dining hall, they had French wine for sale (Dad availed himself!).
After lunch, we went to the rooftop which had a panoramic view of Jerusalem that was amazing. I attempted to take a series of pictures that I hope to commission John to do a puzzle picture of for Dad (Father’s Day??). We could see – from that one spot: the Wailing Wall, the site of the first Temple, the Garden of Gethsemane, the Mount of Olives, the Kidron Valley, the home of Caiaphas, plus a million other things. Pretty awesome.
Jay and I took a short walk through the city down towards the Old City (we haven’t gone in yet). I hoped for it to be old and quaint maybe? Not so. It reminded me of China Town in New York – junkie shop after junkie shop – all selling the same stuff. There was this one amazing shop Jay took me to that sold spices in these big open bins – cinnamon, curry, etc. Imagine the smell – it was wonderful. More tomorrow.
Love you all and miss you.
We arrived yesterday around 11 am at St. George’s College in Jerusalem after flying all night from Newark to Tel Aviv. I was pooped so I slept the afternoon away while Jay got set up with internet and got himself situated. We attended evening prayer and had orientation meetings.
Well, this is Day 2 of our grand adventure. I was awakened at 5:30 am with the Muslim call to prayer which is this eerie chanting over loud speakers that is broadcast across the city five times a day (I can hear it right now too – 5:20 pm). We visited a convent for lunch – a beautiful stone building right out of Pillars of the Earth. Except, as soon as you walk in, there was a vending machine with Heinekens! In the dining hall, they had French wine for sale (Dad availed himself!).
After lunch, we went to the rooftop which had a panoramic view of Jerusalem that was amazing. I attempted to take a series of pictures that I hope to commission John to do a puzzle picture of for Dad (Father’s Day??). We could see – from that one spot: the Wailing Wall, the site of the first Temple, the Garden of Gethsemane, the Mount of Olives, the Kidron Valley, the home of Caiaphas, plus a million other things. Pretty awesome.
Jay and I took a short walk through the city down towards the Old City (we haven’t gone in yet). I hoped for it to be old and quaint maybe? Not so. It reminded me of China Town in New York – junkie shop after junkie shop – all selling the same stuff. There was this one amazing shop Jay took me to that sold spices in these big open bins – cinnamon, curry, etc. Imagine the smell – it was wonderful. More tomorrow.
Love you all and miss you.
Saturday, January 16, 2010
Comment from Garland
Q: For you to ponder: In your life now, how might you improve the state of your (a) relationships (b) relationship with God, and (c) unique purpose one earth?
Garland's Answer: time. spending time on a and b and being prayerful about c
Garland's Answer: time. spending time on a and b and being prayerful about c
You can be a blogger too!
I have one lone commenter - thank you Garland! Although that makes the most sense - to comment there - Let's use the regular posting area for all comments - just so everyone can readily see everyone else's comments - when you want to respond (please, please respond!!) - just click on "New Post" in the top right corner when you are viewing the blog. Then type in your comment and click the orange square in the lower left corner that says "Publish Post" - very easy.
HERE IS ONE OF GARLAND'S COMMENTS:
J. Garland Pollard IV said...
We are doing it 2x2. The challenge for us is that our first thought is that if we had only 30 days, we would be doing just about the same things. Its how we do the rest of the year thats the challenge.
The other question is silly, but practical. I am fixing a clogged plumbing issue at the house, and if I only had thirty days, I somehow would hope I could avoid this issue!
So, are you all liking the book? Has anything changed for you this week?
HERE IS ONE OF GARLAND'S COMMENTS:
J. Garland Pollard IV said...
We are doing it 2x2. The challenge for us is that our first thought is that if we had only 30 days, we would be doing just about the same things. Its how we do the rest of the year thats the challenge.
The other question is silly, but practical. I am fixing a clogged plumbing issue at the house, and if I only had thirty days, I somehow would hope I could avoid this issue!
So, are you all liking the book? Has anything changed for you this week?
Wednesday, January 13, 2010
Day 3 - Questions
In our culture death seems almost a taboo subject. Why do you think that is?
For you to ponder: In your life now, how might you improve the state of your (a) relationships (b) relationship with God, and (c) unique purpose one earth?
For you to ponder: In your life now, how might you improve the state of your (a) relationships (b) relationship with God, and (c) unique purpose one earth?
Monday, January 11, 2010
Day 1
I highly recommend that you do this project 2 x 2. Very thought provoking and helpful in conversation with Laura. Some weeks ago I wrote in my prayer journel how precious every minute of the next 10 years will be so I am very focused on how to live the next 30 days so I can really live into the next 3650 days.
Day 1 - Real Life
Careful...deliberate...authentic...those are the words that have resonated with me with the reading from Day 1. Those are the ways I want to describe how I am living each day.
I will be posing questions to you from the One Month to Live Guidebook to a No-Regrets Life for Personal or Group Study. I'd like to suggest that you get a notebook to journal some of your thoughts, answers to questions posed and possibly things too personal to share with the group.
"If you only had one month to live...Wouldn't you want to take time to linger over a meal with your family? to inhale the rich aroma of a cup of coffee as you watch the sunrise (or sunset!) through your kitchen window? to cheer your son at his basketball game? to read a meaningful book, poem, or passage of Scripture? to take a walk through the piney woods, listening to the birds chatter?" OMTL Guidebook, p.8
1. Make a list of some of the activities you spend time on now that may be robbing you of time that could be invested more wisely. Share one with us on the blog. p.9
2. Make another list of the half dozen or so activities that you absolutely must do soon, the kinds of things you would really miss if they were no longer available to you. Share with us. p.9
3. Are there some things your soul is craving? Listen in prayer to what God is saying to you about what is really important in your life. Share. p.9
I will be posing questions to you from the One Month to Live Guidebook to a No-Regrets Life for Personal or Group Study. I'd like to suggest that you get a notebook to journal some of your thoughts, answers to questions posed and possibly things too personal to share with the group.
"If you only had one month to live...Wouldn't you want to take time to linger over a meal with your family? to inhale the rich aroma of a cup of coffee as you watch the sunrise (or sunset!) through your kitchen window? to cheer your son at his basketball game? to read a meaningful book, poem, or passage of Scripture? to take a walk through the piney woods, listening to the birds chatter?" OMTL Guidebook, p.8
1. Make a list of some of the activities you spend time on now that may be robbing you of time that could be invested more wisely. Share one with us on the blog. p.9
2. Make another list of the half dozen or so activities that you absolutely must do soon, the kinds of things you would really miss if they were no longer available to you. Share with us. p.9
3. Are there some things your soul is craving? Listen in prayer to what God is saying to you about what is really important in your life. Share. p.9
Sunday, January 10, 2010
Getting Started
ONE MONTH TO LIVE CHALLENGE:
I think I would call this the day before Day 1. We are just getting organized. Check out the website: www.onemonthtolive.com There are all sorts of resources there. If you were not in class this morning, you might want to read the excerpt which is actually Day 1. See what you think and the let your fellow bloggers know.
I am so excited about this 30-day challenge and Jay and I have an added bonus that during those 30 days, we will be on a two-week trip to the Holy Land. So, I guess you are all going to get to go "with" us!
So, I hope you will take the challenge and we can set off on this adventure together.
Blessings,
Laura
p.s. I tried to add the web address for the excerpt and also a picture - but it converts to code and then I get an error message. Garland - help!
I think I would call this the day before Day 1. We are just getting organized. Check out the website: www.onemonthtolive.com There are all sorts of resources there. If you were not in class this morning, you might want to read the excerpt which is actually Day 1. See what you think and the let your fellow bloggers know.
I am so excited about this 30-day challenge and Jay and I have an added bonus that during those 30 days, we will be on a two-week trip to the Holy Land. So, I guess you are all going to get to go "with" us!
So, I hope you will take the challenge and we can set off on this adventure together.
Blessings,
Laura
p.s. I tried to add the web address for the excerpt and also a picture - but it converts to code and then I get an error message. Garland - help!
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