"Pray for the peace of Jerusalem"

Well... in about three and a half months I will be on my way to Israel! I am spending three weeks in the Jerusalem area (taking day trips around Israel, of course). The program is through Gordon and I will be traveling with Dr. and Dr. Phillips (Elaine Phillips was one of my professors Freshman year... I learned a vast amount from her. Her husband is just as amazing!), as well as Dr. Hunt (my NT prof... which most of you have heard me speak of). We will be attending the Jerusalem University. It should be academically rigorous, but it will definitely be worth it! At the end of the trip, a few of us are going to spend a few days in Jordan. This is just extra and actually not part of the program. I am SO excited about this as well!! Many of you have asked me what you can be praying about as I am preparing for this trip. It is a long way away; however, I know these next few months will fly by. I would greatly appreciate it if you could begin to pray our trip now. Here are some things you could be praying for:

1: "Pray for the peace of Jerusalem: 'May those who love you be secure. May there be peace within your walls and security within your citadels.' For the sake of my brothers and friends, I will say, 'Peace be within you.' For the sake of the house of the Lord our God, I will seek your prosperity." (Psalms 122:6-9)

As you know, Israel is never completely stable. I ask that you pray for the peace of Israel simply because it is something that should be on our hearts. I also ask that you pray specifically that the situation in Israel will be safe while my group is there (May 18th-June 10th). It is encouraging to know (this part is for you mom) that Jerusalem University has been around for years and has never brought students close to harm. They know their city well and know where we can and cannot travel. (Of course, the safer it is, the more of the country I will be able to see!)

If you would like to check up on the situation while I am there you can read the Jerusalem Post. This should inform you what is going on in the country during my trip.

2: Safe travels and health. Our group will be traveling from Boston to London to Tel Aviv on May 18th and 19th. We will be doing some traveling within Jerusalem. Then, a smaller group of us will be traveling up to Jordan and back to Tel Aviv. Finally, on June 10th we will be traveling from Tel Aviv to London to Boston and then to our final destination (Phoenix for me!!). That is a lot of traveling!! Please just pray for our safety during these trips. In addition, please pray for the health of the students. We will be doing a lot of physical activity. We were told we needed to be in pretty good shape in order to go on the trip. Please pray that no one is injured or becomes ill during the trip. It is never fun to be sick; however, on this trip being sick could greatly affect one's experience.

3. Academics! We have many hours of preparation that we are responsible for doing on our "free time". Most of you know that being a college student (especially at Gordon) leaves no room for free time. Please pray that we can complete these assignments before we leave, as well as not feel ridiculously overwhelmed. I have also been told that the program at Jerusalem University is difficult as well. Pray that we learn a lot during our studies there and that we do our best in the class.

4. Hearts of the students. Please simply pray for the hearts of the students and professors that will be on the trip. I know that great things can happen. I will be praying that we will all be greatly affected by this trip. There are about 30 of us going to Israel.

I might post more information about the trip before I leave. If not I will be sure to post something (specifically pictures) when I return.

Thank you for all of you who have already offered to be in prayer about this trip. Also, thank you for those of you who have encouraged me to go! I am so excited and I can't wait to share with you all about my experience.

La Vida Pictures

This is where I spent my solo:
My group on the low ropes course:
My and Ruth after peaking a mountain (I think this was Giant--the one we did twice, by accident):
My group on one of the many mountains we climbed:
The guys:
The ladies:
The "Sherpas" (Lindsay and Eric):Rock climbing:
The girls pumping water... this was also our "shower":
Me and my reflection on solo... Dan took a picture of me (sketchy?) since he was across the pond:
A pretty waterfall... and Caleb:
More pretty pictures in the Adirondack Mountains:

This is LA VIDA

Last summer I received a letter from Gordon informing me of one of my options for a mandatory zero credit course. The first one seemed like fun. It was just a quad course on campus participating in outdoor stuff, as well as a weekend camping trip. However, the second one seemed like it was for me. Here's what it said:

These expeditions provide wilderness-based experiences that encourage exploration of one's personal relationship and commitment to Jesus Christ in the context of Christian community.... The program begins on Gordon's Wenham campus and travels to the Adirondack Mountains in upstate New York. This six-million-acre preserve--roughly the size of Massachusetts, with sparkling mountain streams, quiet lakes, challenging peaks and plenty of space for solitude and reflection--creates the perfect environment for growth, adventure, self-discovery and growing deeper with God.... The supportive, small-group environment will encourage you to achieve more than you ever dreamed possible, but will allow you to accept your challenges on a "challenge by choice" basis.

So basically, I was required to spend two weeks backpacking in the Adirondack Mountains with a group of my friends. We would have lots of quite time in the wilderness, focus on community, see the BEAUTIFUL creation, do high and low rope courses, do REAL rock climbing (not the indoor gym stuff that I'm used to), and HIKE! How much fun! And I like the outdoors, so how hard could it be?

Well we did all of those things and it was AMAZING. I cannot even express how incredible the trip was. The only part I was wrong about was that it wouldn't be that hard. It was one of the most physically intense times of my life. (The only thing that came close to it was hiking the Grand Canyon... which I hadn't even done yet!) I had a 50 pound pack that I had to lug up and down multiple mountains, every muscle in my body hurt, I was always exhausted! Despite all of that... I still would do it over again.

First of all, the community was great! There were 10 students (5 girls, 5 guys... all of us had just finished our Freshman year at Gordon) and 2 "Sherpas" (our leaders... Lindsey had just graduated from Gordon and Eric had graduated a few years before, but still flew back to Gordon every summer to lead trips--I hope to do this some summer before I graduate). We all became so close and learned to trust each other quickly. It was such a great experience! We all had to be completely genuine with each other, which is why I think we became so close.

Spiritually, the trip was amazing. I cannot go into detail about what I learned because I learned so much! God taught me so much about who I am and what He has in store for me. Every day we were given time for personal devotions. In addition, I got into some amazing conversations with some of my hiking buddies. It is just so cool to see God working in everyone's life. The most influential part about the trip was my solo. We had a 48 solo (60 hour fast) that we spent in the woods. We were given our designated areas and we had to set up our own camp. For two days I did not have interaction with any humans (except when my sherpas brought me water twice a day... but we did not talk). I sat on a rock by a little pond or under my tarp in the woods. All I had was my Bible and a journal (plus stuff for sleeping and warmth of course). I have never felt so much peace in my life. It was so hard to be alone. However, after awhile I did not feel alone at all. I completely felt the presence of my Savior who was there just hanging out with me. It was so incredible. I wish I could explain how I felt, but I really can't. So I just suggest that someday you make the time to do the same thing. Two days (or whatever works for you) without human interaction, just worshiping and fellowshipping with your Lord.

Anyways... it was neat to hear about others experiences after we returned from our solo and broke our silence as well as our fast. (We were all pretty quite while we were eating). After the solo, we hiked out and went to base camp were all of the La Vida groups met. We had some down time and fellowshipped as a large group. The next morning we did a 8 mile run. I wasn't totally recovered from my fast and I never run that much! It was hard! Although, it was not as hard as I thought. I guess I put on a LOT of muscle during the hike. :)

There is so much more I could say... but basically it was "the life". I did not want to come home. Before the trip I missed my family and friends. However, I got so used to no cell phone, internet, distractions, and an AMAZING community... so I simply wanted to stay in the wilderness forever. But I guess I wouldn't be very effective if I did that, would I? :) And I was ready to take a shower. After 12 days without a shower... oh man was that nice! :)

Here are some more pictures of La Vida.