tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-168179982024-03-07T13:20:36.399-06:00The Jacobs Journalmcjacobsjournalhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16727712016502696400noreply@blogger.comBlogger545125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-16817998.post-89431567105879570632014-05-26T17:45:00.000-05:002014-05-26T17:50:03.534-05:00Day Eight: The Holocaust Museum & Final Thoughts on Israel<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">
We have come to the last day of our time in Israel. <i>Sigh</i>.<br />
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On the last day of the official tour, we were given a few options of how to spend our day. With people flying out at different times, the schedule was flexible, and buses were making various stops at shopping destinations around the city.<br />
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Another option for the day was the Holocaust Museum, called Yad Vashem, which comes from Isaiah 56:5: <br />
<i><b>"and to them will I give in my house and within my walls a memorial and a name (a "yad vashem")...that shall not be cut off."</b></i><br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhQMjhJv4839VhyRql4T3j1P_TpxqQQymuCwbalDWooagqItv39xf9YZ6niC-B86Xn9llR1AAkwK7G31BePJYLboiTp4Y7bjBGDX0mLwykumZeb6_bCRGDP4pVIoVLHllci3ZiZPA/s1600/IMG_2419.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhQMjhJv4839VhyRql4T3j1P_TpxqQQymuCwbalDWooagqItv39xf9YZ6niC-B86Xn9llR1AAkwK7G31BePJYLboiTp4Y7bjBGDX0mLwykumZeb6_bCRGDP4pVIoVLHllci3ZiZPA/s1600/IMG_2419.JPG" height="426" width="640" /></a></div>
For the first time in our traveling history, it was actually very difficult for me to find souvenirs that really captured the significance of the time we spent in Israel. So, although I did pick up a couple of things along the way, we knew this last day was supposed to be yet another day of learning for us.<br />
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Mark and I had not visited a Holocaust Museum before, although I have heard great things about the one in D.C. and even Dallas. <br />
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We don't have many pictures to share from this day, because it wasn't a place for pictures (except for this fantastic view over the mountainside that served as the peaceful backdrop for this museum).<br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg1bxNUfKhpyugZwSnBLF3sXnjaL81ziUvse8yP5ledjQeZSH2LO1ZiaaihhqM-7hgcX4g_fYvKtxHpSOq5R6YQbmuOXEiDM3Do2XQQg5gVIWgi0OABhYKoiLA_RP3Bw8DR1FHkYg/s1600/IMG_2420.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg1bxNUfKhpyugZwSnBLF3sXnjaL81ziUvse8yP5ledjQeZSH2LO1ZiaaihhqM-7hgcX4g_fYvKtxHpSOq5R6YQbmuOXEiDM3Do2XQQg5gVIWgi0OABhYKoiLA_RP3Bw8DR1FHkYg/s1600/IMG_2420.JPG" height="426" width="640" /></a></div>
<b>I do, however, have pictures in my mind. And, they will be forever etched there.</b><br />
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Yad Vashem is designed as a winding path through the complicated story of the Holocaust---and as you wander from room to room, seemingly with no end, you absolutely feel the weight of this journey through time. You feel the endlessness of this disaster, the burden and consequences of a tragedy of this magnitude, and the nausea of meeting evil this up-close and personal.<br />
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Similar to my first time in the Genocide Memorial in Rwanda, this visit served as a place to learn about the historical facts, that until now, had been fragmented and incomplete for me. There was so much I didn't know. There is <i>still </i>so much I don't know. And, that makes me sad. There is simply no excuse for that to be true.<br />
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But a sense of history wasn't all I got from this day.<br />
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I felt as if I was sitting at a table, as men, women, and children took their turn sitting across from me, sharing their stories.<br />
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I met people of all nationalities and backgrounds---some who died, some who fought, some who simply did what they could to survive a few extra days in concentration camps.<br />
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I met survivors, who told their stories through tears, sharing about their families, their friends, their nightmares, and their miracles.<br />
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I met children...such tiny children, who experienced such horrors, incomprehensible to my Mommy heart and brain.<br />
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I met heroes from every country---non-Jewish men and women, who---whether they were eighteen or fifty-eight---saw the atrocities around them and refused to bow. Instead, they laid down their lives to save the lives of their friends, neighbors, and even strangers.<br />
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I met women who marched for miles as the annhilation ended, only to die after they gained their freedom because they were so sick and frail and tired.<br />
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As each one shared their story, the question repeated in my mind, "What if this had been me? What would I have done? What would our family's story have been?"<br />
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<b>For many reasons, I don't want to leave this eight-part Israel blog this way</b>. It feels so dark and dreary, after our many days spent in this beautiful country.<br />
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But, at the exact same time, this is <i>exactly</i> how it should end. Because it has woken me up from my American slumber, and left me wanting more.<br />
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I want more information. <br />
More understanding.<br />
More awareness.<br />
More appreciation.<br />
More action.<br />
More heart change.<br />
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I want to be changed because of what I experienced and learned in Israel, and what God began showing me even before this trip.<br />
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My journey of truly understanding the Jewish faith, history, and legacy began two years ago, as we began to celebrate the Biblical feasts in our home, as a part of our homeschool curriculum. <br />
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As I began to read and prepare for these family celebrations, I was deeply moved by what I was reading. <i>And, I wondered why I had seen these beautiful blessings as simply "Old Testament stuff" that I no longer needed to know.</i><br />
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After celebrating many Jewish traditions and Biblical festivals that year, even my kids have seen so much with new eyes. Since that time, I have been hungry to know more. Not just because it's the Word of God, and we <i>should </i>know it intimately. But, because I believe there are God-sized blessings in these rhythms of life that we, as a modern-day culture, are missing out on. <br />
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Sadly, along with gaining knowledge about the Jewish people and the feasts they celebrate, I have also learned about the tragedies that have occurred against them in the name of "Christianity". (Again, homeschooling has been teaching mom <i>quite</i> a few things over these years!)<br />
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This is all I will say. <b>We as Christians need to know</b>. We need to know and appreciate Jewish history---because it is also our story. We need to know the sufferings that have come from anti- semitism. We need to know the Old Testament, including the Biblical calendar as God created it, and the beautiful feasts and festivals He designed as blessings to His people. We need to study what all of this means for our families, and what it means to our Lord.<br />
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Since we've been home, I've been reading a whole list of books about Israel, the Jewish faith, and the God of Abraham, Isaac, Jacob...<b>and Jesus</b>. I can't get enough. The God of history---and of our world today---has never been more alive to me. And, at the same time, I have never felt so small and ignorant and self-centered.<br />
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My prayer, as I complete this blog-journey back through Israel, is that those who joined me here won't <i><b>stop</b></i> here either. I'm clearly not an expert on anything I've shared. I'm just a girl who encountered her God in new ways halfway across the world, in a beautiful land, which He promised to His people so long ago. <br />
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And, if you didn't know much about Israel before these blogs, I want to leave you with one last thought, because I promised my airport friend I would.<br />
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<i>As we walked through the duty-free shop in the airport upon our departure--shopping for olive oil and wine to take back to family--the man who helped us there asked us about our trip. We told him that we will never be the same after this time in Israel, and that the beauty of this country was far beyond what we had ever imagined.</i><br />
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<i>He had a simple response, "I'm so glad to hear this. Will you do me one favor? Will you tell others in your country about what you saw? <b>Will you tell them it's not just what they see on TV?</b>"</i><br />
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So, that's where I leave this Israel summary. This country---its people, its history, its God---is beautiful beyond description, and so much richer than many of us know or realize.<br />
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<b>May we be a people who honor and cherish the heritage God has given us in the Jewish faith, while we also celebrate the hope and future He has given us in Jesus. Because from start to finish, it is all one seamless, beautiful story of redemption.</b></div>
mcjacobsjournalhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16727712016502696400noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-16817998.post-955987584718693062014-05-17T17:50:00.003-05:002014-05-18T07:05:46.667-05:00Day Seven: Qumran, Masada, Judean Wilderness, Dead Sea Swim, and En Gedi <div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">
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Day Seven was just about the time I got <i><b>really</b></i> sad about leaving Israel soon. And, it's funny. I'm getting sad again as I near the end of recalling this trip on the blog. (Although I <i><b>am </b></i>remembering why I'm not blogging anymore. :) As happy as I am to have this documented, I am looking forward to gaining back these evening and weekend hours!)</div>
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On the seventh day, we headed south. We traveled through the Judean Wilderness, which was again, so desert-like compared to the north. You may remember,<a href="http://mcjacobsjournal.blogspot.com/2014/04/day-four-heading-south-through-bet-shan.html" target="_blank">we had traveled through the tip of it on our entry to Jerusalem through the area of Jericho</a>, but we were now experiencing the true expanse of the desert land as it stretches all the way to the southern most boundary of Israel.</div>
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As we traveled this new direction, we had the wilderness on our right and the Jordan River on our left. The Jordan River serves as a natural border between Israel and Jordan, but we could also see the security fences along the way, warning of upcoming country lines.<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgo-DAHsCG358BxEfFUuqpQt_feiLRIQgBKuh5OgJsr06aPMN7oAvrdyu7JNJIYvIO5QE4vhJjYjzjOvSi3vcct7EFYNMXaiuxsUuU2TGxMrVQps55_3O-q1-DOux31wsHFJR2mvA/s1600/IMG_2314.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgo-DAHsCG358BxEfFUuqpQt_feiLRIQgBKuh5OgJsr06aPMN7oAvrdyu7JNJIYvIO5QE4vhJjYjzjOvSi3vcct7EFYNMXaiuxsUuU2TGxMrVQps55_3O-q1-DOux31wsHFJR2mvA/s1600/IMG_2314.JPG" height="426" width="640" /></a></div>
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As we looked across out the left window, we were peering into modern-day Jordan, ancient-day Moab.</div>
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We could see the mountains in the distance where the Israelites would have first entered the Promised Land, by way of the Jordan River. </div>
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Which was yet another "ah ha" moment, brought to me by our very own Naftali:</div>
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The Israelites entered the Promised Land from a mountain, into a valley at the riverbed. Their enemies in Jericho and other cities could see them coming and would have picked them off one at a time if they had been defenseless and walking across in a single file line across the Jordan. <b style="text-decoration: underline;">Yet, this is what I have always pictured! </b>(maybe because of Bible pictures like this one.)</div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjJ9pBLJrEx45N0a8O82IMggleIz8wLmumnG-Fz-HfhO0h54nLBULUBcFBD4XRuHbqYLpKW6ocXcDPntYVV5_JFOuXuSCxGou9ImxVeGXd_DtSjyU52sIBavRa2aoukmd9gkLVPSQ/s1600/crossingthejordan.gif" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjJ9pBLJrEx45N0a8O82IMggleIz8wLmumnG-Fz-HfhO0h54nLBULUBcFBD4XRuHbqYLpKW6ocXcDPntYVV5_JFOuXuSCxGou9ImxVeGXd_DtSjyU52sIBavRa2aoukmd9gkLVPSQ/s1600/crossingthejordan.gif" height="256" width="640" /></a><br />
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Instead, God parted the waters for MILES, all the way from a town called Adam (north of Jericho) down to the Dead Sea, where we were traveling on day seven!</div>
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As the water stopped for such a long distance, Naftali shared that they most likely crossed shoulder to shoulder, ready for combat, so that they could not be attacked even as they entered.</div>
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This never hit me before! They were well-trained for the battles ahead, and even in this dry riverbed, God instructed their every move and they followed. They weren't a weak people, exhausted from years in the desert. God gave them strength to stand as a military unit and victorious group before they even stepped foot in Jericho.</div>
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It's interesting to me how often this happened on this trip. You would think that the "big" stops would be the places God had lessons He wanted me to know. There were plenty of those too. But, instead, it was so often "along the way", in small moments that I wasn't expecting, that He just revealed new truths and made me want to study the Word more diligently.</div>
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Another one of those was a quick view, as we were driving, of Mount Nebo in the distance, where Moses was allowed to take a peek into the beautiful, prosperous land he would never step into. </div>
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<img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi40OA6dHGktODKn2NoJmLVrdruMPD8i1YWOzHYX6Yz34PZHkMCvhR-DcUB71mkQLvrIPCbPxijtAn7QElR7YM7SIdSgJFy0vzxJU7h8ElMdYp49gB11KQKy44lPw0O9Qv5IaNwzw/s1600/IMG_2315.JPG" height="426" width="640" /></div>
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="-webkit-text-decorations-in-effect: none; color: black;">That has always been a bit of a sad and difficult Bible story for me. A man who gave his entire life to leading God's people, to guiding them through the hardest years of desert-wandering; seeing their disobedience and disregard for the One True God too many times to count, and fighting for them to be forgiven by the God they forsook. He was the only man who saw God's face. He was the man to whom God chose to give the law. Yet, in his final days, he was the man NOT chosen to lead them into the promises God had for them because of his own disobedience. This is heartbreaking. Yet, even in this, Moses glorified His Father and trusted Him completely. What a humbling thing to remember: First, that God is a Holy God and His ways are not always our ways. Second, we can lead a life faithful to God and--from our limited perspective--we may not get all we thought we deserved from doing it. <i>Not yet, anyway</i>. But, what an honor Moses ended with, as he was buried by God Himself on Mount Nebo on the last day of his life on earth.</span></div>
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<i>"Since then, no prophet has risen in Israel like Moses, whom the Lord knew face to face, who did all those signs and wonders the Lord sent him to do in Egypt--to Pharaoh and to all his officials and to his whole land. For no one has ever shown the mighty power or performed the awesome deeds that Moses did in the sight of Israel." Deuteronomy 34:10-12</i></div>
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We stopped at the Jordan River one more time, just north of where it joins the Dead Sea. This is the very area where John the Baptist had his ministry and where he wandered (Matthew 3). We were able to see the site that is celebrated as Jesus' baptismal spot, although it is now considered to be the territory of Jordan. The river marks the boundary of the two countries, and the signs were clear: </div>
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Don't cross the river and don't mess with the areas behind the fenceline. We cheerfully obeyed.</div>
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We could actually see the remains of abandoned monasteries and churches, where conflict and fighting over the years made it impossible for monks and priests to defend themselves. So interestingly, the entire area is now deserted from any kind of active church or even a "touristy" office. </div>
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Quite the change from the busy, sometimes commercialized, sites of Jerusalem.</div>
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But, I have to say, even in this deserted place, God did His thing, and showed us this was still His territory. :)</div>
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We were all milling around, standing at the waters' edge, doing our usual sightseeing, pictures, and poses.</div>
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Now, you remember I mentioned before how much, especially Mark, has become interested in birds? Our collection of bird sightings were numerous on this trip, even catching a couple of new ones on this very morning.</div>
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So, he is always looking up to the trees anywhere we stop. And, I'm pretty thankful he was doing that here, because we got a super special bird sighting!</div>
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Guess who was just sitting up on a ledge watching us down below?</div>
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<b>A white dove.</b></div>
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<b>Are you kidding me?</b></div>
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This is the only white dove we saw on the entire trip. And, to see it in this very significant place was almost unbelievable. I nicknamed this little guy "Spirit". :)</div>
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For those who may not know the significance, a<u> bird like this one landed on Jesus as He was baptized and came out of the water <i><b>right here in this place</b></i>, showing God's blessing on His son, and representing the Holy Spirit ascending on Jesus.</u></div>
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<i><b>"Now when all the people were being baptized, Jesus was baptized too. And as He was praying, heaven was opened and the Holy Spirit descended on him in bodily form like a dove. And a voice came from heaven saying "This is my son, whom I love, with him I am well-pleased."(Luke 3:21-22)</b></i></div>
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I'm not sure what this signified to each person who saw little "Spirit", but for me, it was another way God showed me how real and present He is, as He walks this journey with each of us, revealing Himself to all of us in this land. <b>I believe He loves delighting us--and surprising us--in the details of His care</b>. And, seeing that little white bird was just one of those whispers to my heart. He is with us. His Spirit is here, surrounding our little group, and He has things He wants for us to know and see.</div>
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<i>(Too bad that little birdie didn't just fly on down and sit on our shoulders. Hee hee.)</i></div>
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The next stop was the area of Qumran, where the Dead Sea Scrolls were discovered in ancient caves, hidden for safe-keeping by the Essenes. </div>
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There are even more caves than the ones we could see, but it was absolutely a treat to get to stand just feet away from these secret places where the word of God was preserved and proven.</div>
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The Essenes were a group of very devout Jewish people, who believed that living apart from society was a holier way to devote their lives to God. They shared everything they had with one another, lived in peace, and worshipped in very specific ways. We toured the remains of their isolated community, which included many ritual bathing sites...</div>
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...as well as the areas where they practiced communal living.</div>
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And, where they carried out the tasks of meeting the village's needs.</div>
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We could also see the rooms where they copied the scrolls of the Bible that were hidden for over a thousand years in these caves.</div>
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As the Romans completed the destruction of Jerusalem, they headed south to rid the land of any remaining Jewish people. Knowing the scrolls would be in danger of being burned or stolen, the Essenes quickly hid their scrolls in clay jars in the back of caves.</div>
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And, aren't we glad they did?</div>
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You can read more about what was discovered in those caves<a href="http://www.deadseascrolls.org.il/learn-about-the-scrolls/introduction" target="_blank"> HERE.</a> It included every book of the Bible except Esther, as well as scrolls describing the Essenes' beliefs, rules, and way of life.</div>
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We then continued south through more of the Judean Desert, but we no longer had the Jordan River on our left. Now it was the spectacular Dead Sea!</div>
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I had heard the waters appeared turquoise and beautiful, but I really didn't expect the beauty I saw.</div>
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And, to think, it is completely uninhabited, too salty to hold any life at all. </div>
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Our next destination was Masada, which was originally used as a fortress for King Herod, built around 31 BC as a sort of winter palace and "place of escape" for he and his immediate family.</div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg1O-yH5h4F0fCbyEONidzqR6SSzo6pn6dKJs14MzPBIJ2WgaWXu83c8H9t3DLQCN6nIvKy8vDb-ymNXPJHrTP6cViuBa_tMkp_HhJrzfQC5xuCOYn6Z9Q1rI7LjvywYK2VRSBr0Q/s1600/IMG_3832.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg1O-yH5h4F0fCbyEONidzqR6SSzo6pn6dKJs14MzPBIJ2WgaWXu83c8H9t3DLQCN6nIvKy8vDb-ymNXPJHrTP6cViuBa_tMkp_HhJrzfQC5xuCOYn6Z9Q1rI7LjvywYK2VRSBr0Q/s1600/IMG_3832.JPG" height="480" width="640" /></a></div>
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That Herod. He sure didn't skimp on anything that was meant for his pleasure and comfort. We could see his original frescoed walls of the palace,</div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEil6opcqdUJEEksqC4kCRkHGlPmI4BzIRxiIKul9DV3znsXGuwQznzG_PZMrbeUDASYBiW49CHOmSYW1y8fqtB7CWUyNrc5BL6NMfMDGT87WYHa0TnY0wRLwYXNcpKe7Ph0mHJl6g/s1600/IMG_3844.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEil6opcqdUJEEksqC4kCRkHGlPmI4BzIRxiIKul9DV3znsXGuwQznzG_PZMrbeUDASYBiW49CHOmSYW1y8fqtB7CWUyNrc5BL6NMfMDGT87WYHa0TnY0wRLwYXNcpKe7Ph0mHJl6g/s1600/IMG_3844.JPG" height="480" width="640" /></a></div>
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his baths and swimming pools,</div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgl539Jc8zOjoEPv_3cEuQVjXAKWDnJprjv7I8xWW8rgbWRUxmVxmT_t6cm-355e6AyjxKRcwAE7gx2aXCMKSW_xu6AFReKjnNEFhkSvDc5Xpc0OGQoYGbNXdIIG5jl0iQYxCsMOw/s1600/IMG_3849.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgl539Jc8zOjoEPv_3cEuQVjXAKWDnJprjv7I8xWW8rgbWRUxmVxmT_t6cm-355e6AyjxKRcwAE7gx2aXCMKSW_xu6AFReKjnNEFhkSvDc5Xpc0OGQoYGbNXdIIG5jl0iQYxCsMOw/s1600/IMG_3849.jpg" height="640" width="480" /></a></div>
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mosaics of exquisite detail,</div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhvcBceck4uvdBIyBaSOuVctB3jGTiF4hbdXZaDbcp8qdxAzx_5VnzzQj6S4lnMs5sGDSwziagf8DjCaOnhW_Fgm6lQxKVH4ECoUTM1Mj0bpeXtcVmy-oUaHgYx6rsLmhj5x20w-A/s1600/IMG_3842.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhvcBceck4uvdBIyBaSOuVctB3jGTiF4hbdXZaDbcp8qdxAzx_5VnzzQj6S4lnMs5sGDSwziagf8DjCaOnhW_Fgm6lQxKVH4ECoUTM1Mj0bpeXtcVmy-oUaHgYx6rsLmhj5x20w-A/s1600/IMG_3842.JPG" height="480" width="640" /></a></div>
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and the most amazing cisterns and food storage cellars.</div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjg9CUiuNVetBl4baLkAgJcc2oHxz9TNnPE9FNdSoTwN5OVKc109rI8nzhJOZm7bPuJYCyw8L6EUq5XrvnLTJ67OS5BtXPT6FiUwc4G5Bls-fbXEQRf33xjSOti97OiolfHCfM1HA/s1600/IMG_3863.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjg9CUiuNVetBl4baLkAgJcc2oHxz9TNnPE9FNdSoTwN5OVKc109rI8nzhJOZm7bPuJYCyw8L6EUq5XrvnLTJ67OS5BtXPT6FiUwc4G5Bls-fbXEQRf33xjSOti97OiolfHCfM1HA/s1600/IMG_3863.JPG" height="480" width="640" /></a></div>
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These were amazing because of their location. As you can see, there's not exactly a grocery market down the cliff and across the valley.</div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiDtb_ibsi3vfN5EEe-q4Rd8rEh-rrz9oQJfJm266zTzXB8kPh5ifMg1TA-KuvnPGpuuxOxTD6UZmYqK-qX44YA6ijD10Pc7B9CqPXYQMuF-wBsMyzGXJhoQ0tZAj6_h8sgKAQmxw/s1600/IMG_3857.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiDtb_ibsi3vfN5EEe-q4Rd8rEh-rrz9oQJfJm266zTzXB8kPh5ifMg1TA-KuvnPGpuuxOxTD6UZmYqK-qX44YA6ijD10Pc7B9CqPXYQMuF-wBsMyzGXJhoQ0tZAj6_h8sgKAQmxw/s1600/IMG_3857.JPG" height="480" width="640" /></a></div>
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Masada is a natural plateau, high above the surrounding terrain, and is encircled by white limestone cliffs that are truly impenetrable. This means some slaves had to work really hard to get Herod his water supply. And, I can't even imagine how he got years and years worth of food up there.<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgOBjO27ByrIM4MU42v82a4E-ME3YDz8U81rpdxlfKekgMBih0RrIkOT8ilegkC5aPEbU7RP2sVnTfu6HmWbSU-xXAThOjTheZUrerGVpeWrcsnZ1SxTZwKSyS5gVWWlON577BRVA/s1600/IMG_3860.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgOBjO27ByrIM4MU42v82a4E-ME3YDz8U81rpdxlfKekgMBih0RrIkOT8ilegkC5aPEbU7RP2sVnTfu6HmWbSU-xXAThOjTheZUrerGVpeWrcsnZ1SxTZwKSyS5gVWWlON577BRVA/s1600/IMG_3860.JPG" height="480" width="640" /></a></div>
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The only way up was a trail called "the snake trail", which you can still see today. In fact, a few brave travelers were climbing the snake trail while we were there. It is known to be treacherous. And, very very hot. </div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhMxsij3ObPg_GugqJj7eiCdHbxK8MNUekUycTo9HjIUR1o92doLV3G8ywvOGkjYvgONXaZq0XoWy1J_k1nTffyiKlpxZlvrCg3Hs4-6S2F4lc1l4o8Pilzm34Y-AWnm5uQkodjGA/s1600/IMG_2380.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhMxsij3ObPg_GugqJj7eiCdHbxK8MNUekUycTo9HjIUR1o92doLV3G8ywvOGkjYvgONXaZq0XoWy1J_k1nTffyiKlpxZlvrCg3Hs4-6S2F4lc1l4o8Pilzm34Y-AWnm5uQkodjGA/s1600/IMG_2380.JPG" height="426" width="640" /></a></div>
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Instead, we took a gondola to the top, which offered some beautiful views of the entire surrounding area.<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhU70MRR4NhR8eWk14P9na3O8HP2epvwgtFDXHQ8fPDqa9SQyYwW4TEjnB1WlOsTS0CZg0jg_QOSouWjRjtM5-Cmpe7G3xFxsvIrUw5cGpUNiwUIKX2uqHunLGV4wOpOsDFSR41Pg/s1600/IMG_3822.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhU70MRR4NhR8eWk14P9na3O8HP2epvwgtFDXHQ8fPDqa9SQyYwW4TEjnB1WlOsTS0CZg0jg_QOSouWjRjtM5-Cmpe7G3xFxsvIrUw5cGpUNiwUIKX2uqHunLGV4wOpOsDFSR41Pg/s1600/IMG_3822.JPG" height="480" width="640" /></a></div>
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From the top, you could definitely see why Herod picked this place. Easy to defend. Easy to see approaching enemies. And, easy on the eyes.</div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjrZtq145WeUfDEoJYZg-zzFadvAYnkQo-ywd9tMw9FVZZoh9HWrmDA3_es6ZCVTtPhugD8DX6FhKRYPOUA7AWe3P-IebppBeykSS4fpcCiRDcmTMWqqo7lVPq4WOlv15b7NftXrw/s1600/IMG_3834.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjrZtq145WeUfDEoJYZg-zzFadvAYnkQo-ywd9tMw9FVZZoh9HWrmDA3_es6ZCVTtPhugD8DX6FhKRYPOUA7AWe3P-IebppBeykSS4fpcCiRDcmTMWqqo7lVPq4WOlv15b7NftXrw/s1600/IMG_3834.JPG" height="240" width="640" /></a></div>
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After Herod's death, this fortress remained untouched, until the Jewish Zealots decided to overtake the area and make it their own fortress. (This is a model of what Masada looked like in its prime, as a three-tier palatial retreat.)</div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhgWTqOl4-hPNB8xyUnyXwlhtbDw4NlLQRHSTyzSd0gw3oqpjyh44yF0T7h2ZYf1AYfwXggE9uhG331H5wT_-EcBaL4QYUHXhjl1OuZx9vc6rOW5o4cYwMrR3hI2ZIyNO3XnKLetA/s1600/IMG_3853.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhgWTqOl4-hPNB8xyUnyXwlhtbDw4NlLQRHSTyzSd0gw3oqpjyh44yF0T7h2ZYf1AYfwXggE9uhG331H5wT_-EcBaL4QYUHXhjl1OuZx9vc6rOW5o4cYwMrR3hI2ZIyNO3XnKLetA/s1600/IMG_3853.jpg" height="640" width="480" /></a></div>
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We toured the top tier, and could see down to the second tier below us, where yet another palace would have stood.</div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgxQsN2IFqTOv88lQih0B02aJlsMEEcypeYnve0pW-5m6Ilhf6UAndP0idMp-99-Hgo0fsyLZt20_549D53p9VUgoQ4WC8Nf84oRF9GsOKEcK0-QjdOa9kzvf6i23z_AHe4naJyeg/s1600/IMG_3856.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgxQsN2IFqTOv88lQih0B02aJlsMEEcypeYnve0pW-5m6Ilhf6UAndP0idMp-99-Hgo0fsyLZt20_549D53p9VUgoQ4WC8Nf84oRF9GsOKEcK0-QjdOa9kzvf6i23z_AHe4naJyeg/s1600/IMG_3856.jpg" height="640" width="480" /></a></div>
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The Jewish Freedom Fighters, as they are called, moved in around 66 AD, defeating the 1,000 Roman soldiers who guarded Masada. Because of Herod's excessive need to well-stock his own pantry, they had plenty of food and water to stay quite a while. This allowed them the freedom to focus on converting these palaces to a place that the Zealots could call home, and continue their "call" to defend themselves and the Jewish people against the Romans, hoping for a victory when the inevitable attack came against their cliffs. </div>
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After the destruction of the temple in Jerusalem, many more Zealots and Jewish refugees added to their number and by the time the Romans did come, the Jewish group at Masada numbered 967 men, women, and children.</div>
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In 73 AD, Roman soldiers made it to Masada with the goal of ridding the country of the remaining Jews. They thought it would be an easy victory. More than ten thousand soldiers, against less than a thousand Jews.</div>
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The Romans built eight temporary camps at the bottom of the hill, seen here in this picture. They are the square outlines that still remain as the boundaries of each camp.</div>
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<img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgGYtpAlxUv_-zaNTe9z4rKg_EhS327bLNQ7ZZbJWe2nICda-mvaMTUzhgjvVjoymsfRBWJwa4RuCKi8rIl-ATdtBVQGLx6eyJpqWcbytL13US5357uqHCR5m2AUpxw9VG_36qweg/s1600/IMG_3854.JPG" height="480" width="640" /></div>
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An even higher view of both the Roman camps and the winding snake trail:<span class="Apple-style-span" style="-webkit-text-decorations-in-effect: none; color: black;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg_Eit6pzI_pKzhSpHk0KGhVO_jn9csQxo0Iv9tQ1ygOMwWZJzmd5WeXcH7CFXJqbKpQWnnv2b0hxxLA8OYnHYwhdTtxv8w_ch8-lvuC3dhC8ZhtJ7TcJOgfBTGNHNFDNxzAenGiA/s1600/IMG_2379.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg_Eit6pzI_pKzhSpHk0KGhVO_jn9csQxo0Iv9tQ1ygOMwWZJzmd5WeXcH7CFXJqbKpQWnnv2b0hxxLA8OYnHYwhdTtxv8w_ch8-lvuC3dhC8ZhtJ7TcJOgfBTGNHNFDNxzAenGiA/s1600/IMG_2379.JPG" height="426" width="640" /></a></span></div>
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They waited for the Jews to go hungry or get thirsty. But, it wasn't happening. So, they began to build a ramp to break down the walls of the fortress, as they had done so many times before across their empire. You can see the ramp here. </div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjsrmGnLoLzcuqxXIRI2JqVvUf-MtyiXJFDPwr_CLweJ_FsooBdN8BAy79V07v7D3GoPseCCCUI-zSLdI_QNtT273bU9x8WMF2q9JNyINKUuys-VCfGHAdt5rYTlCwsozY_dolCzA/s1600/IMG_3868.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjsrmGnLoLzcuqxXIRI2JqVvUf-MtyiXJFDPwr_CLweJ_FsooBdN8BAy79V07v7D3GoPseCCCUI-zSLdI_QNtT273bU9x8WMF2q9JNyINKUuys-VCfGHAdt5rYTlCwsozY_dolCzA/s1600/IMG_3868.JPG" height="480" width="640" /></a></div>
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It was eery to still see so much of the remains, bringing this conflict to life.</div>
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The Romans were genius to bring Jewish slaves to build the ramp, knowing the Zealots wouldn't kill their own people, even though they had the advantage and could clearly see each and every man who was constructing the road that would lead to their destruction.</div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiyhAmeIQfBBjv2Ooj6OLlSoPeNeu9ZaTlHVyZm79V3cSohEPSfw31EfHo3TJSoqX6kowTmx20hZbyL5J9r-3WartXTXKfwjrYLLmmSRt3lwRpV2NbTLrhj0-v2kcdoJwQJMHz4lg/s1600/IMG_7016.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiyhAmeIQfBBjv2Ooj6OLlSoPeNeu9ZaTlHVyZm79V3cSohEPSfw31EfHo3TJSoqX6kowTmx20hZbyL5J9r-3WartXTXKfwjrYLLmmSRt3lwRpV2NbTLrhj0-v2kcdoJwQJMHz4lg/s1600/IMG_7016.JPG" height="300" width="640" /></a></div>
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Eventually, with the Roman ramp complete, these 967 Jewish people decided that it was still better to die in the hands of God, rather than the hands of the Romans.</div>
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So, they burned their own belongings (wouldn't want the Romans to earn anything from this attack!), and organized one of the saddest events I can imagine. A group suicide plan, where each father killed his own family, and then ten men drew straws for killing those who remained.</div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiE7H_5rpsNnWzx5C1P-zsxQLAvWak9c8OtRaoyjHbfKqgoXJPiV10EySnDiLYgn_n4aOb3hiYnDUCWMGuyDjwI0NagoyxFENYC9_jTwS04bK_4D9mdI1JyTND1_L4JqNEMIyzIWA/s1600/IMG_3864.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiE7H_5rpsNnWzx5C1P-zsxQLAvWak9c8OtRaoyjHbfKqgoXJPiV10EySnDiLYgn_n4aOb3hiYnDUCWMGuyDjwI0NagoyxFENYC9_jTwS04bK_4D9mdI1JyTND1_L4JqNEMIyzIWA/s1600/IMG_3864.JPG" height="480" width="640" /></a></div>
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It was here in this synagogue that the massive death happened. They buried the scrolls of Ezekiel, that promised their dry bones to be alive again someday, and they laid down their lives, so that they would not face the wrath of the Roman army.</div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEigt-1ERA1cWuJTugqfQ5ShFJIQC222XumqqvPolMQeyGTbh6O0ByEzzO1mxOkQB0D__8DRgEa7U9ngVG39tAV0Gs4-zhYQvubZK-53C15fCuvHR5I6Zk-DdWx3J2h1EMgq-w8M0Q/s1600/IMG_3865.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEigt-1ERA1cWuJTugqfQ5ShFJIQC222XumqqvPolMQeyGTbh6O0ByEzzO1mxOkQB0D__8DRgEa7U9ngVG39tAV0Gs4-zhYQvubZK-53C15fCuvHR5I6Zk-DdWx3J2h1EMgq-w8M0Q/s1600/IMG_3865.JPG" height="480" width="640" /></a></div>
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Wow. </div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiyAUc5prOmKBvK0lhmOXug21Xea5irLuVEM24-nPpa_N2MuLwbR6guXJQo9O58G93UwlXtywi3rTSuSDpRbNjcNgGIiuLZa0bIJ_9YIvtj36bvYuTyFa3lGMGNZIfKM6yGnq9zfA/s1600/IMG_7015.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiyAUc5prOmKBvK0lhmOXug21Xea5irLuVEM24-nPpa_N2MuLwbR6guXJQo9O58G93UwlXtywi3rTSuSDpRbNjcNgGIiuLZa0bIJ_9YIvtj36bvYuTyFa3lGMGNZIfKM6yGnq9zfA/s1600/IMG_7015.JPG" height="480" width="640" /></a></div>
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What a surreal thing to walk where they walked, and to try and imagine what those last days were like. To create in my mind what that felt like---to have hopelessness and despair at what appeared to be the end, not only of their lives, but of the Jewish race in Israel---but to also live with hope that God is still God and He will still finish what He started here. I wish they could see what we see now in this nation.</div>
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After quite a bit of time exploring the fortress, we traveled on to see the Dead Sea up close and personal.<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgD1pota8Mxt4_d-k5ofBhmlQL-L_-UgLbGYPiH9FeZY40s_0saYHzjh-CDVQTFJBVZH-6v_-ZTNbpB6M0WxMI9Sw07lF5EQGh2UTaGjCzfC6zOqTSU-Ws-a6cuW9WsDqj9nZWrcw/s1600/IMG_2390.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgD1pota8Mxt4_d-k5ofBhmlQL-L_-UgLbGYPiH9FeZY40s_0saYHzjh-CDVQTFJBVZH-6v_-ZTNbpB6M0WxMI9Sw07lF5EQGh2UTaGjCzfC6zOqTSU-Ws-a6cuW9WsDqj9nZWrcw/s1600/IMG_2390.JPG" height="308" width="640" /></a></div>
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We had the opportunity to float in the sea, and it was the strangest thing to be held up by the water! You can see the Dead Sea resorts off in the distance, as it is still a popular attraction for everything from the mineral spa treatments to the solitude you find here.</div>
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We all took advantage of this mineral-rich mud and gave ourselves mud masks. It was so thick and slimy that you could hardly walk through it, and you certainly could feel the effects on your skin! Too bad it smelled TERRIBLE.</div>
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The salt was also so strong that you could taste the bitterness even in the air. It dried on our skin, and actually ended up blistering my toes, where I had been sunburned the day before!</div>
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What a priceless experience. I brought home some saltwater for the girls, and although we have yet to do it, we plan to let it evaporate and see what is left behind.</div>
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At the end of our swimming day, we bought fresh pomegranate-orange juice (YUM!) and relaxed while the rest of the group finished. </div>
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This gave us time to visit more with Naftali and take a picture with the guy who brought this place to life for me.</div>
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I miss him so much!</div>
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And, our dear friend and fearless bus leader, Dana, who served us all, along with her mom, Joan, and began our entire week by sharing her marvelous testimony of God's physical healing in her life just weeks before this trip. It is one of the most powerful stories of God-sized miracles I have ever heard, and it set us all on a course of eagerness to see God's hand working through our time here, and to share our own stories of life with one another.</div>
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In each of our conversations and in all the things we experienced together, I felt the Lord drawing our hearts together. As I told her on the last day, I know without a doubt that she was one of those unexpected blessings from this trip that will continue to last...a friendship that I know God had planned long before this trip was in our sights.<br />
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Dana, I am so thankful for the truth of God you showed all of us through the week by the words of your testimony, as well as by the way you so lovingly and selflessly served and shared and worshipped and encouraged. Love you SO.</div>
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Our last stop for the day was at En Gedi, which means "The spring of the mountain goat", and is a natural oasis in the middle of nothing but sandstone mountains and cliffs.</div>
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So, it was pretty appropriate that there were mountain goats very near to the road where we parked. It was as if they knew we were there to see the place where they roamed. :)</div>
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I didn't realize from the Bible Lands maps I've seen, that the Dead Sea area we visited on this day was considered "the back door" entry to Jerusalem, and traveling over these sandy cliffs and mountainsides were commonplace for the shepherds and nomads of the day coming and going from that area. </div>
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In fact, David himself traveled often from En Gedi to Bethlehem or Jerusalem, as he led his sheep to green pastures among the sandy desert hills. As Naftali put it, "this wilderness was David's playground" and he knew every nook and cranny.</div>
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So, it makes sense that he was easily hidden among these caves and valleys as he ran from Saul, and as he led his life as a shepherd.<br />
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And, it makes many of his psalms come to life now that I've seen what it meant for him to write "You God, are my God, earnestly I seek You. I thirst for You, my whole being longs for you, in a dry and parched land, where there is no water..." Ps. 63<br />
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This place has such little water...but, yet, here in the middle of it all, was flowing, living water! Just where those cliffs meet, is a rushing waterfall, out of sight from where we stood, but hiding just behind the green trees and grass.<br />
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This was a visible reminder of the many "oasis" moments God has provided for me in my life. Just when my cry becomes a cry of thirst and longing, with no water in sight, I stumble over one more rocky cliff only to find a rushing waterfall, lush and green and available for me to be renewed and refreshed...and to remember the ultimate Source of our Living Water and Renewal.<br />
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<b>This trip to Israel was exactly that. An oasis in a desert. A time of renewal that I was crying out for. Thank you, God, that You met me here in a modern-day En Gedi for my heart.</b></div>
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<i>"The Lord is my Shepherd, I lack nothing. He makes me lie down in green pastures, He leads me beside quiet waters, <b>He refreshes my soul</b>." Ps. 23</i></div>
mcjacobsjournalhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16727712016502696400noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-16817998.post-21139275836269139782014-05-12T22:06:00.001-05:002015-04-05T08:32:26.508-05:00Day Six: Garden of Gethsamane, Mount of Olives, Garden Tomb, & Via Dolorosa<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">
Wait...did I say day FIVE was my favorite day? This one was pretty much my favorite too. :)<br />
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We arrived on the hill at sunrise, which was yet again, an astounding beginning to another day in this land.</div>
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I have found myself <i><b>longing </b></i>to be standing in this place again since we've been back.</div>
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We began at the Mount of Olives, with a view of the valley below, and the eastern gates to the city. {I'm coming back to that in a minute.}</div>
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We also had a view of the vast Jewish cemetery, where many have been buried, some even being kings and important leaders. </div>
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They chose this place because they want to be the first people raised from the dead when Jesus comes again to the city of Jerusalem and approaches from this very place on the Mount of Olives. (This is based on the scripture from I Thessalonians 4:13-16 and Zechariah 14:4).</div>
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You can tell the Jewish cemeteries because every tomb has rocks and pebbles placed on top, as well as oil and candles. </div>
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Naftali gave us a couple of different theories of why this tradition exists, and as I have searched since being home, I've found an even bigger variety of answers. The explanations range from "showing the grave has been visited", to being the symbols of an altar, and the remembrance of Jerusalem falling stone upon stone.</div>
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You might notice another cemetery off in the distance, just in front of the city walls.</div>
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This is a Muslim cemetery, built by Suleiman, the leader of the Turks, who conquered Jerusalem in the 1500's. He heard the prophecy that Jesus will enter through the eastern gate on His return, and decided to do all he could do to prevent it from happening. He knew that no holy Jewish man would defile himself by entering the gate through a Muslim cemetery, so surely Jesus would not be able to come this way. :)</div>
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He also sealed in the Eastern Gates with walls of stone, <b><i>after</i></b> he had rebuilt the entire outer walls of Jerusalem AND these very gates! </div>
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I find this SO interesting. Because if you don't believe Jesus is who He says He is, or that He will come back just as He says He will, <b>then why seal the gates</b>? Why build a cemetery to prevent Him doing something you don't believe He can or will do?</div>
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Well, little did Suleiman or the Muslims who followed him know, but this was a prophecy of God through Ezekiel <b>1,000 years </b>before they did it, as He took Ezekiel on a supernatural tour of the future Temple which will be erected when Christ comes back again. <i> Suleiman was doing just what God had willed to happen</i>. And, as usual, this was no surprise to God, or His people.</div>
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<i><b>"Then the man brought me back to the outer gate of the sanctuary, the one facing east, and it was shut. The Lord said to me, "This gate is to remain shut. It must not be opened; not one may enter through it. It is to remain shut because the Lord, the God of Israel, has entered through it...He is to enter by way of the portico of the gateway and go out the same way." Ezekiel 44:1-3</b></i></div>
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Since being back home, I've read some amazing reports of attempted openings of this gate by the Turks and Muslims in the last 400 years. And, all three times this attempt was made, they were not successful in opening them. SO incredible.</div>
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What the Lord has said (that the gates must stay shut, and that only Jesus will enter them), <b><u>will</u></b> occur in God's own way and in His own time, and no one has power to stop His perfect plans of redemption for this earth and its people.</div>
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Did you know that Zechariah's prophecy is that this very place where we stood this day will be split in two when Jesus returns?! (This was yet another prophecy I was not aware of before we came to Israel---I have quite a bit of studying to do now in all of these books.).</div>
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<b><i>"On that day, His feet will stand on the Mount of Olives, east of Jerusalem, and the Mount of Olives will be split in two from east to west, forming a great valley, with half of the mountain moving north and half moving south..then the Lord my God will come, and all the holy ones with Him." Zechariah 14:4-5</i></b></div>
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And--as Naftali also informed us as we stood on this hill--this entire valley where these Muslim tombs have been placed to block Jesus' way? <b>They will be washed away, purifying the area with Living Water</b>.</div>
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<i><b>"On that day, living water will flow out from Jerusalem, half of it east to the Dead Sea and half of it west to the Mediterranean Sea, in summer and in winter."</b></i></div>
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In both directions, those who have made attempts to stop His power from coming, will witness the overflow of living water, as He cleanses the earth, and washes the enemy's attempts away, splitting the mountain in two and filling the valley with water!</div>
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This trip has literally brought the Bible alive to me, and parts of the books of prophecy that I skim over not knowing what it all means, now has fresh and new meaning! It's so exciting to think of what lies ahead for those who are following Christ.</div>
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After this, we walked down part of the road that Jesus would have traveled on Palm Sunday, as He first entered Jerusalem for the week that would change the world. </div>
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This is where the people tore off their cloaks, laid them down, and shouted "Hosanna, Save us!" This is where they thought their earthly king would rescue them. And, this is where Jesus wept, as He looked out over Jerusalem and saw the entire city, knowing it would be destroyed, and the people--in only a few days--would reject the king they now praised.</div>
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We then entered the Garden of Gethsamane. Although the garden has certainly changed from the day of Jesus, and (of course) a church now stands in the place, </div>
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<img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEipbv58Ng7qMsco3rpgNWsx0j0ytDgVlFCVuvS2G6mgCtubjJAXaGDLnZ154PqMi73x1OkfHVu1QrsRJKFO-eoa3VQ7OjbnHxxM8MC1VM4Oh0CpV1cvXyhoRsxqbrBFEzdtHc4M1A/s1600/IMG_2200.JPG" height="458" width="640" /></div>
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="-webkit-text-decorations-in-effect: none; color: black;">It was so beautiful and peaceful...</span></div>
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...and still has olive trees, some of which date to 2000 years ago!</div>
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This is the oldest tree in the garden, which means it was likely standing that night when Jesus prayed in this very place.</div>
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The church that is built on this site, The Church of Agony, commemorates the events of that evening, with mosaics of Judas betraying Jesus, </div>
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Jesus praying and crying on the rock in the garden,</div>
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and Jesus' disciples falling asleep as they waited...</div>
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(This sign really hit me. I wonder if Jesus would ask me the same question...not because I'm <i>literally </i>asleep, but because so often I am <i>spiritually</i> asleep in the most important hours.)</div>
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They have actually built the church around the large rock they found in the garden, as a remembrance of the place Jesus prayed and wept for what He would soon experience on our behalf.</div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiXL616DP1OxC1KWLZhgtlWZRtM4IvUP3UzqdbM5qaSKbmYaN8MZbQYBLJmWqE445dAd9BYfhOxFMzvTDVU3shrhyK0kPzavVXohzCID42zdtkUIzF7RO6Hm3uj-b7rApJ9a34i8w/s1600/IMG_2209.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiXL616DP1OxC1KWLZhgtlWZRtM4IvUP3UzqdbM5qaSKbmYaN8MZbQYBLJmWqE445dAd9BYfhOxFMzvTDVU3shrhyK0kPzavVXohzCID42zdtkUIzF7RO6Hm3uj-b7rApJ9a34i8w/s1600/IMG_2209.JPG" height="426" width="640" /></a></div>
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We took time to sit and pray alone in this place, and I was once again overcome.</div>
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I have been feeling the need to say this on every blog I've written about this trip. But, being here in this place, standing where He stood, I felt His "realness". Even as a follower of Jesus most all of my life, there are always times when it seems like such a distant story. And, it's hard to grasp or be convinced that everything really happened. Not that I didn't believe. <b>It just didn't always sink in so deeply that my life was then transformed because of its truth.</b></div>
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Does that even make sense? </div>
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<i><b>"Jesus, I sit in this place, and in my mind, I can literally see you praying here in agony. Knowing all you would endure but also all the ways your people would reject you and deny you and try to live life without you for years and years to come. Lord Jesus, You are the light of this world. And even on this dark night, in this dark valley, You shined your selfless glory over the world. The world didn't know it yet. But, now we know. And, I praise You Jesus for Your love. Coming here has brought your sacrifice to life in my heart. Oh, forgive me for taking this gift of sacrifice lightly. You gave up everything so I could have everything. </b></i></div>
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<i><b>Lord Jesus, come quickly. Restore what is broken here. I know You are sovereign over all of this that I see---and that in Your perfect time, in Your perfect way, You will reveal Yourself to <u>all</u> people. Thank you for already finishing what you started and redeeming what has been lost. May I live like I know what happened here and <u>believe</u> it with everything in me."</b></i></div>
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<i><b><br /></b></i>From here, we traveled on to the site of the Garden Tomb. Although the traditional place thought of as the site of Jesus' crucifixion and burial has been The Church of the Holy Sepulchre, which was built in 330 AD by the mother of Emperor Constantine, this Garden Tomb was discovered in the late 1800's by German theologians.</div>
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I won't get into all the history here, but if you have the time, <a href="http://www.gardentomb.com/about/brief-history/" target="_blank">THIS </a>describes what they found in this place over 100 years ago.</div>
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I have to say I was pretty convinced by the evidence, although I know there are reasons for both sites to be "it". This garden was discovered with an original deep cistern, wine press, and archaeological evidence that showed it was a working garden, likely belonging to a rich man like Joseph of Arimathea. (his story is found in Matthew 27:57---and all of the other gospels!)</div>
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This garden also contained an original Jewish tomb, dug out of the rock wall, again indicating a wealthy owner who prepared it in advance. It has two rooms, one of which would be used for "wailing" or mourning, as well as preparing the body. And, the inner room would have been where the body would have been left for burial.</div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi8-6MCXPoLF-IwOoLI2WXU62Y5FJWF32pJvJ9PXEBxNuurAZC6V7LibwZ0W_wAg1UEPWGmX-JlOyc-Wjc1mapAi_DRNSgL5an_DVup6YQ6btnw2yO5Pq0O8c-fXNGYzfTUJgRwxQ/s1600/IMG_2250.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi8-6MCXPoLF-IwOoLI2WXU62Y5FJWF32pJvJ9PXEBxNuurAZC6V7LibwZ0W_wAg1UEPWGmX-JlOyc-Wjc1mapAi_DRNSgL5an_DVup6YQ6btnw2yO5Pq0O8c-fXNGYzfTUJgRwxQ/s1600/IMG_2250.jpg" height="640" width="426" /></a></div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgvOErYIE9zphcNCj1_RVshUPfxlatlSgakfaD00NyNyRFCwwqGYqqDJB1fVcO9XjhU_CX5SK0y-n7SWxbrNjGrY5MZaXq54b6Eo7v5SJObrQ07KzFyc9jhYUyO9yjvQcbLA49W1A/s1600/IMG_2236.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgvOErYIE9zphcNCj1_RVshUPfxlatlSgakfaD00NyNyRFCwwqGYqqDJB1fVcO9XjhU_CX5SK0y-n7SWxbrNjGrY5MZaXq54b6Eo7v5SJObrQ07KzFyc9jhYUyO9yjvQcbLA49W1A/s1600/IMG_2236.JPG" height="426" width="640" /></a></div>
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How do you put words to a moment like this? To stand at the door of a tomb from Jesus' day, and quite possibly the tomb that Jesus Himself laid in?</div>
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I absolutely loved the guides who led us through the Garden Tomb area, who are volunteers from all over the world, coming to share their faith for 8-12 weeks at a time. They do this because they believe that no matter where the tomb was originally, the most important thing that all men know is this:</div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgtWaNqkF45qJyzSuD0MS82SoTfkiz38KEj0AUeb9Lj1DVS4ZegrxCy0gMGPLKvI9aqOmYLK0klwXvmrRpqbtSzNb5BYxe7WizZnLVONZZ5Ccr3fV38m9KKXlpjBTnUdCcYWgJmhg/s1600/IMG_2238.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgtWaNqkF45qJyzSuD0MS82SoTfkiz38KEj0AUeb9Lj1DVS4ZegrxCy0gMGPLKvI9aqOmYLK0klwXvmrRpqbtSzNb5BYxe7WizZnLVONZZ5Ccr3fV38m9KKXlpjBTnUdCcYWgJmhg/s1600/IMG_2238.jpg" height="640" width="426" /></a></div>
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<b>The tomb now lies empty! </b></div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg-3oV_5ik_c5BuYuPqvXL84RAb9DXR3rjhLkD_3f3WBBZaSWWMAPvqEiN-Yg-KSvn7lSECkf_FlZYeyIs2oUD0OWMdKKBsLwp9G5V1NaB40Qq5VhZGsabOByCBAxKX-dnnEMTkRQ/s1600/IMG_2253.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg-3oV_5ik_c5BuYuPqvXL84RAb9DXR3rjhLkD_3f3WBBZaSWWMAPvqEiN-Yg-KSvn7lSECkf_FlZYeyIs2oUD0OWMdKKBsLwp9G5V1NaB40Qq5VhZGsabOByCBAxKX-dnnEMTkRQ/s1600/IMG_2253.jpg" height="640" width="426" /></a></div>
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<b>The stone was rolled away!</b></div>
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Again and again, our guide from Ireland reminded us of this fact. That with all the touring and debating over what belongs to who and what has been proven or not about archaological sites, that the Truth still remains: </div>
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1) The tomb is empty and Jesus has won the victory!</div>
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2) God has revealed just what He wants us to know. And, He wouldn't want any of us worshipping a certain <i><b><u>place</u></b></i> rather than the One who was there and is there no longer.</div>
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The other significant evidence for The Garden Tomb site is this rock cliff:</div>
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Can you see the skull in this picture of an older picture? </div>
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As it says in the Bible, Jesus was crucified right outside a major gate of Jerusalem, on a busy thoroughfare, where people could see him and shame him. It was called Golgotha (The Place of the Skull). </div>
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And, it wasn't "on a hill far away", as our songs might sing. :)</div>
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As he showed us the area, our guide explained that only half of the cliff face can now be seen. Because it is in Arab territory and has now become a bus parking lot.</div>
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And, right above the bus lot, were these signs, inscribed for all to read. In Arabic, these say "There is no god but Allah and Muhammed is his prophet."</div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjp7-QiygQrjbQBoZUy3OzeeuaDbyoERLL4fphJwJzJkddcH9Vb4_5k72RS8HD5bOpyJpF1vlHnVkNenPskXsE_xtGWooVWJMDnM9pEdqfaSHIcgg1cw8pyvXJHr13CAmGgipOhPA/s1600/IMG_2229.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjp7-QiygQrjbQBoZUy3OzeeuaDbyoERLL4fphJwJzJkddcH9Vb4_5k72RS8HD5bOpyJpF1vlHnVkNenPskXsE_xtGWooVWJMDnM9pEdqfaSHIcgg1cw8pyvXJHr13CAmGgipOhPA/s1600/IMG_2229.JPG" height="426" width="640" /></a></div>
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I think at this point, we had seen this one too many times. Because our entire group just gasped and muttered and shook our heads.</div>
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It was shocking to see the very place Jesus quite possibly died, defamed and dishonored in such a blatant way.</div>
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As I was standing there, silently praying...the Holy Spirit nudged me with this thought: </div>
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<b>Nothing is allowed that does not first pass through God's Hand. He has allowed this to happen in almost every significant place in Jerusalem for a reason.</b></div>
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<b><i>And He <u>will</u> reveal Himself someday and every knee will bow, in heaven and on earth.</i></b></div>
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But not yet. He is still calling all people unto Him. He is still hoping that the Good News of Jesus will reach more ears and more hearts and more families. </div>
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And, we are the way God planned for that to happen. </div>
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Bus lots and signs about Allah aren't enough to stop God's power. He isn't concerned with Golgotha still looking like Golgotha. Or, with every person on earth agreeing on where the actual burial site was.</div>
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<u>Because He made Jesus ALIVE AGAIN and He EMPTIED THAT TOMB. And, that is the only thing that matters.</u></div>
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During our time at The Garden Tomb, we had the wonderful opportunity to take communion together as a group, spending time worshipping and praising God for this ultimate miracle that gave us all new life and eternal hope!</div>
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Max shared an excellent message about the hope that changed the world---not just on the cross---but in a garden like this one, as the tomb was discovered empty. Everything had changed from that Friday on the cross. "Then, there was darkness, silent angels, and mocking soldiers. Now, on Sunday, there is blinding light, speaking angels, and silenced scared soldiers, who appeared dead at the very time Jesus was risen."</div>
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This was my favorite quote from Max:</div>
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<i><b>"If the proclamation of the angel that day is really true---"He is not here, for He is risen"---then <u>everything</u> changes! Death is conquered and life forever is possible. And, this doesn't mean He is only alive in our memories or in our hearts---He is physically and totally alive! The angel gives an invitation "Come and see!" And, Jesus always invites us to look further---to prove His authority." </b></i></div>
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<i><b><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: large;">"The stone was rolled away not to let Jesus <u>out</u>, but to let the disciples <u>in</u>! The stone was rolled away not so He could <u>leave</u>, but that we would <u>believe</u>."</span></b></i></div>
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AMEN!</div>
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Another interesting God-moment happened for me in the garden. I have mentioned multiple times the disparity between the Jewish/Christian areas and the Arab/Muslim areas of town. This Garden Tomb is nestled in the midst of an absolute Arab area. And, the noise outside was loud, before we entered in. As I told you, a bus lot was right beside us. And, the busyness of the city surrounded us.</div>
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However, as Max was speaking and we were singing, it was so overwhelmingly loud, that I was distracted. NOT by the noise of the Arab city outside, but by the sound of birds singing inside!</div>
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It was the loudest chirping I had ever heard, and it sounded heavenly. I know that sounds crazy, but it was surreal. And, it was as if God whispered to my heart again, "There is nothing here to fear. There is nothing here that I don't allow. And, I will show my glory in the midst of this." The birds were like angels, offering constant unending praise, silencing the voice of the enemy and the noise of the world outside.</div>
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It was such a beautiful place! </div>
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And I could have stayed all day. </div>
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Especially with the sweet people God had joined us with for the week. This is one of our "bus captains", Joan, who served us tirelessly, made us laugh constantly, and pointed to God every moment she got. She is Max Lucado's older sister and gave us great stories about growing up with him as well. :) Her daughter, Dana, also served as our bus captain, and I will share more about her on my next post!</div>
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Unfortunately, we had to leave the quiet garden bliss together, and rejoin the noise. (Isn't that what God always calls us to do? Be lifted up in Him, strengthened by the Truth and His presence, only to go and share it with the world around us.)</div>
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And, boy, did we rejoin the noise.</div>
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We set out on the Via Dolarosa, the street that has been celebrated as the street Jesus walked to the cross. Now, of course, there is no hard evidence of this, and in fact, this has been argued over for centuries among various denominations and religions. (And, isn't that just like us, to make the details more important than the One we are celebrating?) </div>
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It now has multiple numbered stations to stop and remember the occurrences of the day, as Jesus carried His cross to Calvary.</div>
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Now, I am not only an introvert, but also one who is a wee bit sensitive to noise and chaos. So, this was NOT my favorite part of this journey.</div>
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Although it was amazing to be walking on original roads of Jesus' day for some of the walk, it was so incredibly packed with people, vendors, and shops. Small, narrow pathways and tons of people pilgrimaging to the Church at the end of the path. And, many, many people who had no interest whatsoever in Jesus, but were hoping to make a buck or two on those who did. I honestly felt like I just wanted to run away.</div>
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It reminded me many times of Jesus clearing the temple, because you couldn't walk an inch without being surrounded by people selling touristy junk or pushing their way past you to get where they were going quickly. (And, maybe I was also tired. That always affects these experiences for me. :) )</div>
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We arrived at the end of the road at the Church of the Holy Sepulchre. </div>
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And, my feelings really didn't change much once we were inside.</div>
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I won't share all my feelings here, because I think it was tough for me personally to go from the quiet garden to a busy ornate church. But, I am glad we saw it. </div>
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And, I can at least appreciate the history of a place like this, where hundreds of thousands of people have come from literally all over the world to stand in this place. As Naftali reminded me, "Everyone here is just searching for the truth, and we must celebrate that they're looking!"</div>
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On our way back through the noisy, busy streets, Naftali turned a corner and led us through a door. We went down some stairs and all of a sudden, we're back in quiet tranquility again.</div>
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As we sit down and rest, he shared with us that we are standing on the remains of the Antonia Fortress porch, where Pilate would have conducted Jesus' trial and released Barrabus to the people. It has obviously been buried under debris and protected from the streets right above.</div>
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This was a beautiful reminder once again that He gives us calm in the storm, and "green valleys" to stop and catch our breath in this crazy world. That's what these moments underground felt like to me.</div>
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As people from our bus family began sharing thoughts about Jesus and what He did for us in this place, we sang songs and praised Him for standing on these stones, bearing the shame He never deserved.</div>
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We ended our day at the Pool of Bethesda, where Jesus healed the paralytic (John 5:2-9) and many people sought healing from the waters. You can still see all the remains of the various pools that were used as Jewish purification baths at the time. Since then, many churches and chapels have been built right on top of the original pools, which makes it hard to tell what is what in these ruins!</div>
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There is now a medieval church standing, Church of St. Anne, run by a French group. It was a simple, beautiful place to worship. We sang Amazing Grace and How Great Thou Art in the gorgeous chapel with <i>great </i>acoustics. </div>
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Again, tears flowed as I thought back on our day and all the ways God is showing Himself in this place, even in the midst of chaos.</div>
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The fact is, the chaos won't be ending anytime soon. There are many conflicts ahead before Jesus takes His place as Lord of All. But, even as we wait for His return, we have no time to waste in telling the world the hope they can have in Jesus. And, we can walk with strength and confidence, anchored in the hope we have of eternal life with Him.</div>
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Because "He is risen just as He said"!</div>
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mcjacobsjournalhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16727712016502696400noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-16817998.post-34151775775139775212014-05-03T23:42:00.001-05:002014-05-14T09:45:36.123-05:00Day Five: Temple Mount, City of David, Hezekiah's Tunnels, Pool of Siloam, Upper Room, & Caiaphas' House<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">
Whew! Even that title makes me overwhelmed at the idea of writing about the significance of this day. I'll just warn you: this day held some of my very favorite moments of the entire trip. So, this could be a doozy of a post. <br />
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Actually, I'm going to say a couple of things first before I start the play-by-play.<br />
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1) I need some new words to use in place of "amazing" and "incredible". I just can't seem to use the right words to convey what's in my head and heart. I need a thesaurus for "standing-where-Jesus-stood" descriptive words.<a name='more'></a><br />
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2) I have been studying Ephesians and a book about spiritual warfare ("The Full Armor of God") for the last few months...and I believe it is REAL. The spiritual world around us may be unseen, but it is not inactive. There are forces of good and evil constantly battling for our attention, our future, our souls. Good vs. Evil. God vs. satan. And, I believe if we KNEW what kind of battle was raging, we would be absolutely unable to sit still and would do anything to "suit up" in the armor that we know would strengthen us as we share the hope of victory with others.<br />
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3) Jerusalem is a city where I could tangibly feel this struggle between good and evil. In a physical sense from the boundaries that divide the city and the evidence of past conflict that surrounds you (like these walls full of bullet holes from 1967!). <br />
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<b>But also in the spiritual sense.</b><br />
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Since this is a public blog, I get a little sensitive about what all I freely write about this. I will talk in generalities of the opposing religious views that divide the city and pierce the very places that Jesus taught and loved and died. But I'm hoping that all who read this understand what I mean. I could feel the darkness at times...and I could see the light at others. I have struggled to write this post because that's how poignant the battle was for me on this day.<br />
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But, here I go with an attempt at describing day five.<br />
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It was early morning when we left our hotel. We knew we were heading to the temple steps first. But, I didn't know how significant these steps would be. These are the <i><u>actual</u></i> steps of the temple, buried under ruins for years and years, but recently uncovered completely intact. <br />
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Do you know what might have happened on these very stairs? The conversations, the healings, the teachings, the temple-clearing...even as I type, my eyes fill with tears. Oh, to just have a glimpse into the people who walked up and down on these very stones. And, the Savior who came to this very place, to fulfill the promises those same people held onto.<br />
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We sat on the temple steps and waited for the worship to begin. <br />
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I know I've already said this, but I love this man pictured above for the way he leads me. <br />
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And I love (in a different kind of way!) these men below for the way they led us both this week:<br />
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Max began with an introduction that felt like he was reading my thoughts from the night before. After touring the tunnels under the temple, and watching so many people pray with their faces on these walls, I was torn between truly wanting to grasp the Holiness of God by being in the presence of His temple mount, and wanting to rejoice because we no longer have to seek His Presence in one single place on earth.<br />
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Max's thoughts summed up this inner struggle perfectly. "This is the Lord's Temple! Where He dwells, where Jesus taught and walked. But, then, He tore the VEIL! He is now living IN US!" <br />
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<b>Max pointed to the temple above us and said "Behold, the temple of the Lord!" and then pointed directly at all of us and repeated, "Behold, the temple of the Lord!" </b><br />
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AMEN and AMEN.<br />
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Steven and Caleb led us in singing "On Christ the Solid Rock I Stand" and "You're the God of This City". It was beyond words. I cried and cried as I raised my hands to Him and claimed His promises for this city, for the nations, for all of us---we WILL be delivered, and HE has won the victory. <br />
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Then, as we sat there on those steps---<i><b>a physical representation of the hope of Christ as a big old group of Christians,</b></i> in the midst of faithful praying Jewish people just below us...<br />
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...and Muslims just above us in the mosque, things began to happen.<br />
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Max got up to share the message for the day and lead us in prayer over specific groups of people. We prayed for the sick who was among us. We prayed for church leaders. We prayed for teachers of the Word. It was a powerful time. We had the honor and privilege of praying over our new friends sitting next to us, who lead a church in Singapore. What amazing people they were!<br />
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Max then began to preach about Jesus, specifically about His Lordship, and the authority He had as the Son of God on earth. He read from John 3:16, Matthew 11:27, and Hebrews 1:3, demonstrating that anything you can say about God, you can say about Jesus. He was God Incarnate on earth.<br />
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As he shares this on a microphone in the middle of Jerusalem, a sort of moaning, wailing, chanting sound begins to be heard from an individual behind us (which we later found out came from these windows above us). The person moaning increases in volume over the next few minutes, and although we couldn't understand the words, I could clearly understand the message. I wouldn't know for a while if everyone around me was also aware of it. (We ended up discussing it as a group later that evening.) But, deep in my spirit I knew in an instant this was warfare. It was eery. It felt dark.<br />
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Max clearly sensed it as well, and just remained on the topic of Jesus' authority over all principles of darkness, over all the earth--that He is Lord of all, and at His name, every knee will bow on heaven and on earth...<br />
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Oh, even typing about it brings back the intensity of the moment!</div>
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After a while, as Max continued to speak out against the spirit of darkness that was there---trying to distract, silence, and intimidate us---it went silent. And, I felt like standing up and cheering!<br />
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Max went on with his next couple of points, and we all felt it. <b>Triumph in the name of Jesus.</b> Wow. I will never ever forget it. And, there is much more to say about it! But, I'll just say it was a high point of my trip for sure.<br />
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<b>God is alive and He is active. He is calling all people unto Him. And, He wants us all to grasp His holiness. At the same time, we can rejoice that He empowers <u>us</u> to be His voice in the darkness, and His hands, and His feet on earth, bringing light to the world.</b><br />
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After this CRAZY COOL morning, we walked around the temple mount, marveling at the remaining walls and their beauty...and just to think that these were only the outer walls! I can't fathom the beauty and majesty of the entire courts of the temple that are no longer there!<br />
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As we walked along the perimeter, we were able to see much of the stone debris that still remain toppled over from the destruction of the temple by the Romans in 70 A.D. <br />
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You can still see the craters in the walkways, as Jesus' prophecy of "no stone standing upon another" was fulfilled, and came alive right before our eyes.<br />
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I still can't believe we were standing here.</div>
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As we came to a corner, Naftali showed us a stone that remains, with the original Hebrew carving that says "The Place of the Trumpet". This was the very place that the shofar would be blown by the priest, as festivals and sacrifices began. From this place, the entire city would hear the call. <br />
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And, I LOVE that Naftali (who is actually from the tribe of Levi!) posed for us with his make-believe trumpet. <br />
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Have I mentioned how much I adore Naftali? Because I really, really do. I'm so thankful that Mark had the camera this day and captured me smiling as Naftali shared something with us, because it is the perfect memory of our time with him. I don't even know what he's saying in this picture, but I guarantee it was a perfectly timed one-liner that made us laugh, followed by a deep, profound statement that made us think. That's what it was like <i>all day long</i> with this man.<br />
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After walking around the southern side of the temple mount, we came to the Western Wall, also called the Wailing Wall, where the Jewish people come to pray and read scripture. It is also tradition to write prayers, fold them up, and stuff into the cracks and crevices of the stones. It wasn't a place I felt very comfortable taking pictures, so I don't have alot to show for the women's side. (The area is divided into men and women areas, just like the temple was.) But, I sat and wrote prayers to leave in the cracks of the walls, as well as one prayer I carried home with me. Although most of it will remain in my journal for my own heart, here is a portion of what I wrote as I sat there in His presence surrounded by His people.<br />
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<i><b>"Father, I am surrounded by Your people, Lord. Your women who so desperately seek Your face. Who long to see You in this place, that You would restore what has been broken, that You would redeem this broken world, that You would conquer the evil forever and ever. I thank You for this example of faithfulness in prayer. May I learn to live like that. I thank You for this Holy Place--for Your Presence here, even now. For the faithfulness You continue to pour over us. For Your Holiness, God. May I truly grasp what that means and may my life reflect it just like Moses' face did! Being here in this place makes me realize the VASTNESS of the gap---the deep chasm---that You covered for us. Just how magnificent this sacrifice of Love is that You sent Jesus Christ as the Lamb of God. That we no longer have to wait for Your redemption but that You offer us NOW the purity and holiness of Jesus to cover us! To stand for us in heaven! <u>Father, forgive us for the way we live. For the careless way we go about our lives without You. For the way we worship without passion. For the way we think of ourselves more highly than we ought--when we deserve nothing Father but destruction just like this temple. We deserved to be heaped down like these stones. Yet, instead, you tore the veil, and came down to us---you came near! Jesus, bring peace to the nations. Bring Your power here. You alone are exalted in the Highest Place. Thank you Jesus. Thank you, Father, for this holy moment."</u></b></i><br />
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These next few pictures I didn't see until we were home from the trip. <br />
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While I was on the women's side praying, Mark had joined the other men from our bus on the men's side. These pictures are sacred glimpses, and I'm so thankful Mark captured these moments of prayer from men of such faith. What a blessing to be with them for these days...<br />
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And, in case you don't recognize him, Steven Curtis Chapman stands in the middle in this picture. Melts my heart for so many reasons.<br />
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After this amazing morning at the temple, we headed through the city streets into the Jewish Quarter of the city and enjoyed seeing how the people live and carry on business. <br />
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It was such a quaint, pristine, peaceful area of the city, with children running down the paths, and people carrying bundles of groceries, pushing babies, and eating in the open market restaurants. <br />
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I loved seeing the mark of the Jewish faith everywhere you turn. These mezuzahs were mounted on every doorstep to homes, businesses, and even the gates of the city. Mezuzah literally means "doorpost", and contains the prayer of the Shema and the name "Shaddai", which is a name for God that means "Guardian of the Doors of Israel". <br />
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After sharing this with the girls when we got home, they decided to put a homemade mezuzah on every one of our doorposts. I was amazed that they felt called to do that, just by seeing the way the Jewish people live through these pictures. Precious to this mom's heart.<br />
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And all of this "daily living" occurs right amidst the ruins of the Roman influence and control hundreds of years ago! Just amazing.<br />
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We ate lunch here and were on our own to pick what we wanted. Mark went straight for the monogolian grill and loaded up his plate with his favorites. I, however, went to a fresh toppings pizza place, and had the thinnest, crispiest pizza with seasonings sprinkled on top. Oh my. And, of course, Mark found some ice cream to top it off with. :) Always.<br />
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It was a wonderful break from the intensity of touring, and a great time to catch our breath, sitting outside and chatting with our awesome bus family.<br />
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From lunch, we headed to the ancient City of David, which was the original city when David founded it long ago. <br />
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Here is a view of the hillside as we entered the old city.<br />
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<img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEii2PKJm8SLJP2wW6HXzjFCZ7yn317ozA96XhK2rQCiMHI4DPZom_yVsQpDLa7i238mEQX8KI5wChDex611-xL5MmCRPx0_l9s1Ybl82jJnbx7Yww2ftDOWFq3mtN7x5EcO85O_EA/s1600/IMG_2058.JPG" height="426" width="640" /><span class="Apple-style-span" style="-webkit-text-decorations-in-effect: none; color: black;">Much of the original city is still buried, but excavations are happening constantly. Again, these depend on who has control of the specific areas, and as we discovered on this day, the lines between cultures, races, and religious beliefs, are drawn in jagged lines all over the city. On one street, we are in a Jewish area, under Israeli control, and then on the very opposite street, we aren't. </span></div>
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We walked by the remains of the original wall that Nehemiah returned to build, after the period of Babylonian captivity, which he and the rest of the Jewish people completed in 52 days!!<br />
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This has always been one of my very favorite Bible stories <a href="http://www.hischase.org/2013/11/lets-build-this-wall.html" target="_blank">(you can read my thoughts about Nehemiah HERE</a>), so I was once again in awe as I stood before yet another archaeology find that I had dreamed about seeing.<br />
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And, can you IMAGINE being the people who just live and drive around right above this precious wall?! Oh be still my heart.<br />
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I'm telling you, this day was full of these heart-stopping moments!<br />
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Because next we got to see the tunnels of King David's time, as well as Hezekiah's tunnels! Another favorite of mine!! (<i>That is because of <a href="http://www.amazon.com/Gods-Kings-Chronicles-1/dp/0764229893" target="_blank">THESE BOOKS</a> by Lynn Austin. If you have never read them, stop WHATEVER you are currently reading and start this series immediately. It will change the way you see the kings of the Bible, and especially Hezekiah, as you read a historically accurate, but fictional account of his life. I promise. Just do it.)</i><br />
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Oh, and <a href="http://lynnaustin.org/2014/02/hezekiahs-tunnel/" target="_blank">here is her blog</a> about touring these exact same tunnels, which she writes about in her book <a href="http://lynnaustin.org/books/" target="_blank">Pilgrimage</a>.<br />
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These original tunnels were dug by ancient Canaanites for water access into the city. This is the very way David entered the city and took Jerusalem for Israel---by sneaking up through the tunnels into the heart of the city, bypassing the impenetrable walls that the Canaanites thought kept them safe from invaders!<br />
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Later, these same tunnels were cut off by Hezekiah, so this very same technique could not be used as an attack on his people! Instead, his team of workers dug secret tunnels by hand-chiseling every square inch, starting at two ends of the mountain, and meeting in the middle. This allowed fresh water to flow inside the city walls from the natural Gihon Springs outside the city. This protected their water supply if ever attacked. <br />
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And, they are still flowing with water up to your thigh!!<br />
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Mark and a few others toured the wet tunnels, while the rest of us went through the dry tunnels. Both were absolutely amazing. We were walking where history was made--and changed--forever.<br />
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<i>(Please go order the books now. Those last few sentences do nothing to describe the actual works of Hezekiah and the amazing story he has. Really.)</i><br />
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These tunnels end at the Pool of Siloam, where the blind man was healed, and countless others were touched by Jesus.<br />
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I read a very interesting article after arriving home, about the Pool of Siloam. This is the Pool that has been photographed for years and years, having been named as the actual remains by Queen Helena, the mother of Constantine.<br />
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However, in 2004 (Two Thousand FOUR!!! Only a few years ago!), the true pool of Siloam was discovered as construction was beginning for a water pipe. They drilled down only to discover a series of steps. As they called in the archaeologists, it was confirmed that the original Pool of Siloam, which takes up TWO football fields, was still intact underground! And, the very temple steps we sat on at the beginning of this day, if they were uncovered, would reach all the way to these same steps surrounding the Pool of Siloam. They are still there under it all as one complete set of stairs reaching all the way to the Temple Gates! <br />
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We then visited the site of the Upper Room, where the Last Supper occurred with Jesus and his disciples. It is now a church, which has changed hands repeatedly over time. It was first constructed as the Holy Zion Church in 390 AD, followed by a newly constructed church during the time of the Crusaders in the 1100's, and is now the shape of a church built in the 1200's, although it has also been a mosque in recent years.<br />
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Needless to say, it was a bit hard to really get in touch with the original feeling of this place. But, it was still a significant place to see.<br />
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We continued on to the home of Caiaphas, the High Priest during Jesus' day. His home sat above the city, among the other wealthy Jewish men of Jerusalem---the Saducees, Pharisees, the Sanhedrin.<br />
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Of course, it now has the face of a church. :)<br />
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It has been a celebrated spot since the first century, along with the dungeons under the house, and the courtyard above, where Peter denied Christ, even as He was being questioned and beat just steps away.<br />
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The dungeon was one of those unexpected places I honestly didn't even know existed, and it hit me hard to see the physical place where Jesus was held, enduring the pain of the whip, but also the pain of the false accusations spit upon him by the very people He came to save.<br />
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You could see the cells that were used for many prisoners of the day, as well as the anchors that held their wrists to the walls.<br />
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This is the hole where the prisoners would have been literally dropped onto the hard, cold ground of the pit below.<br />
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This is what had never hit me before. I never realized Jesus was held all night in a place like this. That he was treated like a common prisoner in a common jail.<br />
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How had I missed that detail? I don't know. But, this was another example of how being here--among these ruins--made a lasting impact on me and changed the way I now see what used to be stories on thin pages of my Bible.<br />
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It makes these cobblestone stairs come alive, as He walked in this very place from the Garden of Gethsamane to this place of trial. From time of prayer with His Father, into the depths of sinfulness that would separate Him from that same Father. As He stepped into what He knew was NOT the end---but actually the beginning---of Life for all who believe.<br />
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Oh, I know. You thought I was done there. And, I was, in a way. That was officially the end of Day Five. <br />
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<b><i>Until this...</i></b><br />
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After dinner that evening...after what was <i>surely</i> one of the most meaningful spiritual days ever, we got to end it with a Steven Curtis Chapman private concert. <br />
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There are just no words.<br />
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But, yes, there <i><b>were</b></i> tears. (I know you were wondering. :) )<br />
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Steven sang for two hours, going back in history to songs I remember from highschool and college! And, of course, some current favorites too. All along the way, he shared his stories of life, which is my favorite part of his concerts. :) I'm just so thankful we got to be blessed by his worship this week, and at the same time, tour Israel alongside his family, eating breakfast at the table next to them, chatting here and there, and just getting to know the Chapmans' hearts even more.<br />
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Caleb and Will Franklin shared a song from <a href="http://www.colonyhousemusic.com/" target="_blank">their new album</a> (Colony House) too...I was like the proud aunt they never knew.<br />
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And, then Will Franklin's wife, Jillian Edwards, sang a song she wrote for Will for their marriage. Oh my. You've got to download <a href="https://www.facebook.com/JillianEdwardsMusic" target="_blank">her music</a> too.<br />
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Every single one of these moments was beautiful, as this family is a living, breathing testimony of what God can do with your brokenness. They were broken in ways that seemed unrepairable when their daughter and baby sister died. Yet, here they stand. <br />
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And, Mark and I stood with them, praising God for the way He redeems and restores and brings new life, even in the midst of loss and grief. <br />
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Thank you, GOD, for this great day!! (And, that I was able to finish the novel blog about it!)</div>
mcjacobsjournalhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16727712016502696400noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-16817998.post-45862194848744224072014-04-24T18:05:00.003-05:002014-05-14T09:46:02.553-05:00Day Four: Heading South through Bet Shan, Jericho, the Judean Wilderness, & JERUSALEM!<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">
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This morning would be our last view of the area of Galilee. I was so sad to go. I mean, really, really sad. This was the morning's sunrise, over my little yellow chairs right next to the water. Sigh.<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgwXIvs0BzRL7ml4C9UH1cp9kVVNApdQJknYFbtB0NRyrgpN5vTjrPit2tf6rF65iIklG9zMHGK_dw-umqBoCVgsDX4JEdcnfb-fm0zMGht0yD7uGQ9qwF7wreLpXMe_YezgyYbMw/s1600/IMG_1758.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgwXIvs0BzRL7ml4C9UH1cp9kVVNApdQJknYFbtB0NRyrgpN5vTjrPit2tf6rF65iIklG9zMHGK_dw-umqBoCVgsDX4JEdcnfb-fm0zMGht0yD7uGQ9qwF7wreLpXMe_YezgyYbMw/s1600/IMG_1758.JPG" height="426" width="640" /></a></div>
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But, it helped knowing we had Jerusalem ahead!<a name='more'></a><br /></div>
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And, this was a great day for many reasons. This was April 7--which happened to be a very significant day for our family and many others. On this day, twenty years ago, the country of Rwanda faced an unspeakable tragedy, when one million of her people were cruelly slaughtered in a genocide, affecting every single person who called Rwanda home. </div>
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So, although we looked forward to what was ahead in Israel this day, we also wished we could be with our friends and family from Rwanda, as they stopped to remember their loved ones who lost their lives, as well as unite together and pledge that this will never happen again in their country.</div>
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To show that we were standing with Rwanda, we wore our His Chase shirts, and spent alot of time in prayer over their nation. In fact, we decided to ask our bus friends (BEST BUS #3), who really became like a 50-member family as we spent our days together, to join us in prayer that morning. </div>
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We shared our story, as we rode away together---all the way back to our sweet Chase, and what God has done out of that pain and loss, through the years of ministry in Rwanda at Noel Orphanage, about our adoption of Gabe, and our addition of Claver joining our family. And, then we shared our heart for Rwanda and her people, and prayed together over their nation.</div>
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Two things happened that were God "winks", where I know He's teaching me and bringing things "full circle":</div>
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1) I read a passage from Isaiah that I claimed for Rwanda on my second trip there in 2011. It was a scripture God showed me one morning after a very hard day at Noel, just reminding me of His promises to restore and redeem loss and pain. Right before I read it on the bus this day, it hit me! <i>This passage is about ISRAEL! And, I am sitting here, riding a bus through the very land God promised to RESTORE and He is doing it!! </i></div>
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Through that, I realized this great parallel between Israel and Rwanda. Both tiny countries...both have been ransacked by enemies...both have had their honor and dignity taken away...and both are seeing the hand of God at work in restoration only He can bring.</div>
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<i><b>"No longer will violence be heard in your land, nor ruin or destruction within your borders, but you will call your walls Salvation and your gates Praise...the Lord will be your everlasting light, and your God will be your glory...your days of sorrow will end. Then all your people will be righteous and they will possess the land forever. They are the shoot I have planted, the work of my hands, for the display of my splendor. The least of you will become a thousand, the smallest a mighty nation. I am the LORD; in its time I will do this swifty." Isaiah 60:18-22</b></i></div>
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2) The second thing that happened is that our Bus Family #3, not only tolerated our long discussion of Rwanda on the bus (hee hee), but they responded with <u><b>such</b></u> compassion and love. Before we even sat back down in our seats, we had multiple people committed to sponsoring students through His Chase. And, it just keeps happening, even now that we're home. I can't even tell you how generous they have been. (And, for our bus family who is reading, how do we thank you enough for your big hearts and compassionate spirits?! And, for the absolute fresh breath of air it gave us, as you asked questions and wanted to see pictures of our sweet kids. You revived us in so many ways, sweet friends. And, you are giving new hope and opportunity to students of Rwanda!)</div>
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<b><i>Do you remember how we prayed in the Jordan River THE DAY BEFORE THIS?! </i></b> God was already showing us that His answer was <u>not</u> for us to give up, or be discouraged, but to <b>press on</b>, sharing the amazing things He is doing in the lives of these kids, and in the country of Rwanda!</div>
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What a fantastic start to this day!</div>
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As we left Galilee, we began heading south, along the Jordan River. We could see the country of Jordan all along the way, since this is the border between the countries.</div>
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Our first stop was Beth Shan (known as Scythopolis in the days of the Greeks and Romans.)</div>
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We began our time there, gathering in the oldest and most complete Roman theater in all of Israel, as Max Lucado shared the message for the day.</div>
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Beth Shan is unfortunately the place where King Saul and his sons were hung on display by the Phillistines after they were defeated (and Saul committed suicide). So, Max's message today was about King Saul, and where everything went wrong with him: pride in his own success and jealousy of someone else's.</div>
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<i>Here are just a few thoughts Max shared:</i></div>
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*Saul starts small and humble, in hiding, because he doesn't want to be king. But, he becomes large and in charge, as he experiences victory after victory. He forgets where he started and who it was that gave him what he now had!</div>
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*David comes along and gets the attention of the people, and Saul could not get over the loss of the people's approval, which leads to jealousy, hatred, and disobedience.</div>
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*<b>Success reveals character---it doesn't develop character.</b></div>
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*<b>Saul was most effective when Saul saw Saul as small. </b></div>
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<b>But Saul was most ineffective when Saul saw Saul as tall. </b> (I love that!)</div>
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*"God opposes the proud but gives grace to the humble." I Peter 5:5 </div>
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*Humility is the virtue of a believer, and sets us apart from the world.</div>
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As we toured Beth Shan, it was impressive to see the Roman city with so many intact remains of the opulent life so many lived. <a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgs3AEGeNNTVDryCtASmYCC1bWRo2N_pRYLyFb4N0a-eI2l2U9gOwFJShxxNO2WbTAR25MqbnDzbX9znJWSDNT8c5o-i3YGKXHYbUsX4mE7PmUNIJP6WL2qGpOLLuksw2vzBuRCaQ/s1600/IMG_1792.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgs3AEGeNNTVDryCtASmYCC1bWRo2N_pRYLyFb4N0a-eI2l2U9gOwFJShxxNO2WbTAR25MqbnDzbX9znJWSDNT8c5o-i3YGKXHYbUsX4mE7PmUNIJP6WL2qGpOLLuksw2vzBuRCaQ/s1600/IMG_1792.JPG" height="426" width="640" /></a></div>
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You could see the remains of the "agora", or marketplace...</div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiSPAiH0d1YI5pnmP-nzBErtoFvUQbXvrvMsEFLNNaz01978OrBsPXt0-moWA0KpbYJO0wWz0QUhe6KbuaqfrYJX9ErJ4yezrd2MPUmANjUhVMezkdP_1NSPdGDi2SPKwjd8kkjjg/s1600/IMG_1797.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiSPAiH0d1YI5pnmP-nzBErtoFvUQbXvrvMsEFLNNaz01978OrBsPXt0-moWA0KpbYJO0wWz0QUhe6KbuaqfrYJX9ErJ4yezrd2MPUmANjUhVMezkdP_1NSPdGDi2SPKwjd8kkjjg/s1600/IMG_1797.JPG" height="426" width="640" /></a></div>
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...with the walls still intact between stalls or shops. </div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhhcFE6oxc8nCXby1hJyW38srU6sGOYTFX-bFIlWIOUOmsC7Zq-MoNuxEZdoh9qJ8Vi8d8kT1rGAGuqhf3lILtaWYeOkXRFpys4hJtgJANeDlrugXE23ckMEZdD78qR0CJQVB3TAw/s1600/IMG_1802.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhhcFE6oxc8nCXby1hJyW38srU6sGOYTFX-bFIlWIOUOmsC7Zq-MoNuxEZdoh9qJ8Vi8d8kT1rGAGuqhf3lILtaWYeOkXRFpys4hJtgJANeDlrugXE23ckMEZdD78qR0CJQVB3TAw/s1600/IMG_1802.JPG" height="426" width="640" /></a></div>
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Each one had a detailed mosaic, which were still intact as well!</div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjzZOq3ovruKQt6C7h8CEV80zuAfyNyY83w2K0rhA48wyZtgbrqLZhqcbngaeHCsKEysNCygEeD1-5alxR7Xo8AlbVjXSfCL7Rcs_gw2rtQAs7Y5bP6MRUmyhHV5L24nj-WdDLXVQ/s1600/IMG_1810.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjzZOq3ovruKQt6C7h8CEV80zuAfyNyY83w2K0rhA48wyZtgbrqLZhqcbngaeHCsKEysNCygEeD1-5alxR7Xo8AlbVjXSfCL7Rcs_gw2rtQAs7Y5bP6MRUmyhHV5L24nj-WdDLXVQ/s1600/IMG_1810.JPG" height="426" width="640" /></a></div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgnP_dJuTRnPFITcE7qnUWJStfNH4uyN8qRaE35FGpLZ77_lFFXvsA79Pwq_yAr1daNUayLLXxa01z4of4vIDW5MQV-9jTArAJEUKL6CCPsK969KYrzm8nzfCMeDnzVLbEO-o-4sg/s1600/IMG_1798.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgnP_dJuTRnPFITcE7qnUWJStfNH4uyN8qRaE35FGpLZ77_lFFXvsA79Pwq_yAr1daNUayLLXxa01z4of4vIDW5MQV-9jTArAJEUKL6CCPsK969KYrzm8nzfCMeDnzVLbEO-o-4sg/s1600/IMG_1798.JPG" height="426" width="640" /></a></div>
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A lion...</div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhn3IkufSQDod7sow5TXE9OGeFb38ui93-_FjjuLCkeO4NwfhLdnIr3ZOYEa6FpnHMB6l1CmOOrH9vvUNXjR56HIRF6Hf0AxKV68z8mFbjhOg2PMlr7CfGvUk-dlzHJ3dyt-_l_4g/s1600/IMG_1807.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhn3IkufSQDod7sow5TXE9OGeFb38ui93-_FjjuLCkeO4NwfhLdnIr3ZOYEa6FpnHMB6l1CmOOrH9vvUNXjR56HIRF6Hf0AxKV68z8mFbjhOg2PMlr7CfGvUk-dlzHJ3dyt-_l_4g/s1600/IMG_1807.jpg" height="640" width="426" /></a></div>
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And a zebra or rhino, we couldn't quite tell!</div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgwJNQm29DaHN8wNd-HxMUsiZmJR6QlR8WqeFu2rObHDGylt87SAu7JkmLJ3KhPARnlKsxt_aBYdttRJnmTUDiahAq0NaEWg2gL5oOzyva_tAjkm1rTiaqqzPEA66slSlBLXwVLqQ/s1600/IMG_1806.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgwJNQm29DaHN8wNd-HxMUsiZmJR6QlR8WqeFu2rObHDGylt87SAu7JkmLJ3KhPARnlKsxt_aBYdttRJnmTUDiahAq0NaEWg2gL5oOzyva_tAjkm1rTiaqqzPEA66slSlBLXwVLqQ/s1600/IMG_1806.jpg" height="640" width="430" /></a></div>
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And, not only were they beautiful and so detailed, they are just right there at your own feet, free to be walked on and admired upclose!</div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg9RZ8lfTeloWyR1h7GPX9vZoPjF2xdgMU683STX4yqhrhqkuWYgDb0wGJeUdK_rWoLUX3YjpeFg8__2hd7TSZcsDbyXAkE-WEnpYBU3ngN0zDWLt-SKBc-k13C39mBuC2cBAXo7w/s1600/IMG_1815.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg9RZ8lfTeloWyR1h7GPX9vZoPjF2xdgMU683STX4yqhrhqkuWYgDb0wGJeUdK_rWoLUX3YjpeFg8__2hd7TSZcsDbyXAkE-WEnpYBU3ngN0zDWLt-SKBc-k13C39mBuC2cBAXo7w/s1600/IMG_1815.JPG" height="426" width="640" /></a></div>
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This would have been the main street through town, and a busy place to gather, shop, or visit with each other.</div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgO_lboVYLyvBWs-fohw9_Lujwr6OFD_8FMvIRhvxDxScZpkpDjJmZgdK8uCc8slylSlqTaoRApNWlrgK4LwBfV-CWAeGFYEIsFpBRWK7liA_LzLEnKNsQwr2ARFqbCm2qOJuPBvg/s1600/IMG_1808.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgO_lboVYLyvBWs-fohw9_Lujwr6OFD_8FMvIRhvxDxScZpkpDjJmZgdK8uCc8slylSlqTaoRApNWlrgK4LwBfV-CWAeGFYEIsFpBRWK7liA_LzLEnKNsQwr2ARFqbCm2qOJuPBvg/s1600/IMG_1808.JPG" height="372" width="640" /></a></div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgJ_-nt942dmOER6IMVDR2PDWscCFS7XqqL7rjtRbtwTXgibvwnU7dXmchCXDIVFrO2p_bAKzBFVSOHnzKCWEl45ehGVL7Lchu32GGHtjJxjbnRo0xDBroLwrnoUk7GmidxJtUaxA/s1600/IMG_1811.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgJ_-nt942dmOER6IMVDR2PDWscCFS7XqqL7rjtRbtwTXgibvwnU7dXmchCXDIVFrO2p_bAKzBFVSOHnzKCWEl45ehGVL7Lchu32GGHtjJxjbnRo0xDBroLwrnoUk7GmidxJtUaxA/s1600/IMG_1811.jpg" height="640" width="426" /></a></div>
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And, this I thought was so interesting! After this town began to be exposed to Christ and began converting to Christianity, these mosaics that acknowledged and admired false gods were covered up by plain marble stones! </div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEizvHvEYvVkUDaNLf__aKnRyMm2taQflIZjC5rxxqgKNrk4PtdOIumrZFYjtaXCOTcBER0qEQbrt-jYo5-ch4j1splqS-eDIfSHbqiVlJoe4ykbwzE8BTCtnYbMu5Cly37It5xNpw/s1600/IMG_1816.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEizvHvEYvVkUDaNLf__aKnRyMm2taQflIZjC5rxxqgKNrk4PtdOIumrZFYjtaXCOTcBER0qEQbrt-jYo5-ch4j1splqS-eDIfSHbqiVlJoe4ykbwzE8BTCtnYbMu5Cly37It5xNpw/s1600/IMG_1816.JPG" height="426" width="640" /></a></div>
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Here are the remains of a fountain or small bath.</div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg3hTR9oZ0RVRlkUHvyno5wVEvsHw5v9QbtuIp1AsZVu0VkBuNPwTBI94ilDK4zkZ6__qJWU1p243gUvc1OgyXBrLKpVxUWCan0azwIMTg95K3moYcJjGUDSPdNS3Ya-sBIhg67Vw/s1600/IMG_1799.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg3hTR9oZ0RVRlkUHvyno5wVEvsHw5v9QbtuIp1AsZVu0VkBuNPwTBI94ilDK4zkZ6__qJWU1p243gUvc1OgyXBrLKpVxUWCan0azwIMTg95K3moYcJjGUDSPdNS3Ya-sBIhg67Vw/s1600/IMG_1799.JPG" height="426" width="640" /></a></div>
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There were also the large bath houses still standing!</div>
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The baths were communal...and so were the toilets! Here is a fancy bathroom of the day!<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhg44sZPzs4pq7i4A_C5HZA7EapbeRyE2fobjbdmVds5mkUGO2ezwdjXOyVUeCj2QbFWuE5z5Srl3BPclHIAnlm4Ka-OPGVNVqcilU6hk6-1LCx3j0OKPhQFFtQI4iL5d4z4oboaw/s1600/IMG_1785.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhg44sZPzs4pq7i4A_C5HZA7EapbeRyE2fobjbdmVds5mkUGO2ezwdjXOyVUeCj2QbFWuE5z5Srl3BPclHIAnlm4Ka-OPGVNVqcilU6hk6-1LCx3j0OKPhQFFtQI4iL5d4z4oboaw/s1600/IMG_1785.JPG" height="426" width="640" /></a></div>
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You would just pop a squat on these stone pieces and the latrine ditch was underneath you! Wow. No words.</div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgVeKIPw6xu1AWtqqkvlQxyXGIA6WXFXvsGKHxVZqBwXFq98_LCvwuP1vGnolmMKTgjBpPFjlXETPyPIOOLzsn1DEHsj23ZzB3enI_DurQVVV3U8yVZWe77tAHCZLHK_Bo4nVF9Vg/s1600/IMG_1786.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgVeKIPw6xu1AWtqqkvlQxyXGIA6WXFXvsGKHxVZqBwXFq98_LCvwuP1vGnolmMKTgjBpPFjlXETPyPIOOLzsn1DEHsj23ZzB3enI_DurQVVV3U8yVZWe77tAHCZLHK_Bo4nVF9Vg/s1600/IMG_1786.jpg" height="640" width="426" /></a></div>
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There were three rooms of the Roman bath house, with different temperatures of water to choose from. Everyone would go in a specific order to get clean and also healthy!</div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgTKQfLWNSxX0NgxhiZcXTTTQGv0SK13JPa1HZxjgywMx6mjR268A72Zyna7Am-3yF7LKjG6CKyN2YYhR_QkBHXAsInLCNhU3hwIssxpqhqS380V3NAxdvXOVzWJGpxKFqcwjqjnw/s1600/IMG_1824.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgTKQfLWNSxX0NgxhiZcXTTTQGv0SK13JPa1HZxjgywMx6mjR268A72Zyna7Am-3yF7LKjG6CKyN2YYhR_QkBHXAsInLCNhU3hwIssxpqhqS380V3NAxdvXOVzWJGpxKFqcwjqjnw/s1600/IMG_1824.jpg" height="640" width="426" /></a></div>
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This was their advanced heating system!</div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgMor4Qo8mvxGBE4z2unFHmEipGyt1d3Xz5FWfHsA-c66mGdhjIGAO9yuvtUy6J0-tXgcDF5jMSlsg5ZbeUGshx70DONoXmzeLP5UMVJybSRKR2tgGnWT5Q38KSqUE25uRilmLO8w/s1600/IMG_1818.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgMor4Qo8mvxGBE4z2unFHmEipGyt1d3Xz5FWfHsA-c66mGdhjIGAO9yuvtUy6J0-tXgcDF5jMSlsg5ZbeUGshx70DONoXmzeLP5UMVJybSRKR2tgGnWT5Q38KSqUE25uRilmLO8w/s1600/IMG_1818.JPG" height="426" width="640" /></a></div>
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We could also see the giant "tel", a seemingly large mountain, where years and years of ancient cities are buried. On top of it all, the Romans built another temple to Jupiter.</div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjzwu8N_EOi9AT0h0CDMuwzLHdkd7sTE_yJ8eNgEPpo-Z_12cZkpf8VAoOKu6Y9JhVigUv1LsPOxHtbBw0hYqbqliJ1ohPD99_4XL0meNtLVVOvZujIaufrul-XBEXI7HEB0E3tlw/s1600/IMG_1762.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjzwu8N_EOi9AT0h0CDMuwzLHdkd7sTE_yJ8eNgEPpo-Z_12cZkpf8VAoOKu6Y9JhVigUv1LsPOxHtbBw0hYqbqliJ1ohPD99_4XL0meNtLVVOvZujIaufrul-XBEXI7HEB0E3tlw/s1600/IMG_1762.JPG" height="376" width="640" /></a></div>
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We continued south toward Jericho, and as we drove, you could see the terrain change outside. We had definitely left the lush valleys of Galilee, and were now in the more desert-like terrain I expected to see!<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEixveJVk_t74KgKpd6SGtRTSNGLuLaBNATTeJWlwuRk_hjB0vF5slJt7a9mHv8D2zDl7C8y9U7pPNKc9g5-rkrNXUT7JkTY6ueqLJRxAtxpvArihkEOu8FqQz4bByc9AXzAtZmgeg/s1600/IMG_1833.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEixveJVk_t74KgKpd6SGtRTSNGLuLaBNATTeJWlwuRk_hjB0vF5slJt7a9mHv8D2zDl7C8y9U7pPNKc9g5-rkrNXUT7JkTY6ueqLJRxAtxpvArihkEOu8FqQz4bByc9AXzAtZmgeg/s1600/IMG_1833.JPG" height="426" width="640" /></a></div>
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We stopped in Jericho, which is actually an oasis in the wilderness, which is why it was such a vital settlement over years and years. You could see the green growth, and the vegetation, which was a stark contrast to the desert areas all around it.<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjUwioK4aKmIOXIrKnlfQ0Z5vQ5rjP_5DumqlkndDPx0Bnjahi82SFk5lQKgaVDBnkhazd96WflCYiwf9kGuCUf9vfoSFZfp28gYJgEovog9syVZxVB35UOr3g3nFhw1CzsNeW_rg/s1600/IMG_1836.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjUwioK4aKmIOXIrKnlfQ0Z5vQ5rjP_5DumqlkndDPx0Bnjahi82SFk5lQKgaVDBnkhazd96WflCYiwf9kGuCUf9vfoSFZfp28gYJgEovog9syVZxVB35UOr3g3nFhw1CzsNeW_rg/s1600/IMG_1836.JPG" height="426" width="640" /></a></div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEipd_eqIOXAuthKIOpJujRc_x8eo024DVDIMGiKVtjfzlUOcnCg7_9x991YJb3varG6IwnE7r5lrRhIX3ngeInHXU-B6t-q8q2vLg6fqc6nbGdc5M2Bc3YK-mcVtfPAlOGoDTZD1Q/s1600/IMG_1835.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEipd_eqIOXAuthKIOpJujRc_x8eo024DVDIMGiKVtjfzlUOcnCg7_9x991YJb3varG6IwnE7r5lrRhIX3ngeInHXU-B6t-q8q2vLg6fqc6nbGdc5M2Bc3YK-mcVtfPAlOGoDTZD1Q/s1600/IMG_1835.JPG" height="426" width="640" /></a></div>
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Now, Jericho is in the West Bank of Israel...which was totally different for sure. I'll just say that. :) </div>
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But, it was fascinating to see "the oldest city in Israel", where Elisha made the springs of water run clear, and Joshua led the people into the promised land! </div>
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There are actually no remains of the physical city of Jericho during Joshua's time. But, archaeological digs are still being done now. They are absolutely certain of its location (pic below), based on the Biblical description, but since Israelis don't have full rights to dig, they have not been able to find as much in this area as other places we visited.<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgPVyFdz5c_Yxy-awd3OeCi1q0npRV1dSI3sizGEhkb2I9IYbaHEm2hsLKwOx4sdC5SX10CA_ShNL5WnvXsUYEyY3QnnpDckuoMcHl6rBKynFNiCt82qR5t9XO2mOEvCNYJPjB5Jg/s1600/IMG_3745.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgPVyFdz5c_Yxy-awd3OeCi1q0npRV1dSI3sizGEhkb2I9IYbaHEm2hsLKwOx4sdC5SX10CA_ShNL5WnvXsUYEyY3QnnpDckuoMcHl6rBKynFNiCt82qR5t9XO2mOEvCNYJPjB5Jg/s1600/IMG_3745.JPG" height="274" style="cursor: move;" width="640" /></a>After leaving the site of Jericho, we had lunch at the Jericho Hotel Intercontinental (who knew?!) and then headed through the Judean wilderness toward Jerusalem!!</div>
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(Oh! Before we left, we got to take pictures of an ancient sycamore tree, which dates back 2,000 years to the time of Christ. So, this was an awesome visual of the tree Mr. Zaccheus used to see Jesus!)</div>
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The wilderness was also amazing to see. It was what I expected, really. But, to see it in person just really brought the "desperation of wandering" to life. I wouldn't have lasted a week out in the heat, the sand, and the aimlessness. :)<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjJsjjJk151v-pQyQpo6lWcA_PN4Idjn9qFSLbvbrA2lcqOj3DNrtaXBq6TtsfxU1XQ0ZwwP2sclhN-7pSKtiayEHzGfKRkH5-_sY_Nqm00ZN1P0x6W2tYMnU7EREZeOsHrn7eZFA/s1600/IMG_1864.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjJsjjJk151v-pQyQpo6lWcA_PN4Idjn9qFSLbvbrA2lcqOj3DNrtaXBq6TtsfxU1XQ0ZwwP2sclhN-7pSKtiayEHzGfKRkH5-_sY_Nqm00ZN1P0x6W2tYMnU7EREZeOsHrn7eZFA/s1600/IMG_1864.JPG" height="426" width="640" /></a></div>
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But, this is a place where many people spent time, not only the Israelites as a group, but also individuals as they would go into hiding from the authorities in Jerusalem. And, of course, this is where David himself spent MUCH of his years, either hiding from Saul or shepherding his sheep.</div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiqkQmMrr0NGdL-XYEtTpHnhyphenhyphenie2lJ8t9FMKGYoMFSuX5WliRYCP0O45dcFtdwZ5EwD7tJZHI1A44EH3V3AbR0rQH8bKDzvF3dkINKNrKTwIOHpaeu6mcZAEo0HRolzZxVHa6SB_w/s1600/IMG_1838.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiqkQmMrr0NGdL-XYEtTpHnhyphenhyphenie2lJ8t9FMKGYoMFSuX5WliRYCP0O45dcFtdwZ5EwD7tJZHI1A44EH3V3AbR0rQH8bKDzvF3dkINKNrKTwIOHpaeu6mcZAEo0HRolzZxVHa6SB_w/s1600/IMG_1838.JPG" height="348" width="640" /></a></div>
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We saw many tribes of bedouin people living in the wilderness now. They are tent dwellers to this day, and travel from place to place, picking up their homes and moving as needed for food and water. I would love to know more about their lives! </div>
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As we passed a few final curves, our sweet guide Naftali shared that no matter how many times he enters the city, he gets excited every time to see Jerusalem. His heart starts racing and he is breathless as he anticipates going over the final hill, with the beauty of the city laid before him. He turned on a song that made the entire experience incredible: "The Holy City", Jerusalem! (You can google it and see multiple versions on you tube!)</div>
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As the song blasted through the bus, we turned the corner...</div>
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AND THERE IT WAS!! This was our first glimpse from the bus window...<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgnDv3bOtQZoSoK7upUlCn2O2wmeDBLrypNVLP4WeNd3XQ231coo6TV0ENqSvkOBphp5GSS1atPVqW6Lg1xa2FzJW05-nkrf_b59av4TA-S8M_yaYT4RJcgzJ3WdKhgFWtIliM4bQ/s1600/IMG_1874.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgnDv3bOtQZoSoK7upUlCn2O2wmeDBLrypNVLP4WeNd3XQ231coo6TV0ENqSvkOBphp5GSS1atPVqW6Lg1xa2FzJW05-nkrf_b59av4TA-S8M_yaYT4RJcgzJ3WdKhgFWtIliM4bQ/s1600/IMG_1874.JPG" height="362" width="640" /></a></div>
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I can only imagine what it was like to travel as Jewish families---for days and days as a group---anticipating the festivals and feasts in the city, and come over that last hill...</div>
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And see the Temple of the Lord! (It now has the Dome of the Rock, a Muslim mosque and holy site there instead.)</div>
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I so wish we could have seen the original version. :) But, still, it was an incredible moment. </div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhAjSF_urXDGrEoXzDwg26wfxrmcUBK8xYOyHbHFhyphenhyphen4YfxreeRDz1kM1gaP_7XF6Z9bhb3wuXrnYCfGaFy-OvIUR8xaLdv6Sb5Ji4qyMloApdUtLAn2fQg6wC1zgem5wVfn7GWmnQ/s1600/IMG_1878.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhAjSF_urXDGrEoXzDwg26wfxrmcUBK8xYOyHbHFhyphenhyphen4YfxreeRDz1kM1gaP_7XF6Z9bhb3wuXrnYCfGaFy-OvIUR8xaLdv6Sb5Ji4qyMloApdUtLAn2fQg6wC1zgem5wVfn7GWmnQ/s1600/IMG_1878.JPG" height="426" width="640" /></a></div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhEktdxaD3qY4e-PVuMBCo-Kscfu9rXhKE6iwIUqNHXnCVd3YLBSN09nlk62Uw0bl4gidDyj6Fy9Fn2QUR3hVaFGc2gIgasHI-GcCcECKxpf9VXbfsj2XhuMDWipX8eNEe4ut6aug/s1600/IMG_1891.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhEktdxaD3qY4e-PVuMBCo-Kscfu9rXhKE6iwIUqNHXnCVd3YLBSN09nlk62Uw0bl4gidDyj6Fy9Fn2QUR3hVaFGc2gIgasHI-GcCcECKxpf9VXbfsj2XhuMDWipX8eNEe4ut6aug/s1600/IMG_1891.JPG" height="426" width="640" /></a></div>
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As we entered the city, we went to see an indescribable model of the entire city in the time of Jesus.</div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgO6wbk6Iz_GrR3EAfHFAeznm-9RIVOkQmOyqQmwfgiJEuXyJyxGKUqiWBP2Et4vFcM7D3E2UnlB6SrI7eMndOl3uD7fYHSClh_Ud-k7nyatYgoO028BhVv4JxTueDepPX0B82auw/s1600/IMG_1881.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgO6wbk6Iz_GrR3EAfHFAeznm-9RIVOkQmOyqQmwfgiJEuXyJyxGKUqiWBP2Et4vFcM7D3E2UnlB6SrI7eMndOl3uD7fYHSClh_Ud-k7nyatYgoO028BhVv4JxTueDepPX0B82auw/s1600/IMG_1881.JPG" height="426" width="640" /></a></div>
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You can see just from the pictures how LARGE the temple was in relation to the city, and how it could be seen from any point throughout the region!<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgOtLmG6X_xcbZTnSLNbQmdspJnsyaS4QIMMR6OUoCKVFNqm32nedklmhb3qOd8OxRQc6fhbHKJEPi6Oo3r8EZHt5Pj6uS3pRHQNTvgC0Jxy2lXjHhjYvjha_XtdUmxdOmj7UmEDg/s1600/IMG_1880.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgOtLmG6X_xcbZTnSLNbQmdspJnsyaS4QIMMR6OUoCKVFNqm32nedklmhb3qOd8OxRQc6fhbHKJEPi6Oo3r8EZHt5Pj6uS3pRHQNTvgC0Jxy2lXjHhjYvjha_XtdUmxdOmj7UmEDg/s1600/IMG_1880.JPG" height="426" width="640" /></a></div>
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The entire city centered around the place where God's Presence resided on earth!</div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhfdIMoz7063FDE0WvghwyXJBpVvXsUGbFxij0uWOBTn1m8I5I_oNxOFyC6MCJuo6RkkYY8oYWdbn-qvkAiOFAIwrV7LYkL9ajWC3RcZZCdINNptg3LaPRePKq6gohNhyXbgqA6uw/s1600/IMG_1884.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhfdIMoz7063FDE0WvghwyXJBpVvXsUGbFxij0uWOBTn1m8I5I_oNxOFyC6MCJuo6RkkYY8oYWdbn-qvkAiOFAIwrV7LYkL9ajWC3RcZZCdINNptg3LaPRePKq6gohNhyXbgqA6uw/s1600/IMG_1884.JPG" height="426" width="640" /></a></div>
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It really helped my little brain to understand the city---both then and now---when I saw it to scale like this, and it was a perfect start to our few days in Jerusalem. We also took time to go through the museum of the Dead Sea Scrolls. If you don't know the history of this discovery you MUST read whatever you can find about it. The girls and I read a book about it this year in school, and it is incredible to see how God proved His Word is accurate and indestructible over thousands of years, also revealing His character and His truth through this discovery. (Short story for those who aren't going to Google it: In 1947, some Bedouin shepherds discovered the first of a series of caves, containing over 800 ancient manuscripts---scrolls in jars---which were every book of the Bible except for Esther!)</div>
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After this, we headed to a scenic lookout point above the city, where we could see the Mount of Olives, the Garden of Gethsamane, and the Temple Mount, as well as the various quarters where people reside in Jerusalem.</div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjbeYKAisb3IVwBjZ4kjb1PWdPbJ4-UM2UWtk9oqSBCpT-zgw-KHQGVEj1zHiT92-fN9GUJl_ZA3urh-vxvTNpCpxgZt6KvtmXKuzyra2lUcpzHFxBvco5KCFSdSiI2-IrUfLaaCQ/s1600/IMG_1895.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjbeYKAisb3IVwBjZ4kjb1PWdPbJ4-UM2UWtk9oqSBCpT-zgw-KHQGVEj1zHiT92-fN9GUJl_ZA3urh-vxvTNpCpxgZt6KvtmXKuzyra2lUcpzHFxBvco5KCFSdSiI2-IrUfLaaCQ/s1600/IMG_1895.JPG" height="460" width="640" /></a></div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg4fyDjyOpHF5yd-rUdk_lhDTRs9QxxrLCZj7xMG3HV6UHldhK2KCtbwqibQTm1T9MaAucdYWxr7MHuCE-a9vG1efeVqfbiJhrXxC6c13NRo63-BKY9D60mTnHEIXKabrMJnW4cYg/s1600/IMG_1893.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg4fyDjyOpHF5yd-rUdk_lhDTRs9QxxrLCZj7xMG3HV6UHldhK2KCtbwqibQTm1T9MaAucdYWxr7MHuCE-a9vG1efeVqfbiJhrXxC6c13NRo63-BKY9D60mTnHEIXKabrMJnW4cYg/s1600/IMG_1893.JPG" height="426" width="640" /></a></div>
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Since our official touring of the city wasn't starting until the next day, we headed to the hotel for dinner, with optional tours happening in the evening. Although my body said "Rest and stay at the hotel", everything else in me said "Are you kidding? Whatever we can see, we have to see! Let's go!!"</div>
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Mark and I chose to go on the evening tour of the tunnels under the Temple Mount, where more of the Western Wall has been discovered. I was also looking forward to seeing the city at twilight!</div>
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And, that was absolutely beautiful to see. This is the Mount of Olives at sunset, with the Russian Orthodox Church shown with the gold top.<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgX8w0oomXOvT5KrSEclb120kYOF3EYh-1SicHcdm3nbARUfqN5OLHSCtHuIRe1IYs5Ebq-kAnKvJtcXXsYqcvF7mJlYIyqgPr4eoCJS5BEdg1a5AXdRWA4PnrP_JcHm39-tSIb7w/s1600/IMG_1927.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgX8w0oomXOvT5KrSEclb120kYOF3EYh-1SicHcdm3nbARUfqN5OLHSCtHuIRe1IYs5Ebq-kAnKvJtcXXsYqcvF7mJlYIyqgPr4eoCJS5BEdg1a5AXdRWA4PnrP_JcHm39-tSIb7w/s1600/IMG_1927.JPG" height="426" width="640" /></a></div>
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And, another view of the Mount of Olives, with the Garden of Gethsamane church toward the bottom. </div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh5tKUGzjUtupkodLj2hHw6QFY-wDDuoesXUbbud1Fppp0Y2WHRGzarHW9hhg-nT1Oy5y6fK7Vh2aHesWHp3vhAIxMrxTgPWuFXU1auK8g9OOBNf1Vi1UP-jY9xw9y4KDGe7PTPXw/s1600/IMG_1925.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh5tKUGzjUtupkodLj2hHw6QFY-wDDuoesXUbbud1Fppp0Y2WHRGzarHW9hhg-nT1Oy5y6fK7Vh2aHesWHp3vhAIxMrxTgPWuFXU1auK8g9OOBNf1Vi1UP-jY9xw9y4KDGe7PTPXw/s1600/IMG_1925.JPG" height="426" width="640" /></a></div>
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Here is the temple mount area, where we spent more time the next day...</div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjPcBNNgqTEF_Xdg7r9fqxouiPirnjHNMHo21NzBji_8tDVT6sbQQZ2HhlJHbpB4cdmU0W2CWNVVY0cBj589eMiLSu_F9oNyTFvmdlzKxtCIPfDc9xagw9Fnyp0fSHbK3goUASaFA/s1600/IMG_1931.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjPcBNNgqTEF_Xdg7r9fqxouiPirnjHNMHo21NzBji_8tDVT6sbQQZ2HhlJHbpB4cdmU0W2CWNVVY0cBj589eMiLSu_F9oNyTFvmdlzKxtCIPfDc9xagw9Fnyp0fSHbK3goUASaFA/s1600/IMG_1931.JPG" height="426" width="640" /></a></div>
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...as well as the Western Wall, where Jews gather 24 hours a day to pray.</div>
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As we went underground to see more recent discoveries, it was eye-opening for sure to see what the construction must have required for King Herod's men.</div>
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The original stones of the outer walls have been discovered, although, as we all know, the temple itself was destroyed without a stone standing on another. (Matthew 24:2)</div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhhBWNI5tm8D41BHuLMFi-KiddCyemPvWFXw5ACeUAl3OISAkbs8Uj3mTuv7UrJDmkBZc5WV_Cj5zn9AOrsJsiLc78T2Hl4uOJXE5CQAVel4dbe-ys3HdB1_zsXw4THd-Dl-cUNPQ/s1600/IMG_1949.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhhBWNI5tm8D41BHuLMFi-KiddCyemPvWFXw5ACeUAl3OISAkbs8Uj3mTuv7UrJDmkBZc5WV_Cj5zn9AOrsJsiLc78T2Hl4uOJXE5CQAVel4dbe-ys3HdB1_zsXw4THd-Dl-cUNPQ/s1600/IMG_1949.jpg" height="640" width="426" /></a></div>
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The walls alone are magnificent! Blocks of stone, weighing tons, each carefully chiseled to fit one upon another, and carved with a detailed inlay on each one.<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgaiPWbAycV9jq3Qol_DMP0aMSsw8wOO1w5ssQUYZPovc6gFMY5W0NLXdPx4BdvhwWCP76WYe2d6_jwwA2a4HJ5gw44pS4BMpnDI_pOBzH_UwE8GRwCNvFOASqhFWY8Tj8YEirT9g/s1600/IMG_1952.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgaiPWbAycV9jq3Qol_DMP0aMSsw8wOO1w5ssQUYZPovc6gFMY5W0NLXdPx4BdvhwWCP76WYe2d6_jwwA2a4HJ5gw44pS4BMpnDI_pOBzH_UwE8GRwCNvFOASqhFWY8Tj8YEirT9g/s1600/IMG_1952.JPG" height="426" width="640" /></a></div>
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Beyond the walls, it was also a wonderful experience to just be in and among the people of Jerusalem on a night like this.</div>
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There were moments when a twinge of sadness ran through my heart. These sweet people who are desperately praying and crying toward a wall that once held the Presence of the Lord was a bit hard to see. I just wanted to say "Do you know that you still have access to that Presence? It wasn't destroyed with the temple. In fact, that was just the beginning! Do you know that Jesus made it possible for the Presence of God to live inside His people?" <a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgm31A6Sa_-8mM3uBCw1Tz8F758gxo8zNgct6Si1lGM-5z4OtCb1BExobV9U8Wvy2hCsRcapjbecEFBoCpcbOhYAQRfsGRIGt26fhSHlMpUByr0xNwIZblJ0c11ILYbWRMRHw7I6w/s1600/IMG_1944.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgm31A6Sa_-8mM3uBCw1Tz8F758gxo8zNgct6Si1lGM-5z4OtCb1BExobV9U8Wvy2hCsRcapjbecEFBoCpcbOhYAQRfsGRIGt26fhSHlMpUByr0xNwIZblJ0c11ILYbWRMRHw7I6w/s1600/IMG_1944.JPG" height="474" width="640" /></a></div>
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Yet, <b>I also know that I will never understand in my lifetime what this temple, this city, this country, means to His chosen people, the Israelites. Or to God Himself.</b> So, I say a silent prayer asking God to show me where I'm wrong, and to help me love everyone in this big old city, as we all try to travel the road toward Him. I would come to learn MUCH over the next few days, and I will say that I love and adore the Jewish people, respect their immense knowledge about our God and His history, and long for them to know the truth and hope of Jesus Christ, before He comes again to this great city, in all His glory!</div>
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mcjacobsjournalhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16727712016502696400noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-16817998.post-44588268244014929592014-04-22T22:57:00.000-05:002014-05-31T09:33:10.230-05:00Day Three: Ancient City of Dan, Caesarea Philippi, and the Sea of Galilee Boat Ride<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">
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Wow. It's pretty funny. I'm feeling the same way about <b><i>writing</i></b> Day Three's entry, as I did <b><i>on</i></b> the morning of Day Three. Tired. Fighting the urge to just sit and be lazy. But, knowing I can't. :) </div>
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It's that moment when the excitement of waking up early to see new things (<i>or staying up late to write new blogs</i>) kinda wears off.</div>
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Your feet--or your head---or your back--hurt a little more than the day before.</div>
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You're realizing that all of these old walls and ruins could <i>easily</i> run together in your mind and heart.</div>
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So, as you can see, everything in me on Day Three was ready to "power down". </div>
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However, I'm so glad I had Naftali to push me forward. To learn more. To allow God to keep doing His thing in me. </div>
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<a name='more'></a>Because, this day truly ended PERFECTLY. It was worth the struggle. :)</div>
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We began our day in the ancient city of Dan. </div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjbsHJspJe4U8Cs1M6tmV71_C-ciekIHi_pwWGinezcLyUOAX42gag4zKv3PzQgtrHW463g5285t-VM3gKmwkBeSuWw8uh4Z1kfAMaR2_V5MGo6YHLfTBVrDfLj8WzNvMKnrL1CGw/s1600/IMG_1496.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjbsHJspJe4U8Cs1M6tmV71_C-ciekIHi_pwWGinezcLyUOAX42gag4zKv3PzQgtrHW463g5285t-VM3gKmwkBeSuWw8uh4Z1kfAMaR2_V5MGo6YHLfTBVrDfLj8WzNvMKnrL1CGw/s1600/IMG_1496.jpg" height="640" width="426" /></a></div>
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Yeah, I know. You're probably saying "And, why is <i><b>Dan</b></i> significant?" I asked the same thing.</div>
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But, there are quite a few cool things about Dan. First, it is now a nature reserve. That means no big buildings, no crowds of people, and absolute natural beauty surrounding us. Which also means that no one can mess with, build on top of, or change the appearance of the ancient city as it once was.</div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjzbRuBTaKuyqdRpe-kCiBmchoI26MHTQP49zGT74N3IWgPrWyRAN1LIhKpGDRSD_M9w-_KCwbraCjd4qvgQBvJYWybLMGcSqiTXn7AMz-lDR5P2gdXmQCVDgrhLQPud4NeUCzOlg/s1600/IMG_6951.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjzbRuBTaKuyqdRpe-kCiBmchoI26MHTQP49zGT74N3IWgPrWyRAN1LIhKpGDRSD_M9w-_KCwbraCjd4qvgQBvJYWybLMGcSqiTXn7AMz-lDR5P2gdXmQCVDgrhLQPud4NeUCzOlg/s1600/IMG_6951.JPG" height="214" width="640" /></a></div>
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We could see thousand-year-old city walls, gates, a grain cellar...</div>
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...and even the platform on which the kings of Israel (even Solomon!) sat in judgment as citizens of Dan had disputes to settle.</div>
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We also saw where King Jeroboam offered idol sacrifices and set up the golden calves of Baal that ended up costing him---and many Jewish people--the kingdom of Israel. It was here that the ten tribes of northern Israel were defeated and carried off into captivity.</div>
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="-webkit-text-decorations-in-effect: none; color: black;">The most impressive ruin that we saw, and the most exciting discovery among archaeologists in this area was </span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="-webkit-text-decorations-in-effect: none; color: black;"><u>4,000 year old city gates that date back to the time of Abraham</u></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="-webkit-text-decorations-in-effect: none; color: black;">!</span><br />
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="-webkit-text-decorations-in-effect: none; color: black;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhbQ1Tjuqiqv0njNAv_FwNLylY80t5jgeUtpMxiItrd9Sdq6g0Wa1T8w7wmk-6x2Vt2zWH81ivv4EsY7DgWDJ-pwaVM_3EI3owcwQw1bnVoru1k8rTDpnV4SvgRxoxop25t5bckkQ/s1600/IMG_1560.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhbQ1Tjuqiqv0njNAv_FwNLylY80t5jgeUtpMxiItrd9Sdq6g0Wa1T8w7wmk-6x2Vt2zWH81ivv4EsY7DgWDJ-pwaVM_3EI3owcwQw1bnVoru1k8rTDpnV4SvgRxoxop25t5bckkQ/s1600/IMG_1560.jpg" height="640" width="426" /></a></span></div>
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="-webkit-text-decorations-in-effect: none; color: black;">This was the very gate where Abraham came to rescue Lot from the 5 kings who held him captive! (Genesis 14:14) </span>It is made of sunbaked clay bricks and has 3 archways. We could clearly see one of the arches, and as Naftali said, "We always think Romans invented arches, but these were standing 2000 years before they were around!"</div>
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="-webkit-text-decorations-in-effect: none; color: black;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiPBn1mc7Y3FhquLt6AWJ5HCtTEXB86QWgJD6L-fmwNyiWkwOUGD8danJ7tLal-lXX011rv-HblwXyiLqn75u_Cd49MFLEhccJlQAZe9Es3M4e6Q2P0OvhzbOK0ndEPq-G5sgoAdA/s1600/IMG_1562.jpg" height="640" width="426" /></span></div>
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Dan is also the northernmost city of Israel, and has always been an area fought for by surrounding countries. This is because it houses the source of the Jordan River, the springs of Mount Hermon. If a country can control this area, they can cut off the water supply to all of Israel! </div>
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It is called "the finger of Israel", named for the thin strip of land that juts up between modern-day Lebanon and Syria. So, yes, as we stood at the tip top of Dan, we were looking out at Lebanon on the left, and Syria on the right.</div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjHSp-zJTO00SMHXIM1yktVIBigWV0laNjohu6-HjaT0-t2YOyWYhPHiH5Gf289d7YdnHYu8oepeoPvt-7s33Bu_7eV6aaK-cMKvbKh4e1RGkKg5_wIhFvkzwMhEfgaZLk9XIdO4g/s1600/IMG_1541.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjHSp-zJTO00SMHXIM1yktVIBigWV0laNjohu6-HjaT0-t2YOyWYhPHiH5Gf289d7YdnHYu8oepeoPvt-7s33Bu_7eV6aaK-cMKvbKh4e1RGkKg5_wIhFvkzwMhEfgaZLk9XIdO4g/s1600/IMG_1541.JPG" height="426" style="cursor: move;" width="640" /></a></div>
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Not even for a minute did I feel worried about this (much to my surprise!). But, it was surreal to just sit and smile with Syria behind us.</div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEirUgVLCK7_5hTqTV8usye6Po7V9M1q0xBDVhFblY3_0UstkC-ahbxANY_Xqr_Ch1LCf9VYZopalC3SbFyDhuISP5c8VT8gZDP28BKLvbcTzbfVYMw7u2p-G1M7QU2OZwuxwMdUuA/s1600/IMG_1544.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEirUgVLCK7_5hTqTV8usye6Po7V9M1q0xBDVhFblY3_0UstkC-ahbxANY_Xqr_Ch1LCf9VYZopalC3SbFyDhuISP5c8VT8gZDP28BKLvbcTzbfVYMw7u2p-G1M7QU2OZwuxwMdUuA/s1600/IMG_1544.JPG" height="396" style="cursor: move;" width="640" /></a>We were definitely reminded a few times of how hard Israel has had to fight for the land they have, as you see modern-day bunkers, guard houses, and army tanks.</div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgkeMLhc5-U1kfksts6JeJqkc4GoyyomaGFzXqlcVg3qjPhDT456y1txyORNn_ciunP5clOYTR1qlzKDeFCpz2xiFn6ipwax2X2mYyW7Saoo-eNXBiDHzMBqNp2nNy1KrAta1orIg/s1600/IMG_1540.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgkeMLhc5-U1kfksts6JeJqkc4GoyyomaGFzXqlcVg3qjPhDT456y1txyORNn_ciunP5clOYTR1qlzKDeFCpz2xiFn6ipwax2X2mYyW7Saoo-eNXBiDHzMBqNp2nNy1KrAta1orIg/s1600/IMG_1540.jpg" height="640" width="426" /></a></div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi69oH2ei3VTd6X4NTssw60AxVJq0C-eCm24aI9WBVvPUWgHUKiJZl2hPs-9t6J5LchnMqAeiFEikYj6xTT17m4neyUEI7hcz2n-sYaoEFZ4U5ivyG6PsrkuT_D70YA2niWL-PwgQ/s1600/IMG_1549.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi69oH2ei3VTd6X4NTssw60AxVJq0C-eCm24aI9WBVvPUWgHUKiJZl2hPs-9t6J5LchnMqAeiFEikYj6xTT17m4neyUEI7hcz2n-sYaoEFZ4U5ivyG6PsrkuT_D70YA2niWL-PwgQ/s1600/IMG_1549.JPG" height="426" width="640" /></a><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEje_iQkd-KXgdZF46gMKhLUAA7HYiDglguzMx94QcnDKIVSzfkUk7HjV040DSPnh7TblV0T1JKmLCVKgq8OfCZ9VcKTlSP_iYOAmAuX79aIDBIoqGfUATKbsQ7Rxo8DkYXxyfsqYw/s1600/IMG_1632.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEje_iQkd-KXgdZF46gMKhLUAA7HYiDglguzMx94QcnDKIVSzfkUk7HjV040DSPnh7TblV0T1JKmLCVKgq8OfCZ9VcKTlSP_iYOAmAuX79aIDBIoqGfUATKbsQ7Rxo8DkYXxyfsqYw/s1600/IMG_1632.JPG" height="426" width="640" /></a></div>
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We even saw fighter jets doing practice drills above our heads!</div>
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As I promised (myself), I am also sharing the things God taught me while I was in Israel while they are still fresh. This is because God told me I was supposed to. It was all part of what He showed me on this morning in Dan.</div>
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As I already mentioned, I was tired. And, I was kinda in a daze, I would say.</div>
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One thing Max asked us to do during the days leading up to our boat ride on Galilee was to find a rock to toss into the sea---it would stand for something we wanted to leave behind in Israel. A burden we don't want to carry home. Or, something we know God is asking us to shed.</div>
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I wasn't sure what this was going to be for me. I mean, there's quite a few I should leave behind, many of which I had already been sharing with God along this journey. :) But, I just didn't know which direction I should go in on this activity specifically.</div>
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So, there I was amidst the ruins of Dan...the ancient walls, the numerous stones of altars and thrones and gates. So, I decided this is where I would find my rock to throw.</div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgRuvlOjCKVdB2Ssd-QMteQDHMwniY0CUqI_Smj8Tr_Mig254EPrNZ5KNZZ_Hnxv9dLBfV5ODvtB_Xm3SK80AttKgzhyphenhyphenQuV8k090KHpr_NVJUpgoKOJFByNNrW7N5j8SHYCCrhusw/s1600/IMG_1503.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgRuvlOjCKVdB2Ssd-QMteQDHMwniY0CUqI_Smj8Tr_Mig254EPrNZ5KNZZ_Hnxv9dLBfV5ODvtB_Xm3SK80AttKgzhyphenhyphenQuV8k090KHpr_NVJUpgoKOJFByNNrW7N5j8SHYCCrhusw/s1600/IMG_1503.JPG" height="426" width="640" /></a></div>
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As I start looking for my rock, God brings this to my mind:</div>
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<b>You have built up walls just as ancient as these, Chelsea. And, I want you to let them fall. Leave them here.</b><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj8ccw5r0zeAn6ZBZWCJ7kiiVBgzQBudcrCcCyK5sldmDKMYoNPDCOTe5Y5u6zBkeHCrJHMSxQlExb9iDiXRhUsPd7tALHxg-4dTnLeWesnZS8mkZ4sW2EkOdDl_hoHllNfhbx6Mg/s1600/IMG_1497.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj8ccw5r0zeAn6ZBZWCJ7kiiVBgzQBudcrCcCyK5sldmDKMYoNPDCOTe5Y5u6zBkeHCrJHMSxQlExb9iDiXRhUsPd7tALHxg-4dTnLeWesnZS8mkZ4sW2EkOdDl_hoHllNfhbx6Mg/s1600/IMG_1497.JPG" height="426" width="640" /></a></div>
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Whoa. I picked up my rock, slipped it in my bag and sat there stunned. </div>
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<b><i>I knew He wanted me to throw my stone that would stand for the walls I build in my life.</i></b></div>
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I won't go into all of that here, but I <b>know</b> it's true. He's told me this before. (And, here I am blogging about it. :) I guess this is me letting some of those walls down. Of privacy. Of vulnerability. Oh, there's too many to name, really.)</div>
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So, I carried that rock around for the day, hoping that I would have time later to process the walls that are standing in my life. Honestly, I'm still processing. Is it just me, or don't we all have walls we build, that we don't even realize have been baked in the sun, and cemented in place over the years? I'm praying that God keeps revealing those to me, so that I can serve Him and love others better.</div>
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<b><i>It's funny that the very thing I came here to marvel at---ancient, indestructible walls--are what He wants to remove in me.</i></b></div>
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After Dan, we headed to Caesarea Philippi nearby.</div>
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I knew nothing about this place before we visited. But, this was a major center for pagan worship of false gods and was once a beautiful ornate city, with water fountains and temples. It was originally named Panion after the Greek god Pan, who was half human, half god. </div>
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This entire area was dedicated to Pan, and the source of the Jordan River was a big part of the reason why. </div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjvEgbBFGiXfMwCfGH4fm4dltbmxJ8UTThTi3_NbORqkP1PBAm-5Ho0A-ZOEfS7YrzY-daMt5Ioqu-PFeVshT-lsRFD4zaD_ugNOAm4Ln9gjWBJtK1wVwDk7C60q1_inPUGrFT9Pg/s1600/IMG_1574.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjvEgbBFGiXfMwCfGH4fm4dltbmxJ8UTThTi3_NbORqkP1PBAm-5Ho0A-ZOEfS7YrzY-daMt5Ioqu-PFeVshT-lsRFD4zaD_ugNOAm4Ln9gjWBJtK1wVwDk7C60q1_inPUGrFT9Pg/s1600/IMG_1574.JPG" height="426" width="640" /></a></div>
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Too bad they didn't know the real Source of the ice cold crystal clear water that flows here from the mountain top.</div>
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<b>"Anyone who is thirsty may come to Me! Anyone who believes in Me may come and drink! For the Scriptures declare, 'Rivers of living water will flow from his heart'" (John 7:37)</b></div>
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And, let me say, this water was BEAUTIFUL and SO VERY COLD. You could absolutely tell it was melted snow from Mt. Hermon!</div>
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But, God wasn't recognized as the Source of the water here. There was an altar to Jupiter nearby, a temple for Augustus Caesar and Zeus, and a variety of chiseled arches in the mountainside that held idols of various gods and goddesses.</div>
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And, this was all happening during Jesus' day!</div>
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So, in Matthew 16:13, when Jesus and his disciples visit Caesarea Philippi, they were looking at an entire city dedicated to gods, with people worshipping at temples, before idols made by man.</div>
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The worst of all was the worship ritual of sacrificing both animals and humans in this deep cavern in the side of the mountain.</div>
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They would throw the sacrifice to Pan into the deep cavern full of water, and if the water ran clear, the sacrifice was accepted. But, if blood ran in the water, then it was rejected.<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjvg_K7bTetz9QKLzdvwGVrJ730v8bziVgYh1J3OmddoBau07YK6vUG3jmFkaLj-9yPzjOXhGp5-11JUFQGMuI0kah_NNCIWcuhn9IB3RyK02ge9gUbeV5WN6NGSJnyEHcPMfm0Zg/s1600/IMG_6954.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjvg_K7bTetz9QKLzdvwGVrJ730v8bziVgYh1J3OmddoBau07YK6vUG3jmFkaLj-9yPzjOXhGp5-11JUFQGMuI0kah_NNCIWcuhn9IB3RyK02ge9gUbeV5WN6NGSJnyEHcPMfm0Zg/s1600/IMG_6954.JPG" height="480" width="640" /></a></div>
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As Jesus stood nearby and asked His disciples "Who do you say I am?" And, Peter responds with "You are the Messiah, the Son of the Living God!", he then says "...on this rock I will build my church and the gates of Sheol will not overcome it."</div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjWpLiPL2PosGUcSsEngcYwRcktYiGlj1AJwARRzLX2_HNxkydOMmTn_v1eCXKnYZmpXOKSVnZfGLaHwRZud9lwA7O1pAbW6TA-siw2yjGahC45KaARbDq_YnrNHmrTc6cWROMG8Q/s1600/IMG_1585.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjWpLiPL2PosGUcSsEngcYwRcktYiGlj1AJwARRzLX2_HNxkydOMmTn_v1eCXKnYZmpXOKSVnZfGLaHwRZud9lwA7O1pAbW6TA-siw2yjGahC45KaARbDq_YnrNHmrTc6cWROMG8Q/s1600/IMG_1585.JPG" height="426" width="640" /></a></div>
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For the first time, that took on a whole new meaning to me! Here I was looking at this entire ROCK mountainside, picturing him saying those words and pointing at the rock around Him. On THIS rock He will build His church and...</div>
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Guess what Naftali told us?</div>
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The big cave where sacrifices were thrown...was called "Sheol" by the pagan worshippers of the day!</div>
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So, when Jesus says "and the gates of Sheol will not overcome it", you can just picture Him pointing with righteous anger at the very place where sacrifices are being made, claiming that He WILL triumph over all that is surrounding them, and He is and will be the One True God!</div>
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Once again the words of Jesus come alive as I see where He was standing when He spoke words like these!</div>
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We then finished this day with the high point of the week thus far. </div>
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A boat ride on the Sea of Galilee.</div>
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As we floated, so many things were flashing through my mind. It was as if a movie reel was playing of all the events that took place on this water, on boats like these, and on the shoreline we saw ahead.<br />
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I recently read that the majority of Jesus' three years of ministry was spent around this lake. Most of His miracles happened here.<br />
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So, I truly felt like I was on holy ground.<br />
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Or holy water, I should say. :)<br />
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Now, one thing that is a <i><b>really</b></i> big deal to me is music. Songs of worship feed my soul, and are especially important in times like this.<br />
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But...the dear people running our boat had ideas of their own of what Americans would want to hear while sailing on the Sea. They weren't BAD songs. Just not the way I would have had it go.<br />
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So, I started feeling the panic inside. Oh NO! This is not the way I pictured it!!<br />
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But instead of letting myself get in a state of annoyance (yes, another wall...), Mark and I open the Bible to Jesus walking on water and begin reading. And, all the noise ceases to bother me. And, I just SEE Jesus right before me, holding out His hand to Peter and saving him even as he doubts. Saving me, even when I come to Him again and again saying "This is too much!" "Why me?" and "I believe, help my unbelief!" <br />
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After reading a few more Sea of Galilee passages, I start writing in my journal and all kinds of stuff flows out (of my heart AND my eyes!). I was so thankful for this time and this place. And, it made me not even mind that Elvis was singing "Fools Rush In" in the background. :)<br />
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After a while, we begin converging with the other boats from our crew in the middle of the lake. I was so impressed with the drivers' ability to pull in right next to each other seamlessly, tying us all together and making one big party barge!<br />
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This is one of my favorite boats full of people---an entire group from Singapore that joined us in Israel!<br />
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Once we were tied together, Max began speaking and I wish I could write out his entire message here. It was that good. </div>
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="-webkit-text-decorations-in-effect: none; color: black;">It was just a sweet reminder about our times of challenge in life...that God's silence is not God's absence. Sometimes the length of our struggle seems to go on and on, but there is something about it that God is allowing for our benefit, although we may never know the answers why. That Christ comes IN the storms, sometimes in ways we don't expect, and we are changed because of that. That Jesus' response to the disciples when they are scared is "COURAGE! I AM! DON'T BE AFRAID!" He says this while the storm rages on, while Peter gets out of the boat, and even as he takes his eyes off of Jesus and sinks. And, then Jesus gets in the boat and the waves are calmed. He is always in full control, and our eyes should always be locked on His.</span><br />
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<b>What I know is that I want Jesus in my boat. I don't want to sail without Him.</b><br />
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So, at this point, when things couldn't get much better, they did.<br />
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Because one of my heroes on earth begins leading us in I Surrender All, Great is Thy Faithfulness, and For the Sake of the Call. <br />
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I was a puddle of tears. Happy, thankful, I-love-to-worship-and-always-cry tears. (Note the sunglasses and red nose below...this was after my cry fest. :) )<br />
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What a beautiful afternoon. One I will never EVER forget.<br />
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And, then it was party time! Jewish celebration songs were played as we headed back to shore, and our AWESOME boat full of bus friends danced and sang and rejoiced and acted silly and had so much fun.<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEilrYjv6y9QrdrH44R6ZMeLWYZkzKVCLNjE7XX6GbGhpgJrf6wTuM_huIkbszf34mgCduODGfp1MiwddK20MQlSK5tHq2Fu6xXV9ZJJdNMfy5eHDWZe-OlZ3PFVHweFeH7YQwW3rA/s1600/IMG_1727.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEilrYjv6y9QrdrH44R6ZMeLWYZkzKVCLNjE7XX6GbGhpgJrf6wTuM_huIkbszf34mgCduODGfp1MiwddK20MQlSK5tHq2Fu6xXV9ZJJdNMfy5eHDWZe-OlZ3PFVHweFeH7YQwW3rA/s1600/IMG_1727.JPG" height="426" style="cursor: move;" width="640" /></a><br />
It was another full day in God's holy land where I didn't think it could get better! But, we still had a week to go!<br />
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mcjacobsjournalhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16727712016502696400noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-16817998.post-9376441413142690922014-04-21T23:26:00.003-05:002014-04-24T17:58:47.376-05:00Day Two: Mount of Beatitudes, Nazareth, Capernaum, and The Jordan River<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">
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Every day in Israel started EARLY in the morning, so we could fit everything in! But, every wake-up call before dawn was worth it for the beautiful sunrise we saw every day. This was especially true for the Sea of Galilee. <i>(Can you imagine being that guy in the kayak? </i> WOW.)</div>
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<a name='more'></a>We would watch the calm waters begin to change from deep blue to orange, as the sun began to crest over the mountain ranges and shine over the sea. <br /></div>
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It took me right back to the morning long ago, when Jesus built himself a fire and fried up some fish for his friends, on a beach just a stone's throw away, at this exact time of day. (John 21) Oh, to be there for that breakfast of champions. :)</div>
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Truly, the waters of Galilee is something I still haven't found words for. I tear up every time I think about it. There was such a powerful peaceful presence there.<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiHIkhuRbyfNSZMADkSLDa953-pqwaZbFmaJnJ_ChCI0Cppq7qI9ATgq2pcvvJV4CZ2TZ3_C31BS0t60Zu4MbBkcC1inacQRVwoBbfRLpoM1fAojtAbHnTWGpel4-C8FLIJusg30A/s1600/IMG_6900.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiHIkhuRbyfNSZMADkSLDa953-pqwaZbFmaJnJ_ChCI0Cppq7qI9ATgq2pcvvJV4CZ2TZ3_C31BS0t60Zu4MbBkcC1inacQRVwoBbfRLpoM1fAojtAbHnTWGpel4-C8FLIJusg30A/s1600/IMG_6900.JPG" height="480" width="640" /></a></div>
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And, I am just going to interject this, as I post a picture of my hubby and me...that there are some times when you just need a picture of the two of you, to remember that "just the two of you" still does exist. We have been in a really long season of "alot of us", so along with the Sea, there was also a powerful peaceful thing about just renewing that relationship between us, in such a significant place.</div>
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Our guide, Naftali, told us as we drove away that morning, that the Jewish people call Galilee "Kinnerith", which is Hebrew for "violin". This was originally because of its shape, but as he said it best, "it is also because of the powerful music of God that flows out from it." <b>Exactly<i>.</i></b> <i>(And, yes, there is still more about the sea coming soon...we took a boat ride on our last day in this area that deserves its own entry!)</i><br />
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As we drove to our first stop of this day, we passed by Magdala, which was where Mary "Magdalene" was from! Another example of recent discovery, this little town is being carefully unearthed and all kinds of treasures are being found. For example, as they were beginning the construction for a shopping center there, they discovered a synagogue from Jesus' day as they dug, and all building was stopped! It's amazing to think how much more will be discovered as they continue to dig!</div>
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We also saw more beautiful countryside, including small herds of cattle, sheep, and even storks, migrating from Africa to Europe!</div>
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Another one of my favorite views: the fields of fruit trees! In these pictures, there are rows and rows of citrus and mango trees.</div>
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Our first official stop was at the Mount of Beatitudes, where Jesus delivered the Sermon on the Mount, and the Beatitudes of Matthew 5.</div>
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What a beautiful place! Again, every turn we made, we were again in awe at the nature surrounding us!</div>
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This is a new thing for us as a family, but we have become "collectors of birds" in recent months. Not actual birds. But, their pictures, and their descriptions, from our travels (or from our backyard!). We have logged them and keep photos of them. The man who started it all (Mark) was very excited to add some new very unique birds to our collection on this trip! So, he was a man on a mission.</div>
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On this bright morning, we found the Ring-Necked Parakeet! Wild and flitting about, as we worshipped and listened to Max, I thought of the very sermon Jesus preached here, about how even the birds have what they need, and the lilies are dressed in royal robes, so why do we worry about what we will eat or drink? Our Heavenly Father knows our every need. (Matthew 6)</div>
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Those are the kind of flitting thoughts that I love about our God. He is always ready to send us a lesson or two, to remind us of Whose we are and how He cares for us!</div>
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Max preached in a small amphitheater overlooking the mountain, about what "blessed" really is: a surety and conviction that God is still God regardless of circumstances, and He is always and forever in control. Believing this leads to <br />
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Happiness + Joy + Peace + Contentment. Also known, Max says, as "hapjoypeacement". :)</div>
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We enjoyed worship time, and then walked through the gardens. Then, it was off to the village of Nazareth!</div>
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This is such an interesting town! </div>
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The Nazareth of today has Christians, Jewish, and Muslim believers all living within its quarters. There is a Baptist church there that is growing and has a well-renowned school, which even Muslim children attend. And, it is much more commercialized than I expected!</div>
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I was so thankful that in the middle of the noise of a now busy city, Israeli archaeologists decided to build a historically accurate town just like Jesus grew up in. </div>
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Now there is a fully-functioning ancient farm.</div>
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There is a typical home like Jesus would have lived in with his family, as well as an "upper room" and the usual 1st century supplies for a home, like oil lamps, food stores, and kitchen supplies.</div>
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Many townspeople were there working, doing all kinds of typical jobs...</div>
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Everything from picking rosemary and weeding the gardens...</div>
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To carpentry...</div>
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...or weaving.</div>
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And some really cute Jewish children! :)</div>
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There was even an old shepherd with his sheep grazing on the hillside. It certainly made everything come alive from the time Jesus was a small boy.</div>
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There was an accurate reconstruction of the synagogue that Jesus Himself read the scroll of Isaiah in, which was fascinating to stand in and imagine life long ago.</div>
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As they were digging for this very town, knowing they were exactly where the original town of Nazareth was, they discovered an original winepress (chiseled out of the stone where the guide is standing) from Jesus' time, along with the terraced farmland that stretched above it.</div>
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So, all of these things were restored, but not changed at all. This makes parables like Mark 12 literally jump of the page. And, our guide shared that this winepress could have certainly been the one Jesus was referring to, as he taught!</div>
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The next stop was the ancient village of Capernaum. </div>
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This was such a significant place in the ministry of Jesus, and the very place where Jesus called many of his disciples, healed the man lowered through the roof by friends, and brought Jairus' daughter to life again. This is also where the woman touched the hem of Jesus' robe and was healed. In fact, I have read that more of Jesus' healing miracles happened in Capernaum than in anywhere else! As I walked the streets, I silently prayed that old familiar prayer of healing for our sweet boy, Gabe, as well as other friends we have with cancer and other ailments---and thanked Jesus that on these very places, people's lives were radically changed in every way---physically and spiritually, when He touched them!</div>
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Can't you just imagine Him walking these streets and teaching and healing every day and night?</div>
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Can't you just see Peter, Andrew, James, and John in their fishing boats among these reeds, walking away from their nets and becoming Jesus' most trusted companions?</div>
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I love knowing the history of this place...the fact that it was a "customs" stop along the way from Mesopotamia and Damascus to Egypt (which explains why Matthew was a tax collector here!), and that it was along a major highway of the times. Yet, at the same time, it was right beside the Sea of Galilee, and a place many fisherman called home.</div>
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I can see it just bustling with activity. People always coming and going. Always with an agenda. </div>
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And, then Jesus steps in the picture and everything changes. People start coming, but not for taxes or fishing or trade. Instead, they come to sit at His feet or ask for healing or in an attempt to figure out what they believe about this man who is called Jesus.</div>
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You can see here how close we were to the water...and why Jesus often decided a quick escape by boat sounded like a great idea! :)</div>
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And you can see here how amazing the ruins of the White Synagogue are! </div>
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Although the original synagogue where Jesus often preached was rebuilt in the 4th century, you are able to see layers of both, and it is obvious that the 4th century synagogue carefully replaced the older one. </div>
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Here we are standing at the front of the synagogue!</div>
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We actually took time to sit in the synagogue and soak as much in as we could of this quick visit. Naftali, our faithful and crazy-intelligent guide, was always giving us information to think about during our days. I've rarely met someone who knows as much of the Bible as this man did, and was so humble, JOYFUL, and kind.</div>
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Capernaum is also the city where Peter, his wife, and his mother-in-law lived, and it is believed to be on the very site where this huge spaceship church has now been built! </div>
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I have no idea why that was allowed to be constructed, but I was at least thankful they exposed the ruins underneath so we can see! </div>
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This has also been a number of church and synagogue sites over the years, to remember and celebrate where Peter lived and began to follow Jesus.</div>
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And, now we come to another "favorite moment" of mine: The Jordan River.</div>
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This is a rather personal story, but since this is for my own memories and really nothing more, I'm telling it anyway.</div>
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I had heard even before we came, that an event you don't want to miss was the opportunity to be baptized in the Jordan River. As it came time for a decision to be made the day before, I still had no idea if I wanted to. Not that I didn't think this was an AWESOME thing to get to do...it was just that this was my one time at the Jordan River, and I wanted to spend it exactly the way the Lord wanted me to.</div>
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So, that night I prayed. I asked God if being baptized again in this significant spot was what He knew I needed most (because I definitely did NOT want to go home and regret that decision!), and IMMEDIATELY. I mean IMMEDIATELY....a story that He gave me a couple of years ago just popped in my head and I knew His answer.</div>
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For years, I have always loved the story of Joshua crossing the Jordan into the Promised Land with the Israelites. First of all, it's the fulfillment of a promise that took YEARS of waiting before anyone could see it actually happen. (Encouraging when you're waiting for the fulfillment of promises, right?!) But, even more so, I love the way the story plays out. </div>
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Joshua tells the people to get ready and consecrate themselves because big things are about to happen. They are crossing into their Promised Land!</div>
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As God instructs him to do, Joshua tells the Levites that they will be carrying the Ark of the Covenant before the people "because the people do not know the way to go". And, this is the kicker that has changed me.</div>
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They weren't instructed to wait for the waters to dry up before they took the first step into the riverbed. There was no staff waved over the water like when Moses did this!</div>
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<b><i>They were supposed to enter the deep waters (that were beyond the Jordan's banks!) FIRST. And, then after their feet touched the water, THEN God would do His miraculous work of parting the waters.</i></b></div>
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As Mark and I oftentimes feel like we stumble through ministry to the children we love in Rwanda, this story has kept me afloat many a time. Knowing that I have to step where He tells me to "because I don't know the way I am going". And, that once I take a step, He WILL provide the power of the miracle.</div>
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But, I'll be honest. It's been a TOUGH season in ministry. And, before this trip, we knew and expected God to speak up in big ways. Because there wasn't much else to hold on to. And, He certainly has done it again.</div>
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We knew that He didn't necessarily want us baptized that day in the usual way.</div>
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<b><i>He wanted us to take a step into the water and be baptized by His promises, His power, His ability to do the impossible, if we just take the first step.</i></b></div>
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So, I instantly knew this is what we would do.</div>
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We found a place further down the river to "get our feet wet", and then we sat on a rock with our feet in the crystal clear water, and prayed and cried and gave this all back to Him again, believing Him for the miracles He promises.</div>
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It was amazing. And, so needed. It was a moment of renewal. Of quiet. Of trust. </div>
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And, now we plan to just watch as He parts the waters and has every single ONE of these kids we serve crossing the riverbed on dry ground, into the land of His promises and His provision.</div>
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Meanwhile, many of our new precious friends from this trip (shout out to BEST BUS #3!!) were baptized by Max Lucado, as husband and wife, as friends, as sisters, as mom and daughter. It was absolutely awesome. </div>
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So, we spent the last little while cheering on our friends and praising God that so many believers were gathered together in a significant place like this one!</div>
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Oh, and we also took more pictures of birds. :)</div>
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This time, we were able to capture TWO different kinds of Kingfishers! AMAZING.</div>
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Our last stop of the day before heading back to our hotel in Tiberias, was seeing an actual artifact from Jesus' day: a boat that was discovered when the Sea of Galilee's waters had receded quite a bit. This entire boat was under the mud! It was an incredible process that archaeologists and experts went through to get this boat out, while still making sure it was absolutely protected and intact. All in all, it was a TEN year process to get this boat ready for display!<br />
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And, it is astounding to think this has been dated to exactly Jesus' day and is exactly like the boat Jesus would have used with his disciples. It even seats 12-14. :)<br />
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And, as if that day could ever be topped off by anything better, we ended our day with dinner outside overlooking the Sea, another short message from Max, and worship by Steven Curtis Chapman and his incredible sons, Caleb and Will Franklin.<br />
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You who know me KNOW that I will be blogging more about these three later. I am still pinching myself that I was not only in Israel, but touring with one of my favorite families on this earth: The Chapmans. On this very night, we were able to meet Steven and his kids, and share our story of loss, healing, and ministry. I told Steven how MUCH his songs have always ministered to my heart, but that Beauty Will Rise had especially perfect timing in my life, to bring hope and understanding to such a dark and sad time for me, as we grieved the loss of our sweet Chase. It was wonderful to get to visit with them for a while, and all share our hearts for our children who live in heaven, as well as the children we each serve across the world...both break our hearts and warm our hearts at the same time in the same ways. </div>
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Wow. Even as I write that, I am in awe of the God we serve. This was the trip of a lifetime in every way. As I said before, may I not waste a minute of the gift He gave me.</div>
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mcjacobsjournalhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16727712016502696400noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-16817998.post-59397612201318060042014-04-20T00:28:00.001-05:002014-04-24T17:58:14.531-05:00Day One: Caesarea, Mt. Carmel, Megiddo, and the Sea!<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">
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The night we arrived in Tel Aviv after traveling for so many hours, we were honestly so exhausted that we ate dinner, met a few new people, and went to bed. The next morning was a flurry of activity, as we had to wake very early, pack back up, and be ready to leave by 6:30 that morning.</div>
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Just as we were leaving our hotel room, I decided to just peek out my window. (<i>Yes, I know this is ridiculous. We were finally in Israel, and I hadn't even bothered to look outside!</i>). As soon as we did, we both gasped. </div>
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Sunrise was happening over the city, and we were right on the Mediterranean Sea! Even greater than that---this is the ancient port of Joppa! </div>
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Where Jonah tried to hide, and where Peter stayed with his friends, the Tanners. (ha ha. I crack myself up.) Immediately, I was giddy. We were <i><b>really</b></i> here and history was all around us, colliding with modern day buildings and construction.</div>
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That would end up being all we really saw of Tel Aviv. As soon as breakfast was over (which, by the way, every meal in the Mediterranean was made for me. There were bowls full of salads, fresh veggies, hummus, yogurt, cheeses...even for breakfast! I was in food heaven here too!). Anyway, I digress. I'm sure it won't be the last time.</div>
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After breakfast, we began our drive north along the coast to Caesarea. </div>
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Now, as I said before, this is serving as my journal, not only of the events of our days, but also the lessons God shared with me while I was there. <b>This is one of the biggest--right here on day one's drive. God wasted no time getting to work on my heart.</b></div>
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I was blown away by the beauty of Israel as we drove. I don't know what I expected. But, rolling hills, lush farmland, beautiful flowers of every shade, and thick shady trees certainly weren't on the list.</div>
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Naftali, our amazing Israeli guide, whose heart was even bigger than his full-of-useful-information head, made this trip <u>spectacular</u>. And, he began sharing on this drive about Israel in recent years.</div>
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We were looking out the windows at this:</div>
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And, he was telling us that only a few decades ago, it ALL looked like this:</div>
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This is the Rose of Sharon Valley from Bible times, referred to by Solomon and known by its rich farmland, and beautiful lush valley from the rainfall of the mountains.</div>
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But, when Israel was overtaken, and the Jewish people left, this entire area was covered in sand dunes and standing swampy water. NO ONE wanted to settle here, so the Arabs, Muslims, and other groups settled in the mountains and avoided this area altogether. When the Jews came back less than 100 years ago after gaining their country back, they KNEW the Bible, and they KNEW what this land should look like. So, they bought it for cheap, and began caring for the land. </div>
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They brought in eucalyptus trees to drink up the standing water. <i>(the light green trees in this picture...)</i></div>
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They began moving sand out by the truckloads.</div>
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And, they slowly but surely saw green growth begin again.</div>
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And, now it's the most fertile valley of all Israel, growing all kinds of produce like bananas, wheat, and various fruit trees. Not to mention the flowers and green hills. </div>
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In the 1930's, the Jewish people also knew there were important remains from Biblical times hidden and protected under these sand dunes. So, they began excavating according to the stories and locations of the Bible. They began to dig up entire original 1st century villages, and THE ENTIRE AREA OF CAESAREA!</div>
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This was literally one of the jaw-dropping moments for me.</div>
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Fifteen years ago, this entire Biblical area was under sand. </div>
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No one knew it was there except the people who followed God and knew the Bible.</div>
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<b>How can you not believe there is a God when you hear of His absolute protection of this land?</b></div>
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He purposely allowed the area to become swampy and desert-like...and no one even knows how it happened! But, after years of keeping it safely protected from invaders, He is now allowing His people to rediscover His buried treasures!</div>
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And, new things are being discovered constantly. </div>
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This area, where Herod had his palace, his swimming pools, mosaic floors, and outdoor living areas, was literally undetectable TWO YEARS AGO.</div>
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It just blows my mind. It's been there for 2000 years. And, now it gives even more proof of Biblical truth and historical accuracy. God is so good.</div>
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And, as He usually does, He whispered some truth to my heart that applies to our work with our sweet ones in Rwanda. It was as if He clearly said to me <i>"Chelsea, sometimes you may see swamps and desert sand. But underneath, there are treasures untold. You just have to care for the land. <b>Or the child</b>. You just have to patiently plant eucalyptus--<b>or love and prayers</b>--and wait for the water to clear. You won't even believe what is underneath just waiting for me to reveal it!"</i> These children---and so many others---who have been hurt, suffered from invasion, or abandonment---just like this land---have been protected by the Holy One, who holds them close and allows "sand and water" to appear on the surface, so that their beautiful hearts and His truth can be buried safely deep within.</div>
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THANK YOU, Lord, for the way You used this place to teach me these truths and encourage me.</div>
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So, after this significant drive, we pull up to Caesarea, and we are thrown right into the middle of Roman life of Jesus' day. </div>
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This is exactly what we have spent our entire homeschool year studying!! I was absolutely astounded to see it come to life before my eyes. If these walls could talk...</div>
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I can't imagine the stories they could tell from where they stood.</div>
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A hippodrome where horse races happened. </div>
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Arches and sculpted columns. </div>
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An aqueduct that ran from Caesarea all the way to Mount Carmel! That Herod. He was quite the resourceful man. :)</div>
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And, a Roman theater that was completely preserved underground, where we sat for morning worship!</div>
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Max Lucado shared with our group about the HOPE that is found in the story of Peter and Cornelius, which happened in this very place we were sitting. </div>
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Of course, Cornelius, the Roman centurion, was from Caesarea, and sent for Peter to come and share the news of Jesus with him. (Acts 10)</div>
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I really can't imagine being Peter. After a lifetime of being a good Jew, God was now calling Him to minister to someone so unlike him. So <i>unliked</i> by him. And, without a word, except YES, he obeyed and went. I hope I could do that. But, it would be incredibly hard. (And, isn't this what He expects us to do even today? To those who aren't just like us...who might even be considered our enemies? Tough lessons to learn and follow.)</div>
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But, because Peter did follow, the hope of Jesus came to the Gentile people. Which means you and me. We're invited to the same table that Peter sat at. And there is room for everyone there! What a significant story to begin our week with.</div>
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This is also the area where Paul was imprisoned before he went to Rome. This picture shows what remains of his prison cell! I read the letters he wrote with new eyes after seeing the places he walked and taught too.</div>
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After Caesarea, we continued our drive north, to Mount Carmel, the site where Elijah challenged the 450 prophets of Baal, and fire came down from heaven, proving that He was the One True God.</div>
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Again, Naftali's stories made so much more come to life. He told us about the statue of Elijah you see here:</div>
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The statue was erected originally when the Crusaders came 1,000 years ago to free the land from the Arabs. But, when the Israelites returned in 1967, and fought for this land, the Muslims knocked the statue down, thinking if they succeeded at doing that, then Israel would have no power and would lose. However, even with a statue crumbled in pieces, they still won, proving that statues don't hold the power. Our God does! It has been resurrected to remember the way God has continued to prove His power in this place over time.</div>
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From the very top of the mountain, you can see the entire Jezreel Valley, where countless Bible stories occurred. You have a view of Mt. Tabor, Jerusalem in the distance, and the mountains around Galilee. <i>(And, here you can also see the famous "Whisper", the listening device that our bus used to listen to our guide. It was always in our ear, and it was like I got to carry Naftali around in my pocket. :)</i></div>
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This wasn't the only valley we got to see this day.</div>
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We saw another very important one on our next stop. The Valley of Armageddon, where the last battle of earth will take place, before Christ returns.</div>
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I couldn't stop staring at this site. Someday this will be a war zone. And, Jesus will come back and rule in peace and victory. So surreal to stand in this place.</div>
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This valley is below an amazing place called Megiddo. Megiddo is a "tel", or mountain made of ruins built upon ruins. Because of its strategic location in protecting the entire area, Megiddo has at least 20 different layers of civilizations, each one built on top of the last. (We're standing on the top of hundreds of history lessons, piled up to the sky!)</div>
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We saw remains as early as Abraham's day, as well as the many developments Solomon made to fortify the city in his day. </div>
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They have discovered the original gates that Solomon built, the staircase to the city...</div>
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...a grain silo, horse stables, and an area of pagan sacrifices on a large altar, where Canaanites worshipped long ago.</div>
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There was also a natural underground spring that fed the area, that early civilizations tunneled down to, and then concealed from enemies. I just can't believe how preserved all of this is, and how well-constructed it all is, even though some of it is 3,000 years old or more!</div>
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As we finished the day, we headed to the place we would be staying for the next several days, on the Sea of Galilee.</div>
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I will write more about the Sea tomorrow, because truly, it was my favorite, most significant place on this trip. I mean, how can you not be swept away by its beauty and power?</div>
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The hotel was beautiful and peaceful, the outdoor dining was perfect, and the time we got to spend with one another was wonderful. Every day and every night, we met new people who blessed us, and some big conversations were held among these tables.</div>
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And, can you see those tiny yellow chairs by the shore in that picture?</div>
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That's where I spent my evenings. Me and God (and my sweet husband, most of the time!) and my music and Bible. </div>
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Nothing in my life can top these moments.</div>
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I am thankful for the time in Israel and humbled by the opportunity to go. Just as I pray when we go to Rwanda, Lord, may I never be the same when I return, because of the mark You leave on me there...this was my prayer from the yellow chair that night.</div>
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<i><b>"Father, God, is it true that I am sitting on the coast of Your sea? I see such beauty in this place--lush valleys, flowers, birds, crops, beautiful wind and weather--and it breaks my heart that we broke Your heart. That we didn't see You for who You were then---and <u>that I don't see</u>---Your beauty and power some days. The world and its glitter somehow distracts from the beauty that is unfading around us. Lord, You are beautiful. More precious than gold. More beautiful than diamonds. Nothing I desire compares with You."</b></i></div>
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mcjacobsjournalhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16727712016502696400noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-16817998.post-28086614303817992312014-04-18T17:52:00.001-05:002014-04-24T18:01:13.770-05:00Our Journey to Israel<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Helvetica Neue', Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">I left blogging behind months and months ago, as our lives got more and more hectic and the words to describe our comings and goings became harder to find. But, the experience of traveling to Israel and seeing God's holy land, has absolutely inspired me to put words to what I saw, heard, and learned. I don't want to forget what happened over these days.</span><br />
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Helvetica Neue', Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><a name='more'></a>It was months ago when Mark first heard about the trip. He decided it was a "must do" for our anniversary and began making plans for us to go. This wasn't just any tour opportunity. It was an organized group trip through Inspiration Tours, led by Max Lucado, with worship and music by Steven Curtis Chapman. </span><br />
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Helvetica Neue', Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Yes. It was as good as it sounds. :)</span><br />
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Helvetica Neue', Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Both of these men and their families have been such a large part of my faith walk, and especially my walk of healing and ministry in recent years. So, it was the final inspiration we needed to say SIGN US UP!</span><br />
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Helvetica Neue', Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">I have always dreamed of walking the Bible lands. But, until recent years, I had quite a bit of fear of the "unknown" (because honestly, there was a LOT I didn't know or understand!). However, I have been increasingly drawn to being there over the last two or three years. As we have studied the Jewish people, their faith, festivals, feasts and history, along with the Greeks and Romans---which was, for the most part, BRAND NEW for me, even as the teacher in this homeschool!---I had such a deep desire to experience it all, to see the ruins, and to understand God's story for His people even better.</span><br />
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Helvetica Neue', Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">So, when Mark announced the surprise, I was over the top excited. There were countless times, as I even anticipated the trip, that my eyes would fill with tears, and my heart would get fluttery, just thinking about what was to come.</span><br />
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Helvetica Neue', Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">And, then, I got the packet of materials. Oh my, how the tears fell!</span><br />
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Helvetica Neue', Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Beyond the luggage tags and airport instructions, there were books and resources and maps outlining what our days would look like. Tours were planned of places like Caesarea, Nazareth, and Capernaum. Sites like the Jordan River, Mt. Carmel, and the Valley of Armageddon. A boat ride on the Sea of Galilee. A swim in the Dead Sea. And, multiple nights and days in the holy city of Jerusalem! </span><br />
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Helvetica Neue', Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><i>(I look at these pictures and still can't BELIEVE I'm really standing there, and it's not some backdrop we are posing in front of!)</i></span><br />
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Helvetica Neue', Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">What brought me to tears every time was to think of how this would change <b><i>everything</i></b>. Walking where Jesus walked. And, having the stories of the Bible come to life before my eyes.</span><br />
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Helvetica Neue', Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">And I honestly had NO idea. </span><br />
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Helvetica Neue', Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">I didn't even<i><b> know</b></i> when those tears fell on the tour guide book--in the comfort of my own home--what would happen to my heart in these places.</span><br />
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Helvetica Neue', Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">In some ways it has felt too sacred to share. I could hardly write home or share a picture on Facebook because it just seemed too important to share that way! There were no words to describe it.</span><br />
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Helvetica Neue', Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">But, here I am. I've committed to blogging nightly until I've documented the trip. </span><br />
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Helvetica Neue', Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">...To remember what we experienced, and to share the stories that were shared with <i>us</i> by our amazing Israeli guide.</span><br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjAoJPAj7KQxDt980Aeaipc8x39V5qwpmLkRnJQ5wpvU4eWNAiZ9F5JS1a9cHPQ3zU7JqUH8UYuUEV7pWKVjuOMZmBBTznTbenWBI8tJin59h8_RwWdEmXTuqArpim1p5rSb0p2xQ/s1600/IMG_1362.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjAoJPAj7KQxDt980Aeaipc8x39V5qwpmLkRnJQ5wpvU4eWNAiZ9F5JS1a9cHPQ3zU7JqUH8UYuUEV7pWKVjuOMZmBBTznTbenWBI8tJin59h8_RwWdEmXTuqArpim1p5rSb0p2xQ/s1600/IMG_1362.JPG" height="426" width="640" /></a></div>
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Helvetica Neue', Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">...To share the absolute BEAUTY of the land of Israel and the restoration that is happening there...despite what we all hear on the news these days.</span><br />
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Helvetica Neue', Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Times;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh_zZh4Fjhlt2zDmqsQJ0rJXjPcdACh0646lLsSq1c3HXk3LJe3lnssNhpAEmL_gEBgubhyphenhyphenVYYDkyXp6P48cdAHotWnaydkGJM_B5DFq_KuZkbI7yRLpYT2plEylOogONKkaa38RA/s1600/IMG_1262.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh_zZh4Fjhlt2zDmqsQJ0rJXjPcdACh0646lLsSq1c3HXk3LJe3lnssNhpAEmL_gEBgubhyphenhyphenVYYDkyXp6P48cdAHotWnaydkGJM_B5DFq_KuZkbI7yRLpYT2plEylOogONKkaa38RA/s1600/IMG_1262.jpg" height="640" width="426" /></a></span></span></div>
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Helvetica Neue', Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">And, to share the lessons I learned personally, as Jesus walked with me through His holy land and His years of life on earth.</span><br />
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Helvetica Neue', Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">What better day to start the blogging than the day we celebrate Christ Himself--walking the long road through Jerusalem, beaten and bruised, sinless yet marked guilty--crucified for each of us. </span><br />
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Helvetica Neue', Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">After walking the same walk, and seeing the details of this day in person, it feels as if it was yesterday, rather than 2000 years ago. </span><br />
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Helvetica Neue', Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">And, in many ways it was. Every day that we get to wake up, walk about this earth, and choose to follow Him, is another day He bought and redeemed on that cross. </span><br />
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Helvetica Neue', Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">I don't want to waste a minute of the time He's given me. </span><br />
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Helvetica Neue', Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">And, I thank GOD for the fire He lit in my soul on this trip. May I honor Him as I recount the lessons learned along the way.</span></div>
mcjacobsjournalhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16727712016502696400noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-16817998.post-90088563334109327002013-07-04T17:08:00.000-05:002013-07-04T18:30:28.789-05:00An Update on Gabe<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Helvetica Neue', Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Our little Gabe has many nicknames around here. Gabey Baby. Mugisha. Mugi. Mister Moo. Little Stinker.</span><br />
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Helvetica Neue', Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">And, one that I forget to say much, but long to remember every day: Miracle Man.</span><br />
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Helvetica Neue', Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">It was probably two months ago when I realized that many of my friends (at least the ones I don't see often) still don't know much about Gabe's "diagnosis", if you will. And, after receiving questions after posting on Facebook a few days ago about the mixed emotions of our neurology visit, I thought I should probably share a little update about our precious guy. </span><br />
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Helvetica Neue', Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">I'm not sure what has happened to my blogging time (ha, that was a joke) but I do think it's so important that I share both the joys and the hardships with those who love us, and this still seems like the best place to do that...as scattered as it might be. (For instance, notice that I'm updating pics from the last six months in this one blog post. Hey, take what you can get!)</span><br />
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Helvetica Neue', Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Short backstory for those who need it: When we came home with Gabe over a year ago, he was diagnosed with cerebral palsy (spastic quadriplegic, to be specific) and epilepsy (due to seizures he had while still living in Rwanda). Both of these diagnoses, we already knew were coming, although we had no idea what that meant for his future (and still don't.) <a href="http://mcjacobsjournal.blogspot.com/2012/04/answered-prayers.html" target="_blank">As you may remember, we took him to the epilepsy monitoring unit for three days in April 2012, and he had no seizures</a>. We took him off all meds for seizures at that point, and we have still never seen a seizure! This is a miracle and a praise we offer up to God often! We do know that these can return at any time, and most likely will, if you look at the statistics medically. However, we believe God has taken them away, and we are standing on that hope.</span><br />
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Helvetica Neue', Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Meanwhile, as the seizures became a non-issue for Gabe (I love typing that!), we were able to focus more on the issues he <i>does</i> deal with on a daily basis. And, this is where it gets tricky.</span><br />
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Helvetica Neue', Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">I don't want to paint a picture that is only rosy and easy and sweet. Because some days are just plain hard. Many times we're confused, and begging God for clear direction on what to do next. And, honestly, there are days where I'm just exhausted. </span><br />
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Helvetica Neue', Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">But, on the other hand, if I told you all about<i><b> those</b></i> things, I'm so afraid that you wouldn't get a clear picture of how absolutely awesome our boy is. How happy he is. How loving he is. How stinkin' SMART he is! How much FUN we have! And how God provides for ALL we need to care for him...including energy and strength and excitement for his progress!</span><br />
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Helvetica Neue', Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">So, I'm torn with what to share. There is a balance beam we walk as parents of a child with special needs. Every day we walk it. You defend your child and his strengths, and you beg for advice about his weaknesses. You take pride in who he is, and you wonder (and sometimes worry) about what he will become. Some days you teeter, become unsteadied, and almost fall, but regain your balance. Other days can seem like you're an Olympic gymnast and can flip and flop and still land perfectly because everything is going right. And, then other days you fall right off because the flip that <i>felt</i> right went all wrong and the day unraveled with no warning.</span><br />
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Helvetica Neue', Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Gabe is <i>such</i> a precious little guy (who's getting bigger by the day! Yay!). He understands so much cognitively and can communicate his wants and needs, what makes him happy and sad, and even what toy he wants to play with. He follows our conversation and knows what we're asking him or even telling each other in ways I really can't describe. He recognizes people and knows their names. He recognizes songs and gets so excited to hear his favorites. But, he's not able to verbally communicate with words. He can copy some sounds, and definitely tries hard to form words. He says "hi" and waves goodbye. And, he can shake his head "yes" and "no" (most of the time).</span><br />
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Helvetica Neue', Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">And, for so long, those limitations were pretty normal...because he was still little. But, now, it's becoming harder, especially for Gabe. He gets frustrated that he can't say what he wants. And, as we guess and try to help him communicate it, it can be exhausting for everyone. But, oh man, there is NOTHING better than guessing RIGHT and seeing Gabe's face light UP! "Gabe, do you want a banana? Fussiness. Do you want a cracker? Fussiness. Do you want a yogurt? EYES BRIGHT, LAUGHTER, and A SMILE AS BIG AS TEXAS. Bingo. We got it. It's the best feeling ever. For all of us. :)</span><br />
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Helvetica Neue', Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">His speech therapist is now working with him on communication buttons, which happen to be the cutest things ever. He has a button for "more", and is now working on completing a song at the right time. So, we sing "Old McDonald had a farm", and he pushes a button that says "E-I-E-I-O". He also has buttons to distinguish between two things, and he is learning to push "yes" or "no" buttons. It's amazing to watch!!</span><br />
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Helvetica Neue', Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">The girls are sooo awesome with him and have a "Gabey voice" they use to say what they think he is saying. He loves it and laughs so much. It's usually silly nonsense, but it cracks him up.</span><br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh8o0MASyjjWzFMcr24-1CBk71vLpe0oCN1tdxtWhOLwr0eQ3oklk8RQfZxFWRa9i4uVtfwLzIYmN0gvG1WvCuetxUNsVPSHOjrWKWdwriv2uug0er734B8JPNxl_C7eYyvstp9Gg/s1600/IMG_5640.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh8o0MASyjjWzFMcr24-1CBk71vLpe0oCN1tdxtWhOLwr0eQ3oklk8RQfZxFWRa9i4uVtfwLzIYmN0gvG1WvCuetxUNsVPSHOjrWKWdwriv2uug0er734B8JPNxl_C7eYyvstp9Gg/s640/IMG_5640.jpg" width="478" /></a></div>
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhgsBKsgvBan7vjNOwl-akInRW14dqIaidiT7tzcWhixP2D6915r60NS5zGBD_fXtHeyDuuOELh6VflTCqRVVEeqwvx8z1cYtLNyNm4kAEl-VYdmFYgIxwc85zJpVh51mzT2ranoQ/s1600/IMG_4834.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><br /></a><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Helvetica Neue', Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Really, the love of his sisters and Rwandan brother is one of the biggest miracles in his life, I believe.</span><br />
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Helvetica Neue', Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">They just pour out love on him constantly. And, at any moment, on any day, you can find a pile of siblings around him laughing and singing and talking to him. It never ever ever gets old. </span><br />
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Helvetica Neue', Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">So, as I said, life with him is SO MUCH FUN, that I don't even know how to communicate it well. (Which is why I haven't in so long.) He is the by far the most popular Jacobs around and everyone who knows him, loves him, adores him, and fights over holding him. It's pretty amazing to see how MUCH he is loved by so many--even strangers who can't help but stop and talk to him!!</span><br />
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Helvetica Neue', Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Okay, where was I on the CP update? Physically, Gabe does struggle. With spastic quadriplegic CP, all four limbs are affected, as well as his trunk. His trunk and neck control is very weak right now, so he is "loose through the middle". But, his arms are very tight (imagine having your arm muscles constantly contract...that is what he deals with), which hinders his ability to crawl, reach for things, or hold things for long. Again, this can lead to frustration for him, and it's heart breaking to me! But, as we have continued to adjust medication, his arms have responded slightly. And, he is now experiencing times during the day where he is relaxed. He is now able to give a high-five, wave to people, and get his paci in and out of his mouth. {Oh, and he has a dance move that is pretty awesome too. He busts out any time a song with a strong beat comes on and it has now become our whole family's favorite move.} Every single accomplishment, no matter how small to others, is a huge celebration at our house!!</span><br />
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Helvetica Neue', Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">His legs are doing pretty well, although we obviously deal with muscle issues there too. He can tolerate standing in his stander equipment very well, and he also loves to bounce and jump. He does the correct sequence of walking instinctively, although there will have to be further treatments before he could walk correctly...but it all gives us hope for the future of his mobility. And, he can kick those legs like cRazY both on land and in water. :)</span><br />
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Helvetica Neue', Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">The boy LOVES to swim. It is the only place where his muscles don't dictate what he can do. So, he is free and relaxed in a warm swimming pool and the happiest guy on earth!!</span><br />
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Helvetica Neue', Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">His personality is so fun, so full of life, and overflowing with love, especially for his family. That is code for "he'd rather be held every second of the day by those he loves than ever be put down to play". This is also code for "he's spoiled rotten". :) </span><br />
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Helvetica Neue', Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">We are trying to work on this, and have him play independently a little more. But, who are we kidding? We're still holding him way too much, and not sure how to really change that! He cries (read: throws a tantrum) when he's put down, which makes his muscles stiffen, and makes my heart break. So, we have this awesome little cycle going on that is not healthy, but that we are working on slowly but surely. The first step is admitting you have a problem...right? </span><br />
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Helvetica Neue', Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">As I mentioned in the facebook comment, the road we are on with doctors and therapists is always full of mixed emotions. Do you know how many different theories there are on treating CP?? Even within our team of therapists (physical, occupational, and speech) there are different strategies they think we should follow. Then, mix in a pediatrician, a neurologist, and all the specialists I read about online for hours, and it leaves this momma as one confused lady. And, the thing is, I KNOW in my head that no one knows Gabe better than Mark and me and we can and should trust our instincts. I also KNOW in my head that our God is greater and stronger and bigger than any doctor or theory or treatment. And, that any day, at any moment, God can choose to breathe over our boy, and He can make him fully well. He hasn't chosen to do that yet, but I trust Him to guide us to each step of healing along this road.</span><br />
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Helvetica Neue', Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">So, that's where I would say we are right now. We're at a crossroads of treatment. There are some more time-intense treatments available to Gabe now that he is older and stronger, and we need God's wisdom and direction as we seek to do what is best for him. We need wisdom to know when to trust the neurologist, when to trust the therapist, and when to just trust our own parental instincts. We trust God to continue to provide the financial resources we need to provide these treatments for Gabe. And, we trust God to provide the strength for all of us to manage what is required for these therapies. We trust God to show us clearly when and how to add another caretaker for him during the week, when to add more equipment to help us care for him appropriately, and when to reach out to others who are on this same road for advice and help.</span><br />
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Helvetica Neue', Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">So far, He has been more faithful than we can ever tell in a blog post. He has knit our family in such a beautiful way, and I can't begin to describe the depth of love that flows between us because Gabe is our son. </span><br />
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Helvetica Neue', Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">No, this road is not easy. No, we don't know what we are doing. And, no, Gabe has not had drastic physical improvements in the last year. <i>(I never know how to handle that question of "So, are things getting better?" I guess it depends on what you think "better" means!)</i></span><br />
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Helvetica Neue', Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">All I know is that we stand strong on the Rock, who is our Redeemer, who says that <b><i>every</i></b> life is precious and perfectly designed for sharing His glory on earth. And, that is what we have experienced day in and day out as Gabe's parents. Our little stinker is a shining light for the love of God, and nothing on earth can separate us or discourage us or keep us from experiencing that love in our family! God is good all the time!!</span><br />
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mcjacobsjournalhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16727712016502696400noreply@blogger.com9tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-16817998.post-11904986720874039802013-07-03T18:28:00.000-05:002013-07-05T07:55:59.686-05:00{Re}Counting It As Pure Joy<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">
{<i>July interjection: Wow. I just found this little treasure among the many half-finished blogs I have "saved for later". Which apparently means "saved for never". But, as I read through it, it was so awesome to just read what I did for one day way back in late November of 2012! Although it ends abruptly, I'm assuming that means I fell asleep at my computer screen, which makes me laugh. Because this happens all. the. time. Sometimes I wake up and realize I emailed someone or blogged without remembering half of it!! Anyway, I'm sharing this anyway, despite it's unfinished story...may we all be enamored by the way God ministers to us all throughout our days, in the smallest of ways...</i> }<br />
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There have been many days in the last few months, where I think how humorous it would be to write down every detail of our day, just to remember someday what "the ordinary" was like. The moments that pass right by with no attention. And, also the craziness that we sometimes have going on around here. (I mean, really. Some of you would be really worried if you saw our operations some days. It can make me laugh--or cry--HARD at any moment.)<br />
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But, of course, I never do get to the writing it down part. <br />
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And, today, as I was looking through recent blog posts for a picture, I realized how LITTLE I have documented this year, and it made me sad.<br />
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These are honestly some of the busiest days I've had in my lifetime. And, because of that, they are getting little attention here.<br />
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But, these are also the fullest, richest days of my lifetime too. And, I <u>don't</u> want to miss that.<br />
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So, even though I didn't plan to do this before now (yes, it's 12:19 AM and I'm just starting this), I am going to document my day today. There were such treasures in it, even though it wasn't some big significant life-changing day and nothing drastic happened. It's "just" a day like all the others. <br />
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<b>Yet, for some reason, God told me to recount it. </b><br />
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Really, He did. On my way home from Nutcracker practice tonight. I was thinking through the day and smiling at the little treasures...at the beauty of my dancers, and the blessings of our day, and I felt like He said "recount it". <br />
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No, that's not a word I usually use. Which is why I'm here at 12:21 AM. <br />
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I've learned that God gives me strange words for a reason. Because He wants me to do something. And, He wants me to know it wasn't my idea.<br />
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ANYWAY. On to the recounting. Of the mundane, the funny, the maddening, the significant, the praiseworthy, the shameful, the exhausting, the exhilarating...day. {And, no, I don't think you really want to read it. This is for <i>me</i> to remember, and recount. That is it. So, it's as long as I want it to be. And, as boring as I want it to be too.}<br />
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5:20 AM Kendyll comes to the bedroom door to let us know that Gabe "was screaming his head off...and it's not his normal scream". Realize in that moment that our monitor had turned off sometime between 12:30, when we went to sleep, and now. I immediately go to mommy worry mode, thinking a body part is stuck in the crib or a blanket has wound around his neck. I push Mark out of bed, after he told Kendyll that maybe she should get him herself. (Don't blame him. He talks in his sleep. He doesn't mean to be neglectful.) After realizing Gabe is totally fine and safe, I stumble in the kitchen, thinking it must be 2:30. Realize it's actually the time when I wake up anyway (HOW?), make a bottle for the Gabester and deliver it upstairs to Mark. Head back to bed, only to be wide awake. Check email and see that a sweet friend is in intense pain at the hospital from kidney stones that will most likely require surgery. Realize THIS is why God just woke me up. Pray for her and her kids and her husband. Fall back asleep an hour later. (Shoulda just stayed up...)<br />
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7:20 AM It's. so. hard. to get up! I have to start going to bed earlier. I hear Kendyll start practicing piano at her normal time. And I have a little pit in my stomach. It means another day has started. I quickly regret that awful thought and TRY to "take it captive". Then, I realize it's Friday, which is Claver's "late" school day, when I try to make a bigger breakfast than usual. Instead I run an idea by Mark. Get excited that he agrees...it's breakfast with Daddy day, and they will all be leaving soon! A blissful 45 minutes of no interruption before a "late start" school day.<br />
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8:30 AM Straighten the house a little. Sit down for quiet time. Read in my Bible Study book about Hebrews 11, the great faith chapter, and marvel at the way these men and women lived with faith, following a promise given by God that many of them never saw fulfilled in their lifetime. Oh to have faith like that. To follow even when I don't know where I'm headed. And, obey, even though I may not see my promise realized til I'm gone from this earth. I realize during my study time that I do not have a quiet spirit. I am rushing through this, because I know my alone time is going fast and the kids will be home, and I have stuff to do, and we have so much school to catch up on, and I have emails to answer for His Chase, and, and... I wish that I would just be truly<i> still</i> before the Lord. And, I confess it to Him. Read Proverbs 27 in my Bible study and wonder if I am a quarrelsome dripping wife. Hmmm. I sure am. Yikes. Confess that too. Spend my entire remaining "free time" minutes copying kindergarten morning work and making doctor appointments for kids, including dental surgery for Carlie and new orthotics for Gabe. Say a little prayer of thanksgiving for good insurance and wonderful doctors. And, welcome everyone back home after their Chick fil A run. :)<br />
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9:15ish AM Cuddle with my Gabey Baby, feed him a bottle, and swaddle him up for his nap. He is getting way too big, yet still a tiny baby in some ways. Thankful for the bonding time of bottles and naptimes. And, thankful for the sleeping time where I can do school with the big girls!<br />
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9:30 AM Tell the big girls they have to do school alone for a while because I have to work on the parade float. Yes, that's right. We're in the Parade of Lights next week! My dad entered our family after years of joking about it. We're riding as His Chase..."Carrying Hope Around the World"! I then start <b>another </b>load of laundry. Quite possibly my hundredth of the week. Did I mention we've had LICE in our house this week? Those little suckers take over your life. Combing, washing, disinfecting, drying, shampooing, combing again. Ugh. Glad they are GONE. But, the laundry is not.<br />
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9:50 AM Oh my goodness, how are we just now starting school?! Head to the school room to check on the girls and get started on kindergarten with Abby Kate. I'm seriously struck by the way my girls are growing, as they all sit in their own favorite places, doing their own thing. I've come a long way in this part of homeschooling. I'm pretty structured. We have an exact schedule that hangs on our wall. But, I found I was being held captive by that. And, therefore, my kids were too. So, I've given that back to God...again. And, I've loved the fluid way our days can go recently, and the beautiful way learning happens in those moments I don't plan. Carlie is sitting in her room reading her book about a dog who is adopted. She is practically crying, she loves this dog so much. Kendyll is writing a creative story in her journal, and Abby Kate is writing her Aunt Cailee in Africa. She asks me how many stamps she needs. And, then I read the most precious note that says "Are you on your way home? I miss you." <br />
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We say a quick prayer together, review our memory work, and I direct the big girls on a few things for school, leaving them to work alone. {This does not always go well, I have to tell you. Sometimes they get work done, other times they make up a new dance. Which mommy doesn't really like all that much. Today, I just decide that whatever they do, I'm going to count it as school. Surely it teaches them something.} <br />
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10:15 AM Abby Kate and I start kindergarten while the big girls work on language arts and their weekly letter to a friend or family member. I have a twinge of guilt as I think about how long it's been since I sat down to write a letter of my own. And, they mean so much when you're on the receiving end...Maybe I'll work on my thank you's from when Gabe CAME HOME this weekend. :)<br />
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Kindergarten time! We're studying insects this week, but we've barely had time to do our full lessons at all the last two days, because of the REAL insect that had invaded our house. We've done the basics and read ALOT...but it was probably time for some real lessons. Today was all about the bumblebee. We read four library books and wrote down facts, then made our own honeycomb from paper (thanks to a good friend who gives me so many good activities for each unit!). <br />
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We are both amazed at how the bees know just what their job is and they do it with all their heart, working hard, and working as a team. Until they literally drop dead from exhaustion. Seriously. They do. They don't retire and take vacations. They work hard at what they were created to do until their dying day. And, oh my goodness, the way they build those perfectly symmetrical hexagons! God is TRULY amazing. As we head to have our own honey snack, I pull out the raw honey I bought last week, only to realize that I accidentally bought raw HONEYCOMB. What an absolute GIFT! Abby Kate (and her teacher) gets to see real, live, symmetrical, beautiful honeycomb, still intact and we eat it piled on top of toast. I couldn't begin to tell you how many times things like this have happened in my homeschool experience. Something comes together and becomes REAL for your kids and you KNOW without a doubt that God just revealed Himself to your child, with you having NO part of it whatsoever. Because you actually bought the WRONG thing! This was one of those times. We had a whole conversation about how God made each animal so precisely. And, I just stood in awe at what He does, even for a little 5 year old, sitting on a kitchen counter in the middle of her kindergarten day.<br />
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10:45 I remind Mark that Gabe is out of his muscle relaxant medicine that he takes 3 times a day. He deals with the doctor and the pharmacy, and I am thankful. He also faxes some things for me, and offers to drop Gabe at therapy while he does some work up the street. Thankful for a husband who works so incredibly hard at his job, yet still stops for a moment and takes care of things for us too. He is truly wonderful to do life with... I, meanwhile, do math lessons with each of the girls, and watch as they each learn a <i>completely</i> different way, respond a <i>completely </i>different way, and communicate a <i>completely </i>different way. So thankful to get to teach these girls, but sometimes doubt that God really meant for me to teach them all math. :) Today, we had no tears and only a couple of wrong answers. And that's a good, good day. Believe me. (If I had documented yesterday, this paragraph would have looked REALLY different...)<br />
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11:15 Gabe begins therapy. Occupational today. Friday is his "light" day. And, we're all thankful for that. Especially Gabe. :) That boy works SO STINKIN hard at therapy. He usually comes home and dives for his bed. Today was no different. We kept him up through lunch, but then he was DONE and let us know. If he could vocalize what his cry means, I think he would say "Put the paci in my mouth, hug me tight, and then leave me alone!!" Love that kid. So thankful for his team of therapists and all God has taught us about being his parents. We have alot of learning left to do, though. Sometimes this is a hard road. Just trying to trust God that He will show us what we need to know along the way, so that Gabe gets everything he deserves!!<br />
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12:00 The girls have finished their "basic" subjects, and it's time for our history/Bible/science time, where Mommy actually does the teaching. :) But, before we start, we stop in the middle of the floor, and pray for our friend whose surgery is beginning at noon. I love this part of schooling. And, I'm afraid by even saying that, that it looks like I'm trying to make us look holier than we are. We're <b><u>not</u></b>. Please believe me. I yell, kids cry, even Mommy cries, and we have to have consequences at times. There are days where I worry that the bad has overpowered the good part of homeschooling. But, overall, THIS is the reason we stayed home for school. To do life together. The times where we get to stop and pray are precious to me. My entire prayer for their education is that "they will be rooted and established in LOVE, and that they will know the love of Christ, <u style="font-style: italic;">which surpasses knowledge."</u> So happy to say that our friends surgery did go well, and prayers were answered. They have seen us pray some hard prayers this year for others. Some that still don't have a clear answer yet. So, it's always nice when we can see the fruit of a prayer in the same day. :)<br />
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For History and Bible, we are still studying Egypt. Oh my goodness, I never KNEW anything about Egypt! We have all been learning together this year. How Egypt began, farming on the Nile, the social hierarchy that developed, the artistic way they communicated and remembered, the gods they worshipped, the crazy amazing way they designed tombs and pyramids and mummified bodies. And, now we're studying Joseph and the way he came to rule Egypt alongside the Pharoah, as a Hebrew man. Knowing what we do about Egypt now, this story has a whole new meaning. Only God could do what He did. It's absolutely amazing. Today, we listened to the Audio Bible and sat amazed as Joseph reveals himself to his brothers and weeps with them. He tells them they should not be angry with themselves because it was God Himself who sent him ahead of them to save his family and their people. WOW. Joseph was in a heathen country with multiple gods, magicians, powers they believed came from the dead. And, he was in such a powerful position, too! He was surrounded by every kind of evil possible. And he repeatedly tells others about his Great God and gives Him all the glory and credit. Only the Lord Himself could strengthen a man like that. We do our notebook page about Joseph, draw his picture, and head downstairs for lunch.<br />
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1:30 Lunch. Oops. Even lunch is late today. I start to get selfish in my head, as I think about the time we have left to finish school and how our day is pretty much gone. I read two more parts of our History books during lunch to try and catch up on our time. We're supposed to make Egyptian costumes AND plan an Egyptian dinner. We quickly decide we'll skip those things and just imagine what that project would be like. :) <br />
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It's time for Science. And, I have a really hard time not skipping it...again. But, I decide at the last minute to crack the book and just read a few pages to them.<br />
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In no time, we are lost in this awesome chapter. Our science is based on creation and we are learning about the earth in the order God created it. Last few weeks were air and water experiments. Now, we're to earth, soil, plants, seeds. We read about how God was creative in His design. How soil is made of different elements. We take an assessment of natural structures we have seen in person. Volcanoes, beaches, swampland, valleys, plains. The list of things we haven't seen in person include snow-capped mountains, canyons, deserts, and glaciers. We decide we've gotta do something about that.<br />
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The science book has us scoop up soil from different areas and compare them, seeing what sinks and what floats. We do that, and I watch hands-on learning happen again, as they separate the rock from the dead bugs and grass. So glad I didn't skip it.<br />
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It also shares a fun idea for an outdoor scavenger hunt for things in nature that grows. The girls decide this should be done with cousins next time we're together. And, we talk about how the cousins would love this and who would enjoy which part. So thankful for our big old families full of cousins. :)<br />
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2:30 PM Carlie tells me she is having reflux pain again. She's been telling me for weeks and WEEKS. And, I keep forgetting to call the doctor. I call right away and get an appointment for 4:30. Okay. That will fit in right before Nutcracker practice. <i>{July interjection: Wow again! This is before we drastically changed our eating, and have now begun using essential oils for things like this. Carlie has never had reflux again, nor has she had allergies, or coughing spells. SO COOL to look back at how God has faithfully led us!!}</i><br />
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Gabe is still asleep!!! That's what happens by Friday of a busy week. The boy has to catch up. I go in and peek and he is snuggled up with his little lovey, fast asleep. I creep back out, hoping I can have a little more time, and say a little thank-you prayer for the blessing he is. As children sleep, isn't it so easy to remember what blessings they are? :)<br />
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<i>{July interjection: And this is where this blog stopped. And, what's crazy is that I have no idea what happened from there. I know I took the girls to Nutcracker practice, which probably means, we had traffic stress, and starbucks, and tears as I watched them dance again. It happens every time, I'm telling you. But, even though I don't know how this day ended, I'm so thankful God told me to recount it. He knew I would enjoy it 7 months later when I found it again!}</i></div>
mcjacobsjournalhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16727712016502696400noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-16817998.post-40529538507096843202013-03-24T22:36:00.000-05:002013-03-24T22:36:58.704-05:00Kendyll's Baptism<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">
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When we planned this family trip to Rwanda and Ghana, we were already in awe of all we would get to experience in a two week period. Visiting all the students from Noel at Christian boarding schools. Getting to have a feast and worship with them. Bringing Gabe back to Rwanda one year after his adoption, and celebrating his second birthday there. Getting to see Chase's Place FINISHED in Ghana. Finally seeing our three girls meet their three Compassion girls. The list went on and on of all the great things that were planned!</div>
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But, I sure love the way God has those moments planned that are not even on your radar...the ones that take your breath away, when they come so unexpected. And are so absolutely perfect.<br />
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Kendyll has been studying and praying and ready for baptism for over a year. That is almost embarrassing to say, because I have no idea what has taken us so long! But, this last week, as we stood by Lake Bosomtwe in Ghana, I knew why. This was her moment. This was her place. And, it was absolutely beautiful in every way.<br />
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Last Sunday was already a special day, because sixteen of the children at Touch a Life, who we love so much, were being baptized! And, it was an incredible thing to get to be there for each one of those!<br />
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These precious ones have been raised to new life and are precious brothers and sisters to us.<br />
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A couple of hours after their baptisms were finished, Kendyll found Mark and told her she wanted to also be baptized in the lake. I was in a meeting, but she excitedly came and whispered the news in my ear. What a sweet moment that was!!<br />
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There are those moments in life where time stands still and you want to remember all the details, and this was definitely one of those.<br />
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I got to pray a special prayer over my beautiful daughter, as we were surrounded by the children we love and so many others. Then, Mark took her into the water of Lake Bosomtwe.<br />
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He told me later that Kendyll had asked if their talk in the water could be "just between them". And, it absolutely was. <br />
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They talked for quite a while and prayed together. It was a powerful thing to watch as Mommy. :)<br />
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Followed by lots of tears and hugs.<br />
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It was a great celebration for our family, as Kendyll came out of the water and got hugs from everyone!<br />
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What a perfect place to make her faith known and be raised to new life...in Africa!!<br />
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And, I was just telling her today how special it is that she made this decision just two weeks before Easter, as we all stop to remember what Jesus did for us. She has a new spirit and a new hope and a new life, and I'm so thankful for her precious heart for Jesus.<br />
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<i>Kendyll Grace, we love you and are beyond proud of your decision to live your life for Jesus. "When you unite your life with His---everything that belongs to Him now becomes yours. His righteousness replaces your unrighteousness. His Spirit fills your spirit. His love becomes your love. His joy becomes your joy. His mind becomes your mind. His desires become your desires. His will becomes your will. His purpose becomes your purpose. His power becomes your power. You are living out the love of Christ that dwells in YOU!" (Follow Me, David Platt)</i></div>
mcjacobsjournalhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16727712016502696400noreply@blogger.com5tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-16817998.post-13793989514965264442013-01-03T00:25:00.001-06:002013-01-03T00:25:07.017-06:00Carlie's Luau<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">
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Whoa. Slow down. I know it's strange. I'm here. On my blog. Blogging.</div>
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And, what's funny is that I'm only doing it to pass the time.<br />
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Because I have one more hour to keep myself awake, until we hear for sure that the Noel kids are on the bus. And, if you have no idea what I'm talking about, go <a href="http://www.hischase.org/" target="_blank">HERE </a>and catch up on our life. 'Cause as you can tell, that's what's been getting all my blog-love lately.<br />
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So, because it's late at night, and I just re-read my last three posts, I'm laughing harder than usual that my family blog has turned into absolutely nothing about my kids. And, for alot of reasons, that doesn't bother me in the least. But, it might bother my kids someday.<br />
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So, I thought I would blog about the next event I have pictures of after my last family post.<br />
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And, that would be....drumroll please. Carlie's 8th Birthday!! On August 12th!!!<br />
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Nothing like ringing in the New Year with some August birthday fun!<br />
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And, it really was lots of fun.<br />
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I had just arrived from Ghana. Claver had just arrived from Rwanda. And, Daddy had just taken care of kids for 10 days straight. <br />
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We were definitely in full party mode, as you can imagine. :)<br />
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But, we pulled it off. And, actually had a wonderful time celebrating our sweet girl.<br />
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Breakfast in bed, as always, with lots of family love..that literally got bigger overnight!<br />
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Thank GOODNESS she wanted powdered donuts and fruit! That's about all I could have done!</div>
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Funny cards from funny sisters...</div>
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And our newest family member celebrating Carlie with such excitement!</div>
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Church with friends and cousins and a big family lunch at our favorite mexican place.<br />
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Aunts who know how to make her feel special in ways only they can.</div>
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And, sisters and brother who love their Carlie girl SO MUCH!</div>
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A visit from Pops and Grandma for the famous "birthday box" fun!</div>
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And, THEN dinner at Gatti Town with Tara (all the way from Rwanda) and her mom! And, Claver's first arcade experience!!<br />
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Later in the week (after I had slept a little!), I got to be the co-planner of the best Hawaiian Luau party ever! Carlie was the chief planner and she is a pretty good decorator, I must say! We flew down the party aisle at the party store, since she already knew exactly what she wanted. And, we planned games, bought food, invited the friends, and decorated the house.<br />
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I've personally never loved three Hawaiian girls more than these beauties.<br />
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Her party was so much fun! It was an outdoor party, turned indoors, when the rain came. But, that didn't stop us from having a grassy green lawn on which to do the crazy hula dance party...<br />
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(complete with Rwandan drummer)<br />
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Or maybe I should say a Rwandan music band...</div>
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Some crazy fun pineapple bowling...(as you can see, I had no part in this at all, which is why I can call it fun.)</div>
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And a mean game of limbo. These kids are GOOD! My back creaked just watching them.</div>
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The party menu was set by Carlie as well, and included lots of little finger foods with a party punch and rainbow colored umbrellas. <br />
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She asked Grandma to surprise her with the cake, and oh my goodness, did Grandma surprise us ALL!<br />
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It was truly a masterpiece! <br />
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And, it had three different flavors in three different layers! Yum. Yum. Yum. <br />
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Another first for Claver too. :)<br />
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Carlie wanted all along for the party to include swimming, so we hurriedly changed everyone into swimsuits, and braved the rain to swim for 30 minutes before the party was done. (That wasn't my favorite part, in case you were wondering.)<br />
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I think we definitely fit everything in that was possible in an afternoon! And, I'm so glad we did. Because this girl is awesome about sharing her mommy in alot of ways. (In fact, last August, her birthday had to come late because we were gone to Rwanda. So, she celebrate twice as hard this year.)<br />
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But, what I love most about my Carlie girl, is that she is so incredibly grateful for days like these. I can't even tell you how many thank-you hugs I received. <br />
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And, even more than that, I was proud of her choice to make her party a<a href="http://www.hischase.org/p/get-involved.html" target="_blank"> His Chase Birthday Club </a>party. (Yes, <a href="https://www.easytithe.com/f/?k=BKW0TB6IJZN0IY5U" target="_blank">you can have one too.</a> And, no, I'm not ashamed to advertise this way.) All of her sweet, sweet, SWEET friends brought money for Carlie to purchase a piece of furniture for Hope's Home in Zambia, which was our summer project.<br />
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And, get this. She raised $687 from all of her friends and family! And, bought the COUCH for the house!!! What an exciting way to celebrate a sweet girl's birthday! I pray there is a day when Carlie is sitting on the couch in Zambia with our sweet friends there, knowing that her eighth birthday party had a much bigger value than even the cutest luau in the world.<br />
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Sweet kids who now know what it's like to live at home together as a family.<br />
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That is priceless. And, so is my Carlie girl. :)<br />
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mcjacobsjournalhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16727712016502696400noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-16817998.post-27798608972943470312012-11-18T17:12:00.003-06:002012-11-18T17:58:54.387-06:00No. 41<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">
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Deep breath.</div>
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I really can find a way to tell this story in a single blog entry, can't I? </div>
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Here we go.</div>
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My friend Tara became my friend two years ago, as we traveled to Ethiopia and Rwanda together, on a Visiting Orphans trip.</div>
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Just days after we were all home, we began talking. Well, really, I just began listening. To this awesome girl tell me about selling her furniture so she can move to Rwanda.</div>
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Now, I'm going to fast forward past ALOT of details. Alot of prayers, alot of late night talks, alot of unanswered questions, alot of laughter over the funny things she experienced in her new African home, alot of frustrations, alot of sorrow, alot of searching. But, most of all, ALOT of encouraging conversations with my sweet friend, who left it all behind, and followed her God across the world to be available for His plans.</div>
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She moved to Noel, and lived among the kids there, serving in so many ways. </div>
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And I can't really remember the <i>first</i> time we talked about her <b>big</b> dream. But, I remember hearing from her about how unbelievable it was that the secondary school kids weren't fed lunch. And, then we had talks about peanut butter and Tara packaging it for them to eat for lunch. And, then that turned into the dream of a feeding program.</div>
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And, then. THEN, she shared this idea of teaching the girls a trade, so they can be successfully employed, and then using the funds they raise to FEED the kids at school!!</div>
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We were talking one day about how to really start something like this. I mean, how do you just jump in? And, as the weeks passed, God said it was time to jump. Her plan was becoming more and more complete. Then, she was meeting with the bishop, and getting a house, and buying machines, and moving Mediatrice to Gisenyi to teach sewing. Then, she was sending sketches of logo designs, bag designs, supply lists she needed from the US.</div>
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It is absolutely CRAZY to look back at each little conversation, building on the last one, until finally she had a room full of girls, ready for their first day of work.</div>
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And, my friend Tara, literally started something from nothing. She followed the Lord's leading and began giving these girls a future. A hope. A friend. A safe place. A skill. A passion. A way to serve and give back. A place to call home. A group to belong to. An identity. A discipline. A sense of belonging.</div>
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By the time we arrived for our visit, sewing school had been in session for only a few weeks. They were still figuring out the basics of their machines, how to put a bag together, how to come on time and work hard all day, and manage the flow of having this many girls sewing at the same time.</div>
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But, even with all the little hiccups and learning curves, it was AMAZING to watch these girls. Their smiles could literally light up the room. They were so FULL of energy, joy, and happiness. It was like night and day compared to the first time we met them so long ago. </div>
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As we all sat and talked with them, about the program going forward, they were cheering, crying, clapping. This is life-changing, y'all. Absolutely, totally a new hope and a new future for these girls, who have lived their lives at Noel, not sure if they would ever find a way out.</div>
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It was so fun to take some pictures of them, and celebrate them a little. We took some of their very first bags back with us, and they were amazed that people were already fighting over them!</div>
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And, let me tell you, that was only the beginning!!</div>
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Since our visit, these women and their fearless leaders, Tara and Alison, have continued to amaze us with their drive, passion, vision, and ability to follow God's lead on what He has planned.</div>
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They have an <b><i>amazing</i></b> business that is going strong. They can't even keep up with the demand, and they will begin feeding children with their lunch program in January. They have attended leadership and business training classes. They have enrolled in university classes. They have increased their knowledge of both sewing AND Jesus. And, they have become a tight, close family. Such a priceless blessing in the midst of this!</div>
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<b>No.41 is gonna change the world. </b></div>
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In fact, it already has. For these women. And, for the children they will serve.</div>
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So...you know what I'm about to say, right?</div>
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It will bless YOU to get to know these girls and support them as they continue to grow and bless others. There are many needs right now for this growing ministry. Many of the girls have just begun university classes. Tara is running a business in two houses, and needs more machines. They need our <b>support! </b>They need our <b>encouragement</b>! They need our <b>partnership</b>, as they learn a trade, and in turn, bless those who are in need, with food.</div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEirV06fJIDjc9eoI9sKHnJLEj60273j5u8MAUxxQh-ru4fQOCxYhQc7SIS1yLnwu-55wZZNo1Nt7F9POhwHjTt3ciiYDay6mNqunMiTa99wLhiIURU7PJg1zYNiu75Woh4eWWKa_w/s1600/IMG_1382.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEirV06fJIDjc9eoI9sKHnJLEj60273j5u8MAUxxQh-ru4fQOCxYhQc7SIS1yLnwu-55wZZNo1Nt7F9POhwHjTt3ciiYDay6mNqunMiTa99wLhiIURU7PJg1zYNiu75Woh4eWWKa_w/s400/IMG_1382.jpg" width="266" /></a></div>
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Every {awesome, trendy, handmade} bag they make and sell provides lunch FOR ONE child, FOR ONE year. {The reason for the name "Number 4-1"}. Don't you want these for everyone on your Christmas list?</div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiaWDM5z3c5-dUD9-D1_Do6JZQb8HaHVQmZmfsJQIGvtvIFWrZCLHgwb-mSnR8z-Wn3s6y0qm8o5i4axT8LSQco3Rzk_R6Ze9EDXfOBXVXfY-8rHZk8idVjderr1Akuj6LI-b6etQ/s1600/NO.41.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="266" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiaWDM5z3c5-dUD9-D1_Do6JZQb8HaHVQmZmfsJQIGvtvIFWrZCLHgwb-mSnR8z-Wn3s6y0qm8o5i4axT8LSQco3Rzk_R6Ze9EDXfOBXVXfY-8rHZk8idVjderr1Akuj6LI-b6etQ/s400/NO.41.jpg" width="400" /></a></div>
To find out how to get your bag, visit No. 41's website <a href="http://www.no41.org/" target="_blank">HERE</a>. Plus, just reading the awesome words of my friend, Tara, as she lives life in Rwanda, will bless you beyond belief. <br />
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So, <a href="https://www.facebook.com/Number4one" target="_blank">follow No.41 on Facebook.</a> </div>
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<a href="http://www.No41.org/" target="_blank">Visit their website. </a> </div>
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<a href="http://www.easytithe.com/hischase" target="_blank">Donate to the project. </a></div>
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(select Tara Clapper from the menu.) </div>
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<a href="http://soundcloud.com/billypopephotography/no-41-girls" target="_blank">LISTEN to their beautiful voices in worship.</a></div>
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<a href="https://www.facebook.com/Number4one" target="_blank">Encourage the girls with a comment or two.</a></div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEie6xU6hhzx0h84LlHca7ubkgjQpLBQNDdv0Y2rq12vdy7lt7_Ut_0XRu27g5NqUlzW6zgvsYA4SEQg6AW6xpXgye6gcVDDlq6J_SWSCgBHtBIM5ZgJ38uu3jd1TE9gDSAz_1fY9Q/s1600/IMG_1562.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEie6xU6hhzx0h84LlHca7ubkgjQpLBQNDdv0Y2rq12vdy7lt7_Ut_0XRu27g5NqUlzW6zgvsYA4SEQg6AW6xpXgye6gcVDDlq6J_SWSCgBHtBIM5ZgJ38uu3jd1TE9gDSAz_1fY9Q/s320/IMG_1562.jpg" width="213" /></a></div>
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This really is such a beautiful business model. I just stand in awe at my awesome friend who said YES....who continues to say YES...even though the road is hazy ahead, and life can be frantic when you're momma to so many. :)</div>
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Oh, and speaking of being mommas. These girls are <i>already </i>amazing mommas. And, I love watching them develop such skills and confidence to become Godly wives and mothers someday.</div>
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Do you know what is happening in these pictures?</div>
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I didn't even know it at the time.</div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjr1wEvKwa4uFxNuK4BT89pmH13PcCQvgphdyMPLNtvcW1IxLn2iJYgqsIQ69xWlv5GQziBfIVqbNC4KxeNMByZ0RQUkamYsb8Mwwsp4BBMzAnl23y8qAKXukwkBZXBuZs9ULuqCQ/s1600/IMG_1400.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="277" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjr1wEvKwa4uFxNuK4BT89pmH13PcCQvgphdyMPLNtvcW1IxLn2iJYgqsIQ69xWlv5GQziBfIVqbNC4KxeNMByZ0RQUkamYsb8Mwwsp4BBMzAnl23y8qAKXukwkBZXBuZs9ULuqCQ/s400/IMG_1400.JPG" width="400" /></a></div>
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They were all obsessed with Gabe, and took turns holding him and kissing him. In this moment, though, they were speaking to him in Kinyarwanda. I found out later that they were blessing him.</div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjiInKsyT1IP4XkwTKm7uQAK7ardAvk33V40YHCZq0Azazb7sveSaxgG4rgQ_RGLfyR100bEthgYhQM6Z4w2ur5n0ErQrWCESfvhLL5GDglz8-JpGaaeHqqPWfjp4hfCkScx6CcDw/s1600/IMG_1401.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="266" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjiInKsyT1IP4XkwTKm7uQAK7ardAvk33V40YHCZq0Azazb7sveSaxgG4rgQ_RGLfyR100bEthgYhQM6Z4w2ur5n0ErQrWCESfvhLL5GDglz8-JpGaaeHqqPWfjp4hfCkScx6CcDw/s400/IMG_1401.JPG" width="400" /></a></div>
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="-webkit-text-decorations-in-effect: none; clear: left; color: black; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em; text-align: center;">Telling him that he has been set apart by God for big things because He was chosen to be in a family. They told him he will be strong. And, that with God, he can do anything.</span><br />
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I couldn't stop the tears when I heard that these sweet girls were blessing my son that way.</div>
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And, Tara, let's just go ahead and say now that we will grow old, watching ALL of these children raise their OWN children in new ways. With love and guidance and wisdom, blessing each of their little ones as wise mothers and fathers, because they have been shown a new way to love. That's my dream and my prayer.</div>
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I'm so proud of my friend, Tara. And, so excited to watch what happens next in the lives of No.41.<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi3A0Vg98Cb_M2a3uR5YFOCnMncix8vpkrmXOqOqQ_PDXi1tWkQ2aUAjCt-_hT6WI94A2yskVKwNyJNKNkwX4UC3TdisF-4yeXfJFuBlHdt9DiF7v74_-Op20pvamhVmI4JNgp62A/s1600/IMG_1744.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi3A0Vg98Cb_M2a3uR5YFOCnMncix8vpkrmXOqOqQ_PDXi1tWkQ2aUAjCt-_hT6WI94A2yskVKwNyJNKNkwX4UC3TdisF-4yeXfJFuBlHdt9DiF7v74_-Op20pvamhVmI4JNgp62A/s400/IMG_1744.jpg" width="266" /></a></div>
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mcjacobsjournalhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16727712016502696400noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-16817998.post-17766824777766278072012-11-05T23:10:00.001-06:002012-11-05T23:10:55.584-06:00Another Family Addition!<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">
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Okay! So, I've now received three different emails wondering about the seventh person in our family pictures. :) Apparently, some of you would like to know who in the world Claver is, and how he came to be a part of our family!!<br />
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Well, I know you won't be shocked to hear that this is probably one of the biggest God stories I've ever watched come together.<br />
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And, the coolest part is that we get to watch it get better and better and deeper and deeper <i>every single day.</i><br />
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Claver is one of our favorite people on earth. I mean, that does not even say it strongly enough! We adore him, respect him, and would be lost without him. (And, we're just one family of MANY who have been blessed by knowing him!)<br />
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He was the one we always relied on when we came to Gisenyi. He cares about the children of Noel deeper than anyone I know. He has lived their life. He wants more for their future. And he works tirelessly (even from America) to give them the best he possibly can.<br />
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Claver grew up at Noel. After already losing his dad, he lost his mom and brothers in the genocide of 1994. He was eventually brought to Noel. And from age 7, Noel was Claver's home. He has many stories about his years there. And, what I've told him again and again, is that God spoke TRUTH and LOVE and PEACE over him when none of that was apparent in his daily life. It is incredibly clear that God had special plans for Claver, and kept him close to His heart even in the midst of some really hard stuff.<br />
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As he grew, he began helping at the orphanage, working as an assistant to the secretary and the director of the orphanage, and eventually leading computer training and developing a library and playroom for the children of Noel. When he could, he attended university classes at night. And, he had a big dream of earning a degree in information technology, to develop businesses and be able to train others in Rwanda.<br />
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He spent years serving the orphanage and working faithfully to help the children in every way possible. Even now, the leaders of the orphanage call him almost every day for one reason or another. And, all the children talk to him as much as they possibly can. He is a natural leader. He is a gentle leader. He cares so deeply for others, and is one of the most humble, serving men I've ever known.<br />
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So, how did he go from working at Noel to attending college in America?<br />
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I can't even remember the details (which, by the way, is when you KNOW you're in a God story. He works so quickly, and sometimes so unassumingly, that you almost wonder how you even got where you are? And, who said it first? And, how did it come to mind? And, when did we... And, how did we think... You get the picture. All of a sudden you realize you are RIGHT in the middle of this confusing whirlwind of God-sized stuff. And, you didn't even know it. Because you didn't do any of it. HE DID. And it feels totally right.)</div>
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That's precisely what happened with Mr. Claver.</div>
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It was one conversation with Tara. (Yes, many things come back to a conversation with Tara. :)</div>
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She told me Claver shared some big dreams with her. And he wants to study in America so he can bring what he learns back to Rwanda and change the Gisenyi area with businesses and technology. He wasn't happy with the level of teaching he was receiving, and he knew there was more for him to learn. </div>
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So, I casually say "Well, if he wants to study here, we'd love to have him." Or something like that.</div>
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Then, the next thing I know, he is COMING! He has a PASSPORT! He got his VISA! We all got the paperwork done easily and quickly. And, we found a SCHOOL with the perfect international program for him.<br />
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And, literally, a few months after that conversation, he was landing in Dallas. His first time out of Rwanda, his first time on an airplane, his first time in America. And, the first time he had been part of a family in years and years.</div>
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He actually landed the same day I arrived back home from Ghana---August 11th. Which was one day before Carlie turned 8. And, one week before we started our third homeschool year. And just two days before he had to begin preparation for college! It was <i><b>such </b></i>a busy time (which is why it was never blogged about!). When I look back at pictures, I kinda wonder how it all happened at the same time. :)</div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi9xG1fu4imxzA_CCSk5BBX5rEDaOfnIxSMoWxsiB0LhGop6JYHQE65JIAR57OYzP1RQzBKqRgprIi_y-xQ5jTJ3sLW0irnqyiWamW0YIS2OnQr-txT8GOA0vlErqUe7a234WPh2w/s1600/photo.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi9xG1fu4imxzA_CCSk5BBX5rEDaOfnIxSMoWxsiB0LhGop6JYHQE65JIAR57OYzP1RQzBKqRgprIi_y-xQ5jTJ3sLW0irnqyiWamW0YIS2OnQr-txT8GOA0vlErqUe7a234WPh2w/s400/photo.jpg" width="300" /></a></div>
But, I also can't imagine life without Claver coming into it. It has changed our family so much to have him here. To see this world through his eyes has blessed us beyond belief. To appreciate the little blessings that we so easily overlook, and to be able to find joy in things like grapes, sidewalks, washing machines, pizza delivery, washing cars, sports games with big TVs, 3-D movies, and the list goes on and on. But, even more important than the frivolous American luxuries, we've watched him be emotionally moved by feeding the homeless, learning every word of new worship songs, or sharing Jesus BOLDLY with his fellow classmates.<br />
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And, oh my goodness, the joy and love this guy has for family. I can't even describe it. He loves family get-togethers with the "big" family. He loves playing with the girls. He adores Gabe and teaches him gently and quietly so many wonderful things every day. He is giddy at getting to celebrate birthdays. Or, experience new things as a family. Going to church together. Eating dinner together. Every single thing matters to him. And, it has truly opened my eyes in new ways to see what it means to belong to one another and soak up each day's blessings like Claver does.<br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh_GXyaOUAsGeSbtTroB9cug-uhxjObwGGaAF35qLzxf74pA878NQztV4jT4YXWur-sEVMqNdeMMwUK8CO-S__OAJ71lZrFeV3rEV-FjKCs3Oq0utK_mSdpjuNL9HAiquBY-QOE3A/s1600/photo.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh_GXyaOUAsGeSbtTroB9cug-uhxjObwGGaAF35qLzxf74pA878NQztV4jT4YXWur-sEVMqNdeMMwUK8CO-S__OAJ71lZrFeV3rEV-FjKCs3Oq0utK_mSdpjuNL9HAiquBY-QOE3A/s400/photo.JPG" width="400" /></a><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjY6nZBEwWGkDniXzTBheMvaIp3Ram0kq7xam00Gl-LQV2JhNdZ1kbjyhbyX2RpGsFVNs25witF7pyJLxTHFAJzmP7i1zvzJkssH8FNHEA1tE5m8aEgbbHN5QBMiewtwzCrJQbsyA/s1600/photo.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjY6nZBEwWGkDniXzTBheMvaIp3Ram0kq7xam00Gl-LQV2JhNdZ1kbjyhbyX2RpGsFVNs25witF7pyJLxTHFAJzmP7i1zvzJkssH8FNHEA1tE5m8aEgbbHN5QBMiewtwzCrJQbsyA/s400/photo.jpg" width="300" /></a></div>
Claver, we are so incredibly proud of you, and we are so thankful God chose to bring us together as family. You are forever and ever one of us, and we wait with great anticipation to see what God has planned for your life. <br />
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So, now you know!<br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgJ9ry65bi7xZrtCZl6DZbrqm7AKsBtM8Z3rTdb20hDlsaMY82XVeZfr68fUH6K6OBj7AuDavY4AmR-CPSLTeEdffQpA7owV_uIGhFiUqxicDLr1vqlwiB_Cr55c-yAftHCXRc2kQ/s1600/photo.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="298" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgJ9ry65bi7xZrtCZl6DZbrqm7AKsBtM8Z3rTdb20hDlsaMY82XVeZfr68fUH6K6OBj7AuDavY4AmR-CPSLTeEdffQpA7owV_uIGhFiUqxicDLr1vqlwiB_Cr55c-yAftHCXRc2kQ/s400/photo.JPG" width="400" /></a></div>
Claver is our newest Jacobs member. And, we will never EVER be the same. <br />
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<i>(P.S. These are all pics just from his first few weeks here! As you can imagine, we have TONS more now to share! :) )</i></div>
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mcjacobsjournalhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16727712016502696400noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-16817998.post-30067456626322702952012-10-01T17:12:00.002-05:002012-10-01T17:13:56.589-05:00Let Love Be Your Highest Goal<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">
This morning, part of our family reading was from 1 Corinthians, and there was a phrase I had never noticed before.<br />
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<b><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: x-large;">Let love be your highest goal.</span></b></div>
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Oh my, I want to get that plastered across my wall. Or maybe across my head. Just so I can remember that love should be the reason I do anything...<i>every</i>thing.</div>
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That's alot harder than it sounds. I should cook AND do the dishes {happily} because love is my highest goal. I should use encouraging words---and not critical ones---because love is my highest goal. I should give away what I have without hesitation---time, money, gifts and talents---because love is my highest goal.<br />
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And, I'm here to say, that yesterday, so many of you let love be your highest goal.<br />
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I know you didn't give to the Chase Day project because you have been to Zambia and have a passion for Lusaka. You probably didn't give because you really have a passion for silverware or pillows or freezers or rugs. You didn't give to receive recognition or appreciation or even love in return.<br />
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<b><i>You did it simply because love was your highest goal. </i></b><br />
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Love for <b>children </b>you've never met {and may never meet on this side of heaven.}<br />
Love for the <b>craftsman or seamstress</b> you will never meet, who will now have income making these items by hand.<br />
Love for our <b>family</b>, whom some of you have met...and some of you haven't.<br />
Love for our <b>Chase</b>, who none of us got to meet in the way we wanted to.<br />
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But, even greater than that...<br />
Love for a <b>Savior</b>, who said YOU MATTER TO ME. And now all you can do in return is pass on that love to others.<br />
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You may not have even given this a passing thought, as you bought your item for Hope's Home. But, even if you didn't realize it, LOVE was your highest goal. And, we felt it.<br />
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<b><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: x-large;">108 items purchased of the original 181!</span></b><br />
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Pillows, quilts, and beds...they'll go to bed knowing they're loved.<br />
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Couches, lamps, and chairs...they'll sit and read and play knowing they're loved.<br />
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Laundry bins, pots and pans, a dining room table...they'll eat and do chores and share life with each other, knowing they're loved.<br />
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<b>THANK YOU. </b> </div>
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From the bottom of our hearts. </div>
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You make Chase Day what it is, and we are so grateful.</div>
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As our sweet guy, Claver, said yesterday. "To give like this, it just fills you up inside your heart, and it gives you peace like nothing else does. I like this day. Very much."<br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhyW9pUvchsgYGKVc8hFBKP_jiRilKIhVGoJawpeTteFBKC72D2Uk9ze2Ge4hI4UQ5-Y4XranUDgpFKqxaQ0ePa5m2cKpWmlI7EgXxYuZpoKnm_WrqAnyqRWUcV8IT6u7ERn9EfYg/s1600/photo.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="287" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhyW9pUvchsgYGKVc8hFBKP_jiRilKIhVGoJawpeTteFBKC72D2Uk9ze2Ge4hI4UQ5-Y4XranUDgpFKqxaQ0ePa5m2cKpWmlI7EgXxYuZpoKnm_WrqAnyqRWUcV8IT6u7ERn9EfYg/s400/photo.JPG" width="400" /></a></div>
Amen, Claver. We like this day too. Very much.<br />
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And we LOVE all of you who make it possible!!<br />
{And, YES, if you're wanting to still give, you can!! Go <a href="http://store.hischase.org/collections/arise-africa-hopes-home-zambia" target="_blank">HERE </a>and shop to your heart's content.}</div>
mcjacobsjournalhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16727712016502696400noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-16817998.post-74456828701198314132012-09-28T23:24:00.000-05:002012-09-28T23:29:08.668-05:00CHASE Day 2012<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">
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<a href="http://store.hischase.org/collections/arise-africa-hopes-home-zambia" target="_blank"><img border="0" height="233" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhGcEMbJ2oBP-bkxxTApvnVrDyRlp7NRk7LkTNCvmvM8NzhyhtNm4MB6S8XTm-xvoZn2OQXlGuoAeWovN_6x6Iu-e-FZnk3FmBZblozd0u4tnUmoOHGL3CR4zQ1rtrRzoO10xPmfw/s400/Chase+Day+Logo.jpg" width="400" /></a></div>
Well, I'm going to be honest. I had decided not to really put anything out publicly about our sweet Chase's birthday this year. Because, as a family, this will always and forever be a <i>really</i> special week, where time stands still and everything else fades to the background for us. But, I know for others, it may not be quite that way.<br />
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So....I kind of thought this year we would lay low. Do our service day together, have some family time, and just keep it small.<br />
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But, then, I started hearing from others. Texts and emails from different friends letting me know days in advance that they were praying and were looking forward to celebrating Chase with us with their "acts of service and encouragement".<br />
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Then, Austin Street homeless shelter, where we spent CHASE day last year, asked us to worship with them for CHASE day again this year.<br />
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And, finally, as we talked about this day with our kids, it was clear that this day was still supposed to be what it had always been for them...a day of celebrating their brother and our son and our God who reigns over mourning and celebrating and happiness and sadness.<br />
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So, with that said.<br />
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CHASE day is gonna be big. And, we won't be ashamed of that, or bashful about it. As Carlie said tonight at dinner, "I mean, he's one of the kids of this family! His birthday should be like anyone else's here!" <br />
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So, will you join us for a special His Chase project in honor of September 30th?<br />
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<a href="http://store.hischase.org/collections/arise-africa-hopes-home-zambia" target="_blank"><img border="0" height="140" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgVpHjjc2oYZbUULrpz-05ZuTylZwfi58q9dL1QddCHBH3IYPx2B6gdSLyDab8kl_lktuHNNLozRErkLm3Wyn1xHYQwEKJCHuFT1zR8ebtiEusln2cwX-P3Q-nOZQNxt262laxFOA/s400/His+Chase+Scroll+ARISE+AFRICA+HOME.jpg" width="400" /></a></div>
Hope's Home in Zambia is for some of the most vulnerable orphans in the area, many of whom have lost their parents to HIV, and/or have HIV themselves. These children are not welcomed in orphanages in the area. And, they are not adoptable. <b>They need a loving home more than anyone. Because a loving home tells them they matter. And, that others think they're special.</b><br />
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We have really been blown away by the ministry of Arise Africa and are so honored to be partnering with them to furnish this amazing home for these sweet children.<br />
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<a href="http://ariseafrica.org/" target="_blank"><img border="0" height="211" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgssY11s0P4EsKp2zj5luYfKMrGFwSYakfcW-18CzfRq3ZxvmCxeIGuVJ-8q3OL9MoDUkpljmIkU73HWrylwzx5qCsinU9-CI_o-IqEDueG_th3wNw59jFluPTU5_zlkpt3raJfPA/s320/ARISE+AFRICA+LOGO.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>
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<b>So, in honor of CHASE day, we are hoping to finish making their house a home THIS WEEKEND!! </b>You've shown us before this can be done, and we are so incredibly grateful. You can visit the <em><strong><a href="http://store.hischase.org/collections/arise-africa-hopes-home-zambia" target="_blank">HIS CHASE ONLINE STORE</a></strong> </em>to pick out the furniture or home supplies your family would like to give!</div>
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And, the great thing is that your kids can be a part of this! They can buy silverware for $10 or a rug for $20, and they can truly comprehend what it is to give another child a portion of what they have received! These children deserve a home to call their own, and Arise Africa is working so hard to make it as much like a family environment as possible.<br />
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<em>"<a data-mce-href="http://www.kershawschallenge.com/hopes-home/" href="http://www.kershawschallenge.com/hopes-home/">Hope’s Home </a>will provide the love of a family that many of these children have never known. It will be a place they can dream, hope, and prepare for a bright future. They will be raised with the opportunity to realize that they are God’s children, dearly loved and cared for. The safe environment will allow them to be children—children who need to run, play, be nurtured, loved, and well fed. This home will be a beacon of hope for a generation that will be the change their country needs. We have big dreams for the children who will fill Hope’s Home. A bright future begins with the simple yet profound impact of having a place to call home."</em><br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEglXouZR2ET8W1sdB-18pRxBFDiPYQuXjk-ZWeU8pLxUO_iSV7niG5NX8f-YD8TBIzqFnv8rIfSnnIYwWb0fCEB9bgS-p6K4DO0JT2SIJSVzcK3zt78vV_7v70_PVyosmatrnYCjg/s1600/Zambia+Kids.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="266" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEglXouZR2ET8W1sdB-18pRxBFDiPYQuXjk-ZWeU8pLxUO_iSV7niG5NX8f-YD8TBIzqFnv8rIfSnnIYwWb0fCEB9bgS-p6K4DO0JT2SIJSVzcK3zt78vV_7v70_PVyosmatrnYCjg/s400/Zambia+Kids.jpg" width="400" /></a></div>
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We would be HONORED to have you join us this weekend, as we once again, say to the Lord that ALL of our children, no matter where they live--on another continent or even in heaven--matter to the One who made them and numbered their days. We give Him all glory for the way He restores and renews, and we pray NEW LIFE and HOPE for the children of Hope's Home!</div>
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Happy CHASE day, everyone!!<span id="goog_2011025628"></span><span id="goog_2011025629"></span><a href="http://www.blogger.com/"></a></div>
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mcjacobsjournalhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16727712016502696400noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-16817998.post-20372881597894955012012-09-15T20:12:00.002-05:002012-09-15T20:12:59.455-05:00Finishing my thoughts...<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">
So, back to <a href="http://mcjacobsjournal.blogspot.com/2012/07/we-heart-noel.html" target="_blank">what I was saying</a>, two months ago. :)<br />
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We had quite the visit to Noel.<br />
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And, we had quite the emotional highs and lows.<br />
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What I love is that God always meets you where you are. Especially in the lows.<br />
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I would say my conversation with Him over these three days could be described as a constant begging. Every few minutes, I just uttered the words again to Him: Show us what we can do RIGHT NOW that can change these kids' lives for eternity!!<br />
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<i>You see, we've learned already in the months we've been doing this work that there are a whole lot of ways to help, but not every way is helpful. </i> So, I prayed and begged God to show us. We knew He hadn't called us to this place, just to watch it fall apart. <br />
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So, I was talking through this (okay, crying through it might be a better description) with my {amazing, inspiring} friend, Tara, who lives and works at Noel. As we talked, the issue of school came up again. <br />
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We had talked about it so many times before. WHY did it feel so overwhelming and hard to figure out how to get these kids the education they deserve? <br />
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This was when one of <b><i>those </i></b>moments happened. Those moments that seem so little and nonchalant, but one hour later you realize that it was HUGE and God-sized and lasting and life-changing. And, then one month later, you can't even write about it, because you realize God is turning kids' worlds upside down right in front of your eyes.<br />
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We were standing in Tara's living room, while sewing school was in full force. We were talking with Claver (who by the way, lives with us now. Here's a pic of our new family. Yeah, I'll blog about that soon too. You believe me, right?)<br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjHbiwAq8oGsDjqQAEnIx4X9HscpSkeEP2Xu1ZTm6v_PivsIFspMtlz9rBbPnQggSs8Ps3LtluyQPTeDzK9yvajZSnpXqy6cZMFWqkIqfhJGFDt6H7LkqRa_fJcsllALAwW2KIL1w/s1600/IMG_1569.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="213" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjHbiwAq8oGsDjqQAEnIx4X9HscpSkeEP2Xu1ZTm6v_PivsIFspMtlz9rBbPnQggSs8Ps3LtluyQPTeDzK9yvajZSnpXqy6cZMFWqkIqfhJGFDt6H7LkqRa_fJcsllALAwW2KIL1w/s400/IMG_1569.JPG" width="400" /></a></div>
Anyway, we're discussing how quality education {+ Jesus in their hearts} can bless the socks off of these kids, and change their course of life forever. <i>{Because in the midst of all they deal with on a daily basis...wondering if they'll get enough food, wondering if they'll be reunified with family who isn't capable of taking care of them, wondering if God really does love them like He says...they also have NO one encouraging them to do well in school. Instead, they walk for miles there and back, only to receive no lunch, and no "welcome home" at the end of a hard day. Please tell me WHY these kids would be motivated to succeed?}</i><br />
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So, we're just chatting about it, wishing we could change something. When Claver says, "All of this is possible. They can go to boarding school, and His Chase can send them. It is easy." Well, Claver, sweet friend, that sounds good and all, but nothing is easy here. There are quite a few hoops to jump through to make this happen, right? "No. It is possible. Next week."<br />
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And, by golly, it <i>was</i> possible.<br />
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We left town the next day with a whole new plan than when we drove in two days before.<br />
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Claver and Tara, with God's amazing help and direction, and the permission of Madame Director and the orphanage, enrolled dozens of kids in 3 different schools within the next week. Schools where these students live among other students their ages, who didn't grow up in an orphanage. Schools that teach a love for Jesus. Schools where these students get fed three meals a day, have a bed to call their own, and are challenged to do more and learn more and be more.<br />
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Then, within two days of enrolling them, supplies were purchased. And, I don't mean pencils and glue sticks. <br />
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I mean mattresses. And soap. And buckets. And towels. And shoes. And clothes. And school supplies. And EVERYTHING else you can imagine to transport a student from one place to another to live. {By the way, this is not done at Target. Shopping in Africa is a whole different ballgame.}<br />
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I still stand in awe of my sweet friends who worked their tails off to make this happen in time for the new school semester to begin. It was crazy and exhausting work.<br />
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As Claver just told me yesterday, "the orphanage and the children did not believe this would happen. Not until we bought towels, mattresses, and supplies. Then, they said "Eh? Maybe this is possible?" :) I love how God works.<br />
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He makes ALL THINGS possible.<br />
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In April, 68 children loaded up on buses, to move to their new schools. And, not just any schools. Some really, really GOOD schools who have taken GREAT care of these students.<br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhCzMpXwt_0P3zsBV6BW8eBhJ8qbcJm3B3yQ1FxX-ZZfBh-cKowd6Omi1QW-reTQAh0qLIBVud_f7nEMtb5Pj14FQNRMQEXzT8UHWDN-q0T-BSn3_wDUyzDyiK2pyKnVyXUZw5Bqw/s1600/Gahogo+Group+Pic.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="215" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhCzMpXwt_0P3zsBV6BW8eBhJ8qbcJm3B3yQ1FxX-ZZfBh-cKowd6Omi1QW-reTQAh0qLIBVud_f7nEMtb5Pj14FQNRMQEXzT8UHWDN-q0T-BSn3_wDUyzDyiK2pyKnVyXUZw5Bqw/s400/Gahogo+Group+Pic.JPG" width="400" /></a></div>
What's even cooler than that?<br />
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We simply emailed a few people {okay, over a hundred} who had given to His Chase before, asking for a little help for these kids, as we committed the funds for their first trimester and stepped out in faith. And, within hours, people were responding to the need and sponsoring these kids.<br />
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One trimester has now been completed. And fully funded. And, so many God stories have happened, I couldn't even share them here if I tried.<br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiYWbp9MVYUYP4IUL2vp7NKw4fFXc5MZ4ETgpqn30gjfC9O__f9ppyiuhVMXr10N9fvoQsf9d9nUG77kxmJcUCQgurbRqkedD5QPGi8KyFTILz-2yPOQ1D8ZVDc9PEKdfUmxqNKlg/s1600/IMG_3426.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="266" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiYWbp9MVYUYP4IUL2vp7NKw4fFXc5MZ4ETgpqn30gjfC9O__f9ppyiuhVMXr10N9fvoQsf9d9nUG77kxmJcUCQgurbRqkedD5QPGi8KyFTILz-2yPOQ1D8ZVDc9PEKdfUmxqNKlg/s400/IMG_3426.JPG" width="400" /></a></div>
The students just returned for their second trimester last week. Lucky for us, we have Claver sitting on our living room couch this time around, and that in itself is a gift from God. This was quite a busy week getting everyone settled, dealing with school fees, supplies, and the rest. But, we have the utmost confidence in God's plans for these kids. And, we love watching Him do His thing. <br />
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I mean, really. WHY does He let little emotional me join Him in this big crazy "chase" He is on for these orphaned children's hearts? I'm so honored and humbled and blown away by what He does.<br />
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And, right there, in the middle of my overwhelmed sadness, He says "Don't worry, Chels. I got this. Again."<br />
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And, then He puts Claver in place (who rocks the boarding school communication and database). <br />
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And Tara in place (who rocks the supply purchasing and organization and phone chatting with me). <br />
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And Jane in place (who now serves--and, of course, rocks--as our in-country help for transporting kids, visiting kids, and coordinating payments of schools.}<br />
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And Brittany in place {who rocked it as our His Chase photographer of the students!}.<br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg6G4aQ0bajrvl4UxBhAGAuZ5Z66VBZvkhY6MModBVxBwGdiLBKX7k0nb8krMAzhLOPif2YDAVShVzJkkJzJFJgM5KzWu9L4d4xA_avXpyyMF7vrKpqK1rPVACJn2lpeLzkJ5Lrqg/s1600/IMG_4490.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="266" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg6G4aQ0bajrvl4UxBhAGAuZ5Z66VBZvkhY6MModBVxBwGdiLBKX7k0nb8krMAzhLOPif2YDAVShVzJkkJzJFJgM5KzWu9L4d4xA_avXpyyMF7vrKpqK1rPVACJn2lpeLzkJ5Lrqg/s400/IMG_4490.JPG" width="400" /></a></div>
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And donors in place. </div>
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<b>And they each play a part in getting <a href="http://www.hischase.org/p/rwanda.html" target="_blank">Operation Education </a>off the ground</b>.</div>
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We are so thankful. And we are so thrilled.<br />
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I mean, look at these cuties. Their smiles say it all.<br />
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What's that you say?<br />
<i>You wish you could be a part of their lives?</i><br />
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Oh, you CAN. I'm so glad you asked.<br />
<br />
We need you like never before. It's a somewhat scary thing to say YES to God when what He's asking is growing bigger every day. We have increased our numbers to over 100 students in highschool and university level since April. And, more kids are waiting to go to school next term. We have more financial commitments to these kids than ever before. <br />
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And, we now have 104 students enrolled who LONG to have someone they know is praying for them. Someone who cares about the grade they got in English or History. Someone who knows their face and name and calls them "special" or "smart" or "loved".<br />
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<u style="font-weight: bold;">So, whether it be through financial support, or as a penpal or prayer warrior, <a href="http://www.hischase.org/p/rwanda.html" target="_blank">PLEASE join Operation Education.</a></u><b><u> It will make an impact forever on these kids.</u></b><br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhUI09dyXCD4hYtX01vbsDtR7JK5jIccpA4k-VEKBLrT1sNbvZW0jyW0f0aBcuJcDPXnv5OfFghyphenhypheniY-SDJUpAK0tdthASHyqfBz7XkJs7zteqU7wH98X-0ErqDbBZjAxEaSoEatmA/s1600/IMG_3507.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="266" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhUI09dyXCD4hYtX01vbsDtR7JK5jIccpA4k-VEKBLrT1sNbvZW0jyW0f0aBcuJcDPXnv5OfFghyphenhypheniY-SDJUpAK0tdthASHyqfBz7XkJs7zteqU7wH98X-0ErqDbBZjAxEaSoEatmA/s400/IMG_3507.JPG" width="400" /></a></div>
And, it will prove, once again, that satan has no hold here. Because God is doing His thing. And, entire generations of orphans in Rwanda are receiving new hope and new life and new opportunities. PRAISE GOD!!!<br />
<br />
Just visit our <a href="http://www.hischase.org/" target="_blank">new His Chase blog HERE</a> to get involved! We'd love to partner with you to change the world for these students!!</div>
mcjacobsjournalhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16727712016502696400noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-16817998.post-76555056649733046072012-07-19T13:02:00.000-05:002012-07-19T13:02:00.631-05:00We {Heart} Noel<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">
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This may be the blog that has caused my three month delay in blogging. I haven't had the right words. I haven't been able to even figure out my feelings. And, I certainly haven't been able to communicate all that is in my crazy heart.</div>
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For three and a half weeks, we spent time in Rwanda and Kenya, and watched God fulfill prayers that have been prayed for two and a half years. We watched as<a href="http://enlargingourlove.blogspot.com/p/why-rwanda-page.html" target="_blank"> my original dream</a> (literally) came to life, and Gabe was placed in our family in a remarkable way.</div>
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It was a time of deep rejoicing. And, at the very same time, we ached equally as deep for the other children we know in Rwanda who need families so badly. Who deserve permanent and loving families, and who we know don't have anything close to that right now.</div>
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It was the hardest emotional line to walk. Joy mixed in with grief. "Orphan no more" mixed with "Orphans still waiting". And, the thing is, these orphans weren't a nameless group of children to us. They have names and dreams and prayers and hurts. And we know some of them and love them. </div>
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So, for three and a half weeks, we rejoiced, and were beyond thankful for all the people we were meeting, all the leaders who were so supportive, and all the families who befriended us and encouraged us. It was a time in our family that I will <u>never</u> forget and am forever changed by. </div>
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And, at the same time, in our minds and hearts, we were also looking forward to the drive to Gisenyi.</div>
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To see our Noel friends.<br />
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Once Gabe's adoption was final, we headed out to see the kids at Noel. Kendyll and Carlie had been literally asking every day when we would finally be at Noel. And, Abby Kate said she wouldn't decide if "she loved Rwanda best" until she had met all the kids she had heard so much about. So, we were all ready to finally be there.</div>
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But, it was harder than I even realized it would be. To go with Gabe in my arms, his belly filled, clothes clean, a smile on his face...and to wish with all that is in me, that every child I love there had the same story. To have a deep sense of belonging, like I saw in Gabe's eyes already. I still can't put it in words. I can't explain what that grief feels like.</div>
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And, this is where I begin to fumble over words. Because I am <i>supposed</i> to word it a certain way to not offend or upset. Or be too dramatic. Or dwell too much on the hard stuff.</div>
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But, it IS hard. And, there's no easy answer. And, the thing is, I can't do this without offending or upsetting. Because <i>it's not okay with me</i>. Sure, there are many reasons why children don't have loving parents taking care of them. Sure, some of them have living relatives somewhere who should be. </div>
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But, those of us who <i>know their needs</i> have no excuses. We just have to be loving them, regardless of the reasons or the excuses or the future plans to sustain them. </div>
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To look in their eyes, and see their big hearts, their JOY, but also their desire to be known and loved. It's more than I could take this time.</div>
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So, yes, there were tears, And, I'll come back to those later. Because God used the outpouring in ways only He can. {Thank you, Lord.}</div>
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Before we get to that, there is plenty of happiness to talk about too! Carlie and Kendyll found so many of their precious little friends right away, and the reunions were so sweet. Mark and I had fun seeing all of our kids too, and we always realize how MUCH we miss them when we're back!</div>
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And we had so much fun introducing everyone to Gabe. They were obsessed with him, and they all just stared and smiled (and some even cried) because they were so happy for all of us. <a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiBVPG7iRJvfPEiiVKCFaJh2J1RpHYRdZY_3Ilj7ju7bSd1kVAE6Db_ne8SW3k1t5AQZw89q3V6hRcYe3yHiQ9ITBU-yxylEeNxHTcEC4ogPdAMavAesfsltZzuf98tZAN1nPiUEg/s1600/IMG_1420.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="266" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiBVPG7iRJvfPEiiVKCFaJh2J1RpHYRdZY_3Ilj7ju7bSd1kVAE6Db_ne8SW3k1t5AQZw89q3V6hRcYe3yHiQ9ITBU-yxylEeNxHTcEC4ogPdAMavAesfsltZzuf98tZAN1nPiUEg/s400/IMG_1420.JPG" width="400" /></a></div>
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Madame Director greeted us all, and loved on Gabe too, as well as the famous Abby Kate, who she didn't get to meet this summer.</div>
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I couldn't walk anywhere without 15 people wanting to see who was under my blanket. :) And, they were SO HAPPY that Gabe had a forever home. It was a constant question: "Will he be yours forever? He is your SON?" Sweetest kids on earth, I tell ya. And, this is what I realized on this trip. </div>
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We live a really long way away from them. But, they are our family too. <a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjXPJhMssZlNZn_Ih4KS6UNVQC1Q5_dspCCeZZ4XRusHMBi2ii_fsRgZ_bv91iCJJq6ww_SOSdzd6PxMuEhVXqIriuYoRiEVxSQnhbvuIGnc2qz4rfbpL6Ie4oqLUBn-pWMQvPeGQ/s1600/IMG_1478.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjXPJhMssZlNZn_Ih4KS6UNVQC1Q5_dspCCeZZ4XRusHMBi2ii_fsRgZ_bv91iCJJq6ww_SOSdzd6PxMuEhVXqIriuYoRiEVxSQnhbvuIGnc2qz4rfbpL6Ie4oqLUBn-pWMQvPeGQ/s400/IMG_1478.jpg" width="266" /></a></div>
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They won't live under our roof or share our dinner table, but they have our hearts. {which is why it breaks so easily} And, they have our commitment to <i><b>never </b></i>leave them behind. </div>
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And, to always tell them they are special to the One who created them.</div>
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.So, I spent some time telling a few of them this. Some could understand me, and some could not. But, I whispered it anyway. :) </div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg5cQYYRSz6bGNUZNVc3p_HOUUWZ6JlNqu2t2RDK_Fy8NC9X0LAz4RvLo9TuThSRWmCIZQaRbwUMXosriuOA3zB6rYIuI6mwrPe6IolXhE2lJf2Z39vGJJRKH6A_XmC4uiClAegZA/s1600/IMG_1474.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="266" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg5cQYYRSz6bGNUZNVc3p_HOUUWZ6JlNqu2t2RDK_Fy8NC9X0LAz4RvLo9TuThSRWmCIZQaRbwUMXosriuOA3zB6rYIuI6mwrPe6IolXhE2lJf2Z39vGJJRKH6A_XmC4uiClAegZA/s400/IMG_1474.JPG" width="400" /></a></div>
Our precious Vestine was so sad and scared. It broke my heart in a few hundred pieces. <br />
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But, I still told her. She will always be family. Even from across the world.</div>
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I loved watching my girls whisper this love to their little ones too. Clementine (Kendyll's "baby" from the summer) was quite scared as well. But, Kendyll was persistent, and she eventually stopped crying by day two.</div>
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Kendyll and Sassy Pants, who happens to have the most beautiful smile on earth.<br />
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And, all day long, Kendyll searched for Mutoni. When they finally reunited, there were tears from both.</div>
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And, what can I even say about my Abby Kate? She was right at home here and it actually stopped my heart from beating a few times. </div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiPHjq1EeGP6LoDaZVZ5hK7QRxC_yx87ZnjbWz-mUO05hJy6HfXuVVxxP5zOfIqoO0WjS-UtRHJ3K2dtx0mMxKHgbSWPc2Tch0L3m68haxu1NqcLm_e1St9Kl7Kn_mk-BRvb-d-GA/s1600/IMG_1783.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiPHjq1EeGP6LoDaZVZ5hK7QRxC_yx87ZnjbWz-mUO05hJy6HfXuVVxxP5zOfIqoO0WjS-UtRHJ3K2dtx0mMxKHgbSWPc2Tch0L3m68haxu1NqcLm_e1St9Kl7Kn_mk-BRvb-d-GA/s400/IMG_1783.jpg" width="266" /></a></div>
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The girl just fit right in and didn't miss a beat making friends, playing games, and loving on kids. <a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEigAu2qyboXs1m9uP8acRSsIftk-3drTGRcst_JeF3yCR4Rp9gHSKjbWnixj2y_CIRP7LgwQW-9IjmsyyqNfyZdvQTxGLYpjPuw40736rDryJ2SoErogM0JtRC0ye5SlhbfQ8G9qQ/s1600/IMG_1310.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEigAu2qyboXs1m9uP8acRSsIftk-3drTGRcst_JeF3yCR4Rp9gHSKjbWnixj2y_CIRP7LgwQW-9IjmsyyqNfyZdvQTxGLYpjPuw40736rDryJ2SoErogM0JtRC0ye5SlhbfQ8G9qQ/s400/IMG_1310.jpg" width="266" /></a></div>
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She said it was her favorite place to be, and the smile she wore proved it was true. :)</div>
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And, have you ever seen anything cuter than this?</div>
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One of our favorite mamas was so excited to meet Abby Kate, and she grabbed the smallest baby in the room (Just a FEW WEEKS OLD!! YIKES!) and handed her to my 5 year old daughter. Um, what? But, AK was so incredibly proud. And, very very careful. :)<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgv6nt2LGlx6Dg9atSGZY4sTLf58gMh-aTqA_QxhIUQtkH9ab5mrnU90GrJMOAXA8UEdXARGESC9WyBU9Vd3Kv2b032kcDT3QWna-oOU0Uk4ZvJa1RuMXNbZ5iSXg0ycTwZ49hWpw/s1600/IMG_1421.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgv6nt2LGlx6Dg9atSGZY4sTLf58gMh-aTqA_QxhIUQtkH9ab5mrnU90GrJMOAXA8UEdXARGESC9WyBU9Vd3Kv2b032kcDT3QWna-oOU0Uk4ZvJa1RuMXNbZ5iSXg0ycTwZ49hWpw/s400/IMG_1421.jpg" width="266" /></a></div>
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You might remember from my blogs last summer, how sweet and gentle my Carlie is when she is at Noel. She just moves so quietly among the kids, touching a face, giving a hug, carrying a toddler, singing a song. It's a gift she has received from the Lord, and I love watching her pour it out.</div>
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She was incredibly sad this trip because her best friend, Bebe, was gone to Kigali. It took her hours to stop crying. But, she found many of her other friends to love on instead.<br />
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Oh, man, I love having our whole family at Noel. We don't go because it's "a good thing to do" or because "Jesus told us to". Sure, it may have started that way. {And He DOES tell us to.} But, my kids are simply visiting their friends. <br />
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There is no feeling sorry for them. There is no difference to them. And, they literally can't stand leaving at the end of the day.<br />
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We got to go to one of the Noel football games, which was SO fun! It was great to see them stretching and warming up in their awesome jerseys from The Point Foundation!</div>
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And, these boys have got SKILL!! WOW.</div>
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Not to mention their game on the court. It's steadily improving. :)</div>
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I couldn't stop staring at the hills all around us. This really is the most beautiful place on earth.</div>
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<b>Okay, I promised to get back to what God did with our tears over these three days. </b></div>
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So, when I come back, I'll share about...</div>
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1) A 10 minute conversation with Claver and Tara that changed lives and answered prayers in a moment...and how you can help it continue to change lives.</div>
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2) No. 41, the sewing school and business, that is BOOMING and amazing and all started by my dear friend, Tara.</div>
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3) Babies. And more babies. And their needs.</div>
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4) God's absolute miraculous RESCUE of some children who satan had in bondage. It's crazy good.</div>
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So much to share, so little time! </div>
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Goodnight for now! </div>
</div>mcjacobsjournalhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16727712016502696400noreply@blogger.com8tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-16817998.post-53773069109913203332012-07-17T18:45:00.001-05:002012-07-17T18:45:39.532-05:00Safari, So Fun!<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">
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So, yes. We're still spending some time catching you up on our time in Rwanda. </div>
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And, actually, much of what we did over that month will continue to be just for our family to enjoy in picture albums and written stories about how God led us and protected us and bonded us together.</div>
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But, there are definitely a couple of days I want to share with you, because they are just amazing!</div>
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When we traveled to Kenya to process Gabe's visa, we had an extra day or two, while we waited on appointments. So, we got to explore Nairobi (in other words, we ate at AMAZING restaurants and shopped in multiple MALLS!), and we even got to travel outside the city to spend a day on safari at Lake Nukuru!</div>
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And, as God does, He had this day perfectly timed. </div>
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Because the night before was <i><b>rough</b></i>. Without going into all the details, we had some major trials happen while we were gone. There were many tears shed, and truly, we had to give some things to God that we could not control or change. It was hard hard hard. And, the night before this safari, was kind of an emotional low for us. We prayed and prayed and asked others to pray with us (which they so faithfully and amazingly did!).</div>
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And, the next morning, we left before the sun came up to see the amazing animals of Africa. </div>
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Needless to say, I wasn't seeing any kind of correlation. But, then, as we drove along the Great Rift Valley, I was overwhelmed with the sense of how BIG our God is. And, this got stronger as the day went on, as I stood on the very ground where animals like zebras and giraffes walk and make their homes. Where God created these beautiful animals in such creative ways, and was allowing us this moment as a family to witness it and treasure it. It was as if He was whispering to me, "I am bigger than you could ever comprehend. I see each animal on the great plains of Africa and know their needs and desires. How much more do I see YOU and know what YOU need? I am the GREAT I AM. Rest and enjoy Me today!"</div>
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Well, that's exactly what we did! It was the BEST day and we soaked up every minute of it.</div>
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As I mentioned, we started before dawn. So, you can see that the guys in our family were pretty sleepy on our drive. :) We were glad to see that Gabe is just like his daddy and can sleep like a champ!</div>
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When we arrived, the monkeys were already waiting for us in the parking lot. They were like squirrels in America. Just hanging out all over the place, trying to find snacks and make friends. :) This one has a tiny little baby hooked to her fur!<br />
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Here are the girls, ready for the adventure! <br />
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And, they stayed like this the whole day!<br />
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It took a little bit for the girls to really realize that these animals just live out here...that we were in their natural habitat. <br />
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In fact, there were gates at the front that had a rhinocerous painted on the outside. Carlie said "Look, there's where the rhinos live!" And, then 5 minutes later, when this zebra crossed the ROAD at the front gate, Abby Kate said "I guess the zebras have to go back behind the gate now."<br />
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Hilarious to realize how used to the zoo they were! :)<br />
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The rest of the pictures really don't need words. They're just cool. :) Mark was the photographer of the day, and I really can't tell you how many hundreds of pics we had by the end.<br />
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">A cute little zebra family!</td></tr>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Those are hundreds of flamingos!</td></tr>
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We kept a list through the day of what we saw...some of them, we didn't even know the names of before our guide told us!<br />
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The view from the top! I love this picture of Carlie, standing in awe.<br />
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Our family of six in Kenya!!<br />
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One of the only pictures Mark and I have from the last few years, I think!<br />
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The monkeys were playing with each other. I could have watched them forever. It's fascinating to figure out what their games are!<br />
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Guess what song we sang when we saw the water buffalo? Veggie Tales fans know...<br />
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And, our favorite part of all...the giraffes!!! They are so graceful and beautiful!<br />
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It is so amazing to watch all the animals living together in one big open space!<br />
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The big treasure of the day was seeing two different families of rhinos! Our guide said they are usually hard to see during the mid-day like this, and are usually alone. (So, you can imagine how many pictures of the rhino bottoms we have!)<br />
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At the end of our {very long and fun} safari day, our guide mentioned going to the lake to go on a boat ride and see hippos. Everything in my tired body wanted to just say no. But, when can you EVER go on a boat ride in the middle of Africa and see hippos?! So, off we went! And, I'm SO glad we did!<br />
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It was like a meeting ground for all the birds! It was crazy!</div>
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Gabe's view for the first half of the ride: propped on a lifejacket in the bottom of the boat. The boy was tired, but he sure loved the vibration of the boat!<br />
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And, this was one of our favorite parts. Our guide would point out the fish eagles in the trees. Do you see him way at the top?<br />
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Then, he would whistle and throw a fish in the water next to us. And, the fish eagle would come flying toward us! <br />
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And, out of nowhere, he would practically land on the water in a split second, pick up the fish, and soar back up to the trees. Mark was the awesome photographer who caught this series of pictures. SO amazing!!!<br />
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I told the girls that we could definitely check off Nature Studies for our homeschool for the whole month after a day like this!! (By the way, have I mentioned how GLAD I am that our kids got to go with us on this journey? They saw it all...the hard, the sad, the frustrating, the awesome, the happy, the JOYFUL, the grace, the love...they learned so much about another culture and another country, but also about God's heart for the orphan, and about His power! Lessons I could have never taught them in school. :)<br />
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Even Gabe got to enjoy the afternoon and see the animals. He actually loved being in the wind, and was so relaxed, hanging out on the boat! (Now we know even more how much he loves being outside, in the wind, or in the water. It's his favorite place besides the bathtub!)<br />
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And, now for the crazy cool part. We saw so. many. hippos!! They were in families also, and the guide taught us alot about the habits of hippos. Did you know that the baby boy hippos have to be hidden by the momma hippo, because the daddy will try to kill him? So, he is always separated from the family until he is older, and they end up living in "boy groups" as bachelors! There is also, of course, a male leader of the family, and there is even extended family members in one group. But, most of the group are females and their babies. SO COOL to see it firsthand!<br />
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This one was communicating back and forth with the guide, who is obviously on the water with these hippos every day. It was very clear that they knew each other. :)<br />
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It was one of my favorite days of our month gone, and still one that we love to look back at and "ooo" and "awe" at all of our pictures. This world is an amazing place and I'm so thankful we got to explore this part of it!<br />
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"<i>When I consider Your heavens, the work of Your fingers, the moon and the stars, which You have set in place, what is man that You are mindful of him, the son of man that you care for him? You made him a little lower than the heavenly beings and crowned him with glory and honor. You made him ruler over the works of Your hands; You put everything under his feet: all flocks and herds, and the beasts of the field, the birds of the air, and the fish of the sea, all that swim the paths of the seas. O Lord, our Lord, how majestic is Your name in all the earth!" Ps. 8</i></div>mcjacobsjournalhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16727712016502696400noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-16817998.post-46110142394599361932012-07-14T15:56:00.003-05:002012-07-14T15:59:12.170-05:00Birthday Celebration!<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">
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Since we've been home as a family of six, we have had all kinds of celebrations and events! But, one special event we got to celebrate while we were still in Rwanda. We had no idea that we would end up being there for Gabe's first birthday!</div>
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But, when we heard the news, we were so thankful and thrilled. Dave and Jana did a wonderful job of throwing a party at their home for special friends of their family, and we were honored to be guests at such a big celebration!<br />
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To celebrate the fact that this little one...born so tiny and so alone...was now celebrating one year of LIFE and health with so many people in Rwanda who love him, was just SO NEAT!<br />
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My friend, Marla, even made him a first birthday shirt before we left. So sweet!!<br />
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We got to meet many of the people who have loved and supported Gabe, and it was a wonderful opportunity to tell them how thankful we were, as well as get to know them all better.<br />
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The girls had just landed the day before, so they hit the ground running, playing hard with all the kids who were there, and getting to know new friends, who became familiar faces in the four weeks we were there.<br />
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And, of course, what is a party without all of his mamas there? <br />
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Mama Susanna, his night nurse for months,<br />
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and Mama Taopista, who lives with the Jenkins and is mama and cook to all.<br />
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The girls had such fun celebrating Gabe too!</div>
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And, they were excited to share the party hats they brought from home. :) Gabe had a cute bear birthday cake too, baked with love by Taopista.<br />
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Sweet, thoughtful gifts were given to Gabe, that are now treasured parts of his room. And we even brought one of our own from home.<br />
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Abby Kate made a card quickly before the party. It says "from your family" and our gift is wrapped in her blankie. :)<br />
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I don't know if you can tell by the feet sticking out the bottom of the "wrapping", but his gift was his first Build-a-Bear, which is our traditional gift when new babies are born to our family. The girls had gone with Daddy to build Gabe's monkey before they left Dallas. It was as big as he was!<br />
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Such a fun day and such a blessed memory for our family, to be able to tell Gabe about his first birthday someday. And we're so thankful that it was in Rwanda, with all the people who have raised him!</div>
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</div>mcjacobsjournalhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16727712016502696400noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-16817998.post-18123484933522973702012-07-11T23:30:00.001-05:002012-07-11T23:30:27.827-05:00Aunts and Uncles<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">
So, if you can't tell already, Gabey has quite the fan club in our family alone. We have lots of loving grandparents who adore him and spoil him and can hardly handle the Gabey Baby pouty lip...which is famous 'round these parts, by the way.<br />
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But, another fan group that is pretty crazy is the aunts and uncles. They're all in love and obsessed with their little nephew guy.<br />
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And, the official introductions were not complete until Gabe had met his Uncle C. He's the favorite for many reasons...most of which have to do with how crazy or silly he is. But, I loved getting to watch him with Gabe. They had quite a little attachment on first meeting and hung out and chilled together quite easily. :)<br />
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In fact, Gabe has become quite attached to all his aunts and uncles! <br />
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Aunt Jodi</td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhRkrCdofDQyzE_wagLTzzIXfrgGzZreYtyO263Axj6xx2jslWdTXK5RyLAEyHPlVDAaeGq0ckKnrsJFpOH23TD-rRgXgkcBZWSRXRBGxY7rq_kB8OTpyfcDTI_zAJbwZXX7Yk_bg/s1600/IMG_1890.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhRkrCdofDQyzE_wagLTzzIXfrgGzZreYtyO263Axj6xx2jslWdTXK5RyLAEyHPlVDAaeGq0ckKnrsJFpOH23TD-rRgXgkcBZWSRXRBGxY7rq_kB8OTpyfcDTI_zAJbwZXX7Yk_bg/s400/IMG_1890.jpg" width="260" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Aunt Cortni and Aunt Cailee</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEim-jknbdBuehUoTEqYlAHuhvQHOsyFI6oq9QsfuS_bqy3Sdm1Ch1VDgQN9Q8hprJ1HKVCuSlyJ74SC8WPrPGn0ZPrzXgyo2JqTt64wkC4Gl9lwuR3IzjauSpKhr8x2ZaWQEVRKTg/s1600/IMG_1860.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEim-jknbdBuehUoTEqYlAHuhvQHOsyFI6oq9QsfuS_bqy3Sdm1Ch1VDgQN9Q8hprJ1HKVCuSlyJ74SC8WPrPGn0ZPrzXgyo2JqTt64wkC4Gl9lwuR3IzjauSpKhr8x2ZaWQEVRKTg/s400/IMG_1860.jpg" width="266" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Aunt Cassie</td></tr>
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He is starting to recognize them easily and definitely wants their eyes on him at all times! Which really doesn't seem to be a problem.<br />
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This picture was seriously not posed. He's got 'em wrapped.</div>
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And, even the uncles get to hold him sometimes. Uncle Brad, I still don't have a picture of you holding him, although I know there are pictures of you! I'll have to snag one from your wife! :)<br />
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Uncle Austin...<br />
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And Uncle Adam...</div>
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I sure love that our brothers and sisters love on our kiddos like they belong to them!</div>
</div>mcjacobsjournalhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16727712016502696400noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-16817998.post-79849239392332807792012-07-11T21:58:00.001-05:002012-07-11T21:58:21.469-05:00Keeping it Going<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">
So, now that I've blogged about coming home, let's keep this thing movin'.<br />
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As soon as we hit the ground, we were blessed by friends and family. I came home to a clean house with a kitchen full of food, along with a whole big basket of diapers and all the other baby necessities I would need, so no errand-running was needed.<br />
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While I was still in Rwanda, my sisters asked me what baby gear I needed. I assumed they meant from the "stash" that our family shares from baby to baby to baby. But, when I walked in the door, I saw a brand new highchair, pack-n-play, and all the other "family" gear set up in every room. <br />
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As you can see, Gabe was very happy with what the aunts gave him!<br />
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Huge welcome home banners were hung, and it felt so good to be home!<br />
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When I walked upstairs, Gabe's door was closed and hanging on it was the life verse we have chosen for him: <br />
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<b><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: inherit;">Gabriel Mugisha </span></b></div>
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<b><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: inherit;">"I am honored in the eyes of the Lord, and my God has become my strength."</span></b></div>
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<b><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: inherit;"><br /></span></b></div>
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And, then I walked into a room that had always been two-tone pink with scalloped trim. And, instead, found that it was already gray. My sisters and their oh-so-loving-and-willing husbands painted Gabe's room for me while I was gone, and hung this adorable pennant above his bed. </div>
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(It still hangs there today...I just can't take it down!)</div>
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Blown away. And so so thankful. And I slept so SO good that night.</div>
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The great and hard thing about coming home on EASTER weekend, is that you are thrown right into a busy holiday. But, truly, we were so glad to see our family three days in a row.</div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi04_IRDbhxZvgGe76MaPk-uo7IQHHwchXrt475kigDR_8Y9RRJuE88gw6Ja6NOSRMTyar97UnchfsbRIt0XSOZcAaSLGgXURdz4hZgG_P6INAjUHogJUUqbHbuuB6akrRUceZ6Fg/s1600/IMG_1864.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><br /></a>First, they hosted a dinner for us at La Ha, our favorite tex-mex restaurant. This was 24 hours after we got home. I really don't know how all of our eyes were open. But, I guess for fajitas and family, I'll gladly stay awake! Plus, I have some really cute nieces and nephews who I was missing like CRAZY!</div>
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The next day, it was time for Easter celebrations to start, and Gabe got to meet his Grandad, Grandkay, Grandmother, and Papa Roy...a few of the family he hadn't got to meet at the airport.</div>
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Lots of pictures were made to capture the weekend, and it is a really sweet time as I look back on it now. At the same time, we were pretty stinkin' TIRED. </div>
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Partly from traveling, partly from a new baby, partly from the emotion of it all...but we still found the strength to hunt for candy with cousins. And, I just chose not to think about the stuffed-to-the-brim suitcases I had waiting for me at home. )</div>
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I love the pictures of my little bunnies this year.</div>
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So, by Easter Sunday, I had really reached my max. We decided to worship together as a family, instead of introducing Gabe to the big church family who was waiting! We woke up early (since we were still on Rwanda time!) and headed to watch the sunrise. This is one of my sweetest memories of our first days home. Time with just our family of 6, celebrating Easter, taking communion, singing worship songs, and praising God for His faithfulness and redemptive power, both in the big and small things. So relaxed. So not Eastery. And so what I needed.</div>
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We skipped the Easter baskets at home and the Easter dresses...and Abby Kate even found out the truth about the Easter Bunny. (Yeah, I wasn't really in the mood for the American holiday stuff!)</div>
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But, we DID have egg hunts and our traditional Easter meal with Pops and Grandma: Kalua Pig from Hawaii! YUM! And, even more time with family, just relaxing and talking and playing with cousins.</div>
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And getting plenty of lovin' from grandparents!</div>
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I just started laughing that I'm blogging about Easter right now, in the middle of July. And, with such detail, mind you. :) Ha ha. Oh well. At least it's happening. I'm finding a way through the muddled mind and the jumbled photo files to share our spring and summer with you. I'm sure you've been just waiting to hear what happened in April. :)</div>
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So...Happy Easter, everyone!</div>
</div>mcjacobsjournalhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16727712016502696400noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-16817998.post-71185296834415122632012-07-11T18:19:00.005-05:002012-07-11T18:24:09.157-05:00Home<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">
Last week, we hit the 3 month mark of being home with Gabe. So, I thought now would be a good time to show you pictures of that happening. :)<br />
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You know, it's pretty amazing to look at these pics of our homecoming. I smile every time. Of course, I smile when I see the crowd that welcomed us home...not just faces and names, but people I <i><b>adore</b></i> and who literally prayed us home. And, even more than that, I smile at the <b><i>joy</i></b> on their faces as they meet Gabe and hold him. Oh, the love. It runs deep.<br />
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But, what makes me smile even bigger is knowing now what I didn't know then. These pics show love...but we had no idea. No idea how much deeper it could go. No idea that those same people who greeted us would shower us with love like we never imagined. No idea that God would create a fierce bond between mom and dad and son that is literally like glue. :) So, there <i><b>was</b></i> love. But, it didn't feel then like it does now.<br />
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<b><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: large;">Now it feels like home. </span></b></div>
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Familiar. Comfortable. Right.</div>
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In fact, I can't even really explain this in words, but this place feels like home to him too. One of my favorite things is watching his face when we walk through the door.<br />
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He recognizes it with a smile and a sigh. And sometimes a squeal. And his whole body relaxes (which you can physically see in a child who usually has high tone (flexed muscles).)<br />
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Honestly, he doesn't love the running around that our city life requires at times. So, it's a remarkable difference in his mood when he is finally<i><b> home</b></i>.<br />
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And, that's kind of a big miracle in my book. Because a little over 3 months ago, this place smelled strange, looked strange, and was missing the people he called family and the place he called home. And, while I hope and pray that he grows up knowing both, I am grateful for the roots he seems to be planting right here. <br />
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When anyone starts the road of adoption, there are those weeks when you're all fumbling with a new way. Gabe "fit in" quickly. But, somewhere in all these weeks, he began to really really <i><b>belong</b></i>...in our home, in our hearts, in our family.<br />
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Today, I smile (and, yes, cry) at these pictures because God is so crazy amazing. He took a child and placed him in our arms as a son. And, even on the days when it didn't feel so deep and connected and rooted, we cared for him and loved him and gave him what we could give. And, as you do that, day after day, God completely and totally turns your world upside down for this little one, who you didn't birth, or even know in the earliest of days. But, who now can make you squeal with pride when he has a great day at therapy or grabs a toy or says "mama" (totally by accident). <br />
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It's a crazy God thing that we come to know our children the way we do. Every little detail possible. The tickle spots, how much to warm the food, what each cry really means, and how his "side eye glance" makes you laugh and he knows it. <br />
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And, so I share these pictures of "coming HOME", even more grateful now than I even was then. God is making a family here, slowly but surely, and we are surrounded by the most amazing people who continue to pray us <i><b>home</b></i>.<br />
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</div>mcjacobsjournalhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16727712016502696400noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-16817998.post-87972004852385858172012-05-30T17:41:00.003-05:002012-05-30T17:41:56.733-05:00Confessions of an Eeyore<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">
So, scratch that.<br />
<br />
Last week wasn't blog week after all. (I thought if I said it, it would come true.)<br />
<br />
But, here's a tiny thought of the day from my heart to yours. (And, then I'll be back with pictures. Maybe of Easter. Or, something else that happened over a month ago.) <br />
<br />
Life is going well around here. But, I do have a confession to make. God has been {ever so gently} wrestling with me. <br />
<br />
Because I have this little problem. I'm a glass half empty girl.<br />
<br />
There. I said it. (Because, really, those of us who are that way, don't really ever want to admit it. Who wants to be Eeyore when Tigger's so much more fun? <i>By the way, we're reading Winnie the Pooh as a family right now, and Mark is the best Eeyore voice I've ever heard. And, A.A. Milne is one of the funniest most talented authors I've ever known too. That was a sidenote.)</i><br />
<br />
But, what's interesting is that in the "big bad hard" parts of life, I've actually been the opposite. When true trials have surrounded me, I have leaned on God for every breath I take, I've seen the positive in situations, I have been SO filled with JOY, and I've seen Him do AMAZING things. Like so amazing, you wouldn't even believe they're real.<br />
<br />
But, put me in an ordinary, nothing especially difficult kind of day, and I start seeing the bad instead of the good. What is that ABOUT?! It's so frustrating! And, I've seen it in myself more lately than I care to. (I think I've even had the Eeyore voice. I know. So sad.)<br />
<br />
I've been seeing a busy day as a stressor. I've been seeing four doctor appointments and two therapy appointments in one week as a burden. I've been seeing a house full of mess and a floor full of laundry as a <i>major</i> problem. I've been seeing our school days as overwhelming and long before they even start!<br />
<br />
And, just this morning, as I was praying about my upcoming day, I was already praying about it like it was bad and hard and too much. <br />
<br />
And, God literally stopped me in my tracks and said "Go, sit down, and listen to Me." I'm not kidding. It was that clear.<br />
<br />
So, I went. In the middle of cleaning a kitchen counter while making breakfast and starting laundry, I stopped. And sat. And read. And, my first realization is that I have let the most important thing slip. My time with Him <i>early in the morning</i>. I <i>know </i>this about myself. I know how badly I need it! But, my exhaustion and busy mornings with a new baby had led to skipping my reading time. First here and there, and then almost every day. And, boy does that silly enemy sneak IN when you're not in your armor!!<br />
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So, what was up next in my Bible Study today? The story of Paul and Silas having JOY in prison. And Stephen having JOY in stoning. And, modern day martyrs, blessing the Lord as they are killed for His name's sake. Wow. All of a sudden, I realized. I'm not even close to a <i>trial</i>. I'm not in prison. I'm not being stoned. And, even more than that,<b> I am in a time of blessing!!! </b> Of overflow. Of plenty. Of fullness.<br />
<br />
I have three healthy, beautiful, curious, delightful, full-of-energy-and-life daughters and one healthy, beautiful, curious, stronger-by-the-day son.<br />
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And, this is the day the LORD has MADE. I WILL rejoice and be glad in it! I've just been reminded and convicted (again) that I have to start with knowing Who made my day. And, stopping to talk with Him about it first. Then, I have to set my sight on the JOY that He has filled our home with, and rejoice in the blessings.<br />
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Don't really know why I needed to share that today. But, I did.<br />
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Just wanted to encourage other moms at the end of busy school years with busy homes and alot on their plates, that God longs for us to see this overflow as a blessing and not a curse! And, to receive it <i>all </i>with joy and gratitude.<br />
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Said by an Eeyore who found some Tigger bounce today. Thank you, God, for that. :)</div>mcjacobsjournalhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16727712016502696400noreply@blogger.com9