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Israel Study Tour - The Church At Rocky Peak
May 5-16, 2014
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Clouds and Camels ...
Hello friends and family! This is Michelle Jensen writing this entry for the Rocky Peak family study tour, on Thusday, May 8 (Is it already Thursday? We've done so much it seems like more time has passed!)
Today was full of flexibility and fun. Last night there was a storm--complete with wind, thunder and lightning! We learned rain comes in the desert in May about once every 50 years--and Wed night the area received half of all it's rainfall for the year! With this type of rain come flash floods, which we experienced first-hand as our bus driver navigated the flooded road (while video taping the drive!). We encountered a few detours and route changes because of the flooding, so this made for some extra time on the bus. Time, as it turned out, was well-spent making new friends, bonding with old ones and enjoying ourselves. It felt reminiscent of a day at camp--complete with practical jokes (think rubber snakes), plenty of goofy (and possibly blackmail material) pictures, clapping and singing.
Time passed quickly and soon we were learning modern history of Israel becoming a state at the burial site of David Ben-Gurion. Then riding camels at a Bedouin camp in the Negev. Then walking in the wilderness of Zin. Then looking out over a river in the desert with trees growing by the water (Psalm 1). And finally floating in the Salt Sea (Dead Sea).
Ein Avdat
The Nahal Zin was the southern border of the land of Canaan that was promised to the Israelites. Numbers 34:3-4 (KJV) “Then your south quarter shall be from the wilderness of Zin along by the coast of Edom, and your south border shall be the outmost coast of the salt sea eastward: And your border shall turn from the south to the ascent of Akrabbim, and pass on to Zin: and the going forth thereof shall be from the south to Kadeshbarnea, and shall go on to Hazaraddar, and pass on to Azmon.”
As with each day, Mike taught at key points in our journey. The point that resonated with me most was God does not waste deserts. In the desert the children of Israel learned to hang onto every Word of God, and God was preparing them for their next season ... He works the same way in our lives if we allow him.
Can't wait for this adventure to continue--for now, sleep!
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