A very clear picture

Today was our first full day in Jerusalem! It'll be hard to describe it in words not only because we did so much, but because it was so intense.

(Side note: This whole trip is hard to describe in words! Pictures help but there is sooo much that we've felt and experienced here as a community and as individuals that is beyond words.)

We started the day by going to the Western Wall! Watching the Jewish people be so devoted, focused, and confident in their prayers was inspiring. We had a tour through the Rabbinic tunnels which span the wall literally underneath the Muslim Quarter of the city. This wall is the closest you can get to the place that the Jews consider to be the most holy and sacred place on earth.

Then we hiked through Hezekiah's tunnel in the Old City! It was super awesome because we were trekking through ice cold water in a dark, smoothly-carved tunnel. And it was long!! John Ellis recorded a video that lasted 22 minutes and Steve McCormick only hit his head on the rock above five times! Haha

Pastor Mike taught about the healing of the blind man at the Pool of Siloam (which was right next to where we exited Hezekiah's tunnel). He reminded us that the only person Jesus can't help is the person who doesn't think he needs help. Pastor Mike also shared Psalm 121 with us. The first part of verse 3 "He will not let your foot slip" had more meaning for us because we had just walked through a dark slippery tunnel. Verses 7 and 8 are some of my favorites:
"The Lord will keep you from all harm— he will watch over your life; the Lord will watch over your coming and going both now and forevermore."

Then we went up to the Mount of Olives! An absolutely spectacular (and possibly the best?) view of Jerusalem. We also had a special surprise! Jeff proposed to Kelly here and she said yes!!!!

From there we walked up to Gethsemane, which means olive press. This was the garden full of olive trees where Jesus sweat blood the night before he was arrested. It was powerful knowing that it was here on this ground that Jesus began to suffer for us.

And finally we went to the Holocaust Museum. I walked away from this place with such a heavy heart. First Ronan shared with us a story about a man who saved thirty-five Jews, which may not seem like a lot compared to the six million who died, but one of those Jews is his mother-in-law. The Holocaust was not that long ago, and it's a tragedy and problem that so many people in the world today still don't even know that it happened. Then we entered a memorial for the one and a half million innocent children who were killed. We walked through a dark room with reflections of shining candles all along the high walls as the names, ages, and countries of the children were being announced over us. Even though it was really dark, you could still see your own pitch black silhouette being reflected in the walls. For me, it was like looking directly at sin. It was a very clear picture of how evil we all are as humans. Inside the museum, it was even more painful watching the videos and hearing the personal stories of the Holocaust survivors. It was a beautiful and heartbreaking place. I left with my head throbbing, and we all walked away carrying more than the weights we came in with. But despite all of this, God is good!

... But despite all of this, God is good! And he loves us more than we can imagine.

Psalm 61:2-3
"from the end of the earth I call to you when my heart is faint.
Lead me to the rock that is higher than I,
for you have been my refuge, a strong tower against the enemy."

Tianna