The Last Hurrah

We’ve been home for two full days now and life has never felt more surreal. This morning, I find myself on my bedroom floor with a bowl of cereal to my left and the journal I used in Israel to my right. In a short hour, I will return to work after a two-week hiatus. How am I possibly going to focus for nine hours when my momentum still feels like an uphill hike? My mind is blossoming with visions of wheat fields, mountains, and living water. My ears still ring from the timid moos of the countless cows we encountered, and my nose still smells their waste, too!

Lets first return back to this past Saturday, our last day in Israel. The first hike of the day was to the top of Mt. Carmel. This was by far one of the hardest hikes that we ventured, but it was so worth it with an amazing view and story to be told on the top of God’s power and faithfulness. Then the last location of the day and trip was to the Mediterranean coast at Strato’s Tower Caesarea. King Herod built up this city and, like always, he made it look magnificent. Caesarea became one of the most important ports from Israel across the Mediterranean and a pivotal launching point for the disciples out to the rest of the world to begin the mission God has called us to.

A few people have asked me how the trip went, and I’m thankful it’s only a few. I’m learning that an experience like this could take years to process, maybe even a lifetime to understand. I am encouraged by Ben and Stacie Post, who have guided us in an effort to create our own little story to share: a thirty-second version, a minute version, a ten-minute version, and an hour version for those who enjoy coffee along with a good story.

Below are a few of short stories for you to catch a glimpse of our incredible experiences.

You may also browse the gallery of photos or view all the social media posts.

One morning on the top of Mt. Arbel, the presence of the Lord so strongly surrounded me with a welcoming breeze and rays of sunshine hitting the Sea of Galilee, making its waters glimmer with awe. “It’s time to listen to Me, in the beauty of My creation and in the stillness of My presence,” He said. “Allow Me to refine the desires of your heart, so you can better know the desires of My heart… So you can know Me and be like Me.” With that, a blanket of peace fell upon me and a few tears ran down my cheeks. The sun continued to shine bright like a face-breaking smile in the clouds. I’ve been lacking such moments at home where our culture embodies a robotic lifestyle of programs and schedules to tend to. This kind of lifestyle isn’t healthy; in fact, it’s destructive: emotionally, mentally, physically and spiritually. So, here’s to the end of “yes” and the beginning of “no” to plans. Rather, it’s the beginning of “yes” to our Lord and Savior who so deeply desires for His children to intimately know Him. The time is long overdue, but it’s never too late to know the God who created you.

- Noelle Jacobs

I've been asked many times about the Israel excursion, "What kind of trip is this?" My answer usually follows as a succinct, "It is a two-week study tour." Truth be told it and will be much more than that. Visiting around 30-40 sites that I've learned about as a child gives me a whole new perspective. This is only scratching the surface of the purpose of the trip. I've learned that the only thing one must to do meet the Holy Spirit is to call out. I've learned that love and forgiveness are tools that have the ability to change a divided city and country. The amount of knowledge we have gained is incalculable, so the task at hand now is turning this into understanding and wisdom. How will we change our lives to adapt this knowledge into something tangible? For those of you reading the blog, this may be just as exciting to visualize as the pictures you have seen. We hope that you see change in us, and we hope that we can impact you in a positive way as well!

- Alex Reinsma

Going to Israel certainly was a life-changing experience! I have already noticed a difference in the passion I have for the word. One of the days of the trip that really stuck out to me was when we went to the temple in Jerusalem. It was very impactful to hear the word from God in Acts 2:1-24 on the Southern Steps. In this place the Holy Spirit, the very presence of God, came upon the apostles. 3,000 Jews were saved and baptized that day, quite possibly right there on the Southern Steps. In the words of Ben Post, "This is where the church began!" It was extremely powerful to hear this message on the steps and know that for those who are saved the Holy Spirit is living inside of them! This means that the Creator, Sustainer, and Savior of the universe lives inside of our hearts. His presence dwells among us. This message was just what I needed to hear before going to see the Western Wall, or Wailing Wall. It broke my heart to see the people who dedicate time day after day to go to the wall and hope that God will hear their prayers. The Jews that come to the wall have a faith of obedience and dedication that I long for, but they are missing a key part! Christ came to save and be the sacrifice for us. When Jesus died, the curtain of the temple was torn in two! They don't have to go to the Western Wall for God to hear their prayers, or to feel the presence of the Lord. I so badly wanted for them to know that Jesus can be in their hearts. That they can have the extreme power that comes with the presence of the Lord living inside of them. I feel so blessed to have grown up in a house that taught me about Jesus. I am so glad to have the best friend l ever could, Jesus Christ, and I will continually pray that the Jews will accept him as the Messiah and their best friend as well.

- Erin Francis

This trip has truly made my heart come alive to the living, breathing word of God! How amazing to see both Old and New Testament stories in a completely new way, in places where they actually happened! God is so good and was faithful to our group on this journey, and He always provides just enough of what we need. I will never be the same after this trip and praise God for the opportunity to have taken this adventure! We can never stop learning, and never stop glorifying our Father who makes us new each and every day!

- Ann Smit

Thank you for all of your prayers, this trip was such a blessing to me. God sent His people to the wilderness to be humbled and tested, and I definitely felt Him doing that with me throughout these past two weeks. By climbing high, low and through tight spaces, I gained a new perspective on Bible stories that I have known since I was a child. Through the stories that were shared, the truth that the Bible stands the test of time was strengthened. The ruins of the land proclaim the power and faithfulness of God. In this land between, God showed me the importance of my story being part of His, for He no longer dwells on the temple mount but in our hearts. Just as the stories of these locations that I have skimmed over in the Bible most of my life are important, our stories are as well, for we are His witnesses.

“For this God is our God forever and ever; he will be our guide even to the end.” –Psalm 48:14

- Erin Eighmey

Adoni Roi lo echsar. "The Lord is my shepherd, I am in need of nothing." -Psalm 23:1

In Israel was the first time I’ve ever witnessed a shepherd keeping watch over his flock. This was the first time I’ve seen the vastness of the flock and the watchfulness of the shepherd as he lets his flock graze on the “green pastures” of the land. These “green pastures” are not the fields of green grass that I originally had thought. These green pastures are basically weeds spryly sprouting up from the rocks of the mountains. Yet David, in this Psalm says he is in need of nothing. Even with fields of green pastures which are nothing but rocky grounds with a few brownish green weeds sticking through it, David says he is in need of nothing. I think about my own life, and how much of an Israelite I am (a complainer) and how much I need to remind myself of what David once said - “The Lord is my shepherd, I am in need of nothing.”

- Jenna Hoezee

Coming back from Israel, I joked around that I would now begin to process the trip for the rest of my life. Maybe that is a little bit of an overstatement, but I truly do believe that the experiences will continue to mean different things to me as I study God’s word. Heading to the holy land has given me a new outlook on who Jesus is and the Bible has come to life. These past two weeks have been completely full of moments that have exceeded all of my expectations. Reading God’s word will never be the same; I am so blessed to have had the chance to walk where Jesus walked. In response to this trip, I hope to follow Him closer and have a better understanding of the bible as I study it for the rest of my life.

- Christen Dominski