Final Days

Written by Katelyn Sullins

Shalom! We miss you all dearly and, ready or not, we are coming home!

As is our custom, we packed this final day to the brim, so much so that I doubt my words will communicate much depth of what the Lord did in these 24 hours. Our day began on the Mount of Olives, ended on the Southern Steps, and found us tracing Jesus’ last moments during the Passion week narrative. It truly was a remarkable experience to gain new perspective on what it would have been like for our Savior to follow his Father’s will unto death.

All I can say is - please ask us about our time here? Ask your student or friend or child what the Lord has shown them during their time in Israel. I imagine each answer will be a little bit different, as we are such a varied bunch. Today brought clarity, however, on a single answer we might corporately respond in truth: For whatever the reason He brought us here, we are all returning being sent.

My answer in part, came yesterday. Standing at the Western Wall, with scores of devoted followers all around, my eyes welled up a little. The women lined up at the wall, rocking back and forth and praying fervently, as close as they could get to where the presence of God once dwelled. In desperately seeking intimacy with God, they wrote prayers and shoved the tiniest papers into the wall, hoping to get closer, to be heard, to just be near Him. But that is why the tears came - They are actually closer to God when they are standing next to me! They don’t need the wall, for I have the Spirit of the Living God inside of me. The third person of the Trinity actually dwells within me! And so do you, believer!

What a glorious, sobering truth. We are filled with the person of the Spirit and are charged to continue the ministry of Christ on earth through his sanctification in our lives. It is not of ourselves – it is by grace and through faith and most definitely for His glory – and WE get to be a part of it! If we but believe. I am leaving Israel a grateful woman, marveling at the privilege it is to be called among the inheritance of Christ, and that it has nothing to do with my own performance or merit. Praise God.

Our travel plans have us scheduling early morning wakeup calls to catch our first flight. We will do our best to update you as we go along in our travels – but know we are eager to see your faces, deeply grateful for your prayers, and still covet your generous offering of them.

In Christ,
Katelyn Sullins