23 April 2015.
Independence day- A day of celebration, music, dancing, partying all decorated with blue and white flags.
Walking down the highway in Tyberias I saw two men in a little white Kia, their faces looked like home! It was oom Wikus and Hennie hooting all the way! Excitement bubbled up in me, after not seeing loved ones for so long! We ended up eating Mc Donalds on top of the hill we pitched our tents on (it ended being someone's farm, haha) Our first two nights in Tyberias ended up being sleepless, because of Independence day celebrations. But none the less, they were enjoyed having Israëli breakfast with oom Wickus and Hennie, doing dramas in the cold and being human tent pitches in the gruelling wind and rain. A life like no other!!
We had the privilege of going to Karmiel with Hennie and oom Wikus where we served at the Rivers of Living water. The Fridman family made us feel so welcome and it was an honor to serve a group of refugees with them.
Another leg of our pilgrimage stared in Ramot next to the sea of Galilee. With amazing sun rises and sunsets, I felt like something major was happening in my heart, and in my nostrils. I kept on asking if someone smells coconut, but it seemed like I was the only one. Swimming, having good fellowship with team mates, and digging into scripture filled the days. We went toCapernaum and followed apostle Pauls footsteps, and I just re discovered the glory of who Jesus is. Standing where He preached, walking where He walked, something inside me stirred to new levels.
I had the privilege of witnessing Carmen and Lisa get baptised, and the Spirit was resting heavy (so was that strange coconut smell) in the atmosphere. Jesus is everywhere, and He smells like coconut and promises. The waves started crashing and I started shaking. Where the Spirit of the Lord is, there is freedom!!
Jerusalem Jerusalem!!! A place of many firsts! My first time on a tram, my first time sleeping under the stars (lame for a 24 year old, I know). But wait, I'M IN JERUSALEM!! I'm in JERUSALEM!
We got welcomed by the "challenge tune" on the first morning. An exploration challenge! We went through the stations of the cross, took selfies with sranegers, learned about the 7 gates, went to David's tomb, visited a Russian church where the original gate is, and prayed for people at the baths of Betsaida, ate falafel sandwiches and had tons of FUN! [Orange team victoryyyy]
We visited the Holocaust museum, went to the mount of olives, and I SAWJesus everywhere. The best iced coffee in Jerusalem? In the Muslim quarters!
Memories were made, and lots of laughing took place! Jesus once again showed me that it's because of a lack of knowledge that His people perish. I learned the meaning of "break my heart for what breaks Yours" all over again. One of the oldest cities, with one of the oldest regions, and the only thinthing you can do is pray that they might receive the NEW truth, which is Jesus the Messiah. He is the only truth, and I am thankful that I KNOW Him.
Our last leg of Israel was spent in Bethlehem with sister Maria and Ester from the Coptic church. I grew up in a house where working hard and learning to do things (like change a light bulb or fix a car) was important, BUT, not even building week prepared us for moving 6 tons of stones, 3 TIMES!! Like the wise mans saying goes: It's character building!! Indeed it was. We moved stones, worked the garden, ate lots of ice cream and made friends with George from the shop down the road. we laughed and sometimes cried, and our team working skills were put to the test..
We got to visit "the wall" on our last day, and after spending so much time in Palestine and learning about the reality of this heartbreaking conflict, it struck me hard when I stood in front of this wall.. A wall to separate what exactly? I tried to make sense of it in my head, but only felt what I feel back home when I experience racial conflict. "WHAT IS THIS??", my heart asked.. I realised that everywhere we go, we experience separation and conflict.Whether it's Syrian/Jordanian, African/Afrikaner or Palestinian/Israeli..I was three when apartheid ended, but we still feel it,, don't we? My only question is: Were we born racists, or are we taught to be?
My biggest revelation was that we are IN Jesus, we take on HIS DNA, and there's no separation because we were made by the same God, we bleed the same blood and we cry the same tears of injustice..
PEACE IN THE MIDDLE EAST!
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