This moment seems surreal. Sitting on a balcony with 5 other students... in Jerusalem. All of us are different majors, different states, different cultures. Sitting together, checking emails and singing along with Tommy while he practices worship on his guitar. His voice is amazing, and he has such a heart of worship. I have no doubt that one day, Scott Mason will be shaping up our government. Hunter has a funny sarcasm, but a really great energy and loyal spirit. Adam is consistent, doesn't say much, but when he does it's significant, and Rachael is the mother of the group. She is always making sure everyone is taken care of :-) and me- I'm just here, soaking it all it. Trying to create a visual memory of a life moment that will be looked back on with nothing but smiles!
Today was full of touring, but most places that I've already been to. Last night we went out to Benyahuda St. for a bit. I felt like i was back with Eagles Wings, missing my '08 crew! But it was fun, we shopped around for a bit and had yummy ice cream. We have been in Israel for 2 days now, visiting Hezekiah's tunnels in the city of David, prayed at the Western Wall, learned about the temple mount, and today lots of churches. Honestly, visiting all of them, it made me grateful that I don't have to pay respects to shrines and statues, or presumed graves, or candle ceremonies. I have immediate access to Jesus at any time, and being around all of this religious tradition has made me so grateful for that! There is so much that has to be done in order for these people to be in 'right standings' with God, and I love that Jesus brought me life and more abundantly!
This trip has been wonderful.. I have learned so much about myself, been stretched within myself and things I've held strong to, what I agree with and don't- theological and physical. But at the end of the day, I feel like God put me here to see how I would swim in the deep end.
From Steph and my preaching (Shekinah Glory ministries ;-) ) to Tommy's amazing worship, there are so many people here who are called to change the world, and we goof off and play and experience Poland/Israel together, but at the end of it all- I love that I get to be a part of their stories.
Today I got a ring made and I wanted to have something engraved into it that resembled what I've gotten out of this trip, and all I could think that I've learned was about the power of Jesus under question and condemnation. so I went with John 5:58- which talks about the Pharisees questioning Jesus, saying that he's not old enough, how could he claim to have seen Abraham before? Jesus replies back to them, "Truly, truly I tell you, that before Abraham was even born, I AM." I love that outside of the religious tradition, laws, and legalism, Jesus stands supreme, rules and reigns over the earth, and Jerusalem- HE IS- inspite of all things!
Goodnight once again from Israel- Life is good. God is great.
Hope
Monday, August 10, 2009
Saturday, August 8, 2009
playing catch up..
WOW! so much done, with no internet time to catch up on it all... I am now officially in Jerusalem!! SHABBAT SHALOM!
We ended our time in Poland with visiting Auchwitz, Triblinka, and Birkenau concentration and extermination camps. The emotions were not as raw as they were at Mjdanek, I think because the initial shock was different. I have chosen to not talk to much about all that I saw until I am able to begin processing it all. My emotions have ran from one extreme to the other- initially upset, then angry, then confused. The autracities that occurred there have no words to do them justice, and seeing the strategic planning and excecution that took place... I have no explaination. But I know that I want my explanation of my time and experience here to be strategic and well thought through, so for now I will hold it all in my heart.
I can say that having a survivor with us changed the entire dynamic of this experience. The next generation will have no survivors to talk to or hear a story from. Irving took us through Auchwitz from his own life, he took us to bunk 33, and to the crematorium that his family was killed in. The ground that he stood on twice a day to be counted and recounted, experiences with Dr. Mengele there during the selections. It was all so real, as a 14 year old boy, and now in his 70s, he can still smell the burning hair and flesh, as well as the sound and smell from the electric fences that surrounded the area. Suprisingly, Irving walked with pride through that camp, making jokes and telling stories of his 3 years in Auchwitz. It is very apparent that the SS soldiers walked as gods around these Jews, and after all their evil attempts, the Nazi regime no longer stands, but he is still there today, reliving his hell, will a smile and hope. His righteous anger at God has turned into grace, and he loves being able to share his experience.
There is so much I can say about the last week, but I'm not sure how it will all come out in words. There is no logic.
But for now, I have just traveled and walked for the past 24 hours, so I'm going to hit the pillow. We landed at 4am and starting touring from there, checked in to hostel at 2pm.. back out for touring.. finally in late. I have so much to say still... maybe tomorrow night.
I will leave with this- A people who does not remember their past, will never have a future. We cannot be blind to the things of our past, because as the little changes begin in our present, that past will absolutely become our future.
goodnight from Jerusalem!
Hope
We ended our time in Poland with visiting Auchwitz, Triblinka, and Birkenau concentration and extermination camps. The emotions were not as raw as they were at Mjdanek, I think because the initial shock was different. I have chosen to not talk to much about all that I saw until I am able to begin processing it all. My emotions have ran from one extreme to the other- initially upset, then angry, then confused. The autracities that occurred there have no words to do them justice, and seeing the strategic planning and excecution that took place... I have no explaination. But I know that I want my explanation of my time and experience here to be strategic and well thought through, so for now I will hold it all in my heart.
I can say that having a survivor with us changed the entire dynamic of this experience. The next generation will have no survivors to talk to or hear a story from. Irving took us through Auchwitz from his own life, he took us to bunk 33, and to the crematorium that his family was killed in. The ground that he stood on twice a day to be counted and recounted, experiences with Dr. Mengele there during the selections. It was all so real, as a 14 year old boy, and now in his 70s, he can still smell the burning hair and flesh, as well as the sound and smell from the electric fences that surrounded the area. Suprisingly, Irving walked with pride through that camp, making jokes and telling stories of his 3 years in Auchwitz. It is very apparent that the SS soldiers walked as gods around these Jews, and after all their evil attempts, the Nazi regime no longer stands, but he is still there today, reliving his hell, will a smile and hope. His righteous anger at God has turned into grace, and he loves being able to share his experience.
There is so much I can say about the last week, but I'm not sure how it will all come out in words. There is no logic.
But for now, I have just traveled and walked for the past 24 hours, so I'm going to hit the pillow. We landed at 4am and starting touring from there, checked in to hostel at 2pm.. back out for touring.. finally in late. I have so much to say still... maybe tomorrow night.
I will leave with this- A people who does not remember their past, will never have a future. We cannot be blind to the things of our past, because as the little changes begin in our present, that past will absolutely become our future.
goodnight from Jerusalem!
Hope
Tuesday, August 4, 2009
hope within ashes
"Always question the human morality of a person who is preaching to you, and please know that if he doesn't have that it is a very dangerous thing."- Irving Roth- Jewish Holocaust survivor
We had walked into a hunk house and all I saw was triple bunked beds lining the walls, as well as a row in the middle... until a human was placed with it. The survivor with us headed toward the bed, placed his left hand on a post, with the # A10481 tattooed across his arm, and said, "this twin bed was like mine, it held three prisoners."
I've learned about Middle Eastern polotics. I've learned Judeo- Christian relations. I've learned the history of the Holocaust. Today I put emotion to all of those things.
I'm not sure what emotion goes with it all. I'm so upset that people lost their lives, their families, their legacies, their homes. That they suffered the way that they did. That people survived from separation, to ghetto, to holding cell, to cattle cars, to concentration camps, to death camps, beatings, marching, no food, and after their liberation just couldn't handle the pressure of having nothing ahead of them, their entire legacy gone before their eyes. I'm angry that there was an evil regime behind each person holding a gun. As they were standing there face to face, the victim and the persecutor, both men. Both Dads. Both have a soul and a heart, which turned my anger to sorrow. Because even many of the Nazi soldiers woke up to nightmares about what they we're doing. Nevertheless, at the end of the day, God loves them just as he does the apple of his eye, all of those Jewish innocents.
When we got to the end, exited the back door of the cremetorium where the dead bodies were put into fire ovens, we sat around a memorial. Behind the ledge we sat on was a giant bowl of ashes, that of those who burned there, and in front of us, we faced a ripply field, created by the bodies of the 18,000 who we're killed in that mass grave during the last weeks before the liberation.
A group of students sang a song, "we shall overcome someday" and after reliving hell that was call life for Irving Roth, he sat next to me, with silent streams down his face, looking at his young Christian friends, singing those same words. With all the mix of emotions and in this moment all of my anger and sorrow turned into hope. Because in all the pain, Mr. Roth made a choice. He chose life. He chose happiness. He chose a better start, in spite of all that was lost. Just as in his testimony, he chose "to have a wonderful life".
My prayers tonight are for those who perished in the extermination camp of Mjadanek, I can't think of anything else right now but the image of what I saw today. And those bright blue stains on the walls of the gas chamber from the C2 gas that was dropped from the shower heads.
Blessings and Goodnight from Kracow, Poland. Which BTW- completely sketchy!
Hope
We had walked into a hunk house and all I saw was triple bunked beds lining the walls, as well as a row in the middle... until a human was placed with it. The survivor with us headed toward the bed, placed his left hand on a post, with the # A10481 tattooed across his arm, and said, "this twin bed was like mine, it held three prisoners."
I've learned about Middle Eastern polotics. I've learned Judeo- Christian relations. I've learned the history of the Holocaust. Today I put emotion to all of those things.
I'm not sure what emotion goes with it all. I'm so upset that people lost their lives, their families, their legacies, their homes. That they suffered the way that they did. That people survived from separation, to ghetto, to holding cell, to cattle cars, to concentration camps, to death camps, beatings, marching, no food, and after their liberation just couldn't handle the pressure of having nothing ahead of them, their entire legacy gone before their eyes. I'm angry that there was an evil regime behind each person holding a gun. As they were standing there face to face, the victim and the persecutor, both men. Both Dads. Both have a soul and a heart, which turned my anger to sorrow. Because even many of the Nazi soldiers woke up to nightmares about what they we're doing. Nevertheless, at the end of the day, God loves them just as he does the apple of his eye, all of those Jewish innocents.
When we got to the end, exited the back door of the cremetorium where the dead bodies were put into fire ovens, we sat around a memorial. Behind the ledge we sat on was a giant bowl of ashes, that of those who burned there, and in front of us, we faced a ripply field, created by the bodies of the 18,000 who we're killed in that mass grave during the last weeks before the liberation.
A group of students sang a song, "we shall overcome someday" and after reliving hell that was call life for Irving Roth, he sat next to me, with silent streams down his face, looking at his young Christian friends, singing those same words. With all the mix of emotions and in this moment all of my anger and sorrow turned into hope. Because in all the pain, Mr. Roth made a choice. He chose life. He chose happiness. He chose a better start, in spite of all that was lost. Just as in his testimony, he chose "to have a wonderful life".
My prayers tonight are for those who perished in the extermination camp of Mjadanek, I can't think of anything else right now but the image of what I saw today. And those bright blue stains on the walls of the gas chamber from the C2 gas that was dropped from the shower heads.
Blessings and Goodnight from Kracow, Poland. Which BTW- completely sketchy!
Hope
travel time
I’M SO TIRED!!!
today we booked into the hotel and I’m ready to go back to sleep! Yesterday was lectures in the morening, then headed to JFK for travel time... our flight left at 6:30 which meant 2 hours in the airport waiting, reading People magazine - Saved by the Bell had a 20 year reunion! ilove that show! Our flight was 9 hours long with no sleeping. I switched seats into the middle section with Kristen and Victor. The man in front of me had his head in my lap so I barely slept. We jumped ahead 6 hrs which landed us at 9:45AM- and just the right time to tour all day apparently! We didn’t even see our hotel until 4:30 PM. So in 2 day old clothes and through a delirious fog, I saw the old city of Warsaw, which was beautiful.. with great ice cream! and homemade cones! We also went to a Jewish cemetery with a mass grave in it. that was the first thing that hit my heart and took me out of vacation mode. We finally got to our hotel and I layed on top of my covers waiting for my roommate, thinking, 9 hrs of flying and 7 more of walking, lets just rest my eyes a bit then I’ll shower and refreshen for dinner. The next thing I know is the fire alarm is going off- no wait.. that’s our phone.. waking me up out of a dead sleep 4 hours later! The voice on the other end was saying all sorts of things, i’m still not sure what. Thinking itwas morning, I was glancing through the sheer curtains thrying to figure it all out, she was saying- everyone is downstairs.. you missed dinner. come down. And all I could think was WHAT! They’re waiting for us? like to leave for the day?.. dinner? O wait, we’re in Poland, poor girl just is confused with the words breakfast and dinner. I hung up, still confused, and my roommate, what was asleep as well, took her intinerary out and saw another event lined up for right after dinner. Christian Zionist speakers from Poland. greattttttt...
Finally our day is over.. others are going out.. me too... on a date- with my dreams! How cheesy was that??
Last on my mind- every one of my convictions are being tested right now, it’s crazy.. what is a standard? What is conviction? I keep reminding myself..
..Righteousness is righteousness, no matter the circumstances.
Goodnight! (I wanted to be cool and write it in Poland, but I don’t know how)
-Hope
today we booked into the hotel and I’m ready to go back to sleep! Yesterday was lectures in the morening, then headed to JFK for travel time... our flight left at 6:30 which meant 2 hours in the airport waiting, reading People magazine - Saved by the Bell had a 20 year reunion! ilove that show! Our flight was 9 hours long with no sleeping. I switched seats into the middle section with Kristen and Victor. The man in front of me had his head in my lap so I barely slept. We jumped ahead 6 hrs which landed us at 9:45AM- and just the right time to tour all day apparently! We didn’t even see our hotel until 4:30 PM. So in 2 day old clothes and through a delirious fog, I saw the old city of Warsaw, which was beautiful.. with great ice cream! and homemade cones! We also went to a Jewish cemetery with a mass grave in it. that was the first thing that hit my heart and took me out of vacation mode. We finally got to our hotel and I layed on top of my covers waiting for my roommate, thinking, 9 hrs of flying and 7 more of walking, lets just rest my eyes a bit then I’ll shower and refreshen for dinner. The next thing I know is the fire alarm is going off- no wait.. that’s our phone.. waking me up out of a dead sleep 4 hours later! The voice on the other end was saying all sorts of things, i’m still not sure what. Thinking itwas morning, I was glancing through the sheer curtains thrying to figure it all out, she was saying- everyone is downstairs.. you missed dinner. come down. And all I could think was WHAT! They’re waiting for us? like to leave for the day?.. dinner? O wait, we’re in Poland, poor girl just is confused with the words breakfast and dinner. I hung up, still confused, and my roommate, what was asleep as well, took her intinerary out and saw another event lined up for right after dinner. Christian Zionist speakers from Poland. greattttttt...
Finally our day is over.. others are going out.. me too... on a date- with my dreams! How cheesy was that??
Last on my mind- every one of my convictions are being tested right now, it’s crazy.. what is a standard? What is conviction? I keep reminding myself..
..Righteousness is righteousness, no matter the circumstances.
Goodnight! (I wanted to be cool and write it in Poland, but I don’t know how)
-Hope
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