Israel and Egypt

We leave in just a few hours for Kenya. I have looked forward to returning to Africa SO much! I can't believe it's finally here.
We haven't had internet too much so I haven't been able to post or upload pics as much as I had thought. I want to summarize our last two weeks quickly to give you a taste of what we have seen.
We had one full week in Israel. We experienced many different emotions while being there. To walk where Jesus walked and be in the towns that I have read in the Bible my whole life was amazing. Walking the streets of Jeruselum left many of us frustrated and disappointed with the commercialism and we felt as if we wanted to see it 2,000 years ago not modern and with tourist trinkets all around. But soaking up the Jewish culture and walking through the city walls and gates was incredible. As we headed out into the countryside it was as if every piece of scripture was alive to me picturing Jesus walking on the Sea of Galilee and teaching and healing through out the region. Walking the Mt. of Beatitudes and going out on the Galilee were a highlight. Naomi had such amazing revelation during this whole experience. We headed out on the boat and the waves were pretty big and the boat was crashing over the waves. She was crying as she was nervous of the big waves and of getting sea sick. As soon as we got out and turned around the entire sea got really calm after a few minutes and then she enjoyed it so much. We also looked into the sky and saw a rainbow. We all weren't used to experiencing the sabbath in Israel and therefore weren't prepared for NO food places to be open. So we went the entire day with no food and finally got back to eat a late dinner. That night as we were going to bed i was praying outloud with the kids and thanking the Lord for his provision and for allowing us that experience today and for being able to walk where He had walked. Then Naomi interrupted me and said, "I have a thankful thing to add". She went on to express how God calmed the seas today for her just like he did for them. Then He also cleared up the rainy skies and gave us a rainbow just like He did for them. Then we were hungry all day and she said just like they complained and said there wouldn't be enough fish and bread and then He multiplied it, today He allowed us to get food after a hungry day when everything opened. It brought tears to my eyes as I saw her faith and how amazed she was that God did all the same things for her today that He did for "them" as she kept referring, all those years ago. God is teaching us all so much through this experience, even little Naomi at 6 years old.
We were very blessed by other travellers while we were in Jeruselum. We were staying at the hostel with a group of Calvary Chapel Bible College students living there for the semester. They were a great encouragement to us and we got to worship in the streets with them. A crowd gathered of almost 100 people and it was amazing to worship in Israel with fellow Christians. It was a special moment God gave us.
Another treat was getting to know two Austrailian ladies travelling through Isreal. They were in their 70's and on fire for the Lord and were SUCH a tremendous blessing to our group. It was like having wonderful spiritual mothers with us for the week. They even went to church with us and on some of our excursions. They were like a much needed present for our group of encouragement and joy half way through the trip. What a delight! They walked our group to the bus, gave big hugs good bye and prayed over our group. We left them as they waved good bye to us all holding the Concordia Eagles shirt Macho gave them. It was precious!
Returning to Egypt was difficult at first. The elements of crowds, dirt, flies, and HEAT are a little abrupt to our senses. An oasis in the desert for us was seeing my parents!!! We had three days with them and it was the perfect boost in the middle of the trip for our family. I was able to relax and be cared for which was so amazing after weeks of leadership and planning. My parents are amazing to us and to the kids. Jack and Naomi were thoroughly happy to be with them and they even went to the pyramids with us which was such a treat! Seeing the pyramids was surreal and floating down the Nile for two days on an old fashioned felucca boat was a once in a lifetime trip. The team got to have a "weekend" with no class and just floating, swimming and sharing meals and sleeping on the boat. We just returned to Cairo today via overnight train. We have crossed the half way point of our trip and today marks the end of our crazy travel schedule through Egypt, Jordan and Israel. We will settle down into our two week schedule in each of the remaining countries doing classes and outreach work.
We head to Kenya tonight and I have looked forward to returning to Africa so much! I know this part of the trip will be unlike any other part. Africa and the culture and people are going to amaze us and I can't wait to see what God has in store for us. Please be praying for our team for safety and health and for His guidance. We start to take malaria pills this week and of course I ask that you pray for this to work okay in Jack and Naomi's bodies.
Love you and miss you friends and family so much!

Catch up blog :)

We have been with out internet off and on for the past 10 days or so, therefore not much blogging. We have also been on the road travelling a lot and having crazy adventures. We have been super busy but loving it. We left Turkey last week and flew to Cairo, Egypt. We landed and were instantly hit by the hot desert air. We squished our entire team of 30 and bags into 2 minibuses which was hot, crammed and very funny at the same time. We headed into the Sinai desert for our 5-6 hour ride that resulted in an 8 hour experience of driving late into the night through the desert, getting stopped at every police check point along the way and paying money or convincing them to let our huge group through. It was definately a crazy experience and everyone had great and funny attitudes through it all. This is why I love travelling with this group of students. We finally pulled into the Bedouin camp at the base of Mt. Sinai at 1a.m. The bedouin men greeted us warmly to their tent with a fire and tea. We were instantly in love with this location. We all sat extremely exhausted but content until 2:30 in the morning drinking tea and lounging. We woke to the most amazing desert landscape and mountains around us. We hiked to the Monastary and then returned to the camp to rest for our night hike up Mt. Sinai that was to come. We set out at 6pm with our packs on our backs and dinners in hand. We stopped an hour into the hike to eat dinner at Moses's Rock and then contined to hike for 3 more hours. Naomi rode a camel that led the way! Hiking up Mt. Sinai at night lit by the moon and stars was absolutely surreal. We hiked the back way so we didn't see any one else the entire trip. Our bedouin guide took us the special route. The peacefullness of the night gave me time to reflect and think about Moses hiking the mountain to hear from God. I couldn't believe I was here! The hiking was strenous (although I got to sit on Naomi's camel for awhile) but I believe those few hours of heading up the dark mountain was one of my favorite moments of my life. I will never forget it. We all gathered at the top to make the final ascent up the 750 steps of repentance. EXHAUSTING, but with some stops along the way we did it! The kids went up every step on their own and we were SO proud of them. We arrived at the top and were so excited to see we were the only ones spending the night on the top that night. We picked our spots, set up our sleeping bags and had a great worship time. This once again will be a moment I will never forget. Worshipping and falling asleep exposed on the very top of Sinai. This sleep didn't last too long as we awoke to the sounds of tourists arriving at 4a.m. By 5a.m. we were all up and sitting squished towards the edge to await the beautiful sunrise. It was gorgeous. We lingered and enjoyed it long after all the other tourists had headed down. We then packed up and hiked a very difficult and hot hike back through amazing scenery. I was so proud of Jack and Naomi yet again. Most of us adults said it was the hardest hike we had ever done. We arrived back at camp exhausted, dirty, smelly, and hungry, but SO satisfied and amazed at God's creation and the story of God's people!
We spent one night on the Red Sea which was refreshing en route to Jordan. (Another trip that should be 2 hours but took about 7, this is turning into our theme. :) We camped in the middle of the Wadi Rum desert and then rode camels the next day for 5 hours deeper into the desert. This was hilarious to watch 30 camels trekking through the desert. What a dream come true, a crazy fun adventure! That night we slept literally in the middle of the desert with nothing but sleeping mats on the sand and some food they brought for us. We had class and worship and church the following morning in a cave. Once again we left the desert smelly, hungry, dusty, tired, sick of flies, and hot but feeling so grateful to experience God's glorious landscape and beauty!
We arrived in Petra yesterday and were SO happy to take a shower and have a nice meal and soft bed. AHHH! I realized that I hadn't slept on a real pillow in a long time as I have been using the pillow that we took from the plane. :) The best part of Petra was seeing my Mom and Dad. They arrived yesterday as well with their tour. Jack and Naomi were able to have some great grandma and grandpa time again today after touring Petra. They swam and had food and watched cartoons in their hotel bed (They were mesmerized with the Disney channel as they hadn't seen TV for 7 weeks) We go seperate ways tomorrow but we will see them again in a week back in Cairo. I am so thankful for seeing them! Ahhh it's the best!
Thank you SO much for all the prayers and encouragement we receive. We feel so blessed to be on this adventure and have felt covered in prayer and protection. We have seen God completely protect and pave the way for our group. We have made new friends in every country that feel divinely arranged! Through this seven weeks God has been so real and tangible to us. I can see Him working in my life and it's a priveledge to walk with this team and see Him shape and mold their hearts through these experiences.
We leave in two days for Israel and I know this will be life changing and monumental in all of our lives. Please keep us in your prayers as we travel.
Much love!