From the Dead Sea to Jerusalem

"Wow, wow, wow"....said Sammi, the owner of our hostel in Jericho as we arrived! He was so excited to have us there. Jericho is a city in the West Bank made up of around 26,000 Palestians. As we walked around the city we enjoyed the people's smiles and freedom they appeared to be living in.  When we arrived back at our hostel in the middle of the refugee camp, Sammi and his family were so inviting as they listened to our stories and then he shared more about his life and stories.

Sammi is originally from the Gaza Strip and his family moved when he was a boy to Jericho to find work before the border became restricted. He has six children and was very quick to show off his beautiful children in photographs. It was from these that we learned that two of his children and wife had to be separated due to the separation barrier and that it had been eight months since he had last seen them. Although Jericho is only Palestians and they have learned to live as free as possible within their restrictions, this place carried a different tension than we have previously experienced. The tension was not so much political as it was spiritual.

The night brought about some unexpected sickness for Rachel and her mom. As the sun came up and peaked its way in the windows and after resting for most of the morning, they decided they felt well enough to make a trip to the Dead Sea. This is a unique place as people flood in to take pictures, of what...I don't know because everything is dead and it is surrounded by desert land, probably to have proof they have been there! However, due to its salt content it is pretty cool to just sit back in the water and float. The two sick girls enjoyed their time by resting some more :)

Joshua and Jericho....march, march, march....and the walls came crashing down. A story so familiar to us and even has it's own catchy song, but yet being in Jericho brought some sweet reminders of His promise as thought appropriate to read the story. One I really like is: be strong and courageous. Do not be dismayed, for The Lord your God is with you wherever you go! He so sweetly reminded us that He loves us and is with us with each step we take, to take them in freedom and boldness!!! Also, it talks about how the priests were the first ones to step in the Jordan river, as to stand in the gap between God moving enabling the people to cross, and that they did! They stood on dry ground as God showed up and made it possible for His people to cross on dry ground. As we look to the future, we are excited to stand in the gap as priests seeking Him to show up and move on behalf of His children, that the "waters" would separate and they can walk on dry ground to Him and that the many "walls" in each individual person's life and a nation in general would come crashing down.

As we woke up to head back to Jerusalem, I got sick. We arrived at our next home at Matan's. It was nice to sit down with him as he shared about his story, a little about his brother's life, and some interesting facts pertaining to Haredi Jews. His brother is apart of Breaking the Silence, an organization that allows soldiers to have a voice after serving and to share with others their side of the story. However, it is viewed a bit to the left of what is expected from soldiers so Matan said his family is not very supportive of his decision to do this or study middle eastern studies. 

In all of this He is showing us that there is a battle much bigger than what we see or hear and that we are to seek Him and love every person we meet! Please continue to pray with us for good health, open hearts, eyes and ears as we move forward.