Jerusalem

I'm sorry I have not posted yet, but things have been very busy here. I hope to write more and post some pictures soon!.

I just wanted to say that EVERYONE needs to take a trip to the Holy Land. It is AMAZING here. So far my favorite place has been Bethlehem, more specifically, the Church of the Nativity.

God has been teaching me so much and speaking to my heart like crazy. I wish I could post it all here. You would be amazed at what He's saying. Here's a sampling:

* There is coming a day when you will neither worship here nor in Jerusalem but in Spirit and in truth." see Jn 4 -
* The sabbath was made for man, not man for the sabbath. God is working on me to free me from scrupulosity and to live in the glorious freedom of the children of God.
* "I want to be with you forever."
* I've learned to see the Eucharist in a whole new light. Sitting around eating falafel, hummus, etc. (amazing food here) with my friends, I was remembering the times I sat with my boyfriend and his family eating the same foods, and at that moment realized that I missed him terribly and wished he could be here with me! Sharing this meal made me long to be with him. The thought occurred to me - (perhaps it's an imperfect image, but it resonated with me deeply!) When we go to the Eucharist, we are united with Jesus - but it occured to me that this meal is a foretaste that also ought to make us long for something more- for heaven, where we will finally be reunitd with Jesus forever. Should not the sharing of the Eucharistic banquet make our hearts burn within us as it did for the disciples on the road to Emmaus?
* "For your sake he became poor so that you might become rich." see 2 Corinthians --> Seeing Bethlehem really makes this verse come alive.

more to come-  plus pictures! (i'm no sure when I'll get around to it, but i'm working on it! things are really busy here).

Please know that I am praying for you!

IT'S OFFICIAL!!!

I am going to Jerusalem!!!! (In šāʾ Allāh (إن شاء الله), of course!)
Just bought my plane tickets, and I'm so excited!!!

Now taking prayer requests for this pilgrimage. Let me know if there's anything you want me to pray for at any particular sites!

To Go or Not to Go?

So I have a decision to make. And fast!

I have to decide if I am going to go on a trip to the Holy Land over Christmas Break, or whether I should skip it and stay home.

I guess I should do the ol' fashioned pros & cons list:

Pros:
+ travel to where Jesus lived and walked
+ get to experience middle eastern culture first hand
+ buy some pretty sweet religious goods
+ travel to a new part of the globe / collect some new passport stamps! =)
+ Add to the list of World heritage sites I've been to
+ did I mention: See the Sea of Galilee, Go to Caesarea Philippi and stand on the rock where Jesus said "You are Peter, and on this Rock I will build my Church...?", Via Dolorosa, Church of the Nativity, Swim in the dead sea, Qumran, Temple ruins, etc. and much, much more!

Cons:
- Safety? (Is the US military / dept of defense / state dept really the best source of info? or is Nuclear war a real threat? Who really knows?
- Am I willing to travel somewhere where security threats are a possibility and accept consequences for my life? (if something did happen....)
- less time at home during the break
- Family as a whole is not too keen on this...

I recently contacted a friend from Iran and I'm asking him his thoughts on it... who knows who to trust anymore on the security issue? Supposedly Iran and Israel are ready to attack each other...