The students leave and Sandy Autry arrives

It’s Sunday night. The students are gone. My friends are gone. And the center is boringly quiet!!!! 

It’s been a tough week. I’m not very good at good-byes. Nothing will be the same again. I won’t be the same again, and yet I’m glad, so glad, for the experience. It was so very hard to say good bye, especially to Lana. It’s been wonderful to have her here and share some of these wonderful experiences with her. 

The one bright part of this week has been having Sandy Autry and her sister and friends here. We spent time seeing some of the sites in the Old City. On Thursday we drove down to Qumran and Masada and then on Friday we drove up to the Galilee and spent two days there. I drove and we didn’t even get horribly lost. So I’m feeling much more comfortable with my driving—well at least on the direct, uncomplicated driving routes. The Galilee was, as usual, divine. The air was really clear so that we could see Mount Hermon clearly and for the first time, we were able to stand on the balcony of the Tiberias chapel and have a clear view of the sea and the Golan Heights! It hasn’t been that clear the other three times that I have been there

                                                                         Sandy and me on the balcony

                                  All the girls, including Sis Rasband on the right, outside of the Al-Aksa mosque

                                                                    My latest trip through Hezekiah’s tunnel. 

This time with Katrina, Sandy Autry, her sister Lori, and Tracy. I love going through this tunnel. I love even more our discussions at the Pool of Siloam at the end of the pool when we talk about Jesus’ miracle of the man born blind (John 9). That story never ceases to inspire me.

                            Phil, Andrew, Ben, Will, Mike, Joshua and me taken at the Garden of Gethsemane.

                           Saying goodbye to the students is always so difficult, but I have wonderful memories.

                                                          Coulette, Becca, Zee, Danielle, Kristen and Alyson.

I had taken Sandy and Lori there and the students had made an appointment to spend some quiet, reflective time in the Olive garden across the street. We met up and took some pictures.

After church on Saturday we went to Magdala. This is a gorgeous place, with a spectacular church. I love to use this spot to talk about the women in Jesus ministry. We particularly look at Luke 8:1–3 which begins Luke’s travel narrative with the Twelve and the women accompanying Jesus on his journey to Jerusalem. Although they don’t get a lot of airtime in the gospel accounts, it is clear that the women played a significant part in the Savior’s ministry. They were among his earliest disciples (Mary and Elizabeth) and they remained with him throughout his ministry, even to the very end. This picture represents some modern women, who like their ancient counterparts, are committed to be disciples of Jesus Christ!

This picture is with Thomas McCarlie. It is representative of our evening of goodbyes before the students got on the bus to leave. There are lots of last minute photos to help us to remember, and lots of tears—well at least on my part. When you spend three and a half months in very closed quarters with people you learn to love them dearly and it is hard for me to let go, but they have lives to get back to. Hopefully they will take the wonderful experiences that they have had here and go back to their lives equipped to help build up the kingdom. The privilege of coming to the Holy Land as part of this program is only available to a small minority of the people who would love to come. That means that the privilege of coming here come with a great responsibility. We must go home changed!