Israel Day 1
We left New Jersey at 8PM and landed at 2PM the next day here in Tel Aviv. 7 hour difference and 10 hour flight, however that math works. I got to sit by my sister for the longest flight we’ve both ever been on. The plane was huge! 3 rows like the movies, and went back farther than I could see. So many people from so many walks of life. Dr. Jeff and I were amazed by how a metal machine this big can fly through the sky. We had two meals served to us over the 10 hours and I watched this Jewish comedy film “mossad”. I was literally laughing out loud, so goofy. My since of humor all the way. Airplane meets James Bond. Classic. Talking to Jewish people and now being here in Israel I feel much more at home than I expected. At first I thought it was America that influenced Israel, but after further thought I realized it was Hebrew culture that influenced America in many ways. Not so much the skyscrapers, cars, and clothing, but the more important things that out-live the physical landscapes of our time. The values, morals, and mindset. Americas impact on the world is Hollywood movies, bottled sugar water, and technology. Israel’s is the Word of God.
The woman here are beautiful and there are men with machine guns everywhere! This is what America should be like lol.
I couldn’t be more blessed to be across the world with such a great group of friends. Literally all my best friends in the world are here and the other people who I just met fit right in. I’ve specifically been enjoyed meeting a young lady named Jeanna from UF. She’s filled with the Holy Spirit and each time we talk she becomes more interesting! Although the news tells us this is a turbulent part of the world, I feel safer here than I do in some parts of Miami.
It’s Friday evening, a family day of rest for both the Jewish and Muslim people. Televive is Israel’s 2nd biggest city, about 400,000 people, and so there were a lot of people out enjoying the good weather. We walked down the same beach Jonah from the Bible did before he ducked Gods command and tried to sail to Tarshish. The air smells nice from all the fresh food being sold on the side walk, the weather couldn’t be better. One thing I noticed is all the locals are so present. Nobody is talking selfies or scrolling. Although this city is westernized, the people are not. They are just here with their family’s hanging out in the grass as the sun goes down. Muslims, jewish and Christian people living peacefully, intertwined like a beautiful cultural tapestry.
We made our way down the board walk to a drum circle where we all danced. Our group sticks out like sore thumbs trying to capture every moment, living through the lens of our cameras. Including me. I justify it by saying I’m making a movie, but isn’t everyone just capturing their own movie in a way? Social media is the new silver screen, and anybody can be a director of their life’s film.
We get in our bus and drive to a VERY nice restaurant where we eat like royalty. The food was delectable and kosher of course. Love that I never have to ask, I just know that the meat is clean. Here our group dives deeper, into God and into each other. Sharing what drives us, dreams, passions, our faith and our pasts. Other than our group there are about 4-5 other colleges here from all over the USA. I, feeling super social, went and got to know the people from University of Kentucky and University of Alabama. It feels like everybody here is on the same wavelength no matter what school. God brought me directly to the videographers in the corner of the room. They didn’t have their cameras yet somehow we instantly started chatting about what we are looking to capture from this trip. I believe I will be back soon and the videographer position may be the perfect role for me.
Now we are back on the bus driving through the night to our hotel. It’s 9:23 and I feel wide awake. No jet lag, due to getting enough rest on the plane, and I’m just so filled up with the Spirit. I can’t describe it but the frequency of this ancient land is definitely noticeable. Tomorrow is going to be chalked full of activities, I can’t wait! I hope I can sleep tonight being so awake!
We end the night checking into our hotel rooms right on the Sea of Galilee. Most of our group wanted to sleep, but Cyrus, Javin, Daniel, Stephen, Johnathan and I just had to have a look. We walk into the brush and step onto the shore. The lights from the cities around us bounce off the water. We look and discuss how mind blowing it is that Jesus walked these same shores and taught people right here. What a way to end the first night in Israel. In awe.
Shabbat shalom!
