Searching for gold...I found something more desirable than that!

Today we went to do some sifting in a tent where some archeologists were sorting through some piles of dirt that contained remains of old buildings dating from the first temple period, the second Temple period, ottoman empire...until today! The amazing thing about it was that it was all stuff from the Temple Mount. The lady archeologist explained to us where the piles of ruins and dirt came from, their story and what we could be looking for. The best find we all were hoping for was some golden artifact, or a golden coin...we did not find any gold but we did find some coins from the Byzantine period, some old mosaics and potshirds of all kinds.

It was a good time going through all these little pieces of history specially because at the end we got to see all our discoveries! And as the lady was explainig all that we found, she mentioned something that cought my attention...

...she was grabbing this marble piece of tile and shared the story behind it; when they first found it they thought it was modern work because of the detailed carving in it, but it took them several years to realize that what they had found was actually a couple thousand years old!! and it's value was even higher because of the work that the little piece implied!!

I feel like I was like that with the Bible! (I know, sad!) I knew it was of great value, it was and is the most important book in my life, but since I grew up with it, it just became familiar, I even had the oportunity to own more than one, and even in more than one language!

It was so part of life that I had never really thought of the its real value. The Bible was written over 2000 years ago(and the New Testament was a little after Jesus' crucifixion), and it impacted people then, and it still does now, but what happened in between? God in His sovereignty worked things out so that it would be preserved and now even translated into rare languages.

In the meantime, many people tried to destroy it and one must acknowledge that if it wasnt for GOd's grace that it only was spread more and more over the world.

The Bible is the finest treasure preserved until today, but it's more than that... it's the means by which God decided to communicate His truths, His plans for redeeming His creation to Himself by giving His only unique Son for it, for His glory!

Now I understand how King David having all the treasures, and the power over Israel, was able to say:

"The Law of the Lord is perfect, restoring the soul,

the testimony of the Lord is sure, making wise the simple.

The precepts of the Lord are right, rejoicing the herat;

the commandment of the Lord is pure, enlightening the eyes.

the fear of the Lord is clean, enduring forever.

The judgments of the Lord are true; they are righteous all together.

THEY ARE MORE DESIRABLE THAN GOLD, YES, THAN MUCH FINE GOLD;

SWEETER ALSO THAN HONEY AND THE DRIPPINGS OF THE HONEYCOMB"

it has been a while...

I know it seems like I disappeared from the face of the earth, but my computer has been having some serious issues, (some technical difficulties) and I just didnt make time to write ...
but God is still at work in my life here in Israel although sometimes it's hard to figure out how is it that certain circumstances will accomplish His purposes to bring Him glory, like my computer being all crazy, but in this I give thanks for the friends that are helping me with it!
...

Getting to know beautiful Jerusalem...

“Great is the LORD and greatly to be praised in the city of our God! His holy mountain, beautiful in elevation, is the joy of all the earth,
within her citadels God has made himself known as a fortress.”
Psalm 48:1-3

First of all I will emphasize on the importance of Jerusalem. It is located in between continents, and God chose it to proclaim His gospel to the nations. It’s not that we take the place as more important than the event, but the fact that it exists tells us that what we believe in is REAL. I am not saying that I believe it because it is proven to be real. It is a physical evidence of our what I already believe in.
Entering Jerusalem I started matching history with reality, size and simplicity. The places are just like any other, the stones (even stones that people kiss and venerate are just that: stones), people lived just like people do now with no super powers, in no fantasy world: it was real. For some reason Bible stories get mystified quite often and seem to have taken place in another type of world. But Jesus was able to take the ordinary, mundane things to make about His plan! It was challenging remembering this during the entire walk.

We started at the Jaffa gate, in ancient times it used to be an important place, where public declarations were made. Right by the gate was the citadel, from the top we could see the Eastern part of the city like the Mt. of Olives with the tower of Ascension, the Augusta Victoria Hospital Church, and the Hebrew University. We could also see the Dome of the Rock, which is in the place of the Temple. It is there not because the Muslims think it’s a holy site for them. They could have just done it where their leader died or was born. Instead they chose that place because it stands as a physical “proof” that Islam is the “final” revelation from god, and they are telling that to the other religions. This land has controversial status even now! In the present GOD is declaring to the nations that His judgment is real, and we cannot escape it, but we find hope, Israel also has hope in the prophecies found in the Bible. He will come back for the faithful, because He is faithful even though the physical Temple structure is not present.

The first protestant Church in the Middle East was very interesting. We learned of how little things have big consequences, specially when done with the intention of sharing the gospel of Jesus. The causational history of that Church made me realize that there are no obstacles for God, we just have to be faithful to His command of making disciples.

Then we went to the Church of the Holy Sepulcher, here fanatism was eminent. With the only fact that different denominations own the land in which the church is tells something about how religious people can be about a special place, or a special rock thinking that certain things, being in specific places, doing especial things can get them closer or gain them more acceptance from God. This doesn’t mean that we should not regard the place. It is important as it assures us it is this earth that the Bible is talking about!

Dia Cero

We left Saturday at 1pm and arrived Sunday at 4:30pm but it was less than 24 hrs of traveling.

In the airplane from Newark to Tel Aviv there were many Jewish people. Little did I know it was a little taste of what I was about to experience walking in Jerusalem.
There were different Jewish people, orthodox and others. One thing stood up to me; that they really believe their religion, and even though they have to do so many things to fulfill the standards they are not afraid of what people might think. Religion is their life, in their political, social, artistic, economical etc aspect, they live a wholeistic life.
Many times I even find myself having a fragmented life even though I know the truth.
This was another call for me to continue the thought on the previous post; of doing everything out of faith, being purposeful with everything.

Then arriving to the airport; the journey began, and the countdown started (sadly, but necessary to mention due to the many things to do and the little time we have).
Abner Chou received us and information started to be poured into us!
We were riding through Joppa, the place from where Jonah went out when God told him to go to the gentiles at Niniveh, and also where Peter was also told by God to go to the house of Cornelius (a gentile). Abner mentioned the importance of the place and the even, and the fact that if the gospel hadnt been spread to the gentiles we all could not be there at that place to study the Bible!
GOd is sovereign and He makes all things possible; I'm thankful for that event, and the willingness of Peter to go out to the gentiles!

And this was day cero.
Now we just have to be ready to start getting to know better the history of the people that God chose so that other nations (every nation) would be blessed and saved through the Messiah.
Pray that we as a group wont be jaded by the fact of this amazing opportunity that we have, but that we might take it all in, and that we might be thankful about everything.


"Rejoice always, pray without ceasing, in everything give thanks; for this is God's will for you in Christ Jesus. " 1 Thess. 5:16-18

1 BI (Before Israel) >with great opportunity comes great responsibility<

Even though it's only a couple of months, I want to be prepared for what Israel can bring...I double checked the list of things I have to bring, I have been getting accquainted with the geography, climate, and many other little things before getting there.
My suitcase(s) are ready and I think my mind is too. I have been longing for it ever since I knew I was on the list!

Then I realize...
If I'm preparing this much for a trip that lasts only 3 plus months, how much more I should be preparing myself for eternity?! I should always be ready to take off, I should always be excited of my adoption into the best family-His family.
I say 'I should' because I admit that's not how it is all the time. I forget by getting distracted on little details, on things that I enjoy more than I should, on things that get me discouraged...the truth is I get distracted quite often. But then by the grace of God, someone (a friend most of the time) or something, reminds me to look up and await for the glories of heaven when I will be with my savior and "MY FAITH SHALL BE SIGHT"... and once I have this in mind it's much easier to redeem the time that the Lord has given me, and to be a better steward of all He gives me.

Considering that not everyone gets the opportunity to go to Israel (for 3 1/2 months!!) I take this great privilege and lay it down to Him; knowing the sacrifice that people have done so that I could go (my mom being selfless when caring for me, my education, and everything; my dad wanting what's best for me and giving it to me whenever it was the right time, the teachers that have worked hard for this program...); therefore I don't want to do what I want and may be waste precious time, but rather I want to do whatever God has for me to do and I ask for your prayers in this...so that Israel may continue to be a blessing to many people even through what I might learn!!

"Look carefully then how you walk, not as unwise but as wise, making the best use of the time, because the days are evil...giving thanks always and for everything..." Ephesians 5:15,20