Off the Kibbutz

The two pictures: dig site C's sifters and me on top of Arbel.


Retractions: Two posts ago I wrote "Germans" instead of "Russians" in my Zefat story which probably made the following sentence impossible to understand. I also said "wish" instead of "which" and a myriad other errors. I'm sorry that this blog is often muddled and disconnected. I don't always have internet and my days are filled to the brim and I hardly have the energy to think let alone write.

Good news! I have internet at the hotel in Bethlehem. (Which, by the way is rather classy. I have a balcony and two pillows!)

Okay so here is what's on the agenda for this blog post:

Mt. Arbel
Saturday: Cana, Megiddo, Nazareth Bet Shairin (sp?)
Sunday: Korazim, Tagba, Mt. of Beatitudes, Greek Orthodox Church, Capernahum, Ceaserea Maritima, Haifa
Today: Bet She'an, Jericho, Dead Sea, Massadah, Bethlehem


Wow, just making the outline made me sleepy. I'll do highlights.

Arbel is a huge mountain two miles outside of the Kibbutz. We walked there in the heat of the day and then immediately started the steep trek up. (An ex-Army Ranger was leading the hike.) Needless to say, I was exhausted 1/4 of the way up and wanted to give up. Jordan and Amber wouldn't let me stop so we kept going. 3/4 of the way up I wanted to give up again. But Hallie wouldn't let me, so we kept going. We finally made it up and I nearly burst into tears. I wandered off by myself and sang a few hymns and thanked God for exposing my humanity. It was an incredible day.

For church on Sunday we went to Tagba, which is this beautiful Roman Catholic community where Jesus is said to have fed the multitudes. The service was outside and entirely in German. I sat next to a very small nun and she shared her hymnal that I could not read. Even though I couldn't comprehend the language, I felt the spirit. Often I would space off, in private worship, praising God for each view and experience I've had here in Israel. A few dogs were running around, though none barked or made a commotion. After the service a German woman named Regina declared that I was beautiful and wondered if Dr. Appold was my Dad. Furthermore, she graciously accepted by broken German and seemed pleased that I was trying! This was my second encounter with German pilgrims. I met a whole bunch Wednesday on the Galilee, when Amber and I witnessed the baptisms of five people in the group. (They brought musical instruments into the water!) It was there we met Oliver, a German car auctioneer who hates beer. Oliver also thought Dr. Appold was my Dad.

Today the highlight was by far the Dead Sea. We covered ourselves in mud and wrote "Israel" across our chests like football fans. It was awesome to see Dr. Appold with a big muddy A! (I called him Hester Prynne.) I couldn't handle the actual water for longer than ten minutes. All the salt makes one float, but it also stings in every cut and scratch and let me tell you, I have dozens after all the hiking and walking.

Now I am in Bethlehem and enjoying the close proximity of internet. I'll update soon! Hope all is well in the States.