March 11, 2013 It’s crazy to think that even among all the challenges this trip has brought into our lives- challenges of former beliefs, relationships, hopes, needs, and faith- that one could feel a call from God and have it ring true. We traveled in two groups (one on the 27th and one on the....
Israel: learning Biblical geography firsthand
This morning we all gathered, anxiously awaiting free travel, to take our final exam on Geography and Physical Settings of the Bible and to finish our lovely time that we have had over the past two weeks at Jerusalem University College. Once we finished the exam, we all celebrated and received certificates of completion of....
Service learning at Bezaleel School and the cloud forest, lessons from New Horizons Cooperative community
On time spent in a rural K鈥檈kchi village and at Bezaleel School This church has wooden pews, about 50 people, and massive speakers. I don鈥檛 know what is going on and I can hardly talk to anyone. There is just one kid mashing out some pre-recorded keyboard songs and changing chords recklessly with the music.....
Valuing life and hospitality
February 6, 2013 What words can describe the loss of thousands of human lives?聽 It is a good thing that the FAFG, Forensic Anthropology Organization, are doing in giving identities to those lost to the terrible tragedies that occurred here in Guatemala just a short couple of decades ago.聽 The emptiness left in each family....
Questions, beauty and hope in occupied Beit Sahour
Today is our last day in Beit Sahour, Palestine. We’ve been exploring the differences between “cold-culture” America and “hot-culture” Palestine, with a few mistakes and a lot of learning. Palestinians are an ideal model of how community should be lived out. We are all a little sad to say goodbye to our host families, but....
Marhaba from Palestine!
January 31, 2013 Marhaba from Palestine! We arrived in Beit Sahour, Palestine about a week and a half ago after a lovely stay in Jordan. After a long time waiting to cross the Jordan-Israel border, we came into town late at night to be greeted by the Alternative Tourism Group and gracious host families that....
Vulnerability and suprises
The culture shock described in our readings this week was presented in a very real way, but I can鈥檛 identify with it. I feel comfortable with the customs and ways of the people and seem to be able to relate and find common ground with them. What is the hardest for me is the shallowness....
Exploring Jordan from the desert Wadi Rum to the Red Sea
Eight hours ahead of our home in Harrisonburg VA, we are all together on a Sunday night after enjoying a worship service together as a group.聽 This is not an easy task to summarize what we鈥檝e done so far.聽 In the past week, we have been all over the Hashemite Kingdom of Jordan and experienced....
Polarities and connections in Guatemala
The following is a response to studying the history of Guatemala and Central America, particularly regarding Spain and the Catholic Church鈥檚 efforts to convert and assimilate the natives to Spanish culture.聽 Through studying the history of Guatemala we are working toward a deeper understanding of the Guatemala of today and how it came to be.....
Turning towards home
December 5, 2012 As our semester draws to a close, our group has returned to the place we started: Motu Moana Boy Scout camp.聽 I believe it was Eric King who referred to the cyclic nature of our trip as poetic, so I decided to write haiku (mostly as a joke) to describe the last....