Today started pretty typical (if we can call it that yet since we’ve only been here a short time). Katelyn and I got to experience going out into the market this morning to buy fresh pita for breakfast and then making eggs for everyone. It was a dangerous move having us, two self-proclaimed inexperienced cooks, in charge of a meal but it turned out well…at least thats what we were told. We couldn’t mess up too bad it was just scrambled eggs and the usual fruit and pita with hummus.
At the village we continued to worked on the roof that we are building and helping with packaging oil lamps for the guest shop. Again is was another scorcher but we are getting used to it day by day. Supper was special for us. we had a traditional Shabbat (sabbath) meal consisting of potatoes, beef (lamb is unavailable in Nazareth), Shabbat bread, and grape juice in place of wine. Ashley did wonderful at being “the woman of the house” and leading us in the ceremony of lighting the candles and saying the blessing at sundown. David, “the man of the house”, then broke the bread and continued to tell us about the traditions that would occur in a Jewish home.
In the past two days I have come to really realize that God is truly my refugee and strength and that he knew what he was doing when he called me to come here. When i first applied to Youth Venture I couldn’t have been more excited about coming but as the trip grew closer; I had more and more reservations about it. In the last 2 or 3 weeks a huge part of me was dreading coming. I knew that some of the other people on our trip would know each other and I didn’t want to be challenged with fitting in with them. I don’t think I knew how scared I was until just about an hour before meeting the team at the airport on the 23rd i had a bit of a break down. If I could have I would have backed out of the trip in a heart beat. However, I didn’t have that choice and now I’m so thankful I didn’t. It was yesterday that confirmed in my mind that coming here was the right thing because it was then that I began to feel comfortable with the people I am with and have really felt that already this has been a challenging and learning experience. I have great expectations for the rest of the trip as we go out and learn more each day.
To sum things up I would just like to thank you all for your prayers and encouragement. Please continue to pray for us as we will be traveling this weekend to the Galilee region and Ceasarea.
Dana Kandel
The opinions expressed in articles posted on Mosaic’s website are those of the author and may not reflect the official policy of Mosaic Conference. Mosaic is a large conference, crossing ethnicities, geographies, generations, theologies, and politics. Each person can only speak for themselves; no one can represent “the conference.” May God give us the grace to hear what the Spirit is speaking to us through people with whom we disagree and the humility and courage to love one another even when those disagreements can’t be bridged.
so you are trying lamb and some other new things – way to go:) I wonder if the others know what it means to trust you with directions haha. We are so proud of you and the way you are trusting in God to get you through new situations and for you to see that He does take care of us. continue to keep your heart open to those around you both on the team and all you come in contact with.
Thanks for the blogs, folks! Very encouraging. I especially like the fotos of you all in costume since it brings home to me again that all the Biblical characters weren’t characters in a book, but real regular people = as complex and funny and endearing and individual as each of you. You are in our thoughts and prayers all day long. (which is likely while you’re sleeping…? Ah, well.)
I am a little jealous of you Dana! Wow, what an experience you must be having. You are learning first hand what life was like in Biblical times. I cannot wait until you return and have an opportunity to share with us. I know you can’t wait for that! I pray that God will continue to reveal himself to you and your group in your remaining time together. Blessings!
Dana, I enjoyed reading your blog. I pray that the Lord will continue to bless you and give you a sense of peace and contentment as you continue to “reach out of your comfort zone”. You have grown as a person since you boarded that plane. Sometimes growing pains aren’t just physically painful, but emotionally too. I hope the relationships you make on this trip will last a lifetime. Be yourself and have fun.
Dana,
I was so glad to hear that you were having an awesome time in Israel.
I wanted to let you know that we missed you at camp. I thought a lot about you throughout the week.
My mom took Emily, Krista, Ethan, and I out to Indiana on Sunday. We left at 3:00 on Sunday and got out to Goshen about 8:30pm. We stayed at the Bible Memory Office Sunday night. The office is an old house with offices upstairs and bedrooms downstairs. We just played cards and read our books that night. The next morning we left for camp around 9:00, we had to eat breakfast before we traveled a half an hour to camp.
We were actually in the same cabin that we were in last year. We slept on the opposite side of the cabin though. Tricia and Krista were on the bottom bunks and Emily and I were on the top ones. This year there were no bathrooms or showers in the cabins. So everyone had to use the lodge bathrooms. It was not as bad as it seems. The girls went in one side of the lodge and the guys went into the other side. I was actually surprised that you didn’t have to wait in line very long for showers because I heard that it would be 8-10 girls per shower. Some girls took showers at night and others would take showers at different times in the morning. This year we did not have the shaving cream fight because of the bathroom situation.
We had lots of fun and I will talk to you later.
Kirsten
Hey cousin!
Im so glad to hear you’re having such an awesome time! Its good you finally conquered those eggs…:) It sounds very exciting out there. Much better than here with band camp this week… Not to mention the litter of kittens we found in the garage, just to give you a good laugh. You’re trip sounds like an amazing opportunity to experience God’s work and love. I know he is working in you. Can tell already! Have fun out there and (haha) look forward to school starting!
God loves you just like the rest of us here at home.
Kendra
Hi Dana!
Its great to hear about your time there – I can’t wait to hear more about it when you get back. It gives me shivers to think of walking in the same places Jesus walked. How cool! I’m so excited that you get to have this wonderful adventure! God Bless you and the others as you continue your adventures!
Vi
Hi Dana! It’s good to hear that you are getting used to things down there. I know how scary it can be to go to a foreign place with strangers. But as time goes on, those strangers become friends, and just as you were dreading the trip there, so will you also dread the trip home. You’re experiencing something that very few people ever will. Cherish it. God’s going to use this experience.
We are all very proud of you, and miss you a lot. We’ll be praying for you, and looking forward to having you back. Be safe.
By the way, that last comment was from your cousin, the original Brandon. I should have specified 🙂
Hi, Dana
I’m glad that you are having a great time. I know that you will have lots to share when you get back from your experience. You and your group are in my prayers.
Kirsten
Hi,Dana, sounds like you are having a great time. The picture of you walking along the cliff with the metal hand holds is pretty impressive, I doubt I would have tried that one. Look forward to hearing all about the trip at Thanksgiving.