Chorazin, Sepphoris, Akko, and S'mores!

Hi,

On our second to last day in the Galilee we went on a field trip (shocker) ;-) so here we go:

Our first stop was Chorazin, which was a town where Jesus taught. Dr. Jackson gave us a devotional where we talked about the parable of the mote and beam (see Luke 6:42)

The beam, as mentioned in the parable. The mote is a little speck that is sitting on the beam, it is hard to see (basically, it is a sliver of wood)

Here is Rachel holding the mote :-)

Some of the houses in Chorazin--this black basalt was largely used during Christ's time period.

I am blessed with strong male friends who push my wheelchair through gravel ;-)

check out the flower in Jacob's hair :-)

The Synagogue in Chorazin and the "Seat of Moses"(a replica) as talked about in Matthew 23:2

Our next stop was Sepphoris, which was the Roman capital of Galilee before Tiberias and later was the city where members of the Sanhedrin lived and completed the Mishnah.

There are some really neat mosaics in the synagogue in Sepphoris--here we are discussing them.

So a group of school children came to also look at the mosaics and Dr. J instructed Sarah and Sawyer to stop them from coming in...which they did...that was pretty entertaining...

This is a Crusader citadel (I don't really know why it is there, but whatever!)

While everyone else climbed to the top of the Crusader citadel building, I took this artistic picture of my crutches

I thought this was a funny sign-- "It is forbidden to wet or stand..." and "no dogs allawed"

The theater in Sepphoris--Tori sang for us (she has a beautiful opera-type voice)

This mosaic is the "Mona Lisa of the Galilee" and was on the dining room of a house

more mosaics--this one has a Nileometer on it, which is a device used to measure the depth of the Nile... I guess it was a sign of wealth to have that in your home, because we are nowhere near the Nile river...

Dr. J is pointing to a manger. (a stone food trough for animals) The Savior was likely laid to rest as a baby in a manger like this one. 

the view from our picnic spot in Sepphoris

I love Van Swag :-)

Lindee and Jenessa--I don't know why I always take creeper pictures, but I do. oh well. ;-)

our final stop was Akko. We went and watched a movie about Akko and then the group went on a tour under some tunnels and stuff, but I was unable to go because of my leg so I took a nap on the bus for an hour or two. :-) So here  is my picture of Akko! haha

also, everyone laid out on the ground in the sun--doesn't this look like we all belong at BYU? haha ;-)

That night after dinner we got together for a campfire and roasted s'mores and got all nostalgic and stuff. It was really great :-)

The beautiful sunset on our last night in Galilee

Roasting marshmallows

our group around the fire--somehow there was a guitar and singing involved and it felt like a Christian-Rock EFY finale or something... but it was memorable ;-)

What a wonderful final night! :-)

-E

On the 9th day of April...

Another beautiful day in Paradise!

So on April 9th we went on a field trip to some way cool places. Let me tell you about them:

Our first stop was Hazor. It was riveting, as you can tell by my classmates' expressions... ;-) Haha--actually it was really cool. Hazor was captured by Joshua remained an important city until it was destroyed by the Assyrians in the 8th century BC (see Joshua 19:36 and 2 Kings 15:29)

Isn't that beautiful? The rocks are part of the watch tower in Hazor, and the view is of the Hula Valley

Sometimes Sarah is funny... ;-)

So it started raining and I can't get my cast wet (it is plaster and would disintegrate if it got wet) so we got a little creatively carried away. I have it wrapped in a trash bag, a towel, and Sarah's rain jacket... But it did the trick and my cast stayed dry all day! ;-)

Our next stop was Tel Dan. If you are familiar with the Biblical Kingdom of Israel, you will know the expression "From Dan to Beersheba." Well, this is Dan--the northern border of the ancient kingdom of Israel. (see 1 Kings 4:25)

This is the source of the Jordan River. Water seeps out of the ground all over the place at Tel Dan and it all forms the river which is the mighty Jordan :-) So that was cool.

After a certain point, I could go no further as it was a hike up to the ruins. Apparently up there you can see where Jeroboam's altar was (see 1 Kings 12:25-33) and some other cool stuff.

Next we went to Caesarea Philippi, which was a big deal during the New Testament

The Seleucids carved niches in the cliff face and worshiped their god Pan here (they would offer human sacrifices in this cave--which was full of water--and if the remains sunk in the water and no blood showed up in the river then the sacrifice had been accepted, but if blood showed up in the river below then the sacrifice had been rejected)...freaky stuff...

Caesarea Philippi

Also, Caesarea Philippi is beautiful. Who knew? ;-)

Rachel and I always joke that we are just like a married couple...

We are so cute together ;-)

Next we went to Nimrod Fortress, which is a Crusader Castle at the foothill of Mount Hermon

I stayed at the base of the castle and chatted with Brother Schade while the class explored the fortress, as it was not accessible to my broken leg

I believe Mt. Hermon is under those clouds... oh well...

One of my favorite parts of the day was our final stop at Har Bental, which was an overlook where we saw the Road to Damascus (the site of Saul's conversion) and also Syria!

Behind my wonderful cousin and me is Syria :-)

We talked about the tension between Syria and Israel and had a devotional about peace. It was really neat. 

sign post that basically told me that I'm in a really cool place right now.

So basically I saw Syria today, and that was grand.

-E