This has happened to every person’s blog I have every happened to read. At some point, they become “too busy” or just lose ambition for blogging. So once they do finally blog they have some choices: to write about everything that happened since they last wrote (never happens),to just jump back in and forget the preceding time, or bullet point style. I’m gonna go for bullet points so that you can get a feel for everything that has happened, and so that I don’t forget everything that has happened…because if you know me, you know my memory only lasts for a few days…hopefully I still remember you all when I get back! Just kidding J
-A couple weeks ago was the Jewish holiday of Succot. They built little tent houses outside commemorating the Israelite exodus from Egypt, they celebrated and were supposed to be happy for a week, and at the end of the time they celebrated the Torah. I got to watch a group of Jews in Beersheba dance around the scrolls. They were having a blast. It makes me wonder if Christians could benefit from elevating the status of our Holy Scriptures and if we could also have some fun celebrations…after all, celebrations are fun too J
-I was sick for a solid week, which meant I got to do lots of reading (Screwtape Letters by C.S. Lewis was my favorite), thinking, but not lots of adventuring. I think my body was trying pretty hard to slow down for a little bit, so I just tried to enjoy it…well I enjoyed most of it, maybe not the headaches and diarrhea.
-Field Study to southern Israel…Beersheba, Ramon Crater (think Grand Canyon ish), Dead Sea, Masada, Ashkelon, and others I’ve already forgot. I loved the Dead Sea except that I lost my camera there! Oh well, I’ll just take a lot of mental pictures from here on out. After all, Jesus did not have a picture when he was here…good argument huh?!
-Midterms=lots of studying and paper writing. I’m learning way more than back at home, but it is also more difficult to stay indoors and study when I have an even bigger drive to see everything that I can in Israel.
That is my quick synopsis of the last couple weeks; hopefully, there are more than just my parents and Melissa still reading at this point.
I just got back from a trip to Eilat, which is at the southern tip of Israel on the Red Sea. Me and 7 other people pool hopped, snorkeled with the fishies, hiked a little bit, and of course, slept on the beach.
I love water. Plain and simple. Everytime we get somewhere to swim (which it’s still warm enough with 80 degree + weather), I try to swim as long as possible, and I am in heaven on earth the whole time…Mediterranean Sea, floating in the Dead Sea, snorkeling in the Red Sea, laying in the water for hours in the Sea of Galilee, and jumping into numerous waterfalls. I think everyone of Jesus’ parables should have involved water J
This Sunday afternoon I am feeling a little bit of homesickness. On top of missing Melissa and my family, the Hiawatha Rally was this weekend, and right now I’m uploading some video Hodson 2 West made. Needless to say, I’ve been thinking about probably everyone who is reading this, and right now I’m having a lot of faces flash in my eyes of people I really love and appreciate.
I’ll try to write more later about the spiritual and relational things going on in my life, as that is what really matters, but hopefully you get a feel for what I’ve been doing so when I get back you’ll know what I’ve been up to since I left…which leads me the most important part (if anyone is still reading): I would love love love to hear what’s been happening in everyone’s life. I write this blog only because I don’t have to write everyone individually, but one of the things I miss most about being hear is not being involved with all of you, so if you have a chance, drop me an email
andrew.cuthbert@student.indwes.edu and catch me up a little bit. You can also email if you are wondering more about anything and I’ll write more. 1 on 1 is better anyways
Shalom!
Andrew