Last post from Israel

Shalom chaverim,

Today, we meet to leave in just four hours. This was our last day in Israel as well as our last free day, so I used it to do what I have not yet had time to do.

First, I returned to the Garden Tomb. I got there with my Bible and my iPod, so I could listen to some music if there were too many distractions. I arrived at 9, when they opened, and stayed for close to two hours. For awhile, I wandered around the garden, quietly. It definitely is a place conducive to feeling close to God. Almost nobody was there, so it was devoid of human noise. There was much noise from birds, and occasionally I could hear sounds of traffic. Eventually, I went and sat on a step overlooking the tomb. I did not go in yet, but just sat. The only other people around were a few individuals and a tour group. Eventually the tour group approached the tomb, and the guide related the story of Easter, as they got very excited because Christ is Risen!, as they kept shouting. I read through the various empty tomb narratives in the Bible...in Luke I actually started with the Last Supper and went to the end. The group went up onto a platform and had a communion service. I was wanting to be a part of a community there, but I did not know them, so I sat below and sang along with them as they sang Easter songs. They actually brought me some communion. They only had enough juice for them, but I was given bread, when they noticed me sitting there. It made my day. That gesture meant quite a lot to me. After they finished and we sang "Because He Lives," they filed down and out past me. Many of them stopped to speak to me. I was thanked for joining them, and people said to me "Shabbat Shalom" and "He is Risen," to which I responded without thinking "He is Risen Indeed." I was given a hug, and wished luck with my studies. I found out that they were a group of 7th Day Adventist pastors from Ohio, so it pleased them to hear that I am from Indiana. I did not think to tell them that I was going to Ohio next year. Their gestures to me meant a lot, and it alleviated my desire to be there with a community. I thank them, even though none of them will probably ever read this blog. After the service, I went down one last time into the tomb then left.

After my morning at the Garden Tomb, I feel rather refreshed. I went shopping on my way back through the Old City, and I finished off my souvenir shopping. I sent a postcard, am pretty much packed except for this computer, had some olive pizza (ran into a lot of DePauw people in doing so), and now just have to figure out what to do for the next 4 hours.

We get on the plane late tonight and I will land tomorrow in the middle of the day.

From Israel, for the last time this trip, Shalom.