from nazareth with warm regards

This last week in class was very enjoyable. We had Ashley Smith come to us all the way from South Africa to speak to us about the prophets in the bible, and some of the history behind the city of Jerusalem. It was evident that he had a lot of wisdom to share on these topics. Also being in Jerusalem, it was an amazing place to be learning about such things.

A theme that stood out to me was how the Israelites were thinking that God was only concerned with the outward appearance of their sin, when in fact God was more concerned with the inward attitude of their hearts.

Take away from me the noise of your songs; to the melody of your harps I will not listen. But let justice roll down like waters, and righteousness like an ever-flowing stream.

Amos 5:23-24

As the Israelites would often go astray, God sent many different prophets to show them that what He was seeking was their hearts. Even when the Israelites didn't listen, God used other nations ruling over the Israelites to make Israel into a nation that understood who their God was. From Ashley's teaching this week, I see that God is not a back-pocket God to be used when things go awry, but he is a God that we should involve in every part of our lives, internally and externally.

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Over the next week, our school has divided into smaller groups of about five people, so that we can go out and tour the different locations where Jesus lived, walked and taught around the land of Israel.

I am on a team with Carmen (Georgia), Christina (Florida), Tara (Oregon), and Sung Ha (Korea). Yesterday we left Jerusalem in our rental car, planning to go up to Caesarea and Mount Carmel before settling in Nazareth for the next few days. Early in the afternoon we stopped for a quick stretch on the beach in Caesarea. As we returned to the car we found that our car had been broken into, and four of our bags had been stolen. Christina's Camera, Passport and credit-cards were stolen, along with one of Carmen's bags, Sung Ha's laptop, camera, and all of his pictures, and my bag containing my laptop and external hard-drives. We filed Police reports in the area, and are currently praying for something miraculous to happen.

Right now we could really use your prayers for the situation. We realize the odds of this situation are not very good for our things to be found, but we are also trusting in a God with whom there are no obstacles. Pray for our things to be found, but pray also that this can be an opportunity for whoever took these things to encounter the love and forgiveness that is found in Christ. Our Bibles and journals are in these bags, so who knows; maybe they will find the truth and love that is found in God's word.

We're told that sometimes the people just take the main valuables from the bags and then leave whatever else they don't need or want behind. Even this would be a blessing as there are a lot of other less valuable but very useful items in these bags, i.e. chargers, glasses, clothes, journals, bibles, etc

Carmen and Christina have gone back down to Jerusalem to get a new passport for Christina at the US Embassy. Tara, Sung Ha, and I will be staying here in Nazareth for the next couple days, and after that we may be moving on, possibly to Bethlehem.

It's a bit frustrating, but I'm believing God's purposes in this are far greater and run much deeper than anything I know. Your prayers in this situation would be so much appreciated, both for the recovery of the stolen goods, favor for Christina at the US Embassy in Jerusalem, and the direction God is leading our team for the rest of our time in Nazareth and wherever we may end up going later this week. Prayer can change the way things are.

Thanks for once again taking the time to read. Have a blessed week!