Field Study 2

Another 11 hour field study! Fun, but exhausting! This time it was actually a bus trip, so there were intermittent periods of comfortable seats and air conditioning. :)



Many sites we go to require "'modesty kits" (i.e. respectful dress). The basic guidelines are that your shoulders and knees should be covered. So no tank tops and shorts. Most of the guys get away with long shorts, but not today. Three of them were asked to cover up - or leave! - at a church site on the Mt. of Olives. But they managed to round up some scarves and got to stay. Of course we had to document the guys in their "skirts".

We also went to one of Herod's palaces outside Jerusalem (Herodian). The bus took us about halfway up, and then we climbed the rest. Great views from the top!























Our teacher, Paul Wright (a.k.a. P-Dub), is amazing. We are definitely blessed to be learning from him! Not only is he super-smart, but he has a great sense of humor. Here we are, on the side of Herodian, beside a recent archeological dig that may have discovered Herod's tomb. Closed to the public, of course (hence the chained gate!), but silly them - leaving a gap in the gate big enough for people to fit through. The whole class in fact!



We also went to Bethlehem today. It was my first time visiting here. It was a little weird, being such a "Christian" place, yet primarily Muslim today. And the absence of Jews was so noticable!



We also got to see the Separation Wall, up close and personal, covered with grafitti and political statements. But it was from the bus so I couldn't get any good pics.

I really want to go back and spend some time here. Some of the other students are more familiar with the area, as they have their Arabic classses here or volunteer here.

Our brief stop here was mostly to visit the Church of the Nativity. Here are some pics. You have to stoop to get through the door (humble yourself?).




















I loved the stained glass!










The interior of the church.














And, of course, the traditonal spot remembered as the place that Jesus was born.