chandlerA's Xanga

Monday, July 25, 2005

Mon, 25 Jul 2005 15:30:49 GMT

I figured something out! I don't spend much time blogging and narrating my time here. However, I do spend time taking pictures and putting them online. AND...they say (who "they" are, I don't really know) "A picture is worth a thousand words"...SOOOOO...it's really like I haven't stopped talking about the trip, provided you visit the picture website! Yeah, I think that makes sense! Here it is again if you don't remember, or don't want to see where I put it the first time... http://webshots.community.com/chandlera100

Monday, July 25, 2005

Mon, 25 Jul 2005 12:26:50 GMT

Time for a little 'What's HOT and what's NOT in Israel..." (And when I say, "hot" i mean the things that are cool, the best parts of the trip, the things I enjoy and will tell everyone about, and "not" are the..well---things that are just part of the experience!)

HOT: ISRAEL (of course!) NOT: um...the water in the Sea of Galilee, but sometimes you hafta go really far out for it to not be warm...

HOT: eating chocolate spread on EVERYTHING...like for breakfast, chocolate bread, mmmmm NOT: well, they're not so bad, really, but eating tomatoes and cucumbers every breakfast and dinner...it's gettin a bit old (but I don't mind them as much as some people!)

HOT: finding cool things like lamps, mosaic floors, etc NOT: having to scrub pottery (which also isn't so bad, cause we all get to talk and spend time together...hmmm, ok, i don't mind that so much, either)

Ok, you know what? This 'game' isn't working so well, cause even when I put something under the "not" category, I know it's really not that bad...the "worst" parts about the trip are the bugs (sometimes) and the dirtyness and heat, but it's been hotter back home, and all of this is really what makes the trip fun in it's own way, so I'm afraid nothing I can think of about this exprience will go there very well (not for lack of trying). I guess I'm just having too much fun...with everything...and apparently I don't know how to spend my time blogging in a normal manner! Haha...oh well.

I don't feel like telling about everything that's happened since I last wrote, so I just wantto end by saying this place is wonderful, and all the people who are part of this group are amazing, and this is something I will never ever forget for the rest of my life!

Saturday, July 23, 2005

Sat, 23 Jul 2005 08:22:55 GMT

Here's the thing...Paul thinks this is the first time I've posted in a month. I think that's silly, cause we haven't even been here that long so obviously I've posted since before that, but anyways, all of that is unimportant, of course.

So...todays topic will be..."my sandcastle on the sea..."

Yesterday, I made a sandcastle. I made a sandcastle on the shore of the Sea of Galilee. I made a sandcastle because I love the sand, and I love the beach, and I was thinking that Jesus probably spent time as a boy on these same shores (not where I was, but nearby) doing the same type of thing. I bet Jesus made sandcastles. Yep.

Ok, topic switch just because it came into my head--One thing I will always remember from here are a lot of the little "simple" moments that happen from day to day. The one I wish to share with you now is about singing. Kat and I have had several singing "moments." Sometimes, we just start singing after pottery cleaning, and continue after everyone else is gone. We've sung very goofy, fun songs and gone on to singing hymns and praise songs. I just wanted to share the idea of singing hymns and praise on the shore of the Sea of Galilee (sometimes in the water) with someone who shares with me the hope of Christ, and is just a very cool person. There have definately been a lot of "moments" on this trip--of course there's still the big things--but some of these simple times I know I will never forget, because of how they made me feel.

Topic switch again--it's really hot here! I got sweaty just walking around yesterday...ewww! I've never had so many bruises, blisters, scratches and other miscellaneous injuries...but I love it so much!

Wednesday, July 20, 2005

Wed, 20 Jul 2005 11:53:27 GMT

So, um...I've decided I'm not the best narrative blogger (or 'xanga-er' or whatever it would be)...and for those of you who wish I was giving more details about day to day activities and goings-on here, I apologize, but I cannot be what I am not, so it's probably not going to change! (hehe)

This week has been exciting at the church. I didn't really know what to expect coming here--what the dig would actually be like, what it would include, and how much digging and moving of rocks people can do in just a few weeks.

Let's see...I don't even know what to talk about right now...hmmmm...

Alright, um...I think maybe I'll try again tomorrow (haha). I'm feelin kinda scatterbrained and out of it right now (not too unusual for me) and we have a lecture in 10 minutes.

For any who might want more details about what's been happening, I think you should try to check out other peoples' blogs at www.virtualdig.com and going to the public pages, then hot news (some of you probably already know that!)

Sunday, July 17, 2005

Sun, 17 Jul 2005 16:43:04 GMT

home sweet...kibbutz?!

Well, we made it to Jerusalem, and back safely and had a wonderful time. We were able to do a lot in just two days and I think I'm still processing it all. Even now I can't quite comprehend what I saw and did...and all the different sounds and smells and feelings are still running through my brain in kind of a jumbled mess. It was really great. I just don't feel like I understand it all even now that I'm back at the kibbutz able to think about it.

We spent our time in the old city at the Lutheran Youth Hostel (Jill, you know what that's like) and spent our two days walking around touring the different churches and parts of the town. I can't even really think of how to describe how it felt just to be in a place like that, because the streets and people were all so different than anything I've ever known.

Ok, so I really should probably spend some time to write a bit more to describe some things, but I'm tired and going to go to sleep...after all, it's another busy day on the dig tomorrow. I'm putting pictures online though, so check out the website listed in one of my other posts and you can at least see the things I won't take the time to write just now !

Wednesday, July 13, 2005

Wed, 13 Jul 2005 17:18:46 GMT

Here's the link to check out some pictures if you want...

http://community.webshots.com/user/chandlera100

enjoy--I'll write again after Jerusalem!

Wednesday, July 13, 2005

Wed, 13 Jul 2005 16:22:56 GMT

Here's the thing, I keep thinking about writing things about what we've been doing and all the "physical" adventures I've been having, but I don't get it done and now I have something different to write (plus, if you really want to know, the other diggers with me who are writing blogs are very thorough with our daily activities--just check out the virtual dig site:)

Last night I went into the Sea after dark with Kat and Paul. It was slightly windy, so there were some smaller waves, and the water was (for once) rather cool. It was the best impression I've ever gotten of the disciples in the boat when Jesus walked to them, and when he calmed the waters. The water was completely black, and only glistened under the stream of the moonlight and the white break of the waves. The lights from the kibbutz which made the shoreline easily visible on land seemed to be insignificant when I stepped away from the beach further into the water. the sky was clear, so stars were visible (which made the sky look big and vast and perfect) and the lights from Tiberias across the lake, and all other towns around the rest of the water made the size of the "sea" very small.

But I could imagine what it would be like on a windier night, especially having seen the water wavier and wilder than it was, and I could take away the lights and the moon and the stars as would be during a storm and know that this 12 mile long, 9 mile wide lake could turn into what would feel like a scary, endless black hole. It was scary going into water in the dark, and wondering what it would be like to see someone approach you from the water--with the moon glistening slightly behind them, what else could you think but that it was a ghost? Being there was like having all fear and no fear at the same time; the same God which causes the wind and the waves comes to me on the water, and calms the storm.

Tonight, after our group meeting, Dr. Schuler read this story from Matthew. For the first time in my life, it made me shutter. I wish I could share these feelings and thoughts in a better way than words. I feel like I know what the disciples would have felt--terrified; but, more importantly, I can't stop thinking about how they felt when he got into the boat and all became calm..."Surely you are the Son of God!"

Alrighty, that's it for tonight. And probably all until Sunday afternoon or evening, too, because we leave for Jerusalem tomorrow. Have a wonderful weekend, feel free to send e-mails and I'll answer them on Sunday.

Tuesday, July 12, 2005

Tue, 12 Jul 2005 17:23:15 GMT

There was a recent suicide bombing in the city of Netanya, Israel. I simply would like to assure everyone that this did not occur anywhere near the Kibbutz; we are all safe. For those going on the Jerusalem trip this weekend, the trip is still on first of all, and they will not be anywhere near Netanya on this trip. Once again, there is no cause for alarm.

Monday, July 11, 2005

Mon, 11 Jul 2005 16:36:24 GMT

Alrighty, so I"m not doing sucha good job keepin up on this here site, eh? I'm gonna try to get better, although tonight won't be too long cause I'm tired and it's gettin "late" (almost 8:30!) for having a 4 AM morning tomorrow.

The site has been exciting the past couple of new work days, after a nice weekend rest. We spent the Sabbath (Saturday) touring the towns of Beth She'an and Zippori. It was very cool to see how much work and money has been put into these places to excavate and restore them.

The past couple of days have been hot ones working, with today reaching temperatures of 100 degrees, but they have been exciting ones. One of our digging groups found a second cistern (to go along with the one my group found last week) and they are now in the process of trying to figure out what it's doing where it is. It seems the further we dig into our seemingly "simple" church, the more mysterious it's floorplan and architecture becomes. It's fun to guess at things and discover them and hear people's hypotheses as they change again and again.

I've been getting teased a bit for not "working" by some of the other group members since the last couple of days I've spent time doing the drawings instead. It's been a change of pace and quite an adjustment to have to work by myself in an area doing the technical, detailed drawings of things instead of being with other people. But, as I'm learning better how to do the drawings, I'm finding it easier, and liking it more (even after just a couple of days) and the rest of the group is courteous enough to throw dirt on me once in a while so that I don't feel left out when they walk down the mountain sweaty and dirty.

I'm working on a picture website right now, so I'll try and get that up as soon as I can, and for those of you visiting my site that don't know the team's site, you should go to it to find more detailed updates, including audio updates and more pictures about what we're doing everyday (plus, some people are much better at descriptive updated blogs than I am!) Go to www.virtualdig.com to the public pages, and the "hot news" section to learn about our team.

that's it for now, sleepy time!

Friday, July 08, 2005

Fri, 08 Jul 2005 11:37:25 GMT

Well, if you're on this site, you have a lot to read right now since this is the first internet access we've been able to get and a lot can happen in a week in Israel!

Here's the very short version...

We toured around the Sea of Galilee, we worked Sunday through Thursday from 5 AM till noon on the top of the 'mountain' Sussita excavating the Northeast church of the ancient Roman city of Hippos, we clean pottery shards we find, we've toured the kibbutz and swum in the Sea of Galilee. I have so much I could say about all of those things, but I'm trying to keep this entry as short as I can so you will all still read it! This place is incredible and I'm having a great time, even though I eat the same things for breakfast and dinner everyday, sweat and work harder than I ever have, and have to deal with scorpions and giant roaches that refuse to die.

My favorite part is the Sea of Galilee, and I get to go in it every night to rinse off our pottery shards. Every time I step in, the water is perfect. It's always warm, cooler the further you go out, and small waves crash the rocky and sandy shoreline (I know Jesus made sand castles here, I'm gonna do it tomorrow...you really can't resist if you're here!). Every time I go in the water, I can't help but think about Jesus, and wonder about him, and be almost breathless at the idea that he really did live as a man, and this was where he came. Whoa. And the sunsets...absolutely beautiful! Okay, enough of that.

The church working is going awesome, and we have already discovered some new, exciting and unexpected architectural items in one of the side rooms after removing about 4 feet of dirt. The most exciting so far has been the cistern (kind of a well) which has a big square opening and so far an estimated depth of at least 3 meters! (I'm trying to convince Dr. Schuler to let me go down and explore...)

I'm going to end this here for now, and try to catch everyone up on information if I can in the next couple of days. Thanks for reading, and if you want to see how the whole group is going, then you can click this link and see some pictures (I think there's some of me on there). http://virtualdig.org/2005/public/hotnews.htm (if you search around a bit, you can see photos, listen to audio updates, and find what other diggers are writing and thinking about all of this)

Alright, I'm out for now...I feel the Sea calling my name!