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Monday, March 29, 2010

I absolutely can't wait!

Itinerary

May 10 (Mon) Evening check-in Changi Airport for a late evening departure for Istanbul aboard Turkish Airlines.

May 11 (Tues) Transit in Istanbul for a short time early in the morning and arrive in Israel mid-morning. After clearing immigration we board a bus and travel a short distance to see what life was like in Bible times- including the food we will get to eat for lunch! We stop at Bet Shemesh overlooking the Sorek Valley where Samson lived and where the ox cart came from the Philistines carrying the Ark of the Covenant. We continue south to the Elah Valley where David defeated Goliath. We drive up into the Judean Hill Country and spend the night at a community developed by Finnish Christians.

May 12 (Wed) We drive along the Coastal Plain to Caesarea, on the coastline of the Mediterranean Sea. It was here that Peter preached in Cornelius' home and later Paul was imprisoned for 2 years. We continue north to Mt. Carmel- where Elijah took a stand for God against the prophets Baal. After lunch, we walk through the strategic city, Megiddo, which Solomon fortified. We will cross the Valley of Jezreel (Valley of Armageddon) and experience what life would have been life in Nazareth during the time of Christ. We will then descend into the Rift Valley to the Sea of Galilee where we check into our lakeside hotel.

May 13 (Thurs) We travel through upper Galilee on our way to Hazor, the largest city of Palestine during the days of Joshua and Solomon. In Dan we will climb the steps leading to the altar where Jeroboam placed a golden calk when the nation divided. We stop at Caesarea Philippi where Peter confessed Jesus to be the Messiah. We go up to the Golan Heights and see some of the plains of Bashan. Later, we will stop by the eastern shore of the Sea of Galilee and see where Jesus healed a demonic and a herd of pigs rushed over the cliff and drowned.

May 14 (Fri) Today the focus on sites from the life of Christ. We travel by boat across the Sea of Galilee and view the "Jesus Boat" which shows the size of boats used by fishermen in that area during the first century. Jesus preached the Sermon on the Mount on the Mount of the Beatitudes. More of Jesus' recorded miracles were performed in Capernaum than any other city. We climb Mt. Arbel to overview significant biblical sites on the shores of the Sea of Galilee before going to a baptismal site of the Jordan River. At sunset, we still start the Sabbath with a special evening meal at our lakeside hotel.

May 15 (Sat) We visit 2 biblical sites along the southern edge of the Valley of Jezreel: Ein-Harod- the spring where Gideon selected 300 men for his army and Bet Shean-where the Philistines hung bodies of Saul and Jonathan after Israel's defeat. We follow the Jordan River until we reach the Dead Sea and Qumran where the Dead Sea Scrolls were discovered. We stop by Ein Gedi where David hid near when he fled from Saul. We will then check into our hotel along the southern shores of the Dead Sea.

May 16 (Sun) After breakfast we set out for Masada, which Herod the Great fortified and where the Jews had their final resistance against the Romans until A.D. 73. We continue on to Beersheva, the home area of Abraham and Isaac. Upon returning to our hotel, we have the late afternoon free to relax, reflect on what we've learned and experienced, and enjoy an "unsinkable swim" in the Dead Sea.

May 17 (Mon) We drive north along the Dead Sea and stop at Jericho, the first city the Israelites conqured when they entered the Promised Land. We travel up the road of the Good Samaritan through the Judean Wilderness and stop at "Genesis Land" to experience what life was like for Abraham when he arrived in the Promised Land. After lunch, we continue uphill to get our first glimpse of Jerusalem and the Temple Mount. We walk down the Mount of Olives to the Garden of Gethsemane where Jesus was betrayed. We check into our hotel located near the old City of Jerusalem.

May 18 (Tues) We enter the Old City of Jerusalem via the Dung Gate and walk to the Wailing Wall where many religious Jews come to pray. We follow a tunnel along the Western Wall and see some of the large stones Herod the Great used in the construction of the Temple Mount. A short distance away is the fortress Antonia where Pilate condemned Christ to death. We then follow the Via Dolorosa to the Church of the Holy Sepulcher, the site of the crucifixion. We walk through the Jewish Quarter and see a section of the wall Hezekiah fortified. Observing remnants of a home destroyed in 70 A.D. helps us better understand the setting of the Book of Hebrews. Later we visit the Upper Room where Jesus celebrated the Last Supper with His disciples.

May 19 (Wed) We walk up to the Temple Mount area. Upon leaving, we go a short distance to the Pool of Bethesda where Jesus healed the crippled man. After lunch we travel a few kilometers south to Bethlehem's Shepherd's Fields where the angels told the Shepherds of Christ's birth. We go into Bethlehem itself and vist the anscient Church of the Nativity.

May 20 (Thurs) The City of David is where we start our day and proceed to the nearby Pool of Siloam, where Jesus sent the blind man to wash and be healed. At the Israel Museum we'll see the Dead Sea Scrolls display and view a scale-model of Jerusalem as it was in the time of Christ. After lunch there is time for shopping! rest, or sightseeing in the Old City. In the mid-afternoon, a trip to the Holocaust Memorial. In the evening we celebrate a traditional Passover dinner in the small village of Ein Kerem.

May 21 (Fri) After breakfast, we gather at the Garden Tomb where we remember Christ's death and resurrection with a communion service. We have a final lunch together celebrating all that we learnt before travelling to the airport for departure to Istanbul.

May 21-25 My own Turkey Extension! Backpacking! Palaces, Museums, Cafes here I comeee :)

Wednesday, March 17, 2010

Blood Donation

Today at the library, there was this blood donation drive organised by red cross. Was kind of bored with the books and I just had this urge in me to do it. Totally unplanned for, a last minute decision.

Didn't know that there will be so many procedures, forms to fill in and questions asked by the Doctor but I was excited, this would be my first donation! I passed all the requirements. Since I went for a run this morning, I must have become healthier haha.

The nurses were really nice and friendly. However, as I sat on that bench and looked away (did not want to see the needle poking into me)... they couldn't find my vein! Kept telling me to squeeze the ball in my palm tighter. I did! So tight that the ball has my fingernail marks. They rubbed my arm, called the Doctor to come, but in the end they told me my veins are way too small. My heart sank.

How does one get bigger veins? Mop floor and handwash clothes? I'll be back!

Saturday, March 13, 2010

Witnessing at Bugis

Target: Fan Club of some Chinese singer
Seeds being planted
Sharing stories and reports at Macs

It was a great opportunity to get into one-on-one conversations with teenage girls who were just standing around for hours and hours in wait for their "ou xiang" to appear. I started most of my conversations using a survey of religious belief. To my surprise, many were willing to do it. Maybe to kill time?

I was able to get into 4 good conversations and shared the gospel using the Four Spiritual Laws. I was reminded of how wrong I am to assume that people don't want to hear about God! Tonight, as I prepare Bible study on the Samaritan woman at the well, God highlights it to me that we can reach unsaved people when we go out to where they are and talk with them.

Many of them knew that Jesus died on the cross, but what does it mean for them? Many understood that they were sinners, but never heard about the Judgement Day. They are waiting to hear!

I believe that those I have talked to will go home and think about it, while I go home and pray for them. One girl (Rachel) was really open and interested in learning more. She gave me her phone number and I hope to follow up!

I have much to learn regarding witnessing and I often feel like I could have presented it in a better way, worded it differently but I have to remind myself that it takes practice and it is better to say something than nothing at all. I am glad that God can also use weak vessels to accomplish His purposes!

Friday, March 12, 2010

After hours of hunting

Too bad, I wasn't spotted for this freebie but I got a great deal as well! The crowd was crazy and it was only the first day. Fiddling around now with my new Acer Aspire 1410 and I really like it! It's a mere 1.4kg, soo light compared to my HP which was probably 3.5kg? I can now easily pop it into my bag and out of the house I go.

The battery life is also fantastic! Able to last for at least 8 hours. With a 3 year warranty, it can't go that wrong! They say it is the in between of a netbook and notebook. I love the ruby red colour too, something different. The 11.6 inch screen is easy on the eyes. Though it seems relatively small, the keyboard layout is just right. Not too crammed together. They should hire me to advertise if I continue on about it haha.

Prayed and prayed for a reasonable price, something suitable to meet my needs and I think this is perfect! Even in purchases, I believe God leads.

Monday, March 08, 2010

Think positive! Be positive.

I miss some of my best girlfriends, I miss my laptop! Hope to find a netbook at the IT fair this Thursday. If you didn't know, my HP crashed on me about a week ago. I think every student has at least experienced this frustration once.

My face is erupting with zits and my whole body still aches from the Inter-college games day. Ugh the crazy hot weather's finally gotten to me. The sky looks grey and the air completely still tonight!

Am now into week 6 of my last quarter for year 1! 5 more weeks to go before final exams (again). I nap in most of my bus rides to and back from school in order to catch up on my lack of sleep.

It's 2:37am as I type. Why am I still here? Well I realized that since neglecting this space, many have missed out on happenings in my life. Actually, I'm doing this especially for you girls around the world. You know who you are :) so we can stay in touch with each other's life. Hurry up and come back!

Today, I bought tom yum cup noodles to put in my locker! As much as I complain about the stress faced from the amount of assignments given, I love going to school. Wait... rather, I love the people at school, truly! Fern, Foo and Fong. We're called the 3 musketeers. Both their birthdays fall on the same day this weekend and I just can't thank God enough for bringing them into my life! God faithfully uses them to encourage me. I enjoy their company to bits, they make studying in the library fun!

You know how everyone looks forward to weekends? I don't. I love my weekdays!