One Year Later- Reflections from Kendra

I find my self really missing Israel. I've been thinking about it a lot this summer, mostly this July month. I miss the culture and the people and the experiences I got to have there. I'm so thankful that i could have the time ihad there and i don't regret anything. I also wish I could have still kept in touch with the people there because they unknowingly taught me so much. Last year's pilgrimage was one for the books, especially for me. I never thought i would get an opportunity like that in a lifetime. Some of my favorite places were where we saw Jesus perform the first miracle and the place where the Lord's Prayer took place. I miss Israel so much and i can't wait to go back.

-Kendra Okereke

One Year Later- Reflections from Kate

It has been one year since we returned from our pilgrimage to the Holy Land and I find myself reflecting on the significance of the entire experience, but particularly the relationships formed and developed over the course of those weeks. We started truly forming community on the way there during our nearly 24 hours of travel from Seattle to Tel Aviv. By the time we landed on a hot, sweaty afternoon in Israel, we were friends.

Those friendships quickly grew and stretched during our home-stays in Raineh where we extended our web of relationships to include the Episcopal families who hosted and cared for us in our early moments of culture shock and adjustment. From there, we met the six Palestinian Christian youth who were to travel with us for the remainder of our pilgrimage and another new community was born.

As these relationships deepened we shared our faith, our music, laughter, and ourselves. We shared the experience of learning new places and peoples. We shared card games, shopping, hide-and-go-seek with the grumpy nun, hot afternoons hiking through ruins, and icy relief in dozens and dozens of popsicles and cokes.

So one year later, the things that stand out for me the most are the relationships with one another and with the land through our shared experience of transformation in the land of our common story, the story of Christ.

One Year Later- Reflections from Daniel

This trip was one of if not the most memorable, most moving, most spiritual, and most educational experiences of my life. Not only did I have more than a ton of fun, I also was strengthened spiritually. Learning more about the life and events that occurred during the time of our Lord Jesus Christ really opened my eyes. Now that I have learned so much more from the trip, I feel closer to God. So you could say that this trip was also and bonding time with God. If the future people who are going on this trip are worried that all it is is visiting churches and praying a lot, they are mistaken and should worry. Yes we did visit quite a number of churches, but we also visited many ancient and fascinating historical sites fro biblical time, swam in the Dead Sea, and had quite a bit of free time where we could also get see the modern day Israel. Jerusalam for me was my favorite city of them all.

Now, I don't know if the kids who will be going next year heard or should be told, but there was a bad part of the trip. However, I feel, as scary as it was, that it was also a learning experience. So the kids should not worrry. It is very unlikly that it will happen again. Just a couple days ago, I saw a news clip of Palestinean kids from the West Bank who had never seen the ocean before, be taken to the beach on Bat Yam where we were, and have a blast playing in the water! It was very nice and moving to see. All in all, this trip will stay with me for the rest of my life. It has produced hopfully life long relationships both here in Wasington, but also over in Israel. The people who were on this trip with me all hold a special place in my heart and I thank them for the priviledge and honor of going on this trip with them. for all the great times, and sharing such fond memories. The memories are great, but the lasting impression it leaves is just as great, if not greater. This is an opportunity of a lifetime, one that may never come again, and should be taken advantage of. I think about the trip frequently and wish to go back someday. I cannot express enough how gratful I am to God and to everyone else who made this trip possible for this opportunity. Thank you!

Peace to all,

Daniel Perrine