Orange Juice and Hommus.

Well, it has been a few days.  I have been taking some time to soak up "what is" being in Bethlehem.  It has been pretty interesting trying to tackle the reality that is the "Holy Land."  It is difficult to realize that our house over looks Rachel's Tomb; that with in five minutes I could walk to the Church of Nativity, where Jesus was supposedly born.  It is so hard to really comprehend that I am here, it is surreal in so many ways. 

I've been here for just about three days and already feel so comfortable.  It feels so normal, like I've been here for weeks, even months.  It feels natural and almost ordinary, which also makes it hard to realize that this is the Holy Land.  From our roof top patio, we can see a mountain that King Solomon hollowed out and made into a fortress; Jerusalem is a five minute drive, and lets not forget about the food: Pita and Hommus, Schwarma, Falafel, Kabobs, and terrible beer.  I have taken a few pictures, but it is hard to capture photographically as well as spiritually and emotionally, what this place is.  None of these pictures seem to be good enough to convey what it is like over here.  But I am learning a lot.  There is so much history not only biblically but But politically, socially, and so on.  

The integration of these three major religions (Judaism, Christianity, and Islam)  makes for a very interesting culture.  There are Christian stores, Jewish Stores, Muslim stores.  There are also three holy days: El-Gumah, the Sabbath, and  Sunday or the Lord's Day.  We live in an Arabic community, which means it's mostly Muslim, except for the Jewish settlements, and a small community of Christians.  We hear the amplified prayers in the evenings... and apparently in the mornings as well (I haven't been up this early yet).