Israel trip the journey

The Journey to Israel

As humans we are naturally adventurous, we feel the need to explore and see new places. As a senior in high school, I felt as I was invincible with just about to finish a chapter of my life in school, having a future in front of me and having all my friends. As the end of the school year approached, thus came the senior trip to Israel followed. The whole class had been preparing all year except for me because I thought it would be too expensive or why would I even want to go. I grew up in a Christian school and at this time and I had a relationship with God but I was a teen and I definitely could have been closer to Him. So the trip was coming and ultimately I would to go because all my friends were going. But little did I know the hoops I would have to jump to get there and my enlightenment I would go through on my journey through the old land.

            As the trip was coming, about a week and a half, I had two things to do and they weren’t going to be easy. I had to find a way to get nine hundred dollars and find a way to get my passport in time. I looked into small loans, family members and even tried to fund raise but to no avail. I almost gave up but an old teacher over heard that I needed help and generously donated the money. I was so grateful for this act of kindness and was ready to find a way to get my passport. At this point I only had four days before the trip and the only way I could get in time was to fly to Los Angeles and pick it up at the Federal building. I had no money and no ticket so I hit another road block, but thankfully we had just met a woman who works with airlines and I received a free ticket. I missed school and flew out there and slept in the airport alone and picked it up and as had it in my hand I knew it was time for an adventure.

            All the students entered the International airport and right when I entered the doors we were flooded with friends, family and I just found out that my ex-girlfriend would be on the trip so I knew that would be something. Filled with excitement about the trip with my friends, the last thing on my mind was getting a refresher in my faith and building a stronger relationship with God especially with my ex around. After a fourteen hour flight, we made it to Tel Aviv, Israel and we are exhausted but right when went outside we were hit with this crisp almost perfect air that felt a lot like California beach air but cleaner and it was definitely a pick up. We got on a bus headed towards Jerusalem and our hotel. After a much needed jet lagged filled night of rest we headed into the old city and started walking among the very same streets that Jesus Christ. We had a sermon on the top of the Mount of Olives, walked on the temple mount and floated on the Dead Sea and having all my friends around joking and in another country it was a great time. This place was magical, it was something held outside of time and it felt like we walking in a history book. As a class were all enjoying this trip, but there was tension with my ex and I because I was palling around with a good friend who happened to be a girl. One night when we got to the Sea of Galilee, we had a huge fight about our past which almost made me regret on going on this trip in the first place. That very next day I was in a terrible mood and wasn’t talking to anybody. As a class we took a boat ride on the sea on a replica old boat from one hundred A.D. When we were on the boat my pastor reminded us of the story of how Jesus walked on water here and brought the fisherman under his wing, of how they dropped everything and believed in Him. As he told this story I was filled with something strange, like I had forgotten about everything going at home, what happened in the past and the drama on the trip. It had to be the combination of the golden sun on the waves almost waving as they passed, the smell of the sea rejuvenating every breath and the feel of the old wooden boat floating over the waves and the mist brushing upon the boat. I felt as if God was giving me a restful mind and reminding me that this trip wasn’t just fun but a lesson that anything is possible on how I got here and that if I let Him calm me down and don’t worry or put things off then I can do anything. I learned that I shouldn’t just try to hand out with friend but really open up my heart to Him and not let things get me down because life is stressful if you make it stressful.

            As we were finishing up our trip at the Garden tomb, I was reminded of the year I had in school where I put friends before school and it made it a lot tougher. I put friends and baseball above everything else even God and that’s not how it should be. If I set my priorities and if I prepare for things then they won’t end up chaotic in the end. I got to see beautiful things that I only read about in history books and experience a new culture.  Three years later and I still want to go back see it over again but I still keep with me what I learned and God is in my heart always. Sometimes we all need an adventure to remind us of what we love and need to learn.