Jumping over the Pond

(Posted one day late due to lack of internet access)

I'm sitting in Newark Airport waiting for my flight to Tel Aviv.  I arrived here with a view of New York City out my window including the new One World Tower being built and the Statue of Liberty.  Now I wait for 3 hours until my departure across the ocean.  Whenever I fly, I walk around the concourse looking at all of the various destinations the planes are headed to and imagine going there -- Houston, Tampa, Frankfurt, LA, Chicago (this is United after all).  I'm now looking at Tel Aviv glowing on the destination board in front of me and can't believe that is actually my destination.  I'm still amazed and grateful that this opportunity to study in Jerusalem is becoming a reality!

As eager as I have been for this sabbatical experience to begin, I've found it emotionally challenging now that it has actually begun.  I'm not one to cry easily, but last Sunday morning's worship service ending with a sabbatical prayer and then all of us holding hands and singing "My Friend May You Grow in Grace" brought a few tears as I sang from the narthex.  Leaving my Ivanrest Family for the summer is hard.  I'm still sad to think about life experiences I'm going to miss while I'm gone.  

And it certainly wasn't easy to say goodbye to my family this morning.  I know some of you travel often, but I'm a home-body who isn't used to leaving my wife and children behind for too long.  Thankfully we will be able to connect well via email and (hopefully) Skype over these next few weeks.

I will be arriving in Tel Aviv at 9:25 am.  I will begin my studies staying at Tantur Ecumenical Retreat Center for a few days before my course begins.  I was given class work to do before arriving and assumed that it wouldn't be too much work.  With the time it took to wrap up all the details before leaving, I didn't get a chance to download the study guide for the map-study work required of me until last night.  I was surprised to find a 108 page study assignment!  Yikes!  I guess I know how I will be spending my first few days in Israel!

Thank you again for all of your prayers for me and for my family as we begin this adventure together.  I'm so grateful you are joining me in this way.  New post...from Israel!