Divinity Study Tour: **Messianic Jewish Youth on Fire**

Day 7 – Saturday March 6

CINDY
“An experience of a lifetime"
**Messianic Jewish Youth on Fire**

Today we visted Jericho, Beth Shean, Nazareth Village. We got to see the oldest city in the world (Jericho). We also got to walk through a whole village that was reproduced to be like what exactly Jesus would have walked through. Complete with olive trees, a vineyard, a shepherd, a carpenter and a loomer (?), a olive press, a synagogue, and a watchtower. It felt like you were literally stepping back in time to the 1st century… even the people were dressed in 1st century garbs ☺

(Daniel showing us how an olive press worked in Jesus' time)

Nazareth Village has it’s own tour guides. So to show us around the village, we got Daniel, as our guide. What we find is that he is a messianic Jew. I could tell he had a preaching gift as he would describe and link the surroundings to biblical passages. Well at the end of that time together, Dr. Wilson mentioned that Daniel invited us to a youth meeting. It was only for 14-30 year olds. I totally wanted to go but no one else said they would go. I raised my hand although I knew I could not go alone.. I was hoping someone would gain some encouragement to come along. No one else raised their hand. I was a bit sad but still hopeful as the older adults in the group would come up to me and say “I would totally go if I was younger.. what an amazing cross-cultural opportunity.” By the time I got on the bus two more ppl said they would join “Yaaaay! I got my wish come true!!” it meant we only had 15 mins to get to the hotel and leave AND that would mean we would also miss dinner but meh, it was worth it. Lindsay also joined us so it was four of us and Daniel (remember our Nazareth Village tour guide?) picked us up downtown where we were staying in the Arab quarters Of Nazareth.

After a few questions I learned that Daniel is a Messianic Jew from Romania who recently immigrated to Israel 2.5 years ago. His mother was a Christian and his father a Jew.. and it’s been about a year that his father has now been saved. LOVE IT!! We got to the meeting and there were several youth from Romania or Russian. I was so amazed because here I was having a desire to see what is up with me wanting to go to Eastern Europe and that I had never been there.. and yet here in Israel I get to meet and worship with Jews from that area. So cool. I love it when God does that! The whole meeting I had an impression we were to pray for the pastor but did not want to be rude so I asked Jesus to open the way and I would fllow.. and he did! We started to pray for one of the young girls and I got a picture for her about a treasure chest. I grabbed one of the young girls who knew English and asked her to translate and she agreed. As I began to share with her the picture and the word of encouragement God wanted to give her a whole crowd began to form (which I was weirded out by!) The girl (Emily) hugged me with such a big hug.. ! aaaw! She’s a cutie! Then all of the sudden Lindsay turns to me and says “We are now praying over everybody, the youth and the pastor.. and you start it.” well, there was Jesus leading. I laid hands, prayed, gave Daniel some words of encouragement and it was so incredible how good God is because each and every one of us that were there from the group God deposited something in our hearts to honor and bless the pastor specifically!! I was so blessed. I loved being around the youth. I felt so happy and full of life.. I guess that’s a pretty clear sign ! hahahaha!

(a sycamore nut.. it was delicious!)