BIBLICAL LANDS

Monday was a field trip to the Biblical Lands! It was AWESOME!! We went to a well and reinacted when Rachel drew water for the servant .... (sorry spacing the name right now) and his 10 camels. I gained a TON more respect for her! She must have been strong--It's not easy drawing water...and to think that she did it for 10 camels (mind you each one drinks 30 gallons at a time... so we concluded she had to pull up water over 300 times if she really did!! Insane!) Then we got to go herd sheep! Yes, you heard me right... me, herd sheep! haha I got some great talk material out of this experience. It's interesting to me that the shepherd chooses an alpha male (not always a male), which he will educate so the alpha male will know his ways, and it is that sheep that the rest all follow. (this reminded me of the church, with Christ as the head, but he chooses a prophet that we all trust and follow in order to lead us back home) And the difference btwn a good shepherd and just a shepherd is that a good shepherd knows each sheep individually and is able to adjust to fit the needs of each (ie. he knows which sheep will follow which, and therefore know which order his sheep should come etc). This is  A SUPER BREIF description, but it was way good.

 

We divided up into 3 groups and each group would go and have to take the sheep around a "pond", not letting them inside the circle, becuase that meant they would drowned. Then you take them to a circle on the other side and get all of them to stay inside the circle. So the first group went and they tried to push the sheep, kinda tap them with the stick, etc. They tried to force it and the sheep wouldn't budge. Instead they would scatter (it was really entertaining). Then the next group went and they had a better idea. They would make a noise to distinguish themselves and they would simply lead the sheep where to go. This level of trust worked like magic... off all the sheep went in a line, following Camille. It was awesome to see. Then I was in the final group adn we had to separate the goats from the sheep adn take them to different "ponds" and then back home. The goats were easier to gain the trust of, so I was able to shepherd them around, but the sheep get scared and don't know what to do so they all huddle together and turn to face each other instead of following. Eventually we were able to lead them all safely "home". It's interesting that you must gain the trust of the sheep, and even still you cannot make them move, you can only show them where they are to go, and let them follow. Sometimes they may go down the rock instead of across it, but then they find their way back to you.... yeah.. all in all...great talk material! haha

 

Then we learned about some of the plants, (I'd have to look up which ones, it was the plant the children of israel used to put the blood on their doors before they escaped Egypt)... it comes up a lot in the scriptures, and I learned it was becuase it's a symbol of Humility. So at one point its compared to a cedar, which is supposed to symbolize pride. We got to use this plant and some other herbs we picked to make Zatar, a spice that we eat here in the Old city... it's really good, I'll prob. bring some home. and we made our own pitas over the fire!! We even made cracked wheat... yup, a full biblical lunch (and then we ate our sack lunches hahaha, we're spoiled!)

 

Brittany, me, Lydia, and Erik on our train ride. Best little ride!! lol

I made a pita!! :)

Chadwick was a trooper when he was breaking wood... he stepped on a GIANT nail!!

our zatar (spice)... so good. at least when they make it in the old city!

It's blurry, but I needed some kind of proof that I herded sheep! haha

C'mon. Just FOLLOW already!! haha

A little role playing :)