I was preparing a lesson on Passover a few nights ago when I came across this photo taken on Mt. Gerizim in 1993.
Our only connection was that we were all students at a school in Jerusalem and we pooled our money together to hire an Arab taxi to take us to biblical sites in the West Bank for a day. But 15 years later, I’ve surprised at how many I’m still in touch with. And to think about where we are now.
- I’ve heard from all but one in the last year. The one I haven’t heard from in 15 years.
- One is now a Bible professor (with a PhD).
- One is a PhD student (in Bible).
- One is a m—— in Israel.
- One committed an unspeakable evil, but has repented and walks with the Lord (but will live with the consequences for the rest of this life).
- One of them carried a letter for me to a friend, in which I told him to date the bearer of the letter. (They now have 4 kids.)
- One of them is one of my best friends.
- One of them is married to the pastor of a Sovereign Grace church.
- One of them is a guy I respect more than almost anyone else.
- One has a Land Rover with a dead engine.
- Two occasionally comment on this blog.
- All are married and are walking with the Lord.
Amazing.
Is that Craig with the big fluffy beard? I’ll bet there’s hair under the hat, too!
Hey
So help Heather and I settle a bet, which one are you?
Bobby – I took the photo.
THAT was a very cool observation…thanx for sharing your friendship journey with us! Wow.
And what a ride those 15 have been. How come you never asked me to carry a letter for you?
Well, we were both wrong. I should have guessed.
Yes, Danny, that is me under the fluffy beard. I’m thinking of bringing it back to celebrate the discovery of this photo.
I’m also the one with the Land Rover with a dead engine. :-(
I remember the trip and the beard, but not being on Mt. Gerezim. My most vivid memory is being turned back at the gate to Shiloh presumably because we were in an Arab taxi. The guy who turned us back was short on words, he just said, “You should leave now,” as he moved his hand toward his automatic weapon. I insisted there was no problem since we were American students. His response was the same. So, we left.
One other memory is of our driver: an early member of Al Qaida, who would only speak in Arabic. He understood my Hebrew, but would only respond in Arabic. I understood some of what he said. I think.
It’s amazing I’m still alive considering all the places Todd has taken me over the years. :-)
I remember that day too. Craig, the Shiloh incident is seared on my brain as well. I remember thinking, thank the Lord we have people in this taxi who speak Hebrew. If we didn’t, we might not be typing on this blog thanks to those nice Israeli settlers….
I also seem to remember our taxi’s steering wheel getting locked (I think Gerizim was actually where that happened, and subsequently the reason for this picture)
Todd, has it really been 15 years? Crazy. Praise God for his faithfulness to all of us.
Lisa – if word got out, I would have become a letter-writing machine!
Stratkey – yes, God has been good.
Craig and Stratkey – my memory is somewhere between yours in regard to the Shiloh entrance. The guys certainly defined for me what “rude Israeli settler” is, but I’m sure he would not have hurt us. I can say that I had another experience in that town last year, where one of our group needed a restroom desperately, and the group we encountered was most helpful and kind.