Final Jerusalem Overlook Field Trip

Today was our "Overlook Field Trip," when we took the students to various points around Jerusalem where we could get views of the city and its surroundings, helping them gain a better geographic context for the things we will be studying.

First, however, a methodological comment: as I move into my final semester with the Jerusalem Program, each of my field trips is going to be the last time I go to these places and have these experiences.  I am still going to to take group pictures at most, if not all, sites, but I am not going to do the extensive photographing and blogging that I have done up to this point.  This is because I want to enjoy the sites myself and try to experience them more with my own eyes and a little less with a camera.  I also want to have a little more free time in the city and with my family and a little less away from the computer.

Still, I want to have a record of these students, because I anticipate getting close to them as I have my previous two groups.  And I also suspect that some of their families may discover the blog as my earlier groups have: I want to provide them regular insights into what their children and friends are doing.  So please check the links to previous blog posts on each trip to read more of the history and background and to see more detailed pictures.  But count on checking in on this blog regularly to see a picture or two of your loved ones at each of the sites.

So see the posts for the fall and the winter overlook field trips and then look at the pictures of today's outing below:

Nabi Samwil

• Read Joshua 10:6-14, 1 Kings 3:3-4, and 1 Samuel 3:1, 19-21
• Sang "Come Listen to a Prophet's Voice" 

Augusta Victoria

• Talked about all the things that have happened and will happen upon Mount Zion, focusing on the Triumphal Entry and the Second Coming
• Sang "A Mighty Fortress Is Our God" (in honor of Martin Luther), "All Glory, Laud, and Honor," and "All Creatures of Our God and King"
  

 

A couple of views from the tower:

 

Seven Arches Overlook

Mar Elyas, overlooking Bethlehem to the south

• Read Luke 2:8-16
• Sang "One in David's Royal City," "Angels We Have Heard on High," and "While Shepherds Watched Their Flocks"

Teyelet Overlook (formerly Haas Promenade)

• Read 22:1-6
• Sang "Beautiful Zion, Built Above"

It was at this stop that I actually had a pang of sadness, realizing that each of these field trips will not be the third time I do these things and visit these places but rather the last.  As we stood facing the Holy City as we sang "Beautiful Zion," I was struck by what a blessing and wonderful opportunity it has been to be here.