Trip To Israel

It was an interesting weekend. We had two trips -- one to Northern Israel, to Capernaum and Nazareth, the Sea of Galilee and one to the South -- in the Judean Desert -- Masada, the Dead Sea and Qumran.

The interesting thing I am finding is that I am enjoying the digging experience more than the visiting time. It is extremely hot outside of Jerusalem. Masada and Qumran were nearly unbearable, so that made the experience a lot less meaningful that I had hoped.

Week 2 of digging began this morning. We gained a few more diggers and lost one. We have a great team...and I enjoy learning more about different cultures and some new words too! Even ones I can use!

It was great to call home yesterday to the church, just before service was beginning. I got to spend a few seconds with some of the faithful before they had to get the service started.

We have a professional photographer coming to the site tomorrow to document our progress in the 5 areas in which we are digging. Dr. Lipschits visited each site (as he always does), but spent sometime today telling us about the plans for the next two weeks for our area.

So what did we find of interest today? Nothing, really. But, even when we DON'T find anything, it means something. Don't you like that kind of argument?

The Church of the Annunication -- service in progress as we visited on Saturday morning

The USA gift representing Mary. Very interesting and the first image that really hits you as you enter the sanctuary.

The Mighty Jordan River -- yes, I dipped my feet in it! All my sins were washed away!!!

Three of our diggers "calming the waters" of the Sea of Galilee

Me walking on the waters of the Sea of Galilee

On top of Masada, looking down where we just came from on the cable car. Yes, I rode it!

From the site of Qumran, looking out toward the Dead Sea

The Dead Sea -- really eerie -- no boats running around...just dead!

We had a very full first weekend in Israel. On Saturday we went up North to Nazareth, Tiberius, the Sea of Galilee, Capernaum etc. It was a very full day, and we were rushed.

But I did walk on water!

Today we spent the day in the desert -- at Masada, the Dead Sea and Qumran. It was over 100 degrees outside and I am beat. I must have drank over 5 liters of water. I may skip the tours next week. It just wears me out.

We have about 30 more volunteers this coming week. I hope they get bucket duty, cause I feel I've paid my dues!! We'll see.

I want to write more about the religious attitudes in Israel. It's very interesting.

Love to all.

WOW! What a week. We have been working so hard, and I have muscles where I never had muscles before, I think.

Our biggest find is still in the "pit", as we are affectionately calling it. Today, the women finally got a chance to work in it. I was cleaning off a floor area, and one of our workers found a blue bead, from a piece of jewelry. It was beautiful, and as far as we know, no other jewelry has been found. Then, in the area I was in early this morning, I kept finding little terrazo squares, about 1/4 ' square. I just knew any minute I was going to find a mosiac floor. I didn't find it, but about 35 feet away, the guys found it. So close...

We had a little "party" last night, and had to present a powerpoint presentation. I did one, so I'll have to share it with you all when I get back. It really is a great group.

This weekend we are going to the Sea of Galilee on Saturday and then to Masada, Qumran and the Dead Sea on Sunday. Should be two great trips.

It's Shabbat here, so things are going to start closing down soon. Shabbat Shalom to all, and I'll write again soon.

Whoo-ee! Wednesday's work has come and gone, but it was a big day for Area C2! The "pool" we've been working on has now been proclaimed a "mitkvah", which is a Jewish ritual cleansing pool. Really neat! One reason I think it's neat because on Monday, when the "pipe" was discovered, I guessed that it was a mitkvah. They told me no. And, I didn't care, they are the experts! But, today they've changed their minds, and I'm feeling pretty smug. That'll change, I'm sure.

I'm getting a little more used to the routine, though the work is still very, very hard. Especially when I am hauling buckets of rocks and dirt to the wheelbarrow. My job today was to help work on uncovering the wall, and then I moved to the walkway from the bath to the terrace of the house. I uncovered some pottery, but my biggest find was a coke bottle! For some reason, they didn't want to keep it! So, my beautiful find went into the garbage heap!

Yesterday we went to the City of David. It was very interesting, and we got to see the Arabic part of Jerusalem. They have garbage heaps on the hillsides -- we saw little boys throwing garbage away.

We have lectures this evening, so I've got to do this fast. Watch for the next update!

Mount of Olives, from the other side of the street

Omer, our crew chief, giving us an introduction to the site

The daily pottery wash. Not much fun!

Oi Vay! I am hurting all over. If you want to know why, here's the story:

We get up everyday at 4:45 AM. (As one of my good friends would say, "That just ain't right!")

We gather in the little snack area of the hotel and eat cereal or cake and coffee. The coffee is instant. But, it's actually quite good. [What do we know, it's 5:00 in the morning!]

We then gather in our groups to walk to the work site. We stop by the equipment barn to get our buckets, picks, brooms, dustpans, & wheelbarrows. Then we drag that stuff over to our site.

Our area (C2) is a new excavation area for this season. We are working on uncovering the Citadel wall, dated from the 7th Century BC; and excavating a "pool" area, that might be from the Byzantine era (3-4th century AD) OR it might be from the Roman Villa. We don't know yet.

My job is to help uncover the wall. I sit, squat, am on my knees {thanks Russ for making me take the good knee pads} and I use a little pick, a broom (no handle), the dustpan and sometimes a little trowel. I have removed buckets and buckets and buckets and buckets of dirt! And rocks that are probably from a collapsed portion of the wall. It is very hard work.

Let me tell you about our Team. We have two supervisors, Shahaf and Shani. They are wonderful, and they work real hard too. Then, us 'volunteers' include:
Joe, from Raleigh, NC, a physics major with a minor in religious studies and other things. He's a joker and keeps us laughing.
Chris is from MO, studying archeology at Mizzou. He is 24 and reminds me so much of Michael and his best friend, Josh.
Volker is originally from Germany, now living in Belfast, working on his Ph.D. These guys do all the heavy-heavy work.

The women include Anne, from Denmark. She lights up the room with her smile. Very Smart! Knows all the ancient languages. She wants to start Ph.D. work.

Melissa is from Albuquerque, and is retired from activities director at a nursing home. Yesterday she worked on the wall with me.

Magdalena is from Germany, and studying with the co-director of the dig. She is shy.

We also have a young woman from Jerusalem who comes and works with us during the morning. I don't know her name yet -- she helped me with the wall today.

They are all very intelligent and industrious. We all work very hard to keep things going.

At 9:00 we break for breakfast. It's a huge meal and we all eat well. Then, it's hard to get back to work. At 11:30 we have another quick break -- fruit or popsicles! Then we quit at 1:00, take all the equipment back, with any finds, and start washing pottery. That's a hard job. At 2:00, we're done.

I barely walk back to the hotel, shower and lay down. I don't have lunch because I just can't get up! And we had such a big breakfast, I'm not really hungry.

So, what have I found? Nothing yesterday. But today I found two pieces of pottery and a bone! A little piece of bone. But, I was quite excited. The people working in the "pit" have found tons of pottery. Nothing really significant. And they've found some bones -- probably from animals.

This afternoon we're going on a tour of the City of David, the old part of Jerusalem. So, I must hurry to get to the area where we are all meeting.

I sure am glad I did all those aerobics with the kids during VBS! It sure has helped with my stamina!

Love to all,
Debbie