Israel

Then I decided to escape this western world completely, and go live on a kibbutz.

2003

When I asked the Bedouin where the bathroom was, he munificently gestured to the hills, as if to say, "Woman, this, all this, is your bathroom."


The thrills were there from the start. Like when the bus driver forgot to let me off at my destination. Realizing his error, he abruptly pulled over and said to me, "Just walk back a few kilometers. It's not that far."

I stepped off the bus and went to the baggage bin underneath to look for my suitcase. As soon as I pulled it out and shut the door, the bus took off.

At first I felt a little nervous. It was after dark and I was not far from the West Bank. There was no civilization in sight and the road was deserted - I had only seen a car drive by maybe every 15 minutes. But these were the very things that also made the place serene. As I walked in peaceful silence under the stars, I could feel the Lord's presence. It was a moment to savor.

And that was the first of many more such moments. I lived on the shore of the sea of Galilee and on my days off from work, I'd hike the little mountain where many think Jesus sent the demons into the pigs. It became spring while I was there, and I'd lay amongst the blooming flowers on top of the mountain, gazing up at an eagle, praying and dreaming.

2005

(After some months of living on a communal farm, I came to my senses and came back to finish school.)