Shephelah Field Trip

Our Monday field trip was to Shephelah, which are the low hills between Jerusalem and Mediterranean Sea.

We learned about the geography of Israel and the Shephelah hills. It's really cool to learn the geography in the Bible because the authors assume we know the time and culture and so as we read we skim over the places but they have a meaning and if you know the geography the stories are better to understand and sometimes it has a typological meaning. If you put your hand flat out palm down each space between the fingers is a valley (there's 5 of them: Aijon, Sorek, Elah, Guvrim, Lachish....we remember them by the acronym All Students Enjoy Getting Letters). The top of the wrist is up higher and that's where Jerusalem is and the tips of the fingers is the sea shore. It really helps understand the geography and the Bible.

Our first stop was the Sorek Valley, which was where Samson was born and raised.

Devery and I flexing our muscles. I'm not sure what Dwight's doing haha.
(He's showing the pottery shards we got to pick up.

Next we went to the Elah Valley which is where the famous David and Goliah story occured.

Literally right behind Robin, Anna Marie, and Amy is the site of David and Goliath.

Robin was David and Blake was Goliath and we reenacted the chapter in 1 Samuel. It was great.

My own little reenactment with Paige.

Next we hopped back on the bus and went to the wabi, dry riverbed, where David picked up 5 smooth stones. Brother Harper gave us all slings, told us to stand in a line, fire all in the same place, ad don't get in the line of fire. Right beside it was a beauuutiful field of wheat that we took pictures in.

 1 Samuel 17:40 - "And he took his staff in his hand, and chose him five smooth stones out of the brook, and put them in a shepherd’s bag which he had, even in a scrip; and his sling was in his hand: and he drew near to the Philistine."



It was way harder than I thought.

I've got my game face one, haha.

Dana, Analise, Jamie, me, Robin, and Lauren



I love Melinda!!

We next went to the Lachish Valley and we've been learning about the Assyrian conquest there so that was cool to see. It was the place to conquer in ancient times before you wanted to take over Jerusalem. When the Assyrians took it over, the king had artists below sketch it out and make a relief around his house so we have "live footage" as Brother Harper always jokes about at sites.


with Analise and Alicia. Behind us is the palace of Lachish

Afterwards we went to the Guvrim Valley and went in the underground caves that were carved out because the rock is like chalk so it's super soft. It was very nice because the day was getting verrry hot.

Walking down into an underground cave (Brooke, Analise, Rachel, and Robin)

Priscilla and I in the underground dove house where they were breeded to sell for sacrifice and other things.

 

A very well preserved olive oil factory kind of thing. It was really cool, we've learned about the process it takes to make olive oil and there is so many symbolism to the atonement of Christ.

The underground caves were amazing and sooo cool. We went to a lot and this one was huge! It was like an adult playground, all of us were running around climbing stairs and through holes, it was fun!

We also went and saw a tomb cave which was really cool.

Devery, me and Melinda

Last we went to the Bell Caves and sang a bunch of hymns. It was beautiful, the acoustics were amazing and it was a great way to end the field trip.



Brooke is awesome.

I wish I could explain everything that happened and everything we learned but this is just a summary of it all. I'm learning so much and I know that it's going to come in handy when I'm a mother, for my callings, and for just life in general. I love it here, I have two months left and I'm so excited for what is coming up next!