Day 11: Temple Steps, Temple Institute, Bethlehem school outreach

Just a few days left on our trip!

This is the right side of the Mount of Olives, where there is a massive Jewish graveyard. There aren't really any available plots left, aside from family plots handed down through generations. But imagine with me when Jesus returns, and the Mount of Olives splits in half and water flows down to the Dead Sea! I believe this place is popular for burial, as the Old Testament mentions that this is where the Messiah will come from?This is us on the temple steps, where Jesus talked to them about "torrents of living water". Now, after having been there, we can visualize where and when this happened. The purification of the temple, where water doused the alter resulted in water to flow down these steps. The highest point of the temple-where the trumpeter would stand - is also the same location the Devil took Jesus while tempting Him in the wilderness, saying "throw yourself down if You are the Son of God..." Of course Jesus rebutted with scripture and did not do so, saying, "do not put the Lord your God to the test" After the Temple Steps, we visited the Temple Institute, where a group of people are in the process of getting "everything they need to reinstate the Jewish temple". Lots of problems here... First off, the Muslims own the temple mount. Second, they have re-created much of the golden components, but don't have what they believe is most important - where they believe the presence of God dwells - the Ark of the Covenant. We didn't spend any money there, but just took a look at what they were doing...

From there, we were headed back to Bethlehem. Again, the wall separated the two cities, but this time, coming back was a huge hassle! We had to put our stuff through metal detectors and scanners like those seen for airport luggage. After what seemed to be a half an hour of waiting, the second half of us finally were able to come through!

This dove represents the time when Noah was on the ark, and his winged scout came back with the olive branch, showing that God had finished the flood, and there was dry land. Olive branches symbolize the extending of peace - but this carrier has a flak jacket on, with a target positioned over its torso. Almost as if saying peace is being extended from one side, but that the other side has its gun sites locked onto the target.

Here are a group of the kids gathered as Tonye and Corey prepared for playing music for them. Some are playing "cool" not to look too enthused, but some others were having fun ;) Santa and Tonye playing songs... No "Rudolph the red-nosed raindeer" here, but rather songs encouraging them to follow Jesus, and some of Tonye's own testimony story.

Enjoy this video snip below. Notice how much Tonye is laughing at what goes on here... He had promised the kids that if they were good, that Corey would dance for them! Corey really doesn't like getting up in front of people or being put on the spot... He tried to dish it back to PT, but unfortunately he declined - perhaps some day, Tonye? ;) "TONYE'S TURN!!!"

. Ok, so after that silliness, we got underway with the basketball that Tonye challanged them to... even though he was the only real basketball player amongst us! ;)

The kid in the blue shirt with the beanie on was a sophomore in high school, but he played us like he was a pro in the body of a high schooler! He drove on us all day, and when he was bored with that, he pulled up for jumpers (which he made) or dished off to someone else who scored all over us! I imagine they probably outscored us 4 to 1!

Donna shows her best defense in keep-away from a boy who was bullying a little girl...

Up next...our last day (just two months later!)