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Congregational Life

Schaefers Travel to Israel

“Again you will plant vineyards on the mountains of Samaria;

 the farmers will plant them and enjoy their fruit.”

Jeremiah 31:5

“Foreigners will work your fields and vineyards.”

  Isaiah 61:5b

              Until four years ago, these verses in Jeremiah and Isaiah were just “Old Testament prophecies” to me.  But that idea changed for me the fall of 2008 when I got the opportunity to go to Israel for two weeks with my Dad and Meghan and take part in the grape harvest on the “mountains of Samaria” and realized that I was a “foreigner [working in the] fields and vineyards” of the Jewish farmers. I enjoyed my time so much that I returned the next fall and stayed for two months, and last fall I was there seven weeks along with my Mom and Devin. People always ask, “Why do you go back every year?” Well, for me, there is just something amazing about being in the land where the stories in the Bible took place, walking where our Lord walked and being a part of fulfilling those “Old Testament Prophecies.” 

But there is also the work part of these trips that I enjoy—most of the time anyway.  A typical work day in Israel looks something like this: 

       4:30 a.m. We get up and eat breakfast that the food prep team for the day has prepared. We then pack the coolers with food for lunch, fill our water bottles and make our way down the four flights of metal stairs (40 steps total) quietly, trying not to wake up other people in the apartment building. We go to the curb where we wait for the vans to pick us up and take us to our work location for the day.

      10:30 a.m.  We have been working for about four hours, and it is now time to stop for lunch, consisting of pitas filled veggies, tuna, or peanut butter and jelly. We take a break in the shade for a while, then get back to work picking grapes.

      2:30 p.m. The work is done for the day, and we load back into the vans and make our way back to the apartment to relax until supper around 5:30.  Evenings are spent doing whatever—taking a walk, shopping or, for some, sleeping. Then it’s time for bed so we can get up and do the same thing again.

  We also do a lot of touring and sightseeing, so it is not all work.  I can now say that I have swum in the Dead Sea, the Mediterranean  Sea, and the Springs of EnGedi. I have ridden a camel on the Mount of Olives, and I have been to Shiloh and stood in the place where the tabernacle stood for 365 years.

  I have enjoyed going on these work trips to Israel every year with different ones from my family, and I am excited to be going again this fall for three months with my Mom,  Devin, and, later my Dad, who will be joining us for three weeks in September.

By Leah Schaefer

Featuring

New Horizons-Lewisburg, WV

Simple Souls—Powhatan local band

Invite a friend and come enjoy

 an evening of music.

Bruster’s ice-cream, popcorn & beverage provided.

Bring your lawn chairs or blanket to sit on.  Everyone welcome.

Event is free — donations welcome.

 Rain location: Powhatan Mennonite Church

For questions or comments you may email the pastor at timbev2@yahoo.com or the webmaster at hffinc@i-c.net