May 2

We started our day very early with a 5:00 am wake up. We quickly ate a snack and set out on a hike through the vast desert to see the sunrise. Unfortunately we had a bit of a late start which changed the course of our hike from a hike to see the sunrise to an adventurous hike with a rewarding view point at the end. The hike included steep slopes, streams, high ladders, and breathtaking views. Once on top of the last mountain, we had the opportunity to sit alone and enjoy nature while taking in the fabulous experience.

After the hike, we loaded the bus and went to a small field center for a picnic breakfast. Then we went to Kibbutz Sde Boker to visit David Ben-Gurion’s home in the Negev desert. Many of us were fighting heat and exhaustion, but in the end it was a fascinating experience. Following

Sde Boker we had a short drive to David and Paula Ben-Gurion’s graves and memorial. There we learned even more about the visions of Ben-Gurion and what he had done throughout his life. At the memorial we placed stones on the tops of the graves in their memory.

We then began the two hour bus ride towards Tel-Aviv with a short stop for lunch. We also stopped in Rehovot and participated in project Leket which picks and provides produce to the hungry of Israel. As a class we were able to collect about 3,000 pounds of potatoes. Everybody enjoyed the competitive spirit which motivated us to gather as much as possible. It was a meaningful experience for everybody because we felt as though we were beginning to give back to Israel for all that it has given us.

For a special treat, we had the chance to stop at Moshav Beit-Gamliel to visit our former classmate Itamar and the entire Twito family. There we enjoyed a delicious BBQ dinner, played sports, and were even able to meet a few Israeli kids from the Moshav. We sadly said our goodbyes and thanked them for their generous hospitality.

From there we made our way to Old Yafo, our final destination.  As our trip is nearing its end we spent the evening tracking our journeys and recording our experiences in our journals. We’ve been having an amazing time and are so sad tomorrow will be our last day….. jokes on you cuz we’re not comin back!!!

Lots of love from your children in the holy land. We love you so much but aren’t quite ready to come home yet!! Good night!! Praise the Lord of Abraham Isaac and Jacob who has brought forth this land and made it possible for the children of Israel to visit and tour their heritage……….

Sarah, Avigayil, and Zepora