Let’s talk about olive trees.

The olive is one of the seven species abundantly produced in Israel (the list of the other six are found in Deuteronomy 8:8).

A few facts about the olive tree:

– They live a long time. We’re talking hundreds, some toeing a thousand plus, years.

– Their roots are long and penetrate to the damp soil down deep, enabling them to survive Israel’s hot summers and minimal rain fall.

– Their annual harvest is intermittent, giving a plentiful harvest every other year (the tree literally takes a “gap year”).

-To extract the oil from the olive, it is pressed into a paste, often with the same method that was used in the first-century: a large stone crushes the olive and pit to squeeze out the oil inside.

This fruit tree is used in the Bible as a symbol of peace, life, and hope. Yet, now when I think of the olive tree, I cannot help but think of the Jewish people.

Guys, if the history I’ve learned on this trip has shown me anything, it’s that just about everyone has tried to wipe the Jewish people out. This is a pattern, a history that has repeated itself over thousands of years and many groups of people.

Israel doesn’t know peace. Their reality has been oppression, war, unrest, fill in the blank.

Yet, they endure. Yet, they are a beautiful nation in a beautiful country.

Like the olive tree, this is a people that has stood the test of time, pressure, unsurvivable conditions, and yet continue to produce. If there was ever any doubt in my mind that they are God’s chosen people, it has been extinguished.

This resilience not only stirs up an awe and a respect within me, but also a special kind of affection I wasn’t prepared to gain.

Folks, I have left Israel. But it has not left me. Or, perhaps, I have left something behind there.

A soul-deep transaction occurred during this trip, the cost on my part being a piece of me that will cause a longing in my heart from this day on for that land and those people. I don’t know yet what the Lord will do with that, but I am assured that it will not be wasted.

One way I’m utilizing this is that I’ve determined to learn how to speak and read Hebrew (I know. Small task, right?). So, any seminary peeps/anyone who has learned Hebrew that have good resources to share, hit a girl up!

In light of this revelation, a moment that was special to me was at the end of our tour at Avalon Institute. Our guide took a few minutes to thank us not only for visiting them, but for visiting Israel itself.

I’m paraphrasing, but he said, “You could have gone anywhere. Somewhere more exotic, more relaxing, more temperate, but you chose our homeland. That shows me that you care and that we have friends abroad. For that, I thank you”.

Here I am, at the end. It’s a tale as old as time. One door closing so another can open. Departures and partings, goodbyes and good memories to hold on to.

I have 3 main groups to thank:

1.) I cannot thank the Wortham’s enough for putting this trip together because they recognized the impact it had in their spiritual growth and their own ability to provide the same opportunity for 31 others.

2.) Carly for opening the invitation to a girl she knew and befriended for five months. I have loved the time I have gotten to know and grow closer to my friend.

3.) All of those who donated to help make this happen for me and prayed for me before/during the trip. Even in my limited understanding of things, I know they had impact.

I made some more friends, engaged in some good convos, laughed like I was getting paid to do it, and learned a whole freaking lot about what life looked like in Biblical times, especially in Jesus’ day.

These are seeds planted and my prayer is that the Lord will use them to further establish, equip, and grow my faith in Him and fulfill the Great Commission through me.