So I haven’t updated this blog since it was a class assignment but I want to pick up with it again.

On Thursday (4/29) I’ll be boarding a plane at Dulles and heading off to Israel and Palestine for a 10 trip/ flim-making experience. I’m really excited about the trip and have already pretty much finished packing. I’d like to say that it’s all from motivation but it’s partially because I’ll have no time once the week starts as well as I’m procrastinating from cleaning my house. But regardless I’ll admit that I’m quite proud of myself for fitting 10+ days of clothing and basic amenities as well as a pillow and yoga mat for camping on the beach of Galilee, all in one small travel size suit-case! For all of you who say women cannot pack light! I beg to differ (or perhaps I just pack well and have learned how to shove a shit-ton of stuff into one suitcase)

For proof:

Yeah. I’m super pleased with myself!

But anyway, I’ll be taking off on Thursday. I’m going with National Community Church. It’s a missions trip to the region. So yeah, it’s a God thing. I’m going to explore religion and the role it plays in my own life. What better place to do that than in the Holy Land.

But the trip is more than that. I’m part of a crew that’s going to be filming a documentary about the journey of 4 people going on this trip. Though most of the 4 view this as simply a journey to visit the roots of their religion, they will also be forced to face the present-day situation and see the current day political climate up close. Most Christians, or at least the one’s who speak their mind, are conservative, right-wing, zionists. We want our community to make an informed decision through what they see with their own eyes and figure out their own stance on the situation. As a Christian do you have to believe that the area belongs to the Jewish people?

So we’ll be following these people as they experience the Holy Land but also as they experience the occupation. We’ll be spending time in both Israel and Palestinian territories and passing through check-points along with everyone else. We’ll also be stopping by an orphanage (that I got my work to donate tons of supplies too YAY!) and a refugee camp, as well as a settlement tour.

So hopefully I’ll come back with some great footage as well as some super photographs to share!

Katie.