Preparing for Jerusalem: Brain Trust!

Hello everyone,

We had another exciting Digger's Moot the other night that left each of us on a high. The lecture time was split between Brent and Mr. Flurry. Though they both spoke about digging and working in Jerusalem specifically, the main principles can be applied in a broader sense to every day life.

When we are presented with 'one of those' opportunities - the type that almost floor you because of how awesome, amazing, and undeserved they are - we need to take it. That may be the one shot at doing the work that defines your life.

It would be the most painful of insults to all involved if we took that opportunity for granted and worked as though we had better things to do. We must realize that there is no better thing to do than what we are doing right now and then make the very most of that opportunity.

Take the zeal, the energy, that surges through your mind and body the very instant you recognize a once in a life time opportunity and WORK with it. Let that zeal fuel your thoughts and actions, motivating you through even the most mundane of tasks with an energetic optimism.

Zeal applied is a powerful force... for good AND for bad.

If that energy and enthusiasm is not channeled, left uneducated, it can cause irreperable damage, especially on a job where meticulous attention to detail and careful handling is required. Like on dig site, for example.

You must take that God inspired sense of world-conquering zeal and teach it to behave. Don't limit it, or hamper it, or kill it, but focus it. Learn what to do, how to do it, and have at least a general understanding of what must be done before going gung-hoe with a pick-axe, smashing through occupation layer after occupation layer in an attempt to be the first to reach the 1st temple period. That would be bad. We don't want to be bad. We don't want to be stoned either.

To cap it all off - have energy, have excitement, gain in knowledge, gain in wisdom, and take on the world! or, at least take on a dig square! Yee-Haw!

-Digger Justin

Preparing for Jerusalem: Prayers

Hello Everyone,

We recently had a "Digger's Meeting" between all the volunteers and Mr. Stephen Flurry. In the meeting a few key points were stressed for us to pray about. I wanted to pass along these points to everyone else, so we can all be praying for the same things.

He asked us to pray about the housing situation. We need housing to accommodate about 24 people (including the volunteers and a ministers family) comfortably, as well as in the same area. Specifically, the housing needs to be either communal or in very close proximity, centrally located, large kitchen (or multiple kitchens), cheap, and has a large communal space where we can share meals, Bible Studies, and Sabbaths.

Mr. Flurry and Mr. Locher will take a trip to Jerusalem soon to scout out the right place and make any decisions on where to live, so keep that in mind too. Also, they will look for a location for the Jerusalem Office.

Pray for the open door - and for the wisdom necessary to see when it really is God opening the door, not us with a pry bar. (pry bar is my analogy, not his)

Pray for the protection of those who will be going to Jerusalem, and for the impact that each of us will have on the dig site. This is the first time a large number of "Ambassadors" will be working in Jerusalem in nearly 2 decades. To put this in perspective, every member of God's church will be judged based on the actions of the 19 volunteers. That task is a little daunting, and we need all the help we can get. 

Thank you for the support! :)

-Digger Justin

Journal - The Beginning of Time

The archaeological dig was announced to the student body of Herbert W. Armstrong College during a camp-out in Robber's Cave, OK. A current of electric excitement pulsed through the student body for several days as everyone talked about what it would be like to dig in Jerusalem.

On Wednesday, march 21st, the students chosen as volunteers were announced. There were tears, hugs, shouts of joy, fist bumps, and wild eyed smiles as the 15 students selected recovered from their initial shock. 

I was one of the names read from the list. 

That day I thought of a million things at once. It was so overwhelming I almost didn't go to work. This morning, I decided to keep a journal. It will be a paper and leather thing, with pencil marks all throughout and occasionally a coherent sentence or two. Since my family will not be able to read that journal for many months, I also created this blog. (Love ya mom!)

This moment marks the start of a new web blog that shall endeavor to keep a record of what it's like Digging Jerusalem. Please, don't expect too much. I'll do what I can.

- Digger Justin