My First Blog Post

“I was glad when they said to me,
    “Let us go to the house of the Lord!”
 Our feet have been standing
    within your gates, O Jerusalem!”

Psalm 122:1-2

In May I graduated from Hope College with a Psychology major and minors in Religion and Ministry. This fall, I will be spending a semester in Israel, studying at Jerusalem University College, where the credits I get will someday transfer over to a seminary degree. JUC is a graduate school that offers amazing study abroad programs for both undergrad and graduate students, and when I felt the Lord put it on my heart to go back to Israel, this seemed like a good way to do it. I have to give a big thank you to Ben and Stacie Post – they’re the ones who took me to Israel for the first time in May of 2018, and I wouldn’t be doing this if it weren’t for them! They both got masters degrees from JUC, and I wouldn’t mind being just like them when I grow up. I’m very interested in the programs and opportunities that JUC offers, so I’m going to go check it out.

Although I am not currently enrolled in seminary, I would like to go someday and get my Master’s of Divinity. At many of the schools I am interested in, one semester’s worth of credits at JUC will transfer over to an MDiv program as elective and language credits. Is this the most efficient way to do things? Maybe not, but ADVENTURE. Plus, I can’t think of a better way to study the Bible hands-on than going to the Holy Land. So, from August 30th through December 8th, I will be in Jerusalem. If you’d like to follow along with my adventures, this blog will help you do that! I will be going on a lot of field trips, and learning TONS of new things, and here you’ll be able to stay up to date on my thoughts as I take it all in.

Yes, I am going on a really cool adventure. But don’t be fooled – there’s a whole lot of life that I don’t have figured out. I’m planning on going and letting this experience change me, challenge me, grow me, and open up my heart and mind to new possibilities. What’s after this? I’m not really sure, but I’ll let you know when I know! It all begins so soon!! Thanks for checking out this page! Disclaimer: I really have no clue what I’m doing trying to make a blog – I hope this works. Haha.

Love,

Hannah Marie