Where do I begin?

The Oxford dictionary defines “Journey” as:
noun (plural journeys)

• an act of travelling from one place to another:

• A long and often difficult process of personal change and development:

I would agree with both.

Last summer a group of friends that I know were going to Israel. They were going with a women’s group on a “Transformation and Grow” mission with and organization called JWRP (Jewish Women’s Renaissance Project). I wasn’t really involved with them when they applied and never thought about going, until they were all there and posting pictures on facebook, that I was envious and thinking I should figure out a way to get on one of these trips.

It was while they were there that another friend of ours messaged me that a trip was open for October 2011 and that she was going to apply. I applied as well. There is a process where you apply, you go for an interview with the city leader from your group, and then you wait to see if you are accepted for the trip. There are qualifications and specifications to being approved for the trip.

I don’t want to work backwards in my life’s journey, but what I know now, that I wasn’t able to really appreciate then, was that I was not “meant” to go on the trip in October. I was going to get my chance and I just had to wait for it to happen for me. When you are disappointed about something in your life, who thinks like that? I didn’t at first, but I know that now.

Back in February this year, through another friend (completed unrelated to the women who already attended the trip) I found out she was going to be going on the SAME trip this June. She told me her trip was not full and I should apply. I was hesitant to do so, knowing what I had already gone through previously, but thought, what the heck….this trip seems to keep coming up in my life, I should listen to the signs, and I applied.

I was very lucky to meet my city leader for the interview. She is a kind, compassionate women who saw something in me that allowed me to go on this journey. She accepted me right away at my interview, and within 24 hours, I had booked my ticket and paid my deposit for the trip.

Just have to jump ahead for a moment.

Lori Palatnik is the co-founder of the JWRP and our host for the mission. On our very first day in our very first class with her she told us that the Talmud says it takes merit to come to Eretz Israel (the land of Israel) and whatever we did last Rosh Hashana and Yom Kippur has allowed us to come on this trip at this time.

And here I am. I have gone to Eretz Israel and have now returned. I have posted pictures on facebook, but really haven’t talked much about the trip yet (I have been sick since I got home).

I hope you will read along with me as I share with you what I learned from my “Transform and Grow” mission to Israel with JWRP. They say that just going to Israel you come back a changed person. I think that is true, on so many levels. Stay tuned folks, lots more to come!!!