I just returned from nearly two weeks in Israel and Jordan. It was my first visit to the Holy Land and one I was able to share with LeTourneau friends and my wife and daughters. It was a wonderful time!
All LeTourneau students have the opportunity to travel to the Holy Land with our Bible faculty. In fact, the trip is so popular students have been known to camp out overnight in line for the limited number of spaces available for the travel study. Here’s a hint for new students: ask about this opportunity when you begin your Bible classes at LETU. Plan ahead or you will miss out on this unique experience.
Our trip was divided into three stops. We began at the Sea of Galilee and spent several days in that region. We then traveled to Jordan to see the ancient city of Petra and Mt. Nebo where Moses died after God showed him the promised land across the Jordan that he would not live to enter. We finished in the Jerusalem area.
I really enjoyed the time in Galilee. Perhaps it is because one can look out at the Sea of Galilee (what the locals call Lake Kinneret) and imagine you are there at the time of Jesus. The 
steep hillsides where Jesus taught look as I imagine they did when Jesus was mobbed there by crowds. Our group boarded a small boat and cruised into the middle of the lake. There I heard the wind and felt the waves and imagined it was something Jesus experienced many times. Even the sunrise there seemed directly from God.
To be sure, the time of Christ is gone. On the holiday weekend we were there, the lake was full of campers and even jet skis. (It just seemed wrong to see a jet ski on the same waters where Jesus walked!). Sadly, the Golan Heights border the lake and it is one of the world’s most geopolitically tense places. Still yet, I felt closer to my savior.
I hope to see you on campus soon but in the meantime, let’s be FACEBOOK friends. Enjoy your summer and look for Jesus no matter where you are.
What is the Christian experience like at LETU? So many colleges are Baptist, or Methodist, etc but the actual Christian experience is so lacking. Of course we all have our jacked up/walkin-by-the-flesh moments but over all what would you say about it?
Posted by: Michelle | Thursday, 14 August 2008 at 11:14 AM
Our students come from 40 different Christian denominations. That's why we call ourselves interdenominational -- students from many different faith traditions that have one thing in common: Jesus Christ.
All of our faculty and staff are Christians who believe the Bible to be God's word. Students attend chapel three times a week. Each residence hall floor has a student chaplain. Our LSM (LeTourneau Student Ministries) is a student organization committed to serving the hurting next door to our campus and on the other side of the world. That's the outward view of faith at LeTourneau. Within our students' hearts I think you would find those comfortable with their faith and those still seeking answers. Faith here is very genuine
Posted by: Dale Lunsford | Saturday, 16 August 2008 at 08:50 PM
Hi Michelle:
I am actually one of the Bible faculty and I can tell you that it is precisely the interdenominational character that makes the faith experience at LETU so real. We truly are a family of faith. As faculty we educate, not indoctrinate. Yet at the same time we find ourselves holding on to our common truth in Christ. At LETU you are free to discover for yourself what genuine faith is--faith that is real. I can assure you that when you honestly want to walk in the truth of Christ, that this is a place where you will find yourself challenged to grow in Him as you grow with others. It's the real thing (okay, and we have lots of fun too!).
Come and visit us some time. Nothing will tell you more than simply experiencing a day on our campus.
Posted by: Renate Hood | Sunday, 17 August 2008 at 05:04 PM
Hey Michelle!
As an admissions counselor and the wife of a current LETU student (we live on campus in married student housing) I can tell you that the Christian atmosphere here at LETU is amazing. As mentioned before we have chapel 3 times a week and your floor will have a Bible study that is lead by your floor Chaplin. There are also other praise service and Bible study opportunities that go on throughout the week. We also have a lot of student ministries here on campus. You may want to check out the website to find out more information about them. http://www.letu.edu/_Student-Life/spiritual-life/student-ministries/
Posted by: Christie Hammond | Wednesday, 27 August 2008 at 04:32 PM