Steven's Semester in Israels

Steven Smith Start Date: Jul 27, 2017 - End Date: Jul 26, 2018
  • Israel
  • Hod Hasharon, Israel

My Travel Story

by: Steven Smith Start Date: Jul 27, 2017 - End Date: Jul 26, 2018
Shalom! My name is Steven Smith. I am raising money to be able to study abroad in Israel. My dad was a pastor, and I'm deeply considering following his path and going into ministry in some way.
I go to a small, old-fashioned public school in Ohio. I am in between my Freshman and Sophomore years. Despite my school not having any AP, I have done well through a new Ohio program called College Credit Plus. I have been taking college courses at a college with actual college students. I've taken summer school courses, and those in addition to the college classes have put me over a full academic year ahead my peers. This would allow me to take a semester of school in Israel. I would still be getting the core courses, but the school I'm planning to go to focuses on their Old Testament (Jewish) history course. If I want to, I take take college courses there through the University of Miami as well!
I am very active in my youth group's praise band. I play the keyboard and sing. I love to sing to the Lord. I've even done some songwriting. Many of the songs we sing are Hillsong Young and Free, with some Jesus Culture and some other groups in there. A potential career for me could be working as a worship leader or pastor.
At the beginning of this summer, I started learning Hebrew. I purchased a three-book self-study and I'm on my way to finishing the first book by the end of this summer. I really love learning the language, and going to Israel would be a perfect opportunity to practice it and use it. Another possible career: Teaching Biblical Languages at a University. I have a heart for the Jewish people. I want to show them Jesus, and I could do this in Israel through the new Hillsong church in Israel or a Nazarene church, to name a few.

Really, I don't know what the future holds, but God does, and I feel like this trip is very important to where I'll be going.

Now for the expenses:
Tuition: $15,700 USD
Average Airfare (round-trip): ~$1,700 USD
Average weekly spending: $100 USD X 18 weeks = $1,800 USD (Tuition does not include weekend meals or other misc. expenses)
Other expenses: Clothing I don't have, adapters and cords (Israel's voltage is 2x what the US is), and extra luggage costs (if applicable). I will update this as I find out more things or as things change.

Nothing is finalized yet. I'm hoping to go during my junior or senior year (likely Spring of my Junior or Fall of my Senior). That puts it at right around two years, more or less, away from now, and tution and airfare have to be paid in advance. Again, I will update as more details roll out.

Thanks, and God Bless!
  • Israel
  • Hod Hasharon, Israel