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| Up for 24 hours before we even leave Israel... that's what comes of being homeless once school ends. Our cheerful sharut driver took us from Abu Gosh to Tel Aviv in 20 minutes... he had to be going 100 mph! First leg of the journey was 3 checkpoints with luggage, then 4 more with our passports... just to get to our gate. At gate C-9 now we wait for boarding and will arrive in Newark, Lord willing, in c. 16 hours. And on the other end, Mom is making stuffed shells, salad, homemade bread and PIE... for us and 4/7 of our children. Yeah! It makes leaving this place a little easier. Our last days here were amazing... time in the Galilee and great times with people! We praise God for the year here. | | |
| Saying goodbye to fellow students last night... Saying goodbye to our church fellowship this morning... Saying goodbye to Chaim and Esti, to Micah and Esther as we drove away from our apartment for the last time. It was raining, so unusual for this time of year.... and Micah said that even the sky was crying because we were leaving. So many dear people. How we will miss them! A big part of our hearts will be left here in Israel. It's so good that God gives grace in transition. And we do look forward to being with our dear ones at home.... family and friends. | | |
| Waiting for a bus in 86 degree weather for 15 minutes I was very tempted to take up an offer to hitch hike with a perfect stranger. Traffic was slow, so he pulled over to ask where Talpiot was. Ah, that's where I live.... just a mile and a half down Hebron. He offered to take me there. I hesitated.... thought about how shocked Brian and all my kids would be, even though I'm sure it would have been fine... then turned down the offer and continued to roast while the Arab 124 made its way slowly.... oh so slowly... from the Damascus Gate to my stop. It felt very good to climb aboard and feel air conditioning AND see an available seat. | | |
| You know that you're 'at home' in Israel when you run into friends on the Arab bus (and make new friends who, after a short conversation share their gummy worms with you), on the other side of town, in a crowd of c.5000 on the Mt. of Olives. You know you're at home when you randomly meet one of the most famous archeologists in town, have a casual conversation like you're old friends, and take a taxi home together because you live in the same general direction. You know you're at home in Jerusalem when you read the accounts of the Passion in the Gospels and can picture each spot where the Lord Jesus walked that week. We love being at home here and are so thankful for this year God has given us. | | |
| Yesterday it snowed in Jerusalem! Yesterday I had a chance to have a quiet day alone with the Lord... Bethlehem English classes were canceled. Yesterday a friend came over to cook a Filipino dish for my birthday.... and I made a cake for his birthday. We celebrated the day with Benito and Jonathan, two dear friends here at JUC. Yesterday I was blessed by little reminders of how much I am loved by Brian. On my birthday God showed me His love. | | |
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