As soon as all three of my boys are healthy for more than one day in a row, all my laundry is done (and stays done), all my pending books have been read, my groceries are bought and my car has been cleaned, and as soon as I can clear my head enough to have a coherent thought I will be starting up my new blog. As I wrote previously, if you are immensely interested in the life of a family that is living in Jerusalem, but not so interested in them after they come home to the states, then this new blog is not for you. If you have far too much time on your hands, or always wanted to know what was going on inside the head of that perfect-looking (okay well that's not really me) pastor's wife sitting in the front row with her hands folded (Okay that is also not really me) or if you are my mother, then this new blog may be for you. Just click here. One of these days I may actually write something on it but for now I think the picture is the highlight.
Thanks for following us this past year as we travelled and may you find your own winding road leading you to places you never dreamed (and maybe being grateful for it!).
Saturday, November 1, 2008
Saturday, October 4, 2008
My Spiderwick discovery
A couple months ago, I watched the movie "The Spiderwick Chronicles" in order to determine whether or not my eight year old son should be allowed to watch it. After watching the movie with my eyes peeking through a blanket for most of it, I decided that no, it is a little too scary for me...er... I mean my son, to watch. That said, there was an interesting premise to the movie that stuck with me (the over-analyzer) and recently came to mind again. In the movie, the man Spiderwick has discovered another world within our world. Things that we see with our human eyes, such as flowers, and butterflies, mushrooms and tree leaves, he realized were fantasy creatures like nymphs and fairies. They did not so much hide from human eyes, but blended into the everyday scenery in a way that they were unseen by those who were not looking for them. In his discovery, he learned the beauty of this hidden world and befriended these creatures (there were also the scary and evil creatures but that is for another lesson..another blog).
I think that Spiderwick was really on to something. I believe that it is easy for us to live in our own world and to be completely unaware of a group of not fantasy creatures, but rather human beings who live among us. As a young college girl I was keenly aware of those who lived in the homeless and downtrodden world. I went to class and went to church, but I also spent time sitting out on University Avenue, sharing life and a sandwich with Homeless Mary, and the group of street kids who liked to sit outside of McDonalds. I didn't "add" street ministry to my life, I just chose to spend my ordinary life with a group of people that many wouldn't normally see. Choosing to be a part of this life gave me opportunity to buy dinner for a group of gang members who attempted to mug me at gunpoint and to become a regular "rummy" (a card game) partner with a young man who called himself a vampire. Those years were an incredible blessing to me and gave me opportunity on a regular basis to find beauty, friendship and God's merciful hand in a world that I could have shut my eyes to.
I now have a confession to make - I have recently come to realize that for most of my "vocational ministry" time in the past 12 years, I have lived as an incredibly unseeing kind of person. This is a difficult and sad confession for me. Somehow in the course of becoming a Jr. High director and then marrying a youth pastor, my ability to see the unchurched, the downtrodden, the "fringe" of society, dimmed. I became focused on encouraging Christian youth and their leaders, I spent time with the gals in my bible study and I planned church potlucks and church teas. I don't think any of these things are bad - but they became the only things I chose to see. Then I had children and I became even more nearsighted. I am still in the middle of that exhausting endeavor. It was all I could do to keep up with church commitments when a good day included keeping the boys alive and getting my teeth brushed. I certainly didn't have time to open my eyes to another world of people to take care of and love!
All that started to change about two years ago when frustrated one day I asked God "is this all there is??" Will I be a mother and a church leader yet never again be a rummy partner for a vampire? God answered that question (I believe) by sending our family to Israel last year. He took us out of our comfort zone and he took us out of the traditional Western church setting and he placed us right in the heart of Jerusalem where the whole thing got started. And then he opened our eyes in a big way once again to the hidden world of people on the fringes of society by making us one of those people. We were no longer part of the moral and cultural majority but rather the outsiders, the people who no one wants to acknowledge or befriend. Our friends last year became those on the fringe with us - the palestinian shopkeepers, the sharp tongued Brit, the rebellious new age Jew, the messianic family.
And then he brought us back to Orange County.
We are on the same street, in our same home, going to the same school and driving the same streets, but everything is different. God has had to keep us out of traditional church leadership to do it, but we are seeing a side of our home that we were blind to before we left. I do miss a large church with a community of friends, but at the same time I feel blessed everyday that God has forced me out into this new world. I am no longer rushing from church event to church event, fulfilled by those relationships so much that I dont have time to stand and chat with the other moms picking their kids up from school. I can talk to the homeless man who hangs out by the coffee shop, and I can interact with the people shopping at the Persian market. I can stand out in the street and really find out how my neighbors are doing (while chasing my toddler of course!) and I can keep an open door policy to people who want to share a meal with us, because we are home to do so. Yesterday I came home and asked Ryan "where have these people been?" I lived here for seven years before God had mercy on me and opened my eyes. To a beautiful world full of God's fingerprints outside of the church walls. And trust me, it's there!
I think that Spiderwick was really on to something. I believe that it is easy for us to live in our own world and to be completely unaware of a group of not fantasy creatures, but rather human beings who live among us. As a young college girl I was keenly aware of those who lived in the homeless and downtrodden world. I went to class and went to church, but I also spent time sitting out on University Avenue, sharing life and a sandwich with Homeless Mary, and the group of street kids who liked to sit outside of McDonalds. I didn't "add" street ministry to my life, I just chose to spend my ordinary life with a group of people that many wouldn't normally see. Choosing to be a part of this life gave me opportunity to buy dinner for a group of gang members who attempted to mug me at gunpoint and to become a regular "rummy" (a card game) partner with a young man who called himself a vampire. Those years were an incredible blessing to me and gave me opportunity on a regular basis to find beauty, friendship and God's merciful hand in a world that I could have shut my eyes to.
I now have a confession to make - I have recently come to realize that for most of my "vocational ministry" time in the past 12 years, I have lived as an incredibly unseeing kind of person. This is a difficult and sad confession for me. Somehow in the course of becoming a Jr. High director and then marrying a youth pastor, my ability to see the unchurched, the downtrodden, the "fringe" of society, dimmed. I became focused on encouraging Christian youth and their leaders, I spent time with the gals in my bible study and I planned church potlucks and church teas. I don't think any of these things are bad - but they became the only things I chose to see. Then I had children and I became even more nearsighted. I am still in the middle of that exhausting endeavor. It was all I could do to keep up with church commitments when a good day included keeping the boys alive and getting my teeth brushed. I certainly didn't have time to open my eyes to another world of people to take care of and love!
All that started to change about two years ago when frustrated one day I asked God "is this all there is??" Will I be a mother and a church leader yet never again be a rummy partner for a vampire? God answered that question (I believe) by sending our family to Israel last year. He took us out of our comfort zone and he took us out of the traditional Western church setting and he placed us right in the heart of Jerusalem where the whole thing got started. And then he opened our eyes in a big way once again to the hidden world of people on the fringes of society by making us one of those people. We were no longer part of the moral and cultural majority but rather the outsiders, the people who no one wants to acknowledge or befriend. Our friends last year became those on the fringe with us - the palestinian shopkeepers, the sharp tongued Brit, the rebellious new age Jew, the messianic family.
And then he brought us back to Orange County.
We are on the same street, in our same home, going to the same school and driving the same streets, but everything is different. God has had to keep us out of traditional church leadership to do it, but we are seeing a side of our home that we were blind to before we left. I do miss a large church with a community of friends, but at the same time I feel blessed everyday that God has forced me out into this new world. I am no longer rushing from church event to church event, fulfilled by those relationships so much that I dont have time to stand and chat with the other moms picking their kids up from school. I can talk to the homeless man who hangs out by the coffee shop, and I can interact with the people shopping at the Persian market. I can stand out in the street and really find out how my neighbors are doing (while chasing my toddler of course!) and I can keep an open door policy to people who want to share a meal with us, because we are home to do so. Yesterday I came home and asked Ryan "where have these people been?" I lived here for seven years before God had mercy on me and opened my eyes. To a beautiful world full of God's fingerprints outside of the church walls. And trust me, it's there!
Friday, September 26, 2008
New Blog Title
Well we have been in the states now for a good three months. It is hard to believe the time has gone by as fast as it has. I have found that this "new" life has brought to light many new challenges and I find myself missing the outlet of "blogging." Since I am sortof thinking that "The Jerusalem Letters" might be a bit inaccurate these days, I am planning on starting a new blog in the next week or so. Since I write for my own benefit mostly, it doesn't really matter that no one will read the new blog. But just in case you think that reading about life in Jerusalem is much less exciting than subjects like motherhood, church planting, and washing dishes, then maybe the new blog is for you. The following are some titles for the new blog that I am toying with and I appreciate any input that comes my way (if anyone other than me actually reads this!):
Lamentations of a Church Planter Wife
Why toddlers never get tired of eating dog food (and other similarly disgusting things)
Discipleship and Dishwashers
12 Steps to Coming to terms with the fact that you have three boys (and a dog)
How to feed your family on $3 a day (plus free Starbuck's pastries)
How to go without a shower (or much sleep) for four days in a row and still look terrific
Again I would appreciate any feedback on this. So many wonderful possibilities. Since this blog contains absolutely no cathartic venting (please remember that I have a dry sense of humor) I look forward to starting the new blog soon.
Lamentations of a Church Planter Wife
Why toddlers never get tired of eating dog food (and other similarly disgusting things)
Discipleship and Dishwashers
12 Steps to Coming to terms with the fact that you have three boys (and a dog)
How to feed your family on $3 a day (plus free Starbuck's pastries)
How to go without a shower (or much sleep) for four days in a row and still look terrific
Again I would appreciate any feedback on this. So many wonderful possibilities. Since this blog contains absolutely no cathartic venting (please remember that I have a dry sense of humor) I look forward to starting the new blog soon.
Monday, August 25, 2008
Things I brought back from Israel
We have been back in the States now for about two months, which is bit hard to believe I must say! Time in the United States seems to go by so much more quickly for me here than it did in Israel... We have been back in our home in California now for two weeks and have been busy unpacking. This past week I actually had time to unpack our "souvenir box" and enjoyed the opportunity to go through all the things that we brought back from the Holy Land and abroad. We also finally received 3 1/4 of the boxes that we shipped ourselves from Jerusalem. I now know officially what did and what didn't come back with us from there. I did get some beautiful scarves, an olive wood nativity scene, and some ceramic pomegranates that I love. We also brought back the plastic (non-kosher) bowls that the boys used last year, as well as a Hebrew language International Monopoly game, and Ryan's Boston Red Sox kippah. (our Hebron glass and a teapot that our son made did not make it unfortunately). It was truly a joy to look through everything, and now that things are "starting to settle down" I was able to really think back on this past year. It has also really hit home this past few weeks that beyond the Ahava Dead Sea Salts and Middle Eastern spices, I have brought back things that are much much more valuable. They are not things, but rather mindsets, that I picked up here and there on our excursions and experiences last year.
For instance, I have realized the value of hanging my laundry to dry. If the sun is there to do the work for me, why waste energy on using the dryer?
I have also realized the value of walking to the the store near my house, which is half a mile away. Owning a car is an incredible privilege which many don't have. I am in my car plenty (I am not so different from everyone else!) but if I don't need to drive there, why should I?
I brought back a greater understanding of the "wants" vs. the "needs." We lived last year out of six suitcases, plus a couple reinforcements halfway through of winter clothes and food. We were content with what we had and we had all that we needed. I am no longer as prone to believe the ads that tell me that because it is a good deal, I should buy it. I feel incredibly blessed right now and recognize that we have more than we need.
I brought back the habit of buying produce in season and in small quantities. Two weeks have passed and our fridge is still sparse. And yet, we have had enough to feed all those who stop by and somehow feed our three growing boys, without throwing anything in the trash. I also brought back a craving for pita and hummus - which I find a little ironic.
I brought back a new compassion for those who are different from me - for the foreigner and visitor here in my neighborhood, in California and the USA. Also for the poor and those who are a different religion or culture than me. I feel more compelled to show kindness to them, after a year in which I craved it, and relished it when it was given to me.
I brought back the idea that my schedule (or my boys) does not need to be packed in order for me to find fulfillment in life. I appreciate the moments in our backyard, relaxing with friends and family so much more than rushing from errand to meeting to event.
I also brought back a more three dimensional view of God's Word, and of God Himself. I came back with a bit more humility, a bit more grace, a lot of awe and a decent amount (at least six suitcases full!) of gratitude.
Our suitcases, our hearts and our photo memory cards came back from Israel overflowing. We most definitely came back with more than we took. And for that I will be forever thankful.
For instance, I have realized the value of hanging my laundry to dry. If the sun is there to do the work for me, why waste energy on using the dryer?
I have also realized the value of walking to the the store near my house, which is half a mile away. Owning a car is an incredible privilege which many don't have. I am in my car plenty (I am not so different from everyone else!) but if I don't need to drive there, why should I?
I brought back a greater understanding of the "wants" vs. the "needs." We lived last year out of six suitcases, plus a couple reinforcements halfway through of winter clothes and food. We were content with what we had and we had all that we needed. I am no longer as prone to believe the ads that tell me that because it is a good deal, I should buy it. I feel incredibly blessed right now and recognize that we have more than we need.
I brought back the habit of buying produce in season and in small quantities. Two weeks have passed and our fridge is still sparse. And yet, we have had enough to feed all those who stop by and somehow feed our three growing boys, without throwing anything in the trash. I also brought back a craving for pita and hummus - which I find a little ironic.
I brought back a new compassion for those who are different from me - for the foreigner and visitor here in my neighborhood, in California and the USA. Also for the poor and those who are a different religion or culture than me. I feel more compelled to show kindness to them, after a year in which I craved it, and relished it when it was given to me.
I brought back the idea that my schedule (or my boys) does not need to be packed in order for me to find fulfillment in life. I appreciate the moments in our backyard, relaxing with friends and family so much more than rushing from errand to meeting to event.
I also brought back a more three dimensional view of God's Word, and of God Himself. I came back with a bit more humility, a bit more grace, a lot of awe and a decent amount (at least six suitcases full!) of gratitude.
Our suitcases, our hearts and our photo memory cards came back from Israel overflowing. We most definitely came back with more than we took. And for that I will be forever thankful.
Sunday, July 20, 2008
Finding an Extraordinary Backdrop
Ryan's last post expressed sentiments that I too have been feeling. Mainly, the feeling that I am not yet ready to let go of our Middle East Experience (MEE). Now some may find this ironic, since for the last nine months I have been lamenting my MEE and daydreaming about cheap American prices and tasty food. But since the grass is always greener...
I have become keenly aware of the fact that living in Jerusalem, Israel is just plain cool. I am not bragging - no one else has to agree with me here...but to me, Jerusalem is cool.
Last week Ryan and I went to Seattle, to the University of Washington campus (my alma mater). He went to the Grad library to work on a paper, and I walked and reminisced my college days. I walked past my old dorms, to Kane Hall where I studied Psych 101 with 600 other students, to my favorite little cafeteria, to my little study cubicle in the Undergrad library. I also took a very long walk to Gasworks Park, overlooking the water, the mountains and the cityscape of Seattle. In college I often ran or biked this very route. This incredible view was part of my daily life. Doing every day tasks in the extraordinary backdrop of the old University and the city of Seattle, just made life more interesting and more cool.
Finishing my walk at Gasworks park immediately reminded me of my walks in Jerusalem. Both Seattle and Jerusalem were extraordinary backdrops for my life. I didnt have to do extraordinary things - the location did all the work for me. Some examples from Israel..
I could go for a run to the Old City of Jerusalem.
I could donate Ben's old clothes to the Sudanese refugees at our church.
I could run errands in Bethlehem.
We could do a quick day trip to the Dead Sea.
I could give the boys old toys away to the Iraqi children coming to Israel for heart surgery.
We could get fish on the beach of Galilee.
Ryan's last blog post made the comment that "nothing is boring, only boring people get bored." I am starting to wonder if I am a boring person. Our MEE was difficult but it was never Boring. Going for a run just isnt as interesting in the suburbs. Haggling at Target doesn't hold the same thrill. My weight in pounds is MUCH less fun than kilograms (it is a bigger number!).
So I guess my challenge this year (and Ryan alluded to this also) is to re-paint the backdrop of my life with a new, and more colorful perspective. As of right now I dont know how to do it. I dont really know how to take something so familiar and make it extraordinary. Perhaps doing an "orange county letters" blog could open my eyes to what my home has to offer beyond the comfort of home and of friends. Let's just hope that something works because I dont think I am quite ready for another international adventure (not quite yet).
I have become keenly aware of the fact that living in Jerusalem, Israel is just plain cool. I am not bragging - no one else has to agree with me here...but to me, Jerusalem is cool.
Last week Ryan and I went to Seattle, to the University of Washington campus (my alma mater). He went to the Grad library to work on a paper, and I walked and reminisced my college days. I walked past my old dorms, to Kane Hall where I studied Psych 101 with 600 other students, to my favorite little cafeteria, to my little study cubicle in the Undergrad library. I also took a very long walk to Gasworks Park, overlooking the water, the mountains and the cityscape of Seattle. In college I often ran or biked this very route. This incredible view was part of my daily life. Doing every day tasks in the extraordinary backdrop of the old University and the city of Seattle, just made life more interesting and more cool.
Finishing my walk at Gasworks park immediately reminded me of my walks in Jerusalem. Both Seattle and Jerusalem were extraordinary backdrops for my life. I didnt have to do extraordinary things - the location did all the work for me. Some examples from Israel..
I could go for a run to the Old City of Jerusalem.
I could donate Ben's old clothes to the Sudanese refugees at our church.
I could run errands in Bethlehem.
We could do a quick day trip to the Dead Sea.
I could give the boys old toys away to the Iraqi children coming to Israel for heart surgery.
We could get fish on the beach of Galilee.
Ryan's last blog post made the comment that "nothing is boring, only boring people get bored." I am starting to wonder if I am a boring person. Our MEE was difficult but it was never Boring. Going for a run just isnt as interesting in the suburbs. Haggling at Target doesn't hold the same thrill. My weight in pounds is MUCH less fun than kilograms (it is a bigger number!).
So I guess my challenge this year (and Ryan alluded to this also) is to re-paint the backdrop of my life with a new, and more colorful perspective. As of right now I dont know how to do it. I dont really know how to take something so familiar and make it extraordinary. Perhaps doing an "orange county letters" blog could open my eyes to what my home has to offer beyond the comfort of home and of friends. Let's just hope that something works because I dont think I am quite ready for another international adventure (not quite yet).
Thursday, July 17, 2008
Vagabond Blues
It has been a few weeks now since we arrived back in America and we have been staying with our families in Washington State. It has been great to be around family and enjoyable to be able to see them everyday... something we have never been able to do since we got married 11 years ago. Even with all of the benefits of being around family we are still living out of suitcases and we still realize that we are not home. The question is will we feel like we are home when we arrive in California next month?
For me, our time in Israel feels like a blip on the radar and I wonder how the time went by so quickly. Today I heard a song that often played in my Ipod and for a moment I felt like I was walking up Rehov Gidon on the way to Bus #30. I thought about how it feels like just a few days ago when I was finding my way around the University and learning to read Hebrew signs. I can still feel the emotions of excitement and anxiety as I explored my new surroundings half a world away. I remember feeling completely blessed to have such an amazing opportunity and how I wanted to take advantage of everyday. Later in my day today I walked out of a store and a man wearing a Kippa walked in and I stopped for a moment because I was so excited to see a Jew. I wanted to sit and talk with him in Hebrew (assuming a random American Jew knows Hebrew). It was funny to e how just seeing him stirred emotions of familiarity and comfort.
It was after this moment that I realized that I have not unwound yet from my trip. I still want to embrace the feelings of living in the Middle East and I am not sure that I am ready to live here in the land that I love more than any other. I fear that I will be bored. I fear that I will not recognize God's blessings on my life even here and I fear that I will miss the excitement of living right where I am now. I know America does not compare to the excitement of Jerusalem but as my 5th grade teacher said, "nothing is boring, it is boring people who get bored". California is one of the best places on earth to be and I look forward to being there, but for now I feel like a drifter waiting to land somewhere permanent. I hope the next stop will also bring new excitement and joy.
For me, our time in Israel feels like a blip on the radar and I wonder how the time went by so quickly. Today I heard a song that often played in my Ipod and for a moment I felt like I was walking up Rehov Gidon on the way to Bus #30. I thought about how it feels like just a few days ago when I was finding my way around the University and learning to read Hebrew signs. I can still feel the emotions of excitement and anxiety as I explored my new surroundings half a world away. I remember feeling completely blessed to have such an amazing opportunity and how I wanted to take advantage of everyday. Later in my day today I walked out of a store and a man wearing a Kippa walked in and I stopped for a moment because I was so excited to see a Jew. I wanted to sit and talk with him in Hebrew (assuming a random American Jew knows Hebrew). It was funny to e how just seeing him stirred emotions of familiarity and comfort.
It was after this moment that I realized that I have not unwound yet from my trip. I still want to embrace the feelings of living in the Middle East and I am not sure that I am ready to live here in the land that I love more than any other. I fear that I will be bored. I fear that I will not recognize God's blessings on my life even here and I fear that I will miss the excitement of living right where I am now. I know America does not compare to the excitement of Jerusalem but as my 5th grade teacher said, "nothing is boring, it is boring people who get bored". California is one of the best places on earth to be and I look forward to being there, but for now I feel like a drifter waiting to land somewhere permanent. I hope the next stop will also bring new excitement and joy.
Monday, June 30, 2008
Back
We have been back in the states for one week and a day, and I am getting myself re-acclimated. Some things have been very easy to re-adjust to. I have enjoyed using a microwave, cooking with meat and cheese to my heart's content, using my cell phone, driving my car, chit-chatting with the check-out lady at Target (in English!), being at Target, sitting in a private backyard and eating sharp cheddar cheese. I have generally been thrilled by the grocery prices (even with the supposedly high prices this year), the clothing bargains, and the quietness of my in-laws neighborhood. I have eaten mexican food three times (and have gained a good five pounds...can you do that in one week?), and have bought Dead Sea products at Ross for less than five dollars. I have also had the joy of spending a lot of time with my family this past week, which doesnt happen often since we live in California and they all live here in Seattle.
Some signs that we have been out of the country still pop up however...
When asked how much baby Ben weighs, I replied..."11 kilos." Instead of referring to Washington state as the place we are visiting, I keep saying things like "I love this country!" or "this country has great weather!" I am still walking my errands more than I am driving them - it just feels better that way. Ben prefers his stroller (his new one) to the car. When I am shopping I say things like "this dress is only 35 shekels!!" Or "milk in this country is only 8 shekels!!" I am also amazed at how many women have the same hair cut as me...most Muslim and Jewish women in Jerusalem cover their hair so it has been a while since I have seen women's hair styles. I went for a run yesterday morning and I saw a squirel, a raccoon, and a lot of trees - and thought (with mixed lament and boredom)"I am definitely not in Israel anymore."
We are glad to be back in the United States and to enjoy its freedoms. We are glad to be with family and friends. We are enjoying the sunshine that Washington State (ie. "this country") has in abundance this week (totally out of character). We are viewing life through "israel-colored lenses" right now, and noticing the great things as well as the challenges of living here. And of course, we will write our thoughts in the coming weeks as we transition out of "the Jerusalem letters."
Some signs that we have been out of the country still pop up however...
When asked how much baby Ben weighs, I replied..."11 kilos." Instead of referring to Washington state as the place we are visiting, I keep saying things like "I love this country!" or "this country has great weather!" I am still walking my errands more than I am driving them - it just feels better that way. Ben prefers his stroller (his new one) to the car. When I am shopping I say things like "this dress is only 35 shekels!!" Or "milk in this country is only 8 shekels!!" I am also amazed at how many women have the same hair cut as me...most Muslim and Jewish women in Jerusalem cover their hair so it has been a while since I have seen women's hair styles. I went for a run yesterday morning and I saw a squirel, a raccoon, and a lot of trees - and thought (with mixed lament and boredom)"I am definitely not in Israel anymore."
We are glad to be back in the United States and to enjoy its freedoms. We are glad to be with family and friends. We are enjoying the sunshine that Washington State (ie. "this country") has in abundance this week (totally out of character). We are viewing life through "israel-colored lenses" right now, and noticing the great things as well as the challenges of living here. And of course, we will write our thoughts in the coming weeks as we transition out of "the Jerusalem letters."
Saturday, June 28, 2008
We Are Strangers Here Ourselves
Bill Bryson, a “must read” author, writes about his return to America after living in Europe for 20 years and he talks about how he is now a stranger in his own country. We were not gone long enough to be completely out of touch with America or to be completely clueless on what is happening around us but the truth is that in our short time away we lost a piece of our old selves somewhere in the Middle East and we are coming back with new eyes that are gazing on unfamiliar scenes. I have been noticing little things like how Americans smile and say “hi” to each other, how they don’t use their horns when driving, how they will complain about the price of gas but still drive everywhere, and how so few Americans wear head coverings. These are subtle differences but in the spirit of Bill Bryson, I thought I would share occasional “I am a stranger here” moments as they come up.
Today I had my first “I am a stranger here” moment when I purchased some food with a $20 bill and received two $5 bills as change. I looked at the money and realized that she did not give me the correct change. She must of had some foreign currency in the register because I received some bills that were like nothing I have seen before. She looked at me strange when I explained her mistake and then received the news that our country decided to print new money this year. I have never seen the new $5 bills and did not even know we had plans for them so I was quite happy to look my country’s strange new currency. I was even happier to notice that we are finally adding color to our bills so they are now almost as interesting as some of the other currencies around the world. I was also happy that it did not matter that the Shekel is trading at 3.32 to the dollar.
Today I had my first “I am a stranger here” moment when I purchased some food with a $20 bill and received two $5 bills as change. I looked at the money and realized that she did not give me the correct change. She must of had some foreign currency in the register because I received some bills that were like nothing I have seen before. She looked at me strange when I explained her mistake and then received the news that our country decided to print new money this year. I have never seen the new $5 bills and did not even know we had plans for them so I was quite happy to look my country’s strange new currency. I was even happier to notice that we are finally adding color to our bills so they are now almost as interesting as some of the other currencies around the world. I was also happy that it did not matter that the Shekel is trading at 3.32 to the dollar.
Friday, June 27, 2008
Re-entering
It has been a week since we posted because we left Israel, spent a few days in the UK (a good in between point from Israel and the USA, and then took a few days to rest, adjust, and unpack our bags that were all tightly packed to 23.5 Kg. We are now on the right time zone and trying to figure out if the past 9 months was just a dream. By looking at the bank account it turns out that it indeed was a reality so we will take a few more days to de-brief and re-enter.
Thursday, June 19, 2008
It is Better to Have Loved
I didn't actually want to post today because I like Sara's last post and wanted it to sit in the "first" position a while longer but she reminded me that we are leaving Israel and may not get around to writing for a while.
It is funny how leaving can help clarify feelings towards something. The whole "you don't know what you've got until its gone" scenario plays itself out in all areas of life. Relationships, jobs, strollers (see two posts ago), favorite sweatshirts given away to the Salvation Army (by wives) ... all things that tend to increase in value once they are no longer in our reach. Now that we are in our last week in Israel we are facing the realty that has been on the horizon for quite some time. That reality is the fact that Jerusalem is a special place and we will no longer by caught in the middle of it all. Granted, it is one of the most tightly wound and difficult places to live on this earth, but for the past 3000 years, the eyes of the world have not been able to break free from her allure.
I could talk about the feelings that passed on my final bus ride through the city, or what thoughts I had passing through University security for the final time. I could attempt to explain how beautiful the dome looked tonight as my family gazed upon it for the last time or how great it was today to spend some time with locals in the Old City. But Sara already did that wonderfully in her last post and I would risk giving up my shallow image if I did.
I do want to mention a conversation I had with our oldest son. He tends to be the sentimental one who has a hard time leaving places and saying goodbye. In the course of our conversation we discussed the belief that it is better to experience new things and meet new people than to never experience these things in the first place. I talked about how even in the sadness of leaving them behind we are better for it.
As I reach the end of the time in Israel I had to ask myself if I believed my own words. Is it better "to have loved and lost, than never to have loved at all"? I have to answer with a convincing, "maybe". Is it sad to leave? Yes. Will I miss my new friends? Of course. Does the pain leave scars? Probably. But the great thing about scars as they serve as a reminder that something changed.
I guess that is where the value is found. As we go through loss, we feel pain and we are left with scars. Sometimes it is a small pain with a small scar, and sometimes it is noticeable to all and it feels like you can't go on. In this case I think it is in the middle... but it will leave scars that show that we are not the same before this experience. It is late so my ability to communicate is rapidly diminishing so I will leave the "what scars do I have" post for next time, but for now I will pack a few more things, smile at a few more memories, and prepare for the pain that will come as Israel fades in the distance as we fly away on Friday night... and I will hurt for this new love in my life to whom I will bid farewell... and I will be better than I was before I came.
It is funny how leaving can help clarify feelings towards something. The whole "you don't know what you've got until its gone" scenario plays itself out in all areas of life. Relationships, jobs, strollers (see two posts ago), favorite sweatshirts given away to the Salvation Army (by wives) ... all things that tend to increase in value once they are no longer in our reach. Now that we are in our last week in Israel we are facing the realty that has been on the horizon for quite some time. That reality is the fact that Jerusalem is a special place and we will no longer by caught in the middle of it all. Granted, it is one of the most tightly wound and difficult places to live on this earth, but for the past 3000 years, the eyes of the world have not been able to break free from her allure.
I could talk about the feelings that passed on my final bus ride through the city, or what thoughts I had passing through University security for the final time. I could attempt to explain how beautiful the dome looked tonight as my family gazed upon it for the last time or how great it was today to spend some time with locals in the Old City. But Sara already did that wonderfully in her last post and I would risk giving up my shallow image if I did.
I do want to mention a conversation I had with our oldest son. He tends to be the sentimental one who has a hard time leaving places and saying goodbye. In the course of our conversation we discussed the belief that it is better to experience new things and meet new people than to never experience these things in the first place. I talked about how even in the sadness of leaving them behind we are better for it.
As I reach the end of the time in Israel I had to ask myself if I believed my own words. Is it better "to have loved and lost, than never to have loved at all"? I have to answer with a convincing, "maybe". Is it sad to leave? Yes. Will I miss my new friends? Of course. Does the pain leave scars? Probably. But the great thing about scars as they serve as a reminder that something changed.
I guess that is where the value is found. As we go through loss, we feel pain and we are left with scars. Sometimes it is a small pain with a small scar, and sometimes it is noticeable to all and it feels like you can't go on. In this case I think it is in the middle... but it will leave scars that show that we are not the same before this experience. It is late so my ability to communicate is rapidly diminishing so I will leave the "what scars do I have" post for next time, but for now I will pack a few more things, smile at a few more memories, and prepare for the pain that will come as Israel fades in the distance as we fly away on Friday night... and I will hurt for this new love in my life to whom I will bid farewell... and I will be better than I was before I came.
Tuesday, June 17, 2008
A Walk To Remember
Today Ryan got home in the late afternoon and did a "boy's night" and let me loose to walk the city of Jerusalem one last time. I grabbed my ipod and my purse (hey you never know) and headed out to retrace a route that has become as familiar to me as well...my hometown would be. I walked out of our apartment, down the steps and onto Gidon. I crossed over the train tracks and turned on Emek Refaim. Emek is a chic shopping street in the high end "German Colony" of Jerusalem. It is fun to people watch here- especially on the eve of Shabbat when everyone is racing to pick up their last minute challah from the bakery, good wine from the wine shop, and fresh bouquets for the table. Tonight the cafes were full of patrons eating kosher salads and drinking cappucinos and turkish coffee. Plenty of window shoppers walked the pavement and at this time, the breeze was still warm. I walked down to where Emek meets Derek Bet Lehem and King David Street and turned up King David. I did a quick detour into the (this is original) King David Hotel just to say that I had been inside the building where most US presidents and many world dignitaries have resided over the years. Then I turned down towards the old city - down a hill, then up again. Through a little concrete valley made up of fountains and steps, which ultimately leads to the base of the Jaffa gate entrance to the Old City.
Because it was "Sara night," instead of going through the gate at my right, I headed left, into the newly constructed, modern (and very Irvine Spectrum, California-like) outdoor mall. I gleefully walked from store to store thrilled to be sans children. As I exited the mall, up a steep staircase, I saw the Jaffa gate ahead of me and made a conscious decision not to head into the city tonight. We had been to the city as a family two days prior to say our goodbyes to the vendors we have befriended, and to say our goodbyes to the sights and smells that we have truly grown to love. I turned to walk away and was a little surprised to feel (gasp!) not a tear, but rather a pang. That little ache in my heart caught me off guard. At this point I also realized a song by David Crowder had come into my ear through my ipod earphones. The words "Take my heart, I lay it down At the feet of You who's crowned" are playing while I start to have a little panic attack. We are actually leaving! I cant go for a run and end up at the rock of Golgotha anymore.... I walk towards a cross walk and the "walking green man" immediately replaces the red one signaling me to walk and I think... but I want to stop! I dont know if I am ready to say goodbye... Meanwhile David is singing "Take my life Letting go I lift it up to You who's throned..."
I walk through my favorite park and at this point the sun is beginning to drop low in the sky. The golden hue of the evening sun is gathering in little pools of light under the olive trees. I start to walk up the stairs again, past the fountain, up towards my "thinking spot" under the bouganvilla, and I turn back to glance again at the old city. There is still so much we haven't done in Israel, I think. Ryan and I never came to this park just the two of us, to watch the sun set over Mt. Zion and the road to the Mt. of Olives. We could still get one more meal of our favorite arab salads and grilled meats. We could still spend more time in the West Bank with the orphans there, or in the refugee camps. I wont be getting good Israeli coffee with my favorite Jewish friend again to discuss theology and matters of the heart.
"Take my fret, take my fear All I have I'm leaving here Be all my hopes, be all my dreams You're my delights Be my everything (I have also during this walk put David Crowder on repeat mode...I figure the song is the perfect way to just swim in my emotional outpouring)."
David faithfully (he cannot say no to the ipod repeat button) croons out to God "And I will worship You, Lord Only You, Lord And I will, I will bow down before You Only You, Lord." And I actually laugh. Not because I think that worship of God is funny, but because I realize that God has done a funny thing in me this year. You see, there is this movie that I love called "A walk to Remember" about a pastors daughter and a "bad boy rebel cool kid." In the movie you figure the two will get together, but you think that eventually the girl will start to at least dress a little cuter or start acting a little "cooler" but she never does. The "cool kid" does fall in love with her and it is because he is changed by her inward qualities and I believe God in her.
Jerusalem has most definitely not changed this year but somehow I have. I have genuinely come to love Israel, and not because of its outward appeal. I love Israel because GOD HAS BEEN HERE with us this year...in the same way that He was with us in California, the same way that He will be with us wherever we are. I have cried out to God many times on the streets and alleyways of Jerusalem and He has answered me and embraced me. Despite the constant struggles (which I might add I have not been shy to blog about), God has faithfully, and lovingly kept my head up - even if barely enough...
I walk past the lion fountain and praise God for this year. I genuinely (yes, genuinely!) thank Him for our time here. I am excited because I know that He will be with us even next year as we enter into newer (and I think scarier) ventures in life. I can be moved to tears by the living, pulsing heart of God in Jerusalem. It's okay because it beats in California as well. And all the world! And my heart skips a beat as I walk through a crowd of some out of town, camera toting tourists, elegantly dressed muslim women with their children, a young Jewish couple with heads bent towards one another, and I hear David singing in my ear a love song to God, that I too am singing at this point "And it's just You and me here now -Only You and me here now- You should see the view When it's only You."
Because it was "Sara night," instead of going through the gate at my right, I headed left, into the newly constructed, modern (and very Irvine Spectrum, California-like) outdoor mall. I gleefully walked from store to store thrilled to be sans children. As I exited the mall, up a steep staircase, I saw the Jaffa gate ahead of me and made a conscious decision not to head into the city tonight. We had been to the city as a family two days prior to say our goodbyes to the vendors we have befriended, and to say our goodbyes to the sights and smells that we have truly grown to love. I turned to walk away and was a little surprised to feel (gasp!) not a tear, but rather a pang. That little ache in my heart caught me off guard. At this point I also realized a song by David Crowder had come into my ear through my ipod earphones. The words "Take my heart, I lay it down At the feet of You who's crowned" are playing while I start to have a little panic attack. We are actually leaving! I cant go for a run and end up at the rock of Golgotha anymore.... I walk towards a cross walk and the "walking green man" immediately replaces the red one signaling me to walk and I think... but I want to stop! I dont know if I am ready to say goodbye... Meanwhile David is singing "Take my life Letting go I lift it up to You who's throned..."
I walk through my favorite park and at this point the sun is beginning to drop low in the sky. The golden hue of the evening sun is gathering in little pools of light under the olive trees. I start to walk up the stairs again, past the fountain, up towards my "thinking spot" under the bouganvilla, and I turn back to glance again at the old city. There is still so much we haven't done in Israel, I think. Ryan and I never came to this park just the two of us, to watch the sun set over Mt. Zion and the road to the Mt. of Olives. We could still get one more meal of our favorite arab salads and grilled meats. We could still spend more time in the West Bank with the orphans there, or in the refugee camps. I wont be getting good Israeli coffee with my favorite Jewish friend again to discuss theology and matters of the heart.
"Take my fret, take my fear All I have I'm leaving here Be all my hopes, be all my dreams You're my delights Be my everything (I have also during this walk put David Crowder on repeat mode...I figure the song is the perfect way to just swim in my emotional outpouring)."
David faithfully (he cannot say no to the ipod repeat button) croons out to God "And I will worship You, Lord Only You, Lord And I will, I will bow down before You Only You, Lord." And I actually laugh. Not because I think that worship of God is funny, but because I realize that God has done a funny thing in me this year. You see, there is this movie that I love called "A walk to Remember" about a pastors daughter and a "bad boy rebel cool kid." In the movie you figure the two will get together, but you think that eventually the girl will start to at least dress a little cuter or start acting a little "cooler" but she never does. The "cool kid" does fall in love with her and it is because he is changed by her inward qualities and I believe God in her.
Jerusalem has most definitely not changed this year but somehow I have. I have genuinely come to love Israel, and not because of its outward appeal. I love Israel because GOD HAS BEEN HERE with us this year...in the same way that He was with us in California, the same way that He will be with us wherever we are. I have cried out to God many times on the streets and alleyways of Jerusalem and He has answered me and embraced me. Despite the constant struggles (which I might add I have not been shy to blog about), God has faithfully, and lovingly kept my head up - even if barely enough...
I walk past the lion fountain and praise God for this year. I genuinely (yes, genuinely!) thank Him for our time here. I am excited because I know that He will be with us even next year as we enter into newer (and I think scarier) ventures in life. I can be moved to tears by the living, pulsing heart of God in Jerusalem. It's okay because it beats in California as well. And all the world! And my heart skips a beat as I walk through a crowd of some out of town, camera toting tourists, elegantly dressed muslim women with their children, a young Jewish couple with heads bent towards one another, and I hear David singing in my ear a love song to God, that I too am singing at this point "And it's just You and me here now -Only You and me here now- You should see the view When it's only You."
Monday, June 16, 2008
Farewell, Sweet Stroller
Okay so I have a melancholy, cheesy and overly nostalgic side to me....if you have been reading our blog and haven't figured that out...well I would be surprised. If you are aware of this fact, you will understand that I am a little bit (okay overly) sad about the fact that we have just sold baby Ben's stroller. We had not planned on selling it, but we did need to sell our car seat so we wouldnt have to take it back to the States with us. We had such a hard time selling the car seat without the stroller that we finally gave in and sold the entire set. (I am pretty sure most readers at this point have either stopped reading this or have glazed over looks in their eyes). Let me explain my melancholy and my slightly unhealthy attachment to the stroller now...
Last year, at my baby shower for Ben, my dear friends gave me a Graco Travel system - a car seat and stroller combo. We brought our newborn baby home in that car seat after he had spent 3 weeks in NICU. Then I proceeded to walk that baby around the lake near our house in that stroller. We then uprooted the stroller from Mission Viejo and took it on a drive up the coast to Washington State, where it transported our baby around to homes of grandparents, around Seattle, and along the Puget Sound. Next we put the stroller on a plane to London, where it carried a sleeping baby (confused by the time change) around the city to see cool things like Big Ben, the Parliament Building, statues of nursing mothers (or was that me?), Westminster, Windsor Castle and more. This stroller is a serious trooper.
After London, we put the stroller back on the plane where of course it had to be crammed under the plane with all the other oversized luggage. It was most likely man-handled more than usual since it was on its way to the security sensitive country of Israel. Here in Israel, the stroller has received more abuse than most strollers will ever see in 10 years of life. It has bumped and jolted down the cobbled streets of the Old City, it has jockeyed for space in the crowded streets of the main "souk" or middle eastern market. It has gone to and from the grocery store about 4000 times (give or take) - with it's basket filled to capacity with heavy loads of canned goods, pita, and hummos. Of course it has carried a baby this entire time as well. Jerusalem is a city on a hill, and this stroller has seen its fair share of hills and endlessly long staircases. It has been locked up outside of our apartment every night for 8 months - gathering dust, collecting the boys rocks and pottery, and even being a nighttime rest area for a local cat(not Jack).
This stroller has been dragged all over Israel, through London and also to Jordan. It didn't even complain when we left it at home in favor of a smaller umbrella stroller for Egypt and Greece.
This stroller has fearlessly, generously, and comfortably been a resting place for our baby in his first year of life (the baby, not the stroller). In the midst of a fairly "unsteady" year of activity, the stroller has stuck it out and provided some security. This past week, the stroller was the seat baby Ben sat in whilst he opened his first ever 1 year birthday present. It is a fixture in many of our families most poignant photos of this year.
All that said, it will be sad to leave the stroller behind. It represents a year which we are also preparing to leave behind, and with all the bumps, all the uphill climbs, twists and turns, this has been a year to remember. So I wish our stroller, and this extraordinary year adieu.
Last year, at my baby shower for Ben, my dear friends gave me a Graco Travel system - a car seat and stroller combo. We brought our newborn baby home in that car seat after he had spent 3 weeks in NICU. Then I proceeded to walk that baby around the lake near our house in that stroller. We then uprooted the stroller from Mission Viejo and took it on a drive up the coast to Washington State, where it transported our baby around to homes of grandparents, around Seattle, and along the Puget Sound. Next we put the stroller on a plane to London, where it carried a sleeping baby (confused by the time change) around the city to see cool things like Big Ben, the Parliament Building, statues of nursing mothers (or was that me?), Westminster, Windsor Castle and more. This stroller is a serious trooper.
After London, we put the stroller back on the plane where of course it had to be crammed under the plane with all the other oversized luggage. It was most likely man-handled more than usual since it was on its way to the security sensitive country of Israel. Here in Israel, the stroller has received more abuse than most strollers will ever see in 10 years of life. It has bumped and jolted down the cobbled streets of the Old City, it has jockeyed for space in the crowded streets of the main "souk" or middle eastern market. It has gone to and from the grocery store about 4000 times (give or take) - with it's basket filled to capacity with heavy loads of canned goods, pita, and hummos. Of course it has carried a baby this entire time as well. Jerusalem is a city on a hill, and this stroller has seen its fair share of hills and endlessly long staircases. It has been locked up outside of our apartment every night for 8 months - gathering dust, collecting the boys rocks and pottery, and even being a nighttime rest area for a local cat(not Jack).
This stroller has been dragged all over Israel, through London and also to Jordan. It didn't even complain when we left it at home in favor of a smaller umbrella stroller for Egypt and Greece.
This stroller has fearlessly, generously, and comfortably been a resting place for our baby in his first year of life (the baby, not the stroller). In the midst of a fairly "unsteady" year of activity, the stroller has stuck it out and provided some security. This past week, the stroller was the seat baby Ben sat in whilst he opened his first ever 1 year birthday present. It is a fixture in many of our families most poignant photos of this year.
All that said, it will be sad to leave the stroller behind. It represents a year which we are also preparing to leave behind, and with all the bumps, all the uphill climbs, twists and turns, this has been a year to remember. So I wish our stroller, and this extraordinary year adieu.
Friday, June 13, 2008
Happy Birthday
Our baby turns 1 year old today.
By age 1 he has been to 6 countries on 4 different continents. He has seen 3 wonders of the ancient world, celebrated Christmas in Bethlehem and Easter in Jerusalem. He has lived in a hospital, an apartment, and a house. He has been in ancient castles, tombs, and temples and he has been to the Pacific Ocean, Medaterranean Sea, and the Red Sea. He speaks English, Spanish, and Hebrew (although they all sound pretty much the same).
He is currently working on his "to do list" for next year so we are excited to see what this year will bring.
Monday, June 9, 2008
Fantasy Fulfilled
Ryan and I give each other permission to include a little fantasy in our marriage. For instance, Ryan has an ongoing fantasy of playing for the Boston Red Sox, and I am okay with that. Whenever we go to Spring Training games in Arizona, Ryan lets his imagination go and by the time we leave he has planned out his career from playing on a "farm team" and then of course being picked up in draft by his favorite team. My fantasy life is fed mostly by visits to museums (at least this was before this year). When Ryan and I go to a museum, we always split up. He goes to indulge his artsy side and strolls the art galleries (all but Italian/Rennaisance art - he doesnt like pasty chubby white people...at least not in art). I on the other hand head straight to the artifacts. The Egyptian rooms, the pirate treasure rooms, room after room of little pieces of pottery, coins, ancient cooking tools, and fragments of 2000 year old sandals. By the time we meet up again, I have let MY imagination go and I am well on my way to going back to school to fulfill a childhood dream of being an archeologist (it was either that or a national geographic photographer in a Jeep). The thought of uncovering something for the first time that was once used by fellow, yet ancient humanity gets my adrenaline up even more than a good five mile run. I love to people watch and to analyze human behavior, and archeology is that at its most glamorous.
The dirt, the heat, the monotony of dusting off layer after layer of ancient ground in the hopes of finding that singular treasure holds more appeal to me than almost anything. I love and appreciate the cultures and people who laid the foundations for life as we know it today. I also love the people who did nothing to lay foundations today but who instead charted a course that was so unique that its culture had seemed to freeze in time... Thanks to my dad, who instilled in me at a young age a childlike wonder for adventure and discovery, this is who I am today. I am no less interested in pirate treasure and Indian artifacts today as I was as a 10 year old digging up my mothers vegetable garden (much to her dismay).
Yesterday, our family went to the Ashkelon National Park - on the coast of the Mediterranean and just barely north of Gaza. There a friend of ours from Jerusalem is heading up a dig there. A REAL dig. In Jerusalem you are able to pay as a tourist and sift dirt for a few hours to say that you were an archeologist. But this is a new site, an active site. When we arrived, we were greeted with the sight of a couple dozen archeologists and archeology college students, scattered across the area. Covered in dust, wielding trowels and brushes as well as the very non-Indiana Jones lap tops and laser mapping tools. They had bandanas on their heads and sweat on their brow.... My heart is skipping at this point. We were shown around the site and explained it was at two levels - an iron age dig higher up had unearthed a Philistine (think David and Goliath) home and some wells and graves. At the lower level was a bronze age dig from the Canaanite period (BEFORE the Israelites had formed a nation). Up to this point they had found plenty of bones and pottery, bricks and buildings, gravesites and bodies...some little trinkets like beads, Egyptian scarobs, and just that morning had found a little shiny stone piece used for sewing (dont ask me the technical term I cannot sew!). Up above the site in the walls were ancient water systems and even entire Roman pillars jutting out of the dirt, from other, more recent (yet ancient) eras.
Our 8 year old had come prepared with his Indiana Jones hat and his book on ancient hyroglyphics - he is teaching himself the language and was promptly put to work in one of the deep holes in the Canaanite dig. Our five year old was given a short job so he could say he did something. Ryan and Ben walked around trying to blend in while taking our shameless tourist pictures and pretending that it is perfectly NORMAL for a one year old to be at an active dig site. I was placed in the Philistine home, where I helped to scrape and dust a layer of ground for two hours. I was covered head to toe in dust and carefully picked at the ground, pulling out pieces of pottery covered in black soot (we had uncovered a hearth in the home) and bones (probably from a family meal...or maybe the family). I listened to the archeologists use lingo like "floating" and "mud bricks" and happily pretended like I was one of them. I took every first and fifth bucket of dirt over to the sifting area, and carefully placed my bones into the labeled "bone bag." Archeology is definitely just as glamorous as I always thought it would be. With a good imagination and a love for the great thread of mankind throughout history, how can it not be?? So with all of its ugly warts and trying days, I will always be thankful to Israel for providing me a little bit of fulfilled fantasy. Who knows? Maybe one day I will be back - when Ryan is busy playing for the Red Sox and I am in need of a good diversion.
The dirt, the heat, the monotony of dusting off layer after layer of ancient ground in the hopes of finding that singular treasure holds more appeal to me than almost anything. I love and appreciate the cultures and people who laid the foundations for life as we know it today. I also love the people who did nothing to lay foundations today but who instead charted a course that was so unique that its culture had seemed to freeze in time... Thanks to my dad, who instilled in me at a young age a childlike wonder for adventure and discovery, this is who I am today. I am no less interested in pirate treasure and Indian artifacts today as I was as a 10 year old digging up my mothers vegetable garden (much to her dismay).
Yesterday, our family went to the Ashkelon National Park - on the coast of the Mediterranean and just barely north of Gaza. There a friend of ours from Jerusalem is heading up a dig there. A REAL dig. In Jerusalem you are able to pay as a tourist and sift dirt for a few hours to say that you were an archeologist. But this is a new site, an active site. When we arrived, we were greeted with the sight of a couple dozen archeologists and archeology college students, scattered across the area. Covered in dust, wielding trowels and brushes as well as the very non-Indiana Jones lap tops and laser mapping tools. They had bandanas on their heads and sweat on their brow.... My heart is skipping at this point. We were shown around the site and explained it was at two levels - an iron age dig higher up had unearthed a Philistine (think David and Goliath) home and some wells and graves. At the lower level was a bronze age dig from the Canaanite period (BEFORE the Israelites had formed a nation). Up to this point they had found plenty of bones and pottery, bricks and buildings, gravesites and bodies...some little trinkets like beads, Egyptian scarobs, and just that morning had found a little shiny stone piece used for sewing (dont ask me the technical term I cannot sew!). Up above the site in the walls were ancient water systems and even entire Roman pillars jutting out of the dirt, from other, more recent (yet ancient) eras.
Our 8 year old had come prepared with his Indiana Jones hat and his book on ancient hyroglyphics - he is teaching himself the language and was promptly put to work in one of the deep holes in the Canaanite dig. Our five year old was given a short job so he could say he did something. Ryan and Ben walked around trying to blend in while taking our shameless tourist pictures and pretending that it is perfectly NORMAL for a one year old to be at an active dig site. I was placed in the Philistine home, where I helped to scrape and dust a layer of ground for two hours. I was covered head to toe in dust and carefully picked at the ground, pulling out pieces of pottery covered in black soot (we had uncovered a hearth in the home) and bones (probably from a family meal...or maybe the family). I listened to the archeologists use lingo like "floating" and "mud bricks" and happily pretended like I was one of them. I took every first and fifth bucket of dirt over to the sifting area, and carefully placed my bones into the labeled "bone bag." Archeology is definitely just as glamorous as I always thought it would be. With a good imagination and a love for the great thread of mankind throughout history, how can it not be?? So with all of its ugly warts and trying days, I will always be thankful to Israel for providing me a little bit of fulfilled fantasy. Who knows? Maybe one day I will be back - when Ryan is busy playing for the Red Sox and I am in need of a good diversion.
Friday, June 6, 2008
Israelitis
This is the time of year when seniors in high school have full blown cases of "Senioritis" which means they are so close to the end that they pretty much check out of everything and just wait to be done. I developed my senioritis when I was in my sophomore year of High School and I just couldn't find a cure the final three years.
Now that our time here in Israel is coming to a close I am coming down with "Israelitis". The classic case of Israelitis is when you just want to sit on the beach, eat pepperoni pizza, drive your car on the Sabbath, get smiled at from a cashier, not have any old ladies push you while getting on the bus, eat Mexican food, see people pick up their own trash, or not have other countries say they wish for your total destruction.
I really am happy for the experiences and the education we have received here but I have no more capacity for "cultural enrichment". I am no longer happy to experience the burden of the "law" in keeping a kosher kitchen or no "new work" on the Sabbath. I don't really need to gain any more confusion over the Israeli- Palestinian conflict. I even have had my fill of falafels and various foods stuffed into pita (kebabs and babagnoush being the exceptions). I think I would even enjoy having a conversation with someone without having it turn to politics or religion (which are synonymous here).
In order to treat my Israelitis we rented a car for the weekend. This will allow us to 1), fulfill one final request of my wife which is to work on an archaeological site in Ashkelon, and 2), to head to the beach on the Mediterranean Sea. I'm not sure how this will really treat the Israelitis other than by changing the scenery a bit in an effort to pass the time and by working on my golden brown skin tones. Sure I could finish all of my papers for class and I could seek out some final Middle East experiences but that doesn't measure up to the warm blue waters of the Sea. I am sure that it wont be long after we return to the U.S. when we will long for some excitement and some break from the typically monotonous life of America, but at least we will have our Mountain Dew and pizza.
Now that our time here in Israel is coming to a close I am coming down with "Israelitis". The classic case of Israelitis is when you just want to sit on the beach, eat pepperoni pizza, drive your car on the Sabbath, get smiled at from a cashier, not have any old ladies push you while getting on the bus, eat Mexican food, see people pick up their own trash, or not have other countries say they wish for your total destruction.
I really am happy for the experiences and the education we have received here but I have no more capacity for "cultural enrichment". I am no longer happy to experience the burden of the "law" in keeping a kosher kitchen or no "new work" on the Sabbath. I don't really need to gain any more confusion over the Israeli- Palestinian conflict. I even have had my fill of falafels and various foods stuffed into pita (kebabs and babagnoush being the exceptions). I think I would even enjoy having a conversation with someone without having it turn to politics or religion (which are synonymous here).
In order to treat my Israelitis we rented a car for the weekend. This will allow us to 1), fulfill one final request of my wife which is to work on an archaeological site in Ashkelon, and 2), to head to the beach on the Mediterranean Sea. I'm not sure how this will really treat the Israelitis other than by changing the scenery a bit in an effort to pass the time and by working on my golden brown skin tones. Sure I could finish all of my papers for class and I could seek out some final Middle East experiences but that doesn't measure up to the warm blue waters of the Sea. I am sure that it wont be long after we return to the U.S. when we will long for some excitement and some break from the typically monotonous life of America, but at least we will have our Mountain Dew and pizza.
Wednesday, June 4, 2008
No Trademark Violations Here
Yesterday I went with some friends to the Palestinian Authority's capital, Ramallah. We had some cheap falafels, brought home very cheap fruit from the market there, enjoyed some 2 shekel arabic coffee, and even passed by this Stars -n- Bucks Coffee house. It is a bit like the "Mac Donald's" with the yellow arches in the movie "Coming to America". The difference is that I don' think Starbucks will come to Ramallah and try to take legal action.
By the way, for some reason I feel more safe in Ramallah than in some neighborhoods here in Jerusalem.
Saturday, May 31, 2008
Retail Therapy
This post can take on several titles and it may be all over the place and really unfitting for an English 101 essay, but I forge ahead. Titles one and two would be "Retail Therapy" or the better stated "How I spent the grocery money today." The third title that would work is "One jar of marmalade at a time." Let me explain...
Today two of our very close family friends in the states are getting married to each other. Silly as it seems, moving to the middle east required a few sacrifices, but this one felt like it topped the list for me. Because I was a little sad to miss their special day, I did what many mopey and slightly hormonal women would do in my situation...I went shopping. Lucky for me, although today is shabbat and most everything is closed in the city, my friend Kay has organized a bazaar today - and even luckier, it is walking distance from our house by about a mile. While Ryan took the two older boys to church, like any good pastor's wife, I went shopping with the baby (the baby stroller is good for purchases). I think I made out quite well at the bazaar. My first purchase was two handbags, made of spun cambodian silk. These are "cottage industry" purses, made by women in small Cambodian villages. The women hand -make the purses, along with other beautiful items and the money they make off of them goes directly to building houses and digging wells in their communities. The organization who works with the villages is called the Tabitha Foundation. Their sole purpose is to help poor communities to rise above poverty and become self-sustaining.
My second purchase of the day was a set of hand-made paper notecards, made by the Al Basma Center for the disabled in Bethlehem. The center teaches the students life skills, speech and occupational therapy, and shares with them the love of Christ. The students make the cards, providing for them a sense of pride and accomplishment and the sale of the cards provides some of the funding for the school.
Third (yes I am a power shopper!) I picked up a silver ring - made from a single olive leaf from an olive tree. The leaves are made into molds and coated in silver, burning away in the process but leaving behind a perfect copy of each individual leaf. My ring is one of those leaves wrapped into the size of my finger. The following quote accompanies the olive leaf jewelry: "As Christians the olive tree stands for the steadfast love of God (read Psalm 52:8), for the people of Palestine it has symbolized abundance, steadfastness, and rootedness to the land. The olive branch stands for our longing for the end of the chaos and for peace. " The artists live in Bethlehem and you can find out about them at www.annadwa.org.
Lastly, I picked up a small coin purse and some more notecards (I am a sucker for old-fashioned communication though I obviously also love my computer!). The couple running the booth had lived in Gaza for 18 years and are now only allowed in and out on a limited basis, due to the violence and unrest in the area. The purses are made by a center for the deaf in Gaza, and 100% of the profits go to the center and to the workers and their families. There is very little commerce coming out of Gaza at the moment, and Harriet and her husband are one of the few who can get things out to sell.
It is true that I like to shop. It is also true that I am a softie for good causes (just ask all the girl scouts on our block in Cali). But retail therapy definitely took on a new depth for me, as I practically wept at each table as I walked around today. It was such a joy to meet the people who work to lift others out of poverty and to create meaning for them. All of the organizations today do what they do in the name of Jesus Christ. My friend Kay, who organized the bazaar, is a homemaker and mother of four boys aged 10 to 18. She has been busy these past 18 years with diapers, carpools, swim lessons and homework. And yet she has a deep ache in her heart for the poor and the oppressed in the West Bank and in Gaza. When she could do nothing else, she made 100s of jars of marmalade (she is originally from the UK) to sell. With the money she made, she was able to "adopt" 5 families in the West Bank, providing schooling, medical care, food and shelter for them. Hence my third title to this post. Kay is such an inspiration to me. Today my title might be "saving the world...one shopping spree at a time." But my hope and prayer is that in the future I can use the gifts and the meager talents that God has given me to join with Him to love and restore His people.
Today two of our very close family friends in the states are getting married to each other. Silly as it seems, moving to the middle east required a few sacrifices, but this one felt like it topped the list for me. Because I was a little sad to miss their special day, I did what many mopey and slightly hormonal women would do in my situation...I went shopping. Lucky for me, although today is shabbat and most everything is closed in the city, my friend Kay has organized a bazaar today - and even luckier, it is walking distance from our house by about a mile. While Ryan took the two older boys to church, like any good pastor's wife, I went shopping with the baby (the baby stroller is good for purchases). I think I made out quite well at the bazaar. My first purchase was two handbags, made of spun cambodian silk. These are "cottage industry" purses, made by women in small Cambodian villages. The women hand -make the purses, along with other beautiful items and the money they make off of them goes directly to building houses and digging wells in their communities. The organization who works with the villages is called the Tabitha Foundation. Their sole purpose is to help poor communities to rise above poverty and become self-sustaining.
My second purchase of the day was a set of hand-made paper notecards, made by the Al Basma Center for the disabled in Bethlehem. The center teaches the students life skills, speech and occupational therapy, and shares with them the love of Christ. The students make the cards, providing for them a sense of pride and accomplishment and the sale of the cards provides some of the funding for the school.
Third (yes I am a power shopper!) I picked up a silver ring - made from a single olive leaf from an olive tree. The leaves are made into molds and coated in silver, burning away in the process but leaving behind a perfect copy of each individual leaf. My ring is one of those leaves wrapped into the size of my finger. The following quote accompanies the olive leaf jewelry: "As Christians the olive tree stands for the steadfast love of God (read Psalm 52:8), for the people of Palestine it has symbolized abundance, steadfastness, and rootedness to the land. The olive branch stands for our longing for the end of the chaos and for peace. " The artists live in Bethlehem and you can find out about them at www.annadwa.org.
Lastly, I picked up a small coin purse and some more notecards (I am a sucker for old-fashioned communication though I obviously also love my computer!). The couple running the booth had lived in Gaza for 18 years and are now only allowed in and out on a limited basis, due to the violence and unrest in the area. The purses are made by a center for the deaf in Gaza, and 100% of the profits go to the center and to the workers and their families. There is very little commerce coming out of Gaza at the moment, and Harriet and her husband are one of the few who can get things out to sell.
It is true that I like to shop. It is also true that I am a softie for good causes (just ask all the girl scouts on our block in Cali). But retail therapy definitely took on a new depth for me, as I practically wept at each table as I walked around today. It was such a joy to meet the people who work to lift others out of poverty and to create meaning for them. All of the organizations today do what they do in the name of Jesus Christ. My friend Kay, who organized the bazaar, is a homemaker and mother of four boys aged 10 to 18. She has been busy these past 18 years with diapers, carpools, swim lessons and homework. And yet she has a deep ache in her heart for the poor and the oppressed in the West Bank and in Gaza. When she could do nothing else, she made 100s of jars of marmalade (she is originally from the UK) to sell. With the money she made, she was able to "adopt" 5 families in the West Bank, providing schooling, medical care, food and shelter for them. Hence my third title to this post. Kay is such an inspiration to me. Today my title might be "saving the world...one shopping spree at a time." But my hope and prayer is that in the future I can use the gifts and the meager talents that God has given me to join with Him to love and restore His people.
Friday, May 30, 2008
Sorry we are missing the wedding
Cheers to you Andrew and Nina. We wish we could be there with you. Have a great wedding day!
Monday, May 26, 2008
The Birthplace of Christianity
Many Christians have glorious views of the "Holy Land" and most who visit have life-changing experiences as they walk the hills and the streets that the people of the Bible walked. I too have experienced these same joys as I live in the same land as the people that I have heard about my whole life. One thing that has changed by living here is that now I realize that this is no longer a land that is open to Christians. For the latest happy occurrence read this article .
The Silver Lining
Since moving to Israel the U.S. dollar has lost 20% of its value compared to the Shekel so most of our expenses have consequently been 20% higher than expected. For example, when we first arrived we paid $6 for a gallon of milk and now it is closer to $8. Our cheapest box of cereal (generic cornflakes) cost about $3.50 and now it is over $4. That may not sound bad but think of the fact that the first time George Bush stayed here the American taxpayers paid 2 million dollars less for the hotel rooms than the second time.
With all of that said, now that we are nearing the end, we are selling some of the items that we purchased here or that we no longer need (infant car seat anyone?). So the rug for our living room cost us 500 shekels which was about $120 dollars. Now we are selling it for 325 shekels which is a great deal for someone here and it equates to $100 for us so we actually do not lose as much as we normally would.
So we may be returning to a country with gas costing $1.25 more than when we left and food prices 15% higher, and shamefully now the Canadian dollar is worth more, but at least we will sell many items for the same price that we purchased them for in Israel. And if we hang on to some of our shekels in a year or two they should be worth more than the dollar.
So if you need a rug, high chair, car seat, energetic children, toaster oven, baby toys, or a broken scooter and if you are passing through Jerusalem I will give you a good deal.
With all of that said, now that we are nearing the end, we are selling some of the items that we purchased here or that we no longer need (infant car seat anyone?). So the rug for our living room cost us 500 shekels which was about $120 dollars. Now we are selling it for 325 shekels which is a great deal for someone here and it equates to $100 for us so we actually do not lose as much as we normally would.
So we may be returning to a country with gas costing $1.25 more than when we left and food prices 15% higher, and shamefully now the Canadian dollar is worth more, but at least we will sell many items for the same price that we purchased them for in Israel. And if we hang on to some of our shekels in a year or two they should be worth more than the dollar.
So if you need a rug, high chair, car seat, energetic children, toaster oven, baby toys, or a broken scooter and if you are passing through Jerusalem I will give you a good deal.
Friday, May 23, 2008
Champion Chefs
Last night we had another "Taco Night" and this time we had a "Bring your best salsa competition" theme. Because I am a humble and giving type of guy, I volunteered to not make a salsa and to simply serve as a judge. One guest (a Minnesota boy) also served as a judge with me.
My boys, aged 8 and 5 made their own salsa completely on their own. Sara simply supervised and bought their ingredients at the store. They made a cheesy, chili, and pepper mix which closely resembled the excellent canned nacho cheese dips from America but theirs tasted much more fresh and was honestly quite tasty. Because they also made their own dessert (Israeli pudding snack packs dumped into wine glasses and served with fresh Israeli cherries) they ended up taking first place. They were completely overjoyed and wore their first place ribbons with pride.
2nd place went to a grad student here who made a "summer salsa" consisting of berries and other fresh ingredients which was excellent but he really impressed with his dessert salsa which he served with baked cinnamon and sugar tortillas. Singles ladies, you might want to meet him.
3rd place to our friend from Santa Barbara who teaches Kindergarten here in Jerusalem at the Anglican school. She made a perfect guacamole from the fresh Avocados that are in season here in Israel.
Of course my wife would win any cooking competition if she was not serving as the host or competing against me but for last night we had a great time with friends and we had tasty salsas. We will have one more Taco Night before returning to the States and we will miss this monthly event.
My boys, aged 8 and 5 made their own salsa completely on their own. Sara simply supervised and bought their ingredients at the store. They made a cheesy, chili, and pepper mix which closely resembled the excellent canned nacho cheese dips from America but theirs tasted much more fresh and was honestly quite tasty. Because they also made their own dessert (Israeli pudding snack packs dumped into wine glasses and served with fresh Israeli cherries) they ended up taking first place. They were completely overjoyed and wore their first place ribbons with pride.
2nd place went to a grad student here who made a "summer salsa" consisting of berries and other fresh ingredients which was excellent but he really impressed with his dessert salsa which he served with baked cinnamon and sugar tortillas. Singles ladies, you might want to meet him.
3rd place to our friend from Santa Barbara who teaches Kindergarten here in Jerusalem at the Anglican school. She made a perfect guacamole from the fresh Avocados that are in season here in Israel.
Of course my wife would win any cooking competition if she was not serving as the host or competing against me but for last night we had a great time with friends and we had tasty salsas. We will have one more Taco Night before returning to the States and we will miss this monthly event.
Wednesday, May 21, 2008
The Have's
In response to Sara's last post, I thought I would include a list of the "everyday life" things we have done this year... again for our own personal journaling purposes (and because it is my turn to post and I am at a loss for words).
I have:
Cooked popcorn the old fashoined way on the stove top for "movie nights"
Eaten falafels and good Arabic salads (I hope the Jordan Market carries the "eggplant tahina" salad)
Spent about 15 hours a week on the bus
Purchased much of our meat and produce from outdoor markets
Become friends with a favorite author of mine (not Chesterton... he is dead)
Gone to church as a non-staff member
Spent countless hours on the 5th floor of the HU library
BBQ'd with wood coals
Walked to the Old City of Jerusalem to buy food during the Sabbath.
Crawled through ancient tunnels, palaces, and tombs with my boys
Learned a new language
Had shekels in my wallet instead of dollars
Played basketball with Rabbis
Seen more diplomats/ politicians (including John McCain) than the rest of my life combined
Spent time with fewer Americans than non
Spent a lot of time with my wife and three boys
For Sara:
She has homeschooled our children
Been involved with a ministry to help people in the West Bank and Gaza
Cooked and baked tons of things from scratch
Jogged along the Old City of Jerusalem
Become friends with several merchants in the Old City (and has become a regular face in the ancient streets)
Learned how to survive in the grocery stores, parks, library, and local fruit stand
This list could be much longer but I think you get the point. These experiences will forever change who we are for better and for worse... mostly better.
I have:
Cooked popcorn the old fashoined way on the stove top for "movie nights"
Eaten falafels and good Arabic salads (I hope the Jordan Market carries the "eggplant tahina" salad)
Spent about 15 hours a week on the bus
Purchased much of our meat and produce from outdoor markets
Become friends with a favorite author of mine (not Chesterton... he is dead)
Gone to church as a non-staff member
Spent countless hours on the 5th floor of the HU library
BBQ'd with wood coals
Walked to the Old City of Jerusalem to buy food during the Sabbath.
Crawled through ancient tunnels, palaces, and tombs with my boys
Learned a new language
Had shekels in my wallet instead of dollars
Played basketball with Rabbis
Seen more diplomats/ politicians (including John McCain) than the rest of my life combined
Spent time with fewer Americans than non
Spent a lot of time with my wife and three boys
For Sara:
She has homeschooled our children
Been involved with a ministry to help people in the West Bank and Gaza
Cooked and baked tons of things from scratch
Jogged along the Old City of Jerusalem
Become friends with several merchants in the Old City (and has become a regular face in the ancient streets)
Learned how to survive in the grocery stores, parks, library, and local fruit stand
This list could be much longer but I think you get the point. These experiences will forever change who we are for better and for worse... mostly better.
Saturday, May 17, 2008
The "Have-Nots"
This year our family has had an incredible adventure. If you follow our posts you know that we have had our struggles, but have also had some amazing opportunities. We have also had a unique year, quite unlike what a typical year in our home in Southern California would look like. We have given up some things in order to make this experience a reality. The following (for posterity) is a list of this years "have-nots."
I Have Not:
Driven a car
used a microwave
Eaten good pizza, mongolian beef, cream cheese wontons, CPK salad, or good chips and salsa
Gone to the gym
carpooled
slept through the night (okay maybe once)
walked through a Target store
taken the baby to a "well check-up"
been to the doctor myself
stocked up at Costco
lived on the ground floor
figured out how to make the perfect Arabic meal (but I have eaten them!)
attended a bible study
been to church on time
worn shorts or tank tops (in Jerusalem)
used my cell phone
bbq'd in the back yard
decorated my own home
looked through my cookbooks
had more than 7 outfits in the closet that fit and dont have holes at any given time this year
been to the movies
had a pedicure
And so they dont feel left out....
Ryan has not
had mountain dew
eaten pepperoni pizza
done yard work
gotten a pay check
The boys have not
played on a sports team
left the house to attend school (except for field trips)
ridden their own bikes
eaten a cupcake
slowed down :)
Baby Ben has not
slept in a crib (only a pack n play)
had more than a handful of chew toys (or are those called teethers?)
slept through the night (okay maybe once)
And somehow we have still managed to survive our time here. We are looking forward to our return to the States and all that it offers but there was something refreshing about living out of 6 suitcases for the year. Life definitely was simplified in some ways while at the same time complicated by the nature of living in the Middle East. I did not miss all of the "Have nots" this year, although some of them I missed every day (my non-kosher kitchen for example...)! I am curious about our re-entry into California life - will we dive right in or will it be a challenge? Hopefully driving a car is like riding a bike...
I Have Not:
Driven a car
used a microwave
Eaten good pizza, mongolian beef, cream cheese wontons, CPK salad, or good chips and salsa
Gone to the gym
carpooled
slept through the night (okay maybe once)
walked through a Target store
taken the baby to a "well check-up"
been to the doctor myself
stocked up at Costco
lived on the ground floor
figured out how to make the perfect Arabic meal (but I have eaten them!)
attended a bible study
been to church on time
worn shorts or tank tops (in Jerusalem)
used my cell phone
bbq'd in the back yard
decorated my own home
looked through my cookbooks
had more than 7 outfits in the closet that fit and dont have holes at any given time this year
been to the movies
had a pedicure
And so they dont feel left out....
Ryan has not
had mountain dew
eaten pepperoni pizza
done yard work
gotten a pay check
The boys have not
played on a sports team
left the house to attend school (except for field trips)
ridden their own bikes
eaten a cupcake
slowed down :)
Baby Ben has not
slept in a crib (only a pack n play)
had more than a handful of chew toys (or are those called teethers?)
slept through the night (okay maybe once)
And somehow we have still managed to survive our time here. We are looking forward to our return to the States and all that it offers but there was something refreshing about living out of 6 suitcases for the year. Life definitely was simplified in some ways while at the same time complicated by the nature of living in the Middle East. I did not miss all of the "Have nots" this year, although some of them I missed every day (my non-kosher kitchen for example...)! I am curious about our re-entry into California life - will we dive right in or will it be a challenge? Hopefully driving a car is like riding a bike...
Wednesday, May 14, 2008
Our Final Galilee
This weekend our family spent a couple nights in Galilee in what was our final getaway during our time here in Jerusalem. We stayed in a nice place that had huge grass lawns that the boys enjoyed by running on them tirelessly for hours (this is a big treat for Southern California/ Jerusalem city boys). We swam in the lake and pools and were reminded why Jesus spent his time in this region. The weather was perfect, the pace was great, and we even had some nice Arabic food one evening and some great fish on the Sea of Galilee. We drove through the Golan Heights along the borders of Lebanon and Syria and discovered my new favorite site in Israel, Banias (Biblical Caesarea Philipi). All in all we relaxed, the boys had fun, and we even found some time to sit in quiet and think, read, and pray. I actually got up at 5:30AM thanks to our 11 month old alarm clock and was able to walk by the beach during sunrise. (If you have been to Hawaii or a humid place like the Midwest or South in the summer you will know the nice warm mornings that are still and peaceful but warm enough to enjoy the early hour).
As we drove away we were struck with the thought that soon we will no longer be able to hop in a car (rental car) and drive less than two hours to see the towns that Jesus lived in. We will not be able to walk among ruins of cities that are described in the Bible. We will not drive 20 minutes to the border of Jordan, take a short flight to Europe, Africa, or other parts of Asia. We will not be able to stop and by fruit directly from Palestinian farmers from the West Bank or live in a world where followers of Jesus are still rare and threatened. As our end date approaches we begin to see all that we love about this place (even in light of the last post) and we work to enjoy each moment. It is just that some places like Galilee are easier to enjoy than others.
As we drove away we were struck with the thought that soon we will no longer be able to hop in a car (rental car) and drive less than two hours to see the towns that Jesus lived in. We will not be able to walk among ruins of cities that are described in the Bible. We will not drive 20 minutes to the border of Jordan, take a short flight to Europe, Africa, or other parts of Asia. We will not be able to stop and by fruit directly from Palestinian farmers from the West Bank or live in a world where followers of Jesus are still rare and threatened. As our end date approaches we begin to see all that we love about this place (even in light of the last post) and we work to enjoy each moment. It is just that some places like Galilee are easier to enjoy than others.
Thursday, May 8, 2008
For love of country
This past week I have been following the "video blogging" of a group from an orange county church touring here in Israel. We don't know any of the people on the trip and have not met up with them, but the site was sent to me by a friend of ours in the states who thought we might be interested. The videos have been well-edited, informative, challenging and fun to watch. I told Ryan that I was tracking the groups travels in order to find out how a Christian tourist is "supposed" to experience Israel. I realized that the more I watched the video and the more I read of their travels, the more depressed I was getting in regards to our own experience here in the Holy Land. Then I came up with my "romance theory" of travel and here it is...
First, there is the "whirlwind romance" travel. You fly in, expecting to be whisked off your feet. All of your normal responsibilities from home are put on hold. You can fully experience the foods, the sights and smells of the cities you visit. You can take time out to reflect on God's beautiful, complicated, vast and awe inspiring world. Here in Israel, people on the whirlwind romance tour, are able to be with friends, enjoy comfortable air conditioned busses and catered meals, great teaching on the life and teachings of Christ and are genuinely impacted for life. They are here long enough to see that Israel is rich in history, to see God's word come to life in a new way, and to perhaps gain refreshment and a new love for God, become Man. This seems to be the experience of this church group whose writings I have been following...and I have to say I am a bit envious! Who doesn't enjoy love in its early stages?
There is a second type of travel that I call the "marriage of longevity" travel. This is where you do your research on a place and you have your eye on it for a long time. By the time you land at the airport, your heart is beating, your palms are sweating and you are already planning to fall in love with whichever country it happens to be. Perhaps you are able to stay a month, maybe a year. You have to dive into the culture and into daily life but for this you were prepared. You might run into some things that aren't so pretty about the place, but you anticipated the bad along with the good. Our friends across the street came to Jerusalem with this method of travel. They hope to stay here for as long as possible while the husband works on his PhD. It might not be the whirlwind romance, but they don't really mind. If they aren't able to see everything there is to see in this year, there will always be the next.
Lastly there is the type of travel that I call the "pre-arranged marriage" of travel. Somehow, without knowing exactly how, you find yourself in a place that you aren't quite sure you have chosen. In fact you don't really know why you are there at all except that "someone" has sent you there. There is very little time to get to know the country because on the first day you are already trying to figure out how to buy groceries and use the public transportation. This is the type of travel I think I have found myself in this year. Instead of stepping off the plane preparing to "fall in love with the Holy Land" all I could think of was the logistics of taking care of three children in a strange land with all my babysitters still in California. Instead of falafel and St. Peter's fish, my normal diet consists of the more practical budget-friendly peanut butter and jelly pitas, and spaghetti with tomato sauce. Instead of sitting on the side of Mt. Carmel and reading the story of Elijah the prophet, I am contemplating for a quick moment before I change a baby's diaper and oohing and ahhing at my 8 year olds rock collection.
I am looking forward to returning to the States in two months, but I am also sad. Not because this has been such a fun year for me, but because it hasn't been. I am not saying that it hasn't been life changing. That it hasn't opened my heart up to my God and to humanity. I am not saying that I am not grateful for this year, or that God's Word is not more alive to me than ever before..it is! In our "pre-arranged marriage" I have found myself both loving, and hating Israel. I have learned secrets that I did not care to know. I have learned more about myself and about this land and that has not been easy. I have a burden in my soul and a heartache that I didn't have before. I have witnessed a hopelessness so deep that I now finally understand that only in God can hope truly be restored. I am sad to have missed the "romance" of travel here. Even if I come again I don't know if that will be possible. Cheers to those who can love this place with no baggage attached. Cheers to the God who loves this place with the baggage...and who teaches us to love as well.
First, there is the "whirlwind romance" travel. You fly in, expecting to be whisked off your feet. All of your normal responsibilities from home are put on hold. You can fully experience the foods, the sights and smells of the cities you visit. You can take time out to reflect on God's beautiful, complicated, vast and awe inspiring world. Here in Israel, people on the whirlwind romance tour, are able to be with friends, enjoy comfortable air conditioned busses and catered meals, great teaching on the life and teachings of Christ and are genuinely impacted for life. They are here long enough to see that Israel is rich in history, to see God's word come to life in a new way, and to perhaps gain refreshment and a new love for God, become Man. This seems to be the experience of this church group whose writings I have been following...and I have to say I am a bit envious! Who doesn't enjoy love in its early stages?
There is a second type of travel that I call the "marriage of longevity" travel. This is where you do your research on a place and you have your eye on it for a long time. By the time you land at the airport, your heart is beating, your palms are sweating and you are already planning to fall in love with whichever country it happens to be. Perhaps you are able to stay a month, maybe a year. You have to dive into the culture and into daily life but for this you were prepared. You might run into some things that aren't so pretty about the place, but you anticipated the bad along with the good. Our friends across the street came to Jerusalem with this method of travel. They hope to stay here for as long as possible while the husband works on his PhD. It might not be the whirlwind romance, but they don't really mind. If they aren't able to see everything there is to see in this year, there will always be the next.
Lastly there is the type of travel that I call the "pre-arranged marriage" of travel. Somehow, without knowing exactly how, you find yourself in a place that you aren't quite sure you have chosen. In fact you don't really know why you are there at all except that "someone" has sent you there. There is very little time to get to know the country because on the first day you are already trying to figure out how to buy groceries and use the public transportation. This is the type of travel I think I have found myself in this year. Instead of stepping off the plane preparing to "fall in love with the Holy Land" all I could think of was the logistics of taking care of three children in a strange land with all my babysitters still in California. Instead of falafel and St. Peter's fish, my normal diet consists of the more practical budget-friendly peanut butter and jelly pitas, and spaghetti with tomato sauce. Instead of sitting on the side of Mt. Carmel and reading the story of Elijah the prophet, I am contemplating for a quick moment before I change a baby's diaper and oohing and ahhing at my 8 year olds rock collection.
I am looking forward to returning to the States in two months, but I am also sad. Not because this has been such a fun year for me, but because it hasn't been. I am not saying that it hasn't been life changing. That it hasn't opened my heart up to my God and to humanity. I am not saying that I am not grateful for this year, or that God's Word is not more alive to me than ever before..it is! In our "pre-arranged marriage" I have found myself both loving, and hating Israel. I have learned secrets that I did not care to know. I have learned more about myself and about this land and that has not been easy. I have a burden in my soul and a heartache that I didn't have before. I have witnessed a hopelessness so deep that I now finally understand that only in God can hope truly be restored. I am sad to have missed the "romance" of travel here. Even if I come again I don't know if that will be possible. Cheers to those who can love this place with no baggage attached. Cheers to the God who loves this place with the baggage...and who teaches us to love as well.
More Celebrations
This week marked a continuation of the relentless onslaught of holidays in Israel. On Tuesday night through Wednesday the country observed Memorial Day that is intended to first remember the soldiers that have died for their country and secondly to remember those who have died in terror attacks.
Immediately following Memorial Day, they begin celebrations for their Independence Day. To celebrate they have poorly done fireworks and very well done block parties everywhere. The next day (which is today) literally the whole nation (who are Jewish) go to the parks for afternoon BBQ's. It is an interesting to be in a country celebrating their independence when a large percentage of the population (mostly the Palestinians) do not share in the freedoms or the celebrations.
For all of the so called problems in the United States, it is good to know that more than anywhere I have seen in the world, in the U.S.A. everyone has a chance for freedom and fair treatment (compared to other nations). Also,I was surprised to discover that since Israel became a nation in 1948, the number of U.S. soldiers that have died for their country outnumbers Israel 5 to 1 and Americans killed in terror attacks also outnumbers Israel 5 to 1. We are enjoying a lot of aspects of living in Israel but we will be happy to be home in our country celebrating our freedoms this summer.
Immediately following Memorial Day, they begin celebrations for their Independence Day. To celebrate they have poorly done fireworks and very well done block parties everywhere. The next day (which is today) literally the whole nation (who are Jewish) go to the parks for afternoon BBQ's. It is an interesting to be in a country celebrating their independence when a large percentage of the population (mostly the Palestinians) do not share in the freedoms or the celebrations.
For all of the so called problems in the United States, it is good to know that more than anywhere I have seen in the world, in the U.S.A. everyone has a chance for freedom and fair treatment (compared to other nations). Also,I was surprised to discover that since Israel became a nation in 1948, the number of U.S. soldiers that have died for their country outnumbers Israel 5 to 1 and Americans killed in terror attacks also outnumbers Israel 5 to 1. We are enjoying a lot of aspects of living in Israel but we will be happy to be home in our country celebrating our freedoms this summer.
Monday, May 5, 2008
Cinco De Mayo
Most of you know how much Sara and the boys love every holiday that comes along and use it as an opportunity to do something in honor of that day. Well, today is cinco de mayo or חמש ֶשל מאי so we hosted one of our "Taco Nights". It was a pleasure to enjoy some Mexican food, some cheap Israeli wine, and great conversations with four college students in Israel. Sara and Ian made a new Mexican dessert (Cinnamon Brownies with something good on top) to complete the meal. Although we will be happy to return to our homeland this summer, we will miss the company and the times we have at our monthly taco nights.
Thursday, May 1, 2008
Remembrance Day Video
This is just to give you a feel for how this event (see previous post) is remembered in Israel. This footage is taken by an 8 year old so please bear with the quality.
Holocaust Remembrance Day
Today at 10:00 AM our "air raid" sirens sounded and the nation came to a brief but important stand still as we took a moment to remember the over 6 million Jews who were killed by the Nazi's in WWII. I usually am very gracious to the opinions of others but it is completely despicable that there is a movement led by people like the deranged president of Iran (Mahmoud Ahmadinejad) that claims the Holocaust never happened. Almost equally detestable is the opinion that the current actions directed against Gaza are worse than the Holocaust. Let me be clear that there is a serious situation in Gaza and it demands attention, but it is not equivalent to the death camps of WWII (this is not an excuse for the unfair treatment of thousands of Palestinians, just a plea to please not make such an unequal comparison).
Today is a day that we should remember the people who died at the hands of the Nazis and perhaps the millions of Chinese that were placed into camps by the Japanese, and even the thousands of Japanese that were placed into camps by the Americans. Racial/ tribal hatred continues and acts of Genocide recently occurred in Bosnia, Rwanda, and Sudan (just to name a few). Please remember these tragedies today.
Today is a day that we should remember the people who died at the hands of the Nazis and perhaps the millions of Chinese that were placed into camps by the Japanese, and even the thousands of Japanese that were placed into camps by the Americans. Racial/ tribal hatred continues and acts of Genocide recently occurred in Bosnia, Rwanda, and Sudan (just to name a few). Please remember these tragedies today.
Monday, April 28, 2008
Ancient Stuff
Last week we went to Greece on our final excursion during our time here in Israel and our final "lets look at ancient stuff from Bible times" trip. When most people think of Greece they think of blue warm water, sunsets on the Islands, ancient temples, and the olympics. We were no different except we also think of Greek food, the world of the Apostle Paul, and will the hotel rooms have room for a crib and include breakfast.
I will spare you from every detail so here is a quick recap of our time:
Day/ Night One- Ancient Corinth which is an amazing place because of the size of the ancient city. It was nice to walk where Paul walked for 1 1/2 years and read through passages in Acts and Corinthians. Our hotel room had plenty of room but no breakfast, the owner of the hotel invited me to sit with him and enjoy a glass of wine. The boys climbed on ancient ruins, found rocks, and in the morning threw rocks into the Gulf of Corinth while eating local pastries.
Day 2-4- Drive across the Polopenese and take ferry to Zakynthos Island after morning in Corinth Museum/ town.
Nights 2,3,4 on an Organic Olive Farm on Zakynthos. We had a private cottage and learned that no one was staying in the other 6 cottages so had the farm to ourselves. In fact, every hotel on the Island (about 70) were all closed because tourist season begins in May so we shared the Island with the locals. Thankfully we had a kitchen and a car so we could get around and eat.
We went around the entire Island, saw the unbelievably blue waters on Shipwreck beach (photos on Rosenbaum Photography page), couldn't get any local fishermen to take us on a boat to see Blue Caves because the water was too rough, watched the boys collect rocks and throw them in the water on a beach. Our 5 year old learned to ride his bike without training wheels (I know, he is a typical kid learning to ride a bike in Greece), we had some good Greek food and spent a lot of time watching the boys relax in their element (living in the city made their sense of freedom on the Island more amplified). We had two bedrooms and plenty of room for the crib. The farm owner provided eggs from his chickens so I guess breakfast was included.
Day 5- Ancient Olympia with amazing wildflowers and warm weather for the first time on the trip. The boys raced Sara in the Olympic stadium but I think she tripped them so she could win. Oh yeah, they climbed on Ancient stuff (got yelled at by a worker once) and found rocks. They realized that the Greeks liked statues of naked people.
After this, drive across the Penninsula to Athens.
Nights 5,6,7 Hotel outside of Athens on the Beach. Typical for European cities. It was noisy, not real nice, the TV did not work, the AC did not work, but there was plenty of room for a crib and breakfast was included. We had to sell our cars and wash some dishes to pay for these three nights but it was a great location.
Day 6- Athens Stuff. The Acropolis, Mars Hill (which was our personal favorite in light of Paul's encounters there in Acts 18). We have some great photos of Ian there. Saw other temples, ancient stadiums, the ancient Agora (market), did not shop as much as Sara would have liked (tired kids didn't help with this one), ate decent Greek food, the boys found rocks and climbed on Ancient stuff. Isaac ordered a fish filet for dinner and the waiter told us that the "baby fish" was a fried filet with no bones. What he meant to say was "baby fish" was a plate full of whole fried minnows which did not go so well with Isaac. Ian did think it was funny that they would have to eat the poop of the fish... who wouldn't think that was funny.
Day 7- Leisure drive on the coast, lunch overlooking the sea and Posiedon's temple, boys spending hours collecting rocks, throwing them in the sea, and climbing on stuff. Halfway through the day our five year old asked if we had to "look at any more ancient stuff". I tried to explain that rocks were ancient but that didn't seem to amuse him.
Day 8- Sara spent morning shopping in an area that turned out to be way too expensive for her to enjoy (we regret not going back into Athens), I hung out with all three boys with local fishermen. They allowed me to take their pictures and showed the kids the Octopus and other tasty "catches" of the day. Then we headed to the airport and returned home to Israel.
All in all. A great family vacation but we have had plenty of time as a family this year and look forward to a time when Sara and I can return without our beloved children. Then we can collect rocks and climb on ancient stuff without wondering where the boys are. We could also not wonder if a crib will fit in the room and we might even eat a full meal without one of us having to leave early.
Extras: We had one tire blow out on the freeway but found a used replacement for only 30 Euros. The weather was cold and cloudy but no one got sunburned. Also... we were in Greece looking at Ancient Stuff!
I will spare you from every detail so here is a quick recap of our time:
Day/ Night One- Ancient Corinth which is an amazing place because of the size of the ancient city. It was nice to walk where Paul walked for 1 1/2 years and read through passages in Acts and Corinthians. Our hotel room had plenty of room but no breakfast, the owner of the hotel invited me to sit with him and enjoy a glass of wine. The boys climbed on ancient ruins, found rocks, and in the morning threw rocks into the Gulf of Corinth while eating local pastries.
Day 2-4- Drive across the Polopenese and take ferry to Zakynthos Island after morning in Corinth Museum/ town.
Nights 2,3,4 on an Organic Olive Farm on Zakynthos. We had a private cottage and learned that no one was staying in the other 6 cottages so had the farm to ourselves. In fact, every hotel on the Island (about 70) were all closed because tourist season begins in May so we shared the Island with the locals. Thankfully we had a kitchen and a car so we could get around and eat.
We went around the entire Island, saw the unbelievably blue waters on Shipwreck beach (photos on Rosenbaum Photography page), couldn't get any local fishermen to take us on a boat to see Blue Caves because the water was too rough, watched the boys collect rocks and throw them in the water on a beach. Our 5 year old learned to ride his bike without training wheels (I know, he is a typical kid learning to ride a bike in Greece), we had some good Greek food and spent a lot of time watching the boys relax in their element (living in the city made their sense of freedom on the Island more amplified). We had two bedrooms and plenty of room for the crib. The farm owner provided eggs from his chickens so I guess breakfast was included.
Day 5- Ancient Olympia with amazing wildflowers and warm weather for the first time on the trip. The boys raced Sara in the Olympic stadium but I think she tripped them so she could win. Oh yeah, they climbed on Ancient stuff (got yelled at by a worker once) and found rocks. They realized that the Greeks liked statues of naked people.
After this, drive across the Penninsula to Athens.
Nights 5,6,7 Hotel outside of Athens on the Beach. Typical for European cities. It was noisy, not real nice, the TV did not work, the AC did not work, but there was plenty of room for a crib and breakfast was included. We had to sell our cars and wash some dishes to pay for these three nights but it was a great location.
Day 6- Athens Stuff. The Acropolis, Mars Hill (which was our personal favorite in light of Paul's encounters there in Acts 18). We have some great photos of Ian there. Saw other temples, ancient stadiums, the ancient Agora (market), did not shop as much as Sara would have liked (tired kids didn't help with this one), ate decent Greek food, the boys found rocks and climbed on Ancient stuff. Isaac ordered a fish filet for dinner and the waiter told us that the "baby fish" was a fried filet with no bones. What he meant to say was "baby fish" was a plate full of whole fried minnows which did not go so well with Isaac. Ian did think it was funny that they would have to eat the poop of the fish... who wouldn't think that was funny.
Day 7- Leisure drive on the coast, lunch overlooking the sea and Posiedon's temple, boys spending hours collecting rocks, throwing them in the sea, and climbing on stuff. Halfway through the day our five year old asked if we had to "look at any more ancient stuff". I tried to explain that rocks were ancient but that didn't seem to amuse him.
Day 8- Sara spent morning shopping in an area that turned out to be way too expensive for her to enjoy (we regret not going back into Athens), I hung out with all three boys with local fishermen. They allowed me to take their pictures and showed the kids the Octopus and other tasty "catches" of the day. Then we headed to the airport and returned home to Israel.
All in all. A great family vacation but we have had plenty of time as a family this year and look forward to a time when Sara and I can return without our beloved children. Then we can collect rocks and climb on ancient stuff without wondering where the boys are. We could also not wonder if a crib will fit in the room and we might even eat a full meal without one of us having to leave early.
Extras: We had one tire blow out on the freeway but found a used replacement for only 30 Euros. The weather was cold and cloudy but no one got sunburned. Also... we were in Greece looking at Ancient Stuff!
Saturday, April 26, 2008
The Fire is Coming!
This week was holy week for the Eastern Christians across the globe (Greek Orthodox, Armenian, Coptic, Ethiopian, Syriac Orthodox). That means that once again we have the privilege of seeing our city come alive with energy as thousands of Christian pilgrims come here to celebrate the resurrection of Jesus Christ.
One tradition of the Greek Orthodox in celebration of this event is to hold a service on the day of the resurrection (which was today) called the "Holy Fire". For this celebration they gather in the Church of the Holy Sepulchre where they believe the tomb of Jesus exists (And to where the most positive archaeological evidence for the tomb points). They gather in complete darkness until one candle is lit inside the tomb of Jesus and then from that candle other candles are lit beginning at the tomb until the entire church is alight with "Holy Fire".
Then from here they take the fire and they go to houses throughout the city to light candles in each home of those celebrating the resurrection of Jesus. The fire is even taken to outlying cities throughout the region with great anticipation. For example, we have friends from Bethlehem who say that on this day the believers in Jesus anxiously await the arrival of the flame from the tomb of Jesus. They whisper like excited children whisper as they await the arrival of Santa Claus (with greater reason might I add) and they proclaim to each other, "the fire is coming". The excitement builds as news of the the resurrection of Jesus spreads from Jerusalem throughout the land. The climax comes as the fire arrives and as people proclaim "The Messiah is Arisen"!
I imagine the first Easter when the news spread from the tomb of Jesus throughout the land and the excitement among those who followed Jesus learned of his victory over death. I imagine the excited whispers and the overwhelming joy. I imagine the bonds they must have felt when they encountered others who shared the "holy fire". I can feel the joy that they must have felt and I sense the confusion and disappointment that Jesus' opponents must have shared to know that not even crucifixion kept his fire from burning.
How can it be that this "Holy Fire" made it to millions of homes throughout the world since that time but the excitement and wonder that it brings has been reduced to a 1 hour service on a Sunday morning? As for me, on this matter I choose the Greek way of remembering and I pray for the joy, the wonder, and the outright excitement that comes from the "Holy Fire".
One tradition of the Greek Orthodox in celebration of this event is to hold a service on the day of the resurrection (which was today) called the "Holy Fire". For this celebration they gather in the Church of the Holy Sepulchre where they believe the tomb of Jesus exists (And to where the most positive archaeological evidence for the tomb points). They gather in complete darkness until one candle is lit inside the tomb of Jesus and then from that candle other candles are lit beginning at the tomb until the entire church is alight with "Holy Fire".
Then from here they take the fire and they go to houses throughout the city to light candles in each home of those celebrating the resurrection of Jesus. The fire is even taken to outlying cities throughout the region with great anticipation. For example, we have friends from Bethlehem who say that on this day the believers in Jesus anxiously await the arrival of the flame from the tomb of Jesus. They whisper like excited children whisper as they await the arrival of Santa Claus (with greater reason might I add) and they proclaim to each other, "the fire is coming". The excitement builds as news of the the resurrection of Jesus spreads from Jerusalem throughout the land. The climax comes as the fire arrives and as people proclaim "The Messiah is Arisen"!
I imagine the first Easter when the news spread from the tomb of Jesus throughout the land and the excitement among those who followed Jesus learned of his victory over death. I imagine the excited whispers and the overwhelming joy. I imagine the bonds they must have felt when they encountered others who shared the "holy fire". I can feel the joy that they must have felt and I sense the confusion and disappointment that Jesus' opponents must have shared to know that not even crucifixion kept his fire from burning.
How can it be that this "Holy Fire" made it to millions of homes throughout the world since that time but the excitement and wonder that it brings has been reduced to a 1 hour service on a Sunday morning? As for me, on this matter I choose the Greek way of remembering and I pray for the joy, the wonder, and the outright excitement that comes from the "Holy Fire".
Saturday, April 19, 2008
Rocks
I am a mom of three boys who love rocks. Every time I do laundry I have to pull at least half a dozen rocks out of pockets and I usually miss at least two or three more that go through the wash. I actually have a spot on the windowsill where I keep the rocks that I find and the pile is fairly big. My oldest son has a box under his bed filled with at least 15 pounds of rocks he has collected from around the globe this year. He has collected rocks from Petra, from Cairo, from the Red Sea, and from ancient Jerusalem, to name a few. Of course all the rocks end up in the same box, so we will never know where they came from individually. He is constantly picking up rocks to study and also likes to crack them open to see what he can find inside. He has some rocks that alone weigh several pounds that he is sure are ancient "idols" found at dig sites. He actually took one of these "idols" to Ryan's archeology professor and asked what he thought it was - the reply was... "it is a rock." And that answer is enough to make my son happy. My middle son loves to climb on rocks and he loves to throw rocks into water. This past week we went to Greece and as an adult it sounded like a wonderful trip. I had hoped to stroll through the paths around the base of the acropolis, do some shopping, and eat some good Greek food. Instead it turned out to be the best place in the world for my five year old. We spent hours watching him throw rocks into the Gulf of Corinth, into the Aegean Sea off a Greek Island, and into the mediterranean. He is practicing "skipping rocks" so in order to perfect this he requires at least half a days worth of practice.. We spent the rest of the time watching him climb on rocks near the Cape at Sounio, around the parthenon, and also near the water. When we went to see the pyramids, he didnt care to look up at them in awe - he just wanted to climb on them. He also climbed at the rocks in Jordan and climbed on the stone walls at Westminster in London. Whenever we reach some ancient or famous site, usually his first question is "can I climb?" My youngest son loves to eat rocks. He is 10 months old now and he really really loves to eat rocks. I have had to swipe rocks out of his mouth from many different parks and beaches. From the number of rocks he tried to eat, I would say that Greek rocks are his favorite. His second favorite probably has to be rocks from the Red sea area of Israel but really he doesnt seem to be too picky about them... although the smaller the better.
There are many days when I wonder what benefit this year is going to have on our boys. They do seem to have their understanding of the world broadened. Geography, History, Sociology - the way different people interact with one another - they are learning alot in that respect. But on the other hand I wonder if maybe instead of spending their future college funds on travel, if we had just spent some of it to fill the backyard with lots and lots of rocks...if their year would have been similar. I guess only time will tell. But for now, we are back home in Jerusalem, with all the rose hued Jerusalem stone for them to collect, study, break, throw, climb and eat. And I will continue to wash them - usually on cold, gentle cycle - with a nice spring scented laundry detergent.
There are many days when I wonder what benefit this year is going to have on our boys. They do seem to have their understanding of the world broadened. Geography, History, Sociology - the way different people interact with one another - they are learning alot in that respect. But on the other hand I wonder if maybe instead of spending their future college funds on travel, if we had just spent some of it to fill the backyard with lots and lots of rocks...if their year would have been similar. I guess only time will tell. But for now, we are back home in Jerusalem, with all the rose hued Jerusalem stone for them to collect, study, break, throw, climb and eat. And I will continue to wash them - usually on cold, gentle cycle - with a nice spring scented laundry detergent.
Thursday, April 10, 2008
Renewing the Tourist Visas
Because I never got a student visa to stay in Israel our family has to leave the country every three months to renew our status as tourists. This week we are heading to our final "renew the visa" trip and our final "spend the kids college money now" experience before our return to America this summer. We will likely not update this for the next week when we are in Greece so have a great week.
Tuesday, April 8, 2008
One week and four days
This week is the week before the week before Pesach (passover) here in the Holy land (I meant to write that twice). Passover is a time when families come together over a seder dinner, and remember and celebrate God's deliverance of them out of Egypt. It is also more specifically a time to remember when the angel of death "passed over" the door posts of the Jews in Egypt and spared the lives of their first born sons. These doors were passed over because there was blood of a lamb brushed over the doorposts which signaled to the angel that God had set these people apart. This is one of the most sacred of Jewish holidays, and also has incredible significance for believers in the messiah Jesus if you look into it. I will not be looking at its significance in this post however.
I would like to note a few observations of the holiday that are slightly less spiritual. There is now one week and four days to Pesach and counting. The Jews have been commanded to get rid of all leaven from their homes to remember the night they were freed from bondage in Egypt. There was no time to allow the bread to rise, so they ate unleavened bread that morning. In order to follow this command, Jews today do a "spring cleaning" of their home to get rid of all leaven. They clean every square inch of the house, some using q-tips, some repainting their walls just to be sure. All bread products and products with leaven are thrown out, as well as products made in factories where there has been leaven. This can include bread, pita (this makes me sad), cereal, peanut butter, beer (this makes Ryan sad), certain toothpaste, and even hummos. They cannot use dishes or pots and pans during Pesach that have touched leaven. They must eat only matza and matza flour (in place of breads) during the week of Pesach. Apparently a well known burger chain here replaces its "McKabob" with a "Matza burger" where matza is used in place of a bun (I will be getting one don't worry).
I keep forgetting to bring my camera to the grocery store but the breads and cereals are already on the "clearance aisle" and the quantities are dwindling, while the store workers get everything reorganized for the holiday. Huge displays of cleaning products and sets of silverware, dishes, and serving platters are set up at the entrance to the mall and to the supermarket. The store fronts are all filled with the special Pesach/seder plates and dishes, candlesticks and kiddush (blessing) cups. Many people here get two full weeks off for Passover - one week to prepare and one week to celebrate. One friend from school told Ryan that Pesach is too crazy and too busy but at least the night of the Seder dinner is nice.
Many Jews find ways to make the holiday less hectic. One way is to "sell" their leaven to their pagan friends (like us) so they can keep it in their kitchen. I think they also sell their kitchen... This way they dont technically have any leaven in their kitchen. They just have to buy it back when the week is up. Another technique is to leave home and go on vacation which is why we have heard the Ben Gurion airport is insane the week of Pesach and the airlines hike up prices to benefit from the Jewish families attempt to get out of a deep house-cleaning. Also the hotels in this area can charge up to 3000 dollars for a small family to participate in their hotel-hosted seder dinner. Suddenly a new set of dishes seems like a bargain.
The point of this posting is in part to journal something that is fascinating to watch here. Also in part it is to note a parallel that I see to a holiday we like to call "Christmas" at home. The people here are so frantic and although they get a lot of time off, they spend most of it in preparation and much less of it in remembrance and celebration with family. The country is engulfed in the holiday "trappings" and yet as an outsider, I see very little of the "true meaning" of the day. My hope is that next year this will be brought to mind, and that perhaps our "biggest" holidays can be reduced down to something of more meaning and much less of everything else.
(By the way, our own family is leaving town this Friday - but will be back in time to stock up on some last minute leavened products and to perhaps buy a couple kitchens...).
I would like to note a few observations of the holiday that are slightly less spiritual. There is now one week and four days to Pesach and counting. The Jews have been commanded to get rid of all leaven from their homes to remember the night they were freed from bondage in Egypt. There was no time to allow the bread to rise, so they ate unleavened bread that morning. In order to follow this command, Jews today do a "spring cleaning" of their home to get rid of all leaven. They clean every square inch of the house, some using q-tips, some repainting their walls just to be sure. All bread products and products with leaven are thrown out, as well as products made in factories where there has been leaven. This can include bread, pita (this makes me sad), cereal, peanut butter, beer (this makes Ryan sad), certain toothpaste, and even hummos. They cannot use dishes or pots and pans during Pesach that have touched leaven. They must eat only matza and matza flour (in place of breads) during the week of Pesach. Apparently a well known burger chain here replaces its "McKabob" with a "Matza burger" where matza is used in place of a bun (I will be getting one don't worry).
I keep forgetting to bring my camera to the grocery store but the breads and cereals are already on the "clearance aisle" and the quantities are dwindling, while the store workers get everything reorganized for the holiday. Huge displays of cleaning products and sets of silverware, dishes, and serving platters are set up at the entrance to the mall and to the supermarket. The store fronts are all filled with the special Pesach/seder plates and dishes, candlesticks and kiddush (blessing) cups. Many people here get two full weeks off for Passover - one week to prepare and one week to celebrate. One friend from school told Ryan that Pesach is too crazy and too busy but at least the night of the Seder dinner is nice.
Many Jews find ways to make the holiday less hectic. One way is to "sell" their leaven to their pagan friends (like us) so they can keep it in their kitchen. I think they also sell their kitchen... This way they dont technically have any leaven in their kitchen. They just have to buy it back when the week is up. Another technique is to leave home and go on vacation which is why we have heard the Ben Gurion airport is insane the week of Pesach and the airlines hike up prices to benefit from the Jewish families attempt to get out of a deep house-cleaning. Also the hotels in this area can charge up to 3000 dollars for a small family to participate in their hotel-hosted seder dinner. Suddenly a new set of dishes seems like a bargain.
The point of this posting is in part to journal something that is fascinating to watch here. Also in part it is to note a parallel that I see to a holiday we like to call "Christmas" at home. The people here are so frantic and although they get a lot of time off, they spend most of it in preparation and much less of it in remembrance and celebration with family. The country is engulfed in the holiday "trappings" and yet as an outsider, I see very little of the "true meaning" of the day. My hope is that next year this will be brought to mind, and that perhaps our "biggest" holidays can be reduced down to something of more meaning and much less of everything else.
(By the way, our own family is leaving town this Friday - but will be back in time to stock up on some last minute leavened products and to perhaps buy a couple kitchens...).
Tuesday, April 1, 2008
Reality Check
Please click here to read about an important message regarding a couple of friends of our church here in Jerusalem. Thanks.
No Child Left Behind
This year we decided not to send our kids to Israeli schools and we decided to teach them at home. Because we are not the typical home school family we were unsure as to how successful we would be. Now that the countdown to the end of the year has begun, we have to consider how successful we have been so here is an update, for the world to see, of what our kids are learning:
Our 2nd Grader:
Talks about the reasons for conflict between Jews, Muslims, and Christians. He has asked things like, "When will we get a new passport so that we can enter countries like Lebanon and Syria"? and "Is this wall from the First Temple Period or Second?" He also plays games like "guess what country I am thinking about" and says things like, "It is South of Israel and West of Saudi Arabia". He also wants to understand which American Presidential candidates like Israel and which ones are winning in the primaries.
For fun he is reading a book called "Famous Inventors" and he is telling me about inventors all throughout the history of the world. He was able to see Albert Einstein's Nobel Prize in a museum and wants to be just like him. He even told me that he wants "mad scientist hair" just like Einstein. He works on fractions and multiplication tables for fun. He reads in Spanish and has passed all of the same Spanish vocab tests that his class takes. He has been to active archaeological sites and has found Iron Age pottery. He has met professors, Armenean Priests, and Rabbis and has treated them all respectfully.
Our 5 year old:
Counts to 100 in English, 10 in Spanish, and 10 in Hebrew. He knows a number of phrases in Spanish and Hebrew, he can read three letter words in English and knows most of the Hebrew alphabet. He learned how to add and subtract and is learning US and world geography. He has a good friend who is an orthodox Jew and he spends a lot of time playing with him. He knows the difference between the three major Monotheistic religions and knows a bit about each of them. He likes to eat Pita bread with Humus for snacks and can bake cookies by memory. He goes to ceramics class here and has completely impressed his teacher with his imagination and his skills (He even made a mug on the wheel without help of his teacher). He can also win a match on FIFA soccer on his Nintendo DS. He recognizes the currencies from the USA, Israel, Egypt, Jordan, and the UK. Next year he will begin Kindergarten in the US.
Our 10 month old:
Has been to North America, Europe, Asia, and Africa. He can laugh when tickled and cry when hungry. He still does not sleep through the night (except once). He army crawls and chews on everything. He can say "dada" and "abba" but doesn't seem to know when to use these phrases. He knows when he is being funny and is good at "hamming it up" to keep us entertained.
I checked the requirements for the "No Child Left Behind" tests in America and discovered that my kids probably won't meet the expectations of the Public School System. I guess they just won't learn a thing at home this year. I just hope next year they will be able to catch up.
Our 2nd Grader:
Talks about the reasons for conflict between Jews, Muslims, and Christians. He has asked things like, "When will we get a new passport so that we can enter countries like Lebanon and Syria"? and "Is this wall from the First Temple Period or Second?" He also plays games like "guess what country I am thinking about" and says things like, "It is South of Israel and West of Saudi Arabia". He also wants to understand which American Presidential candidates like Israel and which ones are winning in the primaries.
For fun he is reading a book called "Famous Inventors" and he is telling me about inventors all throughout the history of the world. He was able to see Albert Einstein's Nobel Prize in a museum and wants to be just like him. He even told me that he wants "mad scientist hair" just like Einstein. He works on fractions and multiplication tables for fun. He reads in Spanish and has passed all of the same Spanish vocab tests that his class takes. He has been to active archaeological sites and has found Iron Age pottery. He has met professors, Armenean Priests, and Rabbis and has treated them all respectfully.
Our 5 year old:
Counts to 100 in English, 10 in Spanish, and 10 in Hebrew. He knows a number of phrases in Spanish and Hebrew, he can read three letter words in English and knows most of the Hebrew alphabet. He learned how to add and subtract and is learning US and world geography. He has a good friend who is an orthodox Jew and he spends a lot of time playing with him. He knows the difference between the three major Monotheistic religions and knows a bit about each of them. He likes to eat Pita bread with Humus for snacks and can bake cookies by memory. He goes to ceramics class here and has completely impressed his teacher with his imagination and his skills (He even made a mug on the wheel without help of his teacher). He can also win a match on FIFA soccer on his Nintendo DS. He recognizes the currencies from the USA, Israel, Egypt, Jordan, and the UK. Next year he will begin Kindergarten in the US.
Our 10 month old:
Has been to North America, Europe, Asia, and Africa. He can laugh when tickled and cry when hungry. He still does not sleep through the night (except once). He army crawls and chews on everything. He can say "dada" and "abba" but doesn't seem to know when to use these phrases. He knows when he is being funny and is good at "hamming it up" to keep us entertained.
I checked the requirements for the "No Child Left Behind" tests in America and discovered that my kids probably won't meet the expectations of the Public School System. I guess they just won't learn a thing at home this year. I just hope next year they will be able to catch up.
Friday, March 28, 2008
Skull Caps, Fouls, and Bricks
This morning I took the boys over to a great park near our house that includes Basketball courts, a large playground, and tons of grass to run in and trees to climb. We went there so I could play basketball with a large group that plays every Friday and so the boys could run free for a few hours.
Playing basketball here is definitely a unique experience. Nevermind the Hebrew instead of English or the fact that this court is located right on the same location as the "Road of the Patriarch's" that was used 4000 years ago as the Patriarch's of Israeli history walked from Haran down to the Negev desert. Also forget the fact that the players use a blend of international rules and American streets rules. The unique thing for me is playing alongside orthodox Jews who still find a way to wear their tallit (Prayer shawl under their shirt that has tassels hanging out) and their Kippas, or their skull caps (black kippas that Orthodox usually wear under their black rimmed hats). In addition to the clothes, it is not everyday that I play basketball with people named Ephraim, Mordecai, Yacov, Abraham, and Yeshu. Most of these people have lived in Israel most of their lives but many have family from New York so when they speak English it is a bit like being on the set of Seinfeld or hearing commentary on the game from Woody Allen.
The level of talent on the court is definitely lower than what I would see in California but it is decent and at the very least it is fun to play. There are a lot of fouls, too many traveling violations that are not called, and many bricks thrown (not literally... get with the Basketball lingo) but it provides a nice 2 hour break from routine in this city. The boys love the opportunity to just run and explore for a while and I enjoy further immersion into another side of the Jewish culture that you can't find in books. My only question is what kind of basketball player would Jesus have been?
Playing basketball here is definitely a unique experience. Nevermind the Hebrew instead of English or the fact that this court is located right on the same location as the "Road of the Patriarch's" that was used 4000 years ago as the Patriarch's of Israeli history walked from Haran down to the Negev desert. Also forget the fact that the players use a blend of international rules and American streets rules. The unique thing for me is playing alongside orthodox Jews who still find a way to wear their tallit (Prayer shawl under their shirt that has tassels hanging out) and their Kippas, or their skull caps (black kippas that Orthodox usually wear under their black rimmed hats). In addition to the clothes, it is not everyday that I play basketball with people named Ephraim, Mordecai, Yacov, Abraham, and Yeshu. Most of these people have lived in Israel most of their lives but many have family from New York so when they speak English it is a bit like being on the set of Seinfeld or hearing commentary on the game from Woody Allen.
The level of talent on the court is definitely lower than what I would see in California but it is decent and at the very least it is fun to play. There are a lot of fouls, too many traveling violations that are not called, and many bricks thrown (not literally... get with the Basketball lingo) but it provides a nice 2 hour break from routine in this city. The boys love the opportunity to just run and explore for a while and I enjoy further immersion into another side of the Jewish culture that you can't find in books. My only question is what kind of basketball player would Jesus have been?
Monday, March 24, 2008
Jesus is Alive!
This last week was a reminder of why being here this year is a good thing. Palm Sunday was definitely one of the coolest things I have done in my entire life. Singing and celebrating Jesus with 10,000 (give or take) believers was absolutely incredible. It wasnt like being in a big theatre singing along with a talented worship leader either (which would be fun). It was spontaneous and it was celebrating Christ coming into Jerusalem basically on the same path that he took. Plus it was dozens of different languages all lifting up at the same time. I couldn't imagine much better aside from heaven itself. Just awesome.
Easter also was incredible - You just dont need a big program when you are in this city - it speaks for itself. Like Ryan said, we went to the Garden tomb for our Easter service this year. The Garden tomb is directly across the street from the Damascus gate, which is the where the Arab market and Muslim quarter of the Old City is located. This is also the site of a stabbing of a rabbi just days before (he was not killed). It is hard to express the range of emotion that Jerusalem evokes in me. But Easter morning I walked past the Arab vendors and the reminders of the endless conflict, and turned the corner toward the Garden Tomb. We were a bit late and I could hear rising up out of the walled garden courtyard, hundreds of voices singing the hymn "Jesus is Alive!" I immediately began crying (my hankie toting mother would be proud) as I thought YES! Jesus is Alive! He did come to Jerusalem and he is still here and he is alive and well! Somehow in the midst of this broken and hurting city Jesus is Alive. Somehow despite the struggle that this world is immersed in, Jesus is Alive! Yes I hurt for those who are struggling. I am saddened by world and church politics, by the state of the environment, by poverty and by war. I hurt for my dear friends who have lost loved ones, who are struggling with cancer, who have children who are sick... But on Easter I am reminded that Jesus is Alive!! God Almighty is Alive and Well. He loves us with a fierce and Living Love. He has overcome death and he gives hope and he gives light in the midst of so much darkness. Easter is a good reminder for me. And celebrating Him here in this place was more meaningful than I ever could have imagined. And not just because it is Jerusalem where he died and rose again. But because this year I have become more aware of the worlds, and my own brokenness and our need for a living Savior. This year in Jerusalem has brought me low and yet Christ is all the more lifted up. I am happy to shout with all those in the garden that Jesus is Alive!
Easter also was incredible - You just dont need a big program when you are in this city - it speaks for itself. Like Ryan said, we went to the Garden tomb for our Easter service this year. The Garden tomb is directly across the street from the Damascus gate, which is the where the Arab market and Muslim quarter of the Old City is located. This is also the site of a stabbing of a rabbi just days before (he was not killed). It is hard to express the range of emotion that Jerusalem evokes in me. But Easter morning I walked past the Arab vendors and the reminders of the endless conflict, and turned the corner toward the Garden Tomb. We were a bit late and I could hear rising up out of the walled garden courtyard, hundreds of voices singing the hymn "Jesus is Alive!" I immediately began crying (my hankie toting mother would be proud) as I thought YES! Jesus is Alive! He did come to Jerusalem and he is still here and he is alive and well! Somehow in the midst of this broken and hurting city Jesus is Alive. Somehow despite the struggle that this world is immersed in, Jesus is Alive! Yes I hurt for those who are struggling. I am saddened by world and church politics, by the state of the environment, by poverty and by war. I hurt for my dear friends who have lost loved ones, who are struggling with cancer, who have children who are sick... But on Easter I am reminded that Jesus is Alive!! God Almighty is Alive and Well. He loves us with a fierce and Living Love. He has overcome death and he gives hope and he gives light in the midst of so much darkness. Easter is a good reminder for me. And celebrating Him here in this place was more meaningful than I ever could have imagined. And not just because it is Jerusalem where he died and rose again. But because this year I have become more aware of the worlds, and my own brokenness and our need for a living Savior. This year in Jerusalem has brought me low and yet Christ is all the more lifted up. I am happy to shout with all those in the garden that Jesus is Alive!
Sunday, March 23, 2008
O Happy Day
Easter Sunday 2008
6:00 AM All three boys woke up because it is light outside. No other reason whatsoever.
6:15 AM Boys remember that it is Easter, they find their Easter baskets that Sara made out of old cereal boxes and filled with candy that came with my parents and one other package.
7:00-8:00 AM My 5 year old and I make "Easter Egg- Colored Pancakes". We eat them with Honey-Date-Middle Eastern Syrup and coffee made in a French Press.
9:00 AM Leave to the "Garden Tomb" to celebrate Easter. The English service was at 6:00AM and 9:30AM today and naturally 9:30 won our vote. (The Garden Tomb is where Protestants prefer to remember Christ's resurrection because it is a tomb outside in a beautiful garden and no church or altars can be found covering the site. Archaeology does give much stronger evidence to the tomb being in the Church of the Holy Sepulchre and not at this site, but this is a great place for church).
10:30 AM Our service ends after amazing worship and a simple message. No dramas, no videos, no special music. Just singing, a simple message recalling the events surrounding Easter, some prayers, and then we leave.
11:00- 3:00 PM We relax at home with the boys. We have two neighbors stop by bringing Purim baskets. (It is customary to give gifts during the Jewish Holiday of Purim. It was really nice to have two neighbors think of our boys and give them gifts... keep kicking stones!) During this time the boys also filled tons of plastic eggs with candy while Sara prepared food for an Easter BBQ in the park. I just sat around eating chocolate bunnies and Peeps.
3:30 We went to the park near our house that overlooks the Old City of Jerusalem. We met two friends who are staying with us from California and 4 others who are living here in Jerusalem.
4:00- 6:30 PM We enjoyed Easter dinner with others who believe in the hope of the Risen Messiah while watching the afternoon sun warm the walls of the city of Jerusalem. Meanwhile the Arab kids swam in the fountain nearby and the Arab families relaxed and picnicked in the same park. (Jewish families prefer other parks... don't try to analyze it). Also during this time we hear fireworks erupting as all of the Jewish people celebrate Purim.
7:30-8:00 PM We attempt to unwind the boys and get them to sleep.
8:30-10:00 PM I walk through the old city with one of our guests and we marvel at the spectacle of Purim. To read more about this and to see a video from this night check my other site here
As I look back at this year’s Easter I will remember a few things (in no particular order). 1) My oldest son singing songs from the morning worship time all throughout the day. At night he said his favorite part of the day was singing worship songs. 2) The joy on my middle son’s face when he woke up in the morning and remembered what day it was. Then making pancakes with him in wonderful shades of red, blue, and green. 3) Sitting with family and friends on the grass while eating Easter dinner with the Old City of Jerusalem looming in the background. 4) Watching my boys search for Easter eggs in the park we play in each week. 5) Worshipping with my wife, our boys, and friends from here in Jerusalem and singing “Jesus is no longer in the grave” and thinking about the first Easter and how this song would have sounded then!
So we began the day and spent most of the day celebrating the life that Jesus brings. We sang "He Lives" and "Happy Day" and rejoiced in the hope Jesus brings. We rejoiced in a city that offers perhaps more diversity than any other place on earth; in a place where people fight daily and where simple conversations become political conversations. But it is in this city that Jesus came and died and it is here that he rose again. It is this city where the original message of hope began and where it continues today. Today we rejoiced in our Savior and I rejoiced even more when I thought that people in every corner of the world rejoiced with us. The only thing that was strange for us was thinking about next year. It is really going to be difficult to top this.
6:00 AM All three boys woke up because it is light outside. No other reason whatsoever.
6:15 AM Boys remember that it is Easter, they find their Easter baskets that Sara made out of old cereal boxes and filled with candy that came with my parents and one other package.
7:00-8:00 AM My 5 year old and I make "Easter Egg- Colored Pancakes". We eat them with Honey-Date-Middle Eastern Syrup and coffee made in a French Press.
9:00 AM Leave to the "Garden Tomb" to celebrate Easter. The English service was at 6:00AM and 9:30AM today and naturally 9:30 won our vote. (The Garden Tomb is where Protestants prefer to remember Christ's resurrection because it is a tomb outside in a beautiful garden and no church or altars can be found covering the site. Archaeology does give much stronger evidence to the tomb being in the Church of the Holy Sepulchre and not at this site, but this is a great place for church).
10:30 AM Our service ends after amazing worship and a simple message. No dramas, no videos, no special music. Just singing, a simple message recalling the events surrounding Easter, some prayers, and then we leave.
11:00- 3:00 PM We relax at home with the boys. We have two neighbors stop by bringing Purim baskets. (It is customary to give gifts during the Jewish Holiday of Purim. It was really nice to have two neighbors think of our boys and give them gifts... keep kicking stones!) During this time the boys also filled tons of plastic eggs with candy while Sara prepared food for an Easter BBQ in the park. I just sat around eating chocolate bunnies and Peeps.
3:30 We went to the park near our house that overlooks the Old City of Jerusalem. We met two friends who are staying with us from California and 4 others who are living here in Jerusalem.
4:00- 6:30 PM We enjoyed Easter dinner with others who believe in the hope of the Risen Messiah while watching the afternoon sun warm the walls of the city of Jerusalem. Meanwhile the Arab kids swam in the fountain nearby and the Arab families relaxed and picnicked in the same park. (Jewish families prefer other parks... don't try to analyze it). Also during this time we hear fireworks erupting as all of the Jewish people celebrate Purim.
7:30-8:00 PM We attempt to unwind the boys and get them to sleep.
8:30-10:00 PM I walk through the old city with one of our guests and we marvel at the spectacle of Purim. To read more about this and to see a video from this night check my other site here
As I look back at this year’s Easter I will remember a few things (in no particular order). 1) My oldest son singing songs from the morning worship time all throughout the day. At night he said his favorite part of the day was singing worship songs. 2) The joy on my middle son’s face when he woke up in the morning and remembered what day it was. Then making pancakes with him in wonderful shades of red, blue, and green. 3) Sitting with family and friends on the grass while eating Easter dinner with the Old City of Jerusalem looming in the background. 4) Watching my boys search for Easter eggs in the park we play in each week. 5) Worshipping with my wife, our boys, and friends from here in Jerusalem and singing “Jesus is no longer in the grave” and thinking about the first Easter and how this song would have sounded then!
So we began the day and spent most of the day celebrating the life that Jesus brings. We sang "He Lives" and "Happy Day" and rejoiced in the hope Jesus brings. We rejoiced in a city that offers perhaps more diversity than any other place on earth; in a place where people fight daily and where simple conversations become political conversations. But it is in this city that Jesus came and died and it is here that he rose again. It is this city where the original message of hope began and where it continues today. Today we rejoiced in our Savior and I rejoiced even more when I thought that people in every corner of the world rejoiced with us. The only thing that was strange for us was thinking about next year. It is really going to be difficult to top this.
Friday, March 21, 2008
Out of Town
We are out of town for a few days while we relax on the shores of the Red Sea. We will return to Jerusalem in time to celebrate Easter (which coincides this year with the Jewish Holiday of Purim).
We will give more details about Purim and our Easter celebration later this week but for now this break is a nice one. Things in Jerusalem between the Jewish community and the Muslim community are definitely experiencing a renewed dose of energy so getting away is always nice. I was thinking about the joyous Palm Sunday celebration this week and how while that was occurring several hundred Jews held and anti-Palestinian rally (On the hill where the High Priest Caiaphas reportedly decided to kill Jesus). During the rally they stormed the neighborhood where the gunman from the shooting two weeks ago lived and they attempted to tear down his house. The following day a Rabbi was stabbed outside the Muslim Quarter of the Old City. It is amazing that during the intense hatred and fighting between two sides, the Prince of Peace was being honored and worshipped by thousands from all around the world.
We will give more details about Purim and our Easter celebration later this week but for now this break is a nice one. Things in Jerusalem between the Jewish community and the Muslim community are definitely experiencing a renewed dose of energy so getting away is always nice. I was thinking about the joyous Palm Sunday celebration this week and how while that was occurring several hundred Jews held and anti-Palestinian rally (On the hill where the High Priest Caiaphas reportedly decided to kill Jesus). During the rally they stormed the neighborhood where the gunman from the shooting two weeks ago lived and they attempted to tear down his house. The following day a Rabbi was stabbed outside the Muslim Quarter of the Old City. It is amazing that during the intense hatred and fighting between two sides, the Prince of Peace was being honored and worshipped by thousands from all around the world.
Sunday, March 16, 2008
The Triumphant Entry
Today we took our family of 5 and two friends from America and headed to the top of Mount of Olives in Jerusalem to participate in the annual procession commemorating the day that the Bible describes Jesus entering Jerusalem from Bethany, over the Mount of Olives, and into the city of Jerusalem. It began as what appeared to be a fairly small group of people making the walk and turned into a parade of thousands of people (over 10,000?) from nearly every country in the world all marching down the hill carrying palm branches, and celebrating the fact that the Messiah Jesus is the God who saves and He did enter this city. As our family and friends joined the crowd we walked casually towards the old city of Jerusalem, up the same hills that Jesus and his disciples walked so many years ago. We had the sound of voices shouting and singing "Hosana" and we saw dancing and rejoicing in the Good News of the Savior. 
No words can really describe the joy that was evident this day so I will do my best with the following observations.
1. The sounds of dozens of languages and the presence of literally hundreds of different ethnic groups gave a true picture of the Body of Christ and a glimpse into Heaven. Every tribe and every language was present as we worshiped our King.
2. Standing on the East side of the city is the "Golden Gate" that traditionally is believed to be the gate that the Jewish Messiah will enter through on way to the temple. It was the gate in existence in the time of Christ and would be the likely gate he entered from the Mount of Olives. Currently the temple mount is under jurisdiction of the Muslims and therefore this gate has been filled in with bricks so that the Messiah will not be able to enter. As we walked towards the city and saw the gate before us, my wife and I said that it was too late. The bricks can't stop the Messiah from entering... he already came in!
3. As we walked, hundreds of Israeli soldiers stood by in an attempt to provide protection for the crowd. At first I thought how they must have looked a bit like the Roman Soldiers who probably stood by and watched these people run out to celebrate a Messiah. Then I wondered what they were thinking, I really cannot explain how much joy was obviously in the place today so I wondered how they viewed this. This must be such a welcomed relief to the "action" that these police and soldiers face each week. It also must be a cause for wonder as they saw a united and a joyful group of people from all over the world getting along because of the work of the "Prince of Peace".
4. I don't know how my family will be able to experience these days once we return to America. This year we are blessed to have been in Bethlehem for Christmas and in Jerusalem for Palm Sunday, Good Friday, and Easter. I know the location doesn't make this experience more "spiritual" than anywhere else, but being able to head the Old City of Jerusalem to celebrate Jesus with thousands of people is hard to beat.
Allow me to end this short post by encouraging all of you to celebrate what Jesus did this week. Whatever you can do, try to see this season in new light and do not simply go through the motions of experiencing the magnitude of what happened during this week so many years ago. And remember that that are literally millions others from all over the planet that believe the same things you do and who want to celebrate the king as well.
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