FEBRUARY 13, 2009
A great day today—and then three pieces of wonderful real mail! Such joy—some how that is a connection that is just so good. Ronda Guillot sent me the best card—it plays Ghostbusters! Says “Long Slime No See” so cute—and a picture of her precious new grandson…I taught Heather and Tyler, the parents, so that is so special to me. And a real handwritten letter—wow! Then Louise and Delbert sent me a fun note—thanks so much…and Sister Sue sent me a great article…on a man named Jim Stephens who came to the West Bank in 1997 to coach basketball…he lived in Ramallah, which is very close to us. I’m going to take it to school tomorrow to see if anyone knows him.
My friend Wilma (I love her—she is just such fun and has been super sweet to me) and I left about 9:30…rode the Arab bus to the bus station…and had a great, great day. We shopped the little shops—just so interesting..in Ben Yehuda…I found a little gift for Maegan—and a couple of jackets for me…and some gift and house stuff…just an absolutely incredibly beautiful day—sunny and nice…I had to duck in a dressing room and take off my silk Cuddle Duds—too warm! We walked and walked…I wish so much for all of you to be with me on days like this. It is just so beautiful—looking out over the city and looking at the hills and at the Mount of Olives—and all around. We ate at Spagetemes (?) the best meal I’ve had since I’ve been here…just delicious—foccacio bread/w dip; goat cheese in little friend patties; pasta w/mushrooms, chicken in wonderful sauce…in a lovely place…just was wonderful. Then we shopped and walked and picked up some more gifts, etc…We stopped at Aromas and had incredible Aroma coffee/something drink and a scrumptious dessert…just leisure time…sat on the deck and looked at the city. Then we went to the Old City to Jamil for haircuts! I got my money’s worth! It’s a little breezy! I MISS YOU SHELIAH! There are 4-5 people who are working—cutting and blowing dry…walk ins…like us…the door opens onto the walkway and people are passing by and everybody is talking…and the music is Christian. Today I recognized “Crucified…laid behind a stone…” but the words were in Arabic. Jamil showed us these little scrolls he had done—with John 3:16 on them and he’d made an acrostic of Valentines..the scrolls were tied with red ribbon and had a little heart on them…they are going to pass them out at church. Wilma said he and his wife have a big ministry…she was in there too with their two beautiful little boys…and Jamil is just going from chair to chair…cutting and blowdrying…along with 2 other guys and a girl…and maybe someone else…can’t remember…
We were there until about 5—then eventually had to take a taxi back home…we got the Peugot and went to the store and a couple of other stores looking for Valentines—she teaches 4th grade and wanted to give them Valentines. None to be found. So we both got candy for the kids—and she got erasers and pencil sharpeners for her kids.
Tomorrow will be a full day…school until 12:40—then we go to see the printer about the yearbook…then the Valentine Party from 3 to 6…I agreed to go to that. Then we have church at 6…so that will be a fulllllllllll day…hopefully, the party will end early enough for us to go home before church…we’ll see.
I am so very grateful for your prayers. I believe with all my heart that God is answering those prayers about my health. I am so well—a little cough, but not much. And the conditions are not conducive to getting well and staying well! I am very grateful for health, and several of you have mentioned to me in emails that you are praying that I will stay well. Thank you very much…
Sunday I have been invited to go with the young girls…not sure where…but Wilma also said we might ride the train to Tel Aviv…if she does that, I really want to go. I want to learn how to do that. She has told me how I will go about catching the bus to go to the airport when I leave in 3 weeks…and I feel fine doing that…of course, it will be easier the second time! I’m hoping someone will pick me up when I come back March 15 because I will have more luggage.
So many things I am learning about. I want to tell everyone about—hopefully I will remember it all…
Please remember to pray for my family—and for Jerusalem School.
Love
Beth