FEBRUARY 19, 2009
Thursday—thank you Lord! We get a day off! I could really get used to days off...that is my favorite thing here.
I heard something interesting tonight…Because of visa issues, we are needing teachers to come for March, April, May…so tonight Wilma told me that Ross will pay for the flight and provide housing if someone feels led to come teach for these last three months. We need a 4th grade teacher—and of course, there might be other spots also. Marge teaches 4th grade, and we know they are leaving because of the visa denial. Actually, they are leaving February 28, so that is how soon that teacher spot is open.

I am in the country with a tourist visa—which is good for 3 months. I came in January—will go home in March—then return for part of March, April, May, until June 6.

I am passing this on by means of the blog—I have no idea who reads it—but DO NOT even give the idea of coming to Jerusalem to teach one single thought without much much much prayer. I am completely convinced—and was before I ever left—that for this season (?) of my life, this is where I am supposed to be. And believe me, the Lord has been faithful and present with me—in a way I’ve never known before. It has been a real struggle to stay focused on the day, to yield to the power of the Holy Spirit to do in me what I could not do myself. Maegan knows my best verse is “I can do all things through Christ who strengthens me”…all things has taken on a whole new meaning for me. I’ll be able to share more when I am home, but not one single day could I have made without the empowerment of God’s Spirit…I know that is how we should live all the time—and I am learning. I guess my ADD is so bad that the Lord had to isolate me to teach me that lesson. And of course, I know I’m nowhere near where He wants me to be…but I am pressing toward the mark with a deep deep desire to live deeper and nearer to Him.

Tonight was the conference at the church on the Mount of Olives. A man named Jamison is the pastor of this church—he teaches at the school in the afternoons…and has young people who are here sorta as mission volunteers helping him at the church. I met his wife Kelli tonight—she looks about 20 years old—darling little thing…they have 4 children: 4, 3, 2 and 6 months! YIKES! They've been here for 10 years.

The conference is called Restoration Workshop—done by a group from Atlanta. We had a little spiral book—and listened to a lady and 2 other ladies and prayed and sang. Then we went upstairs for break and ate.
The food! Oh, it is so yummy—it was falafel—they have platters of stuff that you put on a pita—and he had cauliflower that had been smothered in olive oil, I think…or something…it was delicious. The whole meal was just great...

BIG NEWS…the check point is gone and we can just zoom out as fast as we want with no waiting 20-30 minutes in line to be stopped at the check point and all of our passports reviewed…and they took down this huge cement wall that separated everything on the other side from us…it is just amazing. I’m not doing a good description…but literally they put a wall up and separated a road…so the stuff on the other side we had never seen.
They also said that the Israelis would come now and fix the roads…huge holes and terrible ruts…in paving. They said one day they looked out and this man and his sons were fixing the road—and then they looked and they had placed an old bathtub over the wet cement to keep someone from driving on it…
Now all that is good for us, but the truth is the West Bank Wall closing is hard on these families—it separates them completely. I’ve heard some really sad stories…especially involving kids and their families.

Tomorrow is my first big adventure into the city by myself! I am meeting the ladies from FBC Houston—friend of sister Sue…I’ll let you know how lost I get!
Thank you for your prayers and interest…please continue to pray for my family and Jerusalem School.
Love
Beth