FEBRUARY 23, 2009
Cold, sleet and hail—and these cold buildings just make for a freezing situation! But the weather cleared today—still cold, but not raining or sleeting.

Sunday was going to be my day to nest in the apartment, cook some chicken spaghetti and get caught up on school work. HOWEVER—at 10 or so, Adam called and invited me to ride with him to watch our kids play basketball and soccer…it had been on my mind all week—they always need someone to ride the bus with them, and I had thought about it, but decided to stay home. But when Adam called, I agreed to go—we left about 10:30—now I thought it was somewhere not too far outside Jerusalem…I did not know it was almost an hour and a half drive—north close to Netanya at the American International School—freezing weather, raining and wind blowing. This is a beautiful facility—way upscale—children of diplomats, etc…I think the tuition is around $22,000…the facilities are beautiful and well-kept…soccer fields, gymnasiums, Olympic-sized swimming pools, etc. Of course the weather was so bad, none of that looked too great that day. And on the way home we got in awful traffic—rush-hour traffic—in Tel Aviv and we were late getting home…

We actually beat the bus there because they were caught in a traffic jam because of a bus accident…the younger boys played a soccer game (IN ALL THAT BAD WEATHER!) then the girls played a basketball game—we only had 6 girls, so they didn’t substitute much. They are pretty good—but can’t hit the goal, so we didn’t win. I sat upstairs behind a glass on the cold, stone floor and watched…then we moved to the other end and watched the boys. They are super great—they were beating the AIS team—when our coach got a little unhappy with the referee because he was not calling fouls on the other team…and the referee got mad and kicked him out of the game—then got even madder because our boys clapped and so he (the ref) called the game and made us forfeit! Amazing! So wrong! You know how competitive I am—I was hopping with the coach! But I was upstairs behind the glass, so my voice was not heard!
The coach is Jamison—the one I told you about that is the pastor of the church on the Mount of Olives—he and his wife Kelli have 4 little children—4, 3, 2 and 6 months…so Kayla and Eric came with Kelli to help with the children—I think I’d have been tempted to stay at home! But she (the mom) is so sweet and just takes care of all of them…they’d had church that morning, and packed everyone up and came to AIS so he could coach the boys’ team.

Watching these students is just so amazing to me…they are so unusual to me. They laugh and cut up and act goofy—but there is no interaction that is inappropriate between boys and girls…the boys were over there dancing and cutting up among themselves while we were waiting on the ref/etc. and three or four girls from AIS came over and tried to mix and mingle with them—dancing really inappropriately around…and our boys just kept on having a good time among themselves as if those girls weren’t there…they didn’t even turn around and look at them…it isn’t like they are unfriendly—because when they first arrived, they were all friendly with everyone from the other schools… our kids are just so cute and likeable. I know I’m not doing a good descriptive job…just can’t think of the words to describe what I’m seeing. They are very different in so many ways, yet they are just kids.

They just don’t have access to so many things the kids in the states have—cars, mainly…and freedom to move around in adult situations. They are by no means perfect—my 9th grade class can be very difficult to enjoy. Today, I was trying to write some things on the board…and every time I turned around and wrote, some boys would stomp their feet—loud…as soon as I turned around, they stopped…so silly and immature….sure enough, for some reason, Mr. Scott appeared at my door! I told him…and he said ok—who was it…no one spoke up…so he called out 3 boys that I knew were most likely innocent—and then, soon, 2 of them came back and he called out 2 other boys—who I knew had done it. He suspended those 2 who had been doing it—not that there weren’t others…but suspension for them meant they followed him everywhere he went today—and he got another one and made him sit down in detention with his face to the wall…so tomorrow should be interesting. They’ll be pouting and mad—Mercy! Didn’t I retire from all this!!!!

Tonight I cooked chicken spaghetti—or tried to. No way to get Velveeta cheese nor Campbell’s mushroom soup—and I discovered those 2 items are necessary for my chicken spaghetti! It was okay, but not the real stuff…and it took me forever and I managed to get every pan in the kitchen dirty.

When I finished, Kristen and I went to Jafar’s for groceries—remember the apartments share the truck—and tonight was our night for the truck! We loaded up on groceries…after asking people in the aisles exactly what we are buying if there is not an English word on the item…we dropped off our garbage on the way home. Then I cleaned all those dishes—YUK! The cheese I used was super messy…I won’t be cooking that dish again. However, that is only the second time I have cooked for the apartment…so I guess it was time! We don’t really cook—we all just eat something…sometimes we pick up chicken or something…or just each on our own. And if we go eat, we bring home a left over.

Tomorrow night Wilma and I are taking the Thompsons and Scotts out for dinner—because the Thompsons are leaving Saturday—visas denied.

I’m hoping to go to Haifa this coming week end—Chrissy (Wilma’s friend with the reconciliation ministry) wants to go…and she has a car! Imagine! What luxury…she’s still leading the tour group, so she’s not back here yet, but I’m hoping we can go Saturday and spend the night in a hotel! YOWZER!!! Hot water showers…tonight as I was in that cold-water bath, I thought NO MORE! I can’t do this! I’m shivering and shaking—and thinking, “What am I doing???” Then I thought of Darcy Simpson—and they don’t even have showers! Things could always be much worse…and that is so true here. There are so many blessings in the midst of this ministry.

My teacher friends will appreciate this—nary a file cabinet for me…and they all know how I have my little run-offs, etc…so my little office and desk is just piles of papers…I’m using so much of the materials and methods that Lynne James gave me when I went to the high school—she taught me so much, and I am sharing it with these students…and other young teachers. So her legacy is going on and on—even to Arab students in Jerusalem! How wonderful is that!
I’m planning to borrow copies of some of Shakespearean works from my friend Erma Richter and show them when I return. I don’t really know where a TV/DVD player is…but hopefully, I can find one. We’ll see…

I will be home in 13 days, but who is counting!! Bless Melissa—she put two video clips on her blog of Maegan running in the track meet at LCM—and I could watch about a 5 second clip and hear everyone yelling, “GO MAEGAN!” I’ve watched them over and over and even had my roommates Elaine and Joy watch! Mercy—I would surely like to see her run. Melissa said Maegan bettered her 2-mile time by over a minute and her 1-mile time by almost 30 seconds. She came in the middle of the pack in both races, which is great for a freshman running against juniors and seniors on varsity. I’m so proud of her and grateful for her…
I love ya’ll and appreciate your interest and emails and prayers—please continue to pray for my family and Jerusalem School…
Love
Beth