FEBRUARY 27, 2009
Hooray—we don’t have school tomorrow! Isn’t that great! We are so happy here in the apartment…I think we are going to nestle in with a good book if the weather is still this bad. I don't think I will get to go to Haifa...

I ventured out on my own again today...and did great. Except it started raining...at first it was just a light rain as I walked to the bus stop...but by the time the bus got down town--it was pouring and the wind was blowing and it was super cold. I scurried to the coffee shop and ate a croissant and drank a wonderful hot drink. Then I took off for Mamilla Mall...and got my presents ...and then went in to a store named Crazy Line and bought a black 3/4 coat-jacket...real different. And a brown sorta leathery/plastic jacket--and a pants/jacket outfit and a pair of dark gray/green pants...all except the green pants were 70% off...so I got some bargains. I think. I just enjoyed being out shopping, even though it was so cold. That mall is open...so I had to have my brella all the time. They also have a store here called Sweats--and I bought a pair of pants that match a hoodie I had purchased when I first got here.

By the time I got ready to leave it was pouring and wind blowing and cold cold cold! And I had multiple packages--plus I ate and had my leftovers and two containers of goodies for a little party we had here tonight. I finally blew down to the street and started trying to wave taxis...well...that was a chore and when I tried to lift my hand, the umbrella turned inside out...finally one stopped...and I fell in! I didn't care what he was going to charge me...I was going to pay! Sure enough, he was Arab...and he brought me all the way to my apartment. He kept telling me...only Arab drivers would come this far. Jewish taxi drivers would not come here...I kept saying that the check point was gone...but he said it didn't matter. So I was blessed that the one who stopped was Arab! Or I guess I'd been out on the streets again!!!

Tonight my roommate Mary planned a little get-together for Tameka—the granddaughter of Marge and Dr. Theo—the family that is leaving tomorrow—actually, they leave at 2 a.m….their plane leaves at 7 a.m. Tameka came over and Mary fixed them cheese quesadillas—and Joy, Mary, Tameka and I watched a movie—then Elaine came home—and then Bethany & Kristen came and then Erin came over…so we had a little party! It was fun to sit and laugh and talk. Before Bethany/Kristen left to go walk Tameka home, we gathered around and prayed for Tameka...they are moving to Clearwater, Florida...and she will enroll in a school there.

It is super cold…wind is blowing and it sounds like little pieces of ice hitting the window…freezing in our rooms, so I have my heater and bedwarmer ready!

Hope everyone is okay—only 10 more days until I see AMERICA! Wow! Thank you for your emails and interest and prayers…please continue to pray for my family and for Jerusalem School.
Love
Beth