MARCH 30, 2009
A new experience in Jerusalem for me today…and one I hope I don’t repeat. First, I am still not feeling great, so everything that is difficult seems magnified. My voice is really bad…and that takes a toll on me! Somehow one of my ninth graders managed to break off the cable cord to the TV—so our days of watching Macbeth and Julius Caesar have come to a screeching halt. I don’t know how to get it fixed, so that will be a project for tomorrow.

Then this afternoon right before school was out, Adam came to my office and asked me if I would do him a favor. Adam does everything for everyone, so no way I would turn him down. He needed someone to take Trish and 3 girls to a Bible Study after school…and since I drive the Peugot (5-speed), he asked me. I agreed—not knowing where we were going. I put my backpack in the back of the car, and the 3 girls and a young 19 yr old boy who is a mission intern here—actually from Austin, TX—rode with me. So we take off for the Mount of Olives—I have never driven there…but he assures me I won’t have any problems getting home. We arrive, and they all get out—and they take my backpack with them—by mistake. The Lord blessed me because before I put it back there, I took my Israeli phone out just in case I needed it on the way home. And boy did I need it. I got completely, totally, hopelessly lost and found myself headed for Tel Aviv in the midst of a decidedly Jewish neighborhood and in an area I had never seen—now Jerusalem has very few street signs—and those are in Hebrew. So I’m lost—and traffic is terrible, terrible. In my opinion, everyone here drives like what I’ve heard New York City cab drivers drive—every man for himself and very fast. Then I looked at the gas gauge, and it was on empty! So I called Adam—he said the gauge doesn’t work and I have plenty of gas. But he can’t help me because I have no idea where I am, nor do I know of any way to explain where I am. I just kept driving—turning here and there—and I know that some people might not agree, but I am telling you that the Lord got me home. All of a sudden, I saw a sign for Beit Hanina—and I managed to cross over and get on it—then there was a sign for Ramallah—and I crossed over to it…and there I was on the road to our neighborhood. Of course, during this time, Mary, Elaine and Wilma and Bethany and Adam were praying for me! It was a bit unnerving! Trish brought my backpack home later, so all is well again!

I am in my new room tonight—and it seems so spacious and nice. I am very grateful for it…and hope to get a new bedspread and a lamp to make it look even nicer.

I’ve heard news of Pastor Yousef’s sermon on Sunday morning—I surely would like to have heard it—but I hear it was very convicting. I’ve had 2 emails today about it. He said some Christians are LLC. Little risk, little responsibility Christians. And if they are challenged to take a risk and take on a little more responsibility, they leave to another "club" where they can get what they want with giving little in return. It’s just so easy to fall into the trap of thinking personal peace and affluence are our primary reasons for living. Thank the Lord He jars us out of our complacency with powerful messages like that. I struggle so much with thinking that this is just a short-term commitment and that I can do this one day at a time—and I mark off the days on my calendar knowing that in June I can go home and nest in my big blue easy chair! I do hope to rest—but I so much want the Lord to bless me with ministry of His choosing!

I’ve also had wonderful words about Sunday School—22 ladies—and as many men were there Sunday. I’m so grateful…Karen is a wonderful, called teacher and God is blessing her desire to serve Him. Praise the Lord!

I hope to get to Haifa to see Yousef and Christine in the next month or so. Now that I know the process of renting a car, I hope to able to venture out more often.

Thanks for your interest and emails and prayers—please continue to pray for me, my family and Jerusalem School.
Love
Beth