MARCH 5, 2009
I am barely able to constrain myself—only 2 more days before I leave to come home for a few days…I got my suitcase down today and it looks wonderful lying on the floor!

Had such an enjoyable evening—and I wanted to share about the food. In October, Jack/Linda Park introduced me to a young man who is a friend of theirs. He works in ministry in Life Agape—which is under Campus Crusade. He’s young (36), an Israeli-Arab believer…his wife-Sued—is Palestinian…and they have an 8 month old baby Chris. They live in Nazareth—because Sued can’t live in Jerusalem…and if they live in West Bank, etc., George would lose his Israeli citizenship…long and complicated story…but not uncommon at all.

George has 4 brothers and 2 sisters—his parents have an apt. in the Old City—and they have a home in a village outside Jerusalem. One of his sisters is married to a Palestinian—they live in Ramallah and have 2 teen age children. The sister can come in to see her parents, but her husband and children are not allowed to come in…so when the family wants to see them, they go to Ramallah…difficult situation.

Anyway—we went to eat tonight at an Arab restaurant called Pasha’s…I wished for my gourmet-wise daughter Holly, my friend Dee and my nephew John…and everyone else who likes different and delicious food. First they bring out appetizers—about 10 plates with all sorts of things on them…some potatoes—I can’t really tell how they were cooked—boiled with maybe some lemon on them & other seasonings; hummus; yogurt; tomatoes in yogurt; finely chopped onions/tomatoes/cucumbers; avocado pureed w/something; three little sticks of something like thin bread fried; some kind of Lebanese dish that had 3 pieces of something that looked almost like an oblong hush puppie, but was ground wheat w/meat inside; falafel; a large plate of tomatoes & cucumbers & parsley; a large plate of tabula—a salad that is uniquely Arabic—has little pieces of finely ground wheat and something green…that’s why I was wishing for my gourmet friends! THEN…they brought a platter that had lamb chops cooked perfectly and 3 ka-bobs…and fries…the meat was just wonderful —it was lamb and chicken. Then after they cleared the table they brought dessert which was a platter of sweets about the size of donut holes—some kind of bread fried in little balls…very different…not my favorite…but ok…The restaurant was nice—and the people around so interesting. There was a birthday party next to us—about 10 people…for a man who was 50. They sang and had a cake—turned the lights down in the restaurant so they could do the cake/candles! They were having such fun. Several families seated around us—and a couple of tables of men. Seldom see in a restaurant Arab women out to eat in a group…maybe, but I don’t see them.

George has a desire for a ministry in short films…he wants to produce short Christian films set here in Israel. He said there are some set in Egypt, but none here in Israel…isn’t that interesting. He had meetings today to introduce his vision. He asks for prayer for that ministry.

I had an email tonight from my friend Jan Davis—teaches at PNGHS—she and her son Dallas will land in Paris at Charles DeGaulle airport Monday morning at 8:50. I leave CDeGaulle airport in Paris Monday morning at 10:15—so we are definitely hoping to at least be able to wave and hug—there will be some serious screeching going on if we actually see each other.

Thanks again for your prayers and interest in this adventure. Please continue to pray for my family and Jerusalem School.
Love
Beth