MAY 17, 2009
Please pray for my friend Kenneth Broussard—he’s in the hospital in Houston AGAIN! His heart is having a hard time keeping up with him.

God blessed me so richly with the past few days…Ross gave Wilma and me permission to be off Saturday and gave us the use of a school vehicle…the Peugeot—with no air conditioning, but nonetheless a great little car. So we drove to Tiberias Friday and stayed in a bed/breakfast overlooking the Sea of Galilee. We sat on the deck and looked out at the mountains and across the sea to Engev—and the whole sea where Jesus walked and talked and they fished and lived near here. It is my favorite place in Israel…he preached the Sermon on the Mount near here—and met the disciples here after he arose…and they had fish for breakfast on this shore. It’s such a real place—no extras added by man. I would love for each of you to be able to visit this place.

We met Yousef/Christine, etc. at the River Jordan at 10:00—and witnessed a very meaningful baptism—I bought a video (the place videos each large group event) because I know James Moore and Bro. Joe and others will want to watch. Yousef baptized his twin children—Allan and Julie who are 13. And his brother-in-law Osama baptized his little girl Nancy who is 9. There is much more to tell about this baptism, but I’ll wait until I can talk in person.

Then we all went to the Jordan Park up north about 20 miles and spent the rest of the day there. They cooked ke-babs and we had salads and garlic-toasted pita…and homemade desserts. We had a marvelous time with all the church members—a really large group and so so so interesting…and very nice to us.

HOWEVER…for the first time it was hot—very hot…stifling hot…no wind and about 90 degrees…whew! I’m not very good in that hot! AND then we headed home—3 hour drive in a very HOT car…and wind blowing through but it was hot too! We were like people in desert—no water and no water stops! It was Shabbat—so nothing was open. We finally found a little store about 1 hour from Jerusalem and stopped for water…but we were a pitiful sight! Dusty, sun-burned and swollen feet! We laughed at ourselves—and were very grateful to get home, take a shower and get those feet up!

I don’t know words to express the joy of being in Tiberias overnight and then spending the day with that church group. Christine and I stood by the River Jordan and prayed for our friends the Basses—she is praying in Arabic, but my spirit just fills with joy knowing that we are in one accord…even though I don’t know the words she is saying. Truly, the spiritual bond in the family of God is the most amazing thing…crosses all barriers—language, culture, etc.

Thank you for your emails and prayers…only 3 weeks, and I pray I will be able to board the Delta bird and fly home…please continue to pray for me, my family and Jerusalem School. We have 13 more days including finals—pray we finish the school year in a God-honoring manner.

Love
Beth