At the foot of the cross.

Brothers and Sisters in Christ,

We have had another wonderful day. Before I start let me apologize that I did not get a chance to prof or spell check my post yesterday. We pay for the internet and just as I finished writing, before I had a chance to go back and look over my crazy finger and brain mistakes I had to post or lose it. Didn’t have any more internet time left. So again to those of you who are very offended by this – my apologies.

I’d like to assure each and every one of you, but especially our family members that we are very safe. None of us have ever felt like we are not. Even in the Muslim controlled areas and Bethlehem we felt safe. Pilar, our guide, says you just have to be careful as you would if you went to any big city, especially the ghetto areas.

Here are some ponderings and odds and ends about our trip so far.

Let’s call the first one the challenges of the “water closet.”

1.       How do you turn the water on and off to wash your hands. So many different ways here.

2.       How do you flush the toilet. I’ve seen one with either a foot feed or a brake pedal – not sure which. Clue – always look for something - silver some place close to the toilet no matter the shape or size.

3.       If you lock the door will it ever open again. Think I told you yesterday that I got locked in one.

4.       After you figure out how to wash your hands, how do you dry them. So many different ways and blowers over here.

Next in the lineup is how to live in Israel and not get killed – by a speeding vehicle.

Drivers here are CRAZY. Buses, cars and motorcycles are EVERYWHERE.  And the streets are soooooo small – and there are very few stop signs or stop lights. Motorcycles dart in and out as do cars. The national pastime in Israel is honking your horn. I think people who aren’t even driving have in horn in their jacket and honk it. That’s really why they all wear long black trench coats. The streets are all about the size of our alleys. Cars, small trucks and even a small tractor are often seen trying to get through the MOB of people walking down the street. And people will walk right out in front of oncoming traffic.  They are NUTS.

Now on to the street venders. They would LOVE to sell you something, ANYTHING! And some of them, especially in Bethlehem are really in your face about it. “Hey lady, let me show you this, make you a good deal lady.” Or Welcome America, you can buy this for just “one dollar – or maybe two dollar – or even 3 for 10.” One of our guys got 8 scarves for $20 from a street vender.

There are so many open air shops and shops in the walls one right after the other along both sides of the street. You can buy anything from souvenirs, to food, to clothing, to purses and on and on and on. Today we saw that we could buy Oreo’s, Pringles, Orbitz gum, Nike shoes and clothes, and even a Sponge Bob Square Pants doll. Go Figure.  We even had a chance to buy – and we did – Nestle Ice Cream at lunch today. Coke products are very common, but Sue W found  a Pepsi today for the first time. Someone saw a McDonalds yesterday but I didn’t. Could have really used a Burger.

I think the thing that hit me deeply today was seeing the little old ladies and men on the streets begging for money. I know we have these in our country also and think am I doing enough to help this situation? There was even a young woman sitting there with her tiny baby. That broke my heart. And the kids working everywhere. Why are they not in school? We found out yesterday that it is law that everyone go into the army at the age of 18. Women have to go for two years and men for 3. We saw some very very young men being trained yesterday.  

Some of the country is very rich but much is very, very poor. Especially in Jericho and Bethlehem. And just like home there are very clean places but also very dirty trashy places.

Today’s journey took us first to the Church of the Holy Sepulchre. This is the church that was built on top of Calvary, over where the three crosses stood and over the place where they lay Jesus to get his body ready for burial. There are 6 different religions (or branches there of ) that all have their spots in the church, and according to Pilar, NEVER THE TWAIN SHALL MEET. There are police there but she says it’s not to protect us, but to separate the fighting monks and priests.  

There we first saw where Jesus body was prepared for burial. The monk or priest who was in charge of letting people in and out was very rude. We had a lady who was having a hard time walking in which upset him and he and Pilar got into an argument.  We then went upstairs to the spot where Jesus cross was and had a chance to kneel at the foot of the spot where our Lord and Savior died.

From there we walked the Via Dolorosa – or part of it anyway, backwards. I don’t mean literally backwards but we started at the top and went down. I think the thing that threw me most here is that the path is lined on both sides with shops selling all kinds of things. It was like we were in Vegas or Branson and not walking the path our Lord and Savior walked to his death on. But I know He walked it for me and that’s all that matters.

We then went to Antonia Fortress, which is where Jesus as beaten. There, in a small chapel area I got to give a “short” message. I finished with a song that retired Rev. Walter S (from Perry) wanted someone to sing when he was there. So I sang “I Walked Today Where Jesus Walked” and those who knew it joined in. it was very powerful if I do say so myself, Praise the Lord.

We then went to Qumran, which sits on the Dead Sea,  and this is where the scroll of Isaiah was found, accidently by a small child. On the way we saw the Mountains of Ephra as well as Moab. The Dead Sea is 1,300 feet below sea level. Ate lunch there and then headed to Jericho.  Looked at what is left of the wall after God and Joshua got through with it. I do think I may have found Rahab’s apartment however. Just kidding.  While there we saw the mountain where Jesus was tempted by Satin. The day before we were at the highest peak in the city of Jerusalem – which is where  Satin told Jesus to jump off of and see if the angels would catch him.

All in all it was a great day. We have had 3 people come down with a tummy thing. Not sure if it is the flu or something they ate. Two are feeling better – one still not. We’ve also had two who have had the Olive Trees, or oil bother their eyes with some kind of allergy. They had meds now to take and are ok but they said it hurt like crazy. We are all a little sore from walking up and down and on some very rocky streets and very uneven cobble stone much of the time. Lots of hill.s

Tomorrow is a free day but most of us are going to Mount Masada and then back to the Dead Sea to with wade or float in it. Not sure what I’m doing yet but I’ll be in it some way.

We love you lots,

All for now, more to follow,

Pastor Deb.