Fainters!

A few months ago I decided I would be a fainter. You know, someone who faints. I was making a conscious decision to do this because the fainters get off easy.

Think about movies you've seen and books you've read. When the the woman faints she doesn't have to deal with anything that is going on around her. She doesn't have to deal with someone who's been badly injured. She doesn't have to deal with the Indians attacking. She doesn't have to deal with hearing bad news or anything unpleasant. So, I decided... that's the life for me!

Then I began talking to Jesus about fainters. "You know, Lord they don't have to deal with anything! The rest of us have to clean up the mess and take care of them at the same time. Why can't I be a fainter? Why do I have to deal with everything and everyone and be nice about it and wear a happy face?"

Well, you know when you start talking to Him and then you're quiet well... He answers you. Sometimes I really do want to be that person who runs and jumps in daddy's lap, tells Him what I want Him to know and how I want Him to answer and then leaves. It's not right I know but there you have it, that's who I am some days. Anyway, He began answering me. "I made you just the way I want you. You are strong. You care. I can count on you." I still wasn't happy with those answers but then He said, "but those who hope in the LORD will renew their strength. They will soar on wings like eagles; they will run and not grow weary, they will walk and not be faint." (Is.40:31 NIV)

Wow! Now I really like that answer 'cause to be honest I wasn't happy with any of the others. I was having a bad few days and I new all that other stuff He said was true and I believed it but I needed more. I needed a reason to go on. Do you ever have those days? Sometimes He gives me multiple choice answers, all of which are true but I pick the one I need. It's a game for He and I. He lets me think I'm actually helping Him, and myself, when in reality I know He does all of it.

So, in the end, I decided not to be a fainter. As I pondered fainters the "cons" came in...
They always miss out on stuff. They never hear the full story. They don't know when to run. They could get left behind if someone has to carry their sorry carcass and things get too difficult they would be the first one left!!

Be encouraged today. If you do faint somedays, remember you can still soar if your hope is in Him.

Love & hugs,
Janet

Are you content?

"Bless your heart" is a familiar phrase here in the south. Now it's used for many reasons but one reason to say it to someone is if they are just a little slow and not quite getting what's going on or what everyone else easily understands. Well, sometimes I think the Lord is saying "bless your heart" to me because He has to explain things a second time or even a little differently for me to get it.

Most everyone is familiar with Philippians 4:13 which says "I can do all things through Christ who strengthens me." NKJV But, how many are really familiar with verses 10-12? It talks about contentment. How content am I? This brings in all different kinds of contentment; content in my stage of life, my spiritual life, my monetary situation. See what I'm talking about?

The Lord gave me a visual. I am BIG on visuals. Within just a couple weeks of each other I have two women friends who were talking about their hair. Friend A has long beautiful naturally straight hair and Friend B has naturally curly hair yet neither are happy (content) with their hair. Friend A gets perms and Friend B straightens hers. No, there's not anything wrong with perms or flatirons... stay with me. The Lord gave both of them the hair He wanted them to have but they are not content and are trying to change it.

Now we can talk about the time we live in, the input from the media and the pressure from other women but bottom line is we're talking contentment with what Jesus gives us and we think we need to change or make better. My hair has been cut, colored and permed so this really hit home to me. Wow, if He wants to talk to me about hair what about the really important or spiritual areas of my life. I hope He keeps it about hair!! But, as a good daddy that's just given an object lesson, He has made me start looking at my life and the level of contentment.

Let me challenge you to read those verses and start looking at your contentment level.

Blogging

Well, as you can obviously tell I am not a very good blogger. I don't have anything super exciting to tell. I don't have any information or pictures about a wonderful trip. So, I have pretty much let the blog alone until "I" thought there was something worthy of posting. Hence, no post since May!

Sometimes do you think you're smart and then you have that "duh" moment? Me too!! The Lord keeps giving me things to think about and visions as illustrations. It just dawned on me that He wants me to use those things here.

I feel inadequate writing because I feel my grammar is not what it should be. Since moving to the south I jokingly say that English is my second language now with "Southern" as my first! Be that as it may, the Lord wants me to post some things on here so I will try to be obedient and this is one time I won't kick and scream first. So please bear with me dear friends as we take this journey together.

My prayer is you and I will both learn from the things He shares with me. Hopefully, it will be fun for all of us and who knows there may be a few pictures along the way!

Love & hugs,
Janet

Sea of Galilee

Another view from our balcony. The round stone building in the middle is part of the remains of an old monastery.

Sunrise on the Sea of Galilee

The view of the sunrise from our balcony.

Tiberius

The view of the Sea of Galilee from our balcony at the Oasi San Fransesco in Tiberius. This place is ran by charismatic Catholics from France. It is a quaint place with a garden, clean efficient rooms and the price included breakfast. I would highly recommend it.

Sea of Galilee

Bob and me on the boat "Faith" on the Sea of Galilee. We had a wonderful time. Our group of nine were the only ones on the boat. It is much larger than I imagined. It was very calm but I can imagine that storms could be quite severe.

Tiberius and the Sea of Galilee were spiritual places for all of us. It was quiet and we could imagine Jesus walking and talking with people. There wasn't the hustle and bustle of Jerusalem or the Old City.

Sea of Galilee

Bob on the boat "Faith" on the Sea of Galilee.

Tiberias

Bob & me standing in the shade at the Sea of Galilee.

Golani Junction

Mickey Yaron holding his son, Roi and Bob standing in front of one of the Israeli military vehicles.

Golani Junction

On Independence Day, April 20 we traveled to Tiberias. On our way we stopped at McDonald's at Golani Junction. The nearby army base had set up a military display on the parking lot across from the McDonald's. Young soldiers manned the displays and talked with visitors. Even though there was a holiday air, there was no question that the soldiers were on alert and the weapons were loaded. We have so much to be thankful for in America.

Herod's Palace

The remains of Herod's palace are on the stair-stepped end of the mountain atop Masada

The Dead Sea

Here is another picture of the Israeli flag but from a higher place on Masada. The Dead Sea is in the background in the middle. Companies are now "farming" the Dead Sea. They put up dams, let the water evaporate and then harvest the rich minerals including the salt. Afterward, they take down the dams and move them to another section and allow the section they just harvested to fill with water again. Ahava Products are probably the most well know products made from this process.

The Dead Sea

This is a view from the top of Masada. The blue strip in the middle is the Dead Sea and the hazy mountains in the back is the country Jordan.

Lot's Wife at the Dead Sea

Although there is a natural rock formation that legend has as Lot's Wife, this is a rock statue erected to represent her.

Masada

After following signs to Masada, Dana and I arrived at this park which is on the backside of Masada. You can see the ramp the Romans constructed to breach Masada. There isn't any way to get to the top of Masada this way other than hiking the ramp. So, we had to drive back one hour to get to the front and the cable car entrance of Masada.

The darker blue in the middle on the left is the Dead Sea.

Publish Post

Bedouin women

These women had just been dropped off by the bus. I guess they had been to town to buy supplies. As you can see there isn't a house or settlement in sight. People do a lot of walking in Israel whether in the cities or in the country.

Gas Prices

We're still not sure how much we paid for gas which is probably a good thing because if we had known we would have felt bad! We used the 6.75 shekels per liter brand. One dollar is equal to 3.73 shekels. Sorry, it just turns into higher math for me. I'm guessing somewhere around $6 a gallon which I actually feel good about because I think it was about $10 when we were there before.

Trash Collecting in the Old City

Life goes on! This guy was driving by and when I lifted my camera, he stopped and smiled. Do you think he's been asked for his picture before? This is how trash is collected in the Old City. These small tractors pulling carts pick up the bagged trash. This tractor is perfect because the streets are so narrow. When it goes down the street everyone has to move to one side.

A Typical Vendor

This is an example of a vendor in the Old City in Jerusalem. As you can see they offer several things and lots of them offer the same thing, which is why "bargaining" or "haggling" is the rule of the day. If they don't have what you want "their cousin" down the street does. Or, they make a phone call on their cell phones and give you a new price.

Some people love the game of bargaining but for me it is very stressful.

Bread Vendor

Entering the Jaffa Gate the first thing you encounter is the bread vendor. Fresh bread in oval loaves out in the open on a cart. You wouldn't see it in Chattanooga and if you did people probably wouldn't buy it but it seems to be the normal in Israel.

Fear Travels Fast

Dana spent the afternoon at the beach and I lingered around the house, did laundry and rested out of the sun. During that time there were some very loud booms. I looked out to see what was going on in the neighborhood and didn't pay any more attention to them. Dana while at the beach did the same thing. No one at the beach seemed concerned so she settled in for a relaxing afternoon.

We both knew that there is a military base within a couple of miles from Rishon so we figured they were "practicing" as the Israeli's call it.

Early this evening Dana read an article that talked about a missile hitting Jordan that was meant for Eilat, the most southern city of Israel, which sets on the Red Sea. We were there on Sunday, within a few miles of Eilat.

Mickey & Marianne got home after 6 and we started questioning them. That's when we found out that Israeli's have been informed to pick up their gas masks again. Now we know we did not bring our gas masks... no one told us we would need them so we are feeling very "under-dressed".

About 8:30, Dana and I are sitting in Mickey's office, which is the bomb shelter, watching a video of Rememberance Day and Independence Day. We were here during both of those days and it was very moving.

Now... close your eyes so you'll get the visual. Dana & I in the bomb shelter when all of a sudden this very loud, very close siren starts. We both jumped out of our skins!!! It was the very large dog, Rocko who has this very high-pitched whine that he makes when his chain gets caught around the flower pot!!

Fear travels fast. It mounted pretty quickly here in the right conditions. I had to ask myself if I let fear travel fast in other situations. I have to admit that I do. Tonight was a learning lesson for me. What could I have done?

Both babies are upstairs asleep. We don't have gas masks. We don't have provisions. We do have a bomb shelter but the rubber seal that goes around the door rotted so they removed it until they can replace it.

Bottom line is God is in control... in Israel or Chattanooga. It's all about Him!

Monday night

It is Monday night here. Dana and I got back from Jerusalem about 7 and the police had the next street over blocked off. Mickey and Marianne weren't home yet so we went to the Mega Grocery Store. Pictures will be posted later. When we got home the second time about 8:15 we found out the street was blocked off because of a "suspicious" object (bomb scare). Life goes on as usual here.

Israeli pollen has attacked and trying to take it's toll. We leave Wednesday night about 11 PM and get into Atlanta about 6 AM and Chattanooga about 9AM. Pray all goes well.

I'll post more and add pics when I get home and have more time.

Thursday

Dana and I started sort of slow this morning. Over coffee we decided to go to the Rishon Museum however their director passed away a couple of days ago so the museum was going to close early at 2, which meant we needed to get there by 12 to get an English speaker tour guide. It was 10:00 so we didn't think there was a problem...

On Monday, we rented the Yaron's a car to go to Galilee since their car is too old for the trip so that rented car had to be back by 2 today. We still didn't think we had a problem. Due to some communication problems and misunderstanding we thought we had to take the car back to the airport. Get the visual here... Dana driving a 7 passenger KIA mini van and I'm driving the VERY small 4 passenger something-or-other right on her bumper, we head for the airport. After only one wrong turn we make it to the airport and turn in the car...The time... 11:45

Okay... it's too late to make it all the way downtown to the old part of the city so we decide to go to the mall which is close to Mickey & Marianne's house. We found out there are two malls... sort of like Northgate & Hamilton Place in Chattanooga. We make a lot of turns and ask a lot of people for directions. One question that kept coming up... Which mall? (canyon is the word for mall). Finally we find a Russian speaker who knew no English but had the best acting skills and we went right to it. Come to find out we had been past it several times only on the back side of it!!

Now it's time for lunch! We find the Food Court... what an experience... everyone has samples for you to try and they try to lure you in with the samples. The Shwarma Shop won! For those of you who don't know, shwarma is lamb or chicken with lots of... well shwarma seasonings. It is on a rotissary but it is vertical. So you have this large 3 foot skewer with stacks of meat on it and then they shave off a section starting at the top and going to the bottom. The nice young men at the counter ask if we would like salad?... okay... Pita?... okay... Miscommunication again... Dana and I got the "truck-driver's special" which is what our family calls the huge platter of food that they brought us. We thought we would get a pita, with meat, with salad... sandwich style. Well, we thought wrong!! They gave us about 1/2 pound of meat, 3 falafel, hummus, salad and a pita. They had already given us 2 small salad plates which we had filled with all the other kinds of salads; cold salad, spicey salads, cabbage salad, carrot salad, etc. hahaha!! Everyone was sitting in the food court thinking, "silly American women... the shwarma shop just did it again"!!

On our way out of the mall, we decided to get a coffee which is a truly delicious experience here. We sat in the coffee shop with our coffees chatting and just having a great time. We chose that coffee shop because of wi-fi but once again Dana's IPOD would not connect. We have had a difficult time with Internet the entire time we have been here. After drinking our lovely coffee we get the bill... 36 shekels for 2 cups of coffee... about $6 each but it was a great experience which is what we always say after we have spent too much money because of miscommunications!

We are resting after our big day!

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Oops! I think I had my settings wrong. You should be able to make comments now. Sorry!

Wednesday Evening

bob, Diane & Ron are napping. They are all packed and ready to go. They have to be at the airport 3 hours early to get through Israeli security. Their flight leaves at 10:55 pm. Pray for favor for all of them.

Yesterday we went to Tiberias. We went out on the Sea of Galilee on a boat and had a great time. It was very hot! We had rooms at the Oasis of San Fransisco, which is a private home run by a Catholic community in France. It was very nice and off the tourist path. Rooms were 120 shekels per night per person with breakfast included. (bout 40 dollars each)

Then we drove west and went to Ceasarea, which is a beautiful place on the Mediterranean. The remains of Herods palace can still be seen. We will try to post more pictures soon.

Yad Vashim - Holocaust Memorial

This is the tree in memory of Corrie Ten Boom, her father and her sister. It is in the Garden of the Righteous, which is the garden for all the gentiles who helped Jews during WWII. Schindler and many others have trees planted in their memory. Notice the stones placed around the trunk. Israeli's place "stones of remembrance" just as they did in Biblical times.

Western Wall

Here is the Western Wall in the background. They are setting up and getting ready for Independence Day on Tuesday. Monday is Memorial Day. The green stuff in the cracks of the wall is hysop.

Janet at the Beach

Dana and I couldn't wait to get to the beach so we walked the quarter mile to check it out. It was nice 70 weather with a cool breeze. Like the hat? Feet tanning... arms tanning... neck sun poisoning!

Worship screen

This is what the worship screen looked like. Words in Hebrew on the left. Russian in the middle. Hebrew spelled phonetically on the left. I don't know what is at the bottom but English is at the very bottom. Because of the melody of the songs it was easier to sing phonetically than to try to make English fit the music.

Love in any language!

Diane and Leonita.

Dana chillin' at the beach!

So far....

Bob has had counseling all day and is getting prepared for the men's meeting at 7:00.



Dana & Diane have set in on some of the sessions and are getting valuable experience. They have been wonderful prayer people for those in counseling and in the meetings. When given the opportunity to go to the beach or stay and pray, they have chosen the "better thing". :-)



Ron has been a great asset and set in on some of the men's counseling sessions. He has also fixed a few things here at the house. Is anyone surprised? The kids love him! He and Mickey fixed Italian pasta today so we can't wait until we get home and he can reproduce it for us.



I have been resting and doing laundry today. If anyone has ever used a European/Middle East washer/dryer, I know you are smiling. It seems to take about 45 min to 1 hr 30 minutes for one load just to wash and the same amount to dry. So, it has been an all day experience. I was happy to help with laundry to allow Dana, Diane & Ron to help with the counseling.



Thursday, Diane, Dana, Marianne and I went to downtown Rishon. It was a great experience. We had "toasted bagel" for lunch, which is actually great bread covered in sesame seeds with fillings and then toasted. We bought some great pickled turnip which was very sour. And when you talk about buying something at one of the markets, they tell you "try it, try it". I tried the pickled turnip which was colored pink by the way. Then I tried pickled lemon. Yes, Dana did take a picture and it is not a pretty sight!! It was soooooo sour but brine-y. It was really good but watch out for that first bite



Friday night we had a great time with a Kabbalot Shabbot dinner with about 24 people attending. Good friends came with dishes of delicious food and the fellowship was wonderful. Bob and Pastor Tony Sperandeo blessed and dedicated the Yaron's new home.



Yesterday there was some counseling and then at 5 o'clock the worship service began. A lot of people packed into a small room. Much to our surprise, Diane brought along two of the banners from Hephzibah so that she and Dana could dance. But, it just didn't happen. For one thing the ceilings were too low and there were so many people they would have hit someone if they really got in the Spirit. It was a wonderful service. Mickey interpreted for Bob and it was all we could do not to laugh out loud. Mickey not only translates but does the same action Bob does. So, if Bob made a face so did Mickey. If Bob gestured and acted something out, so did Mickey. A great night. It ended with take-out from the shop across from the congregation. Shwarma, kabob and many "salads". Ron and Dana have found a favorite salad that is too hot for the rest of us.



Okay... I know I have talked a lot about food but when you are in a new place you just have to try it. Maybe I'll start taking pictures of the food too!

Love & hugs to all,
Janet

Friday

It is Friday about 5:30 pm and Bob is finishing a congregational leadership meeting.

Dana and Diane are in the kitchen putting together a salad and casserole for our part of the covered dish dinner tonight to celebrate kabbalot shabbot, or the welcoming of shabbot. I have already made smoked tuna dip! Yes, I brought a bottle of smoke with me... There will be about 26 of us tonight for fellowship and to bless and consecrate Mickey and Marianne's new home.

Tomorrow, Bob will be in counseling and I hope to be able to put some pictures on here. The congregational meeting is not until 5 pm so I should have some time.

We are doing well physically. Bob's knee is okay and we are keeping his walking to a minimum.

Will post more tomorrow.

Love & hugs to all,
Janet

Wednesday morning, we're going to see the land that was given by the Catholic church for the Forest of Remembrance. Then we're going to Kafar Saba to minister for the afternoon. Back to Rishon for an evening group meeting. Great humus, not like U.S. humus!
We took the kids and walked 5 blocks to the beach on the Mediterranean, played in the sand and surf. Roi, 4 years old, fell asleep on Ron's shoulders during the walk back to the house.
Shalom!

Tuesday morning

We're here!! It was a very eventful trip. Lots of miracles to get us here. After getting VERY lost... like on our way to Egypt lost... we took the first Rishon exit and Mickey called... we were within blocks of their home!! Definitely a GOD THING!

There are more stories to tell about the plane that couldn't leave Chattanooga and the race with a wheelchair through Atlanta airport but just too tired right now.

Love & hugs,
Janet

Saturday

Today is Saturday. We are packing and working toward getting on that plane tomorrow! It seems that 50 lbs. is a lot except when we start packing our stuff. Stuff weighs much more than we realize and I (Janet) keep finding more stuff and putting it in the case.

We have one suitcase that is full of just gifts to our friends and it weighed 53 lbs. so I had to remove stuff. I was thinking that it would be easy to pack since our friends in Israel have a washer/dryer but then I packed 2 skirt outfits and of course I need a different pair of shoes with each outfit.

Right now my suitcase is at 39 lbs but that is without toiletries. Do you think I use 11 lbs. worth of toiletries?

Love & hugs for now,
Janet

Something New

Check here for the latest updates on our lives and our ministry. We are beginners so please give us grace as we learn this new adventure called "blogging".