Musings!!

Trio at the Sea of Galilee

It has been some time since I sat down and blogged.   While I am to blame for my lack of correspondence, there has been no lack of activity.  Sheila Smith joined us here for a few weeks, and then our daughter Katy came to stay for about 10 days, so we have had a house full!  It has been grand!  We have shared many new experiences, and a lot of laughs!

Camel Riding in the Negev

This past Saturday we all went for an hour camel ride in the Negev.  We were told that we rode on dromedaries, the one hump camel.  They stand about six feet tall, and can drink 200 litres of water in three minutes.  The saddles cost about $2000.  They took us out with the guide in the lead, with the four of us roped along behind.  The guide gave commentary about the incense route, and the British and Bedouin influences in the Negev.  It was all very fascinating!

While we have been in Israel, travelling around, we have not come into contact with any unrest, though it seems it is happening near to us.  We had visited Cana, where Jesus turned the water into wine, and everything seems quiet.  We left town to see about 8 police vehicles, and some horses at a major intersection.  Returning about six hours later, they were still there, but an officer forbade us to go through Cana to return to Nazareth as it to 'dangerous'.  We wondered what had happened, and the story was told that a youth threatened a police officer with a knife, very menacingly, and a few moments later the youth was dead having been shot from behind.  We took a different route home that night, probably only twenty minutes longer.  The locals feel that justice is not served in their area, and so demonstrations were held for about three days, both in Cana and in Nazareth, protesting discrimination, and lack of justice for Arabs.  Margaret and I did not see anything of it.

We spent a couple of nights in Jerusalem, before taking Sheila to the Ben Gurion Airport at about 5am Tuesday morning.  I had picked up the car at a parking lot on Mount Hertzl the night before, and the light rail train had taken me through Har Nof, a community of Jerusalem.  It was about 10 hours later, that Tuesday night, that we learned of the killing of 4 Jewish rabbis in their place of worship in Har Nof about 7am that morning.   We had been so close, but we were very naive to the difficulties.

Katy & Margaret near Arbel, Galilee

So if anyone is wondering if the news out of Israel is affecting us, you could say, 'not physically'.  In traveling Israel, we have seen lots more soldiers in uniform, and carrying guns, than in Canada.  These soldiers and security personnel are quite affable, and easy to approach.  They always seem in good humor.  Going through bus terminals, train stations, malls, one can encounter security personnel who demand to inspect parcels, packages and bags.  On the light rail, there was a man in dress blues, maybe a security guy, whose pistol seemed easy to slip out of its holster.  I had thought easy access weaponry was only in the USA.  It is rather plentiful in Israel too!  The social milieu, and anti-terrorist policies has adjusted the psyche to the seemingly ever present danger.  They respond to threats quickly.

Today, the CEO of Nazareth Hospital, Joseph Main, summarized our special study day arranged by the chaplaincy department.  He talked of how Ananias was told to go pray for Saul who was blinded in his encounter with Jesus on the road to Damascus.  Ananias asked if the man he was to go lay hands on was the one commissioned to kill Christians.  Even though the answer was yes, Ananias was obedient, even at risk of his life, went to meet the man that would, in turn, as Paul, influence so much of the world for Christ, and write so much of the New Testament.  Joseph's imperative was for us, God's people, to risk loving, to make new relationships, and affect our world for Christ.

Israeli Observations

Selfie!

On Monday, we rented a car(Mazda 2) I say 'we' because Sheila, our friend from Montreal took us up on our suggestion to join us while we are in Israel.  This is her first time to to visit Israel.  So we took off to
show her Meggido, and then it was on to Ceasarea.  

Ceasarea is a harbour town, created by Herod the Great, about Jesus time, who chose the site, built a harbour, palace, replete with swimming pool, and fortifications, a 4000 seat outdoor theatre, a 10,000 seat sports arena for chariot races, etc.  It eventually became a town of about 50,000 people.  It is mentioned in the Bible as the place where Peter met Cornelius, the centurion of the Italian band, according to the KJV, and also the place where Paul was imprisoned, and where he appealed for his right to be tried as a Roman citizen.  The extensive ruins give testimony to a rather sophisicated society.

Sea of Galilee

Jordan River

The next day, we drove around the sea of Galilee.  We arrived in Tiberias about 9am, and stopped for a WIFI connection and americano at MacDonald's.  From there we traveled south, admiring the sea of Galilee, its shoreline, and clear blue colours.  About 10:30, we stopped in Yardenit, the place where the Jordan river drains the Galilee and begins its journey to the Dead Sea.  The river is not deep, and there were many fish of various sizes, visible in the shallow water.  It was very picturesque.  Sheila was ready to be re-baptized, and though there were gowns to be rented or bought, she didn't feel she had appropiate clothing, so she declined.  This is not the traditional place where John the Baptist baptized Jesus, but many pilgrims use this place because of its depth, cleanliness, and accessability.  We continued our drive, stopping for shells, sights, and sites.  The sites included where the demoniac was delivered, and pigs ran into the sea, the Jordan where it runs into the Sea of Galilee, Capernaum, Magdela, and then back to have supper in Tiberias as the sun set, darkness descended, and the moon shone.  Quite an unforgetable day.

Sunset by Tiberius

It seems incredible to think that our time is Israel will be over in about three weeks!  So far it has been fabulous!  We have made many new friends.  This evening we are going to the home of a new friend who has invited us to join his family for some Arabic food.

One down side to our time here is the fact that we have missed quite a few family celebrations.  Three of our grandchildren, our daughters, (Rachel and Laura), Simon, and Margaret had birthdays.  Simon & Laura had an anniversary.  My mother turned 94.  We were able to send greetings via BBM, Skype, etc., and that was ok, but not quite the same.   These times give me fresh appreciation to those missionaries who go out at the Lord's call and miss being physically present at the time of similiar family celebrations.

Firstfruits!

I had a wonderful thing happen in the psychiatry department last week. When I arrived around ten thirty, things were quiet on the ward. Eventually there were a few residents who emerged from their rooms. One of the young men called me aside and made the astounding statement, in English,'I want to be like you'. I asked what he meant by that, and he mumbled about 'doing charity work'. Because of the language barrier, I figured I was totally out of my league, so I suggested he talk with the guy who was to interpret my story that day, Simone. Simone is a resident of Nazareth, who is associated with Campus life, an evangelical association working mostly with students. He sat the man down, and started asking questions. It was not long before I noticed the two with bowed heads, praying. Simone explaied later the young man had become a Christian. I was so glad. Before I left, I also asked the man some questions and offered to get him a Bible. He thanked me, assuring me he already had one. I told him that according to the Bible, all heaven was rejoicing with him, and us, that he was now on a life journey with Jesus!