updates

Where does the time go? One week today we will be on our flight home! Do we have mixed feelings? Yes!! We can't believe that the 3 months has passed already. Our time here has been fantastic and when you ask us "How was it?" we will not be able to put in to words all that we have experienced. I only hope that one day everyone who is reading this, will have the opportunity to visit this special place.
In the mean time here is some of what we have done over the last couple of weeks. A couple of weeks ago on a Sunday we did another hike with 5 other members from the Garden. It was a 4 km hike thru the hills west of Jerusalem. A few times as we climbed up the fairly steep rocky hillside, I wondered if I should have been a mountain goat. It was quite a warm day, we packed a picnic lunch and enjoyed the scenery. There were still quite a few wild flowers around so I took a few more pictures. Again we walked across ruins dating back to early Bible times (can't remember the exact time.) We have come to realize that no matter how long you are here in Israel you will never see everything. Everyday the archeologists are discovering new finds, the locals walk the hills and find remnants of ancient pottery all the time.

Our group of hikers and some wild flowers. I decided not to bore you with all the nature pictures I took, plus it is so difficult to get a picture that really portrays the beauty of the land.

As we were waiting in a small village for the bus to take us back to Jerusalem, this parrot is flying around. Couldn't resist taking his picture!

Last Saturday we drove to the Sea of Galilee area. We stopped at Yardenit which is on the River Jordan and used as a site where people can be baptised. It is a beautiful site, but probably not where John the Baptist baptised Jesus.

There was a group of 20 that were having a baptism service.

From there we drove to Yavneet to visit a special family. Peter Hatch (who grew up attending Emmanuel Baptist church in Vernon, his parents still live in Vernon and attend our church) now lives in Israel with his family. We had a wonderful visit with his wife and their 4 young children. The baby is only 6 weeks old. It was nice to see Peter again and meet his family. We only wish we could have stayed longer - maybe next time!

Here are some pictures of their family.

I will have another update showing pictures of our Palm Sunday walk and our Easter celebrations.

Shalom