First of all sorry for the delay in getting an update to our blog.  We have been having trouble signing in.  Hopefully we will get this sent off without any interruptions.
It is hard to believe we have been here a week already!  We have finally got over the jetlag, and after reading my last entry, I realize how 'out of it' I was.  A few mistakes - hopefully this time it will be better.  We are finally sleeping without waking up at 1, 2 or 3 am and being awake for 3 or 4 hrs. 
Other than Sunday, which is a day off for everyone, yesterday was our first official day off.  We didn't do anything too exciting as the car that we can use was already signed out by another volunteer; so we did a walk thru the old city to get to the post office and then just spent some time reading and resting in our apartment.  It was a very warm day - close to 30 celsius.  I actually went to the sitting area on the roof and got a suntan.  I know some of you are experiencing -20 celsius with the wind chill (sorry Rempel's in Lloyminster and Phillip's in Bonnyville) plus snow.  We are still enjoying wearing shorts, tank tops and flip flops!!  Sure can't complain about that!  Today is a little cooler but still wearing flip flops and tank tops.  As we get further in to November and December it will start to cool down, but right now we are enjoying every moment.
On Sunday, all the volunteers and some staff from Jerusalem went on an outing to the Sea of Galilee area, a hike, and then finished with a fish dinner in the Golan area.  It was a beautiful sunny day!  Again as we went around the Sea of Galilee we felt as if we were back in the Okanagan.  With the lake and the hills around, it reminds us so much of the scenery down by Summerland and Penticton.  After a short picnic lunch, and birthday cake, one of the ladies who lives in Jerusalem celebrated her 50th birthday the day before, we moved on to a national park for a 2 km hike down to a natural pool and water fall.  It was a long narrow path down to the pool, but of course we knew he had to walk all the way back up.  The paths here are not smooth, with well built steps, and hand rails, but full of rocks and natural rock steps.  Some of the steps were not steps at all but big drops from one ledge to another.  Don said if he had known how steep and narrow the path was, he probably would not have done it.  Many times, the path was very narrow and if one had tripped or fell, they would very easily have gone over the edge.  Fortunately, no one got hurt, and because of Don's breathing problem, we took it slow coming up and he was fine. 
We feel in some ways like we never left 18 months ago.  Walking around the neighborhood to shop at the local shops, walking thru the old city streets, walking up to the larger grocery store, everything is so much more familiar and common.  It feels like when we make the trip back to Vancouver after a few months - we know where to go to get what we need. 
We are in a different apartment then what we were in last time.  This one is just as nice and comfortable. We feel very blessed.  I will take some pictures and send them later.
It is hard to put in to words how blessed we feel to be here, to hear worship continually all day as different groups from all over the world are praising our risen Lord.  So many individuals will say to us, how it must be so special to be able to volunteer in such a special place, and we just have to nod as we often get choked up when we realize just what we are doing and what a privilege we do have.  We're always excited when a group from Canada arrives, and as long as Don isn't already leading another group, he gets to lead them.  I'm enjoying my time in the gift shop and noticed right away that they did some renovations since we were here last.  The funny thing is that the new counters and some of the shelving is all from IKEA.  They have an IKEA just outside Tel Aviv.  I've already told Don that we're going to have to go there one day just to see it and see how similiar everything is to what we get in Canada.  The funny thing is that when Shelley moved into her new place in Abbotsford, we made a few trips to IKEA to get book shelves, her bed and numerous other things; and she vowed never to buy another piece of furniture there that she had to assemble.  Well the counter tops are almost identical to what my computer desk is at home, and I immediately recognized alot of the shelves.  It is a small world!!!  And it definitely makes the gift shop look nicer too.
Well I was trying to upload some pictures to put with this blog, but they are taking forwever to upload so they will have to wait for another day. 
We understand tomorrow, Saturday - Shabbat or Sabbath here- is to be a busy day so better get off to bed so we're ready to clean benches tomorrow morning at 630AM.  It does seem to come early but once we're up and out it is not a bad way to start the morning.   The birds are chirping, and the sun is shining.
So Shalom for now. 
Don and Glenda