We are safe in Jerusalem

Hi Everyone,
Thought we would update this and let you know how things are here in Jerusalem.  We know news back home is non stop of the unrest here in Israel.  We have had many emails, facebook messages wondering how we are and if we are safe.  The immediate answer is YES we are safe.
We knew there would be friction yesterday (Friday) as it is the day of prayer for the Muslim men when they go in to the old city to the Dome of the Rock (the golden dome that you see in any pictures of the Jerusalem skyline.)  Any man over the age of 40 is allowed on to the temple mount for prayers.  In the past on Fridays, there is often uneasiness as they leave as they get all worked up while they are there.  On Friday morning I walked to the end of the street to get some lettuce, cheese and for the first time there was a barricade set up across the street.  This street is directly access from the old city thru the Damacus gate, then a short walk to the temple mount.  Because we live in a muslim area, it is a direct path for many of the muslim men to enter the old city this way. It is probably no more than a 10 minute walk to the temple mount from where we are.  At the barricade there were Israeli soldiers, and Palestinian police checking all passports of the men wanting to go down this road.  I didn't have a problem going thru and I got my few items and was back up the street in a matter of 5 - 10 minutes.  I never felt unsafe, but it was weird as the street was so quiet compared to other days.  We knew that we should stay close to the garden between noon and 2 pm as that is when the prayers would be held and the men would be leaving and returning to East Jerusalem.  During the lunch hour between noon and 1pm there was an Israeli military helicopter flying over the garden and the old city - circling about every 20 - 30 seconds and at some point just staying there.  I'm sure they were monitoring what was happening at the temple mount and at Damascus gate so they could tell the riot police where they needed to be.  We know there were altercations at the gate and close to Damacus gate.  We heard sirens off and on.
We were also keeping up to date on all the happenings thru the Jerusalem Post - which gives up to the minute details of what is going on, plus in the staff room the TV was on CNN.  At about 430 pm Don and I were in our apartment when we heard an air raid siren go off.  At first we thought it was just the horn blowing that annouces it is the start of the Sabbath, but quickly realized it wasn't.  Don went outside quickly to go to the front gate and sure enough it was an air raid siren.  Because there hadn't been an air raid siren go off since 1970, even the locals weren't sure what the procedure was; but it didn't take long for memory to kick in.  Basically you have 90 seconds from when you hear the siren to find cover - get to the bomb shelter - or whatever cover you can find, then you need to stay for 10 minutes before you should leave.  If there is still danger the siren continues to go.  We had some groups in the garden worshipping, so we needed to get them under cover.  Interesting enough, none of them seemed concerned in the least.  We had to tell one group a couple of times that we needed to move them NOW!  As it turned out, 2 rockets had come in the direction of Jerusalem but didn't make it this far.  I must admit, it was a different than anything I have ever experienced.  We just jump in to action.  After about 15 minutes, the groups left to go to their hotels, we closed the garden early and took a big breath.
Of course there is lots of speculation on these rockets and if they would actually try and send one this close to their sacred praying place, plus so many of 'their' people live right in this neighborhood, but of course you never know.  The Hamas are not clear thinking people for the most part.
We know somewhat of what you are seeing on the TV and hearing on the news.  Yes there are rockets being fired, but these rockets have been going from Gaza to Israel for months and years, although they have escalated in the last few days and I guess the last week.  Israel did kill the head of their military so that has made them increase the rockets coming in to Israel.  When the Egyptian president went to Gaza, Israel said they would stop sending rockets back in to Gaza while the president was there, if they would stop sending rockets in to Israel.  Gaza did not stop.  The Hamas have stored most of their weapons and ammunition in places where it is difficult for Israel to go and destroy them.  They have them stored in schools and hospitals, so if Israel was to go and bomb these places they would look bad in the world as so many innocent children and already sick and injured people's lives would be lost.  So the Hamas know what they are doing and know that Israel is not going to want to do that. 
Today, Staurday morning the sun is shining, the birds are singing, right next door to the garden is a muslim girls school and they are laughing and playing in the playground directly beside our apartment window.  I walked to the end of our street and today there is no barricade and the street is busy again with men, women and children rushing about buying what they need.  We know by no means that the danger is gone, Hamas is still sending rockets and the Israeli army has called up thousands of reserves.  Speculation is that there could be a ground war.
Be assured that if things were to get worse or we felt unsafe, or if the Canadian government asked all Canadians to leave the country we would leave; but right now we don't feel that is necessary.  We are being cautious, listening to what is being said, following the news here (which might be quite different to what you are hearing back home) and praying for the people and the land of Israel.  At this point we feel this is where God wants us to be - sharing his gospel to the whole world around us.
We will keep you up to date on the situation.  We welcome your prayers for us and for the country of Israel. 
Thank you.
Glenda and Don