I thought I would update our blog with a few pictures.  With the unrest that was happening a couple of weeks ago, I never posted  pictures.  So here are a few updates from our last few weeks.

Can you guess what this says in Hebrew? 

 YUP! Ikea just outside of Tel Aviv.  We wanted to see if it was similiar to the stores in Canada, and yes everything is the pretty much the same.  Same furniture, same layouts, pretty much the same products.  Of course all the prices are in shekels, and I think priced out higher than what we can get in Canada, but still very good prices for Israel.  We had fun walking around and looking.  The Garden was needing a new lamp for one of the apartments, so we picked that up - and of course some of the Ikea chocolate.  The prices in the restaurant seemed a little high, but we did have a good ole hot dog.
Notice the opening hours.  Close early for Shabbat, but other nights open until midnight or 11pm.  I guess the Israelis like to shop!  As I mentioned before, our gift shop has all Ikea book shelves, the gift shop counters are also from Ikea - even some of the apartments have furniture from Ikea - so the Garden supports Ikea!

After Ikea we went to the beaches at Netanya - just north of Tel Aviv.  Very popular in the summer as it is a beautiful beach.  At this time of the year, the beach is pretty much deserted, but a few brave people were swimming - probably from Europe or North America where we think this is still warm enough to swim.  There were hundreds of beach chairs piled high, so we can imagine how busy it must be in the summer.

A couple of weeks ago (before the unrest between Gaza and Israel), we drove to the Jordan River with fellow volunteer and friends Al and July who are from Florida.  This is the site where they believe Jesus was baptised by John.  It isn't as commericalized as the Yardenit baptismal site in the Galilee where many tourists get baptised.  Right across the river is Jordan, so their are soldiers making sure no one crosses the river.  As you can see it is a muddy river !

Our friends Al and Judy!

Soldiers keeping watch.  They are very friendly and never minded taking pictures with any of the groups - fortunately when we were there was only one group of Indonesians, and they left soon after we arrived.

It is beginning to look a lot like Christmas!  Just in the last week, we have seen some of the stores in the Old city with North American Christmas decorations. I've even noticed in the little grocery stores, the shelves now have the foil covered Santa chocolates.  I hope to get a picture of one store that is just full of Santa's, snowmen, reindeer, Christmas trees, and Christmas tree decorations.  A restaurant that we went to a couple of weeks ago in the Old city, now has a beautiful decorated Christmas tree, with red stockings and garland decorating the restaurant.  It still doesn't seem quite right to see all that here in Jerusalem.

 I love this angle looking at the tomb from the steps of the book shop. 

Sunday morning on our way to church!

This is the East Jerusalem Baptist Church.  6 of us walked (about a 15 minute walk) and when we arrived, we almost doubled the number already there.  I think that Sunday there were maybe 20 people there.  The pastor is a Palestinian believer.


Inside the church.

Olive tree in the yard of the church.  Tried to get a picture of olives on the branches but didn't get a very good shot. 

This is a group in the garden.  Everyone had brought their own harp.  I'm not sure where they were from, but really enjoyed their worship.

Since one of the volunteers was from the Unites States and he was missing his thanksgiving dinner, he decided to put on a thanksgiving meal for all the volunteers.  We all brought something to contribute to the meal, and had a great time of fellowship.  We get together quite often - even though we work alongside each other all day, we all get along so well with each other it is nice to 'hang out', share stories, eat, laugh and pray together.  Many of them are leaving in the next week as they were here before we arrived, so it will be hard to say goodbye.  Hopefully our paths will cross again, maybe even volunteering together at the Garden.

We were so excited to pick Gordon and Donna Reeve up at the airport on November 29.  We got to know this great couple when they were interning at Emmanuel Baptist church while we were waiting for our current pastor, Robert Murdock, to arrive.  We also co-led two tours to Israel with them.  They have come to volunteer at the garden for the next 3 months, so we get to celebrate Christmas together here in Israel.  With both our families back in Canada, it will be so nice to be together. 

Well, I hope I haven't bored you too much with all the pictures and a brief glimpse of our life here in Israel. 
And just so you all know, everything is quiet here in Israel.  There have been no more air raid sirens, no more rockets flying, no more barricades set up on the muslim day of prayer - so I guess I better start some Christmas shopping!  Now that I see the Santas and all the decorations, it is getting me in the mood!  But wait, what do I buy and for who - all our family is back home and we gave them gifts before we left.  Oh well, I'm sure I'll find someone to buy something for!!  I know some staff members that have small children - that will be fun!!  Don is just shaking his head!!  I'll get him some chocolate and then he'll be happy.
Hugs to everyone.  Thanks for your prayers.
Shalom

P.S.

December 1 sitting on the roof top getting a suntan. Temperature was in the high 20's today - felt wonderful!