Christmas Day

We did get to Bethlehem for Christmas Eve but we weren't able to do what we had hoped to do.  We went as part of a group from Saint George's Church that is located just down the street from the garden.  Because the traffic is so busy on Christmas Eve, and because they also had archbishops from Jerusalem, Tel Aviv, England and a few other places, plus 4 buses of tourists we had an Israeli police escort from the church to the check point/border entering into Palestine, then a Palestinian police escort from the check point to Manger square.  The traffic was crazy and backed up for miles but fortunately with the police escorts we got thru.  We were still stopped at times but never for very long. As we entered in to Bethlehem there were Christmas lights everywhere, all the street posts had rope lights wrapped around them; all the light posts had different lights attached  - some blinking - bells, angels, wreaths, Merry Christmas signs, etc.  When we got to Bethlehem we had to follow the group so we weren't able to venture off on our own.  Because we were part of the group we were ushered in to the Church of the Nativity for a service.  Outside in the square were hundreds - perhaps thousands of people.  There was a stage set up where different groups were singing Christmas carols thruout the evening.   There were also soldiers everywhere.  At every corner there were at least 6-8, and then more just standing along the streets.  I wish I had taken more pictures but I was too busy looking around at everything that I forgot to take pictures.
We had an hour long service inside the church of the Nativity.  We sang a lot of the carols in between different ones reading scripture.  Again very emotional singing the carols and standing in the place where Jesus was born.  We don't know that this was the exact spot, but we do know that Jesus was born in Bethlehem, so we would have been within 1 km of where the stable/cave would have been.  It was also interesting as we sang the First Noel.  As you know the chorus ends with the line - Born is the King of Israel - well the words have been changed to Born is the King Emmanuel.  To sing O LIttle Town of Bethlehem - while standing in Bethlehem  - well it is hard to put into words how I felt.  Same with most of the other songs that we sang. 

Here are a few pictures once I remembered to take my camera out!
A version of our popular Starbucks

There were souvenirs shops everywhere.  I'm sure the prices would have been triple what they would be any other day.  We didn't see very many people in the shops.

When we entered manger square we were greeted with this huge Christmas tree - 55 feet. It was beautiful. 

There were hundreds of people behind the security fences.

Some of the lights.  All the buildings were decorated with lights.

A very moving night even if we didn't do exactly what we had thought we would do. A wonderful experience.

On Christmas Day we opened the garden for a Christmas Day service.  We originally thought we would maybe have 150 people attend.  We were thrilled when just over 800 people came - mostly Nigerians.  It was a wonderful service and we were happy that the weather cooperated with no rain. 

The Nigerians helping with the worship.  They have so much enthusiasm!  What a blessing they were to us on Christmas Day.

After the service, the volunteers got together for a Christmas dinner lunch - a typical turkey dinner with all the fixings.  We even got to enjoy Christmas pudding that came all the way from England.

 

Our time in Israel is coming to an end.  We have less than a week left which means we will be busy now with packing and cleaning our apartment for the next set of volunteers to use.  We'll try and get in another blog with some more pictures before we leave.

HAPPY NEW YEAR EVERYONE!  We hope 2013 is full of many blessings for all of you.

Shalom.

Don and Glenda

Christmas Eve

Today is Christmas Eve!  We would never have thought a few years ago that in 2012 we would be celebrating Christmas Eve in Bethlehem. 
We have a usual working day today, then this evening we are hoping to travel to Bethlehem for a few hours to have a church service and visit the shepherds fields.  We have heard there will be a crowd of people.  We'll try and take some pictures depending on how crowded it is.  The weather today is sunny and warm, although a couple of days ago it was raining hard and very cold.  I tried to imagine if it was a cold and rainy night in Bethlehem when Jesus was born.  Some of our carols imply it was a cold winter night but no one knows for sure. 
Christmas Day is a regular working day for most of the people here.  The children still go to school - I heard all the children next door laughing and playing outside this morning.  The Jewish celebrated Hannukah a couple weeks ago, although we have heard that many of the Jewish people attend some of the church carolling as they are interested to know how we celebrate Christmas even though they don't believe in it.  It is so interesting learning of all the different Jewish festivals, but also with so many different cultures here, there are many different holidays observed.  A person would go absolutely crazy if they tried to follow every one.  Over the last week we have seen more Christmas lights, Christmas trees, etc around - and that is when you know they are not Jewish but Christian.  I even found another 'Christmas store' in the old city when we were walking around yesterday.

Here are a few pictures taken over the last few weeks. 
As we walk thru the streets of the Old City we came upon this coffee stand and immediately thought of Shelley and our other Starbuck fans.  Since we aren't Starbuck people we can't testify to say if their coffee was better or not.

 

 

A picture of the Western Wall at night.  This was Wednesday of Hannukah.  We wanted to take some pictures of the many different Hannukah candles around the old city and especially in the Jewish Quarter. 

 

A candle lit for Hannakah.  As this was the Wednesday of Hannukah not all the lights were lit.  By Saturday night they would all be glowing.  This was taken in front of the Western Wall.

 

 

 

 

 

 

Lights lit along one of the busy highways - again for Hannukah.

 

And then on Saturday night all the lights are lit.

 

 

 

In the last few days we have seen many poinsettia plants for sale in the flower stands.  These two plants are in our entrance to the garden.

 

 

On Saturday December 22 we had a Christmas get together with the local staff and the volunteers.  It was exciting that approx 30 people came, some with their spouses and children.  It was a wonderful evening with lots of food, lots of visiting, and then some singing.  When we looked around the room it was interesting to see the different nationalities presented - Israel, Palestinian, Spanish, Dutch, American, Norwegian, British, Armenian, Australian, and of course Canadian.  I hope I didn't forget someone!  What a diverse group we were and yet we all serve together in this wonderful place, and we all believe in the Lord Jesus Christ.

What a blessing it is to be able to serve here with all these believers, and celebrate Christmas together.  This is the first time in both our lives that we haven't been with family for Christmas so it is wonderful to have the 'garden family!'

 

 

 

Singing Christmas carols.

 

 

My new friend Matilda.  A great picture of her not so much of me.  She grabbed me before I had a chance to do anything about it.  What a beautiful person she is (inside and out), but has a very sad story.  We have had the opportunity to pray and cry together, and hope our friendship will continue even though we will be far apart.

 

Matilda and her son Faresh.  He is sooo cute.

 

This Christmas tree is on a roof top in the Christian quarter of the old city.

A couple of signs hanging in the streets in the Christian quarter of the old city.  What a great reminder as we walk thru the streets.

We have many more pictures that we are hoping to post but really want to send this post before it is Christmas.  In all the hustle and bustle of Christmas Eve, please take a few minutes to reflect on the reason why you are celebrating this special day.  As you sing the carols at the Christmas Eve or Christmas morning service,  let the words speak to your heart and soul as you worship the birth of our Saviour - Jesus Christ.

MERRY CHRISTMAS EVERYONE!

Hi everyone! 
Here are a few new pictures of our time here in Jerusalem.  It is hard to believe that we have less than 3 weeks left here.
The first picture is our favorite falafel and shawarma place, although we haven't eaten there for a couple weeks now.  We've got to get at least one more before we leave.

And right across from Moshiko's is this great ice cream place. 

 

An outside candy store right down the street from the garden.  It is mostly chocolate bars, some North American varieties.  The problem is very seldom see anyone buying so have no idea how long some of the bars have been sitting there.

 

Ladies selling their herbs inside Damascus Gate of the old city.

A couple more pictures of a Christmas Store inside the old city.  I was in there the other day and it was packed with locals buying Christmas decorations. 

Some fresh picked peppers!

And a bin full of mandarin oranges!

A young boy with this heavy loaded card going down the road outside the garden towards Damascus gate and into the old city.
The other day I saw a man walking with a mattress on his back.  I have to remember to take my camera with me every where I go.

Here are a couple of pictures taken inside the garden

 

 

Selling dates within the old city.

It doesn't seem like Christmas is only 9 days away.  The weather is still quite nice, although it has become cooler the last couple of days.  We are seeing some Christmas decorations up around the Christian quarter in the old city, but with no Christmas music and no snow it just doesn't seem like Christmas is so close.  So the other day I decided to so some Christmas baking.  As usual it is a little challenging as not everything that we need is available here, but with some scouting around to a few different stores I found what I needed.  Here is a little sample of what I made.  The other volunteers and staff are always happy to help us eat it!

I have more pictures to post but will leave it at that for now.  This past week has been Hanukkah so I hope to post some of those pictures.
Hope you are all ready for Christmas and enjoying spending time with friends and family.

Shalom.

NOTES FROM GUIDING AT THE GARDEN TOMB - PART 7

• Before we close each day at the Garden, we give five minutes notice to each group who are worshipping.  As I went to open the door of one of our underground worship areas ( big chapel ), I heard the words, " you may now kiss the bride ".  It's not the first time I had heard those words - last year a group of 500 came to worship and at the end they quickly held a ceremony in the corner of the Garden, even though they need permission to do so.  As it turns out, this recent event was a renewing of vows after 25 years of marriage.  Every day in the Garden is new.
• Glenda and I were invited to a Shabbat dinner Friday evening at the home of a couple of staff members at the Garden.  It's always fascinating to observe the Jewish traditions while we are serving here.  Shabbat is the Jewish day of rest and seventh day of the week, remembering the creation of the heavens and the earth in six days.  It starts Friday evening just before sunset and concludes Saturday evening about 7pm.  Can you imagine businesses in Canada being closed Friday evening and all day  Saturday?
• By the way Canada, I heard that the Toronto Maple Leafs are undefeated so far this hockey season.
• I guided a group of black American Pastors through the Garden Friday afternoon.  When they arrived, they were almost in a party mood.  Their Israeli guide told me afterwards they were the most unruly bunch he had guided.  They were wonderful with me though, intent on learning.  I told them that while they most likely knew the bible better than me, I could give them information on the Garden Tomb that they could take back to their congregation.  They were really encouraging and seemed genuinely interested in what the Garden Tomb stood for.
• A God moment....while we were waiting to start the tour with the U.S. Pastors, our head guide added three people to our group, which is often the case when small groups come in on their own.  I asked the lady in the small group where she was from - Savannah Georgia she said.  That caught the attention of one of the Pastors who as he turned around said, "I'm from Savannah Georgia ".  It turns out she had him speak at her church two months before and they had since become friends...who it just so happens came to Jerusalem seperately and to the Garden Tomb the same day, ending up on the same tour.
• This morning eight of us from the Garden Tomb volunteers attended an Arab Christian church in the Old City to support two of our staff, one of who led the worship there.  While I didn't understand a word of the songs, it was beautiful music and the congregation had come prepared to worship.  The worship I have to say is a few times louder than any worship leader than I have experienced, but just watching all of the young Arab children, and the young mothers worship was encouraging.  Where else but Jerusalem could you attend an Arab Christian service, hear the " muslim call to prayer " outside and then enjoy the special music of a lady from Wisconsin, U.S.A. who pulled out her "pocket trumpet" and led us in a wonderful version of How Great Thou Art.
• Looking forward to spending Christmas with the volunteers here at the Garden.  We plan on celebrating Christmas eve in and around Bethlehem which is only 8 miles away.  Interesting to note that during this slower season at the Garden, we are down to three volunteer guides - two of them are Canadian - Gord Reeve and me. 

Here are some recent pictures.
Some of the trees that needed to be removed from the garden. 

A few of the pictures taken at the Arah Christian church on Sunday morning. 

The women from Wisconsin playing her pocket trumpet.

Inside the church.  By the time the service started all the seats were full and some were standing.

Don sleeping with the garden cat - Lukie!  And he says he doesn't like cats!!

SHALOM