Our First Day Off

How could we be looking forward to some free time while we are on a "vacation" in Jerusalem?  It is not a holiday in any sense.  The first reason is that we are still on the last stretch of jetlag.  The second is that we have 12 hour days.  We do get a break for lunch and coffee.  Well, not always coffee if there are a lot of groups coming at the same time.  And the third reason for Donna is that she still feels some of the stress working in the gift shop.  When you have a few big groups all coming into the shop at the end of their tours it is very busy.  Many of them do not speak English.  Some like many Nigerians do not have much money but they still want to buy.  Donna is learning the things she needs to and a couple more days, I am sure will be more relaxed.

The guiding is finished at noon before the shop is finished.  So I am trying to get lunch started.  Even managed to get most of supper one night.  We were getting down on food to eat, so the one morning I managed to go down the street and get enough for supper.  We buy lots in the street markets close by.  This morning, we took 2 of the carts and walked to a larger store.  I hope the things we bought are what we think they are. Fortuantely, a bag of flour on the shelf had a little hole in it so we knew it was white flour.

This was on our way to the store.  And it is Dec 7.  The store is about a mile or more away.

The Garden is to close at 5pm but it is not that simple.  People are not all wanting to leave.  Then they go into the shop and want to be there for a few more minutes.  After they go, the ladies in the shop have to do the counting.  The guides all go into another room and count all the donations for the day.  It is about 6pm before we head to our rooms and start supper.

Here is Don Weglo, our fellow Canadian doing some of the morning sweeping.  There are hundreds of feet of paths and stairs.  With the staff dwindling for Christmas, there is much to do in our 6:30am sweep.  Donna has been on washing benches.  The following should give you an idea of just one section of benches.  With wind and rain a couple of afternoons this week, it makes a bit of a mess.  Lots of leaves coming down.

The best part for me has been to be able to get at guiding.  I love it.  My first group was 57 Nigerians.  They are a great group of people to lead.  I have now had a number of groups from the USA.  In addition I have had groups from Singapore, Kenya, and India.  The India group was with a translator.  Some of the groups are believers that are very much like us.  But we do get groups that we would find very differnent.  Strange belief system by our standards.  To hear and see the depth of some worshipping is very moving.  I have also been able to take some that have not come with groups but find the Garden on their own.  Those times are really great as it means I usually have more time with them to share.  Every group I get to talk about the cross and what it means.  Some of the groups are mixed with believers and unbelievers.  And almost every group I have someone asking how they could be a guide here.    There were 8 volunteer guides here when we came and by the first of the week we will be down to 3 couples in residence.  Two more couples are to come in January and Weglos go back to Vernon  at that time.  Wish you could be here to see and hear just for an hour. 

So shopping is almost done for the day.  Donna has done the vaccuming while I have been typing.  The laundry is in the machines.  She will likely be hanging it  on one of the roof patios as it is still sunny today.  And we are getting our physical batteries recharged.  Will be going into the Old City at noon to pick up an electrical converter.

Our friend Roni that is the guide we always use and some of you know, was here with a group of pastors from San Diego on Wednesday.  He had not been on the tour in the Garden for 20 years.  The outside guides have a room to relax while we take their people on tour but Roni came along with us.  It was also my "exam" by the chief guide.  I passed so looks like we get to stay.  Roni has invited the Weglos and ourselves for supper next Monday.  We have to see if we can work it out and he was going to check with his wife.  Next week is a school holiday for Hannukah so Roni wants us with them  for the lighting of candles and to share in one of the nights of celebration.

Well I think I will finish with taking you out of the Garden on a little shopping trip.  This is very close to our area. 

I am standing on the street taking the picture.  This is where we buy our meat.  We bought hamburger one day this week.  Could not see it anywhere so asked.  It was like our childhood days.  They asked how much we wanted.  One kilo was 44 shekels which is about $10.  They cut off a chunk of meat and into the grinder it goes.  Want to see what is also in the counters beside the chicken?  I want to show you anyway.

Yes, they are sheep or goat heads and the legs behind that.  And parts you might not want to eat as well.

Just down from the butcher  are many vegetable stands.  The sidewalks are crowded on the right side with the stalls.  Trucks come in all morning from the farms with the stacks of fresh veggies.

We appreciate your continued prayers.  Bye for now.  Gord and Donna