I have tried to do blogs each Sunday but missed this week. Now we are down to our final three days so we wanted to send our last post. This week is the first for the Spring to be open over the noon hour. Tour groups cannot come in but individuals. If groups come in before noon, they are not having to leave until they finish their worship. Each couple has a turn from noon until 2 p.m. to be on duty. We have the rest of the day off other then our 6 a.m. cleaning project. Today is our day. That allows me time for the blog and we hope to get much of the required cleaning done. There is a very big checklist of what we are to clean before we leave. Tomorrow is our last official work day. Friday is the day they set aside for the cleaning but we hope to be nearly done before then. Friday is also the exit interview with the Director. It is his option to invite couples to come back. We have talked about whether we would want to come back, and if it were in a busier season we would be interested.
We have a few shekels left and Donna has been talking about a few things she would like to look at in the markets. So that could be this afternoon. Donna had been looking at shoes each week. She likes some made by a company on a kibbutz in Israel. Valentines Day it happened. Not that it was related to the day. Naot shoes are coming home!
We continue to have interesting people in the Garden. A good size group came with Governor Mike Huckabee. Also with the group was Pat Boone. He is 78 I think and his voice used to be much better. He had written a song for communion and sang it for the first time here.
Mike Huckabee below
There are a number of well known leaders that are believers that bring groups to the Garden.
We have an Israeli guide that I have got to know a little from times he is here. He shared his testimony with me one day. He had a dog that was extremely well trained. He could take it anywhere without a lead. He could give signals and the dog would do exactly as he wanted. In a time when things were very tense with the Palestinians, he was in the Muslim Quarter. Some men surrounded him. His dog took off and would not come back when he called. He followed the dog and was able to get away. The dog would wait for him but not come to him. The dog led him all the way to Jaffa Gate and then sat in front of a man. The man ended up being a believer and talked to the guide about the Lord. It was that event that was the starting point for his conversion. I had a group of his a few days back. He came into the office later looking for me and told me he would be back with a small group in a few days and wanted me to guide them. I said I would if I was available. As it was, I was to take a larger group but had to help someone else for just a couple of minutes. Someone else took the group. When I returned, there was my friend with his group of six. Ended up being the President of Delta Airlines and his friends. Was a good group and I believe one of the couples were not believers so another wonderful opportunity to share the Gospel.
The couple with Donna are from England. He is an Atkins and Donna on her dad's side have the Adkins. But the relatives of both from several generations back are both from Selly Oaks which is not a big town. Could be the long lost cousins.
Dor was a sea port in Phonecian times onward. Has many civilizations. Even Napolean was there and buried his famous cannons in the sea as he fled to Egypt. The one cannon in now in the museum. Dor was one of the corners of the tribes. Below is part of a huge ancient temple on the water front.
We were bad on Sunday- we skipped church. We used the staff car and went to the Tel at Dor. It is one of our favorite places. We took a couple that had never been there. The day was to have been raining but it was for the most part clear and warm. Felt so good to be back by the Sea. I had never had the time to climb all over the Tel when we have stayed there with a group This time we had all the time we wanted. Even had a long time in the wonderful museum. Thought of many of you that have been with me in the past as we stayed there in the kibbutz. They have renovated the guest houses and are building two larger hotel type buildings. They will only be two storey but it will be very nice when they finish.
It has been a great experience. Hope you enjoyed following our experiences. appreciate your prayers. Now the long (12 and a half ) hour flight to Toronto on Saturday. Two hour stop and the 5 hours to Vancouver. Overnight and the last flight to Kelowna. Blessings. gord and donna
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