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

Guiding,Gift Shop and Communion

Saturday was busy here.  We start work at 6:30.  Each of us has an assigned area to sweep or wash benches.  So it is 7:15 when we get "home" for breakfast.  And then at  8:15 when the guides meet for prayer and start guiding by 8:30.  The ladies start at 9 as their part depends on the groups already having had the guided tour. Of course, for Donna there is a bit of house work to try to squeeze in  the spare moments.  Saturday evening most of the volunteers go out for a supper.  Glad the half hour walk there was up hill so coming home after supper was all down.

So this is some of us having that supper

We are closed on Sunday but a surprise for us yesterday was chain saws outside our door about 7:30.  Of course Jews and Muslems do not have Sunday as a day off.  So a crew was here to cut down a number of trees.  The Garden is open all the other days so it was the only time for that kind of work.  What a big mess.  The Weglos , oursleves and a couple from Sweden headed off to West Jerusalem Baptist. 

Donna and the Weglos outside the church

 It is in a Jewish area but all are English speaking and not many Israelis.. They have their service in Hebrew Saturday nights.  The service went for two hours.  Then the 30 minute walk back home.  Except all of us needed a few groceries and the store is near the church.  It is a real grocery store.  All the labels are in Hebrew so you do have to guess at some things.  It was a late lunch.  Then there was the problem for all the volunteers.  It was obvious the contractors were not going to get the branches cleaned up and pathways swept for the morning when we would open.  So out we went and spent almost 2 hours hauling branches and sweeping.  Twelve of us were walking to King of Kings church for the 5pm service.  Again a half hour walk.  It was a very lively service for2 hours.  We stopped for falafel on the way home.

I don't know if you can pick out the man up the tree.  It was about an 80 foot pine.

Today I had my first opportunities to do the guiding.  Up until now I was in training.  That meant I would go with other guides to listen and observe what they do.  I was  anxious to get at it.  My first group was 46 Mormons.  It is great to be able to share my testimeny and talk freely about the crucifixion and resurrection.  As a matter of fact we are required to share.  The primary goal is " to present the groups with the Gospel of Christ's death, burial and resurrection in a biblical, inspiring , and relevant manner..."  How is that for a job description?

The second group was 53 Americans and the third was 20 Canadian Pentacostal pastors and wives from Canada.  I love doing this.  Of course we also have Jewish groups and secular groups and get to share with them.

Up until today we have had 8 volunteer guides.  Within the week, five of them will be returning to their homes.  So it should be busy even though the number of groups slow down with Christmas.

Tonight we have not gone for a walk.  Did enough around here today.  Some time tomorrow, one of us will have to head down the road and find some food for our supper.  Otherwise we will be having cereal for breakfast and supper.

We will try to post again on Friday as it is our day off.  We knew we were not coming here for a vacation.  It will keep us busy but is exciting to be able to serve the Lord here.

In the church bulliten Sunday there were two little Food for Thoughts that apply to us.
"In order to live off a garden, you practically have to live in it."  Well it is not a food garden but we live in it and this picture with Donna is not far from our front door.  The second one was " you dont have to lie awake nights to succeed.  Just stay awake days."   We are not "trying to stay awake at nights.  Jetlag is tough business with a 10 hour time change.  You can pray for Donna as she was asleep last night at 9 but awake at 1am.  Hard to go long on that kind of sleep.  Blessings.  Gord and Donna

Our First Day At the Garden Tomb

Believe it or not, I just lost all the first input for this.  Was trying to insert a picture.  So here goes again.

We had a good 3 flights to Israel.  Donna had packed so that we were right on the maximum in suitcases and carry on.  We brought some food items that are harder to get here but will sure taste good.  Not much sleep in the hours of travel so we were pretty tired yesterday afternoon when we arrived(Thur)  Did meet a man on the flight that is related to Bob Bouma and Thea.  He is going to Guatamala with a team from our home church.  Was on the plane from Toronto.

Don and Glenda met us at Ben Gurian Airport and it was great to see them.  The Garden Tomb owns two cars that we can use on days off.  Trouble is if we drive away from her, I am not sure I could ever get home again.  You would understand if you could see the maze of streets.  Was 25C when we arrived.  When we reached our apartment, it was 1:45 so we were able to join the team for devotions.  Then to our rooms to unpack.  Had some time later to wander around.  Picture an acre of property nestled in among trees and rocks.  They have done a great job of hiding the apartments at the edge of the property.  And there are many palces the tour groups from around the world can have a quiet place to worship and have a communion serive if they desire.  Our guiding involves taking them to Skull hill and showing the spot where the crucifixtion may have taken place.  Now it is on the edge of a Palestinian bus depot.  Just to the left of the picture above is Skull Hill.  Then we show them other parts of the garden including the large water cistern (over 1 million litres) and the wine press.  The last site is the tomb itself.  Most groups then take time for some worship.

In the short tme I was out yesterday there were groups from Russia, Papua New Guinea, Brazil, Nigeria and of course Canada and the USA.  It is wonderful to hear them singing.  More on that in future blogs.

Last night the Weglos had us over for supper.  They live in a unit right behind ours.  After a short visit, we were ready for bed.  Jetlag hits hard.  Donna does not sleep much on flights.  At about midnight we were both awakened with the sounds of what sounded like gun shots.  They were fireworks being fired off to celebrate the Palestinian vote in the UN.  Of course from a dead sleep and knowing what happened lately in Gaza, it does take a moment to figure it all out.  Just got back to sleep and they did it again. 

This picture is taken rigtht outside our front door.  Or unit is more then we expected.  We even have an ensuite washroom.  They had enough food in the cupboards and fridge to get us going the first couple of days.  This morning we woke up at 6:30.  This is our recovery day they give us.  So we meet staff and figure things out.  Glenda took us out around the streets to show us where she does most of her grocery shopping.  You would find it very interesting.  It will work just fine for Donna and we can get to bigger stores if we want.  Forget your food safe when you come here.  Baking and meat are hanging in the street.  Seller is likely smoking while passing it it too you with bare hands.  I know one bakery I will try to avoid.  The man licked his fingers before trying to seperate some bags.  Then with the same hands , we picked up the buns and put them in the bag.  Germs are good for you??

This picture in the garden is just 30 feet from our front door.  We are not suffering.  Well we are off to the staff devotions.  Maybe a snoozethis afternoon.  Greetings to all.  Gord and Donna

Today We Start on Our Way

The Weather Eye tells me it is -3 here and 20 in Jerusalem.  Who would not want to be headed to Israel.  Things are calm and back to "normal"  and we trust they will stay that way.  We have been in regular contact with Weglos at the Garden Tomb.( For those who don't know, they are a couple from Vernon that have become very good friends over the last few years)  Don and Glenda have already invited us for supper after we arrive on Thursday .  And I don't think we start work on Friday as it will give us some break from jetlag.  And it will also be my 67th birthday.  Will be the third time in four years to have my birthday in Jerusalem.  Not that we planned it that way.

Last night was Christmas at our house.  We had our local part of the family over for supper and had set up the Christmas tree and stockings.  Was a surprise for the grandchildren.  Tree was down and decorations put away before we went to bed.  But it was fun.  Wish Caleb and Don, Linda , Marrisa and Isaac could have been with us as well.

Donna is busy cleaning and doing the laundry.  We have people from Saskatchewan staying in the house for the three months.  I am headed into town to clean the road salt and mess offf the car and then want to cancel the insurance.  The folks that will stay here come after lunch so we will help to get them settled in.  Just after 3 we head to the airport.  Stay near the Vancouver airport tonight as we have to be there at 5am.  Then on to Toronto with a short stop and Wed. night overnight to Tel Aviv. 

We sure appreciate all those that will be praying for us.  If you want to know a little more about the Garden Tomb, they have a new web sight up.  Has a great picture on the front screen.  We will be living in the garden for the 3 months.  There are about 8 small apartments on one side of the garden.  God willing, our next blog will be written from there.  The link is  http://www.gardentomb.com  Blessings, Gord and Donna

Just Eleven Days Until Planned Departure

Donna and I are booked to leave Lavington on Nov 27th.  Several have been asking what the fighting in Gaza will mean for our trip.  The answer is that we do not know.  I have had two emails from Jerusalem this morning and even though there was an air raid siren as two rockets were fired in that direction, life in the city is pretty much the same as usual.  Of course if the fighting erupts into a war, then our plans will need to change.  For those never having been to Israel, for the last number of years there has been constant tension and rockets in the Gaza area.  Tours have not been affected.  Even today, the tours are still doing the regular sites.
Donna and I are praying that God would make it very clear as to what we should do.  We value your prayers not only for this decision, but for our ministry at the Garden Tomb, should we be able to go as planned. 

This is the first Blog I have sent out to a bit of a mailing list.  We hope to update  it a few times each week when we are in Jerusalem.  Will also try to include some pictures.  Feel free to respond in the comment section or feel free to email us directly.  We will be using our regular email address.  Blessings. Gord and Donna

Here is the street map showing the Old City and the location of the Garden Tomb.  (Below the Garden Tomb you can see the Damascus Gate as shown in the previous picture of the Old City Gates.)

This area of the city is a Palestinian community.  Up until 1967 it was a part of Jordan.  Still considered part of the West Bank.  The area around the property is housing, shops and some schools.  On either side of the Garden Tomb are Arab bus stations.  Donna will be doing most of her shopping for bread, fruit and vegetables on sidewalk markets within a couple of blocks of "home".

Damascus Gate

WANT TO KNOW WHERE WE ARE IN JERUSALEM?

From the Damascus Gate we are about two blocks to the north.  Of course the newer parts of the city surround the old city within the walls.