Just Checking In from Israel!
1. Ministry is going really good with our teams all throughout Israel. Our team Mosaic has been working with the Sudanese refugees and forming relationships. One of the kids we work with is deaf, but we communicate great with him. He is teaching us Hebrew sign language and its so fun. One of our guys showed the Passion of the Christ to three Sudanese Refugee guys and it was extremely impactful for them. We meet five nights a week and will finish that ministry before we head to Uganda at the end of the month.
2. Masada-This place is truly breathtaking! It is an ancient ruin high on top of a mountain with a very tragic story. Our team hiked straight up 700 steps to the top and saw an entire city of ruins. It overlooked the Dead Sea and at one time was a thriving city. The story is that the Israelites here were going to be attacked by the Romans and instead of dying by the Roman sword, they drew lots and died by their own sword. There were a couple people that lived to tell the story, so that it would never be lost. I really loved being there even after a grueling hour hike to get to the top. I have more pictures and videos to come about this, woohoo! 
3. En Gedi-This is the spot where David wrote most of the Psalms. We went here right after Masada and ended up hiking again. I was pretty tired by the time we got there but as soon as I saw all the waterfalls, I perked up. We saw three waterfalls, caves, wild animals and I got a chance to swim, and I loved it! I didn’t want to get out, but had to because the park was closing, booo. Again, I have a little video to show you soon. 
4. The Holocaust Museum- I had been to the one in D.C. but this one was mammoth. We were only able to spend an hour there because we got held up at the border. Our bus driver actually got arrested on our way into Jerusalem and we had to wait for 3 hours to leave for the museum. On our way there, we had to go into Palestine and none of us were expecting that. We drove through Bethlehem and all of us were so amazed we made it through and we were actually driving from Israel right into Palestine. By the time we got to the museum, other teams had already went through and we had very little time. Either way, it was so hard to digest all that we saw in such a short amount of time, but it was an hour well spent. I plan on going back again if we go to Jerusalem. They say it takes about nine hours to get through and the scope of material, pictures and stories will overwhelm you. I kept thinking, how could so much hatred exist? I can’t even begin to understand this horror and wrap my mind around the atrocity. After this experience I was quite sobered by all that I saw and I pray for a heart of compassion and love more and more! I know that it starts with individuals choosing love over hate. I’m actually reading more about that in a book called Abba Father, by Brennan Manning.
5. Dead Sea- I have been really looking forward to floating in the Dead Sea and have been since the day we got here. Today I finally got a chance to go and I absolutely loved it. I was so content just being in the sun floating in the water looking at the Negev desert and Jordan on the other side. 
This picture is on top of Masada overlooking the Dead Sea and facing Jordan.
6. Our sweet friend “Angel” I told you about has become such a good friend to us and just got back from a little vacation. Before she left, she took us to a greenhouse luncheon, made sure our girls got their packages and invites two-seven of us over everyday for food, conversation and good music.
