OUR JEWISH MOTHER

Monday we set off out of our beloved city on our own for the first time since we got here. we decided to take the train To the coastal city Netanya. Zoe is tenacious with the scheduling and had us leave lots of extra time just in case. Well good for her because, we had a horrendous time trying to find the train station ,we don't trust goggle maps as much anymore! we should have learned the Hebrew word for Train apparently "chugga chugga  choo choo" does not mean any thing to the locals!

finally some smiles on the train!

 

 

 

We wanted to go to Netanya to check out a school "Israel Collage of the Bible" under consideration for Zoe's attendance next fall. Also we just had to meet this lovely Jewish couple, because  they are the in laws to my husband cousin in Toronto that started to read our blog and wanted to meet us. more on that later. we checked in the cheapest hotel by the sea and this was our view from the hall way outside our door.

   
 and this was our room, it was a one star ( or should I say fallen star) that had the right price very close to the beach!

 

we have never been in the mediteranian so right after we visited the school , we hit he beach and it was really amazing !  the water was so warm and clear and the sand was the consistency of powdered sugar!

 

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This trip was truly arranged by the heavenly holiday planner because not only did we get to spend time in the Mediterranean but we also got an invite to go up to the Galilee with a couple of people ,from Jerusalem that we met  on the Judea  tour!   we spent all of Tuesday up there .

this is our very first view of the sea of Galilee

I always thought is was bigger !

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we witnessed one of our friends get baptized for the first time in the Jordan river

 

he's enjoying the moments after the baptizim  

                                                       one of the many fish in this river

there was a real peaceful feel to this place.

 

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well on to the galilee where we got to go on a boat owned by a messianic Jewish believer who leads worships on the Galilee. learn more here:  http://hebrewworshipsongs.com/tm/

I was overwhelmed with emotion on this boat. worshiping God in song with all the other believers on the very sea where Jesus calmed the stormed and walked on water was a stark contrast to another life where I  would have been on a boat partying with a lot of intoxicated people half dressed in the Caribbean .  I am so thankful for my new reality in Yeshua, what a change he has done in my heart!

'HE LIFTED ME OUT OF THE SLIMY PIT ,OUT OF THE MUD AND MIRE:HE SET MY FEET ON A ROCK AND GAVE ME A FIRM PLACE TO STAND. HE PUT A NEW SONG IN MY MOUTH, A HYMN OF PRAISE TO OUR GOD. MANY WILL SEE AND FEAR, AND TRUST IN THE LORD. ps 40

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The next day we checked out of THE PALACE and met up with the sweetest couple Lucille and Brian. They are originally from South Africa via Canada, and they made Aliya  two years ago to Netanya. We all  got on like a house on fire and white on rice, like two peas in a pod......you get the idea.  They took us to the roman aqueducts , which were spectacular , this  was a water supply system from the north to the ancient city Cesserea,  as my indian Grandma would say

                                                                  'amazing whiteman' !

 

Aqueduct of Caesarea

The Aqueduct brought running water to the old city of Caesarea, along a raised aqueduct. The source of the water was the springs of Shummi, 10KM away. Herod build the aqueduct in the 1st C BC. later, in the 2nd C AD it was expanded by the Romans. Later, 2 more aqueducts were built.

 

 

                                             our new friends Lucille and Brian

 you can learn more about the this crazy water system here:http://www.biblewalks.com/Sites/caesareaaqueduct.html 

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while we walked the beach ,we  collected stones , marble and sea glass that washed up on the shore. they seemed so much like us  with their own unique past that shaped them into what we see today. unlike them, we  got to share our history  and reflect on  how we have been shaped and arrived at   where we were right now .  The  wonder of that moment with the big blue sea and the endless sky  as our witness we just spontaneously broke out in a prayer of Thanks to Ha Shem for all the Good He has done in our lives to bring us to this place at this time.

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Brian and Lucille took us to the ancient ruins of a city called Caesarea, Zoe sang the Shema in the amphitheatre ( sorry, she wont let me post it ) it was lovely. we got to tour around the ruins and have lunch there .  No doubt this place is interesting (what's left of it) and you can see this amazing video on what I looked like back in the day but it is ruined and desolate now. its kinda sad how men just build the most amazing things but in the end it doesn't  last.

   In 58AD the Apostle Paul, accused of causing a riot, was sent to Caesarea to stand trial before the governor. As a Roman citizen he requested to be heard by the Emperor , and so he sailed to Rome from Caesarea harbour . you can learn more about this city here:http://www.biblewalks.com/Sites/Caesarea.html

 

 

 

 

the day  gets even better , after lunch we go back to Netanya just to be treated with the best view of the city and tea in some Timmy's mugs!

 

 

 

Lucille is becoming quite the artist and told me when we were picking rocks on the beach that this is when her imagination kicks in and this is the result!

ADORABLE!

 

well this has been one of the best times we have had here and of course its all about the people we have met.

as we said our good byes that night at  the bus station Lucille was sure to squeeze us extra tight and with a lot of love told we need to call her right when we get home , because after all she is a Jewish mother! well Lucille I hope you know that we have adopted you as are our  Jewish Mother and you can fuss over us any time you like . we love you both!

 

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Tomorrow we are off to 'Bridges for Peace'  we have to say goodbye to our lovely cottage and go live in the residence with the other volunteers. Monday we start working in the food bank, for two weeks we will be there. hopefully I will find the time to blog again soon.

UNTILL NEXT TIME

SHALOM