So it seems like I have yet again gone on a hiatus from writing! And it isn't for lack of things to say...it is for knowing where to begin!
For those of you that are Facebook friends you know I had the amazing opportunity to venture to the Holy Land in March! Talk about the trip of a life time! I have dreamed of going to Israel for quite some time-- I just always thought it would be something I'd have to plan well in advance-- not the spur of the moment, 'hey, let's go in 3 weeks' kinda trip that we ended up taking!
One of the pains of living in a foreign country is having to work on the documents to be able to live here legally. However that pain brings with it an amazing perk! Travel!! In order to renew your visa to live in Ukraine, you have to leave Ukraine in order to do it and go to a Ukrainian consulate abroad. I had planned for this to happen while I was in London...but long story short- it didn't work out, so thus the trip to Israel at the last minute with auntie and cousin in tow!
So while we waited the week for the visa to be processed we had a Holy Land adventure! We were able to go to Tel Aviv, Jerusalem, Nazareth, Galilee, Tiberias, Bethlehem and Judean Samaria! We were on our own for the first 4 days
(adventures in rental car!) and part of a passover convocation with a ministry friend for the last 4 days.
I wrote in my journal quite a bit while in Jerusalem, and thought I might share some of those thoughts here...but I'll spare you the words and instead let the pictures speak for themselves.
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| On the Mt. of Olives over looking the old-city |
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| wailing wall |
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| the Sea of Galilee |
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| on the Mt. of Beatitudes |
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| The Dead Sea |
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| Church in Bethlehem |
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| my beautiful cousin Honnah |
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| The Garden of Gethsemane |
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| The Golden Gates |
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| In front of the empty tomb |
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| Our Passover meal |
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| my prayer at the western wall. |
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| a spectacular sunset in Samaria! |
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| my lovely traveling companions |
I started following your blog about a year ago and have been reading your posts (through e-mail subscription) ever since. We have a vested interest in the orphan ministry, though our work in Ukraine has been church-planting with an orphanage ministry as one of our many, many ministry outreaches.
ReplyDeleteWe served in Ukraine as missionaries for 10 years, until recently when visa issues (which are tougher in the Crimean region where we have been living) caused us to reconsider and relocate. My husband just accepted a position as Missions Director at a college in California.
The reason I am writing... last year we were given the run-around with our visas and found ourselves having to look for another place to live for 3 months. We chose Israel, and what an amazing adventure that was! My husband was immediately offered a volunteer position at the Garden Tomb where he was able to use his Russian to give tours and share the Gospel all day long at THE PLACE where it all took place. So, Israel has a very special place in our hearts!
Your hair has gotten long! So glad you guys could travel and enjoy the sights together! Miss you bunches!!!
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