Jerusalem Overlook

Today we spent the day on the bus with the students and two of the faculty (Drs Huff and Esplin) on what they call the "Jerusalem Overlook" field trip. We traveled completely around Jerusalem with several stops to look and discuss the history. For example, we climbed a zillion stairs to the top of Augusta Victoria hospital from where we could view 4 directions all around. We also went to the hills above Bethlehem to view Jerusalem one way and Bethlehem the other (Of course, Carol and I went through the checkpoint just yesterday to attend Church with our new callings there). What a great experience to see all of these views with the help of experts!  We look forward to taking all 20 student field trips during the course of our service--including the four extended ones (Egypt, Jordan, Galilee and formerly Turkey--but now likely Greece). So there are some great perks that come as reward for our service. We are grateful--and continue to be very busy learning and serving.

Sweet Children

We are so grateful that the organizations we are working with are being prompt with the distribution of the school kits. Many are going into Gaza and West Bank. My prayer for these precious children is that they will be safe and happy and that, through their studies, they may find increased peace and joy for themselves and their families.

A Personal Tour

What an interesting and lovely culture. Carol and I decided to walk to the old city today and had just started out when a man stopped and insisted that he take us in his taxi. Later when I reached for my wallet, he adamantly refused any payment. He recognized us as being from "Mormon University" (And of course, the fair and legit hope is that we will refer others to him and his business friends). He gave us an "off the beaten path" tour of the Mount of Olives and showed us his family property where they have lived for "460 years"--quite common for locals to know exactly how long they have been on the land. He showed us his olive orchards (on the Mt. of Olives) and explained somewhat about the care and keeping of the trees. Next he dropped us at his friend, Jimmy--proprietor of Jimmy's Bazaar. Jimmy and his thirteen craftsmen supply olive carvings of biblical (and B of M) characters. In discussion with Jimmy, it came up that I had lived in Lehi, Utah for many years and wouldn't you know that he is a long-time personal friend of the Mellor family who lived just down the street from me in Lehi. (Carl was principal of our kids' school when we moved there and I taught his children in seminary--plus many other dealings) It is a small world after all. Jimmy treated us to drinks--and of course already knew "no alcohol, coffee, etc."  He then walked us down the street and pointed us to the garden tomb.

Such a wonderful culture. Such sweet, humble and good people. I pray for their well-being and for peace for all.

A few thoughts of the week

We are so busy. In my promise to keep you informed, here are a few bullet point thoughts of the past week or so. (Also, check out our facebook pages where Carol has been sharing video tours of the Center and I have been sharing her videos)

• Thinking of the dear lady on our tour yesterday who sat in the midst of the auditorium and wept, while seeing our spectacular view of Jerusalem and listening to the beautiful organ. Turns out she was born here in Jerusalem and now works in education with children at the most northern border and hears the sounds of war from neighboring nations and fears for the children. She said this is one of the most peaceful places on earth and wants to return.
• Our new friend, dear Father Raed who wanted 2500 school kits to distribute to the West Bank and Gaza children. When he and his helpers came to pick them up, his truck was too tall for our garage so he/we wrapped the boxes in plastic wrap, put them on our manual forklifts and then he towed them up the ramp to the street with his car and loaded them on the truck. He is the head of Catholic Charities in all of Israel.  Sweet man.
• I am still struggling with the banking and processes with my clerk calling. I saw dear Ghalib, the accountant of the JC for 30 years, headed for the bank so I asked if I could tag along. He answered my questions on the short drive, gave me a history lesson along the way and then introduced me to the key players at the bank. 
• I also drove to the bank alone a few times and can now do it without WAZE (gps)
• We have had some delightful meals with the new faculty members and their families who just arrived last evening for their one year assignments at the Center. So nice to hear the voices of little children in our spacious halls and stairways. I tried to make them laugh by apologizing that our escalators were out of order for the day (there are no escalators--just endless stone stairs that I call "escalators"). The associate director also made an announcement to the families to please help the children not explore all of the vacant student rooms and leave the doors open "so the elements do not go in." I chimed in, "Elephants? I have seen the lizzards but no elephants." A few of the kids smiled, at least. so I will take it as success.
• I have sent out over 7,000 school kits this week--so happy to get them out before school begins.
• There are opportunities to teach and testify--not outside of LDS realm, but I spoke in Tel Aviv branch last week, Jerusalem branch today and off to Bethlehem branch tomorrow and in the seminary kick-off next week. (Thanks to my friend, President Coombs, the new district president. Apparently he does not want me to become bored or lazy.)

Well, enough for now. We are getting ready for another busy week. On top of our own duties, we are covering the assignments of another couple who just left on a cruise to Norway for their 50th anniversary.

Love to all

• 
  

A Peaceful Oasis

We are are still very busy and making progress on our learning curve--but far to go. So just a few comments for now. First, we had a meeting with the lawyers and accountant today on District business. (As I try to get my mind around my duties as district clerk). Two highlights for me--each of the three men greeted me with the correct pronunciation of my name ("Reg" not "Redge") Obviously our executive director had coached them--but very unique and refreshing. Second, the lead attorney said to me in the meeting, "I want you to give me a course on organization."  I replied that since I know not what else to do, I have been paper shuffling.

And on another note, there are so many blessings along with our frustrations. I can best portray this beautiful center by sharing some quotations from our guest book of the past few days: "I feel peace here--I want to come back"  "There is so much light here"  "I feel that the music has been channeled from a higher source"  "This is a different world"  "This is an oasis--a peaceful oasis"  "This is the most beautiful place on earth"

Last evening we said goodbye to our 79 students as they boarded the bus for their flight home. It is pretty quiet here now. Tonight we are going to dinner with the other service couples and the remaining faculty members still here. Tomorrow, they leave. So, peace and quiet for a few weeks until our new students arrive. All is well. Peace and love to all.

Meetings with NGOs (Non-Governmental Organizations) Today In West Bank

Exciting day today as we traveled to the West Bank to meet some of the NGOs we are working with, and deliver school and hygiene kits.  No one from the center is allowed to drive in to the West Bank so we had a driver take us.  Jeff and Joyce Smith, the service couple we are replacing, Reg and I, and the driver traveled in. We felt very comfortable traveling there, and everyone we met was so kind and welcoming.  

First stop was at the Peace Center for Heritage in Bethany, and lovely Sawsan welcomed us into her shop which sells beautifully handcrafted items made by local Bedouin/Palestinian women.  She holds classes in her building to teach women the skills needed to handcraft these beautiful items, thereby providing income for their families.  

Joyce and Sawsan

We, the Jerusalem Center (JC) provides materials for the production of these beautiful items.

Next stop was the Shorouq Society for Women run by Fatima.  

   http://www.shorouqsociety.org/ar

We dropped off kits here and had the best lunch I think I have ever had in my life - fresh, from scratch, locally grown food!  The JC has provided sewing machines, kitchen processing equipment, school supplies and many other things. 

Before we headed to Bethlehem we visited Lazarus' tomb!  John 11:1-45  

Old building remnants on way to Lazarus' tomb.

Down a long flight of stone steps...

Into an opening in the floor...

The tomb

We are here!

We have arrived safely in beautiful Jerusalem. Our apartment at the Center is wonderful with a balcony facing Old Jerusalem (standard for all apartments). We have met the great people we will be serving with and look forward to our association with them.

Today has been an incredibly enlightening day--and also difficult (jet lag and a very steep learning curve). But, we have been there before and I am sure we will settle in to the routine. We accompanied a tour of the Center for 3 young ladies from an NGO doing incredible things with disabled children in Israel. They have been part of our humanitarian outreach for a few years now and we had a meeting with them after our tour to learn of their future goals and vision. They are so kind and appreciative of the help offered them from the BYU Center.

We are now going up to meet the faculty and the 79 students, who are just returning from 10 days in the Galilee--so it will not always be so quiet as it has been today. Tomorrow, we will work with them on a humanitarian project of school kits (the goal is to assemble 700).

Well, we need to go for now. We will keep in touch.