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

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