On day three of our convocation, we heard again from Dan Juster, (http://www.kkcj.org/people/info/dan-juster), also from Aglow’s President and CEO Jane Hansen Hoyt (https://www.aglow.org/about-us/president-ceo).

During the time between sessions, we loaded on to a bus, and traveled to Revive Israel. (https://www.reviveisrael.org/ ).

Note: The rear view mirrors on the bus are on the front of the bus; and they’re still there!

I’ve always wanted to go here; Finally!

At Revive Israel, we were able to worship together under the anointing of the house worship team.

At first blush, I was quite underwhelmed.

But as God often does, He shows Himself awesome in seemingly unassuming ways.

I found Revive Israel to me modest, and small, and FULL of God’s presence.

Through Revive Israel, we were introduced to Kite-pride. (https://www.israel21c.org/kite-pride-creates-jobs-for-ex-victims-of-the-sex-industry/)

We came away with our own Kite-pride bags – and the knowledge that someone formerly from the sex trades, is getting a start on a new life!

Come with me next time for Day #4’s adventure!

“On this day, after the morning session, Frank and I went walking in the neighborhood around the Dan Hotel.

We shared a delightful lunch along the way; but I’ll share about that little jaunt later on in a different post.”

Well here is that post.

Each day we had some time in between Session 1 and Session 2, free time, to do whatever resting or exploring we wanted to do.

The first day, we took our bus ride back to the hotel for a nap.

Which turned out not to be as much of a nap, as a crash.

We had no idea just how tired we really were.

On day two, we decided on a walk around the neighborhood to find lunch.

We had our first encounter with falafel. Oh my goodness! It is served with your choice of sweet and savory additions, inside a pita pocket.

The place we first encountered this food, was no bigger than my living room; a place open to the street; charming.

We ate a lot of falafel while in Israel.

After eating, we went on a exploration through the neighborhoods around the Dan Jerusalem Hotel.

We wanted to wander a bit, and perhaps see a piece of everyday life in this place.

What we found, was that every street was different.

The unifying factor was the color of the stone. (referenced here; https://significantencounters.com/2019/09/27/day-2-jerusalem/)

About a block before turning onto this busy street again, we passed a school.

The children, like children everywhere, playing outside for recess. (I took no photos, because, kids!)

The laughter of children, a language we understood, a language universal.

A very small park in the midst of a stone and concrete neighborhood.

A breath of fresh air, and a glimpse of Jerusalem.

On the way back; reminiscent of a small town factory district, but still, family dwellings.

Although our walk was short, the heat of the day was catching up, so we headed back.

We would see many more neighborhoods on our further travels during the week.

It was a very different type of feeling walking through these places, knowing that we were actually IN JERUSALEM!

A place many want to go, and relatively few, get to experience.

Contrary to popular belief; Never, ever, did we feel unsafe.

In my childhood dreams, this would have been a palace.

I wonder how the inhabitants think of it.

Does it look like home to you?

The last home before our return to the Dan.

Not sure if the bars are for protection, or simply ornamental. (Did I mention we always felt safe?)

A bright spot in all of the neutral color.

We made it back in time to catch the second bus, and a nap at our own hotel.

Join me next time for Day #3.

Tuesday morning began with another trip to the Dan Jerusalem Hotel.

Our speaker was Dan Juster.

Dr. Juster’s resume is a long and full one. (http://www.kkcj.org/people/info/dan-juster) His overall focus has been the Messianic Jewish movement since 1972.

Our driver took us a different way than the freeway on this morning.

It was quite like the morning drive you might experience in the states.

It was neat to drive through some neighborhoods as the people began to go about their days.

Proof that people, are just people.

I can’t say that I remember seeing a bus anywhere.

My thought was that these kids were all within walking distance of their schools.

I did not think to ask.

There were to things that we all noticed about Jerusalem.

Construction. Everywhere.

And clogged up traffic because of the construction.

According to codes, all buildings must be built with the same color palette.

Due highly to the availability of stone resources.

If it was not built of local stone, it was built in concrete in the same color.

Most of the building we saw, was up.

There did not seem to be much horizontal land available.

The joke was that the national bird, was the crane.

Much of our morning drive was next to construction.

Traffic pushing through, next to enormous quarry like holes.Thes bus drivers – were simply masters at traversing it all.

We were quite surprised they had any mirrors left at all!

It’s hard to imagine what the terrain must have been like when Jesus walked here.

Israel has done a fine job taking rough terrain, and making it into something beautiful.

So happy we had a bus and not just sandled feet for our journey.

How on earth do they do that?

On this day, after the morning session, Frank and I went walking in the neighborhood around the Dan Hotel.

We shared a delightful lunch along the way; but I’ll share about that little jaunt later on in a different post.

I hope you are enjoying your little arm chair tour.

I’ll see you next time for Day #3.