Shalom Friends and Family,
I am sorry this post is a few days late ... truthfully, I am still experiencing some jet lag from our flight back to the States, and I did not realize we were in May, until today :). I did not have time to make a long post, but hopefully you will enjoy these few photos! We had a wonderful time in Israel and we patiently, but eagerly, await the next time our Heavenly Father sees fit for us to return to that beautiful Land!
This is one of my favorite pictures. I love the colorful flowers and the stone. The Hebrew on the stones says, "City of David."
Palm tree shadow on the Old City Wall in Jerusalem.
Tommy with a group of soldiers at the Kotel (Wailing Wall).
Beauty in a dusty land.
I always enjoy seeing this windmill, because it reminds of a series of historical fiction books ("Promise of Zion," by Robert Elmer) that my father would read to us children. The windmill is mentioned in several of the books.
Palm tree.
One day our group went to the Independence Hall Museum in Tel Aviv. This is where David ben Gurion and the Jewish leaders declared Israel's independence.
This verse was on one of the walls.
A beautiful sunset in Rishon Le'Tziyon.
American football is not very well known in Israel ... but believe it or not, there are 11 teams in Israel. Some friends of ours own a hotel in Tel Aviv and their hotel sponsors one of the teams. So, when "our" team went to the national championship game, some of our family, along with other friends ,went to cheer them on!
Lydia and Miriam.
Sisters!
The Pastor's son plays on the team as well ...
Samuel and Cole.
A baby pomegranate.
One night (late at night!) we went out with a friend for frozen yogurt. We had such a good time together.
Someone had painted large wings on a wall, so we all got our pictures by them.
Abba and Ima.
Us children and Linoy.
Beauty!
Our family went together with a couple friends, to see the sunset the evening before we left.
Thanks to Roland for taking these pictures.
Abba and Lydia.
Making many sweet memories together.
Abba and Ima.
Now, here are some "then and now" pictures, to show you the change in 8 years :)
This is Yona's (Jonah) whale in Yafo (at least, the monument of it!).
Last month ... in the same place!
Eight years ago we planted an olive tree ...
Now, it is WAY taller than any of us :).
I hope you have enjoyed. Shabbat Shalom and have a blessed month!
So awesome the pictures. Most exciting are the before and the now. You are an awesome family and I am so blessed to call you my family!!! Love to each one of you. A trip to Ocean Isle Beach is in order. You will be shocked at the end of the island that was in the water!!!!
ReplyDeleteThank you Cousin Becky for your kind words and invitation ... we had such a lovely time last year at your place:) It is really busy around here right now, so I don't think we'll be going anywhere for awhile ... but we will keep it in mind! Love y'all.
DeleteYou guys are awesome!!! I loved reading your emails and seeing the pictures.
ReplyDeleteJoel
All glory, honor and praise be to our Almighty God! Thank y'all so much for all your encouragement and prayers.
DeleteHello Sarah Washburn. So good to know you and your family through your profile on the blogger. I am also glad to stop by your blog " A Journey of an Israelites family in Exile" and the post on it "A month in Review: April". What a blessing to see the pictures of you all and know you and your family. It is a unique thing to know God's people all over the World. I am from Mumbai, India and have been in the Pastoral ministry for last 35yrs in the great city of Mumbai, India city with great contrast where richest of rich and the poorest of poor live. We reach out to the poorest of poor with the love of Christ to bring healing to the broken hearted. We also encourage young people as well as adults from the West to come to Mumbai on a short / long term missions trip to work with us in the slums of Mumbai amongst poorest of poor sharing the good news of Jesus Christ and to give them new hope, life and future. Since your desire is to move around the world, it would be great thing and we would love to have you come with your siblings to Mumbai, India to work with us in the slums of Mumbai. God willing I will be coming to United States in the month of June/ July and will be so glad to visit your family and grow in friendship. My email id is : dhwankhede(at)gmail(dot)com and my name is Diwakar Wankhede. Looking forward to hear from you very soon.
ReplyDeleteThank you for your comment and for the invitation to India. We have friends who have served there. While I would not be opposed to visiting India someday, the Father has not called us to do so now. Many blessings on your work there, may our Heavenly Father richly bless you for it.
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