"Preliminary Jerusalem Jottings"

As Larry and I make final preparation for our journey to Jerusalem, I want to share with you some "preliminary" Jerusalem Jottings. Part of the whole experience is the anticipation and preparation. I'm at the stage of making numerous lists, updating addresses, having one final lunch, dinner or coffee/tea (I'm a tea lover) with friends, and gathering items I don't want to forget in a sack in the closet before I actually pull down the suitcases from the attic and begin packing.

While living in Jerusalem this fall, I hope to share with family and friends my observations and experiences in this marvelous land. It's somewhat of a deja vu experience for us, since we were students at the former American Institute of Holy Land Studies in 1968-69. Larry had just graduated from seminary and this was our first big adventure overseas. It was life-changing! We continue to be grateful to God for this opportunity that truly launched our thinking and awareness about Middle Eastern issues and allowed us to meet wonderful Israelis and Palestinians. Now known as Jerusalem University College, the campus and program have impacted the lives of numerous men and women over the years and we still keep in touch with some of the friends we made during that significant year. We have been back in Israel for short trips since that time but never for as long as four months.

I hope to provide you with a glimpse of our day-to-day life while in Jerusalem and share with you what God is teaching me about this intriguing land and her people. I will be doing some volunteer work for JUC while Larry will be teaching and I will also travel on field trips with students. Another goal is to continue writing a memoir about my dear brother's life and his struggle with homosexuality and his resulting AIDS. What does "grace and mercy" look like for Christian families who go through this experience with a loved one? It's a little scary to think about writing this and perhaps that's why I have been putting it off. Even if this book never finds a publisher, I pray it will be meaningful to our family and my grandchildren, Jacob (14) and Anna (11) in the years ahead.

Thanks for reading and joining me on this journey. We will arrive in Israel the end of this month. As different ones have asked if we are afraid to be in Israel during this precarious time, I honestly have to admit that we are not afraid but more excited. As my son-in-law Brad (Philosophy PhD graduate student at Baylor University) reminded me, "Hey Mom, what a great place to be if something happens. What a way to go! You know you will be with the Savior immediately!" Well said, I thought. As I was reading in Isaiah, the Lord seemed to point me to this special verse that I am claiming as my own while we are in Israel (of course it is great for all times). Isiah 33:6--He will be the sure foundation for your times, a rich store of salvation and wisdom and knowledge; the fear of the Lord is the key to this treasure.