November 5, 2006

• This Good Work!

  We're going....we're returning to the Promise Land after all.  After hearing PBZ's sermon this morning, Curt & I looked at each other and said, "I wanna go!!!"  At that moment we didn't think it was even possible.  "I think my passport is expiring in the middle of the trip." I told Curt.  It seemed impossible to make it happen on such short notice.  (FYI - background info - Curt & I met on the trip to Israel in April 2005.  We originally wanted to go on this year's trip, but when things got crazy over there this summer....we felt as if we were to back out of the trip. We were gonna go to celebrate our honeymoon).

  After church we talked to both PBZ and Peri.  PBZ told me that I wrote such an accurate account of last year's trip that if we were going, he'd might make me his personal blog assistant.  Last trip, every night I was in the computer center of the hotel up til 1-2 am composing my daily accounts of our Pilgrimage to Israel.  It was awesome and really helped me to put to memory every detail of our journey.  I can still look at our pictures and tell you almost every detail of each place...that is until the day we went to the Old City of David and saw Hezekiah's tunnel....at that point I think I was a walking zombie!!  I remember PBZ telling bits and pieces of his Goliath message (he said he needed to preach it again soon -- I think he did soon after we got back) and then Peri and another pilgrim got locked out of the entrance to the tunnel cuz we didn't do a good job counting and getting in the turning gate.  It was kinda funny cuz they looked like prisioners holding onto the bars wanting to get into the tunnel.  It was all worked out in the end...and they were able to join us.  (Rabbit trail...sorry!)

  After talking to PBZ, we longed even more to go...but with my passport...

  Then we saw Peri.  I shared our longing and doubt that it was probably way too late.  "It's never too late!" she said.  She went on to say that people bought tickets just this past Friday...and the best part, the airfare was still priced about the same it was when we orginally signed up.  And as far as the passport...there's a service in Chicago and we can overnight it, etc., etc.  Hummmmm....maybe this could happen....

  We called Dia (my step-mum), she went with me last time...with her on the speaker phone we all pray for peace and wisdom regarding Curt & I's decision.

  After lunch we went to JcPenny's...to get my passport picture taken....just in case.  We return home and dig out our passports.  I check the expiration date on mine....November 26th, 2006.  You gotta be kidding!!!!  That's 4 days after the trip is over!!!  Wow Lord! 

  Yeah, but flights and airfare...are the flights still available....can we still get on the flights with the rest of the group??  Get online...search...call Peri for more info....

  Yes the flights are still available.  Check finances, incoming paychecks, bills....yeah, it's feasible. 

  Call Barb Young to let her know what's going on and see what else we need to do to prepare for the trip.

  Curt knows he can get off work...I'm my own boss and it will mean some creative juggling when I return....but it's  do-able.

  We pray again...look at each other and have peace.  Curt gives the go ahead to hit the purchase button online to buy the tickets.

  OH MY GOODNESS!!!!!  We're going to Israel!!!!  I think this now is tops for the biggest spontaneous decision I've made in my LIFE!!!  We're very excited...but have a great deal of stuff to get done before we leave next Monday the 13th for Israel.

  Keep us in your prayers!  Pray we're extra productive this week at work and that we have favor in each and every area of our jobs!

  This is what I'll see in 8 days....

   

  Tel Aviv & the Med as seen from Joppa (place known for Jonah & the Big Fish & where Peter has his vision)

  

  The Med Sea as seen from Caesarea....where Paul stood before King Agrippa "I think myself happy!"

  

  Boat on Sea of Galilee (taken from the shore of Tabgha aka Peter's Primacy - where Jesus appeared to Peter after the Resurrection) -- This is one of my FAVORITE places!!

  Ahhhh....must go to bed and dream of the Promise Land.

  Don't worry...you'll get to live the experience through me!!!  I now have a digital camera AND a laptop!!  And now I know how to blog AND add pictures.  Stay tuned....you're in for a real treat!!!  (Maybe I should charge for viewing my blogs....hmmmm.)  That would be too selfish...can't do that!!

  G'nite!!!

   

  • 11:53 pm
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