Make contact

I guess when you’ve been fasting for a month, it is all about the food. Food and friendship, laughter and chatter. 

Of course most of it was in Arabic; after the two or three words we know we are a bit stuck. But the smiles and the welcome and the hospitality of these refugee folks who have lost everything was lovely.

It was pouring rain yesterday when we arrived for the Eid celebration. The hall had been double booked so everyone was traipsing up the street to the town hall carrying their trays of special food, pushing buggies and holding umbrellas and dodging puddles. Nothing quite like a Scottish summer. It must be so different from Iraq and Syria. 

But there were no complaints, nothing but happy smiles, children playing with balloons, and the food, which was different and delicious. The motto of our church’s youth fellowship is ‘make contact, make friends, make disciples’. 

We have made contact, and will press on to make friends. It is a privilege.

Jerusalem Jottings

On February 2 I turned my face towards Jerusalem. 

Not because it was Groundhog Day and I wanted to see my shadow. But because there is about one month to go before I truly will turn my face towards Jerusalem.

I’m going on Pilgrimage.

Though in a sense, I’ve always been on Pilgrimage. 

And it slightly worries me that when the Bible says Jesus turned his face towards Jerusalem, it heralded the beginning of the end. But oh, what a glorious end!

So. On February 2, I bought myself a handbag large enough to contain the IPAD Don and I bought for each other for Christmas. :-) 

I hope to travel light. Carry-on luggage only. We’ll see.

Rather belatedly, I’m starting to look for books I should be reading in preparation. I would have thought this tour company would have recommendations. But no.

I’m thinking of purchasing some sort of teach yourself Hebrew book. I am sure that Don already has a teach yourself Arabic. 

Not that I will probably need them. I fear that the most historic sites may feel a little like Disneyland, complete with cute kiosk staff and ‘have a nice day’ English speakers. But still. 

I’m beginning to think of ready cash. Dollars? Shekels? Talents?

But the most exciting thing I’m thinking about, is the seed of a writing project. 

We’ll see how we go.