We got back from Eilat Sunday night pretty late. And everyone is sick... So, the four of us who arent sick got up early the next morning and went to a single mom's house to do some yard work. Unfortunately she wasn't home, so we didn't get to meet her. But we were there for four hours pulling weeds. It was a forest. Unfortunately none of us took a before picture. One of the woman's neighbors left and then came back home while we were there and all he could do was thank us. It meant so much to him that we were taking time to clean up their front garden area of the apartment complex. He brought us out some cinnamon and ginger water. He was so sweet.
Here is the after picture. All the dirt you see was FILLED with weeds (like the area of garden behind it).
Up to this point we have been putting on kids programs or special events for single moms or refugees, but the most gratifying work in my mind is physical labor. I can see the results of my work immediately and can see progress while im working. It's hard here with the events because of the language barrier. I have no idea if people are enjoying themselves or if they think we are just crazy stupid Americans.
I loved getting up early and working in the yard. All those summers of gardening at my house payed off. I've put in sprinkler systems, laid concrete and put together a stone fountain, stained fences and play structures and much more. One summer I even worked for a landscaping company and mowed yards. Ive planted grass, spread tons of sand for a playground area and dirt for grass. I know how to lay sod and landscaping barriers. You name it, I've done it.
Anyways... after we got back around 1 I stayed in the rest of the day. We planned for Tuesday's service events and a lot of people went out to the light show in the Old City, but I had an upset stomach and stayed home with another girl on the team who was sick. It was a nice relaxing afternoon and evening.
TUESDAY JUNE 17
Today was long. We set up for a banquet lunch for Holocaust survivors. They were all so cute and all the ones I spoke too hardly spoke English. I got their names and the countries they were from. It was so amazing to see so many people who went through such hardship in their lives and are now here in Israel still hoping and praying for their people. If you donated money to my trip, this event was one that the funds we raised fully paid for. We catered kosher food and made the house into a nice banquet setting for them. We sang some songs and talked about where we were from. It was a sweet sweet time.
Sadly we didn't get to hear any personal stories, but it was such a happy and fun occaision for them I was glad to just be a blessing to them. They said that a lot of the people there had survived the concentration camps and others ran and hid for their lives during the war.
A picture I snapped during the banquet.
We had back to back events today. We went straight to an orphanage here in Jerusalem to hang out with the kids. We were expecting children, but they were all preteens and teenagers. Which turned out to be really awesome. This is another event that our fundraising went towards. We ate pizza and played games with them. We all left wishing we could spend more time getting to know the kids.
After we told them about where we were from in the states and a little about each one they told us about Israel. It was heartbreaking to hear them immediately talk about the hatred here and the wars and attacks and learning that a couple of the kids were from cities who get rockets all the time (some even last night). The translator wanted them to talk about more happy things, so they turned to the weather and the Western Wall.
The kids are at this place because their family cant take care of them or dont have the means to or for a variety of reasons. They were all very nice to us, but they also all wanted our attention, plus the Isreali culture added to the rambunctiousness of the evening.
It was a filled and exhausting day, but it was also very fulfilling and rewarding. I am so thankful to those who supported my trip, specifically on days like this where we are able to touch the lives of locals who have experienced so much pain in their lives.
WEDNESDAY JUNE 18
We woke up early today (or a select few of us who dragged ourselves out of bed did) and went to the Dome of the Rock.
You get an amazing view of the Western Wall on the walk up to the Dome of the Rock.
ITS SO BEAUTIFUL!!!! Still cant believe I got to go!
It was interesting to see the Jews worshiping at the Western Wall and then the Muslims at the Dome of the Rock.
What was even more interesting was seeing how physically beautiful this place was, but also how ugly it was.
First, let's get some things straight...
1. The Temple Mount belongs to Israel, no matter what anyone says. It's very complicated, but basically, for peace purposes, Israel has sovereignty over it, but gave it's jurisdiction to the Muslim government.
2. Anyone is allowed to worship at the Western Wall
3. Only Muslims are allowed to worship on the Temple Mount.
4. The IDF, The Israeli Military, guards the Temple Mount so that the Muslims can worship in peace without fear.
While we were up there, we witnessed a very interesting spectacle.
We heard men chanting in the distance and thought we would go check it out, expecting there to be a big prayer gathering (Ramadan starts this month so there is much preparation now in the Muslim community).
What was really happening was very different. A few religious Jews were being escorted by two heavily armed guards down by where the sealed gate area of the Temple Mount is. The Muslim men were yelling "Allah aqbar!" or "God is great" at these jews.
Then the women and children joined in. The women were yelling more nasty and personal insults at the jews and the boys started throwing rocks.
Literally 4 jews walking quietly into a section of the Temple Mount (where they are allowed to be in the morning) started all of this uprising.
At one point one of the Muslim men turned to our group and shook his head and kind of waved us off like we should get out of the immediate area.
The only reason why this didnt turn violent is because of the armed guards. Actually, one of the boys tried to throw rocks at us. At some point it turns from just targeting a few Jews, to targeting all non-muslims on the Mount.
This was something that was very beneficial to witness first hand. There were a few minutes where I was legitimately afraid for my safety, at one point the yelling got so loud and the men were pumping their fists in the air and beating on their chests and the boys were hurling rocks from above and the women who were sitting and praying started to yell as well.
My heart broke for both parties of the event. It is this conflict and tension that Israel survives daily.
It didnt take away from the physical beauty. It made me appreciate the Dome of the Rock even more. Prophesies say that the Third Temple will be built, which means the Dome of the Rock will not always be standing. And I'm thankful I could see it while it is.
After we left the Mount we went to the BEST coffee and tea place again, and talked through the encounter.
To see a glimpse of this turmoil that the country of Israel and Israelis themselves face I will tell a story that our group leader, Robynne, told us.
One of her friends was in the IDF during the Intifada. This was when Muslim children were throwing rocks bottle bombs at IDF soldiers. Her friend saw a boy who was aiming at their unit about to throw a bottle bomb. He was given the order to fire a rubber bullet at the child's feet to scare him off. Robynne said that her friend looked into the boys eyes and could not shoot at him.
His best friend died that day because of that bottle bomb, they were in the same unit.
The man also disobeyed orders which resulted in an soldier's death, so he went to prison, where he mourned the death of his friend. He also walks with a limp due to the bottle bomb and the multiple surgeries he had to remove shrapnel from the bomb.
To this day he says he still wouldn't shoot that boy. Knowing the result is the death of his friend, a prison sentence, and physical harm to himself, he would still not aim a rubber bullet at the child's feet who threw bottle bombs out of hatred of Israel and the Jewish people and nation. If that isn't powerful, I dont know what is.
These are the things the people here deal with daily. Robynne says the weight that she carries daily because of the kidnapped boys, the unrest in Israel, and even still, generations later, from the Holocaust, is eye opening. All because she is Jewish.
Anyways....
After the Temple Mount the rest of the day was ours, yay for a free day. I did the majority of my souvenir shopping for my family and mailed out my final batch of post cards. Which ended up being A TON of walking. The best find of the day... A local artist's collective ceramic store. I bought two beautiful mugs and I absolutely love them and pray they don't break on the trip home.
Dont worry, more politics and happenings of Israel to come in the next postings.
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