Our Work!!!

Shalom Everybody,

The IYA group has officially been in Israel for 6 days and let me tell you we have been keeping busy.  We are all working now; 4 guys and 2 girls at Kaplan Hospital and 2 girls at Kibbutz Shiller.  The work at Kaplan has been rewarding.  The guys have been cleaning air filters for the AC units in the maternity ward and the girls have been changing the dead light bulbs bringing new light to a dark place.  The girls working at the kibbutz have been working extra hard in the cafeteria cleaning dishes, the kitchen, and the bathrooms.  

Tonight after we finished moving our last load we celebrated by going to the mall in Rehovot and spending some of the shekels we brought to Israel.  If you know me (Chris) I bought some coffee sat and talked, while others bought clothes, frisbees and food.  You're probably thinking to yourself, "I wonder what an Israeli mall looks like?"  Well, if you've ever been mall in America add some Hebrew writing, and walla, you have an Israeli mall (McDonalds included).

Please continue to pray for our group.  

We might have an opportunity to go a different IDF base on Tuesday, please pray God will open this door.

Your IYA Co-Leader

Chris  

       

Pictures

FYI -- Pictures take about 30mins to upload.  sorry i know i promised them.  i will do my best to get them up for your viewing pleasure.

Your IYA Co-Leader who could use some good internet service and patience,

Chris

What A Day

Greetings All,

Well we never made it to the IDF base :)  The group was all packed in our 12 passenger van ready for a 2 1/2 hour trip north of the Sea of Galilee.  We were having a good time until our leader Bruce noticed the van was really swerving back and forth a lot.  A few minutes later we blew a tire.  We were about 45 mins into the trip.  BUMMER!!!  The group was so patient and calm as we waited 5 hours for help on the side of Highway 6.  After the tire was fixed we hit the road and headed home.  Surprisingly we waited right in front of the wall built around the West Bank.  None of us realized what the wall was until we started driving home.  In front of the wall was barbed wire fence with a sign that said, "STAY OUT MORTAL DANGER"!!!  We didn't go anywhere near that thing.    

Before our little accident on the road we went to Kaplan hospital to begin the volunteer entry process.  All of the members of the group working at Kaplan received TB shots.  These shots are given only to check if the volunteer has been exposed to TB in the past, not to prevent TB.  The employees of Kaplan who we worked with last year were sooooooo excited to see us come again and help.  Their enthusiasm for this years volunteers really got the group pumped to work there.  

We are all finally home and ready for some serious rest, we had a long day of walking, waiting, and worshipping.  As we waited on the side of Hwy 6 we recited songs of praise to our God for His protection over us as we waited.  Praise God from whom all blessings flow!!!

Keep Your Eyes Posted on Our Blog Site,

Lylah Tov (Good Night)

Chris   

 ps these pictures of us are taken first at Kaplan was we waited and in the van on the way to our fat tire experience.  The other pictures taken are the forms we needed to fill out in order to volunteer at the hospital.  All of the words were in Hebrew, that was fun. enjoy.  ck

We Made it Part II

Ok so here are some pictures of the group and the trip... we were in a rush to get our picture taken at the airport my appolgies for it being so blurry.  The second picture is of us at the kehlah before the service began.  

Today will be an EXCITING day.  By God's grace and the connection of a friend the IDF (Israel Defense Force) granted our group permission to visit their base up north in the Galilee region.  Keep in mind IDF bases are rarely visited and toured so it's not a right it's a definite privalige.  

Two of the girls started to work on the kibbutz today and the rest of us go to the hospital to fill out the volunteer paperwork.  This is a long process because all of the paperwork is in Hebrew; so for all I know I could be signing my life over to the hospital (JK).  

I hope you enjoy the pics everybody.

Your 2008 IYA group co-leader,

Chris 

We Made It

Greeting everybody.  The 2008 IYA group flew 6000 miles over the Atlantic and Mediterenean  to Israel safely.  Everyone arrived in Newark, NJ on Thursday morning to catch the 4pm flight to Tel Aviv, Israel.  Our 11 hour flight put us in Tel Aviv around 11am Israel time.  One of the group members connecting flight to Newark was canceled so she was forced to take a later flight to Israel, so she arrived yesterday around 9pm Israel time.

I will be sure to post pictures of the group soon. but until then Bruce and I are blessed to have Jon, Joy, Jourdan, Kevin, Mike, Lauren, Hannah, Joe and Kim.  This is a group that God has prepared before the foundations of the world and we are overjoyed to have each one with us.

This morning we attended the Kaylah (church in Hebrew) where we worshipped with Israelis, Russians, Germans, Swiss, Africans and Americans.  During the message believers heard the Word of God spoken in three languages simultaneously (English, Hebrew, Russian).  I am always amazed to see how Gods message of love, the gospel, transcends culture and touches the heart of every human whether they live in America, Europe, Africa or Israel.

Everything is tov (good in Hebrew) here in Rehovot, Israel.  We anticipate a good time later this week as we begin our work at Kaplan hospital helping the maintenance department.  Please keep us in prayers.  There will be much more to follow so be sure to keep up on blog.

Your IYA Co Leader 

Chris