Run Honey Run: Recently

We are always learning, doing and being. Some recent highlights of life below:

1. Philip spent a day with our Muslim friend, Mahmoud, last week working at a home for mentally and physically handicapped people. The day was part of a larger "service" day in Israel, but we didn't know that. Philip helped prepare soil, plant za'atar, and just really enjoyed other staff, residents and volunteers. He received a free t-shirt that said something about the free service day he was part of. People who see him wearing the shirt, which is in Hebrew and Arabic, get excited that he is wearing something in their languages:).

2. We are finished with our on-line class! We have been interacting with students from around the world in a seminary course taught by Linford S. But, after two semesters of cross-cultural discipleship, we have written on the last forum.

3. NV is putting on an Easter play of sorts. Last week we were part of rehearsals. You will notice that Philip has to play a dead Jesus; he's lighter than the actor who plays a living Jesus. So, Philip is placed in NV's new tomb and then, at the right time, he pushes the stone away dramatically and emerges as the angel who speaks to the women (Betsy and others).

Here some "disciples" are hanging out in the first-century winepress trying to hide from the "audience."

4. On Friday evening we were invited to Danie's house for a cook-out with the young people from his fellowship. Philip brought his guitar which made a lot of the guys really interested to connect! The time was spiritually refreshing for us. We also enjoyed really good food and really fun people. Daniel and his family even surprised us by singing Happy Birthday to us and giving us a small gift which included two blue stuffed rabbits attached to each other by a string. When you pull the string they say "I love you. I love you, too" in Russian!

5. On Saturday we walked up to Nazareth Ilit in our Sunday best to attend Daniel's fellowship. We sang some songs there. Friday night and Saturday morning were the first times we had shared music with Daniel and his congregation. They all were super surprised and impressed:)

Nazareth Ilit is a quiet, wide-street town above Nazareth. On the Sabbath it is very quiet. As we walked from the sleeping town down into the streets of Nazareth, we were slightly disoriented, moving from Sunday to the bustle of a normal Saturday.

6. For a little more confusion, we celebrated Palm Sunday the next day in the Basilica of the Annunciation with our good friends, the Karam family. Since they are deeply religious Catholics, they were able to guide us through the celebration and Mass.

The morning started with bells and more bells echoing off the Old City. Then a parade of bagpipes, priest, scouts, drums and palm carriers. They paraded into the church courtyard where olive branches were blessed, then paraded back out and up to another entrance to the large church. We walked into the church on large palm branches laid on the sidewalk. The church was packed with tour groups, Arab Christians, some who come only once or twice a year (Palm Sunday and Good Friday bring out more people than even Easter). Little children were dressed in white and carried candles and flowers.

The Karam's four year old. Her dad is helping fix her hair.

Serene and Katrina Karam.

Entrance.

After the service: Philip with Matthew and Katrina Karam.

The Karam family: Habib, Gosayna, Matthew, Katrina, Serene, and Christo.

Philip and a branch blessed for peace. People take these olive branches to their homes, believing they are a blessing of peace to the home for the coming year.

7. On Palm Sunday evening we walked down to meet Conrad and Lynette Sho. They are visiting for a couple days in Nazareth! So nice to meet people we know. This morning we had a very nice breakfast with them while we shared sights that we'd see in the area and about our and their experiences in the country.

8. Today we were invited to the Karam's home in order to learn the art of making Easter cookies. Well, actually I (B) was invited to make cookies; Philip came to play with the kids who love him!

These traditional cookies are made of very buttery dough, either regular flour or semolina. The are filled with dates or nuts and cinnamon/sugar. Families make hundreds for one household. Many women will go from house to house of neighbors and family helping each one a day a week or two before Easter. It took us hours to make over 10 large cookie sheets full. Each small cookie must be shaped and filled and shaped again, then a small tool like large, wide tweezers is used to make the decoration on each one, before they are baked.

There were two shapes: one full of nuts and made to represent the sponge that was held to Jesus' mouth on the cross, the other is more traditional, the crown of thorns filled with date paste. Some people will not eat these cookies until Easter, then they all visit each other and give each guest three at each stop!