Wednesday December 29

Today was a very relaxing day(not that i have anything i need to relax from haha), i woke up and went to breakfast with a friend. She is a fellow volunteer and is from North Carolina, she has never been to Israel so it has been fun showing her around.

The breakfast spot we went to is my favorite place because they serve a HUGE bowl of yogurt with Granola and layer it with fresh honey and top it off with 5 different kinds of fruit...they also serve the best Americanos, so i took her to this location-it is called Cafe Rimon.

After Breakfast i took her to view Herods Palace. We opened our bibles to Luke and read the portion of scripture that speaks of the night Jesus was taken to Herods home. Today was my second time visiting this location and i dont think it will ever get old...It is so powerful to sit on the steps that HE walked up and ponder what our Lord was feeling at the time...He is SO beautiful...

Above you'll see pictures of me standing and sitting on the steps...I love the picture that is taken from afar it shows the height of the city walls, i look so small compared to the walls.

Also above is a picture of me standing in front of the Jaffa Gate. The Jaffa gate is one of the 4 gates that lead into the old city, i walk through it almost everyday.

I love the picture of me and the Ethiopian man, i wanted to share it will you to show you the type of people i see everyday. I love being here because daily im exposed to thousands of people that travel to Jerusalem from all over the world. It is such a cool place to people watch.I love sitting in a cafe and watching people walk by, i play a game and guess what country they are from...i can usually tell who the Americans are... :) AND who the Italians are, the Italians dress the best! Above is a picture of me people watching,i posted it so you could see the delicious breakfast bowl as well as the Americano!!

After our morning out we came back to the house and helped out with the new coffee ministry that they are starting! Working on the espresso machine is SO fun...i love serving people coffee...i found my new hobby...Hopefully as time goes on this ministry will be used to reach out to non believers.

Today was a wonderful day, full of education and pleasure, as well as a chance to serve the people of Israel!!

Thank you all for your prayers...

I cant wait to hug you all...

Psalm 28:7-9

Sarah

Jerusalem At Night

Psalms 122--

Song of Ascents. Of David.

1 I was glad when they said to me,
“Let us go into the house of the LORD.”
2 Our feet have been standing
Within your gates, O Jerusalem!

3 Jerusalem is built
As a city that is compact together,
4 Where the tribes go up,
The tribes of the LORD,
To the Testimony of Israel,
To give thanks to the name of the LORD.
5 For thrones are set there for judgment,
The thrones of the house of David.

6 Pray for the peace of Jerusalem:
“May they prosper who love you.
7 Peace be within your walls,
Prosperity within your palaces.”
8 For the sake of my brethren and companions,
I will now say, “Peace be within you.”
9 Because of the house of the LORD our God
I will seek your good.



I first came to Israel when i was 10 and my favorite part of the trip was Jerusalem. I remember loving walking the Old City at night. It really is a beautiful thing to see the walls lite up and the streets and stones shinning!! I love the energy at night! I had a friend walk with me tonight and we explored the old city, it was so fun!

Funny story-- Today i was waiting at the western wall for my friend to finish praying...while i was waiting, there were two girls my age sitting next to me...I was listening to their conversation and came to the conclusion that they were from New York and over here attending the University...

Anyway, one of them was so upset because her "matchmaker" was trying to hook her up with a guy from Brooklyn who has a bad reputation, anyway the girl called the matchmaker 5 different times voicing her frustration with the set up... it was so funny to listen to. She was demanding that the matchmaker find her another candidate... I almost leaned over and said, "Can you give me the "matchmakers" number..." haha JUST joking.

I guess a "matchmaker" is the Jewish version of our E harmony..

Also, i just really want to thank 2 sweet ladies from Calvary, Pat Vega and Laurie Barrow(and family), thank you so much for sending me such sweet gifts/cards, and thinking of me amidst the busy Christmas Season, you blessed me more then you know, it was so unexpected!



Love to you all...thank you for your prayers...

Sarah


p.s Dad i'll give you 20 dollars and make you coffee every morning if you come visit me.
YOU would be the perfect traveling partner.You know so much and i crave your knowledge here. You are a great teacher. All i will need is 5 days and then your free to go back home:)...or just send Lily...

The Remains Of Herods Palace

Today i went to the remains of Herods House, The picture of steps above is most likely the same steps Jesus walked up when he was taken to Herods house before being sentenced to Crucification. I walked the steps,and continued up to where his house would have been. I don't respect Herod at ALL, he mocked Jesus...but it was very cool to walk the steps. The Herod that Jesus stood before was "Herod Antipas" the same Herod that had John the Baptist beheaded.Herod Antipas was ruler over Tiberius/ the Galilee region from where Jesus came.The Palace would have been built by Herod the Great and used by the "Herodian Dynasty" that followed.

The Chronology of events:

#1 Jesus and the disciples in the upper room during the last meal – Judas betrays the Lord Mt 26:14; Lk 22:3-6
#2 Then they move to the garden of Gethsemane for the evening when the Lord is under the most difficult stress of His life, to the extent that He is sweating drops of blood Lk 22:40-46
#3 600 soldiers comes to arrest him and He is led by none other then Judas Lk 22:47-53
#4 He stands before the High Priest and leaders and He is struck in the face and mocked John 18:13-24; Lk 22:54; 22:66-71
#5 He witnesses Peter’s denial Lk 22:55-56
#6 He is handed to Pilate Lk 23:1-5
#7 Pilate sends Jesus to Herod Antipas Lk 23:6-12
#8 Herod Antipas returns Jesus back to Pilate – Crowd cries “Crucify Him…” Lk 23:13-25


Luke 23:6-12

"When Pilate heard of Galilee, he asked if the Man were a Galilean.And as soon as he knew that He belonged to Herod's jurisdiction, he sent Him to Herod, who was also in Jerusalem at that time.Now when Herod saw Jesus, he was exceedingly glad; for he had desired for a long time to see Him, because he had heard many things about Him, and he hoped to see some miracle done by Him.Then he questioned Him with many words, but He answered him nothing.And the chief priests and scribes stood and vehemently accused Him.Then Herod, with his men of war, treated Him with contempt and mocked Him, arrayed Him in a gorgeous robe, and sent Him back to Pilate.That very day Pilate and Herod became friends with each other, for previously they had been at enmity with each other."

Adjusting--My Thoughts

I'm writing this blog to you from the David Citadel--this is the only place I feel 100 percent safe and can let down! I just had a delicious double espresso and slice of chocolate cake. :)

These past couple weeks I have been adjusting to the culture and the ways of Israeli people... The culture here is almost the exact opposite of my lifestyle in Auburn... For instance, we drive everywhere, they walk or take a bus everywhere, they eat very plain food, we eat very extravagant food, we are polite, they are rushed and tough!

Israelis are described like a cactus fruit, rough on the outside, but once you get to the inside they are sweet...

In ways the "Israel" I remember when I was a child isn't how it is now...I'm beyond thankful to be here and I'm learning alot...

My quiet time with the Lord is glorious... He is one of my only friends here... I talk more with him then I do with "earthy humans"... And I'm thankful for this time. Prayer is important!

It's funny because I thought coming here that I would be around alot of Jews thats spoke Hebrew...however I am with Jews that speak Russian a majority of the time& and have come from Russia...

Please Pray for me,traveling via Buses and taxis is a huge stretch... I didn't realize I would have to do it as much as I have.!

My friend Rachel said..."In America these bus stations would be considered dangerous, but here in Israel this is normal"...

Growing up my best friend Elle and I feared abduction... Like we would actually hide from cars on our bike rides... One time a
Car slowed down next to us on Auburn Ravine Road(we were riding our bikes to 7-11,age 9) and I was so paranoid I actually jumped in a bush... Hahaha

Anyway, Im thinking my name should be Paranoid Patricia, not Sarah...just joking!!

I'm trying to flip the switch in my head that these bus stations and bus rides are normal and I shouldn't be fearful!

However, my fear has increased because of the recent sabbings in Israel...

With that said, I know I'm in the Lords hands and he watches over me!! I'm here for a reason, and he has, and will remain faithful!

Don't think that I'm living in constant anxiety... That's not what I wish to convey... I'm just letting you know it is different, and I'm trying to adjust to their ways!

This blog is already long,but I would like to share with you something that I have been convicted and blessed by!!

Witnessing all the different cultures here and religions makes me think alot about God... Our God...

The other day on my walk I was thinking about all the Lord accomplished in this city,Jerusalem.

He was born 2miles away, HE was tempted by Satan,HE performed miracles,HE prayed,HE wept,HE was mocked, HE loved, HE was betrayed, HE was beaten,whipped,spit upon,HE forgave, HE was questioned,and many thought he was a liar, HE was rejected, HE carried the cross,HE bled, HE cried, HE was crucified, HE died, HE rose, HE ascended, and HE is coming back to rule an reign in this city!!!

And he did it for us, and made a way for us to be with him forever... Praise God!

He is beyond worthy to be worshipped every minute, yet back in America we attend church and sit in on worship services and some of the time get lost in our fleshly thoughts instead of Praise God!

I was thinking of the song that we sing at CCAuburn it goes like this, "I will exalt you, I will exalt you, you are my God..."

Often times I have led a prayer before saying something like this, "Lord help us to exalt you despite our circumstances"...

We need to exalt the Lord with every ounce in us, no matter whats going on... He has given us so much--so he deserves our worship that much more!!

He is so beautiful!

So next time you get lost in your thoughts during worship, or even the message...train yourself to get your thoughts back to the Lord, he is beyond worthy to be praised, even if your earthly circumstances are hard...

The Lord has done so much for us... Exalt him!!

1 Thessalonians 5:18 says "Give thanks to God in all circumstances for this is Gods will for you in Christ Jesus"...


Hebrews 13:15 "Through Jesus, therefore, let us continually offer to God a sacrifice of praise--the fruit of our lips that confess his name..."

Revelation 5:13b "Blessing and honor and glory and power be to him who sits on the throne and to the lamb forever and ever..."


Thank you for your prayers, i covet them. I love you guys so much, and miss you!!

Sarah

Soup Kitchen

Today i head out to Tel Aviv(by myself)to help in the soup kitchen, im anxious about it because traveling in Israel is something i'm not comfortable with!! Please pray for my safety!!

Jewish Market

The other day i went to a Jewish Market, they dont have big grocery stores here so everyone does their shopping at the Jewish Market!! The Market is on a street that is filled with FRESH FOOD. Everything imaginable is in this Market and it is FRESH. It was breath taking to walk in and see all the fantastic food ready to be purchased! All i could think about was how much i wanted my Mom to be there with me...she would have loved it!

America needs more places like this...i wish there was...we all would be so healthy!

Also, tonight i found an amazing church called Kings of Kings--the best part is it is all in English! I was able to worship tonight, my heart was happy...

I hope you all have had a wonderful Sunday...i miss leading worship...and i miss singing with Peter. I look forward to returning,but in the mean time i will soak up everything here!!

I love you all so much...

Sarah

6 Miles...

Tonight i was able to attend church for the first time in 2 weeks-(the longest i have ever gone without going to church)... They call "churches" over here "congregations"...so i went to my first congregation. I walked 3 miles there, it was up hill the WHOLE time, i felt like i was working out, not walking to church-- and then i walked 3 miles back.

I'm totally impressed by the dedication of the people over here--most of them do not have cars, so they walk, through rain, wind, heat and snow...NO EXCUSES, they attend church. They are so dedicated to honoring the Lord and fellowshipping with believers...

Think about it, would you still go to church if you had to walk 6 miles or even just 1 mile, or would you wimp out? I know people that don't even go to church if it is raining outside, and they HAVE a car.

Church isnt about what we can get out of it, the reason why "churches" exist is to facilitate a time where we can glorify the Lord,learn about HIM,meet with HIM, worship HIM and fellowship with others believers.

Stay committed to Jesus Christ... honor him with your Worship, and with your life no matter what! He deserves all GLORY,HONOR, AND PRAISE.

Going to church is important!!

Tonight was personally challenging for me,BUT im glad i walked every step!!

Sarah


"Come, and let us return to the LORD;
For He has torn, but He will heal us;
He has stricken, but He will bind us up.
After two days He will revive us;
On the third day He will raise us up,
That we may live in His sight.
Let us know,Let us pursue the knowledge of the LORD.
His going forth is established as the morning;
He will come to us like the rain,
Like the latter and former rain to the earth."
Hosea 6:1-3

Tel Aviv

This weekend i helped at a Holocaust survivor retreat! It was a blessing to serve and love the people, but very challenging because of the language barrier...

I'm VERY happy to be back in Jerusalem...Tel Aviv(not to be negative) is probably my least favorite City in the world, it shares the number one spot with Tijuana, Mexico...

I look forward to re charging tomorrow and spending time with the Lord, and touring the Old City...

Thank you for praying for me!! I love you all!!

Sarah

Messianic Seal/Mt Zion

Today I visited the location where the “Messianic Seal” was etched in the wall of a first century meeting place on Mt. Zion.

For those of you who are unfamiliar with the symbol I am referring to --it is made up of three parts: a Menorah, Star Of David and a Fish.
It is the earliest symbol associated with the “church” in Jerusalem. Some argue that over a period of time that the Menorah was removed, then the Star of David, leaving only the Fish which we’re all more familiar with in association with Christianity.

Some believe that this was a site that the early church met and that the Apostles perhaps even played a role in the shape of the “Messianic Seal” itself and that one of them maybe even etched it on the wall!?
Where I am standing is perhaps 50 yards from the traditional site of the “Upper Room” and “David’s Tomb”.

On the day of Pentecost Peter proclaimed to the crowd: “Men and brethren, let me speak freely to you of the patriarch David, that he is both dead and buried and his tomb is with us to this day.” (Acts 2:29)

If living 2,000 years ago there existed an “Essene Gate” on the hill, as this was an area where the “Essene Community” would reside in Jerusalem. Bible historians believe that many “Essenes” turned to Jesus as Messiah.

My Dad has spoken with me a lot about this site. He wonders if the historic meeting with Peter, Paul and James(1/2 brother of Jesus) as recorded in Acts chapter 15 took place at this location.

Behind me are stairs going down to what looks like a Micvah(Jewish baptismal).
However, it is reported that underneath of where I am standing was a huge room that was cut out of the bedrock and was a meeting place for the early church in Jerusalem.
Some believe this Micvah was in the home of Mark, who wrote the Gospel according to Mark and is mentioned in Acts chapter 12.

As I stood at this site I could see the community where I am living.
Mt. Zion is the “Upper Hill” of Jerusalem.It is perched West of the Temple Mt. above the Hinnom Valley.

I was so excited when i found it, it was surreal for me--when my dad went to Israel in May with my sister Lily and Mr&Mrs Kiener, they found this spot, and my Dad has been talking about it ever since!

After my picture was taken i was left alone, i was able to have my own personal time, and i got a chance to Sing to the Lord... it was personally a very powerful moment for me, i was thinking of all the great men and women who have gone before me and worshiped on this Hill...It blows my mind!

Dad i picked up a couple rocks for you!!

Thank you to all my friends and family who are praying for me and have supported me, my life will never be the same.

I love you all,

Sarah

p.s today i didnt take my real camera or my video camera...ill go back another day and get video footage so you can see what it really looks like!

Western Wall

Holocaust Survivor Retreat

Please keep me in your prayers, Thursday-Saturday i will be helping out at a "Holocaust Survivor" Retreat. The retreat will be taking place in Tel Aviv! I appreciate your prayers!

Sarah

Falafel&Pizza.

To waaaay lesser importance, i thought i would share with you my past two meals.

Last Night I had my first Falafel since i have been here, i was craving it all day so i went on a search to find one!! A falafel is made out of chickpeas...the balls are then placed into a pita, at the bottom of the pita is Hummus and on top its drizzled with warm dressing!! It seriously is like the best thing EVER!

Then,Today on my way to the grocery store i walked past an Italian Restaurant, so i stopped to look at the menu and saw that the pizza was a good price, so i decided to eat lunch at this restaurant.!! THE PIZZA WAS HUGE!! I could only eat one slice...BUT it was the Best pizza i have ever had. The tomatoes were fresh and juicy, and the basil was strong and delicious. The mozzarella cheese was the best tasting cheese i have ever had!! IT WAS OUTSTANDING PIZZA... it definitely blew Round Table out of the water... HAHA!

Happy Tuesday to you all...I love you!

Sarah

Song From My Heart...

"I have trusted in your mercy,my soul shall rejoice in your salvation. I will sing to the Lord because he has dealt bountifully with me"... Psalm 13:5-6

"I will bless the Lord at all times, his praise shall continually be in my mouth, my soul shall make its boast in the Lord"... Psalm 34:1-2

The past two days have been productive..I have been able to help out in office and do some administrative work, and at night enjoy Jerusalem!

One of the goals i set for myself, was when i had "down" time i wanted to use it to my advantage and write songs...I knew coming here i would be inspired by all sorts of things, and i could only use inspiration to my advantage! So, these past couple days i have written 4 songs--And all 4 of them i am already proud of, so its a positive sign!(we'll see what Peter says when i get home, if he likes them then i know they're good)!

Christmas 2002, i was 12 years old.That Christmas i wanted a T.V SO BAD!! I had a feeling my parents were going to get it...My Dad is NEVER good at keeping Christmas secrets, so i KNEW i was getting a TV when he would call me into his room and give me hints(yet did i know he was tricking me)...MUCH to my surprise that Christmas i got a Baby Taylor Guitar... i cried, and cried because i had NO interest in a guitar. I wanted a TV for my room. My Mom tried to comfort me by saying, " Sarah you like to sing now you can use this as a tool for when you grow up, you can sing and play the guitar"... i still was stubborn and couldn't see my future as my Parents did...

But now im beyond thankful that my Parents got me a guitar... the picture above is that very guitar! I brought this guitar over with me to Israel so that i could use it for ministry over here.

Mom and Dad thank you for seeing a gift in me at a young age and giving me a guitar. The guitar has become my "friend" over here in Israel...

If you think of me, please pray that i continue to be inspired!!

Love to you all,

Sarah

My Road to the Jaffa Gate

Every picture you have seen so far has been taken on my iPhone...i take my phone everywhere its easy to carry on my short trips... and it is easy to pull out and take quick pictures...so far i think it has taken great pictures...

Above is a picture of the outdoor mall i have been talking about! They decorated it for Hanukkah...

The outdoor mall is gorgeous, i think it compairs to Fashion Island in Newport, the Grove in Hollywood,and The Fountains in Roseville...it is gorgeous!

Would anyone like to join me for dinner next week...i know of a great cafe? haha

I love you all...

Sarah

Taxi

Yesterday after helping out in the Chosen People office... I decided that I wanted to go the holocaust Musem, and in order to get to the museum I had to take a taxi! I was so nervous about taking a taxi but I knew I had to do it! I decided I would walk to a safe area and take it from there... So I walked from my house to the King David...

I jumped in my first taxi, my stomach felt sick and I was shaking in my boots, literally! (the reason why I was so nervous is because I felt vulnerable and alone)!

Anyway the cab driver started asking questions, first question was," Are you from Hollywood,and I said No"...I told him I was from California! He then asked what I was doing here... Then he asked how old I was and if I had a boyfriend... I said 20yrs old, and No I dont... Then he said well, I have a nephew who lives in NY but he is here visiting, he is 23, would you like to meet him...i can take you to him?? I was thinking... ARE YOU KIDDING ME...? I answered No thank you!!

He said are you sure...he is a good smart boy looking for a good Jewish girl... I then said, well, I am a Christian... And he said OH nevermind!!!

Hahaha... I was glad I got out of that set up!!!

Yesterday I was really missing my family.
I shouldn't have gone to the holocaust museum alone... It made me very sad, my spirits were low afterwards..

Daddy,Mommy, Peter and Lily-- I miss you beyond comprehension!! You all are my joy!!

I just woke up and i woke up to rain!! Israel is in desperate need of rain so this is a wonderful thing...today i will work in the chosen people office and help them out with projects!!


Love to you all!!

Sarah

Rain,Wind, And Dust

The Day is not over, I writing to you at 2pm my time, it is rainy and windy outside. Today has been a very peaceful day. I woke up and finally settled into my room, i got organized and i feel alot better...

Today is Shabbat here, so the streets are quiet, everyone is in their homes resting. I left the house in search for coffee... in the video below you get to see my perspective...today was very windy so the dust was filling the air(that is why it looks so dusty&gross)...

I had an amazing capachino outside the YMCA(picture above)- this will be my new coffee spot!! It was gorgeous.

After coffee i started walking to the old city! I found this amazing outdoor mall right across the street from the David Citadel, you can walk the mall all the way to the steps of the Jaffa Gate, it is the coolest thing...its safe!(Dad&Mom i cant wait to take you there one day). In the outdoor mall there are coffee shops that are high up and overlook the city and Jerusalem...it seriously is the coolest thing!!(Picture Above)

I spent a long time at the western wall today. There were only 15-20 women there praying so i was able to pray with my head up against the wall. It was wonderful. It started raining, so i made my journey back home...

Im posting a picture of the view toward Mt Olives and the southern steps...you can see in this picture how dusty the city was...i feel bad for all the tourist who were seeing Jerusalem for the first time today...

Tonight i plan on resting, so email or comment,because i think i'll be in for the
night!

I love you all..

Happy Saturday to you...

Sarah

Walking to the Old City

Today was a very windy day... in this video you will see Mt Zion as well as the walls of the old city from my perspective... this is the beginning of my route as i walk to the old city... today i was in search for a coffee shop that was open during sabbath, luckily i found one... and it will be my new new "spot"...

Temple Overlook

Barmitzva celebration on Mt Zion

Here is a video of a Barmitzva Celebration right outside the Zion Gate...

Pictures Day 2

Picture 1- A Man receiving his gift bag after lunch
Picture 2- Me Singing
Picture 3- The location where the lunch took place
Picture 4- A Bomb shelter 1 mile from gaza
Picture 5- Me singing again
Picture 6- A group of holocaust survivors at lunch
Picture 7- Esther and her friend( Her friend was locked up in Jail when she was 12 under Stalins Rule)
Picture 8- Gift Bags
Picture 9- My first real shabot dinner

Love!

Today was an incredible day to say the least. I woke up with little idea on what the day would hold. I did know that we were going to spend time with Holocaust survivors, but i was anxious because i didn't know how i was going to communicate to them because they speak Russian and German--But more importantly i was trying to figure out how i could convey my love and respect to them.To me they are heros, and i wanted to treat them like they were heros...

I grew up being taught to love the Jews. From a very young age i was taught about Corrie Ten Boom and her family. My parents never hide the Holocaust from me--So you can only imagine how i was feeling this morning when i woke up knowing that i was going to be able to LOVE and CARE for these people...it was a wonderful feeling!

We started driving, and i asked where exactly we were going, they answered to a town in Southern Israel. I was completely shocked when we got out of the car and my friend told me we were in a town that was a mile away from the Gaza Strip, and that the town i was in has had over 10,000 missiles sent into it over the past 8 years, and this very town has experienced some of the worst terrorist attacks. I was shocked, i immediately thought..."im glad my mom doesn't know im ONE MILE AWAY FROM THE GAZA STRIP"...!!!!

Anyway, the reason why we came to this town is because there are alot of Holocaust survivors who live in it. They live in this specific town because it is very cheap.
We came to put on a post Hanukkah party. We(Chosen People) brought gift bags full of food and tea and chocolate to give each person. The Party took place in a middle eastern restaurant that was very small and very run down...

Before the Lunch took place we walked to a ladies house named Esther(picture above), she is a holocaust survivor and oversees all the holocaust survivors in the town. She is a Large, Loving Russian Lady.Right when i walked in her apartment she was tending to our needs, i learned a lot of hospitality pointers from her. I asked her to tell us her story, i was curious, i needed a translator--she agreed!!

She was 5 when her story began, the natzies took her mother and father and murdered them both right in front of her eyes...!!! They plastered her mother alive against the wall until she died, then they shot her father. After this they took a large group to the forest where they had holes dug out and would shoot people into the holes.Her grandma was with her and told her to act dead and fall into the hole, so they both acted dead and fell amongst the dead bodies. They waited until night fall and escaped out of the hole and left for the nearest safe town. Once they reached a safe town, her Grandmother changed her name to a Christian Armenian name and shipped her off to a safe town...years later she was reunited back with relatives and she continued on with her life...She is now living in Southern Israel. She also told me that three missiles have entered her apartment, she pointed to the window right behind me and said they came through that window...

Sitting next to Esther was one of the most moving moments of my life...there i was, a 20 yr old Christian girl, sitting next to a weeping grandmother,who has seen EVIL. She has witnessed her parents murdered right in front of her,she spent the night in a hole with dead people, and she has had her apartment terrorized 3 times. I wanted to kiss her feet, kiss her head and hold her. My heart was breaking for her. However,most wonderful thing is this, she is saved and loves the Lord. She struggles with the goodness of God,but she lays that aside and puts her hope and trust in him!!!

After the meeting with Esther we left for the luncheon. It was so sweet to see all these elderly people come and eat. To them todays luncheon was a BIG deal, i could tell alot of them put on their nicest clothes. I smiled and greeted each of them as they walked into the restaurant-- they were so HAPPY!!During the Luncheon i was wanting to communicate to them so badly!!

They asked me to sing, so i ran out to the van and grabbed my guitar, as i was walking back i was thinking what song do i sing? I decided i would sing one of my songs"In your hands"...

I had the translator translate the words before i sang and then i said,"It is my honor to be with you today, my family back in America respects you and loves you, this song speaks about feeling alone and forgotten, but then its says "I'm in your hands and you'll never let me go"...i know some of you struggle with the goodness of God, but im here to tell you today, he LOVES you and you are in his hands, he has not forgotten about you..He sent his son Jesus to demonstrate his deep love for you and for the world...God is Love-- man is not perfect,man sins,man is sometimes very evil..but God is love..." then i sang them my song.

I really cant tell you how much of an honor it was to sing to a room of holocaust survivors...i will always remember it and hold it close to my heart!!

I told Esther at the end of the Luncheon that i would have lots of people back in California praying for her and for the group, she cried. Please pray for Esther and the whole group of Holocaust survivors...they need our love and prayers.

At the end of the luncheon as each person walked out i hugged and kissed their cheek, i wanted them to feel my love for them!! As i gazed into their eyes,i could see their was pain...

Working alongside Chosen People was an honor--they show such love and they serve the people so wonderfully--Chosen People knows what they are doing in Israel, they work hard to love and care for the Jews. I told the Men i worked with today that i was proud of them and watching them love the people was beautiful.

We then returned to Jerusalem, i joined a family for a real Shabot dinner.The mother sang the blessing and lite the candles. It was such a wonderful experience.THE FOOD WAS SO GOOD. Chicken and mushrooms, a huge salad, and mash potatoes and bread...It was the perfect way to end the day.

My soul is being blessed and ministered to. I'm beyond grateful for this experience...

I love each of your comments...it brightens my day, thank you for posting them!!!

Remember this verse as you go about your day...

John 14:12

"This is my commandment,that you love one another as i have loved you..."

Love eachother today..

I love you all..

Sarah

Pictures

#1 THE STREET DOWN FROM MY HOUSE WHERE I WILL GROCERY SHOP
#2 BARMITZVA CELEBRATION IN THE JEWISH QUARTER
#3 KITTY CATS ON MT ZION
#4 WOMEN AT WESTERN WALL PRAYING
#5 THE WESTERN WALL
#6 JAFA GATE