Israel Museum & City of David

Before Tim's parents left, we were able to get to the Israel Museum and David's City. The museum didn't allow pictures inside (and we obeyed). Nevertheless, museum highlights included: Tel Dan Stele (mentioning "House of David"), Silver Scrolls dating to the 7th Century BC containing a passage from Numbers 6, and large stone jars from the first century like those described at Cana. Outside the museum was a 1:50 scale model of Jerusalem in the year AD 66. The work put into the model itself is spectacular, but it gives us an excellent idea of relationships in the city as well.

Temple Mount on the right; David's City just in front of it.

Temple Mount

Grandma with the kids

The Shrine of the Book, where portions of the Dead Sea Scrolls are housed. Its unique roof is shaped like the lids of the jars in which the Dead Sea scrolls were found at Qumran.

Jerusalem Stone Quarry (near the museum)

A first-century tomb on Mt. Scopus (near Hebrew University's campus)

We also went to the City of David where there are ruins of what could have been David's palace, as well as ancient water tunnels such as Hezekiah's tunnel. We did not walk through this one because the kids were with us (it's pitch black and you have to walk through water), so instead we walked through a dry Canaanite water tunnel.

Ancient Remains at City of David

Inside the Canaanite tunnel

Entrance to City of David

We visited the Western Wall one more time before Tim's parents left. When we go up to the wall, the boys have to wear some kind of head covering. We didn't have their hats on this day, so they were delighted to wear kippas (provided at the entrance to the Wall).

A few nights ago we went to a concert at Christ Church in the Old City (the first Protestant Church ever built in the Middle East), which was a fun experience. But the best part was that it was Camp Kirkland's orchestra! We love Camp Kirkland. He is a conductor and composer, and our home church, Bethany, uses a lot of his music, particularly his musicals. Tim and I have both sung his music in the choir. Anyway, our family sat in the back of the small sanctuary and thoroughly enjoyed listening to the upbeat hymns and worship songs, singing along with them; but the time came for us to try and slip out, since it was way past the kids' bedtime. Just as we were about to get up between songs, Camp Kirkland turned to face the audience and asked if there were any children that could come up and help him out. Our kids were the ONLY children in the audience. So he looked straight at us and invited our boys to come forward. They were each handed a kazoo (Josiah calls it a "kazoozah"), and they were each instructed on how to play the kazoo (with applause from the orchestra and the audience when they were able to produce a sound), and they stood up there and played with all their hearts! Actually, Caleb played with all his heart and lungs; Josiah just stood there and watched the orchestra. They were overjoyed when they were told they could KEEP their kazoos. They played "Deep and Wide" all the way home.

Prayer & Praise: Tim will be in Jordan for 4 days, Thursday morning through Sunday night. Please pray for an extra measure of patience for me with the kids while Tim is gone, both while we do school here and there, and while we travel and sightsee. Pray for safety and health for Tim, as well.

We praise God that my dear friend and her mom are here visiting for two weeks! We are thankful for the opportunities God has given us to have friends and family visit while we are here. We hope to visit Bethlehem and the Desert this weekend. Please pray for me as I drive, and for safety for all of us.

We are thankful that, as of today, Abby has her first tooth! Hence the diarrhea on and off over the past few weeks, which finally stopped about 2 or 3 days ago. Josiah's never turned into anything. Thank you for your prayers! We are thankful for good health for all of us. (Note: there's a stomach bug and a cold bug going around, so we appreciate your continued prayers.)