Okay... so several months after my actual trip and (a few) fewer months since I started this blog, I am finally at the last full day of our trip! Slow and steady wins the race.
We worshipped at St. Andrew's Jerusalem in the morning. As I mentioned in an earlier post, Janelle and I had already visited the church, but it was nice to have the opportunity to experience worship there. And honestly, it could have been a Presbyterian church in Canada (or Scotland, I imagine). It was nice, after a week and a bit of different experiences, to be in a setting so familiar.
Goodbyes to other conference participants started right after worship. Those of us who had later flights walked back to the Old City and went for lunch at a restaurant that had falafel, lemonade with mint, and a beautiful view. All staples of the Jerusalem experience :). We did a bit of shopping in the market that afternoon; our bartering skills got Janelle a lovely scarf as a souvenir. And, obviously, there was time for ice cream.
Back at the hotel, we packed up our stuff, watched horrible movies and BBC news, and played Countdown Crazy 8s. (If you don't know it, this game is made specifically to pass time. It has no other purpose.) We were definitely ready to come home at this point.
We had a nice dinner with those conference participants who were still left (we had bid a few others adieu over the course of the afternoon), played more cards, and took one more walk through the Old City to the Damascus Gate. It was a lovely evening.
We got to bed around 10:00 pm that night in order to be prepared for our 3:15 am (!) wake-up call. But more about that, and our experience at Ben Gurion Airport in Tel Aviv, another day.
For now, let's continue to keep the people of Israel and Palestine in our prayers. There is violence that is affecting everyone in that area; let us pray for peace. This is part of one of my favourite hymns in The Presbyterian Church in Canada's hymn book (and not just because it was written by my aunt!), and I think it is a particularly appropriate prayer right now:
Goodbyes to other conference participants started right after worship. Those of us who had later flights walked back to the Old City and went for lunch at a restaurant that had falafel, lemonade with mint, and a beautiful view. All staples of the Jerusalem experience :). We did a bit of shopping in the market that afternoon; our bartering skills got Janelle a lovely scarf as a souvenir. And, obviously, there was time for ice cream.
Back at the hotel, we packed up our stuff, watched horrible movies and BBC news, and played Countdown Crazy 8s. (If you don't know it, this game is made specifically to pass time. It has no other purpose.) We were definitely ready to come home at this point.
We had a nice dinner with those conference participants who were still left (we had bid a few others adieu over the course of the afternoon), played more cards, and took one more walk through the Old City to the Damascus Gate. It was a lovely evening.
We got to bed around 10:00 pm that night in order to be prepared for our 3:15 am (!) wake-up call. But more about that, and our experience at Ben Gurion Airport in Tel Aviv, another day.
For now, let's continue to keep the people of Israel and Palestine in our prayers. There is violence that is affecting everyone in that area; let us pray for peace. This is part of one of my favourite hymns in The Presbyterian Church in Canada's hymn book (and not just because it was written by my aunt!), and I think it is a particularly appropriate prayer right now:
We lay our broken world in sorrow at your feet,
Haunted by hunger, war, and fear, oppressed by power and hate.
We bring our broken towns, our neighbours hurt and bruised;
You show us how old pain and wounds for new life can be used.
We bring our broken selves, confused, closed and tired;
Then through your gift of healing grace, new purpose is inspired.
O Spirit, on us breathe with life and strength anew;
find in us love, and hope, and trust, and lift us up to you.
Anna Briggs
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