Hello everyone! It has been a long time since I've posted anything new on my sabbatical site. I finished my time with "Bridges for Peace" on June 13th, and once the tour group from Hilmar arrived and we started traveling, I had no time (and no energy) to keep writing about the conclusion of my sabbatical--which was the 10-day tour throughout Israel and Jordan. It WAS a good time; good to re-connect with my church family while still living each day in Israel. But it was also difficult to be such a tourist after having lived in the Holy Land for nearly four months as a resident. The schedule and routine of being on a tour--especially in Israel--is frustrating to me because it is impossible to spend enough time at each site that the group visits. It is always "on to the next stop!" Which is the very reason I longed to live in Israel--and specifically Jerusalem--after I finished my third tour in Israel back in 1997.

It was very hard to be back in the USA, and in Hilmar. I hit CULTURE SHOCK like I never have before, and it took weeks to finally feel re-connected to my life and work here at home. I think that once you have lived in Jerusalem--the Holy City--you are infected for life and will never feel completely "at home" anywhere again unless you are living there. I still miss my life there: my relationships with Bridges people, my work with the home repair team, the opportunities to walk through the Old City just five blocks from my apartment, to pray at the Garden Tomb every Friday, to practice shabat, to "be" in the places where Jesus lived and walked and taught anytime you want to go there. I think about all of this every day, and some days my heart aches for Jerusalem.

But two weeks ago I got some good news: Bridges for Peace wants me back! Before I left, I told them I would love to take all four weeks of my vacation next year and return to work with the home repair team again, especially since Larry and Mary Bennett planned to return as well--which would mean our whole team could be together again, at least for a month. Ina, the volunteer coordinator for BFP, told me that I can return during the month of February, so I am making my plans now. It will be so good to be part of the ministry again--and to live in Jerusalem once again!

If you are visiting my blog as a result of reading about it in my Christmas letter--good luck making it through all of my postings! I had A LOT to say during my sabbatical, and many marvelous experiences to share. Seriously, I hope the pictures combined with my words will give you a good "feel" for everything that I experienced during my four months in Israel--and that maybe you will be challenged to consider becoming a volunteer with "Bridges for Peace" too!

Merry Christmas to all of you--and may God bless you richly in 2007.

Love,

Daniel J. (as they called me at "Bridges"!)