▪••  •  • ••  • •  • •  •••      May 2020      ▪••  • ••  • •▪  ▪▪  ▪•••  •  •▪ ▪ 

            Getting to know Israel:

            As Israel has relaxed its Covid-19 restrictions, we have had a chance to travel out and about and visit some of the significant sites in our area.  The leadership at the Aliyah Return Center (ARC) has been really good about encouraging us to get away and enjoy some quality time together. We had two enjoyable outings in May.  In the middle of May, we were asked if we would be interested in an Upper Galilee outing. This was a one-day outing and we traveled completely around the Sea of Galilee.  Les drove a ministry vehicle, and we had one of the co-founders of ARC travel with us as a personal tour guide.  What a great time of visiting Holy Land sites such as Hyppos Decapolis, Banias or Caesarea Philippi, Mt. Hermon, and the Mount of Beatitudes.  We also had a chance to visit a couple of military memorial sites that had significant historical value.  During our day trip, we were within a half-mile of the border of the countries of Jordan, Syria, and Lebanon.  

           The second trip was to Tiberias for a personal shopping trip.  We were able to get a few things for our apartment and check out one of the larger grocery stores in our area. We are learning just how expensive things are in Israel!! Trips like these help us to gain a working knowledge of Israel and are preparing us for future visitors as we hope to eventually lead our own tours of Holy Land sites.

            Agriculture Update:

          The learning curve on some aspects of agriculture in Israel has been steep for this small-town Iowan.  First, we arrived well after the start of the traditional growing season due to immigration setbacks, ideally, we should have been here this past September.  We decided to start seeds in growing trays to see how things would grow, and hopefully transfer them to garden beds.  Then along came Covid-19 and it brought a whole new level of challenges.  There were plans of mentally challenged people moving onto the ARC campus in conjunction with the Jewish Agency (JA).  The plan was to start an agriculture/nutritional education program with funding through the JA to help with gardens and hand-on teaching helps.  Covid-19 stopped the ability for people to relocate, and basically brought the economic strength of the country and government to a standstill, so, no people and no money.  We still had the plants, so the thought was to continue forward and see what it would take to grow things, even though it was well past optimum time.  Then came the hot weather…I should say unseasonably hot weather.  Look at the screenshot of our temperatures in mid-May.  The heat took its toll on the small plants.  Even setting them in a shaded protected area was too much for many of them.  In spite of the challenges, we know we are here at the right time and place. It’s just going to take a bit more time to get things rolling again.  The new date for the mentally challenged group is now projected for October.  The good news is our fruit tree agriculture is doing much better.  I'll share more about that next month.

• DEVOTIONS - This also changes to some degree.  This is part of a series of a more consistent part of our days. 
• OUR THREE HOMES - Events that took place in less than a month roughly.  It is a good thing we had a minimal amount of belongings.  
• WHERE ARE WE SERVING IN ISRAEL? - Learn more about the place the LORD has placed us to serve.
• HEATWAVE - This month's events and happenings.