Making the most of each day...

I could not be more content with the decision to extend my stay here in Nazareth if even for just a few more precious weeks. Time here is flying by more and more as I find myself sufficiently immersed in what is now a pretty routine schedule. Guiding tours, while at times somewhat exhausting, is getting easier and easier. I was happily surprised with how quick I was able to master the script and content for the hour and a half long tour. It’s such a pleasure to meet all of the different people that come daily to the Village.

My favorite tours are the smaller groups as they are much more interactive and I get to know the travelers a little better than in a larger group. Today I had a group of about 60 and it was an adventure to try and lead them through small first-century homes and structures. Luckily they happened to be a lively group with a good sense of humor. Leading tours can be pretty comical as well. It’s always fun to laugh with the other tour guides about the more “interesting” travelers and experiences we have while leading groups. It’s amazing what sort of questions you get as a tour guide…things I never thought I would be asked, or worse, expected to know just because I have the label “guide.”  I also never thought I’d be learning about as many different cultures as I am while here in Israel. There is a huge contrast between the different groups depending on which country they’re from. For instance, to lead a group from Indonesia is world’s different from leading a group from Holland. I now know exactly what to do if I ever want to impress a large group of Chinese people… who knew farm animals could be so fascinating and that people would want so many pictures with what I think are quite smelly sheep. I will admit, however, that they baby donkeys are incredibly adorable. I finally remembered to take my camera with me to the Village today and was able to take some fun shots of the friendly beasts. More are on the way! This is the most beautiful time of the year in the Galilee as flowers begin to bloom and everything is so green (so rare in this dry country).

I am looking forward to a more quiet rest of the week and weekend as I’m staying in Nazareth to help out at the Village on Saturday evening (a special evening tour coming through). Last weekend was a lot of fun traveling south to Be’er Sheva and spending time with friends at the Medical School of Ben Gurion University. Be’er Sheva was incredibly ugly and I failed to take a single picture of the bare and dry/dusty city. I plan to be back there in a couple weeks to see the same friends once more before I leave the country. This evening will be attempting to make Mexican food (even trying my hand at homemade fresh tortillas!) with my roommates and some new medical student friends. Should be a fun! Please pray that my time here goes slowly and that I would focus on enjoying every minute of this awesome trip and time here

P.S. Happy Birthday (the BIG 30!!) to Lars!! Miss you!

“Your word is a lamp to my feet and a light for my path” Psalm 119:105

Happy Late Valentine's Day! =)

Friends at the Village

First-century bread: delicious. 

One of the baby donkeys at the Village who is extremely friendly

View from my flat

local demonstrations

More friends

Inside the Village at the Synagogue