We have been blessed with great weather. . .Shafik (ooh la la, Shafik!) was bundled up last week when the weather was cold and rainy, and it snowed in Jerusalem. More on him later.
We visited Nazareth today and its way grown up from the 250 or so residents in Mary and Joseph's day. . . .but The Church of the Annunciation was a large and artful tribute to the Virgin Mary. . . .countries from around the world have contributed large artwork representations of Mary to the inner and outside walls of the church. Onto Aroma for a terrific cup of coffee, then to Megiddo for an exploration of 26 civilizations who have fought for and built settlements on this strategic vantage point. Then on to the Mediterranean and Caesarea by the Sea. . .Herod's tribute to Caeser Augustus, replete with seaside Hippodrome (Ben Hur was here, not Kilroy) and amphitheater.
We are in Jerusalem now, preparing to visit Bethlehem and Jericho tomorrow. Already we have heard the nightly call to prayers from the nearby minaret.
Now back to Shafik. . .he told us a joke. . .seems there was a Priest that was pulled over by an Israeli policeman, apparently for speeding. The policeman thought he smelled alcohol and asked the priest if he had been drinking. The priest replied no and the policeman, still concerned, asked if might check the car's trunk. The priest replied of course but he only had bottles of water in the back. The policeman opened the trunk only to discover bottles of wine. . .to which the priest replied, "oh my Lord, he's done it again!"
We are enjoying all of it!
John Smith
No comments:
Post a Comment