Shalom #51

TODAY IS MARCH 29, 2009.............HAPPY BIRTHDAY TO MY SWEETHEART 

       

just a few random pictures of people and places that make him happy..........

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Shalom #50

This is our #50 post.....for someone who doesn't enjoy doing this because of the lack of technological skills I am happy for what the Lord and family and friends have helped me learn......in fact, without His help and the help of others there isn't much I could accomplish  on my own.  I would like to share a couple of little miracles with you.  First of all, thank you for your prayers in our behalf.  I know that there have been several times since we have been here that we should have been really injured badly or taken longer to get over an illness.  Case in point....the day before Rita Kaiser arrived here for a week vacation we went on a field trip with the students to the Hezekiahs tunnel.  Now we had been there before with Todd and Tami and waded the 45 minutes through the cold water that was at least up to our knees.  This time we decided to go through the dry tunnel with Andy and Janet Skinner.

It was a cold day and none of us felt like getting that wet.  It doesn't take quite as long to go through the dry tunnel and so we were finished before most of the students and decided to walk into another tunnel which is an original Roman road from the time of Jesus.  We found some students already in there and because they were wet the big, stone pavements were wet.  I don't know how I went down but one minute I was watching students take pictures in there and the next thing I know I had completely rolled my ankle and was down on the ground.  I seriously thought I heard it snap.  It happened so quickly I didn't have time to break my fall put I almost snapped my wrist back too.

Well, everyone scrambled to help me but my pride and embarrassment wouldn't let me have help.  Bob did help me limp out, but when we came out into the open there was most of the students listening to a lecture and watching us all come out.  No way was I going to have help and I just acted like it was nothing.  Well, we had this very steep road to walk up.....at least 30 minute walk.  We had taxi's waiting there for everyone to take us back to the center.  Thank goodness, because by then it was really swollen.  Well, Bob wrapped it very tightly and we iced it and I stayed off it for the rest of the day.  

The next day Rita arrived and I could hardly hobble into the airport.....but I did and that is how it has been.......it's been painful, swollen, stiff but I haven't stopped doing what I need to do in the Center with all these stairs, and I've even walked into the Old City several times.  

I know it is a miracle......as hard as I fell, it should have been broken......or maybe it was but it is healing but I'm doing better.

Bob had an injury the other day when we were out again with the Skinner's looking for another ancient Roman road again, dating to the time of Jesus.    As we were walking by the side of a highway to locate this section of the Roman road.......all of  a sudden we hear this terrible crash happening.  It was very close to where we were.  It was about 4:00p.m. in the afternoon and this young mother had fallen asleep at the wheel of her nice car and cross the road and thank goodness hit the guard rail right in front of where we were ready to go or she should would have definitely flipped into the ditch right in front of us and possibly rolled her car also.  Well, several cars quickly pulled over and our group jumped this deep ditch to get over to her to see what injuries she might have because the front end of her car was totally damaged.  Another car which had stopped brought out her 3 month old baby ........who was fortunately O.K.  she had him in a car seat.  She was in shock.....but seem to be ok.

Well, back to Bob, when we jumped the ditch to help her, he said he felt the muscle in his thigh tear......he could hardly get back to the car and of course, did he want anyone to know what had happened? No,  so he hobbled over to see the ruins once we knew the girl and her baby were alright.  He never said anything in the car to anyone but he was in a lot of pain.  When we got home, he wrapped it really tight and put ice on it.........he is amazing.......it's black  and blue and you can feel the separation in the muscle but he is walking and not slowing down.  

We both know this is a miracle that he has healed so quickly.  Years ago he did a similar thing

and had to see his patients being pushed around in a wheel chair for several weeks.

Thank you for your faith and prayers in our behalf.  We feel them, and know they are what gives us strength and keeps us safe.

Shalom #49

CAVE #1 AT QUMRAN

Recently we were part of a group invited  by Kent & Gayle Brown to visit Cave #1 at Qumran which is near the city of Jericho.   The rest of the group included Andy & Janet Skinner, Carol & Ray Thomas, Dennis & Karen Thomson and Norm Squires.  The caves are located in the mountains and  rough terrain of Qumran.   It was a very steep hike up to the cave but very exciting once we reached it. The view of the Dead Sea from the mountain side was just breathtaking.   This was a group of "old folks" acting like they were young students but we all made it safely.

The scrolls, hidden in jars for nearly two thousand years were able to be preserved because of the area's dry climate.  These scrolls come from a break-away sect, known as the Essenes, who lived and studied there for two centuries.  

Cave #1 allegedly was discovered by a Bedouin shepherd boy who when chasing his stray  goat  threw a stone through a small opening in the cave and heard pottery break.  Frightened by what he heard he left but returned several days later, crawled through the small opening  and found 10 jars, each about two feet in height. All but two of the jars were found empty but what they did discover was a cache of ancient documents later to be named "Dead Sea Scrolls" which changed the study of the Old Testament.  Among the findings of the seven scrolls were the Manual of Discipline, War of Sons of Light, thanksgiving Scroll, Isaiah A & B, Genesis

Apocryphon and Habakkuk commentary.  

Kent S. & Gayle Brown 

Taking a rest - Carol Thomas, Sue, Andy & Janet Skinner

Karen and Dennis slowly but surely making the 

climb.  It was very steep the whole way up.

Holding on so as to not cause a rock-slide

Checking out the cave #1

Listening to Dr. Brown and Dr. Skinner give 

their knowledge and experience about coming

into these caves earlier in their careers as young 

Professors.  They have helped translate some of the 

fragments and have written articles and books 

on the Dead Sea Scrolls. 

Not an original container but what one would

look like.

Showing the opening of the Cave

Inside the Cave listening to a discussion by 

Kent S.  Brown