Posts
These past weeks I have been waiting for the time to write a proper ‘first blog post’. I kept thinking the time would present itself. I kept saying, “Tomorrow. Tomorrow there will be time to sit and to write and to craft…” But I have come to the realization that, if I wait until there is time to write the perfect ‘first blog post’ I will simply never write anything—ever!
And so introductions will have to wait, or come along the way. Because, for now, life is happening—bursting at the seams—and it is time to tell the stories, whether introductions have been made or not.
It has only been 10 days so far, but it feels as though it has been months. Most of the time the fact that I am living in Jerusalem seems completely normal, but then it will hit me again, and I’ll get this incredulous grin on my face as I say to myself “I live in Jerusalem.”
It’s actually one of the phrases I have learned in Arabic already!
I was walking through the Old City of Jerusalem with Fred and Gloria Strickert (the new Pastor of the English-speaking congregation that worships in the St. John’s Chapel of the Lutheran Church of the Redeemer and his wife who is a Diaconal Minister and Hospital Chaplain) and Russ and Anne Siler (who used to serve at the English-speaking congregation) when I was asked by one of the shopkeepers “Where do you live? Where do you come from?” Without thinking I answered “USA.” Russ stopped me on the spot and said, “No, you don’t. You live here. ‘Ana sakni hon.’”
Ana sakni hon. I live here.
Or more specifically: Ana sakni fil Jebel az-Zeitun Mutallah. I live on the Mount of Olives at Augusta Victoria Hospital.
And, as new as it is, I do. I live here. I have settled into my apartment. I am enjoying my delicious breakfast each day—included with my apartment. I have found my walking route into the Old City and back. And I was able to follow the directions to a falafel place for lunch yesterday—take a right as you leave the Church of the Redeemer, take your first left, go past the Church of the Holy Sepluchre, then hang a right...
Okay, so maybe it’s not quite all ‘normal’ yet. I hope it never will be. I kind of like the feeling of that incredulous grin sweeping across my face: “I live in Jerusalem. Ana sakni hon.”
