Our day begins early in the Garden. We are typically in the Garden by 7 AM (yes Judy too!). We have the responsibility of cleaning a "patch" of the Garden every morning. Mostly we clean bird poop off of the benches and sweep the side walks. Sound exciting? Actually it is. We enjoy the peace and quiet of the Garden early in the morning and are reminded of our Lord's frequent journeys into the Garden to pray. We follow His example and lift our family and friends to His Throne as we clean.
We are usually back in the apartment by 8 to clean up, dress, have breakfast and prepare to return to the Garden by 9. Our first pilgrims begin to arrive at 9. Al is responsible to guide groups through the Garden while sharing the gospel with them (total joy for him). Judy serves in the bookstore and sets up communion for the various groups that come. She frequently says that her favorite thing of the day is when several groups are in the Garden speaking, singing and praying in various different languages. I always suspected that she believed in speaking in tongues.
The Garden is a beautifual peaceful place to worship God. If you have never been to Israel, we highly recommend that you begin to pray now about coming some day. We did over 30 years ago. God heard our prayer, let us come short time several times and now we are living in Jerusalem ... ok, it's only for 3 months but that is a lifetime as far as one of our grandchildren is concerned! Not so Carly, I promise you baby we ARE coming home!
Until you are able to come on your own... enjoy the pictures!
2 comments:
Pastor Al & Judy - we enjoy your blog very much. It is a wonderful walking and picture tour of the Holy City.
You may get a similar comment since I just filled one out but before establishing an account, so I don't know where that one went - cyper space?
We met you at Walter and Bertrice Smith's wedding anniversary in Southbridge, MA. Sally and I were original members of Faith Baptist Church in Southbridge before moving on to other job locations. We first met when you and Bob & JoAnn Lundstrom visited Christ Chaple on Cape Cod one summer when we were living there.
Howard and Sally Watson
Walter and Sally, we remember you well You, thanks to FBC and our friends in Southbridge, are a part of some of the fondest memories in our life. Thank you for the kind words...
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