I know there are more things to update.. we have been in Tel Aviv and the posts have been far and few between. I'm not sure if it is because I have lost the motivation to blog because it means I have less time enjoying the here and now (with only a few days left) or it's the lack of ability to process. It's been a trying time In Tel Aviv but a great one. Just today we went to a hope home sort of place. It is in the slum of Tel Aviv and is a safe house for prostitutes and drug addicts. The guys that runs it (David) is originally from the states but with a hard past and a strong calling on his life he moved to Israel and impact those on the streets. He started with just some thermoses full of hot tea and heart to love on the those unloved and that quickly moved into opening a safe home. We donated bags of clothes and sat with him and chatted about how he got to where he is now and what his life looks like now. I didn't take any images because there were woman in the home and it's just a respect thing at that point. When we first walked down the stairs the woman we eating their breakfast. One of the woman sat there with one hand trying to bring the pasta to her mouth and the other hand was placed upon her throat as if she had to force herself to eat. It was tough being there but it was evident the Lord was leading David and this home.
Within the last few days we have been overwhelmed with the love the community has been giving us. Last night went over to dinner at Stav's house (Robert's friend from a few years ago). They met on the bus when Robert was lost, the Lord has a reason for everything. There we were four years later having dinner at her apartment in Israel. It was so much fun. By far my favorite part of Israel so far.. maybe... it was for sure epic. We met Stav and Maayan - both very legit woman and very inspiring. There choke more people we met but those two girls sort of stuck with me/my heart. They prepared an amazing dinner both traditional dishes and just amazing salads. We sat on the couch and talked for hours. We picked their brains about Israel and more history that we didn't know. It was good to begin to have a better understanding of the place we were. It was hard to hear most of it but it was a reality check that this place isn't as peaceful as it may seem as you walk the streets. The girls shared so much about everything - I'm still trying to realize and soak it all in. Today Maayan and Stav took us to that safe home and after that we just cruised. Jazz, Viktor and Re and I were sitting at this corner stand and I picked up a newspaper. The headlines were about two American hikers in their late forties that were stabbed to death. One survived and the other was found today in the woods. They were attacked by terrorist by a large bread knife. The act was out of no provoke and the woman who lived to tell the story said the two Arab men approached them and asked for water, the two woman were worried with this interaction and turned back to town and on their way back they were attacked. This was just outside of Jerusalem. With all of this said, it's hitting us a little harder that though we feel safe and secure, though we feel like their is peace - there is not. There is definitely not. Stav and Maayan opened up the reality and the paper today put it closer to home.
So that concludes my bank stare ... in attempt to process but not being able to. Though my day started with the sunrise over the city as we surfed the tiny wind swell of the Mediterranean Sea. A session always cleans my shoulders of any weight and worry I am carrying around. One more day and we are on our way back home. Tonight we are taking a few of our surf kids out to dinner, we are all stoked and ready to bless this little family we have in Israel.
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