4 kitchen sponges
and a partial list of things I’ll miss.
Our return tickets are booked. Our itinerary is set. We are working out details for our departure and return home. We have made the shift. We are winding down our time here and have our “oh let’s make sure we do this” list to complete before we leave.
4 weeks. Or because I bought a large pack of kitchen sponges for our time here and we have four left (we get a new one out every Tuesday)- 4 more kitchen sponges. 🧽🧽🧽🧽
Yesterday we went back to the Israel Museum to visit the model of the Second Temple and the archaeology wing. Perhaps because we are nearing the end of our time and our minds have been saturated with so much of Israel’s history, it was a very rich experience. Walking Jerusalem for all these months proved helpful in gauging the distance from place to place on the model. And it was powerful to have that experience coupled with a visual of what Jesus would have seen and where he would have walked.
Additionally, while walking through the archaeology wing, through the timeline of civilization and that of Biblical history, we made a lot of connections for just how much civilization had progressed and how many years the story of the Bible span. With that understanding, there is also a grounding as we find ourselves part of this timeline. We are so very far removed from the time of Abraham, but the same God has pursued us ALL with THE SAME MESSAGE- “I want to have a relationship with you.” Beautiful.
This week as we make the shift into winding down our adventure, I’ve been reflective. I’ve been considering all of the gifts from this adventure and contemplating the things that I will miss. As is the very purpose of this blog, I want to share this list with you (although it is certainly not comprehensive), because of the beauty in our season in Jerusalem…
** Being surrounded by Biblical history. All the time. Without even trying. To have it saturate and make shifts in our minds and hearts just because we are in its proximity is incredible.
** Fresh, warm pita. I don’t think I need to say anything more about that. It’s just warm, chewy, smells amazing and has the best pillowy texture.
** All of the time I have spent with my five children in this season. Being removed from what use to be normal has allowed us to see each of them in new ways. We may get under each other’s skin, especially because we HAVE been together so much, but my children really are incredible people. Team Kehrer is a well rounded team and I’m thankful to really see that come out in this season.
** The conversations that happen because we walk everywhere. These kinds of heart to hearts don’t happen when everyone is piled in the van and we arrive at our destination so soon. There is something about walking together, getting fresh air and sunshine and moving our bodies, that make us ripe for connecting conversations and I will really miss that built in space that has been our rhythm here.
** Celebrating Shabbat every Friday night with friends from all over the world. It still fills my heart to overflowing singing and praying in this glimpse of heaven.
** Early morning walks to the market on small shopping days. Nothing for companions but the smell of rosemary, the cool breeze, and the birdsong.
** Experiencing new things and adventuring together as a family. I also love the debrief after and celebrate the similarities and differences in what we loved and learned.
** The murmur in the room as the sermon is translated into so many languages- Another weekly glimpse of heaven.
Oh the gifts and beauty of this very challenging yet worthwhile adventure!