Danielle's Israel Adventure

Home Now!

2007-09-06T11:33:00.000-07:00

Hello Everyone!

Just wanted to let you all know that I'm home now, have been home for just over a week. I spent the last couple weeks of August, after my program finished, traveling around Israel. We rented a car (but went through 3, because they all kept breaking down), and drove and camped in the middle of the Negev desert and hiked through the Golan Heights in the very north of Israel. It was absolutely amazing.
The whole DTS, the teaching part and the outreach part was incredible. It was life changing, and I'm a completely different person than the way I arrived. God is so good! I now look forward to see where God is leading me next. loved Israel, and I also look forward to go back there and back to the Middle East eventually... "In sha'allah" (God willing).
I can't thank everyone enough for your comments and your support, your emails and your prayers. They made my time away from home more pleasant :o)
Now that I'm back at home, I've started work and am now searching for a church that I can call home. I'm happy to be home, and I look forward to visiting everyone again!

Blessings,
Danielle

Debrief

2007-08-13T02:49:00.000-07:00

Hey All,

So I am in my last 4 days of the program, and it's going well. Last week was outreach debriefing where we talked about our experiences during the 7 weeks prior. Not much to say about it though. Over the weekend we had a birthday party for one of the girls and then yesterday I spent the day at the Dead Sea. Finally, since I've been here I have not been to the Dead Sea. It was really fun, don't dunk your head under the water though! I wasn't THAT stupid, but I wanted to see what the water would be like on my hair... unfortunately I didn't realize Dead Sea water drips down from your hair into your eyes, nose and mouth. And you can reallllly feel this water. It burns, hurts very badly, and I was temporarily blinded for a bit. It was incredibly hot out and the water wasn't that refreshing, felt like a bath. It was a neat sensation just floating, not being able to sink.. we found a mud pit and put mud all over ourselves, I will have pictures later. The mud made my skin feel baby soft, it was wonderful. I actually had got some in my hair as well, and it made the tips quite soft.

Just some updated news, I now don't think I will be arriving home until closer to the 1st of September, if not, on that day. Seats are jammed packed and it's looking a little hopeless. Instead I will be hiking in the Negev desert next week, and possibly the Golan Heights (ya'll can look up what that is). Maybe spend a bit of time on the beach.

So I'm sorry to dash all hopes of coming home early, but I will try again.

Love you all,
Dani

I Leave R-town Tomorrow :o(

2007-08-02T03:27:00.000-07:00

Marhaba,

I will be moving back to Jerusalem tomorrow around noon. Today we are cleaning and packing our flat. It's been crazy how fast time has gone, and I have learned and experienced so much.

Last Friday was a really amazing day. We spent some time with the Muslim family I last wrote about and posted some pictures on. While we were there we told them we were only able to stay a few hours instead of the 6 hours they wanted us to stay because of the worship service at church we were singing in. The were quite dissapointed, and then I really felt lead to invite them to the service. All the girls seemed very interested in coming and hearing us sing and be in a church. The asked their mom and she said yes (we were verrrry excited about this because it is a sin for Muslims to go into a church, so they never want to come).. but, she said, they would have to ask their father. We were all a little dissapointed in this because there is no way a Muslim father would allow his 5 daughters into a Christian church. We all kind of sat there a little sad, when not 1 min later the phone rings.. it's "abu", their father! Immediately the girls that I was with and myself said, let's start praying so that they'd be allowed. We even told the girls that we were praying. The mother talked to their father, and all the girls rushed into the room and listened and waited, as we prayed. About 2 min later the girls all came out to tell us their father would let them!!!! This is a miracle in itself, like I said, no Father would ever let their girls go to a church, especially without a man with them. So we really praised God, and made arrangements for them to come, and found an Arabic translator for the service. The mother had been dealing with chronic backpain for quite some time. The last visit we had had, she was constantly getting up and leaving because her back was so sore. This time, after the phone call, we offered to pray for her back. We had said a little about "Jesua" and how he could heal. She let us pray for her! (Again another miracle, she is a devout Muslim believer who prays her 5x a day to Allah). We went into her bedroom and she kneeled on the ground and the three of us kneeled around her and started praying. All the girls crowded the doorway and watched. After we each had prayed and finished, she got up and thanked us, and went to go bring us lunch. We didn't ask about it, because we didn't really know what to say. Perhaps lack of faith on our part. We were able to share a bit of the gospel with the family, with the small bit of english we knew. We left for to get ready for the service, and Julian at the church asked me if I'd like to share my testimony and proclaim the gospel with an arabic translator. I was very much afraid, but I had faith it wouldn't be my words, but God's. The service started, I spoke, we sang, and it went really well. The girls enjoyed themselves, and not just 5 of them came but the whole family (except the mother and father), and a cousin. I think they all came because at the house we told the story about Jesus and the children, and encouraged the little kids to come.
After the service, Debbie told us (because she had stayed with them until the service started), that the mother had been healed! Incredibly, about an hour after we had prayed, one of her sisters had stopped by and she started talking about how we had prayed for her and her back had no more pain. She even demonstrated by standing up and down and up and down which she couldn't do before. Praise God. I have never experienced something so incredible.
These full 7 weeks have been filled with really cool things. I've met some amazing people and have been able to share a lot of love. I think I'm going to really want to come back her. I've been able to visit the really poor villages and hand out food, and they really need more woman to come out and do this. There is a lot of abuse that happens with the women here, and they have no where to go to because, culturally, they can't. I met a girl, who is my age, 21. She has a three year old daughter and had a baby boy. Her husband beat her, and her daughter while they were married, even jumped on her stomach when she was pregnant. When she had her son, the husband took him after he was 15days old, and the baby died. She asked for a divorce and received one, but he took her little girl, and now has saw her twice in the last year. This happened on year ago, she has not received any councilling because people who go to that are considered crazy here. She has no rights to her daughter, because in this society, the man can only support. There is a possibility no one will want to marry her even though she's only 21, because it is considered a great shame as a woman to be divorced.
There are so many problems here, it's hard to even know where to begin. Not only is there the politics, and the culture, but the church is twisted as well. No one has really anywhere to turn. It makes my heart move with compassion for these people. There are so many beautiful beautiful aspects to them, but there are so many dark sides to it.

I will be trying to come home within the next couple weeks, sometime after the 17th, possibly the 19th. Looking forward to coming home and eating properly. I think I've gained like 10lbs from all the people shoving food in my face at all times, it's ridiculous. Enough of that complaining though! It is good food, I have to admit haha.

Alright, love you all. Let me know you still read this and still care about me :o)
-Dani

A few pictures and movies

2007-07-23T03:51:00.000-07:00

This was my first Palestinian wedding.

Videos:

The bride and the groom dancing their first dance. This wedding is a Muslim wedding so the men and the women are seperated. I am obviously on the women's side as you can tell from my picture. The women all dance together and the only man there is the groom. Some muslim women will go uncovered for this, and others prefer to keep their Hijabs on. It's a matter of personal preference. It also shows their relationship and respect for their god. The bride when she is around men has a cloke and a hood to cover her head that goes over her dress.

]

This is Natalie and I at the wedding.

A family we visited just outside of Rtown.

It was awkward because the grandma (the fat lady) came into the room and sat on the couch. She continued to hit her belly and as it jiggled she would say "baby" in her low grandma voice. She kept slapping her belly and the whole family would point at her and say "she's fat!!!" as they all laughed and tried to get us to laugh with them. We laughed but we had no idea what was going on, and if it was appropriate.. it was just awkward. They thought it was funny though. The grandma was also very funny, and tried marrying off one of the girls. The mother is incredibly talented at traditional cross-stitch and they have it all over the house. She did some really amazing work. She didn't want to sell it though, because she loved it so much. There are 8 children in the family, and they live in this three room house. The father works, and sells plants they grow at their house on the street. I have no idea how they make it. Yet they still insisted on having 4 of us over and feeding us. It really shows the hospitality of the Palestinian people, even when they are incredibly poor.

Helping out at church, we're the worship team :o) There are only about 15 members of the church, half of them show up on Sundays and about 3 on Friday night worship. The average age I'd say is about 70. The people are very friendly though. We're praying for a real growth in this church. It's very "worker" based. The lady who set it up 40 years ago was from West Virginia, unfortunately she has Alzheimers and as soon as she got sick people stopped really caring or coming to the church. There needs to be a lot of discipling here of the Christians as the churches in the Wst Bnk are not unified at all. If you are Latin Catholic, you cannot go to a Roman Catholic church for help. The Greek Orthodox and Catholic church all dislike the Baptist church(the one I am in) because they believe strange things. Definitely not based on Jesus as the cornerstone at all.
Unfortunately, shame based killings happen within the Christian church not just the Muslim culture. If a woman marries a muslim man and converts, she is banished and if she is to return home, it is a possibility she will be killed based on the shame brought to the family. It is very wrong, and we're praying very hard for changes that NEED to happen here.

We read the bible in 9 1/2 hours over 4 days. Yay.

She was really cute. So I thought I'd include her in here. She was from another house I visited, a more well off Muslim family. I left my sweater there, I hope I get it back.

Another movie of just being out and about:

I will be heading to Jerusalem in 10 days where I start my debriefing and sharing with the other team everything that has happened. The other team is in Haifa, and from what i've heard has been doing some amazing things.

Like I have said before I look forward to seeing everyone in less than a month... Lord willing I can get on a flight before the 1st!

Love Dani

PS. See more pics on my Facebook

http://www.facebook.com/album.php?aid=15031&l=25aa4&id=502331270

Still alive in R town

2007-07-16T03:51:00.000-07:00

Hey Everyone,

Still alive here in Ramall*h. Lots of stuff going on. The most recent is my email was hacked so for those of you that have emailed me in the last couple days, you may have to re-email me at

~~~~~~ danielle.janzen@hotmail.com ~~~~~~~~~~~

I have lost everyone's emails, so PLEASE email at least a "Hi" so I can add you. Or add me to msn, or whatever. If someone who is on my cheesecakekiller email comes on and tries talking to you, maybe you can let them know how important that email is to me, and there are many important things in there I need, and that I would be happy to forgive them if they'd just return it back to me... I don't know, maybe it's a good evangelism opportunity? Hahah

Besides this most recent happening, we have been teaching english as usual, and doing much visiting. I have been making many friends, and it's been great to be invited into homes and visit with the WHOLE family (aunts, uncles, grandparents cousins... evertime.. this is Palestinian culture). It's difficult as a woman here to meet people. I can't be alone, I have to be in before dark, I can't just randomly meet people on the streets like the guys here can. God has been gracious though, and teaching English has opened up many opportunities, so has shopping (as funny as that is).
I'm getting used to the shooting here everynight. It's usually a wedding, but there have been a couple times where it hasn't (one of which was during the day, and I was close to, but I'll tell that story when I come home). The Israeli soldiers come in to the city in the middle of the night sometimes to make arrests, that's when you can hear some louder shooting or explosion things.. but that's happened once and I'm safe inside (that's why I'm not allowed out after dark). Other than that, Ramall*h is great, the people are lovely and friendly.. and I feel very safe. We may head to Nabl*s in the next couple weeks and do some prayer. They really need some prayer, we know a lot of people in that city.
There is a lot of poverty here, more than I imagined. I've been to the refugee camp and have some friends there, it's hard to be there. Hard to see mom's on the steets with their babies on their laps. Hard for me to not think they're faking it actually... it sounds horrible. I'm so used to Vancouver and everyone who asks for money just needs it for drugs and lies about it. I am really working on a heart of compassion and I would love to give more money, but I'm running very very low :oS I think I have about 6 more weeks here, so I really have to make it last. I have faith God will provide though.. and I'm definitely not starving! That's really only what matters right?
A Korean team of Acupuncture doctors came last week. They are Christian, and their way of spreading love and healing is through prayer and acupuncture to the poor people here. It was really cool to be around them, really showed me the true meaning of praying "korean style". They were even gracious enough to let us try some acupuncture. It's really painful, that's all I can say... but it did heal people. Didn't work so well on me.
Again, I love you all. Please email me fo real, since now I have no ones emails. Let me know what's up in Canada.
I am aiming to be home around August 20th area.. I will be trying to fly standby in a very very booked week that I can't change to. Please keep me in your prayers, especially for that, I'd really like to come home (as much as I love it here!)

Love you, Dani

PS Here is a link to movieesssss
http://youtube.com/profile?user=cheesecakekiller

Info

2007-06-25T04:52:00.000-07:00

I have uploaded some pictures so if you guys would like me to send you some please email me.
I also have some videos so if you'd like the link, email me as well.
Or you can leave a comment and email if I don't have it and I will send it within a week at the most. I only check this once a week on Mondays.
I have some random pictures which I am able to put on the internet so here is the link to those:
http://www.facebook.com/album.php?aid=11916&l=f2379&id=502331270

Blessings to all, have a wonderful week!

-Dani

Officially not in Jerusalem

2007-06-23T07:12:00.000-07:00

Hey all,

Just to give you a quick update on everything that's going on in the new city I live in. Ground rules: I cannot say the name of the city, or pretty much not go into so much detail in what is going on here. I'm really sorry about this. I would love to tell you of all the neat things that are happening but I'm sure many of you know the political situation here, and it's best not to draw attention to myself. Especially not on the internet since certain things are illegal here. There is a possibility of seeing me on tv and some point or another if you watch the news intensely ahha.
But everything is good here. It's a good city to be in, busy busy busy, intense and passionate! Palesti..s are passionate! About politics, love, hate, Isl*m, everything! I saw my first political rally the other day, really cool, loud loud music and yelling and shouting. I work teaching english twice a week, at a childs centre once a week, visiting people, going to the university here, visiting villiages all week.. praying praying praying all the time. It is an intense time here for myself, I barely have anytime to be on here. Even more so since I can't venture on my own anywhere, have to be with a partner. It's hot, and I don't have much skin showing (even less than Jerusalem.. hard to believe).

I will not be able to upload pictures on here unfortunately. Because of where I am. So I'm soo sorry, you'll have to wait until I come home and I will have another wine and cheese party and show them off there. Everything is very security oriented so I'm sorry. It's not like I'm in Australia or anything, I am in the Middle East.

The people are wonderful here though, eager to learn, know, and they are seeking. Seeking so badly for some peace and some love!

Thank you all for your prayer support, I need it, the team here needs it. We have been finding we're getting sick often, so pray against that... not right to be sick so much! Pray for opportunities to show The love.

I love you all, and will see you in 50something days

Update

2007-06-16T05:12:00.000-07:00

Hello there everyone,

Just to update you all on the recent situation in Israel, as I'm sure many of you know of. I won't go into detail as to what happened, you all can google it if you don't know. Actually http://www.jpost.com is a great website to check all current news going on in Israel.
I want to let you know that the situation is stable, and safe for me to be still going into the W*st B*nk (I move there this monday). I will be teaching english, doing campus work at the university, visiting, and working with children. In the city I will be in, we've talked to the people that live there and the situation is stable, but politically tense. The city is the political capital of the Pal*st*ne, so it's bound to be tense. If any fighting happens near us, we will be promptly taken out of the city, our safety will not be comprimised. So pleasse no one worry.. but the best thing you can do is pray that the situation will be resolved, and there will be peace in the area and unity.

To Miss Sara Wiebe,
Your package blessed me so incredibly much. I texted you, but I don't think you received it? Or you just didn't respond? Anyways, I freaked out over my beautiful beatiful Mac Mascara that I have been slightly craving (I have been using this $3 Arab stuff... it weirds me out). The book is so funny, but I don't really believe that it's totally fact. I used all the bobby pins last night to do some finger waves and the card was so creative. Aren't you the one saying you're not artistically inclined when we do birthday cards?? HA! You rock gurl!

Kristen: I emailed you a couple weeks ago.. did you receive it or should I email again? Hope all is well! And your baby sister is doing wonderful.

Taia: I texted you as well the other day.. did you get it? It said I wanted a grandma perm when I get home.

Natalie: Happy happy happy happy belated birthday! I haven't yet sent you a birthday card, but I hopefully will, and it will come even more belated! YAYyyy for forgetful Dani. Hope you still love me :o( How was Gwen?

Sabrina: Lovely, I don't even know if you read this. But thank you for calling me last week! It was so cool to hear a familiar voice at 5:40am :o) Heheh.

Let's see what else. Nothing else new except that I am leaving Jerusalem in a day :o( I will be back here at the beginning of August. I will be back home between August 20th and 29th!!!

ps. some pictures:
http://www.facebook.com/album.php?aid=10825&l=82764&id=502331270

Love you all!
-Dani

2007-06-07T05:49:00.001-07:00

Marhaba All,

Just to give you a quick update to let you know I'm still alive and well! My mosquito bites from Egypt are healing well, now it just looks like I'm recovering from chicken pox. I've heard all about the flooding issues going on at home. I'm praying that everyone will be safe. Hopefully it won't happen!
I am in my last week and a half of the lecture phase here, and then I am sent out for most of the summer to the W*st B*nk! I'm very excited. We have accomodation, girls and guys seperate. We 5 girls have a lovely place about 5min away from the guys that is fully furnished and close to the heart of the city. The guys, I'm thinking will be spending more time at our place. There's is right in the heart of the city where all the demonstrations take place, needless to say, there may or may not be some bullet holes spread around. Guns are not an uncommon thing there, and used in celebrations, demonstrations, everything really.. We are taking precautions though, and I have complete faith we will be safe.
We will be teaching english a couple days a week, and working at a centre for children that are challenged in learning(I think). We also will be going to some small bedouin villages to hand out food. On this side of the wall, what sometimes happens is those small villiages are suffocated out. The army will cut off all roads to them, and try to starve them into moving off the land. It's really not a pleasant thing, hopefully we can help out!
It's getting warmer and warmer here. The weather is pleasant, but sometimes a little too warm when I can't show my ankles and my shoulders :o( But the women somehow do it here and are covered from their head, their wrists, to their ankles, so I shouldn't complain.
The teaching this week is on the Character of God, it's been really eye opening (as has everything here). What his true character is, not the ones that we sometimes think he is (like angry, vengeful), but the Father heart of God. How we are his children and he parents us etc etc. Anyways, it's really cool to know just how much Love he has.. Loves with every ounce of him and that if I was the only one that Jesus had to die for, he'd die for me.

Alrighty,
I hope everyone is doing well, tell me what's up. Keep me connected!
Love you all,
Dani

Pictures of Egypt

2007-05-30T07:30:00.000-07:00

Egypt

More Dts Random

Just flew in from Cairo

2007-05-28T06:32:00.000-07:00

Hello all!

I am alive and safe back in Jerusalem from Cairo, Egypt. I went there for a few days for a conference. I almost broke my leg getting there though. Fell down this open drain off a curb with my 20lb backpack on. Landed with one foot all the way down and the rest of my body on the pavement.. pretty painful, but somehow I just received a few bruises. It made my already splint shins(from running and walking up the Mount of Olives) worse. I arrived in Egypt with no problems in security. Arrived at our destination and spent some amazing time in a secluded area in the desert for awhile. While we were there I was horrible attacked by bugs.. not sure if it was mosquitoes or not, there were tonnes of those. I have close to 50 bites everywhere on my body. On my face, mostly on my arms and my back. No one else had this except one other girl.. we're not sure why. At this retreat there was a prayer team from Tacoma, absolutely amazing. They prophecied over 300 of the people there, at least 14 hours a day praying for each person. God spoke to them about each individuals original design in Christ (personal characteristics, gifts etc). Very interesting to be in. We were updated on the happenings in the Middle East, since this was a conference of every long term worker that could make it. There are some AMAZING things happening, so keep the Middle East in your prayers. There were some workers in this organization that were shot in Sudan doing their trip a few weeks ago. They are just regular students like myself, and were doing their trip. One of them was killed, they're going through some rough times.
Egypt is amazing though, I loved it (besides the flies and mosquitoes).. Cairo is huge and dirty.. one of the dirtiest cities in the world. There is a huge street kid population that desperately needs help.. I was able to meet a few kids selling stuff at the pyramids, really depressing to see these kids forced to work. I went to the pyramids (will put pictures up later), they were pretty sweet. Saw the sphynx, went into a pyramid.. but the kids touched me the most.I definitely want to go back.
I came home today, with some tokens of Egypt, included of which were my numerous bug bites. It didn't go as smoothly as I'd like. Every got through passport control very easy.. somehow they picked me to pick on. I've been going in and out with no israeli stamp on my passport, and it hasn't been a problem so far. Today they said it wasn't either, but then they called security on me and I was taken away for about 45min or so. I was questioned, wasn't allowed near my bag. The thought crossed my head that I may have to go back home. I sat and prayed I'd be able to make it through the whole time, so did the rest of the group. Then as randomly as me being taken away was, some man came up and asked if I was Danielle. I said Yes, and then he asked if I wanted the stamp on my passport or not, I said, "if it's not a problem, then no, but if it is, then it's fine to receive it." He insisted it was fine to not stamp it, and then came back a minute later and then I was free to go. It made no sense! Then the paper I had received the stamp on was ripped up by another guard.. I thought I need it, especially to get in the W*st B*nk, but I can't say that to them. They insisted I don't need it for traveling (assuming I dont' have to go through checkpoints, which I do have to).. so I had to just leave. It was really frustrating, so now we're praying I will be fine to go in to the WBank.
That's been my last couple days in a nutshell.. I wish I could sit and write more, but I need to get back home with dinner.

Kristen, it was so good to hear about your mom! I didn't really think that she was due so soon, but it's probably because you didn't tell me about it until way later.. grrr. I didn't get your text though:o( Congrats big sister x3!!!!!!!

Phone number change

2007-05-16T23:39:00.000-07:00

My true phone number really is::

054 817 9316

Please don't call the other one, it's my friend Rosie's.. don't know how I got that mixed up.

To call from canada I believe you press 011 972 54 817 9316.
Sorry!

Are you Ready for 500 pictures!?!?!?!

2007-05-14T05:58:00.000-07:00

Click the links to see the movies, and the pictures to see the rest of the pictures

this is the link to all the pictures if you don't feel like click the ones I've posted: http://picasaweb.google.com/cheesecakekiller

Movies:

Where I walk to school, as seen from the Old City Walls:

Old City wall movie
- call to prayer near Dome of the Rock, I hear this 5 times a day. Everywhere I go, it's playing.

<Masada Part 1:

Masada Part 2: <

Pictures:

Tel Aviv Part 2 (This time with Friends!)

The Contrary to popular belief, easy to access West Bank (as can be seen with the fences, barbed wire, and sniper towers:

Bethlehem Adventures

Ramparts Walk (Walk around the walls of the Old City)

Orphanage

Masada - me sitting on a camel

Random:

DTS random

More Dts Random

3 hours and 20 shekels later those are you 500 pictures and movies and whatnot!
I hope you enjoy them all, I'll work on some captions later, but I am tired now!

I have a cellphone now for those of you that would like to call me the number is: 054 432 8905
All incoming calls are free for me, so you can call whenever you so desire! I'm not sure how text messaging works, so far I haven't been able to do it internationally. Remember to place whatever the country code for israel before the number like (012 or 014 or somethinglike that).
I will update later with other things, but I am exhausted with the computer for now.
So longg.

Packages!

2007-05-04T01:12:00.000-07:00

If you'd like to mail me brown paper packages tied up with string
my address is:

Danielle Janzen
PO Box 31
Jerusalem, Israel

That's it, that easy!
Here are a few of my favorite things:
kidding
but honestly, if you'd like to send me something that is in a package.. I like Mac Mascara, black, or any type of nice mascara, black. Chocolate, long sleeved shirts that are light for the summer as I will be spending it in the Palestine. I like candies as well hahaha... you guys know me. Send me something funny and awesome.
Love you all
Dani!

Back from Tel Aviv (again)

2007-05-02T06:37:00.000-07:00

Ahalan Wasahalan! (welcome in Arabic)

Hope everyone is doing pleasantly. I'm still reading and enjoying all my comments. Sorry I haven't been able to email everyone back as soon as I should, time is limited and I'd still like to update this!
Like I have said over and over again, I am trying to upload these stupid photos sitting in my camera. I think I can give you a few as tasters, but they take forrrrever to upload!

This is the Wadi I went hiking at a few weeks ago. We walked from Jerusalem to Jericho (about 3 hours), it wasn't too hot which was great. It was such a beautiful hike.

This is Bethleh*m, the place of Jesus' birth. It is located in the W*st B*nk, and there are some lovely people that work over there. It is kind of a pain trying to get there, even though it's only like 30min away. It takes sometimes up to 1 1/2hr, sheruts only take us to the wall then we have to get out and cross the wall (like a border crossing), then take crrrazy arab taxis after we walk through all the bars and stuff.

This is Damascus gate, this is my main entrance into the old city of Jerusalem. It is crazy busy, hectic, sometimes a headache, but really fun. Easy to get lost in, but cheap pretty much anything because it's on the Arab side. This is where I practice my bartering skills.

Anyways, I spent the weekend in Tel Aviv relaxing at the beach with a bunch of the students. I got burnt, but that's been a normal thing here. I don't know why I would only buy 15spf sunscreen.. I'm such a dip sometimes. It was great fun, singing on the beach at night, beach in the day.. just being away from Jerusalem is kind of nice. There is so much tension here, going out to Tel Aviv is like being in "the real world". I am allowed to wear anything I want, most people speak english, and it's pretty laid back. Not that it isn't laid back here, it just gets kind of frustrating sometimes.

I found out about my trip I'm taking in the summer. I was under the impression I would be on the team of students heading up to the North (Haifa).. but it seems God has other plans for me. I will be going into the W*st B*nk into a city called R*amm*ll*h. After this last week I didn't expect it, I felt very lead to the North, so it was a surprise. I'm excited though, don't get me wrong. We'll be going to teach english and work with an organization that takes care of handicapped children. In total I think I will be there for about 7 weeks, and I leave at the end of June. I am taking arabic classes until then so I will be able to speak and understand a little more than what I do now (I can semi read and write and say numbers!!).

I leave for Egypt in a couple of weeks, I'm really excited about that. I really hope to be seeing some pyramids. We're going to try and do that, but the conference is about 1hr away from Cairo, so we have to try and find time to do so.

I'm receiving a lot of personal healing here, making so much progress over this last month. I'm really happy to be over here serving God, and working on my character. Again, I want to thank everyones support in this, you don't know how much I truly truly appreciate it. My friends and family, I love you guys so much and I miss you to death. I even miss work??!?! I don't know how that works.. but I think it's just the familiarity of it all. It's nice to be in your comfort zone sometimes and here... I don't have a comfort zone, it is none exsistant. I love it in a different way though.

To those that would like to send me a package of some kind!!!! I will be receiving the post office box tomorrow, and will have the address up then. If you would care to send something of that sort please send it soon as I have no idea how long it will take to get here and I will be leaving at the end of June. If you'd like to know what I miss from home... I miss Dentyne Ice intense gum, perogies(but you can't send those), salsa, umm ... something that's good with no gluten as it's really hard to find stuff like that here and I'm trying to stay away from wheat.. bobby pins, toothpaste I don't know. Be creative! Although, you don't have to send me anything :o)

Nat and Sabrina - You girls be good at the police party!
Taia - good luck in your first week of hairschool (I think it's next week, but you haven't responded, so I'm assuming!)
Kris - I'm sooo proud of you and your kayaking!! I wish I would have been able to watch that race you did before I left so I can really get the full "Kris kayaking picture" but oh well. I hope you're still enjoying work and stufff.
Sara - I have absolutely no idea what you're up to. I think your brother is home or coming home very soon, hope that went well. Email and tell me what's up girl!
Mommm - I miss you, and miss talking to you :o( It makes me a little sad. I love you lots, want to let you know that. I'm happy to hear everyone is doing well, and that Jersey is enjoying the sun haha. I saw a beagle on the beach the other day!! A lot fatter than Jers, but same colouring, it was pretty cute. A little shorter as well. Tell aunty ann I hope she feels better after her surgery. Are you going and visiting her over the long weekend? How is my Bella?? I miss her as well. Is Tay keeping her end of the bargain yet??
Taylor - Keep your end of the bargain! Emptying the litter isn't that difficult, make me proud girl. Hahah. Hope things are going well with Jusssstinnnnnnnn (L). Sounds like you're doing well with your volleyball and dance, I'm so happy for you. Sorry I didn't email you back! But I loved the picture of me (I think it was me?) It was kind of scarey actually.. but cool hahaha.
Hane - You rock! Keep mom soft. Man of her dreams heh.. I love you and miss you lots. Any more dramatics at work?
Grandma and Grandpa - Happy birthday soon Grandma! I'm sorry I won't be there to celebrate it with you guys. You're both very beautiful and important in my life. I want to let you know how much I have appreciated everything you have done for me in every way. I appreciate your prayers and concerns and support, you're just amazing.
Aunty Lisa and Uncle Laverne - Aunty Lisa I received your letter the other day, it was such an encouragement, thank you so much. Uncle Laverne, I love and appreciate all the words you've given me. They're all starting to click in now ;o)
Grandma Shirley - do you read this? I don't even know if I should be saying anything on here or not. But I received your 2nd letter, thank you so much for letting me know everything you're doing haha. It's entertaining, I love you.
P49 - Namely Ally A, if you want to do something like this, do it.. do a DTS, pray about a place and take off. You will love it, I know you will and I really think you should do it! The rest of you guys, I miss being around you and working and hanging out Dominique, Ally B, Graham Cracka, Jenna, Natalie, lovely back of the house and your jokes. If I'm forgetting anyone (which I am) I still miss you.

That's all I can do for now. I love you all!

back from the North

2007-04-24T03:19:00.000-07:00

Hello Everyone,

Sorry I waited a little bit longer to update than usual. Time is just flyyyying by!
Last week was a huge week for me.. personally. I dealt with a lot of issues in my past, memories, anger, unforgiveness, forgiveness. After dealing with all that, I've been very blessed, feeling healed and renewed.
Friday I got to visit the church of the Holy Sepluchre (where Jesus was thought to be crucified and/or buried.. a lot of debate on that though). It's a church where there is sooo much division. You have the Greek Orthodox, the Armenians, the Ethopian church, the Roman catholics all fighting over this place. Fighting so much that they actually have attacked eachother's place of worship by like destroying stuff with fire, or breaking. It's really sad. This is such a beautiful place to so many christians and when I went in all I could feel was sadness. That here are all these christians trying to worship God, but they hate eachother, doesn't really make a lot of sense. We went into the Armenian cave church thing and it was scorched from the fire the Greek Orthodox had set to ruin it. There is so much fighting going on that the key to church was placed in the hands of a prestigious muslim family because none of the christians could agree who should keep it. It's ridiculous, but I have no right to judge.
I've spent the last few days up north with my fellow team members. We spent our time in the Galilea region, kind of walking in Jesus' ministry footsteps. We spent some time in Jericho, they declare they are the oldest city in the world, over 10000 years old or something like that. We visited the site where the old old city was before Israel marched around the walls and defeated it. It is really just piles of dirt and some cool wall ruins and stairs. Hard to imagine what it would've looked like, but still fun to see.
Man.. I really wish there was a good way of uploading pictures.. I haven't found a great way, and I have soooo many! The day will come, it will be like Christmas.. haha.
After Jericho, we went by the baptism site in the Jordan river and then stopped in Tafga(I think it's called). It was the place where Jesus fed 5000 people with the loaves of bread and fish. There is a church at that site(as there is for every other single miracle or Jesus site.. the catholic church is big on that stuff). Galilea is so beautiful! Rolling green hills, palm trees, banana trees, the sea of galilea.. it's really warm, like summer there because it's a lower elevation. Here in Jerusalem it's quite a bit cooler because we're so high above sea level and in the mountains. After Tafga we visited Capernum, this is where Jesus started his ministry and also where Peter lived. There are a lot of really cool ruins there, surrounded by a beautiful garden. There is even the ruins of this really large tabernacle where Jesus spoke at a lot. We could walk in and sit in it, very lovely. After Capernum, we went to the Mount of Beatitudes.. also an amazing garden with an amazing view of the sea (which is actually a lake‚
It was really interesting to be able to be in places that Jesus had gone. I couldn't connect to it as much as I'd like to because I'm sure everything is so different now compared to what it probably was.. but it was definitely an experience. After this we checked into our hostel which was right on the sea edge. Not like a hostel at all, it was soo nice it was like a hotel. Really thankful for that. Didn't get to spend a lot of time there since we were still kind of sightseeing, and got there later on in the evening. We went to Tiberias for dinner (near the town of Mary Magdalene), and had some Lebanese food which could have been more satisfactory.
The next day we went to this place in the Golan Heights.. the name has left me at the moment, but it's where there was an ancient Greek temple dedicated to Pan. Jesus took his disciples to this same place and this is when he told Peter he would build his church on the rock. It was very green, lots of water everywhere. The ruins were also really cool, a little eerie though because the ancient greeks did a lot of weird sacrificial stuff there. From there we hiked to this waterfall, which was also amazing. The land here is spectacular! It really is the land flowing of milk and honey hahaha.

We will be taking our trip at the end of June and doing some volunteer work here in Israel! There are two different groups one will be heading into the W*st B*nk, in a city that cannot be named. The other group will be heading to the north into Haifa and other places. Both with very different focusses and learning about the cultures of Muslim and Jews. I'm not sure which one I will be going to, I'm very much praying on this. My heart has actually been changed though since coming here. I came really wanting to immerse myself in the Ar*b culture, but I feel very lead to be involved with the Jews. Which is interesting, didn't think that would happen either.

There is a group of people here from Las Vegas. They were supposed to be heading into Brazil, and bought the tickets, but then their visas didn't work. They then felt lead to Mexico, the doors were shut there.. then it was placed on their hearts they were supposed to be in Israel. They bought one way tickets and are here now just by faith!!! If anyone can pray for them, that would be awesome. They really need a lot of support and prayer, and blessings on their faith. I've tried to help them out as much as I can financially, so I'm really putting faith in God I will be provided for if needed.

I think that's all I'm going to write for now.
Love you all!!!

PS.
Remember ladies we looked up Wadi in the dictionary in the library in Sardis because we needed to find a cool word for our gang. We found Wadi and it meant dried up river bed, and then thought we'd make up something different so we would sound cool.
Wadi 4 lyfe
Ruckus you be goin down

2007-04-16T03:52:00.000-07:00

Hey Everyone,

I'll just give you a quick update. I'm still working on this picture thing.. I don't understand Macs (not the makeup, I'm well learned in that area), but these computers are stupid.
I had my first day on Friday at the orphanage. The kids are crazyyyyyy.. crawling all over me, loving me, touching me. There are like 30 little girls about 13 and under. There are these two beautiful twins, beautiful blue eyes with yellow brown right in the centre, they are just stunning! Sweet little things, all of them, all starved for attention. They played with my hair, tried to teach me arabic.. ish. Didn't work so well, but they tried. They liked me chasing them, lots of giggles. It was very fulfilling being there, but took sooo much energy out of me. All of them yelling all at once... wanting me to play these crazy games I didn't understand.
On Saturday we hiked in the desert wadi (dry riverbed) for about 4 hours, until Jericho. Not the 6 hours they told us.. it wasn't hard at all, just took a lot of energy. There was this monestary right in the middle of this wadi, hours away from anywhere. It was really cool just to come upon these place of rest. We couldn't go in because the monks were asleep as they stay up all night praying. There were some interesting places where we had to climb down teeny cliffs that was a little scarey, and then we would randomly come upon pools of blood. That was a little unsettling. From the goats that fall of the cliff I suppose... I hope. hahaha.
We ate in jericho and then tried to get home, which is always interesting... crazy sheruts.
Sunday was a day of rest, but I bought some more covering clothing that I desperately need, and rested up for this week.
The post office is on strike, so if anyone has sent me letters they're taking a long time, or if I have sent anything it probably won't come for awhile. I received my first letter today from Grandma Shirley! Thanks grandma! It was sent on Marchh 30th, and today is the 15th I think? There's an idea of how long it takes.

I'm off to B*thelh*m for a meeting, so ta ta for now!

News from J-town

2007-04-12T05:53:00.000-07:00

Hello to all!

Still in Jerusalem (at least until next weekend when we go on a 6 hour desert hike). The weekend after we leave for a trip around Israel to Haifa, and Sea of Galilea etc etc.
I have really underestimated this trip. I came here with a different mindset, and goals, and already in the 3rd week of Israel I feel like I have been broken down and rebuilt as a stronger woman. It feels as if this last short time has been a year for me. I have different desires, different goals (but don't worry ladies, I'll still be semi funny). I have been dealing with so much stuff, from my past, right now.. sorting out the gifts God has given m and learning how to use them. I feel uplifted, renewed and ready to learn so much more. God really has given me a new life, and it's incredible.
We got to meet people within this group who have experienced some crazzzzzzzy stuff being here and in certain cities around. I'm really sorry I can't be more specific, or tell the whole story, but it's incredibly sensitive here. To skip over the story that may or may not include a kidnapping in one of the cities around here, they were very protected and were able to share an incredible story which I hope I'll be able to share when I come home. Maybe I'll even have one of my own! But minus the kidnapping part... only the good things!
I went to the Easter Service in the Garden Tomb (where Jesus was thought to have been buried). That was super good, thousands of people, 4 services in the morning. I woke up at 5am and the service started at 630am. Mom you will be pleased that I wake up early every morning now, and somehow with little difficulty. Now I can relate to Kris!!! What I missed most about Easter was being home with my family and my number one thing was lack of Paska (for those of you who don't know what it is.. it's like a sweet bread with icing and sprinkles sooooo good!) I was mumbling around all weekend trying to explain Paska and Perogies to people here, no one gets it. Especially perogies which is suprising (Natalie can relate to this!) . I was really craving Paska though, and on the day before Easter Sunday I was walking through the old city to buy some new longer more covering clothing and came to the christian quarter. I almost walked by it, but it was a cart full of PASKA! To my disbelief, Paska in Jerusalem?? Anyways, they couldn't speak english very well, and I wanted to know if it tasted like gross oranges (not good to be picky in a foreign country). They didn't know what oranges meant, so I finally figured out the word for oranges in Hebrew (clementina), Lord knows how I remembered? They promptly told me no, and that it was delicious. They tried to sell me a loaf for 30shekels (I could buy a shirt for that much).. I only had 18, but he took it anyways. Good thing I didn't pay anymore, because it was the most disgusting paska I have EVER had. Soooo dry, and I wanted to share it with everyone, but it was soo gross hahaa.
Grandma can you make me some paska when I get home??
I also missed the lasagna and ribs Hane makes every year, but when I come home, I'm looking forward to that!

It's been crazy here spiritually, I would have never guessed or thought what was going to happen to me, is happening to me here. Learning how to listen to God in different ways. I've been learning how to use the gifts God has given. He has been giving me a lot of visions lately, but I can never seem to peace them together. So if anyone wants to pray for that, and discernment that would be kick a**.

It's really exciting to be in a city where there is so much diversity, you cross one street and you're in a different culture. Ar*bs on the East and Jews on the West. I love seeing how different everyone is. I've even been getting yelled at less! I've found because I have curly dark hair, I can blend in a little better than the other lighter coloured girls.

There are a million more things that have happened to me, but if you'd like more detail please email me!
Taia, I decided to not take your advice and not throw larger stones at them.. figured that might cause the 3rd infitada (you could look it up if you really desired) probably would be worse if I was jewish. Love you and miss you darlin
Natalie, I hope your 5 days off were absolutely amazing! Any new boys yet?
Sara, my hair is definitely still thicker than yours. Sorry babe.. heh
Mom.. you are crazy (I will email you when I get the chance and maybe I'll elaborate)PS. Is Father, father aussie priest? Whom I love!??
Auntie Lisa, I'm really glad you guys are finding a home at Yarrow Mennonite, say hi to anyone I know if you know I Know them for me.. haha. Missed you all at Easter! Please tell Kyle his $5 will be going towards my work at the orphanage here in Israel :o)
I forget who else posted a comment because I can't read them here.. I know there were 9. I love you even if I didn't remember!

sick of walking

2007-04-05T23:34:00.000-07:00

Helllllllo Family and Friends!

Not toooo much has happened since I've last updated. I still have no idea how I'm going to upload photos. I'm using a Mac right now, and I'm still getting used to it. I might have to find an internet cafe to upload all of them. I have soo many too! The views are amazing. One day everyone has to visit here, just to get the full feeling of being in the Holy Land.
I start working at an orphange in the W*st B*nk next week. I'm ridiculously excited for that. Other than that, I have been learning a lot about the Ar*bic and Hebrew culture out here.
Walking to and from school is difficult as a girl. I get rocks thrown at me, rude sexual comments yelled out, kissing noises whistles by teenagers and middle aged men.. it really really is awful. If anyone wants to pray for that, that would be awesome! I'm getting pretty sick of it. They just see Western Women as something incredibly sexual, and have no respect. Hopefully they will get used to us, or I will just cover my body with what the other woman do. I can see why they do it now, it really is a sense of freedom to cover your body. It also shows your spirtuality in their faith.
Fruits and Veggies are delicious here. All natural, no preservatives. A box of strawberries and some bananas cost me 7shekels (like $1-$2ish). Those are super cheap and lovely to eat. Grapes are more though, like 30shekels for a box, that's verry expensive. Not sure why the prices are like that. You can't really trust the shop keepers either.. it's always a different price, whether they like you or if they don't.. the price varies.

Anyways, I'm still alive, I'm walking lots. Eating lots, but walking lots, so it keeps me fit! If anyone is interested in sending me a package let me know and I'll get a PO box you can send it to.

Love and Miss you all!!!!!!!
Love Dani

In Jerusalem!!!!!!!!!

2007-04-02T03:38:00.000-07:00

Boy oh boy where do I start.
Sorry I haven't updated in a few days, but I haven't had access to a computer or internet or anything. I first off would like to apologize in advance for the lack of colour or detail in what I write. I hope you all understand, and I can tell you more when I am back home in Canada.

I arrived in Jerusalem on Saturday to start my biblical studies. It is an amazing place!!! Just like I would picture it, it's set upon rolling hills, palm trees, olive trees, and jutting stones from the hills. There is a certain "spirit" about the whole city, and is just breathtaking to be in. I will hopefully be able to upload some pictures soon!
We are staying on the Mount of Olives, that in itself is just exciting. We have, again, breathtaking views of all of Jerusalem. It is located on the Arabic side of Jerusalem, so life here is a lot different than that on the Jewish side. It is busy and chaotic. The driving is absolutely nuts, no crosswalks, just walk and hope not to get hit. The bus scheduals are random, but keep you on your toes. You cannot flush anything down the toilet, as the sewer systems cannot even allow toilet paper... this is definitely a different experience in itself.

I've been living off of falafels, pita and humus... and corn flakes. For those of you that don't know me very well, I hate cereal, here I am stuck eating it because I don't know the food well enough. Bartering in the old cities markets is really fun, they get kind of angry sometimes because I always want a cheaper price. Yesterday I was able to get 2 down pillows for 50shekels (like $15-$20ish). So I'm getting better at it.
There are so many rules on the Arabic side I have to get used to.. no walking with someone of the opposite sex unless married or in their family, clothing must cover your shoulders and your ankles. Unfortunately, none of my skirts quite cover that much, so I'm in need to buy more clothes.
I'm working on purchasing or renting a PO box so then I will be able to receive packages, because I am going to miss a lot of Canadian stuff.. but the closest post office is a few miles away, and if the buses aren't randomly appearing I havve to walk down the mountain, and back up... I'll be in shape at least when I come home.
I will be doing some touring soon of the Sea of Galilea and Haifa in the next coming weekends, and also I will be touring Egypt for about a week.

The people in my group are very friendly, nice and down to earth. I really thank God for that.
Today was the first day of bible school, and it looks like everything will run until about 4pm in the afternoon. So if anyone would like to call me, after that time and before 10pm would be great on the phone number I have given.
I might have to purchase a cheap cell phone here because it's very difficult communicating while traveling. The expenses for the school are scaring me a little bit.. I did not realize how much of my transportation I would have to pay for, also food expenses. Although I do have $1000Cad set aside for that, I am really hoping that will be enough. I may or may not have to pay for another round trip flight when I leave to tour again for a few months at the end of June. I will keep everyone up to date on that. The Lord will provide if anything is needed, so we'll see in the next coming month what will happen.

Yesterday was Palm Sunday, and I had the opportunity to walk where Jesus rode his camel throughout Jerusalem. Starting at the Mount of Olives through to the New City. There were thousands of people taking this walk, so it took about 2 hours. Many races from all over the world were there in groups, singing their praise songs.. so it was such an experience to be around them all. I got to listen to a lot of cool music I couldn't 'understand. We walked past Gesthamane(sp?), and will be taking a trip there later, also to the Garden Tomb (Jesus' tomb).

Hopefully this Saturday some of the girls and I will be heading to the Dead Sea, really excited to see that. Although my nose is sadly burnt from the hot Tel Aviv beach, here in Jerusalem the weather is verrry window and a little chilly (especially today).

I apologize to all my lovely friends that I cannot email you individually (Natalie, Kristen, Sabrina, Taia, Sara), but I still miss and love you nevertheless.
To my family, I miss you as well, and apologies on not being able to email you individually... I do not receive a lot of internet time, so I'm trying to squeeze as much in as I can!!!

Please continue to comment and email me.. and write me!!! It's really a nice reminder of home (L)

Photos

2007-03-29T09:05:00.000-07:00

So here are some links to the photos I've taken. The ones I promised from Amsterdam. Really beautiful city.

Amsterdam

And here are the ones from Tel Aviv the last couple days. I went for a walk to Jaffa which is a really large historical city right beside Tel Aviv. It's a big centre for the Christian community out here apparently. On my walk there I saw a cat walk over and sun bathe on some rocks by the ocean, thought it was cute and took a picture. While I walked some more I kept seeing more and more and more cats, everywhere! They were all sunbathing and meowing, scraggily looking things. Kind of funny actually. Just tonnes of stray cats everywhere. Tel Aviv is really a beautiful city, and the sea is amazing. I took a bunch of pictures of the sunset because I hadn't seen it before. There is even a picture of some friends I made yesterday, a couple of soldiers of the Israeli army. They taught me some Hebrew, that I even used today! But people laugh at me and just start talking to me in English. Everyone keeps talking to me randomly while I walk down the street, probably trying to sell me something. The store owners are all fairly pushy. Not as pushy as Egypt from what I hear. I went to a flea market today and bought something. The guy told me he wanted 145shekels for it and I told him I only wanted to spend 10shekels. It was a very nice necklace (something for mom shhhh.. of course she is going to read this though). Anyways, he offered me it for 85 and I was going to walk out and then he's like "ok how much you want?". I only 50shekels in my wallet and I knew if I offered less, that's all I would have to pay with and he wouldn't take it. So I said 50shekels, and he said 65, I said 50, he said 60, I said 50 and then he got upset and gave it to me. Hahaha... "I no make money off you, I will be a poor man" he said. Didn't make me feel bad though, I probably could've got it for cheaper if I had 30shekels. Amazing how the price drops down though! There you go mom, got you something with my amazing bartering skills hahaha.

Tel Aviv

Made it to Tel Aviv!

2007-03-28T02:30:00.000-07:00

Helllo,

I am safe and sound here in Tel Aviv. Where the keyboards type backwards on msn.. it's really confusing.

I got here at about 230am this morning (230pm your time), and had no trouble going through customs, or the passport people. Which was great, they didn't stamp my passport, so I'm pretty relieved about that. Means I can go to an Arabic country if they see I haven't been close to Israel. Anyways, I walked out of the airport with my stuff and this Israeli man is like, "taxi??".. so yes, I was looking for one, and I followed him around. He barely spoke English, lead me all over the place until we finally reached his taxi.. which he told me was very full, but not full at all! Just me. Anyways, there is nothing else I can really do, I haven't a clue where I am and it's 230am, so I go with him. He's just as weird as the taxi drivers in Canada. Randomly singing his name (Ycy.. that's how he spelled it.. didn't really sound like that). Then I told him my name, and he threw it into a song. Told me how he hates Arabs, and Russians.. asked me where I was from.. the usual stuff. Pretty sure he tried to drive me to one of the resort towns on the southern tip of Israel, I've lost the name at this point.. I'll remember later. Anyways, after he tried to convince me to go there instead, and I said No, he told me about all the "diskoteks" and how cool they are or whatever.
Finally we arrive at my hostel the Mugraby or Moogrrabee as "Ycy" says it. I ask him how much and he says "65".. and I was like "you mean shekels right" and he's like "oh no, Amerrreecan dolla".. At this point I start yelling at him saying there is no way it costs $65 American dollars for the 15-20min taxi ride. He pulls out this book and shows me it's apparently usually 165shekels at this time at night. I gave him the money while still yelling at him (later on that night I figured I probably could've given him 20american and he would've taken it. I left the car feeling ripped off and went into the hostel and asked if it was reasonable to pay that much for a taxi. They laughed.
NEEDLESS to say, I will NOT be doing that again. Stupid not knowing Hebrew or the exchange. They did not have a bed for me when I got there because I wasn't due until later on today apparently. But they were gracious enough to open another dorm for me, free of charge, by myself for a quick sleep until I could move. I left my window open.. and Tel Aviv at night. WOW! They are partying until 6am! And it's a Wednesday night. All the screaming and yelling, soo loud. I thought there were fights happening, but no, they're all just drunk. I guess my street is fairly popular for the "diskoteks". I couldn't really understand the guy at the hostel counter.. telling me there was no shower just an "outside" one. Scared me half to death. They do have a shared shower I found out eventually.
This morning I walked around and went to the beach, which is literally 1min away. I don't have my cable to upload pictures, but I will do so later on. Tel Aviv is truly the white city.. so many of the buildings are white. The Sea is very peaceful, and the sand soo soft. Last night I hated Israel, today I'm giving it a second chance.
It's really lonely being here and not knowing anyone. I've been praying that I would meet someone that I can talk to.. hasn't happened yet. I miss my friends a lot. Especially being at the beach, perfect place to picnic!
I will be leaving Tel Aviv on the 31st, which looks to be this Saturday. My program starts on the 2nd. So I have day to check out Jerusalem before it starts.

So long from Tel Aviv!!!!
-Dani

Amsterdam

2007-03-27T07:11:00.000-07:00

Hello all!!!!!!

As most of you know I left yesterday for Israel. Right now I'm stuck on the last half of my 8 hour layover in Amsterdam. I arrived here at 1pm local (4am your time). So I really haven't slept much at all. I left Vancouver at 7pm, and the night went really fast after that. I guess when you're losing an hour almost every hour, that happens. I'm incredibly tired, so if this doesn't make sense... too bad.
I was able to visit downtown Amsterdam for an hour which was pretty neat. It's a gorgeous day here, blue skies, Sun, 14C.. perfect day. There is nothing here to upload pictures though, so I'll have to do that later. Now paranoid me left early back to Schiphol(the airport) and I have 5 hours to spare. It's a little nerve-wracking when you don't understand the language or the signs, haven't experienced that before. I can only imagine what the Hebrew signs will be like.

Please continue praying for me that I will be able to find my way to Tel Aviv at 1am in the morning while I'm already exhausted!!!!

-Dani

3 more weeks!

2007-03-04T15:38:00.000-08:00

This post is especially for Mr.Candow! Here is your update :o)

I have 3 weeks and 1 day to go until I take off to Israel. I can't even explain the excitement I'm having.. So much, I'm a little afraid of what the actual day is going to be like. I'm sure I'll be sick to my stomach. Especially not ever traveling over seas.. so much new!
Financially, I am doing quite well. I have enough to cover my schooling for 12 weeks in Jerusalem, and enough to cover my outreach which includes a conference in a Middle Eastern country. This is great...
But I am going to strive to reach my goal of another $1000 in the next 3 weeks for food, transportation and boarding while I'm gone... it really would be nice to eat and have a place to stay for 5 months!!! Haha. I am working lots, don't really think that will cover all of it.. but I have plenty of faith in God!

If anyone would like to write me letters (which I would lovvvvve) while I'm gone my address is:

Danielle Janzen
PO Box 1702
Jerusalem
Israel.

I have to ask that no packages be sent, as they cannot take them apparently.. and that nothing about YWAM, or missions be wrote about.

I think that's all I have to say.

Blessings,
Danielle

P.S If anyone wants to purchase a $700 1982 Volvo GLT, please contact me. I need to be rid of it before I leave.

My first post :o)

2007-02-10T22:52:00.000-08:00

To Everyone,

Someone suggested that I start a blog for my trip, and I thought that idea was ideal.. so here it is! I thought this would probably be easier to update than emails when I am gone. I will be able to post pictures, and update whenever I have the chance. There is also the ability to leave comments which is very nice.

I have 43 days until I leave for the Middle East! I leave March 26th at 6:55pm from Vancouver airport. I can't even express how excited I am. Though I am slightly nervous, but only due to the fact that I don't quite have enough to feed, board, or cover my outreach.. but I am pretty confident that God will provide. Everything else has been covered thanks to many generous friends and relatives... which I am forever grateful.

The whole experience of asking for financial support was a little un-nerving(is that a word?) at first.. but in fact, it has taught me so much. I went into planning this not expecting as much support as I have received. That in itself has really humbled me.. I am constantly in a state of awe and gratitude because of how loving and helpful my family and especially my friends have been. I have truly been blessed.

Yours Truly,

Danielle