May 22: Our 26^th anniversary!  We went first to Ein Kerem where we had lunch at Pundak, a restaurant Jim spotted last week.  Hardly anyone there.  Jim had a pasta puttanesca which was very good (although nothing will be as good as the puttanesca he had in Rome).  Deanne had a fresh focaccia bread with caprese on the top.  The piece de resistance was the warm chocolate cake with dark chocolate sauce all over it.  Wow!  We wandered in the town a little bit, and then took off for Emmaus Nicopolis, a historic Christian spot where traditionally Jesus “broke the bread” with two of his disciples.  It had a Byzantine church from the 6^th century, two sets of ancient Jewish tombs, and a monastery with a meditation chapel at the top of the hill.   Well worth the visit.  

Jim went with the Rosens on a nice walk to the Old City, Arab cemetery, Eastern Gate; Church of the Flagellation where a friendly priest let him play the organ! Terra Sancta Museum by Church of Flagellation, very interesting!  Austrian Hospice, Little Western Wall, Cotton Merchants, walked back. Deanne worked on organizing the new music office and getting all the music and binders set for the upcoming July concert. (Someone has to work!)

One tour you can take at the Center is to go underground and see what the Center is built upon. It was very interesting. How fun to see SO many signatures of the thousands of students and faculty that have served here.

Jim went to Augusta Victoria to make arrangements for Andrew Fellows and the law students who planned to come for a recital.  He found and toured the German Institute of Archaeology near Augusta Victoria, excellent museum.

Lots of friends visiting this week: Marilyn and Leo Brown from San Diego, Karina and Andrew Farthing from Austin, TX (formerly of Palo Alto), Shaun and Tracy Huxford (cousin from Dallas area) + friends on a tour with Jack and Jeannie, and Laura Moore and her father Dan visiting from Salem, Oregon (formerly from Los Alto, CA). Jim put on his touring hat, again, and took them all over! He's got the tours down! Via Dolorosa, Prison of Christ, Lithostratos, Flagellation, Pools of Bethesda (where we sang at St. Anne), Lions’ Gate, Arab cemetery, Eastern Gate, Austrian Hospice, lunch at Armenian restaurant, Little Western Wall, Western Wall plaza, Temple Mount, St. Mary Magdalene, Gethsemane and Church of All Nations.  Bougainvillea festival! Gethsemane Grotto and Tomb of St. Mary, to name a few stops.

Deanne went to Omar’s in the Old City to make a mosaic trivet with Elaine Huntsman, Jo Ann Seely, Mary Ellen Rosen, Jill Judd, and Larissa Properzi. This is a new business endeavor for Omar (Shabaan's son). He has invited students and JC families to come and make mosaics. The ladies were good marketing tools as many tourists stopped by and were ready to sign up for classes. It was fun day, but designing, cutting and placing stones in a 7" square took 6 hours. It helped us appreciate the cost of some of the larger pieces he has for sale! Let's just say it's easier to buy a mosaic.

Deanne went to Shfelah with Patty on the student field trip. They had missed that trip the last few semesters so this was their last chance. The impetus was to see the amazing bell caves. They did not disappoint. The acoustics are wonderful so the students sang many hymns. It was hot and muggy. That's will be how it is going forward. Our last rain (not very much though) was May 28 which we are told is very late to occur. 

Lots and lots of tours this past week. Very fun and interesting people. This will be a part of serving at the JC we will definitely miss.

Every semester we hold the Arab Culture night. It is an amazing evening starting with a very famous muezzin demonstrating the call to prayer. The kitchen staff prepares a huge, flavorful dinner, the students and faculty get dressed in Arab attire (if they want), and then the students are treated to Arab music, songs, and dancing.  This was our last Arab Culture night!

Choir rehearsals continue. The students are great and overall very good natured. The Christmas and Easter concerts came late in the semesters.  We have half the time to prepare for the concert this semester as it will take place July 1!