Several weeks have passed since our last blog. We've stayed busy with many tour groups, trips to the Old City, and orientation for the new Humanitarian couple, Ted and Julie Lloyd. We said farewell to Paul and Patty Barker as they headed home. We will follow in 3 short weeks. 

But here is the recap:

We went with Paul and Patty to Ein Kerem where we had a festival farewell lunch at our favorite new find Pundak.  Deanne had the best mushroom risotto; Jim had puttanesca, Paul had fish and chips, and Patty had their house special Caprese focaccia bread.  And, of course, the hot chocolate cake. We are sorry we didn't find this place earlier! We love the food here, but it would have given us reprieve from Middle Eastern cuisine on occasion. 

Paul, Patty, and Jim went with Ann Tilden to Wadi Qelt for the hike down to St. George’s Monastery. The Tildens had taken Jim there shortly after we arrived last June but they couldn't get into the monastery. It was still on Jim's bucket list. The nice part is that the Tildens have diplomatic license plates so going into the West Bank was a breeze. And yes, it was a hot day!

Jim dropped Deanne and Patty at Jaffa Gate for one of their last day's shopping excursion (without the men!). Jim went to YMCA where 12 girls from the Center came for the carillon bell experience. Then Jim picked up Deanne and Patty who had finished their lunch at Yafo pizza, another non-Middle Eastern taste. Leftovers were good! In the evening, we met the Lloyds who had just arrived the evening before.

We've had big days of tours!  Lots of unexpected but very interesting people from all over. The Lloyds joined in to see how hosting things are done since hosting is part of their assignment.  

The Center had a farewell dinner for Paul and Patty at the Askadinya, a great restaurant near American Colony Hotel. All the faculty and service couples were there. Great salads (seafood, hearts of palm, Caesar, tabouleh), and then we ordered our own entrees.  Jim had seafood risotto, Deanne had steak fettucine.  Eran gave a nice tribute to the Barkers (deservedly so).  We have had such a great time with them!  We’ll miss them, but the Lloyds are great. 

John Lidang presented Julie and Ted Lloyd with homemade leis

While Jo Ann Seely was reorganizing the library, she discovered a 4-drawer file cabinet of music in the storage room! Argh! We went through it all, found several duplications, some very outdated and non-useful pieces, and then labeled and filed the good stuff. Luckily, we found 50 Messiah scores! Maybe the students will do that someday. 

July 1 was our big July Celebration Concert put on by the students.  It was a "glorious triumph," and everyone had fun.  God of Our Fathers, O Canada, Amazing Grace, Come Thou Fount of Every Blessing, Go Down Moses, Precious Lord, Jon Lidang sang “Isle of Hope, Isle of Tears,” Saryn Fleming did a fun fiddle piece, Star-Spangled Banner, Jim played Sousa's Liberty Bell March, One Minute Home on the Range (10-year old Kristian Properzi and Jim did a short duet of it first and Kristian got a huge response from the students), Homeward Bound, Come Come Ye Saints, and the Wilhousky Battle Hymn of the Republic.  Go Down Moses really brought the house down, but there were many other big hits. If you have time and are interested, here are the links to the concert. 

1 https://photos.app.goo.gl/vR4wWD177yS9Vk9r9   Beginning – Amazing Grace 

2 https://photos.app.goo.gl/zJgp7FyXnZQa7kvL7    Come, Thou Fount –Go Down, Moses at 3:10 -- Precious Lord 

3 https://photos.app.goo.gl/MGt1ZdW4cU8uSkHv5   Isle of Hope – Orange Blossom 

4 https://photos.app.goo.gl/Jy8NaF9KACxw9RPy8   Star-Spangled Banner – One Minute Home on the Range 

5 https://photos.app.goo.gl/Cw1vieFNNB6oaKcU6    Homeward Bound – Battle Hymn

Crazy kazoo time in rehearsal

John Lidang

Saryn Fleming

Landon Graham, Dallin Jenson, Mason Muir all decked out

The Center put on another big 4^th of July cookout (on the 2nd) at the Oasis with burgers and corn on the cob, grilled mushrooms and onions, watermelon, and ice cream with all the toppings. They really do a good job and work so hard to please this large group of Americans. Following the BBQ, we got working on computers and totally forgot about the 8 p.m. classical concert that we are in charge of hosting!! Luckily Michal called and we ran up there.  All was well. First time forgetting in a year.... oops.

Jim gave the Lloyds his big one-day Old City tour. He walked them 6.5 miles and saw just about everything there was to see. Now they will need to go back at their own pace and find their own way. The next day, we took the Lloyds on the Mount of Olives half day tour. Some churches are open only on Tuesdays so we hit all of our favorite spots. We ended at Gethsemane and the Church of the Agony where Jim played a mini-sacred concert. It was the best part of the day. We love that church. We might not get back there in the next few weeks. This was special.

Jim played a fun and patriotic concert on the YMCA carillon bells on the 4th of July. It was a beautiful evening and the Lloyds joined us for the event. Luckily, Ted called us earlier in the evening to see what time we would need go... "Go where?" we asked. We had forgotten this concert too!!! Are we getting old, trunky, or just tired?? But we made it in plenty of time and it went well. There was a photographer there to capture the concert. Enjoy the short video: https://photos.app.goo.gl/zNP5qRJRMkFk1wBTA

Lovely evening on the YMCA patio

The students are in Galilee for another week so it is TOO quiet here. It is giving us time to get all the loose ends tied up in preparation for the the Robers to come and replace us. 

Family news--

Nicholas spent almost three weeks in Taiwan visiting and touring with Sharon. He ate all the Chinese food he possibly could and saw wonderful places. He heads to Duke Law School mid-August.

Jameson continues at the Casper, Wyoming, police academy (located in Douglas, Wyoming). He finishes July 20 and then starts his internship. Erika has spent much of the summer in Coeur d'Alene with her family having quite a bit more fun than Jameson. They will be moving their stuff out of our Provo home in another week. With any luck, their home will be finished in Casper by then.