Greetings and salutations!

Well I know it has been just two weeks since I have been in Israel, but there is already much to tell and rather than emailing everyone the same details, they can be found here. This is doubly convenient as internet access here on the the moshav is limited.

Before I get to the details of my journey, I want to point out that this is also a Patmos Story Update. I hope you all come check out the new parts of the story and vote in the latest poll. Lets try to get to 300 visits and 30 votes by week's end. Remember the forums are still open. For the current story click here.

Back to Israel...as I mentioned I have now been here for just over two weeks and it seems as if time is flying. I want to say hi to all my friends and family back home and I trust you are doing well. I also want to say hello to all those who have seen The Matrix Reloaded. While the critics have absolutely slammed the film from what I've read, I still look forward to seeing it. Feel free to let me know your impressions (but no spoilers please). I will likely see it while I am here after all, perhaps even opening night (May 22nd).

For a quick recap, I have been staying at a moshav outside of Jerusalem. It is called Yad Hashmona and was established by Finnish Christians in the 70s. There are presently 18 volunteers from around the globe, and approx 45 members, most of whom are Israeli. This is very much a tourism facility so there are often hundreds of people around. The reality is that this is very much a working holiday. I work over 40 hours a week in the carpentry building furniture. We are not really paid but all our room and board is covered. When not in the carpentry, I can often be found in the gym (seriously) or the library. There's also soccer on Saturdays. This is perhaps the most beautiful place I've ever been and I will try to arrange a way to post pictures and so on if possible.

I have already met many wonderful people and count among some of my closest friends: George(my Swiss roomate), Miiko(my Finnish coworker), Joanna(my American movie afficianado), and Kaeshiro (my Japanese Soccer teamate). The isolation of the moshav makes the real Israel somewhat of an illusion, but I have had the chance to make some trips I will tell you about further along. The positive aspects though, in terms of friendships, learning, and critical spiritual growth are tremendous. Already God has begun to open my eyes and heart to new things, allowing me to be blessed by others and to bless them in return. I can only wait with anticpation of what will happen in the days to come. It is good to be among so many different believers. We often have campfire worship services or devotions in the library. When I can make it into Jerusalem for Shabbat, services are in both English and Hebrew which is very interesting.

There are but a few negative things to report. The volunteers have only an ancient Pentium 200 running Windows 95 with a dial up connection to send/receive e-mail and such. In fact when I first arrived the computer had been broken for over a week. I fixed it right away, enciting almost an instantaneous party...so that was good...but the technology still sucks. I have not been sick at all so far, which is a good thing because some of the volunteers have fallen ill due to dehydration and allergies. From a personal perspective, I find that the Finnish Christians are somewhat legalisitic in their views, and my sense of humor and free thinking attitudes are not always accepted. That being said for the most part we all get along very well, and I can say I have never been more active, more social, or had a better diet in all my life *S*

Of course, the most noticable issue is language. The first thing one realizes when travelling overseas is that the whole world does not in fact speak English (gasp)! I will expand on this momentarily. My original flight out of Calgary was cancelled due to the massive snowfall that you all know and love. I did have the chance to spend some wonderful time with my good friend Blair though. Anyway I was able to leave the next day and made it through SARS Central (Toronto) with little trouble. I spent 12 hours in Rome and was able to see the Collosieum which was interesting enough but didn't really have me in awe. No one in Rome spoke English! It was certainly uncomfortable at times....a very real learning experience. I expected to find a military presence at Ben Gurion Airport in Tel-Aviv...but there were no uniformed officers present...though you certainly see them everywhere in Jerusalem, young kids mostly...M16s strapped to their backs. Arriving at the moshav I slept for the first day and then started into the routine. Language comes up again in a big way. Only myself and one of the American girls speaks only English. Otherwise I hear a great deal of Swiss, Dutch, Africanz, Finnish, Japanese, and of course Hebrew....which always makes for lots of fun. I nearly forgot to mention there is one other Canadian here...Christine from BC. I was lucky that I got here when I did, because the next day Israel entered a general strike, so the airport was closed.

So now for the most exciting part...the trips! I have been able to see some parts of the country and plan to see much more before I leave. Many of these adventures are right out of an Indiana Jones movie and I am having such a blast! First a group of us went to a beach near Tel-Aviv. We swam in the Mediterranean Sea and slept on the beach...which was incredible as I had never before slept outside (as in, just on the ground). In the end though we left late in the night as two major parties started on either side of us.

The next big adventure was "running the Dragot." This is a canyon out near the Dead Sea in the Kidron Valley. It was very reminescent of Utah, Arizona, or Oregon...but hundreds of meters below sea level. Anyway it was honestly the most fun and challenging hike I've ever done. It is all on rock, with many places where ropes had to be used to repel or climb over cliffs, ledges, etc. The interesting part is that there are countless pools you must walk, or at times swim through. The downside is the water was filthy due to litterers and at times the smell was unbearable. At one point we had to slide down the rock for nearly 30 feet before falling into a deep pool below. I'm not sure how further to describe this immense experience, but I certainly consider it a large personal achievement.

Believe it or not, the next trip was even better. My friend AJ and I set out for adventure in the Old City. We were looking for Hezekiah's Tunnel. As the name implies this tunnel was built by King Hezekiah some 4000 years ago. It runs under the old city for about half a kilometer. The first part was just finding it. To do so we had to wander through what was once called The City of David, but is now an entirely Arab neighborhood....no English once again...and strange looks to be sure. The tunnel isn't considered a huge tourist attraction...and we soon found out why. After waiting for a Jewsish fellow taking a ritual bath on the Gihon Spring in the tunnel entrance, AJ and I began our quest. We were the only two people in the tunnel...which was completely dark and also filled with water...we carried candles and it completely felt like we were a part of ancient history. Now...this is why I don't think a lot of people could do this. Keep in mind its completely dark and full of water...now add the fact that you are hundreds of feet under ground...finally tack on that at many places the tunnel is so narrow that you are nearly walking sideways, and so short that you are nearly doubled over...very tough for 6 foot AJ...and impossible for anyone the least bit claustrophobic. But in the end we emerged victorious with what we hope are some very cool pictures...and rested at the Silwan pool which Yeshua (Jesus) instructed an infirm man to go wash himself...very cool!

Aside from all these adventures I have been spending as much time in Jerusalem as I can. West Jerusalem contains the new city and ends in the City of David. East Jerusalem contains the Old City, which is divided into Jewish, Muslim, Christian, and Armenian quarters. I have been in the Jewish and Christian quarters so far...and the differences are striking. I think I like the Jewish quarter the best as it has the coolest stuff, and the people tend to be much nicer...though things are more expensive. Just remember Shwarma...better than any sub sandwich back home by far. Generally the people of Israel are very nice though. The thing that is so fascinating about Jerusalem is it is truly an international city....full of all kinds of people. Often I travel by bus (yes..its true...and we haven't been blown up) or cherud (taxi bus)..or even by hitch hiking (another first for me). Everyone, including IDF soldiers hitch hikes...and its really a lot of fun.

Now...this is another great story. We celebrated Independence Day in downtown Jerusalem...holy crap is all I can say! Techno beats flooded Ben Yehuda and Zion Square as we joined hundreds of people dancing in the streets. In the most bizarre celebration I have ever seen, everyone buys gigantic cans of foam and sprays it on everyone and everything...we were all soaked in this stuff....which proved to be very uncomfortable the next morning. In any case it was immeasurably fun. The food here is as varied as the people but Shabbat (Sabbath or Holiday) bread is the greatest...though I must admit...I finally broke down and hit the McDonalds...and it was Heaven for that short time...and so much better than they are in North America...aside from security checks at the door...which is common in most buildings. I have also visited the Western (Wailing) Wall which sits in front of the very controversial Dome of the Rock and Al Asqa Mosque. Many of the city gates still have scars remaining from past wars. Next weekend I will be staying in Petah Tikva with my sister's boyfriend Liav Peled and his family.

So you can see how much has happened in just this first little while! Truly this is a life changing experience and I thank God for allowing me to be here. I hope you have all enjoyed this update and I look forward to hearing from you. I can be reached by email or snail mail via the moshav's address available on the previously noted website. Be safe and God Bless!

With Hope,
Joseph