Your prayers made a difficult journey and week bearable, and we thank you.

I'm beginning this knee-mail sitting in what was to be the office of our former home. A cool breeze is blowing through the open window behind me, and I hear the rattle of a cart and the clop-clop of a horse's feet. The peddler is offering a whole box of tomatoes for the equivalent of about fifty cents. My, how the economy is difficult.

My mind drifts to what could have been had 9-11 never happened. As I sit back in the swivel chair my right arm gets chaffed a bit from the armrest as a piece of glass gauged a cut in it. I can also see the cuts in the desk where pieces of flying glass made their way to the floor after one of several F-16 missile deposits. I'm grateful I wasn't sitting here when *that* happened. Life is different, I must say.

We arrived at the Gaza border last week and had to wait for an ambulance to clear inspection before we could be allowed to pass. The 'search' took some time, but there were others who had been waiting for some time; naturally, this made the passport processing take even longer.

All that was swept away when a colleague greeted us on the other side and took us to what was going to be our home. On the way there Jasmine's eyes lit up as she saw donkey cart after donkey cart. She began showing signs of comfort : -)

There wasn't a window left in the house after two separate missiles exploded about 100 yards away. The windows were replaced after the first missile, but better judgment kept us from replacing them a second time. I guess the stuff you see on TV *does* have an effect on our lives, even though we never talked about it when we were together. It's different when you're here, I guess.

[ Whoops, there goes the electricity... thank God for a working UPS. I'll be back soon.]

That was the first time the electricity went off today, and it only went off once yesterday. If the next time it goes off is anything like these past two times, then it will only be off for ~10 minutes.

Anyway, we could certainly feel the love the volunteers put into cleaning the house. God is so good to send them at such a time as this. I'm afraid to imagine what the house would have looked like had they not been so kind to help. We were able to concentrate on doing the things they could not, like reconnecting the phone line and water pump.

Yes, utilities can be a bugbear. If it's not the electricity, then it's either the phone or water. And, oh, we still haven't been able to hook up the stove or the gas needed to make it work. I guess it's like we're camping <g>

The task of packing up the house looms before us and, personally, I do not have the emotional stamina to do it. The emotions running through me are quite new to me, most of which I've never encountered. I guess I know how Jasmine must feel. She has feelings that she cannot put into words, and it causes her disruption (sigh). God is so good to teach me through Jasmine.

Speaking of teaching me through Jasmine, let me tell you about her language day yesterday!

Whenever new personnel come to Gaza a 'veteran' takes them around to introduce them to the community: where to shop, where to get water, and so on. The newcomer, who needs to learn the local language, is quickly inundated with a cacophony of new sounds and is flooded with new sights; hopefully, this safe interaction will help the newcomer assimilate a new way of thinking/being.

The receptionists at the cell phone company took to Jasmine rather quickly and began asking her over and over "Shu-iss-mick?" ("What's your name?") Well, once we got back in the car, you can imagine what Jasmine began to say! She was repeating word by word and with the same verbal inflection what the ladies kept asking her : -) {Wish I could be so malleable <g>}

As of this writing we've been in Gaza for nearly 24hrs and still have yet to have any means of communication by way of telephone service; hopefully, the cell phone will be reactivated today (at least that's what they said yesterday <g>) The line in the house may take some time; consequently, it will be a trip across time to send/receive email. Sure hope there's no emergencies of any sort :*-)

Our old ISP offers time-limited cards, a real bargain for those of us here for a short time <g>. It was good to see the guys at the ISP office. I wish you could've seen their faces. After getting reacquainted, one of them wanted to know if Americans are afraid of Muslims because of the events of 9-11. I told them you weren't scared because some of you have experienced 'perfect love which casts out fear' Pray with me that someone else will come along to tell this same Good News to them.

Equipped with the ability to get online, I went over to the office to make a daily send/receive. Ah, it's good to part of civilization again <g> It wasn't half as comfortable as Adelphia's cable modem, but it was better than silence!

I was also able to call the gentleman who helped us with plumbing needs as we were moving in *last June* (has it been a year already?) The excitement in his voice was overwhelming when he recognized my voice. How I wish you could know the warm friendship of Palestinians. Maybe he's the guy at the gas station or the lady at the deli?

Last week...

* Due to not having a stable location from which to communicate, the old Inbox is backing up once again. You prayed that my time would be well invested... the phone in our home was not reconnected so we trekked across town to send/receive, not exactly the best use of the limited time we had; however, we did find that we could do other tasks while out and about.

* We journeyed back into Gaza to pack up items we wanted to be sure made it out, so you joined us in asking God to give us the wisdom and discretion to do so... it was a difficult, difficult challenge to return under the notion we wouldn't be staying; in fact, it was one of the most difficult things I've ever done going from room to room to decide what to take, what to pack, what to sell, and so on. Thoughts of last summer filled my mind as I recalled the potential of what was to be. this was another instance of how your specific prayers kept me from "going mental," as Ed Grimley would say. Thank you : -)

* Jasmine would be seeing friends she hasn't seen in over nine months, which happens to be a fourth of her life (that's like me reuniting with friends I've not seen since 1993). You prayed that she would experience joy and excitement in seeing them and that this would give *us* the opportunity to tell the friends' of her parents what it's like in Heaven when we meet Jesus... she didn't see the friends we thought she would since they've gone on vacation.

* You prayed for Shirin as she dealt with symptoms of withdrawal from what she once knew as her life and ministry among the ladies of Gaza. You also asked God to give her a deeper experience of His presence as she begins a new chapter in her walk with Him... it seems as if that prayer needed to be focused in *my* direction (except for the ladies part). Shirin was a bulwark this week, giving me an anchor on which to hold as I dealt with difficult feelings. I'm looking forward to working through a prayerwalking book entitled "Follow Me," by Randy Sprinkle, and I highly recommend the six-week study book for those of you wishing to experience a deeper walk.

* You joined us in giving God thanks for the volunteers who would help us pack up the house, and you asked God to hold back any type of bombings last week... they came on Monday and did a wonderful job! I wish you could have seen them in action. They did a *great* service for us as I was in no condition to sort through so many unfinished boxes or begin to pack up. We've been without phone service since we've been in Gaza, and our cell phone is intermittent. I have yet to see the repercussions of the latest bus bombing : -(

* As I renewed friendships, I asked you to ask God to give me the grace to handle the fact of our long-term separation; of course, "friends are friends forever, if the Lord is Lord of them..."

= I am so glad you prayed. I cannot begin to tell you how hard this week was for me. So many folks were happy to see us after a long absence, delighted to see someone who loves them for who they are. It broke my heart knowing I had to tell them we were leaving and would be separated for some time.

Even though we'll only be separated by a distance of about 50 miles, it is next to impossible for Palestinians living in Gaza to go to Jerusalem *if* they can even, in fact, leave the Gaza Strip.

I wanted to say, "It's not like I'm far away in America. I'm just a few miles away," but I think it's actually easier for a Palestinian to go to the US than it is for him to go to Jerusalem.

It reminds me of God's love for us... we cannot approach Him because of limitations, so He comes to us.

This week...

1* We've made an assessment of how long it will take to vacate six years of our life, so join us in praying that the 'closure' won't be so painful.

2* Pray that the exodus we make with a handful of volunteers will go without incident and that all we take out will be allowed passage.

3* Pray once again for Jasmine's readjustment back to our temporary living quarters. She did so well when once she was in her Gaza bed : -)

4* Ask God to show us where He wants us to live.

Love and grace,

Scott

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CALENDAR UPDATES

12, Jasmine's new routine

* As I'd shared last week, Jasmine has experienced numerous routine changes in her brief lifetime. After I sent last week's email we found some of her old videos, and she watched Richard Scarry's "Best ABC Video Ever" at least twice. I remember how she took comfort in that video before we left 9 months ago, so it should be no surprise that she finds comfort again. I think there's a lesson in there somewhere.

13, Jasmine's reconnecting with friends

* How I wish you could have seen her hug a young girl we'll call "Grace." It was as if they'd been separated forever. I could almost feel the embrace as I watched them hug and smile. Jasmine has a few more friends with whom she hopes to reacquainted, so make this an ongoing prayer.

14, Arabic skills to improve

* Well, I'm still making the same mistakes, but I didn't forget as much as I thought I would have. Keep praying for fluency and accuracy to improve, please.

15, Shirin's visits with friends

* She visited a friend last night, so your prayers covered her after the difficult visit. It's been hard on both of us seeing people we know we won't see for a long time.

Today we went by the police building that was hit by missiles several times. The policemen on guard gave me permission to take pictures. I even did a 22-second video, but it was emotionally hard seeing all that destruction. One of the policemen said no one should suffer such destruction, and then I thought of the survivors of suicide bombing victims.

16, Godly vision for the church

* Although I didn't hear such, I believe the church is ready to move on without the assistance from Americans. I believe, however, they still need a specific vision and direction, so keep praying in this way.

17, a full day of electricity

* Some things never change. While this day (Monday) was better than most (it only went off once for about an hour, so your prayers made a difference) Friday was wretched with no morning electricity. Yesterday (Sunday) was even worse; nonetheless, we asked for this day, and God granted *more* electricity on this day than we have on other days!

18, to tell of the Water of life (when I make weekly trips for water)

* I've made a few trips for water and found the well closed due to overuse; unfortunately, I was the only one there. I guess folks just know when it's closed (?)