Shabbat & Bennn Yahuuudaaa

I'm kind of disappointed because I wrote a relatively long post, saved it, and can't find it now. Oh well. But I do want to say thanks for all the awesome comments! I never knew how to check my comments and I had a great time reading through all of your encouragements. I'm still doing really well, I feel safe where I'm staying, and the people who I'm with are awesome. Like anywhere, it takes a while to really feel comfortable being with new people all day, everyday. But I've been blessed with warm and welcoming volunteers to greet me, so that hasn't been an issue really.

On Thursday, I went to the Dead Sea! I have to write more on that later.

On Friday, yesterday, I went to church and then a traditional Shabbat meal at a Rabi's house in Jerusalem. It was phenomenal to say the least. We had a 5 course meal with dessert as he shared in Hebrew and in English about the incredible significance of Shabbat. We sang, shared insight into the Bible or Torah, and ate together. There was nearly 100 people packed into the small house and I do not exaggerate when I say I was sitting in someone else's lap. All of us were like sardines in a can, but in a strange way, it felt really comfortable being so close to one another. I was at a table with some really nice 19 year old girls from England and the US who are here studying for a year. It was really neat being able to chat with them throughout the meal... Jews from Guyana, the US, Israel, England, Argentina, and Chile were at the meal. The Rabi hosts anyone who wants to come, regardless of religious orientation, every single week for a traditional Shabbat meal. The food was fantastic and delicious!!!! I really hope I'll have the opportunity to go again next week.

Today I woke up kind of early and talked on Facebook for a while and cleaned my room and reorganized everything now that I no longer have a roommate =( Unfortunately, Briana had to go back home to South Dakota and I now I have my own room. After cleaning, I ate and decided to clean all the windows on my floor because they were absolutely disgusting... Shabbat or not, they needed to be cleaned! Haha. After a long afternoon of more Facebook, soaking up sun on the roof, reading my Bible, studying Arabic, and dinner with Karen and the other staff, I walked to Ben Yahuda Street. There was a group of Korean Christians singing worship music and people dancing all over the place to the songs. It was awesome because our group knew that they were singing about God, but no one else had any idea what they were saying! On our way home, this kid ran up and slapped my bum pretty hard. Ouch. I really don't like how people drive by and stop their cars and drive up next to you and ask you to get in. Or tell you they are looking for a wife. I love it here, don't get me wrong - but don't like that part of the culture in this Arab section of Eastern Jerusalem. Or the catcalls. Being an American in other countries can be really challenging sometimes. Because of the way America's entertainment industry portrays its women, and the way we often dress so provocatively in the US, Americans are often thought of as loose. It makes it hard for people like me, who are not looking for that kind of attention whatsoever . . . . . Oh well =/