Nov 1

I woke up again to our neighbor friends shouting back and forth at each other across the apartment.  So here's the deal:

Both are elderly ladies originally from Syria.  Apparently they don't like each other.  Whether they are from rivaling ethnic groups in Syria or have just plain rubbed each other wrong over the years, I don't know, but they sure do go at it.

The woman that Ryan shared his struggles with lives directly below us.  She gets very aggravated when the 15 kids that live here get too rowdy in the courtyard.  She will come out and give us all an ear full when she is trying to nap and they are wanting to play.

Her story via a neighbor:  Her original family didn't want her/couldn't afford her, so at the age of 14, she was married off to a Jewish man of 70.  They moved to Israel where she has lived ever since.  She has long been widowed.  Looking at her, you can assume she is in pain with swollen legs and rotting teeth.  She manages to make her way to the Shuk a few times a week and has some family that checks in on her.  She also gives them a regular ear full or rats us out to them - loudly.

The sweet neighbor kids just dismiss her for the most part.  When it gets to be too much, an adult or older child will come out and attempt to defend the younger ones who are just interested in play.  They have tried over the years to assist her, work with her on play times, etc., but apparently she is very bitter and not easy to get along with.  I'm going to try to sneak a recording one day just for ya'll to hear!

Her door is at top right.  

The other woman is very warm to us and smiles.  She never yells at the kids.  We offer to take out their trash when our outdoor time coincides.  We tell the kids it is a good opportunity to love our neighbor - even if one of them is cursing us out in Arabic!  So there you go - a peek into life in Nov 1.

And by the way - the kids here are amazing.  We've started having kids up here, downstairs, everywhere.  They play together well and when we are all home, there is a fluid stream of kids running up and down the stairs, playing ball, sharing toys and learning about each other at both sets of homes.  Love that!!  That was a specific prayer of mine before coming - for my kids to make friends, so thank you God for that blessing.

And just a few silly picts to show we are alive and well.  Boys love their hats Grandma : )  Emma has another few days with us before she heads back to the states.  What will we do without our sweet Emma?!

Scott's been studying out near Galilee.  We are excited for him to come home tomorrow.  Love to all from Jerusalem.