I'm leaving on a jet plane. Don't know when I'll be back again....actually, yes I do. November 12th.

In five days Deanna and I will be heading to Israel for two weeks. Although the trip has been in the works for almost a year for Deanna, it’s been in the works for just a few weeks for me. As probably most of you know, Deanna is really interested in the Middle East and the peace process, or lack there of. She’s studied Hebrew and Arabic for several years now, studied abroad in Egypt, and would like to dedicate a few years of her life serving in mission somewhere in that area. I, on the other hand, have almost no exposure with the Middle East and the issues that surround it. This is pretty pathetic seeing how Deanna wants us to live there in less than two years. About two weeks ago a spot opened up on the trip she’s going on and I jumped at the opportunity. I had to jump through some rings and I’m doing a ton of work to make sure my students are taken care of for the eight school days that I will miss, but it’s all coming together. I was able to justify the time off from school by calling the trip an “academic opportunity.” I’m going to learn about the conflict between Israel and Palestine, and to teach my students about Middle Eastern culture and the holocaust via the books Night and Dawn by Wiesel. (By the way, both are fantastic. Night won the Nobel in ’86).

Anyway, I realize that the trip is kind of dangerous. And I realize that anything could happen but probably won’t. I’m trusting God to protect us and keep us safe. And if something should happen, I’ve had a great life and have no regrets. I’ve loved a lot of people and been loved by a lot of people. I’ve had a lot of fun and learned a great deal about who I am and what I believe. And maybe most importantly, I’ve loved God. I wish I could say there wasn’t a day that I didn’t doubt Him or wonder if it was all a hoax. That would be a lie and would only server to make myself look better, He’d know the truth. But I know that in all my life, God will be here for me. That’s what is so amazing about our Savior. He loves us unconditionally. And really, how many people in our lives can we count on for that kind of love? Not too many.

Anyway, I didn’t mean to make that some kind of deep, sad, possible final goodbye. I just meant to say that no matter what happens, I’m in God’s hands and that no one should worry. I'll try to post how the trip is going if I get a chance to use a computer. Please be praying for our trip.

Sweet River roll.

I know this isn’t the update everyone is looking for. Actually, probably no one is looking for an update at all. But because I’m trying to avoid what I’m doing and pass time, I’m posting an entry.

Right now I’m in what we educators call an “in-service”. Can you say that? In-Service. I’d tell you how important it is but I can’t because it’s not. It is now thirty minutes after our official starting time and we haven’t done anything. See, we teachers may get a lot of days off in the year, but we have to spend them doing REALLY dull workshops.

Snooze.

Now a teacher in the room who has one leg is talking about inflation and how much people with MBAs make. He talks a lot.

EDIT: Mr. One-Leg must have had a salami or pastrami sandwich for lunch because his burps smelled like it. I would have breated out of my mouth but that some how seems worse.