On the Journey...with Alan Vanderkolk

Dear Friends and Family,

I have been here for about a third of my time now. I have about 40 days left. This week Bill, the other volunteer here, and I were invited to the home of one of the Israeli archeologists who gives oversight to Biblical Tamar Park. We had a nice time with him and his family (three children in grade school). His young son could already speak pretty good English and gave me a couple of pointers on my Hebrew/English. We talked about all kinds things regarding Israel and America. It is nice to see how the people here live and talk about life.

This Saturday night is the end of Daylight Savings time here. They are a bit earlier than we are in the States. They set their clocks back here in relevance to the Jewish calendar. I think it may be the Saturday night before Yom Kippur, which begins this Sunday night at sundown. This is the holiest day of the year for the religious Jews. The whole nation takes the day off. It is even against the law to drive your car on this day. Bill said it is extremely quite as there is no traffic on any of the roads. It will be a good day to spend some time with the Lord.

I am still busy at work around the park here. Last night we had about 25 high school students, a teacher and five young volunteers. After high school, Israeli youth do a year of community service before they enter the army. The five young volunteers, from all over the country, are doing their year of community service down here in a nearby town. The young men then go to the army for three years and the women go for two years. After their army service, most Israelis will spend some time traveling. Many go to India. There is a Spiritual draw here for many of these youths. The Religious Orthodox Jews do not have to go to the army. They go to religious schools instead. Many of those in the army are secular. After a year or so of traveling, they then think about work and college. Many are in their late twenties before they begin their college education. They hear about American college dorm at 18-19 years –old, from relatives in the States and seeing movies and all, and wonder how that all works. Life is just a bit different here.

I really enjoy the sunrises and sunsets here. I sat and watched the sun set last night. This is one taken from the back of the park tonight. It is beautiful as the layers of mountains turn different colors. The sun is setting around 6:30 p.m., now. The stars are so clear and crisp, too. There are not a lot of lights around here and we are a few miles from the closest town. I often look at the Milky Way for a while as I walk to my caravan for the evening. It draws me to the Creator. It is a blessing to be here.

Grace and Peace (Shalom),
~Alan Vanderkolk