On the Journey...with Alan Vanderkolk

Dear Friends and Family,

I have been in Israel for a month now. It’s hard to believe that I have not used a microwave or been near a fast food place in over a month. Bill, the other volunteer here, and I have been taking turns cooking. He actually cooks a little more than I do. I only cook about three days a week and Bill four, but it is pretty balanced. I am using the good ol’ Betty Crocker cookbook once in a while. I made a big pot of soup the other day using leftover chicken. We have it pretty good here. Last night I cooked up some fish and chips. We share meals together around a table every night, just like I did growing up.

We are starting to get more visitors around the park. Last night we had a bus load of around 40 men, all in their 40’s - 60’s and dressed in camping gear. When we talked with one of them, he shared that they were all tourist guides who were being taught about the park from one of the veteran guides. They were told that a group of Americans were volunteering to help take care of this place. We have been working hard to get the place ready. Many families stop by on the weekends. This time of year, many people are visiting friends and family for the Feasts of Tabernacles. This starts tonight at sundown and lasts for a week. This is the turning point for the Fall season here which will cause more people to come and visit the desert as the temperature cools here in the Arava.

I wanted to mention that this coming Sunday, October 4, it the International Day of Prayer for the Peace of Jerusalem. Please take a moment wherever you are on this day and pray for this city and the nation of Israel. There is also a prayer effort going on each day of the Feast of Tabernacles this year (October 3-10) where people are praying at 12:00 noon, each day, in whatever time zone they are in, praying together, "I love You, Lord my God, King of the universe." Join in as you can.

Tomorrow, the Park managers for this year, Darick and Kate, are returning. They are a young couple around 30 from the Pittsburgh, PA, area. They have been here for a number of years and have spent the past few months in the States. Then on Tuesday, Bill will be leaving and another volunteer, John, from Chicago, will be arriving. John is in his 80’s and has been coming to the park for years. He works on the trees and does a lot of garden/landscape work. He loves to talk about the Bible with people. Then on the 13th, the prayer group that Earl is leading will arrive. So we continue to prepare. There is still a lot to do, but things are coming together. Thank you so much for your prayers and support.

Grace and Peace (Shalom),
Alan Vanderkolk