PERSPECTIVE

Okay, so here we are, day 2 of our new blog - working out the kinks :)  We're newbies at this...

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Well, we arrived safe and sound to our new home. (By the way, for all wondering about our airport security experience, we did not have to endure the full body scanner nor the "pat down". YEA!!!)

After praying to hook up with the designated drivers picking us up (with hundreds of people at the gate holding signs!!) we were taken directly to our lovely apartment to begin adjusting to life in Israel.  We received a quick overview of how things "may" work in the apartment - there's no real standard...  :)  They informed us that a dust storm rolled through Jerusalem recently, so the apartment was quite dusty.  We've got a lot of cleaning to do.

Here's a few things that are different than life in the States...

So far from what we can figure out, the heat comes on only from 5-10 pm.  Whether you need it or not.  This may make for a cold winter....we'll find out.  But - right now it is 60 degrees, so we have the heat on, and the windows open, and an occasional fan running to cool things off :) There is no control over the heat...

To have hot water for showers, there is a choice, a solar panel on the roof for the water heater, or an electric button on the wall outside the bathroom.  It needs to be turned on 1-2 hours prior to the shower and turned off when you're done.  Sounds like an early morning (considering we have a 15 minute walk uphill to our bus stop & a 30 minute bus ride through morning traffic to get to work).  So - we have decided to become "night" shower takers!! Besides...that is when the heat is also running :)

We live on the second floor, and walk up 3 short flights of stairs to reach our door.  When you enter the building, there is a button for the light that is on a timer as an energy saver.  So - if you time yourself just right, you can get up all 3 flights, unlock your door, and get inside before it all goes dark :)

So we ask you - does it sound as if we are complaining??  If so, then you are seeing our comments from the wrong perspective.  We've come to realize so much in our lives depends on our perspective of how we view things.  We choose to see things from God's perspective, and we can honestly tell you, it is truly amazing to be in this Land, the Apple of His eye.  We are living as everyone else in the Land, and getting acclimated to doing things Israeli style.  It's actually liberating not having all the creature comforts we've all come to take for granted, and to learn to trust in Him for everything throughout our daily walk.

............AND WHAT AN ADVENTURE!!