Concluding Remarks - Cindy

FAVORITE PLACES/DAY:
-Tel Dan
-Hermon Springs
-Ein Gedi
-Sea of Galilee
-Garden Tomb
-Dig-for-A-Day experience

PRAISES:
Joy in the midst of pain
Amazing nurses at the hospital
Ring found
Nice tan (this one is for Dan! Ha)
Love and support in my weakest moments.
Dreams coming true!
A great roommie, Jackie, whom I could share laugh after laugh with.
My plane ticket got completely paid for!
Seeing my brother for his birthday.
Feeling God’s heart for the Jews.
Having such amazing support from the entire group.
Being able to worship God with Messianic Jewish youth from Romania and Russia.

LOVE TO MY GROUP:
Jackie: my roommie! Oh I miss thee and watching Hindi soap operas and Nomadic African boys with red hair b/c of .. yes.. lol.. so many good memories.. and our last minute breakfasts. Ha! Chica, you made my time in Israel and Jordan so well worth it. Your care for me when I was sick touched my heart and your excitement when I found my ring.. I think you were more excited than I was! Lol. It reminded me of the Bible verse “weep when they weep and rejoice when they rejoice” I think i quoted it wrong but you get me ;) thank you for sharing life with me during those 2 fantastic weeks!

Crysaly: my bodyguard. Who needs a Kevin Costner? Lol. Chica, thanks for being there for me and never leaving my side. Thanks for your compassion and love. May the Lord open up doors for you to minister to the poor and broken-hearted people.. and to all the lil’ animals suffering around the world..

Donald & Priscilla: You guys make me smile. I think of you and a smile comes to my face. Donald, you always came at the right time to take my pic.. I would just have a fleeting thought “man, I would like to have a pic here.” And just when I would finish thinking it you would hold out your hand for my camera… so crazy… Priscilla I love your energy and outlook on life and all that you are doing at the food pantry. I’m so glad that you guys are nearby.. Sunday brunch sometime? Me and Jackie would love to come..hahaha.

James: da man. Thanks for your stability. I was rocked by your devotional. I had just been thinking about some of the things you were saying and you just helped solidify them in my heart. Yaaay for Evanston. Thanks for being such a role model for us students who are looking to go into the ministry soon.

Lisa: my other laughing partner. Girl, no one can bargain like you do and I have reaped from the fruit of your work (as I stare at my wonderful leather purse ☺) I love how God came to your rescue at a bar and how you have been on fire and hotly pursuing him with all your being ever since. I will always remember your devotional at Dan under that big shaded tree and you jumping into the crowd and dancing in the Jordanian wedding! Ha! You’re awesome.

Diane: Lady, your prayers are so mighty. That day when I was not feeling well and you laid hands on me I felt heat where your hands were.. like a soothing heat.. and as you prayed in tongues I would feel my spirit just agreeing with you. Thank you for all your prayers and being such a faithful intercessor. Also, your intellect is so evident in that great devotional you gave. You have a very clear and effective speaking/teaching ministry. Keep going girl. You are on the right track.

Dr. Wilson & Dindy: Wow. What can I say about you two?! You two were amazing. I loved hearing your testimony. Your testimony will continue to bring many to the Lord. … and just to think where you guys were and where you are now! Wow! Only God! Only God! Dr. Wilson, thank you for your incredible insight and passion for early Christianity and making sure we were really learning the stuff ☺ Dindy, I can imagine you as such a great mom. You ran back with me all the way to the bus to find my ring.. and you were so encouraging and also the voice of reason throughout. Thank you for your love. I hope that your first trip to Israel has been completely unforgettable… and hope you get to go more often ☺

The Putneys: Yaaaay! The Williamsburg fam! It was so great to have you all the trip. I was so happy to have a fam around. You two sisters just showed me how much I really missed my sister and how I look forward to traveling with her in years to come. Scott, that last day in Jerusalem was hilarious. You getting yelled at for taking pics on the Sabbath. Lol. Also, I remember our last breakfast in Jordan me and Jackie were in the dining room and you came by and said “hey girls.. just want to let you know we are putting the bags in the bus now..” aaaw. You are such a dad. Sharon, I will always remember your eyes twinkling at Qumran when you got the jewelry as an anniversary present. They were so beautiful and fit you perfectly. I loved when your husband said “Yeah aren’t the women supposed to be unloading the bags now.. equality right?” and you said “pft. Right.” And rolled your eyes. Hahahaha! I loved it!

Daniel: chico, I heard you were worried when I wasn’t doing so well in Petra. Thanks for caring. Oh, and thanks for the pillow in the airplane. May the Lord abundantly bless your future ministry.

Angelica: Chica!!! Tu me haces reir. Your bluntness scared me at first and then I just ended up loving it so much. I love that you were to the point.. no beating around the bush. Yup.. especially with the sellers in the market. Ha! Thank you for that time when I was in Petra when you just held me and hugged me close as I was in pain. I felt like I had my momma right there with me ☺ Thank you for your amazing caring heart… May the Lord bless you with many girls and guys to mentor!

Jason: chico, blogging with you has been a blast… so glad my blogging skills have rubbed off on you;) Good luck with your PhD apps!! you'll rock them!

Scott: yes, angels did descend upon that luggage.. just in due time ☺ Thank you for your gentleness and caring heart. You would always move out of the way and say “Here can you see?” I was like “aaaw, yes” You have such a big heart.

Judy & Candace: the mother and daughter duo. How can I forget?! Lol. You gals are amazing. Judy you are a strong woman full of adventure. I love your spunk. Thanks for sharing the sycamore nuts with me☺ Candace, invoke the name of the Lord! Ha. Great devotional! Thanks for coming with me to the Messianic Jewish youth meeting. It was such a blessing, wasn’t it?! Wow.

Helen: you are such a trooper. Going all around with us everywhere we went. You went as far as you could go and I was just so amazed and proud of you… you came all the way to Israel and wasn’t going to miss anything. That’s the spirit! ☺ Thanks so much for consoling me during my sickness at Petra.

Joan: Two biggest memories : 1. When you realized that your daughter was married for 20 years, you were shocked and said “I’m old!!” hahaha. 2. When I was not feeling well at Petra and you stayed there just rubbing my arm and knee.. your soothing touch was so encouraging and loving.

Faye: I was amazed to see you filming every part of the trip and watching you buying ALL those books. Wow. Your passion to learn is so evident. May the Lord bless you as you learn and impart revelations to others

Mark and Deborah:
Mark, when you asked all the men to line up as “elders at the city gate” to bless your wife Deborah as the Proverbs 31 woman, my heart leapt. I couldn’t believe my eyes. You thought of that?!! Wow. Just for you to even have that in your mind.. you are just constantly blessing your wife with your actions and your thoughts. I was amazed and overwhelmed with the evident love and admiration you had for your wife.
Deborah. You rock! Just seeing you there as a pillar of support for your husband. I remember your prayer on the bus that day so clearly. Your relationship with the Lord was so evident in what you said to him that morning.. the sweetness and intimate manner you addressed him. May the Lord continue to shower His love upon you.

Dr. Panell: my new dad. Oh my gosh! So much to say in so lil’ space. One camel?? Lol. I will always remember the wisdom you imparted every step of the way. Thank you for sharing the devotional on the Sea of Galilee. God spoke so loudly to my heart that day. It was one of my most memorable parts of the trip. Also, your humor. How could I forget? Your comments would send Lisa and I into hysterics. Hope you get to have your fill of peanut butter soon!

Lindsay: Girl. Just a few words: Hal looking at his wife. Dang! That was crazy how we BOTH saw that! Oy my heart! So incredible. I’m so excited about all that the Lord has with you as you work with young girls in healing their hearts and teaching them who they really are.. giving them back self esteem and dignity.

Robin: it was a pleasure to have you on the trip. I loved how you always found the greatest bargains.. 20 postcards for $1.. the hats.. etc. lol. You have a great eye for that stuff.. thank you for your prayers when I was sick. May the Lord bless you as you continue on with what He has imparted in you in the Holy Land. Long live Israel! woohoo