Last night, the evening of Jan.30, 2006, I saw the new moon from Jerusalem. The 12th month has begun. Shalom upon Yisrael.

I'm staying at the Nel's house in Jerusalem now. It's good to be back the city of the great King.

It's the final week of HaYahad school. We have our final exam and graduation in a few days.

Terry and Carmen Fehr came to visit us last week, and Terry gave a talk to everyone here about Biblical chronology and the Jubilee year cycle. It was really good to be with them again.

We went to Jerusalem for our field trip last week. We toured the ancient City of David and we got to see the newly uncovered lower pool of Siloam!.

We had our graduation program for our Ulpan class yesterday. All the students wrote speeches in Hebrew, and we wrote and performed two plays also.

Soon we'll be leaving this beautiful kibbutz. I'm just beginning to feel at home here.

It's January by Ye Olde Roman Calender, but the weather here is like June by Saskatchewan standards. I swam in the Sea of Galilee yesterday, a little brisk, but the sun was shining.

I live moment to moment here. I'm experiencing and learning so much, but I don't yet have much of a concept of the new identity I have through this learning. I'm getting some good grounding in what I believe, and what the Scriptures say. I'm getting to see a lot of Israel. I've been to Mount Arbel, Megiddo, and Dan, and Tzfat (Safed) in the last few weeks. I'm beginning to get a real taste of the Hebrew language.

The really special part of being at HaYahad school is the community aspect. I love all the folks here, and it's nice having them as my family, even if it's only for this short time. They'll definitely be my friends and brethren forever.

Good news! My friends Eyal and Avigail Hirshfeld have a new daughter! Her name is Nesiyah (Miracle of Yah), and she was born on the second night of Hanukah. Halleluyah! "...like olive shoots around your table." (Psalm 128)

And upon that note of praise, goodbye!