From Vonnie and Greg Michels
Merry Christmas from Israel!!
What a joy to be reunited with Grant and Therese!! We got home at 3am from the airport after 3 long hours of being questioned in security. Grant and Therese were troopers to still sit and have some Swedish Glogg, pepparkakor and clementines that Vonnie had prepared thinking we would have a nice little visit over a Swedish tradition when we got home.
We took a rest day which was very welcomed for us all the day after they came. The next day, we decided to take a quick trip to a famous spot here in the Land (to Swedes)
(Unfortunately Greg had to spend some days in bed with a bad respiratory something. Thank God, he is much better today)
Friday night we went to Nazareth Village where we were part of a living nativity following after Mary and Joseph on the way to Bethlehem….singing carols as we went up the luminaria-lit path……
Our friend was the narrator guide and she asked if Vonnie would lead the singing for the group of the Christmas Carols. In this group of 30, there were international guests and even a number of secular Jews from a Kibbutz….it seemed that Vonnie and Grant and Therese were the only ones who knew the carols and ….at least we didn’t hear many following along. …they were letting us sing our little hearts out. Vonnie had a tough time not getting emotional and getting chocked up….singing carols, being reunited with children from Afghanistan after a year, here in the Land……but no room to get emotional! If one of the three stopped singing, it was too noticeable! A definitely memorable evening.
Saturday, it was so wonderful to take them to our Shabbat service….to worship together, to meet our friends and to have our friends meet them. Following the service, we enjoyed a traditional turkey dinner which tasted so good to have flavors and smells from the “homeland.” Therese had brought some beautifully decorated gingerbread cookies
decorated with our names on them—very special coming from the oven of Afghanistan!
Here we are wishing Matt and Ann, Stacy and Jared were standing with us to wish all of you a Merry Christmas (we teased Stac that this year, she could be the one to dress up as Santa Claus J) ….we look forward to the day of a Michels family reunion….next time there will be at least NINE of us!!! (Stacy and Jared’s little boy—our grandson J--is due in February—we are looking forward to being there for the blessed event, Lord-willing—and we know He is J)
We send all our love and prayers to you, dear friends, for a
Blessed Christmas, remembering the Greatest Gift and Giver of all!!!
We love you all and miss you so much!
Vonnie and Greg, Grant and Therese