Our new friend and tour guide, Judy, took us on a tour of the Old City on our way to the cemetery where my Great-grandparents are buried.
As our bus wove through the streets, Judy pointed out many sites:
-where Mike Huckabee will live when he arrives (He is there now, but he wasn't there yet when we were there.)
- the "Hill of Evil Counsel" that now supports the United Nations building 🤔
- Schindler's grave
- the Valley of Gehenna
My nose was glued to the window, trying to retain at least some of the information flowing through my brain. I think I talked less those two weeks than I have since I was a toddler! There was so much to hear, learn and experience. I didn't want to waste a minute talking! 🤣
"Get ready! Our stop is next!" Judy warned us. We grabbed our bags and stood up.
We chatted like old friends as we walked towards the cemetery. At one point we got lost. We asked a few people if they knew where the "Christian cemetery" was, but no one knew what were referring to, or where it was. Finally, I pulled out my phone. First, I searched for Effie Dugger on the very helpful website: www.findagrave.com. This gave me the full and proper name for our destination. The older ladies were impressed with my skills. 😜 I am sure my children would have been proud of me!
Soon we found ourselves before a large metal door - locked. A stone wall kept us from even peeking at the graves. We tried the phone numbers printed on the wall, but no one answered.
"Are you wanting to visit the cemetery?" A lady stepped onto the curb near where we were standing. "Yes!" We answered expectantly. "It's only open from 10-12. Come back tomorrow morning at 10:00."
We thanked her for that information, but we wouldn't be able to return "tomorrow". This was already our second try to visit and tomorrow we needed to be at Aunt Sheryl's house to prepare for traveling to the Galilee region.
She kindly offered to call the caretaker, whom she happened to know personally. He allowed his Sunday dinner with his family to be interrupted. He hopped on his bike and rode over to let us in!
I felt like I was in one of my Great- Grandpa's stories! Just another day in Jerusalem, I suppose. Soon other people came, and each one seemed to have been sent our way. We had a prayer meeting right there in that cemetery. Someone was in the hospital and others had needs too. We sang a verse from the song Great-Grandma Effie wrote. We hugged like it was a family reunion.
We didn't want to keep our new friends too long. Judy told us the Jews have a habit of placing a rock on a grave of a loved one to show they had visited. We took a rock from the bucket of smooth, colorful rocks and placed them on the graves of our ancestors. I didn't feel the least bit sad. I felt... I'm not sure... maybe like I was a part of something or connected. Like I was where I should be at that moment.
Judy still had plenty of energy, but this was her neighborhood, so it was time for us to part our ways. She escorted us to the bus stop and waited with us for the correct bus back to the Old City.
As we climbed onto the bus Aunt Anita whispered, "Look back. See if she is still there. She might have been an angel!" I looked out of the window a bit disappointed that she was still standing at the bus stop smiling and waving. I waved back.
"We should have paid her for her time." I thought, but knew better. She wouldn't have accepted it. The Jews love to do good deed for others. It brings them joy. The way I can thank her is by doing something good for someone else.
If I go back to Israel someday, maybe I will go to the House of Prayer for All Nations (the place of worship Judy attends). Maybe I will see her there. I like to imagine that, but I know it probably won't happen.
It gives me such hope to know that people from many different cultures and nations are worshipping our Creator 24/7 in that Holy City. And not only there, but all over the world! What a wonderful time to be alive! I wish I could see what is happening in the Heavenlies! Can you imagine?
