Tuesday, March 27, 2012

With Love from.... Israel!

See what I've been working on?  Yep... a new blog design!  I didn't think it would make a whole lot of sense to be posting from Israel on a blog that is called "With Love from Ukraine."  Might get kind of confusing.  So, while we are here, this will be my header.  When we go back to Ukraine, I'll just change the wording of the new design back to what it was.  

{My four lovelies are standing in front of the Mediterranean Sea, which is just blocks away from our apartment here.  But more on that later....}

I have really gone around in circles about the direction of this blog.  I seriously considered just closing it down for three months.  Even more seriously, I thought about starting a completely second blog, but then reconsidered for fear I would lose about half of you with the address change.  I looked into turning this into a private blog, but FeedBurner does not support private blogs.  Feedburner is the service that delivers my blog posts to your inbox, if you are among the nearly 500 {really incredible} people who read this blog that way.  But why all the fuss? you ask.  {Whew, I'm so glad you asked!}  Well, in this part of the world we have to be careful when posting about our faith and work on a public forum.  We have already spoken with our close family about this and asked them to be careful in telephone conversations and in e-mails to us in regards to this.  I am trying to be as discreet in my explanation as possible, so please be patient...  Okay, here we go...

Do you remember my {fairly} regular Monday posts I have been writing about hubby's line of work?  Well, I will not be writing such posts until we return to Ukraine.  So, the next 2 1/2 months of this blog will be dedicated only to blogging about Israel and the things we are learning, seeing, and experiencing here.  If you are still clueless as to what I am talking about, I ask you to please just keep wondering about it silently.  I will not be able to e-mail you an explanation.

We are living in a modern-day version of the Old Testament.  The Old Testament laws and rituals are still faithfully practiced and our neighbors are still eagerly waiting for the Messiah.  Have you ever stopped to think about what that really means?

Anyway, for those of you who do understand what I am talking about, I really felt like I owed you an explanation.  I know that you have come to expect a certain amount of content about our labors, and I just didn't feel comfortable continuing posting without explaining why some things are going to be left unsaid (hence, the recent silence).  I really think a lot of you are intrigued to see why our Father sent us away from Ukraine temporarily.  I am pretty intrigued myself, to be honest!  However, opportunity abounds all around and it is not hard to understand just what He might have in mind.

Thank you, sweet friends, for your understanding.  We are all settled in, terribly behind on e-mails, missing Ukraine like crazy, but gearing up to post more than ever before over the weeks that follow!  We are soaking things in daily and I am just dying to start sharing with you some of what we are experiencing.  So, gear up, my friends, and invite your pals on over.  We are about to start touring the beautiful holy land of Israel, and I don't think you are going to want to miss out!

41 comments:

  1. I'm so glad you'll be blogging from Israel! I cannot wait to see all your photos. I'm a tad bit jealous!

    I've missed your posts! Been praying and thinking of you often.

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  2. Hurrah! I'm so glad to hear anything from you and glad that you'll keep writing while in Israel!

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  3. So glad to "see" you again!!! My children and I will look forward to learning more about the holy land!

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  4. Wow! I am so excited to hear about your adventures!! I have always wanted to visit the Holy Land to see what daily life is like there! Many stories I hear seem to help me to understand my best Friend better!!

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    1. Thanks for your recent comments! I hope and pray that I can do a good enough job showing you what the Holy Land is like. It is truly wonderful, and I hope that I can portray that through this blog!

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  5. I'm excited to see you again! I can't wait for your Israel posts.

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  6. It's so good to hear from you. :) Can't wait to hear about your adventures in Israel! Take care, sweet friend.

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  7. Sooo good to hear from you! The picture on the last post you did always made me sad. Glad to hear you are there and settling in for a little while. I loved it when we visited there several years ago. Looking forward to your accounts of it. Take care, Love, Gail

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  8. WOW! So glad you decided to continue to blog! I really enjoy your posts!

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  9. Thank you for the update. So good to hear from you and I'm glad you're there and enjoying life in Israel.

    Your header is so adorable. Great job putting that together.

    I'm looking forward to seeing your travels.

    ~Cinnamon

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  10. So glad to see you are "back"! :) I've missed your posts. Looking forward to hearing all about your new life in the Holy Land!

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  11. So good to hear from you again. I'm excited to learn about Israel. Our church is planning a trip with Bro. Sharp next February and some of my family is planning to go. What a privilege!!
    Sending you love...

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  12. I too am blessed you decided to keep blogging! I look forward to what you have to share with us!!

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  13. What a great opportunity the Lord has given to you! We are praying for you, and know that He will guide you each step of the way. We are thankful that you are faithful and sensitive to His leading, no matter where that may take you! Enjoy your beautiful new home! Can't wait for the tour!

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  14. Dear Jolene,
    It makes my heart happy to hear from you from the Holy Land. I am so excited to see it from you and your precious children's eyes. It is such a blessing to live there, enjoy it!!!!
    Love and prayers,
    Alexis

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  15. Love, love the new pictures (and beside the Mediterranean Sea. WOW!) and blog design!!! Praying for you all like crazy and SO VERY EXCITED to "see and learn" about what our Father is doing in, around, and through you all in the "Old Testament" world!!! Praying & BUNCHES of hugs! ~ Sheri

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  16. I'm looking forward so much to learning about Israel through your blog! Glad to see you back!

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  17. So glad to hear the update! Im also glad to hear you will get to go back to the Ukraine, as I know you dearly love and will miss it!

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    1. All Americans can be in Ukraine without visas for up to three months out of every six months. So, they can go and go with no problem. We still need to be praying for them to find a way to STAY!

      Jolene, just curious: do you have a lawyer working on visas for you here?

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    2. No, we don’t have a lawyer working for us. It is too early for that since we are planning to be back for 3 months during the summer, then head back to the states for a furlough.

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  18. So glad to hear an update from you. So happy to know that you will get to go back to Ukraine. I know you love it dearly and will miss it. Enjoy your time in the Holy Land!

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  19. Very much aware, and looking forward to a travelogue while you are visiting in Israel. I'm certain it is a learning experience, and a wonderful opportunity to learn how laws are applied in today's world. What a wonderful thing it would be to be in Israel at the Messiah's coming. I know your family has a great deal of interest in learning more about Israel so being there is great excitement. Looking forward to your return to the Ukraine, too!

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    1. You are so sweet! And yes, it would be a WONDERFUL thing to be in Israel at the Messiah’s coming!

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  20. What a special treat to be in Israel! I am sure the time will fly by...praying for all of you to have a blessed time and maybe a time of rest, relaxation and reflection. God is ALWAYS good! :)

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  21. Thanks for keeping the blogging up even through this change. SO excited for you all! What a great opportunity! Looking forward to hearing more and seeing more from Israel!

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  22. Understand, praying and just glad to be able to hear from you in some way!

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  23. Jolene, I have been thinking about change lately...how it benefits our spiritual growth, and why God allows it. You know what I thought last night? God takes away certain securities so we depend on Him! Securities (to me, at least) are like a net underneath me. So when God takes securities away (or brings changes to my life) I have to literally cling to Him, having to take the next step in complete faith. But isn't that what pleases our Heavenly Father? Child-like faith.

    And in all my thinking, you are in my constant thoughts and prayers. (You pray for me, too, okay?!)

    I look forward to reading more!

    I love you. Hugs from far away.

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  24. Love to hear from you as I have been thinking of you often.

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  25. Laurel BardwellFriday, March 30, 2012

    i was wondering how you all were doing.

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  26. how did I miss this? I was thinking about y'all today and prayed for your family. Blesssings!

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  27. Andrea ChambersFriday, March 30, 2012

    Praying for your family. I love reading your blogs!

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  28. Nice to hear from you! Been thinking about your family! :)

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  29. Phyllis BlickensderferFriday, March 30, 2012

    I knew you'd bloom where planted!

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  30. Sarah Crawford StevensFriday, March 30, 2012

    I'm so glad you posted an update! I've been wondering how you are and praying for your sweet family!

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  31. Love you Jolene!! Praying for y'all ♥

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  32. Mrs. Jolene and Family:

    It was sure good to hear from you and know that you arrived safely in Israel. I can't wait to hear about your adventures there!

    I know you miss Ukraine and can't wait to get back there, but it's sure exciting to see what happens in your lives during these months. Talk about a great education - your kids will see things that most people just read about, and will have more experiences in three months than most of us at home have in a lifetime.

    Please know that we are still here, holding up your arms in the conflict and providing what support we can.

    I can't wait for you to get back to Ukraine. You really need to write a book about your life - it's been an incredible journey and there is so much ahead!! (Of course, you'll have to consider who will play you in the movie!)

    We're praying for you guys. Enjoy yourselves and take lots of pictures!! :)

    Bro. Garry

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  33. Can't wait to learn more about Israel....and your family, much love to ya!

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  34. You are quite amazing:))) I love your new header!!! ;D

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  35. Hi Jolene: it is so good to hear from you!

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  36. Ah, sweet child, I see that you are still the same wonderful woman...following your Father's bidding and eagerly anticipating just what He might have in mind for you. I am so proud of you and excited to see what these months will bring for so many who will have the opportunity to see your Father's plan brought to fruition in their lives.

    I love you dearly,
    Mrs. Z

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Thank you for your encouraging comments! "As cold waters to a thirsty soul, so is good news from a far country." Proverbs 25:25