So we begin...

So we begin...

There is so much swimming in my head right now...It's hard to know what to say as we begin this new journey, Mark and I, our family, all of this. The decision to accept the invitation to teach in Jeruselem and Bethlehem this summer was not easy for us, despite what anyone may think. We are both travelers in our souls, and we both have that 'itch' to see, to absorb, to expand our experiences beyond the knowing. I think that those who know Mark better than they know me may not realize how alike he and I are in so many ways concerning so many things. In the way in which we are different, it's best really expressed this way, I think...We can have a passionate disagreement about a point, yet smile and look at one another and say, deeply, "I love you, my friend..." I value the ways in which we are different as much as I value the ways in which we are similar.

We talked, discussed, explored, inquired, pestered, and talked again about the decision to go to Israel/Palestine to teach this summer. We made the final decision just this week, and we made it together. Several of you may feel hesitant about me accompanying Mark on this journey. That's ok. You may not know me well enough yet to know how well prepared I really am to be at his side as we experience this together, and for the things that lay in the unknown, well...we're there together. On the practical side, I have friends here who have visited or lived there before our journey there, and I have sought their counsel, both in accepting the invitation and in the preparations for going...right down to asking about gestures and body postures, clothing, etc. We have begun the process of our itinerary, and our families have been so supportive, despite their hesitations. It's not like going to Paris (the last time I was out of the country); I know that. Part of the process of preparing is creating this blog.

I thought that it might be a wonderful way to communicate with our friends and family while we're there. We will have internet access at the university, so we should be able to blog every day (I will work to make that happen.) I plan on uploading photos so that everyone can see what we are seeing and also be reassured as to our welfare while we are there. Please feel free to respond to our posts and our photos; it will reassure our hearts of our home and those whom we love until we are home again.

I tend to wax more words than Mark, so at this point he'd probably say, "Are we done?" *smile* Above all, please know how much we love you, our families and our friends, and how this journey will be enriched because we carry you with us, and we will return home to you profoundly more grateful (if that's possible) for you in our lives.

With deepest respect and love,

Victoria : )