The Children Don’t Realize
I actually wasn’t going to write a blog post tonight. We started the day really early, added two new children to the show, went to Haifa and did a show at a Jewish/Arab community center. Then we went to a mall (ooohhh, a mall with a McDonald’s— some of the kids were very happy but most ordered schwarma or falafels). After that we went to the incredibly beautiful Ba’Hai Gardens and Temple (thank you, Jens Larson, for suggesting it!). We were too late to go into the Temple itself but got to walk around on the garden grounds. From there we went to a small circus festival in northern Israel and saw several shows. Then the plan was to unload the bus and go to our host families.
The Galilee Arches had other plans. A large group of them had decided they would go out to dinner at a restaurant in Karmiel so they could just have more time hanging out together! Bill and I went to chaperon and spent the evening on the patio of a very nice restaurant. We had decided that since there was now a cease fire, we would actually go to the Dead Sea and Jerusalem tomorrow. All the arrangements were made and we went to our respective homes.
We weren’t home 15 minutes when we got a phone call letting us know that the cease fire was off and Israel had started a ground invasion of Gaza!!! You can read why on your favorite news site. That is not what I am writing about.
I do want to tell you that sitting on the patio seeing the kids laughing tonight, watching them take selfies at the Ba’ Hai Gardens and watching them singing American pop songs together on the bus… you realize that they have no idea what is happening just a few hours away from where they are. Of course, before we came to Israel, we gave them a mini history lesson and we talked about what to do in case of an emergency and they know what the bomb shelter signs look like. But they really don’t realize how serious this is and how important the work and play that they are doing is!
So, I wasn’t going to write a blog tonight because I was so tired. Then I thought about those of you who DO follow the blog and that you DO know what is going on and I didn’t want you to be worried . So, we are fine. We have decided not to go to the Dead Sea and Jerusalem tomorrow. Now, please excuse me because I just got a text from a girl who is a former member of the Galilee Arches who happens to be Arab. She is grown now and she is asking me if I am all right. I want to reassure her that I am.