Back from Eliat!

Hello everyone! I know it has been a while since I posted but I did not have internet access in Eliat. Eliat is at the southernmost tip of Israel in the middle of the desert. It was soooooooo hot there every day! Not my kind of weather at all.. but we got to do some really fun things while we were there. We stayed at a Christian youth hostel and met some really awesome people. We joined in on some of the ministry work they were already doing in the neighboring community. Friday night the shelter hosted a big shabbat dinner and invited many people from the neighborhood. Our group performed a skit and helped lead worship. There were people there from many different countries speaking all different languages: English, Spanish, Russian and Sudanese. The gospel message was being translated into all of these languages for the people. The shelter is running an amazing outreach out of Eliat and it was a blessing to be there to help and encourage the long term workers..
One of the coolest things we did in Eliat was going snorkeling in the Red Sea. It was so beautiful.. looked just like something out of finding nemo! There were fish and coral with every color of the rainbow. That was definitely an experience I will never forget. I just kept thinking wow, God's creation is so amazing.. After snorkeling we spent the night in a small community of Sudanese refugees spending time with the children there. Most of the parents are at work all day and the children are left alone to fend for themselves. These kids are just starving for attention and as soon as our van pulled up they all came running to greet us. We spent the night playing games, singing songs and just pouring love over the kids. They were all so cute and it was a blessing to spend time with them..
Now we are finally back in Jerusalem and it feels like home. Although it seems like I just got here, tomorrow will be my last day in Israel. We have a full day of activities planned including visiting the Temple mount and the garden tomb. Please keep me in your prayers as I travel back to the states tomorrow night.