Haifa, Akko, Shafa'ram

What a great weekend. I've shared some photos earlier on the blog but also wanted to just share some fun exploring pictures.

We went to a city called Akko which is near the border with Lebanon. So, you'll see a sign that says how far to Beirut vs Lebanon and a picture of our group standing in front of the border crossing into Lebanon. We didn't go into Lebanon - too complicated and we didn't have all the right papers etc. not to mention time, permission, etc. But it was interesting to realize how close we were - especially after the troubles this past summer.

We also stopped along the beach on the way from the border to Akko. It was the only time during the weekend that it wasn't raining. What a fun time. The shoreline really reminded me of home.

Akko is an older city with a brick wall around it. It is a mixed Muslim and Jewish community. Anis, our host told me that for many years, it was a dangerous place to visit as there was so much animosty between the two groups. About two years ago, the government had a reconciliation meeting between the two groups of believers and since then things have seemed to calm down. It is such a beautiful place with many old buildings, and old clock tower with Hebrew in place of numbers. I just wanted to share some of it with you all.

Some of the roads in the city are so narrow that you can still see people pushing hand carts or even riding horses and horse-drawn carts along the roads.

And of course, above all the noise of the business of life, you can still hear the muzzein chanting the Muslim call to prayer from the numerous mosques in the area. What a great reminder to stop and pray for those who don't know Him.

Saeeda went with us - and even though she's only 5 years old, she pitched right in, helping us prepare for the kids, and had a great time at the beach and exploring in Akko. She's a great kid with a beautiful smile.