On the 21st, the ‘Youth Group’ met in Beersheva at the Beersheva Messianic Congregation. Once again, they needed me and the van. At first I thought driving the youth around would be a big bummer, having to hang around until they did their thing (whatever that was), and then driving them home. But I was SO wrong! These kids are cool, if you dig me.
Like where there are kids you find lots of Goodies! Like this time the main course was pizza and cake.
Being in Israel, well you know it isn’t kosher to mix dairy products with meat products. In other words, you can’t find a pepperoni pizza, sausage pizza, or better yet: a meat eater’s pizza nowhere around here. In fact I was here 2-1/2 years before going home for the 1st time and instead of kissing the ground when I got off the plane, I kissed a larger pepperoni pizza w/ extra cheese.
Believe it or not, one can actually get use to pizza with olives if one had to.
P.S. I figured I’ve had my share of pizza in my life and figured it was these kids turn! Figured I’d eat a piece if something was left, otherwise I’d pass. Well, lo and behold, one piece was left! Also to my surprise it had a strange topping which turned out to be ‘tuna’. Not sure why tuna was not considered meat, as I dug in.
What I do is much more than just driving the van and raking in the goodies. I assume the role of guardian: prayer, seatbelts, cautious and defensive driving, bodyguard, etc. When dropping the girls off, I don’t let them out of my sight until there’re actually INSIDE their homes. In apartment complexes I have a couple of the guys provide escort.
Guess I’m just a nice guy motivated by a little Bible story about a millstone!
Edwin Beckford
(11/21/03)