Winter is here!

For last week, most of the days were really cold. Heavy rains came and temperature range were 14-22 degrees. At night the temperature can reach 13-14 degrees. We turn on our heater every night and also most of the day time. Electricity bill is going to escalate but no choice. (electricity here is very expensive, US$0.20 per unit)

As a result of the cold weather, I was down with cold. Now have recovered. But Joelle caught the cold from me and her nose is blocked and running. Hence at night she did not sleep well. Poor girl.... we see her like that, very heartpain.... Thank God that the weather has turned better with the rain stopping and sun coming out for this week. Joelle's cold is also drying.

2 weekends ago before the rain came, we went to HaYarkon Park to see where we can have a picnic next time. This park stretches almost 10km from Tel Aviv to Ramat Gan. We are staying in Ramat Gan and this park is 5-10 min drive away from our place. Every weekend, lots of families go there for picnics and BBQ. BBQ is the national pasttime of Israelis here especially in summer.

Our shipment wil be coming tomorrow. Last week we went to Ashdod to settle the admin stuffs for the custom clearance. Over at Ashdod there is a famous restaurent Idi Fish and Seafood Restaurent. We went for lunch there. Our 1st expensive meal here in Israel! The set lunch costs NIS95 per pax. (around S$40). The starters for the lunch were so much that one can be full by just finishing them.

I ordered Denise fish and Joeanne ordered Salmon. 2 most expensive fishes here in israel when we go Carmel Market. around NIS60 per kg (S$24/kg)

We are still looking for a church here. Seems like no church near our place. There are churches in Jaffa which is a bit north of Tel Aviv but from our place it takes more than 30 minutes drive. If we really can't find any here, we will have to go Jaffa. I emailed to the Israel Bible Society to ask them of church recommendations and a pastor called me back. There's no baptist church around here. He recommended Immanuel Lutheran Church which is in Jaffa. We will most probably be going this saturday morning for its 11am service, unless the weather turns rainy again.

Prayer requests:

1. our health esp Joelle. Quick recovery from her flu

2. We can adapt to this winter

3. Finding a suitable church

4. Joeanne's role as a housewife and mother

5. my work is smooth

Winter is coming!!!

sorry for not being able to update our blog last weekend.

brrr........ it's getting colder every day. Last few days started to shower a few drops of rain here and this is the sign that winter is coming. When winter eventually comes, the rain will be bigger and longer and colder.

We shifted to our new apartment last monday (5th nov) and went to buy pillows and blankets because our shipment will only arrive at end nov. Also went to buy a heater because the blankets were not enough. Right now our apartment is quite empty except for the sofas, tv, washing machine, fridge provided by the owner. When our shipment comes, we will be fully equipped to look more like a house.

Joelle was not familiar with the new place for first few days and kept on crying and wanting joeanne to carry her. Joeanne was real tired the first day. Thank God that she has now become familiar and is roaming freely on her baby walker. Her two teeth are definitely growing and can be seen clearer. She's getting very interested in whatever we are eating. But we only feed her 2 meals of porridge with either carrots or potatoes or egg york or salmon or chicken. Our weighing machine is not here yet, so we can't weigh her. but i think she is getting much heavier. last month was 7kg, so now should be 7.5kg? We'll see...

God's grace has been with us all these time we are here. Joeanne is getting used to being a housewife. Now we are waiting for her baking appliances to come in the shipment and then she can start to bake cakes and cookies and enjoy herself here. For now, she enjoys our weekly trip to the Carmel Market for groceries and also pastries.

Time flies. We have been here for slightly over a month. Next march will come very soon and we can go back singapore for a visit!