Day 16 & 17 - HaYovel - My Promise - Purity Ceremony - Jordan
March 12-13, 2026 Thursday & Friday
I just wanted to share a little video about our experience in Jerusalem, and how we started almost every day. Turns out we are right next to a construction site where they are converting a building to luxury apartments. Every morning around 7 am, this starts:
Thursday, we went to HaYovel, a wonderful organization that supports farmers and creates an environment for others to visit Israel and work the land. They started based on the premise of Isaiah 61, which says that the stranger (foreigner) will come to work the vines and trees in Israel. Volunteers come from around the world and visit their vineyard in Samaria and work the land while they tour. You can find out more about them, and contribute or sign up, here: https://serveisrael.com/
This was a wonderful experience. We were able to meet Tommy and Sherry, and several of their adult children. We toured their facilities, including their new visitor center, still under construction. We enjoyed a lovely lunch under the trees, and then settled ourselves into the gathering room to enjoy coffee and a discussion about the miracles that are happening right there in the land. We also saw huge chunks of shrapnel that have fallen around their farms.
Iran and Lebanon lob their bombs at the cities and population centers. They do not necessarily aim for strategic targets, but instead deliberately aim for families and civilians. The bombs are shot down most of the time out in the wilderness, over places like HaYovel. Because of that, the danger there is not explosions, but falling debris. They have not experienced a single injury – but they do collect up the pieces and have them on display, one of which was a huge tank which fell almost totally intact.
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| One small piece of shrapnel |
We made our way back to the city, and we each did our own thing. In my case – I kept the promise. I CUT MY HAIR!! It feels so amazing. I know I overpaid for the haircut, and it’s only an OK haircut, but it looks better than if I had done it myself. I love how fun and curly it is, and I feel like I lost weight! Shawna came with me for moral support and pictures, for which I was grateful. After, I bought here dinner again at our favorite pasta place – this time with bread!!
During this time, our flights were being rearranged. We had decided to travel out of Amman, Jordan, as our other flights were cancelled, and I will eventually need to get home. More on that to come. I want to say a huge thanks to Mitzi, who not only helped us rearrange our flights and find accommodations, but she also made all the arrangements, tolerated a minor tantrum on my part, and simplified the process for each of us. We are mostly flying out at the same time, and arriving in Chicago together, and then we will divide up to our individual destinations. I will be getting home much later than I anticipated, and that’s frustrating, but I will still be home, which I am grateful.
Friday morning dawned early. Joe wanted us to be able to Mikvah and complete the modified red heifer ceremony this morning before we got on the bus. There's a lot we cannot do perfectly in this ceremony - there are no Aaronic priests here, and no temple, and no official mikvah. We are using the beautiful Ein Lavan spring, which is shockingly cold, and we are doing it in faith and obedience in the hopes Yehovah will honor our willingness to obey.
I have no photos. It seemed like a private moment - one that didn't need pictures. I dipped, and then Joe sprinkled me and made me realize something. He pointed out that I had cut my hair the day before as if I was letting of the past, that it's symbolic, and he blessed me with a prayer for healing of my grief. I can't say I felt an immediate burden lift - but I definitely felt blessed in that moment. Then I dipped again.
As soon as my spine touched the water, another migraine started. Migraines are one of the things I hope to be healed from, but apparently today was not the day. I went back to the apartment for a quick nap, but it was time to load the bus to Amman. This was by far the most torturous bus ride I have ever taken. As we reached the crossing into Jordan, Anita worked a miracle. She brought me some oils and some lotion, and literally nursed me with them essential oil. I don't know the name of it but it almost immediately made me feel better! Thank you so much, Anita!!
The journey to Amman was eye-opening. This is a country I've never visited. Getting across the border was a process. We had to buy a ticket across, and then go through passport control, then board a bus that took us about half a mile. Then we had to pay an entry fee, and more passport control, then get our Visas. Then in chaos and craziness, we boarded the charter bus, and started toward Amman.
I had no idea how high we would climb to reach the airport. It took over 2 hours, winding down main highways that would be considered side roads in Oregon. The area is utterly beautiful! I know that pictures from a moving vehicle are hardly ever good pictures, but I hope you enjoy them anyway.
Tomorrow we board our planes back to America. We are coming into Chicago, and the weather doesn't seem great. We covet your prayers for getting home.
I am going to make one more appeal for assistance. I had my budget for this trip well planned, and tried to stay within it, but these extra flights and other expenses has pretty much blown that up. I could use your help, friends. Some of you have already blessed me, and I thank you so much, and I pray over each of you that Yehovah blesses those who bless the widow.
Below is the information to my Venmo, Cashapp, and Paypal. You can also reach out to me on Facebook Messenger. If you feel lead in your heart, I appeal to you to give. Thank you!
Venmo: @Rose-Treasure
Cashapp: $RoseTreasure42
Paypal: rose.treasure@outlook.com
I will post one more blog - about my adventures getting home from Jordan and about the flora and fauna of Israel - which I enjoyed so much!
Thank you so much for reading, my friends! I have been so blessed to write this. Shalom from Jordan!
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