November 29, 1989

On this date the Hembd family became complete.

A few days before that we were trying to think of names. We didn't know if we would have a boy or a girl. We didn't have a girl's name picked out. I was considering Josiah Benjamin, but I wasn't completely sure of Benjamin. At the last minute Dad suggested Ebenezer -- "Hitherto hath the Lord helped us." And we had recently heard or read some excellent sermons by Ebenezer Erskine. So we named him Ebenezer Josiah and called him by his middle name for a number of years, until he decided he wanted to be called Ben. So Benjamin would have worked, too.

So that's the r-r-r-rest of the story!

(Until grandchildren.)

Ben, do you remember being attacked by a rooster when you were about 2?

Cheer Up

One way to cheer yourself up on a bad day--

Look for a cute puppy picture.

This was taken by Petr Kratochvil of the UK. I don't know how to get paypal to work or I'd buy him a cup of coffee.

Church of Saint John the Baptist

I was going to put pictures up, but it's not working. I'll try again tomorrow.

Church of the Visitation II

The best part of this place is all the Bible verses. The Magnificat in 70 different languages.

Swahili???


Vietnamese???


Portugese


Hebrew


Arabic??

Church of the Visitation

Mary and Elizabeth

Mary's Spring

As the story goes, Mary stopped to drink at this spring on the way to see Elizabeth. While we were there a man diligently washed his face and arms in the water, and then took off his shoes and socks and washed his feet. Trying to wash away his sins? The water is considered holy.

Part of a mosque remains, with this nice tower.

Ethiopian Church

From our class tour that we took way back.




I find these pictures interesting, not meaning that I actually like them, but they're interesting. However, when they are found inside a church, there is immediately a problem, and I think it's called idolatry. I edited one photo, because it had something that looked like angels at the top, and sometimes those are meant to be representations of the Father, Son, and Holy Spirit, which we know is forbidden.
I wonder who the little guy in blue is behind the big guy and what is that little creature between them. And who are the two guys on the wall in the background.


This could be Elijah getting fed by a raven. Who knows.



the "holy place" no caps because I disagree




Nice-looking drums.