We just finished our 10th season of excavation at Khirbet el-Maqatir (KeM). Our dig headquarters again this year (9 of those 10 years) has been at Moshav Yad Hashmona, run by Christian believers in the Holy Land.
A methane gas smell in my room caused me to change rooms. But the moshav was often full, so I had to keep moving – 6 rooms during my 12 nights. Traveling with only carry-on luggage – and some laundry help from my long-time friend, Suzanne – I survived with minimal real problems.
While we had Tuesday off, I needed to be at our dig site. As it turned out, I spent half the day at the site and the other half on the side of two different highways in two different vehicles. Driving out that morning in a rental car, I had my first traffic accident in Israel. No I wasn’t driving, but have a few symptoms for my chiropractic appointment at home next week.
Eventually, we got to the site where I worked with my long-time friend and truly world famous archaeological architect, Dr. Leen Ritmeyer. Together, we observed and discussed virtually everything we have excavated in our 10 years at KeM. It was very meaningful time for me.
Afterwards, we were picked up by a van with too many other passengers and I wound up on the floor of the luggage area in the back. It was a high volume West Bank traffic day and we spent 1 hour going 6 miles up and down hills. We burned out the clutch and sat another hour roadside waiting for help.
That was my day off! But we dug last week, too, and more about that in my next blog.
One day at a time,
Spiritual Life Director