The Laughlins

We had a pretty low-key day yesterday. We decided to stay around the apartment since we were tired. I did a lot of stuff on the computer, including switching our primary email to markandaubrey@gmail.com and learning (by trial and error) how to make my own awesome website that will mainly be a photo gallery with a link to this current website (with all of my usual news). Anyways, it is a lot of work, and I felt like I was on the computer most of the day. I also finished "Lord of the Flies," which I never had to read in school (but everyone else seems to). I liked it a lot - a very good representation of our evil human nature and how social and/or moral pressures/laws give some stability to societies. It is also a whole lot of grace that keeps the world from looking like total chaos most of the time. Most people ask why God allows evil, but I thank Him that He supresses much of it, so that we can lead semi-normal lives. On that note, today was Shabbat, and we attended Jerusalem Assembly (where Mark has gone before). I liked it a lot, and we are planning on making it our "congregation" (as they say here is Israel). Meno, the pastor, is a very animated and amiable person. He did not preach today, but he translated the speaker into Hebrew, and watching him say in Hebrew what was said in English was a very fun experience (accompanied by all of his hand motions). One of the unique things about this congregation is that Meno preaches in both English and Hebrew - he translates himself in the same service (one service). This will also be very good for our Hebrew-speaking skills. It was fun to sing all of the songs in Hebrew. I am very musically-minded, so I am hoping to pick them up quickly. We met a number of new people today (mostly our age). A lot of them are just here for summer classes at Hebrew U, and then they will be heading home. However, we met and talked (for a while) to at least a half dozen singles that are regulars at the congregation, so they will be around. I have added a link to the Jerusalem Assembly on my links list (to the right), so you should check it out!