Visit from Tal Gafni

Photo: Gate entrance to the Jerusalem Center. Tuesday Garth and I felt like little kids as we anticipated the visit of Tal Gafni from Arizona. Tal and Dan Gafni, dentists, bought our dental practice last year and we couldn't have asked for better dentists to step into the practice. They are a perfect fit and we are so proud of the changes they are making in a practice Garth worked hard to build for 40 years. Tal was here for his high school class reunion and was bringing one of his good friends who is a doctor in Tel Aviv. We sent Tal driving instructions and were hopeful he would find us at the Jerusalem Center. I kept looking out my office window hoping to see them when they arrived.

Photo: This is the entrance to the Jerusalem Center.

Photo: Everyone who comes to the Jerusalem Center has to pass through security and be approved to come in. We had previously notified security and these are the front doors of the center.

Photo: This is an unusual flowering bush outside our office window.

Photo: 2nd security check when entering the building.

Photo: Entry inside.

After hugs and happy greetings, we were anxious to show Tal and his friend the Jerusalem Center. Since it was lunchtime, we went to the Oasis.

Photo: This is a photo of the hallway on the 8th level where everyone comes when they enter the building. The Jerusalem Center is kept in pristine condition as staff of workers of all walks of life work hard to keep the grounds and interior clean. Every morning our little Muslim worker mops every inch of this hallway floor.

Photo: There are a couple of atriums off the 8th level before you go down the stairs.

Photo: Mosaic on the 8th floor.

We walked down from the 8th level to the 6th where the Oasis is located.

Photo: Looking out the window on the 6th floor.

Photo: Oasis where students have meals.

Photo: The salad bar has many choices.

After lunch, we went back up to the auditorium to show them the spectacular view of the city and to see the marvelous organ where I played some organ solos.

Photo: Panoramic view of the auditorium.

Photo: Looking out from the auditorium.

Photo: Outside the auditorium looking at the arches. Garth took them on a tour around the grounds.

Photo: Model of the Old City of Jerusalem. Surly the Magnificent of Turkey constructed the current wall which is around the Old City in 1528. Look closely and you can see the Temple Mount, the Dome of the Rock and the al-Aqsa Mosque. Jews believe the rock to be the very place where Abraham prepared to sacrifice Isaac. Muslims believe this is the location where Muhammed ascended into heaven and Christians also consider this to be a very sacred place.

Photo: "I'm taller than you, Garth."

Photo: "Look at our fabulous view! Can you see the Dome of the Rock?"

Photo: The roses are in bloom everywhere and add a special touch to the scenery.

Photo: White roses on deck at the Jerusalem Center.

Photo: Balcony off the Art Gallery, 8th level.

Photo: Stairway down.

Photo: The grounds are beautifully maintained.

Photo: Garden area.

Photo: Many levels of rose gardens.

Photo: Iris in bloom

Photo: Violets in bloom.

Photo: Very old olive tree (700 - 800 years old) on the grounds which was transplanted from the Galilee area.

Photo: Jerusalem Center known as the Mormon University in Israel. Looking back at this past year, the months flew as we prepared to come to Jerusalem for 18 months. We received our assignment as a service couple in July from BYU and were so excited! We'll never forget the night Garth signed the papers in his office to sell his practice and it was a great feeling to know that such capable young doctors would be stepping in and continuing with our same staff. We had the privilege of becoming better acquainted with the entire Gafni family during the summer. We invited their families, along with children and parents, to a barbecue dinner at our house. Now that twins have been added to Dan's family, we hope the Gafnis will have a huge portrait to replace the one we have in the waiting room.

In turn, their parents, Rafael and Amira, invited us to Shabbot dinner and it was wonderful! We never realized the work entailed in preparing a Shabbot dinner as Amira had been up very early and worked all day preparing their traditional Shabbot meal. We have grown to love the Gafnis so whenever we are together it's like being with our own extended family.

Photo: The Gafni family invited us to a delightful Shabbot dinner.

Photo: Finalizing the sale of Holyoak Family Dentistry. From the minute we met Tal and Dan, there was an immediate connection. Everything felt right and we felt we were meeting some old friends. God was certainly watching over all our families and we knew this would be a blessing to all of us. The frosting on the cake came when we received the following email: Kathy & Garth, We are the ones lucky enough to have walked into your life. We truly feel blessed and that this experience was guided by higher power. We can only hope to keep the practice in the same spirit and care you have given to it in the past 40 years. Garth, you will always have a place to come into when you feel like pulling a tooth and we insist that you keep stopping by and seeing the development even after you fully retire and after your adventures in Israel. Cheers, Tal Photo: Before they left, Tal took a "selfie" of the three stooges.

Photo: After spending a couple of hours with us, Tal sat down in my chair in the office and said, "I've decided to stay here!"