Thursday was a free day for us before leaving for our flight Thursday night. Some chose to take it easy or to do a little more sightseeing. Several of us made one last shopping trip. We found some things to stuff into our already-full suitcases and enjoyed spending the day together.
A little after 5 p.m., we gathered in the lobby of our hotel and moved our luggage onto the bus for the drive to the airport. We then boarded the bus and drove to a very nice Jerusalem restaurant called The Olive and Fish. We had a delicious dinner of traditional Israeli dishes and shared a wonderful time of fellowship together. After we had eaten, we boarded the bus for one final time. As we left Jerusalem, we again listened to "Jerusalem" playing on the sound system and took in our last look at this marvelous city. As we left the city, we looked back and saw Jerusalem on the hill awash in lights. It is in my heart forever! We arrived in Tel Aviv and checked in at Ben Gurion Airport. We cleared security and our flight departed Israel a little after midnight. Our flight was about 11 hours long, so we arrived in Newark around 6:30 or so in the morning. It was a little easier to sleep on this flight than it was going over. At Newark, we went through customs and everyone went their separate ways for the final leg of the journey. Betsy, Helen, Mary Ann and I arrived back in Shreveport around 5 p.m. Friday. It was a long day, but we had an unforgettable trip! Now, on to sorting pictures, taking care of things at home, and treasuring memories for a lifetime! God bless you, and I pray that someday you, too, can take your heart to Israel!
Saturday, March 27, 2010
Wednesday, March 24, 2010
Your Comments Please . . .
I have heard from some of you that you have not been able to post a comment. That is my fault and I am so sorry! I am new at this and finally figured out what I needed to do to make it easier for you to post a comment. So, now that it's fixed, I hope you will feel free to comment. Thanks so much for reading and traveling along with me! God Bless You!
Saving the Best for Last . . .
Today, Wednesday, is our final day of touring, and we began by going back to the earliest days when Canaanites, and Jebusites in particular, controlled the site of Jerusalem. We started with a visit to the ancient City of David, which has a lookout deck to see the entire surrounding area. Our guide pointed out the spring of Gihon and the original Pool of Siloam, which has only recently been excavated. We have visited the heights and depths of Jerusalem! From the lookout point on Mt. Zion, we descended into a 4,000 year old tunnel built by the Canaanites. Jerusalem is a city built of stone -- a combination of old and new. From the tunnel, we walked the short distance to the home of Caiaphas, where Peter stood in the courtyard and denied the Lord Jesus. Caiaphas' house faces the Mount of Olives and the Garden of Gethsemane. They have excavated rooms for purification rites, as well as a dungeon where Jesus would have been held. Karen taught us at this site and contrasted the character of Peter with that of the Lord Jesus.
From Caiaphas' house we walked to the site of the Upper Room where the Last Supper was thought to have been held and also the room where the disciples and followers of Jesus were wiating for Pentecost. A Catholic church has been built over the site, but it is still most likely the location of the room. Karen shared another wonderful teaching time with us in the Upper Room location. This teaching was called "Behold the Lamb", and 3 of the ladies on our tour sang "Behold the Lamb" at the conclusion of the teaching time.
By this time, we were getting tired, as we had walked all morning with only brief stops here and there. Someone spied an ice cream stand, and before long the whole group was giving the shopkeeper a booming business! Today was one of our warmest days (mid-70s), so the ice cream was quite refreshing. We then walked back to our bus, and we were taken back down to the Temple Mount area for a time of shopping and lunch.
At 3:30, we drove outside the city gate to Calvary. There have been various ideas through the ages as to where Jesus was crucified. Once a person sees the cliff known as "Skull Hill", it is obvious that this must be the site. The mountain is a quarry, and there is no mistaking the skull eyes, nose, and mouth. Sadly, this cliff hangs over a present-day bus stop. As buses came and went, horns honking, and people coming and going, I was reminded how like our world today this is! Countless people live their lives oblivious to the sacrifice that the Lord Jesus Christ made for them. They are caught up in the busyness and the emptiness and miss the Savior Who was right there all along. From the view of Calvary, we walked a short way through a lush, green garden. Soon, we arrived at what is believed to have been Jesus' tomb. The tomb is a part of the same quarry system as Calvary. Again, this site is so obviously the right one. It meets every criteria of the Biblical definition of the tomb of Jesus. It was outside the city walls, and it was a Jewish tomb with a "rolling stone" opening. In front of the entrance to the tomb was a channel used for rolling the stone into place. This tomb is known to be at least 2000 years old. It is located on Mt. Moriah and was buried in the ground for hundreds of years before being excavated in the 1800s. The garden area in front of the tomb was found to have an underground water system and a winepress, both at least 2000 years old. The water system and winepress indicate that the garden had to be owned by a wealthy person like Joseph of Arimathea. We were ushered to a quiet enclave in the garden, where Karen gave our final teaching time of the trip, "A Place of Remembrance". We concluded this special time with communion of matzah bread and grape juice served in olive wood cups which we were given as a special remembrance of our time at the garden tomb. After we sang some hymns, we walked over to the tomb itself and went in, a few at a time. It looked as I had imagined it might. When the tomb was excavated in the 1800s, there were some Crusader artifacts in it, but there was no evidence of human remains or that a body or bodies had ever decayed in the tomb. The tomb is empty -- He is risen! That is the best news of all!
From Caiaphas' house we walked to the site of the Upper Room where the Last Supper was thought to have been held and also the room where the disciples and followers of Jesus were wiating for Pentecost. A Catholic church has been built over the site, but it is still most likely the location of the room. Karen shared another wonderful teaching time with us in the Upper Room location. This teaching was called "Behold the Lamb", and 3 of the ladies on our tour sang "Behold the Lamb" at the conclusion of the teaching time.
By this time, we were getting tired, as we had walked all morning with only brief stops here and there. Someone spied an ice cream stand, and before long the whole group was giving the shopkeeper a booming business! Today was one of our warmest days (mid-70s), so the ice cream was quite refreshing. We then walked back to our bus, and we were taken back down to the Temple Mount area for a time of shopping and lunch.
At 3:30, we drove outside the city gate to Calvary. There have been various ideas through the ages as to where Jesus was crucified. Once a person sees the cliff known as "Skull Hill", it is obvious that this must be the site. The mountain is a quarry, and there is no mistaking the skull eyes, nose, and mouth. Sadly, this cliff hangs over a present-day bus stop. As buses came and went, horns honking, and people coming and going, I was reminded how like our world today this is! Countless people live their lives oblivious to the sacrifice that the Lord Jesus Christ made for them. They are caught up in the busyness and the emptiness and miss the Savior Who was right there all along. From the view of Calvary, we walked a short way through a lush, green garden. Soon, we arrived at what is believed to have been Jesus' tomb. The tomb is a part of the same quarry system as Calvary. Again, this site is so obviously the right one. It meets every criteria of the Biblical definition of the tomb of Jesus. It was outside the city walls, and it was a Jewish tomb with a "rolling stone" opening. In front of the entrance to the tomb was a channel used for rolling the stone into place. This tomb is known to be at least 2000 years old. It is located on Mt. Moriah and was buried in the ground for hundreds of years before being excavated in the 1800s. The garden area in front of the tomb was found to have an underground water system and a winepress, both at least 2000 years old. The water system and winepress indicate that the garden had to be owned by a wealthy person like Joseph of Arimathea. We were ushered to a quiet enclave in the garden, where Karen gave our final teaching time of the trip, "A Place of Remembrance". We concluded this special time with communion of matzah bread and grape juice served in olive wood cups which we were given as a special remembrance of our time at the garden tomb. After we sang some hymns, we walked over to the tomb itself and went in, a few at a time. It looked as I had imagined it might. When the tomb was excavated in the 1800s, there were some Crusader artifacts in it, but there was no evidence of human remains or that a body or bodies had ever decayed in the tomb. The tomb is empty -- He is risen! That is the best news of all!
Tuesday, March 23, 2010
In the Old City and the Land of the Philistines . . .
Monday morning began with a trip to the Old City and a walking tour as our guide taught us about the old wall and pointed out some of the gates. We then moved along to the Pool of Bethesda, where Karen taught us from John 5 about the healing of the man who was crippled for 38 years. We were challenged to think about what is paralyzing us, and where God is telling us to get up and walk with Him. Afterwards, we walked over to Saint Anne's Church and sang hymns with another group of tourists who were there.
Our guide took us over to the Broad Wall excavation site -- a wall that dates back to the first Temple era, from 1000 to 586 B.C. He said that when they began to excavate under the Jewish quarter of the Old City, they found a "walking" museum -- they are just beginning to uncover many more archaeological treasures! We next visited the Temple Institute, which was established in 1988. The purpose of the Institute is to prepare everything for the Third Temple. The Jews want to be ready to rebuild the Temple when their Messiah comes. Sadly, they do not realize that He has come and that His Name is Jesus. It gave me goosebumps to see all that they have made ready and to hear of their plans. We saw the Table of Showbread and the Menorah, both made to the exact specifications that God gave to Moses on Mt. Sinai as recorded in Exodus. The Jews at the Institute have 72 of the 93 vessels ready for the Temple, and they have begun work on the priests' clothing. After lunch, we visited the Western Wall, perhaps better known as the Wailing Wall. There were many bar mitzvahs being held, as Monday is the traditional day for them. Our day ended with a fascinating tour of the underground tunnels below the Western Wall of the Temple Mount. It was unbelievable how they twist and turn all around, and there was even an aqueduct system under the wall!
After a packed day, we walked from our hotel a few blocks to a restaurant for dinner. Our hotel was preparing for Passover, so they had to get rid of all of their leaven and were unable to prepare a meal for us. We all really enjoyed the restaurant. It was a 3-course meal: appetizers of pita bread with make-your-own fillings of vegetables and sauces, main course of chicken kabobs and a chopped steak type of dish made with lamb, and baklava for dessert. Afterwards, we walked to a very nice avenue of shops and browsed with some of the other people on our tour.
Tuesday morning arrived bright and early, and we headed back to the Old City, this time to the Southern Wall. Haim, our guide, pointed out to us a street that has been excavated and dates back to Jesus' day and Herod's Temple. Jesus prophesied in Mark 13:2 that "not one stone will be left on another; everyone will be thrown down". We saw for ourselves that that was exactly what happened in A.D. 70 when the Romans destroyed the Temple. Our guide pointed out massive stones that had once been at the very top of the Temple that were now even with the street. Karen gave a powerful lesson on being "living stones" as we sat on the Southern Steps of the Temple. These steps are the very ones which Jesus would have used and are the location of His teachings to the common people of His day.
We then left the Old City and took the bus out to the countryside around Jerusalem. We followed the path of the Ark of the Covenant when it had been stolen by the Philistines as we visited Kiriath Jearim (I Samuel 6:-7) and Beth Shemesh (II Samuel 6). The last teaching time of today was held in the Valley of Elah by the now-dry creekbed where David found his stones to kill Goliath. We then returned to the city for a picnic lunch. Afterwards, it was museum time. We saw a to-scale replica of the city of Jerusaelem at the time of Herod, the Dead Sea Scrolls, and the Holocaust Museum.
Tonight, we again had dinner at a restaurant and will start out again tomorrow for our last full day of sightseeing in Jerusalem.
Our guide took us over to the Broad Wall excavation site -- a wall that dates back to the first Temple era, from 1000 to 586 B.C. He said that when they began to excavate under the Jewish quarter of the Old City, they found a "walking" museum -- they are just beginning to uncover many more archaeological treasures! We next visited the Temple Institute, which was established in 1988. The purpose of the Institute is to prepare everything for the Third Temple. The Jews want to be ready to rebuild the Temple when their Messiah comes. Sadly, they do not realize that He has come and that His Name is Jesus. It gave me goosebumps to see all that they have made ready and to hear of their plans. We saw the Table of Showbread and the Menorah, both made to the exact specifications that God gave to Moses on Mt. Sinai as recorded in Exodus. The Jews at the Institute have 72 of the 93 vessels ready for the Temple, and they have begun work on the priests' clothing. After lunch, we visited the Western Wall, perhaps better known as the Wailing Wall. There were many bar mitzvahs being held, as Monday is the traditional day for them. Our day ended with a fascinating tour of the underground tunnels below the Western Wall of the Temple Mount. It was unbelievable how they twist and turn all around, and there was even an aqueduct system under the wall!
After a packed day, we walked from our hotel a few blocks to a restaurant for dinner. Our hotel was preparing for Passover, so they had to get rid of all of their leaven and were unable to prepare a meal for us. We all really enjoyed the restaurant. It was a 3-course meal: appetizers of pita bread with make-your-own fillings of vegetables and sauces, main course of chicken kabobs and a chopped steak type of dish made with lamb, and baklava for dessert. Afterwards, we walked to a very nice avenue of shops and browsed with some of the other people on our tour.
Tuesday morning arrived bright and early, and we headed back to the Old City, this time to the Southern Wall. Haim, our guide, pointed out to us a street that has been excavated and dates back to Jesus' day and Herod's Temple. Jesus prophesied in Mark 13:2 that "not one stone will be left on another; everyone will be thrown down". We saw for ourselves that that was exactly what happened in A.D. 70 when the Romans destroyed the Temple. Our guide pointed out massive stones that had once been at the very top of the Temple that were now even with the street. Karen gave a powerful lesson on being "living stones" as we sat on the Southern Steps of the Temple. These steps are the very ones which Jesus would have used and are the location of His teachings to the common people of His day.
We then left the Old City and took the bus out to the countryside around Jerusalem. We followed the path of the Ark of the Covenant when it had been stolen by the Philistines as we visited Kiriath Jearim (I Samuel 6:-7) and Beth Shemesh (II Samuel 6). The last teaching time of today was held in the Valley of Elah by the now-dry creekbed where David found his stones to kill Goliath. We then returned to the city for a picnic lunch. Afterwards, it was museum time. We saw a to-scale replica of the city of Jerusaelem at the time of Herod, the Dead Sea Scrolls, and the Holocaust Museum.
Tonight, we again had dinner at a restaurant and will start out again tomorrow for our last full day of sightseeing in Jerusalem.
Sunday, March 21, 2010
Jerusalem . . .
What an unforgettable day this has been! We left our hotel at the Dead Sea early this morning and began the journey to Jerusalem. The weather has been gorgeous every day, and today was no exception with a cloudless blue sky and a cool breeze greeting us this morning. We made our first stop near Jericho at a Bedouin store and then began our ascent to Jerusalem. From any direction, one must always go "up" to Jerusalem. As we got closer, several of our group members took turns reading the Psalms of Ascents, beginning with Psalm 120. We read through Psalm 126, and then it was time to start watching for Jerusalem. We drove past Bethany, and I knew we were getting close. We went through a checkpoint and then entered a tunnel. When we came out the other end of the tunnel, there was Jerusalem! The song "Jerusalem" was playing on the cd player in the bus, and we all joined in and sang as we took in the beautiful City of God. I will always remember the emotion of that moment! Our Israeli guide, Haim, shared with us a Hebrew blessing that is said any time a person enters Jerusalem for the first time or after a long absence: "Thank You, LORD, for letting me live to see this moment." That is exactly how I felt. It was awesome!
Our first stop was the Hebrew University where we were able to sit and look out over Jerusalem, hear a brief history of the city, and get our bearings. Afterwards, we walked down Palm Sunday Road, the narrow, descending road that Jesus used to enter Jerusalem at the beginning of Passover week 2000 years ago. We had to hold on to the rail and walk single file, because the ancient stones have been worn so smooth that they are as slippery as glass. We stopped at a 3,000 year old Jewish cemetery which faces the Eastern Gate of the Old City Wall. The Muslims have shut this gate and have their own cemetery outside the gate. They know that Messiah is supposed to enter Jerusalem through the Eastern Gate, so they have done everything they can think of to keep Him out. But nothing will be able to keep Jesus from entering that gate when He returns!
We then walked a little farther down the Palm Sunday Road to Gethsemane on the Mount of Olives. This was one of the most special times on our trip. Karen presented a teaching time there in the Garden, and then we were invited to spend time alone with God among the olive trees. To kneel to pray in the place where Jesus had so often gone and where He sought time with His Father before He was arrested was overwhelming. Some of the trees in Gethsemane are over 2500 years old, so they were there when Jesus was.
We boarded the bus, and everyone was quiet and reflective as we drove to a kibbutz for lunch. After lunch we visited the Shepherds' Fields of Bethlehem. You can still see where the shepherds would have been watching their flocks the night of Jesus' birth, and, in fact, several shepherds came through the area while we were listening to Karen's teaching. As we listened to the recounting of God's wonderful announcement of Christ's birth, we were reminded of the over 200 Old Testament prophecies which were fulfilled in Jesus Christ. Just as the angels announced the birth of the Messiah, believers today are to be God's spokespersons for the Gospel.
We then went to the city of Bethlehem, which is under Palestinian authority. We had to change buses and guides, as our Israeli bus, driver, and guide were not allowed to cross the border. It was a different world on the Palestinian side! We visited the Church of the Nativity and shopped at a store that is run by Arab Christians. After leaving Bethlehem, we drove to our hotel, the Leonardo Plaza. We enjoyed a delicous dinner tonight and will sleep well after such a busy and exciting day!
Tomorrow we will go into the Old City. I still can't believe I am here!
Our first stop was the Hebrew University where we were able to sit and look out over Jerusalem, hear a brief history of the city, and get our bearings. Afterwards, we walked down Palm Sunday Road, the narrow, descending road that Jesus used to enter Jerusalem at the beginning of Passover week 2000 years ago. We had to hold on to the rail and walk single file, because the ancient stones have been worn so smooth that they are as slippery as glass. We stopped at a 3,000 year old Jewish cemetery which faces the Eastern Gate of the Old City Wall. The Muslims have shut this gate and have their own cemetery outside the gate. They know that Messiah is supposed to enter Jerusalem through the Eastern Gate, so they have done everything they can think of to keep Him out. But nothing will be able to keep Jesus from entering that gate when He returns!
We then walked a little farther down the Palm Sunday Road to Gethsemane on the Mount of Olives. This was one of the most special times on our trip. Karen presented a teaching time there in the Garden, and then we were invited to spend time alone with God among the olive trees. To kneel to pray in the place where Jesus had so often gone and where He sought time with His Father before He was arrested was overwhelming. Some of the trees in Gethsemane are over 2500 years old, so they were there when Jesus was.
We boarded the bus, and everyone was quiet and reflective as we drove to a kibbutz for lunch. After lunch we visited the Shepherds' Fields of Bethlehem. You can still see where the shepherds would have been watching their flocks the night of Jesus' birth, and, in fact, several shepherds came through the area while we were listening to Karen's teaching. As we listened to the recounting of God's wonderful announcement of Christ's birth, we were reminded of the over 200 Old Testament prophecies which were fulfilled in Jesus Christ. Just as the angels announced the birth of the Messiah, believers today are to be God's spokespersons for the Gospel.
We then went to the city of Bethlehem, which is under Palestinian authority. We had to change buses and guides, as our Israeli bus, driver, and guide were not allowed to cross the border. It was a different world on the Palestinian side! We visited the Church of the Nativity and shopped at a store that is run by Arab Christians. After leaving Bethlehem, we drove to our hotel, the Leonardo Plaza. We enjoyed a delicous dinner tonight and will sleep well after such a busy and exciting day!
Tomorrow we will go into the Old City. I still can't believe I am here!
Saturday, March 20, 2010
Hidden Cities and Hiding Places . . .
Friday, we started the day with a visit to Beth Shan, the most magnificent archaeological site in Israel, located at the juncture of the Jezreel and Jordan valleys. It was a city of the Canaanites and where the Philistines displayed the headless bodies of King Saul, Jonathan, and two other sons of Saul. It was just in the last 18 years that excavation of this site has been done, and the only thing that was visible when they began was the top of a column that was sticking out of the ground. This is a massive excavated site, and it is estimated that only 10% of the city has been uncovered. There is so much of it, that you can easily imagine what life would have been like there. The population at its height was around 20,000. The city was destroyed by an earthquake in AD 749. The huge columns were found toppled over, just as they had fallen in the earthquake.
From there, we crossed into the West Bank and saw Mt. Nebo from a distance, where Moses had stood to see the Promised Land he would never enter and where God Himself buried Moses. We then visited En Gedi, a ruggedly beautiful oasis in the desert with many streams, waterfalls, and wildlife. This was the place where David hid from Saul: "You are my hiding place; you will protect me from trouble and surround me with songs of deliverance." (Psalm 32:7)
Because we spent a good portion of the day in the bus, Karen and Carole (our tour leaders) encouraged each of us to share our "To God Be the Glory" story of how God brought us to be on this trip. Some were lighthearted, others very moving, but all revealed the sovereignty of God in bringing each one to this place at this time.
Friday evening, we enjoyed a wonderful Shabbat dinner at our hotel. The foods are different here but delicious! We are having so much fun trying the exotic dishes as well as getting to know the others in our group.
Today is Saturday, the Sabbath in Israel, so not many sites are open. We went to Masada and spent about half the day there. Words fail me in trying to describe this place! It is a demonstration of Herod's indulgence with no regard for man or beast in building it (Herod himself never even visited it!), but it also is a monument to the Jews who chose to die at their own hands as free people rather than be slaughtered or enslaved by the Romans.
This afternoon, we floated in the Dead Sea, which is an experience in and of itself! It is very strange to see a huge body of water which is so beautful and yet so desolate. There are no docks or ports, no boats, no fishing piers, nothing that indicates life. Incredible!
In the morning, we will travel to Jerusalem. I can only imagine what it will be like to enter God's Holy City -- "But now I have chosen Jerusalem for My Name to be there . . . " (II Chronicles 6:6)
From there, we crossed into the West Bank and saw Mt. Nebo from a distance, where Moses had stood to see the Promised Land he would never enter and where God Himself buried Moses. We then visited En Gedi, a ruggedly beautiful oasis in the desert with many streams, waterfalls, and wildlife. This was the place where David hid from Saul: "You are my hiding place; you will protect me from trouble and surround me with songs of deliverance." (Psalm 32:7)
Because we spent a good portion of the day in the bus, Karen and Carole (our tour leaders) encouraged each of us to share our "To God Be the Glory" story of how God brought us to be on this trip. Some were lighthearted, others very moving, but all revealed the sovereignty of God in bringing each one to this place at this time.
Friday evening, we enjoyed a wonderful Shabbat dinner at our hotel. The foods are different here but delicious! We are having so much fun trying the exotic dishes as well as getting to know the others in our group.
Today is Saturday, the Sabbath in Israel, so not many sites are open. We went to Masada and spent about half the day there. Words fail me in trying to describe this place! It is a demonstration of Herod's indulgence with no regard for man or beast in building it (Herod himself never even visited it!), but it also is a monument to the Jews who chose to die at their own hands as free people rather than be slaughtered or enslaved by the Romans.
This afternoon, we floated in the Dead Sea, which is an experience in and of itself! It is very strange to see a huge body of water which is so beautful and yet so desolate. There are no docks or ports, no boats, no fishing piers, nothing that indicates life. Incredible!
In the morning, we will travel to Jerusalem. I can only imagine what it will be like to enter God's Holy City -- "But now I have chosen Jerusalem for My Name to be there . . . " (II Chronicles 6:6)
Thursday, March 18, 2010
All around Galilee . . .
We completely circled the Sea of Galilee today. We started this morning from Tiberias, where we are staying, and headed north to Tabgha, the site of the feeding of the 5,000. We visited the Church of the First Feeding of the Multitudes which houses a rock that was believed to have marked the place where Jesus fed the 5,000. Afterwards, we traveled a short distance to the shoreline where the events of John 21 took place. This location is known as the Place of Peter's Primacy. Karen presented a wonderful lesson on reunion and recommitment and challenged us to consider how much we love Jesus --- more than "these"? "These" can be whatever we give importance in our lives above Jesus Christ. It was very convicting and thought-provoking!
We returned to the bus and traveled on to the Mount of Beatitudes for another teaching time. The Mount of Beatitudes is a mountainside that is an acoustically perfect natural amphitheater. We eagerly look forward to the teaching times each day.
Our next stop was Capernaum, a town where Jesus spent much of His time here on earth. We saw the ruins of the synagogue, the base of which dates back to Jesus' day and the excavated house where Simon Peter lived! They are 99.9% sure that this is Peter's house, as his name was written in the stone walls in several places and they also found fish hooks and other fishing instruments in and around it, all dating back to the 1st century. Can you believe we saw all of this before lunch??
Lunch today was a delicious fish meal on Galilee, and afterwards we rode in a boat out on the sea. That was one of the highlights of the trip so far! Our group sang as we rode along and had a special time of worship and prayer out in the middle of the Galilee. Awesome!! Our day trip concluded with a stop at the Jordan River on the south side of Galilee and a baptism of several people in our group. A pastor on our tour baptized about 6 people with our group. That was a special time, and then we returned to our hotel for dinner.
We returned to the bus and traveled on to the Mount of Beatitudes for another teaching time. The Mount of Beatitudes is a mountainside that is an acoustically perfect natural amphitheater. We eagerly look forward to the teaching times each day.
Our next stop was Capernaum, a town where Jesus spent much of His time here on earth. We saw the ruins of the synagogue, the base of which dates back to Jesus' day and the excavated house where Simon Peter lived! They are 99.9% sure that this is Peter's house, as his name was written in the stone walls in several places and they also found fish hooks and other fishing instruments in and around it, all dating back to the 1st century. Can you believe we saw all of this before lunch??
Lunch today was a delicious fish meal on Galilee, and afterwards we rode in a boat out on the sea. That was one of the highlights of the trip so far! Our group sang as we rode along and had a special time of worship and prayer out in the middle of the Galilee. Awesome!! Our day trip concluded with a stop at the Jordan River on the south side of Galilee and a baptism of several people in our group. A pastor on our tour baptized about 6 people with our group. That was a special time, and then we returned to our hotel for dinner.
A Day in Galilee
After a bountiful breakfast at our wonderful hotel, we loaded up our bus and headed to a kibbutz which houses the Ancient Boat Museum. A fisherman's boat, determined to have been from the time of Jesus, was excavated from the bottom of the Sea of Galilee. The incredible story of how they found it, preserved it in moving it from its waterlogged state to now on display in the museum, was told in a movie that we watched. This is the only boat from that era that has ever been discovered. It is fascinating to think that it may have been one belonging to a disciple or perhaps even one in which Jesus rode!
We then headed to Cana, where we visited the site of Jesus' first miracle, turning the water to wine. Karen led a Bible teaching on Jewish wedding customs and their spiritual application to believers today. We left Cana and traveled to Nazareth, where we visited a replica of a typical village in Jesus' day. It is a working village, and we had a great guide who made several of Jesus' parables come alive as they were set in the times in which He lived.
By this time, we were ready for lunch! We stopped at a buffet-type restaurant and then headed on to Megiddo through the Valley of Jezreel. Megiddo is a tell (archaelogical site) with 20 levels of civilizations built on top of one another, the largest tell ever discovered in the world. We descended into a 2600 year old cistern (now that was scary!) and visited the excavation site where Solomon's horses were kept. Solomon had rebuilt Megiddo during his reign and made it one of his chariot cities. We then returned to our hotel in Tiberias (Scots Hotel) and after dinner enjoyed a multi-media presentation of the Galilee Experience.
Tomorrow holds the promise of more touring in Galilee, including visiting Capernaum and the site of the feeding of the 5000. It is incredible to think that we are walking where Jesus walked and seeing things that, in some ways, have changed very little since He was here on earth!
We then headed to Cana, where we visited the site of Jesus' first miracle, turning the water to wine. Karen led a Bible teaching on Jewish wedding customs and their spiritual application to believers today. We left Cana and traveled to Nazareth, where we visited a replica of a typical village in Jesus' day. It is a working village, and we had a great guide who made several of Jesus' parables come alive as they were set in the times in which He lived.
By this time, we were ready for lunch! We stopped at a buffet-type restaurant and then headed on to Megiddo through the Valley of Jezreel. Megiddo is a tell (archaelogical site) with 20 levels of civilizations built on top of one another, the largest tell ever discovered in the world. We descended into a 2600 year old cistern (now that was scary!) and visited the excavation site where Solomon's horses were kept. Solomon had rebuilt Megiddo during his reign and made it one of his chariot cities. We then returned to our hotel in Tiberias (Scots Hotel) and after dinner enjoyed a multi-media presentation of the Galilee Experience.
Tomorrow holds the promise of more touring in Galilee, including visiting Capernaum and the site of the feeding of the 5000. It is incredible to think that we are walking where Jesus walked and seeing things that, in some ways, have changed very little since He was here on earth!
Tuesday, March 16, 2010
While you were sleeping . . .
. . . we were landing in Tel Aviv this morning at 7:30 in Israel. (That's 12:30 a.m. in Texas.) We shared the flight with about 600 other people, and we had excellent service. The toughest part was trying to sleep in our seats, and we didn't do a very good job with that. We saw the sun come up over the Mediterranean prior to landing -- a beautiful sight!
Once we landed, we immediately boarded our tour bus and drove through Tel Aviv, stopping in old Jaffa (Joppa). This is a beautiful seaport, and we stopped at the place that is believed to be the home of Simon the Tanner for a reading of Acts 10:1-23 before driving on to Caesarea for the rest of the story.
Caesarea is amazing in its beauty and the theaters that have been excavated there. Today, as we visited, the winds were high and the waves of the sea were crashing against the wall. We sat in the 2,000 year old excavated theatre which held around 2500 people and learned that this was very probably the site where Paul was brought before King Agrippa in Acts 25-26. When Jerusalem fell in A.D. 70, the Jews were dispersed throughout the world from this seaport. We are enjoying Karen's wonderful teaching and the helpful information shared by our Israeli guide, Haim.
After leaving Caesarea, we continued driving north to Mt. Carmel, the site of Elijah's face-off with the prophets of Baal, as described in I Kings 18. The weather was perfect for us to see for miles and miles. One can see much of the entire land of Israel from the top of Mt. Carmel. We have been amazed at how green everything is and how lush the vegetation!
Once we left Mt. Carmel, we drove on to Tiberias, where we will stay for the next 3 nights. It is awesome to round a bend in the road and see the Sea of Galilee ahead with the Golan Heights on the other side, pink in the setting sun! Tomorrow, we head to Cana, Nazareth Village, and another full day of seeing everything we can! For now, though, it's time to try to get some sleep and not let jet lag win the battle!
Once we landed, we immediately boarded our tour bus and drove through Tel Aviv, stopping in old Jaffa (Joppa). This is a beautiful seaport, and we stopped at the place that is believed to be the home of Simon the Tanner for a reading of Acts 10:1-23 before driving on to Caesarea for the rest of the story.
Caesarea is amazing in its beauty and the theaters that have been excavated there. Today, as we visited, the winds were high and the waves of the sea were crashing against the wall. We sat in the 2,000 year old excavated theatre which held around 2500 people and learned that this was very probably the site where Paul was brought before King Agrippa in Acts 25-26. When Jerusalem fell in A.D. 70, the Jews were dispersed throughout the world from this seaport. We are enjoying Karen's wonderful teaching and the helpful information shared by our Israeli guide, Haim.
After leaving Caesarea, we continued driving north to Mt. Carmel, the site of Elijah's face-off with the prophets of Baal, as described in I Kings 18. The weather was perfect for us to see for miles and miles. One can see much of the entire land of Israel from the top of Mt. Carmel. We have been amazed at how green everything is and how lush the vegetation!
Once we left Mt. Carmel, we drove on to Tiberias, where we will stay for the next 3 nights. It is awesome to round a bend in the road and see the Sea of Galilee ahead with the Golan Heights on the other side, pink in the setting sun! Tomorrow, we head to Cana, Nazareth Village, and another full day of seeing everything we can! For now, though, it's time to try to get some sleep and not let jet lag win the battle!
Monday, March 15, 2010
Getting closer . . .
Betsy,Mary Ann, Helen & I flew out of Shreveport with beautiful weather on Sunday. We got to Memphis and everything was going great until they announced a 2-hour delay for our flight to Newark, NJ. Newark and the NE were hit with hurricane-force winds, knocking out power to hundreds of thousands and causing all kinds of delays and cancellations at the airports in the NYC area. We sat dejectedly at the gate in Memphis thinking about our projected 1:00 a.m. arrival into Newark. However, things quickly turned around and our departure time was moved up until all of a sudden they announced we were ready to depart at 7:30! YEA!! Arrived safely in Newark, got a cab to the hotel, and now we are in the lobby of the hotel waiting for our tour group to gather. We will leave here at 10:00 a.m. for the airport and a 3-hour security check-in. We are flying El Al Airlines, the Israeli airline, probably the safest in the world but renown for their intense and complete security procedures. Flight today leaves at 2:30 p.m. EDT and will arrive in Tel Aviv at 6:55 a.m. Tuesday, Israeli time, about 11 hours flight time.
Will post as I can but hope you have a great day. Thanks for checking in!
Will post as I can but hope you have a great day. Thanks for checking in!
Sunday, March 7, 2010
getting acquainted & packed!
Betty, one of the 6 ladies going on the trip from Longview, invited the rest of us to her house Friday afternoon to get acquainted. The conversation quickly turned to packing and what we need to take. It is going to be a challenge to get everything in one suitcase and a carryon, but I think we can do it! We have a fun group, and I know we are going to make some wonderful friends when we join all the travelers in Newark. Now, better get back to packing . . .
Wednesday, March 3, 2010
checking off my "Bucket List" . . .
I can hardly believe that in 11 more days I will be leaving on a trip of a lifetime! I have always wanted to go to Israel, but it seemed like a far-off dream: other things seemed more pressing, the money was needed for other things, or it just wasn't the right time. But my friend, Karen, has gently encouraged me for several years to accompany her to Israel on one of her trips. Late last summer and early fall, God began to impress upon me that NOW is the time! Life will slip by if we aren't careful, and this trip at this time is His plan for me! My husband, Mark, was very supportive and encouraging in my desire to go, but he knew that he would be unable to make the trip. I needed a roommate!
After praying about the matter, God led me to ask my dear friend, Betsy, to go with me. She was excited about the prospect of making this journey, but she had several details that would need to fall into place for her to go. One by one, the details came together, and we mailed in our deposits!
There are 6 of us going from Longview, and we are all so excited! I am sure this will be a life-changing experience. Israel, you have been on my "bucket list" for many years, and Israel, here I come!
After praying about the matter, God led me to ask my dear friend, Betsy, to go with me. She was excited about the prospect of making this journey, but she had several details that would need to fall into place for her to go. One by one, the details came together, and we mailed in our deposits!
There are 6 of us going from Longview, and we are all so excited! I am sure this will be a life-changing experience. Israel, you have been on my "bucket list" for many years, and Israel, here I come!
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