Saying Goodbye to Israel and Heading Home . . .

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!