It's 2:03 AM and we are finally in the comforts of home.  Of course our internal clocks are out of whack...they think it's about 1 PM Israeli time.  Curt & I, along with Caleb & Ashlie and Erik, left Newark, NJ on an earlier flight than the rest of the gang.  Our flight was delayed a bit in Newark and then we were off to Houston...go figure...NJ to Houston to KC??!?!  We were scheduled to get in about 2 hours after the rest of the gang.

We got to Houston and had a sprint to our flight to KC.  We were at terminal E gate 2...we needed to be at terminal B gate 70 and had about 15 minutes to do so.  Erik and the Zahnds ran ahead and I tried to go just as fast as I could...but it wasn't easy with my blisters and all.  Finally we went down the last escalator in Terminal B and saw a cart.  I asked her if she could take us to gate 70 and she said yes!  Thank God she drove quickly...we were the last 2 on the flight to KC...and then the flight attendant nagged at us to hurry and take our seats, "We're already late taking off!"  So we hurried...only to sit there on the tarmac for another 15 minutes before the plane left the gate - WHATEVER!! 

When we got to KC our ride was there...thanks Linda!  AND all of the other pilgrims who were suppose to be there 2 hours earlier.  Turns out the weather turned bad in Newark and instead of them having a 4 hr layover...it turned into 6 hours!  It was nice though seeing them back safely too!

So now, I'm gonna try to lay down and go asleep.  I don't think it will be too much work...or at least I hope!  We're leaving for Curt's brother's in the morning for Turkey Dinner in Manhattan, KS...then leave that afternoon for Tulsa, OK to see my Dad's family.  It will be the first time in almost 10 yrs that all of us siblings (my brother & 3 step-sistas) will have been together all at the same time!  We'll have another TurkeyFest on Friday in Pryor, OK with my dad's brother, my Uncle Howard and his wife Janet, and MANY cousins, Aunt Willene and Aunt Ginny!  I think there's suppose to be 75 of us total!!  It will be a good shin-dig!  With PLENTY of food!

Happy Thanksgiving everyone!!  Thank you for your prayers while we were in Israel.  The trip was soooo awesome!

It's with great sadness that I write tonight.  In some ways I want to go back home to St. Joe...but in so many other ways, I want to stay here.  Coming to Israel really is like a homecoming...everyone is at home here!  I definitely feel as if I'm leaving a piece of me here.  I have so much running through my mind...so many things to chew on and process...I don't even know where to start.  Where I really need to start is PACKING!  Ugh!  How did we accumulate so much STUFF!!  I still have to pack and it's almost midnight here.  AND we're getting up at 5 AM so that our bags are by our doors by 5:45!! or maybe it's 6:45...I can't remember!

I just spent the last hour and a half talking to Nabeel down in the jewelry store in the basement of our hotel.  It started out just as a friendly conversation and then moved to deeper topics such as politics and religion.  I just started off browsing...thinking I "might" need another piece of jewelry to take home! SMILE!  Then we began to talk about business and his hopes of someday having his own store (he works for his brother & his father has many stores).  He shared his concerns and worries...and I encouraged him to go where the peace is...when there is no peace, God's not there.  And that when the time is right, just like Abraham took steps of faith, he too would be ready and able to step out in faith too.  I was fortunate to share my testimony of starting my own business and how God has blessed me and guided me along the way. 

After awhile he asked me if I was a born again Christian and what that meant and are all Christians born again??  I was praying in my head, "Please Lord, give me the right words to say!!"  I found out that he is Muslim.  He asked me if I heard God speak...and to explain how or what that meant.  I explained to Nabeel that God speaks to me through His Word (the Bible), through others (Pastor preaching or teaching) and sometimes even to me directly.  He asked me how I KNEW that it truly was God that was speaking to me.  I told him I knew because of the peace I had when He spoke and that I knew that it was the truth.  He then asked me why born again Christians have such a deep and special relationship with the Jews, after all, they had Jesus?  I answered him the best of my abilities, but still left him with more questions than answers...which is probably a good thing.  (If you have any really good answers to this question, please share with me as he wants to know more on this subject...he gave me his email address so that I can send him more information.)

He didn't know that Jesus was Jewish...so that helped him a little.  I also explained that Jesus fulfilled the prophesies of the Old Testament, however those closest to Him (being the Jews) did not see Him for what He truly was...the Messiah!  I asked him if he'd ever read our Bible...and Nabeel pulled it out.  "Yes, yes I have...but it doesn't make sense to me."  I explained that it's not all in chronological order...that helped a little.  I also explained about the Gospels...how they were written by four of Jesus' disciples and they are each their accounts of their adventure/journey with Jesus.  I told him to read John over and over again...and eventually it would start to make sense. 

I had been praying today that I would have an encounter with the Lord before I left Israel...that I would know the purpose of this trip, something to take back with me...or maybe something left behind.  I didn't leave the jewelry store with a new piece of jewelry...but I did leave with the satisfaction knowing I planted seeds of salvation to a young Muslim man seeking for truth and love.  Our conversation was honest and frank...and sometimes too frank.  I was at times embarrassed by my inability to explain things as I wanted...where is Pastor Brian when you need him??!?  Smile!  As I left the store to go back to my room, I prayed for Nabeel.  I prayed that he would see Jesus for who he truly is.  That the Lord would speak to him in his dreams...and that God would bless him in his search for truth.  He amazed me at his openness and his never ending questions...especially after telling me that no one can change another person's religion.  Thinking back on it now, I guess I should of asked him if a person can change their own beliefs and then therefore change their religion??  UGH!!!  Why wouldn't it come to me there??

Please help me pray that Nabeel will find the answers that he seeks and that he will see Jesus for who He truly is!

We started our day by being on the bus by 7:30 AM...did I tell you, we're not tourists or vacationers??  We are pilgrims on a mission to see all that we can see!!! We started off by taking a tour of the Rabbinical Tunnels..the tunnels that run under ground along the entire span of the Western Wall.  We walked past the area closest to the Holy of Holies and saw the largest stone in the wall, called the Master stone.  That stone weighs 600 tons more than a fully loaded 747 plane (400 tons)!  And to think they had to move it into place after they quarried it!!  AMAZING!!

After seeing the Tunnels we went to Caiaphas' house & courtyard.  This is the spot where they believe Jesus was place in a dungeon (that fulfilled Psalms 88) and also where Peter denied Christ three times.

From there we went up to the Upper Room might have been.  The true Upper Room was destroyed when the City was destroyed.  This is where Jesus had the Last Supper with the disciples and where they waited for the promise of the Holy Spirit.

The next and last journey of our Pilgrimage was The Garden Tomb...the spot where Christians believe Jesus was crucified, buried and rose again!  It is a beautiful and tranquil spot.  Pastor Brian wrote a little about it in his blog.  We got to see Golgotha (the Skull rock), the empty tomb and have a nice service with communion there.  We ended our service with the song, "My Redeemer Lives."  It was so very moving!

Just so you know...the tomb is still empty!  Jesus isn't there!!

We had an optional stop, which of course Curt & I decided to do....the journey to the Temple Mount.  It's an eerie place...which has a great deal to do with the unnerving chants/prayers the Muslims do on the loud speakers.  We walked by the Mosque there and saw the Dome of the Rock (which commemorates the spot Muhammad ascended to heaven).  We also saw the bedrock of Mt Moriah...the area believed to be where the Third Temple will be built.

The rest of the day was our "free time." Many of us headed back to the Jewish Qtr for lunch and shopping.  I wanted one last falafel for lunch!  It was so YUMMY!!!  Then Curt & I got lost from our original group and joined another group in the Cardo and then walked through the Muslim Qtr.  Many found good deals there...the high pressure sales just annoys me a bit.  Although it's really fun to say no and walk away.  They get all huffy, like you just ruined their day.  I DO have the right to say NO!!!  Craziness!

We made our way back to the Jaffa Gate and then half of us walked back and the other half waited for the bus.  Due to my blisters...I waited for the bus.  It started to get cold as the sun went down, so I got a warm cup of coffee to keep warm with.

We ended our day with our final banquet.  We got certificates for our Pilgrimage...I now have 2 in two different names!!  How cool!!

Our trip has drawn to a close...and I'm sad to leave.  Now I REALLY must go to bed!  We have a REALLY long day tomorrow.  Curt & I are taking the longer route home with a couple of other Pilgrims...Tel Aviv to Newark, NJ and to Houston and then KCI!!  I know...it makes TONS of sense...but we're talking about the airlines folks!!!  We will get back into KCI around 1 AM on Turkey morn!  We hope to go home, get a little rest...if we haven't rested enough already and then drive to Tulsa for my family's Thanksgiving get together.  All my siblings (brother 7 & 3 step sisters) will be together for the first time since my father passed away 10 years ago!  So it's important that we make it there.  Don't worry...we won't leave until we're rested!!

Keep us in your prayers as we travel home and to Tulsa and back!!  Thank you for joining my journey with me...I hope you learned a little something along the way!

Shalom!

We started the day off with the usual breakfast at the hotel.  Then we jumped on the bus and headed to the Holocaust Museum here in Jerusalem.  On the way, Dr. Ketchum aka Sgt Ketchum, duct taped my blister on my right heel.  The duct tape acts as a 2nd skin and doesn't rub as bad as a bandaid would.  So it helped out a bunch!

Dr. Ketchum duct taping my blister!

The Holocaust Museum was so very interesting and emotionally moving.  Six million Jews were killed, very inhumanely and within that number, 1 1/2 million were children.  We weren't able to take pictures within the museum...but the most moving part for me was The Hall of Names.  As you walked into this room it encircled you and had bookshelfs that started one story below you and seemed to go as high as another story above you.  The bookshelfs formed a circle around the room.  I counted 22 shelfs per bookcase and 16 books per shelf...and there had to be at least 30-40 or more of these bookshelfs lined with books containing the names and biolographical information and testimonies of those who perished in the Holocaust.  According to the website there are approximately 2 million pages of testimonies are stored there within the books of that room...with room for a total of 6 million!  There were empty shelves which represented those names not recorded as of yet.  They are adding to this wealth of information everyday!

Another moving part of the museum was The Children's Memorial honoring the 1 1/2 million children who died during the Holocaust.  Below you'll see some of the pictures of things on the outside.  In the inside you walked into a completely dark room with glass & mirror walls.  Scattered about were lit candles ... the reflections of which went all over the room and looked as if you were walking in a dark night with stars all around you. You couldn't even see the person in front of you!  As you walked you heard the names and ages of the children who perished being read.  Someone figured out that it was 10 seconds per child for their name & age to be read.  That means that only 8,640 names are read in one day...which means it would take 174 days to read ALL of the children's names...or 6 months!!!  Amazing!

Our next venture was to the Jerusalem Archaelogical Park (this website is a wonderful resource for updating your knowledge of the history of Jerusalem!).  We got to watch a neat video about what it would be like in Jesus' day to go to the Temple and take make a sacrifice to the Lord.  We then got to see Robinson's Arch and the excavations that have taken place there.  We saw the Pinnacle of the temple, the Southwestern corner, which is where they blew the Shofar to announce holy days or holidays. 

Within the Park, we went to the Southern Stairs that led up to the Temple Mount.  Here there were original stones that Jesus & his disciples would have walked up in order to go to the Temple.  It was amazing!  Pastor Brian spoke from the following scriptures while we sat on the stairs...Isaiah 49:5-6 which talked about the surrounding area around the stairs, Matt 10:5 where Jesus told the disciples to go to the Jews and then Matt 28:18 where He told them to go to ALL the Nations.

Next we ate lunch at a Kibbutz of Rachel, which has a beautiful grove of olive trees.  Erik made a new friend after lunch!

We then entered through the Jaffa Gate and walked through the Muslim Quarter of the Old City until we got to the Church of the Holy Sceplture.  The church is owned by 6 religious groups who take literally YEARS to make a single decision.  For example, the ladder pictured below has stayed at the same spot for over 100 years due to a disagreement with these groups!  It's very iconic and religious in nature.  In some ways it looks like a shrine to Jesus.  A very starck contrast to the Garden Tomb, the place where Christians believe Christ was on the cross, buried and resurrected!

We then went to Antonnia's Fortress...which was the Roman prison in which Jesus was held...where the soldiers gambled for his clothes and placed a purple robe and a crown of thorns on his head.  It was a cold feeling place.

We then walked the Via Dolorosa backwards...which meant we walked uphill!  It's not the quiet, scerene place you think it might be....instead it's a market place with shopkeepers urging to come in and look at their store.  In many ways it's HIGHLY obnoxious and almost offensive...especially when you're trying to keep in mind what Jesus went through.  And then you realize...it was like this but worse for Jesus!!

Alone the route we stopped by the Church of St. Anne.  Anne is the mother of Mary (Jesus' mother) and this church was built by acoustical engineers centuries ago.  It's absolutely beautiful AND on top of that when you sing in it...the last note is held for an additional 8 beats AFTER you quit singing!  Play the video below to get the idea!

We exited the City via the Lion's Gate and then Peri & Pastor Brian had a special surprise for us!  Dinner at a Bedioun Tent!  We drove off to the desert and entered Genesis Land.  We started off with camel rides which were pretty fun!  Then we walked to the tent for dinner.  It was getting dark so my scenery pictures didn't turn out...for a better idea of what it looked like there, check out this link.

The food was delicious and the experience was one of those "one in a million" type of events!  It was a fantastic time to relax and dine.  Our host "Abraham" told us about life in his day and explained each aspect of our meal.  This was worth the trip alone!

After dinner we got licenses to ride camels!  Then boarded the bus and headed back to the hotel.  Some went back to Ben Yahuda street for more shopping...others like me hit the sack EARLY!

I've added LOTS of new pictures and commentary!  I'm about a day behind in my blogging...sorry! 

Feet MUCH better this morning!  Thanks for the prayers!

After our yummy dinner tonight at the Bedouin Tent place, I got to the hotel and cared for my blisters.  I then kissed my hubby goodbye as he and part of the rest of the gang were going to go to Ben Yahuda Street again to shop.  I really wanted to go...but knew that we had a lot of walking to do tomorrow so I stayed home to rest my feet.  Turns out I laid down shortly after he left and slept about 3 hours!!  I guess I needed some sleep.  SOOOO, my next plan is to get up WAY early tomorrow, so that I can at least do a blog or two and try to catch up before another full day.

Tomorrow is our last day in Israel!  It will be sad to leave here.  In so many ways, Israel feels like home!  I think Curt would actually live here...but he knows his mother would probably kill him!!  However, when Jesus comes home the Saints will live in this Eternal City!!  What a glorious day!

Thanks for the prayers for my feet...they need 'em!  If you look on my photo page, you'll see a picture of Dr. Ketchum fixing my blister's with duct tape.  The tape acts as a second skin and doesn't slide around as much as bandaids.  I will have to tell ya, it really works...until your feet sweat too much and it starts to slide off!

I will put the pics on my photo page in blogs tomorrow....thanks for being patient!!  In the meantime, check out The Colonel's blog...he's sometimes a little faster posting than me!

God bless!

If you've never been on the Word of Life Israel Pilgrimage...you probably don't truly understand and maybe are thinking we're on a relaxing vacation!! HAH!!!  We're with Pastor Brian...his idea of a vacation is to wake up at 2 AM to climb some mountain!!!  Therefore, we truly are walking and hiking...I would guess some days 4-5 miles (for the WHOLE day...in bits and pieces, not all at one time).  We keep up a strenuous pace, in order to see AS much as possible. 

Yesterday was one of those days where we found out that we really are part billy goat!!  But it was an awesome day.  I'll blog more later tonight (it's 7:55 AM here on Monday morning...my computer says it's 11:56 PM Sunday night in your time).

Prayer request - I have a nice, ugly, open blister on my left pinky toe and a unpopped one on the back edge of my right heel which makes walking a little interesting.  Please pray that they heal up supernaturally AND cause no pain during today's excursions.

I will have a REALLY awesome blog before I get to bed tonight...you'll be able to see it in probably about 12 hours! 

Shalom and God bless!

What REALLY happened on Day 6

We started off our day with church...cuz it's Sunday!!!  We're about 8-9 hours ahead of home, so we were able to come back later after dinner and watch parts of 2nd service live via the Internet!  Pretty cool!  Anyway, our church was held at Mt Scopus.  Pastor Brian preached on the Redemptive Substitution....first, Gen 22:6-7 about Abraham climbing up Mt Moriah to sacrifice his son Isaac, and then in John 19:5 ("Behold the Man") and verses 16-17 Jesus bearing the cross.

PBZ preaching

Theresa checking out the view from Mt Scopus

From there we went over to the Mt of Olives and had our group picture taken.  That's where I met this old man...I paid him a dollar for 1 picture.  Of course, he didn't tell me that until AFTER I snapped the picture!  The donkey is Peter, what the old man called his "Jerusalem Taxi".  Peter was a pretty cute little donkey...but I didn't ride him!

Peter kissing his owner

Peri and Peter, the "Jerusalem Taxi"

We also took some pictures of ourselves overlooking the Eastern gate and the Temple Mount.

From there, we walked down to the Garden of Gethsemane (means "olive press") and Pastor again taught...this time on the "3 Options of Jesus at Gethsemane".  These options include - 1. Revolted - resort to violence & revolt against Rome, 2. Retreat - run to the wilderness (like David) and begin an isolated idealic community, or 3. Redeem and embrace the Cross that we might be redeemed.  Over the years, the church has had the same 3 options 1. Revolt - Church of the Crusades - to win by force, 2. Retreat - Church of Convent - in retreated isolation and 3. Redeem - Church of the Cross - by establishing the Kingdom of God by faith...by picking up our own cross by surrendering our will to the will of the Father.

The Group at Gethsemane

Chris singing at Gethsemane

Olive Trees in Gethsemane near the Church of All Nations

Then we walked over to see the Church of all Nations

Church of all Nations

View of Eastern Gate from Church of All Nations

Inside the Church of all Nations                            Pillars outside the Church of All Nations

From there we went to the Jewish Quarter to see the Cardo (covered open shopping place), and have lunch.  Curt & I had lunch at the Quarter Cafe...a delightful restaurant overlooking the Jewish Qtr.

Through Zion Gate                                   Menorah for the 3rd Temple - weighs 3 tons solid gold!

 A beautiful picture through arches leading to the Cardo

The Wall Nehemiah built!

View from restaurant!

Views of Jewish Qtr

Curt LOVES pita bread! Flowers at restaurant

After lunch we went to the Western Wall, to pray...you can see the note I left in the wall!

Curt & I at Western Wall

Group waiting for others...

Found!!!

Going through Dung Gate

Then we went to the Old City of David ... the ORIGINAL city of Jerusalem.

Old City of David

Ruins at Old City of David                                   Climbing down Warren's Shaft

In the water tunnel

Men of Strength helping Lois down rugged terrain.

At the City of David we got to see the newly discovered pools of Silhoam, however it was too dark for my pictures to come out!  It was a 2 hour tour and had MUCH more hiking that last year!  After completing the tour and making it back to the bus...we all knew we were part billy goat!

We then went back to the hotel for dinner.  I was going to stay and rest at the hotel...however, a bunch of really fun people were heading to Ben Yahuda Street...so I decided to go too!  Because I had been several times last year and remembered how to get there...Peri put me in charge!  That meant I was even in charge of The Colonel! So I made him drop and give me 20!  I didn't really think he would...but then he did!!

The Colonel obey orders!

Colton gets ice cream with SPRINKLES!

The guys waiting while the ladies shop!

A view of a shop                                                      Sponge Bob Yamicas!!!

Familiar stuff in Jerusalem!!

On the way back to the hotel several wanted to stop by the King David Hotel shopping district in order to get some US $$...so we took a different way back.  Turns out their trusty guide, a al Moi, turned up one street to early, which meant another hefty hike up past the US consulate and the grocery store back to King George St...which our hotel is on!  Turns out that if we would of walked down one more block, it would of worked out perfectly.  Needless to say, we probably burned an extra 50-75 calories and I'm pretty sure that everyone slept REALLY good that night!!

Shabbot Shalom!  That's the formal greeting during Shabbot.

Today we had a long and exciting day!  We started with a long drive 2,600 ft down to the Dead Sea.  (The Dead Sea is 1,300 below sea level and Jerusalem is 1,300 above sea level!).  I was VERY excited about this day as it was an anniversary of sorts for me.  This was an anniversary to celebrate the Lord bringing back to life one of the scriptures I had regarding my husband (Eze 37 - portion on dry bones).  You see, in April 2005 it was my first trip to Israel, and by the time I left, God had revealed to me who my husband was...Curt Jordan.  I didn't even know him prior to the trip...even though he was a Friday night greeter at the church for the past 4 1/2 years and I attended probably 98% of those Fridays!!!  It's a really cool story...but it would take awhile to tell...so for now, you'll get the bits and pieces.  For those of you who live in St. Joe, we have a DVD of our Love Story...takes 30 minutes to watch and it's way cool!!  Invite us over for milk, coffee and cookies (Curt loves chocolate) and we'll bring the entertainment!!!

We started at Masada a large plateau mountain that has a terraced palace for King Herod and a huge walled city on top.  This is the last spot the Jewish Zealots had refuge prior to the Roman Legion overtaking all of Palestine.  It's a fabulous story about courage and freedom of the Jews.  So good that there is a old movie on the subject.  I'm thinking I may have to find it and have a movie night at the Jordan household....let me know if you want to come!  Anyway...it was here that God resurrected one of the Words He had given me regarding my future husband on my last trip here.  You see for the longest time there was no archeological evidence that the Jews truly inhabited Masada...that is until they found the synagogue.  How did they know it was a synagogue??  The found 1 complete chapter of the Bible...Ezekiel 37, the chapter on dry bones!

Model of Masada                                                       Side of Herod's Terraced Palace

Susan telling the history of Masada 2006

Ah-ha moment #1 - April 2005 (Curt 1st person on bench on left side)

 Ramp Roman Legion built to get up to the top!

Back room of Synagogue 2005 - under construction        2006 - finished with door installed

Making memories at Masada!

Curt sitting in the synagogue

After that we traveled on down the road to En Gedi...the place where David went to hide from King Saul.  There we saw the Oasis and little Ibex climbing around...reminded me of "hinds feet in high places!"

From there we went to Qumran to eat lunch, shop, and see the area where they discovered the Dead Sea Scrolls.

One of the caves where they found the scrolls

It was a long day...as you can tell by looking at The Colonel.

We then headed to the Dead Sea for a float.  I had floated last year, so I volunteered to take pictures instead.  Nothing lives in the Dead Sea...it's just a sea of salt water that is quickly evaporating away.  But the cool thing is, you can walk out to about knee deep, sit down on the water and float!!  It's also very popular to scrub with the mud of the Sea as it pulls the toxins out of your skin and helps to make one younger!!  But you must be VERY careful not to get any water in your eyes or mouth-yuck!!  You also are wise to either not shave or shave the night before...otherwise it might sting a bit!  Below you'll see pictures of our group...although it may take some work to recognize them....especially Mowgli, from Kipling's "Jungle Book", aka Philip Z!!

View of the Dead Sea

Eric posing for the camera!

Who says boys don't like to play in the mud?!?                Mowgli!!!

Mowgli's brother                                             The muddy gang!

Look Mom!  No hands!!  Carman floating on the Dead Sea!

After floating at the Dead Sea, we traveled back up to Jerusalem for dinner at the hotel.  After dinner we got to board a different bus and head pass the security fence to Bethlehem to the Lama brother's store!  More SHOPPING!!!  It was great fun...especially dealing with the pedallers on the way out of the store!!

That's day 5...must go to bed now!  Shalom!

Friday was an awesome day of touring...I will share more with you later.  But in honor of Shabbot I rested!!  I fell asleep at 8:30 pm and woke up at 6:30 am!!  Ahhhh...10 hours of straight sleep!!  It was heavenly!!

Will post tons tonight!!

Shalom!

What really happened on Day 4 on our Pilgrimage of Israel

In case you can't tell - our theme today was "Mountains!"

We got up REAL early!!  Our wake-up call was for 5 am to leave by 5:30 am to go to a sunrise service on Mount Arbel.  Mount Arbel is the highest mountain at the Sea of Galilee, and the mountain believed to be the one Jesus went up to many times to pray.  It was a 10 minute hike up the mountain...but as you can see via the pictures below, the view was spectacular!

Here is a short video so you can see part of the sunrise too!  (Beware of the amateur videographer! To begin, please tilt your head to the left 90 degrees!!)  (You can go back to Day 3's blog and take a boat ride on the Sea of Galilee, via video!)

Curt & I on Mt Arbel ~ We're representing the only the BEST Missouri sports teams!! 

Zahnd Family on Mt Arbel

Have guitar...will travel!!

After the lovely service at Mt Arbel, we went back to the hotel for breakfast and to pack up and leave the hotel.  Our next stop on the road was the Mt of Beatitudes (where Jesus preached the Sermon on the Mount!)

Church at Mt of Beatitudes

Flowers on Mount of Beatitudes

Curt Reading                                                         Gate looking out on the mountains in Galilee

Bet She 'An, another Tel (layered hill) that is over 6,000 years old!  This is where they hung the heads of Saul & Jonathan when they were killed.

We saw a beautiful fresco of a cross that is from the 5th Century church.  That means that the Christians there were some of the first!!!  Way cool!!

The town of Bet She 'An was covered in a mudslide during an earthquake and therefore is one of the best preserved archeological sites.  It's the largest archeological site in all of Israel and has groups of students come to dig for new treasures each summer.  It is a full town with shops, a main street (with a underground sewer/drainage system!).  We saw streets and ruins that dated all the way back to the 1st Century - seriously older than dirt!!!

The hill the gang ran up!!

Curt at the top!

We ate lunch - more falafel, YUM!!! at Bet She 'An prior to heading to Megiddo.  Megiddo is not too far from Mt Carmel (where we were the first day - Elijah and prophets of Baal dual site).  You can again see the valley of Armageddon.  There's a set of 3,000 year old stairs that the women used to travel to go get water each day (they had to walk a mile and a half - one way!!!).  Megiddo housed Solomon's stables, had a huge grain bin, and also a VERY old Canaanite pagan temple.  There also is a water tunnel that we typically get to go down and see, however they were working on the stairs, so we couldn't go! Bummer! (But our legs were excited for the slight rest - the tunnel had 183 stairs to go down!!)

3,000 yr old stairs!

Pastor Brian spoke on the Apocalypse and the blessed hope - that Jesus is coming to reign and rule as King!

Then we began our long drive up to Jerusalem.  I took a little nap during this bus ride and when I woke up, I thought we were at the hotel.  It was then that I learned that we were getting a surprise on Shabbot!  Susan Marcus, our tour guide (the #1 rated tour guide in all of Israel!!) brought all 38 of us to her home to celebrate Shabbot.  She lit the Shabbot candles (2 sets, one for her family and one for her mother who lives back in the States and is suffering from Ahltimzers) and her husband, Aaron read the blessing.  Then we each took part in drinking of juice and eating a piece of yummy bread that Susan made.  It was sooooo very special.  This is what Jews do every Shabbot (which begins Friday at sundown and lasts until Saturday at sundown).  This is their day of rest!  She gave us a tour of her home and we got to see all of her lovely artwork and zillions of cookbooks!!  It was such a special blessing to be in her home...some of us were even moved to tears!

Shabbot Table

Susan praying 

Aaron reading a blessing                                          Susan preparing the juice

We then went up to Jerusalem.  Since it was Shabbot, Susan took us to the Western Wall to pray.  We weren't able to take pictures, because of Shabbot...you'll see that later, I promise.  If you're really bored, you can watch for us...here's the live webcam link.

From the Western Wall, we went to the Dan Panorama hotel in Jerusalem where we filled our bellies...and then laid our heads!!  Sleep...it's a good thing!

 It's been another exciting and long day in Israel.  We started today off with a boat ride on the Sea of Galilee.  While we were on the boat we recorded a video for Sunday's announcements at Word of Life Church...You'll have to watch for us Sunday morning!!  The boat ride is one of my favorite parts about our time in Galilee.  You can close your eyes and listen to the waves beating against the boat and just imagine you're there with Jesus and the disciples!  It's amazing!! PBZ spoke from Matt 8:18-27 and Matt 14:1-33...about how he calmed the storm!

Eric, Lori & Theresa on the boat on the Sea of Galilee

VIDEO - NEW!!

Chris singing while using his new mic stand, Philip 

The Colonel & his wife

The Steeve family - Doug, Colton & Lisa

Aaron Z setting up to film the WOLC announcement for Sunday (PBZ's back)

After the boat ride we stopped at a Kibbutz and saw a 2,000 year old boat called "The Jesus Boat".  It's a fasinating story about how 2 Galilean fisherman always say that some day the Sea of Galilee was going to give them a gift.  One day while walking on the shore when the sea was low, they came across some old nails...they then saw a piece of wood and kept digging until they realized they had found an old boat that was encapsulated in the wet sand.  For more information you can go to The Jesus Boat.

From there we traveled North up to Caesarea of Philipi.  We saw where the pagan temple and sacrifices took place there.  This is also where Jesus asked his disciples, "Who do you say that I am?" and Peter answered that He was the Messiah.  See Matthew 16.

Believe it or not...this is a 2 lane road!!!  And we're in a HUGE bus!

From there we drove further North through the mountains of Golan Heights.  We saw Mt Hermon from a distance and learned on our drive about several of the wars over the last several decades.  The Northern part of Israel has has Lebannon to it's East and Syria to it's West.  We saw burnt trees left over from the last rocket attack this summer.  We drove by several tanks and a tank trench (see the picture below).  Don't worry...we didn't have any issues with safety as everything is fine now!!  It was very interesting to learn about the Israeli war history, military and their equipment, etc. 

Tank trench is parallel with the road

From there we drove to the Tel Dan, which is the oldest Tel in the country of Israel.  A Tel is a hill that is not really a true hill...but several layers of former civilizations (kinda like a layered cake).  In some areas they have found more 20 or so layers of different civilizations!!  Dan is the land that was given to the Tribe of Dan.  It's known for several things...it's where King Jeroboam wanted to change the direction of prayer (away from Jerusalem) and towards the North land of Dan where he built a 2nd golden calf.  In the building of the golden calf it was the men who gave their jewelry to form the calf.  It is for this reason that women are honored with a monthly holiday on the New Moon of each month.  On this day, the woman of the house doesn't have to cook, etc.  It's her day to be catered too.  It's kinda like having a Mother's day once a month!!  How bout that Mom's??

The River of Dan                                                           Eric's One Man Island!

At the Tel of Dan we saw a 3,000 year old wall - it's the ORIGINAL folks!!!!  And it's still standing!  We saw the 2 gates of Dan -- the first one, was the Israeli gate to the city of Dan.  We saw where the King & his advisors sat. 

The Israeli gate...

Where the King's throne sat Where the King's advisors sat

The second gate we saw was the most amazing gate.  It's the Canaanites gate to the city of Dan...and the very same spot Abraham took his first steps into the land that God was calling him too.  The gate and the stones you see in this picture is 4,000 years old.  The most inner archway is made of blood bricks.  It's a very moving spot...it's the actual spot where Abraham walked!!  The Mega Faith man of the Bible!!

The Ancient gate of Dan...where Abraham actually walked!!

After eating schwarma (I think I spelled it wrong) and having ice cream for desert we headed back South to the Jordan River for a baptismal service.  Curt & I didn't get baptized again this year...although this year was very different from our "pull over to the side of the road, change on the bus, walk into the grimy river to get baptized" experience last year.  The baptizee's had white robes and got to change and shower in changing rooms!!  They also had nice ramps that let them down to the river.  It was very nice...but in some ways I like the way I was baptized a little better.  Kinda reminds me of how maybe John the Baptist would of done it!!  After the baptism service was over...Philip Z caught a fish with his hands!!  It was pretty cool!

We ended our day back at the hotel with dinner...and then an after-hours tour of a diamond cutting/polishing museum and then got to "window shop" for some wacka-wacka diamonds and precious stones.  It was a little steep for our budget...so Curt & I and some others walked back to our hotel.

Most of the stuff we saw today was new to both Curt & I.  We didn't get to go to Caesarea of Philipi, the Golan Heights, the Tel of Dan (to see the ancient gate) nor go to the diamond museum last year.  Well, and for what it matters, we didn't get to go to the fancy baptismal place either.  So it was a pretty exciting day.

P.S.  I had a cool 1 minute video from our boat ride on the Sea of Galilee but the silly thing won't download.  Will keep trying!!

 Ah...what a day this has been.  We started out in the city of Nazareth and visited a mock village that was set up as it would be in Jesus' time.  This was new to both Curt & I as we didn't go here on our last tour.  It was wild to think that this is how Jesus would of lived when he was growing up!!  Did you know that Nazareth was so small that it's not even mentioned in several historical writings??  They believe there was only about 10-20 families who lived there during Jesus' day.  Therefore there was no center of learning...and one reason why people often thought that nothing good would ever come from Nazareth!  Scripture readings Luke 4:16-27.

The farmer's watch tower (round stone with roof) to watch over field & flocks

 The flocks!

The donkey moving the olive press

Hannah the weaver.  She's a believer & so excited to see us!!

A carpenter/builder in Jesus' day - they worked with both wood & stone!!

Pastor Brian preaching in the little synagogue in Nazareth Village

Chris leading us in Praise and worship on the bus!

After seeing and learning how Jesus lived back in the day, we had a long bus ride to Tabgha, the actual spot of the multiplication of Loaves & Fish.  There is a beautiful church there with amazing mosaics on the floor.  (This is also where I dropped & broke our camera!! Yeah me!) 

Flowers in Bloom in Tabgha!!

FAMOUS mosaic at sight where Jesus multiplied the loaves & fish

We then stopped and had St. Peter's fish for lunch!  Yummy...although, I didn't eat the eyeballs as Philip, Curt & Eric did - Yulck!

After lunch we stopped in Capernaum.  This is where Jesus began his ministry (Mark 4:13-17)  We saw Peter's house and the first church...and also the synagogue where Jesus first read from the Torah.  The neat thing about the synagogue was that the current building (from the 5th century) is build right on top of the original foundation from Jesus' day (see the black stones on the bottom).  This was the actual area that Jesus walked!!  This is the very spot that was the epicenter of Jesus' ministry!

The Synagogue where Jesus taught in Capernaum

See the black stone under the white...that was there in Jesus' day!!

A garden at Capernaum

A pretty shot from the Synagogue in Capernaum

The last spot is one of my favorites in all of Galilee...St. Peter's Primacy.  This is where after a long night of fishing, Jesus recreated the scene of Peter's denial (hot coal fire) and appeared to Peter after the resurrection.  Jesus asked Peter 3 times, "Do you love me, Peter?"  This is where Peter renewed his call to follow Jesus.  Pastor Brian surprised us by playing the guitar and singing "Every Grain of Sand"...which I believe is a Bob Dylan song.  (BTW - PBZ plays and sings the guitar WAY better than he lets on!!) 

The Church at St. Peter's Primacy

Service inside church at St. Peter's Primacy

Pastor singing "Every Grain of Sand"

Cool plaque at St. Peter's Primacy...reminds me of my Exodus!

We wrapped up the day at St. Peter's Primacy and then went back to the hotel for dinner.  The pace was a bit slower today than last year...which was refreshing. Tomorrow however, I believe will be a VERY full day.

P.S.  I give a very special shout out of thanks to The Colonel.  If it weren't for him I would be picture-less after the Loaves & Fishes!!  He so kindly has lent us his 2nd camera (his wife had one too) to finish up the trip.  What a HUGE blessing!!  If you didn't know it already...he's a REALLY great guy!!  He'd probably give ya the shirt off his back too!!