First update in!
May 18 – Click here for photos!
The anticipation for our journey to Israel has been growing for many months now. And, it was no less evident on our first day as we stepped over the threshold of our plane and allowed God to take full control of our steps ahead. After a good plane ride, and for most of us just a few hours sleep, we landed on time in God’s beloved land of Milk & Honey. What joy we found as a group as we looked at the palm trees, the flowering bushes, and blue skies as we took our first glance at this great country.
We met our bus driver and guide, Abraham, and were whisked away to our first stop. We settled into our seats and were soon on the only toll road in Israel. A large map was unfurled in the front of bus and we had a brief, but very in-depth history (and topography) lesson.
Day 1 was jammed packed with places to go. Our first stop was at this delightful road-side Cafe to enjoy a falafel or two. For many of us, this was our first experience eating this regional favorite. Many were chowing down immediately; for others, we weren’t quite sure what it was? But, they were delicious and the bounty of fresh vegetables that were there to compliment the taste was just incredible.
After lunch, we were just a short distance from Mount Carmel and as we rose higher and higher, we could see the pinnacle ahead of us. Passing a statue of Elijah, you could only “imagine” the view we were about to see. And what a view it was! Amazing, powerful, vast ,and breath-taking were the only words to describe it. We realized at that very moment, we were literally standing on holy ground where a miracle of God’s powerful witness and faithfulness was displayed. You could see 360 degrees from Nazareth in the distance to Mount Tabor in the foreground. It was a spectacular view but the powerful statement that God portrayed is even more remarkable. As John opened the Word and read the account of the miracle that took place, it bonded us together at that moment, and we realized that this was just the beginning of a journey we’ll never forget.
As we continued, we rounded the bend for our next stop to Megiddo, a Tel/Fortress that once hosted Solomon and his people. A short walk uphill, we were in the midst of fascinating ruins. Stone formations were everywhere and we could almost envision the magnificent fortress that once stood. There were entrance gates, grain storage silos, ruins of stables that had sheltered Solomon’s horses. We viewed a large circular pile of stones, still intact, that was used for sacrifices, both animal and, as we were told, human remains. In the distance, there were a bevy of cows of every color assortment grazing in the fields.
We heard how women worked tirelessly as they walked down treacherous stone steps to retrieve water from the inner well. And we were able to take that same journey, luckily with the aid of newly appointed steps lights and handrails. As we descended into the tunnel where the water was stored, the walls were covered in fluorescent green from the layers of mold that still remain. And,at the bottom of the well, water still remained, crystal clear. It was a beautiful reminder of the history that was before us and God’s sustenance for his people.
From Megiddo, we took a short jaunt to Caesarea. As we pulled into the parking lot, there was the most beautiful glimpse of the Mediterranean Sea in the foreground. It was sparkling in the afternoon sun and the winds of the day allowed the surf to break in heavy waves. After a brief history lesson about this part of Israel, listening and viewing a model of the area that Herod the Great built, we understood this was a remarkable display of his power, his greed and his vision to rule. We saw the great seaport built to progress the trades of the time. In this small piece of land by the sea, we visited a great amphitheatre. The stone carving that surrounded us once housed magnificent concerts, speeches, plays and other forms of opulent status. John spoke of the significance of Caesarea and the events and people in the Bible that occurred in this very spot. We then gathered as a group and walked onto the stage. At that moment, God allowed us to sing two verses, in full volume, of Amazing Grace and the Spirit soared! It was a moment in time and very special for each one of us! And, shortly after we ended our last chorus, another group that was visiting the amphitheatre picked up where we left off. In their own language (Dutch), the familiar tune of Amazing Grace was once again ringing the theatre. It was a remarkable unity of praise to our LORD!
From there, we saw pillars and columns that had been carved and once stood high and mighty around the theatre. A brief walk took us to the place where Herod’s Palace was built – right on the edge and into the Sea. What a view! You can see the palace foundation that was laid in the sea bed and could only image the opulent setting and wealth the Ruler enjoyed. We walked in the sand where chariot races once took place, saw and stood amongst the ruins of store houses and delivery systems of great ingenuity for that time in history. Our tour ended standing in the midst of the Crusaders archaeological ruins where we saw fortresses, moats and spectacular gates. As the cool of the day was upon us, we headed to our hotel and readied for dinner to relax and join together in conversation. Dinner was delicious, an abundance of fresh fruit and vegetables of all kinds lay out before us. The spices were “spicy” and some of us ate foods we had never had before. It was a delightful end of Day 1. As we finally headed to bed, our bones and feet may be weary, but our hearts and spirits were soaring. And, for now, we say Layla Tov (good night) until tomorrow!
Shalom and Harbe Bruchim, Diane