This morning was a little later morning for us.  We were able to sleep in some which was nice for many, especially those who have not been feeling very well.  There are a few with some stomach issues which we pray will not get worse as we anticipate the long flight back home.  We loaded the bus at about 10 am with great anticipation of going back to Israel from Jordan.  There was still residual sand in the air from the sandstorm, cars were covered with sand, and visibility was low.  But off we went.  We went through border control which went very quickly and without any issues as well as we changed buses and got Haim back (Haim has been our driver for the entire time in Israel), which was very exciting for all of us to have him back!!  He is a great driver and has such a sweet, quiet spirit about him.  Many claps for him when we saw him and we were on our way.  As we crossed over the border many of us wanted to kiss the ground. There was a surprising feeling; it felt like we were home.  Yes, Israel has made it into many of our hearts.  Immediately the group began to chatter back and forth and laughter radiated through the bus.  The cloud of oppression lifted and many hearts felt peace which had not been felt in the two days while in Jordan.  The weather was beautifully inviting and the sun was shining.  There was no more evidence of the sand storm!

On our way to Jerusalem we drove through a newer settlement that had been built in the desert.  It was great to be able to see some neighborhoods and get a little window into the Israeli homes and lives. What was once dry and barren is now beautiful homes for many Jews. It was like a little suburbia. It was Shabbat today so it was a bit busy with everyone trying to get home, kids were getting out of school half day, and traffic was pretty heavy.  It was just interesting getting a glimpse into their lives.

After our little drive thru tour, we arrived at the hotel and all got out our luggage and did the needed packing and unpacking, distributing weight, to get ready for going to the airport.  We had 3 hours of free time.  Some who weren’t feeling so well opted to just hang out in the hotel, while others went into the Old City to do a bit more shopping and grab something to eat, perhaps a last Shwarma, or Falafel!!!   Some love it some don’t!!!!

After 5 o’clock we left the hotel and headed to eat our last meal in Israel.  We went to a Lebanese restaurant and enjoyed a delicious meal and some wonderful sharing time with one another.   This journey has impacted each one of us in one way or another.  It was neat to share a few of those things that have touched us deeply, and share the things that are at the forefront of our hearts.  There is no doubt that God has revealed so much to many, but my heart tells me He has so much more to reveal as we go back to our normal daily lives. He will continue to use this journey in so many ways.  I have to ask myself, how is this trip going to impact my life?  What does God have for us in and from this experience?  Jeremiah 29:11 says, “For I know the plans I have for you, declares the Lord, plans to prosper you and not to harm you, plans to give you hope and a future.”  What speaks loudly in my heart is what Christ did for me; He became sin for me, and for you.  What an AMAZING sacrifice.  And what an honor it is to be a Child of Him, a Child of THE King.  I leave this beautiful land having walked where He walked and seeing where He paid the biggest sacrifice with a deeper love for Him, a deeper understanding of Him, and an open heart for what He has in store for my future.  It’s exciting.  I am thrilled that He saw it fit to have me be a part of this journey with such wonderful people.  And I am excited about the future He has planned for many of us.

We arrived at the airport at 8 o’clock….wow what a LONG process that was. Arriving 4 hours early is a must!  Some were questioned and security procedures were pretty intense.  It took about two and a half hours for the last two to get through.  Their security is very thorough which is comforting.  We walked on the plane and here we are sitting on the plane as I type!  We have an 11 hour flight and then we will be home, home with many more memories, many more friends, and a deeper love and understanding of His chosen people.  We are all SO excited to see our families and friends.

Thank you for walking this journey with us through prayer and following us through the pictures and journals.  We are so thankful for God’s protection over us all these last 11 days.

And thank you to all of my new friends that walked this amazing  journey with Scott and I, Diane, Joe, Steve, Donna, Jeff, Joanna, Dave, Christopher, Marge, Maryanne, Marnie, Mary Jane, Glen, David, Donna, Dave, Heather, John, Mark, Susan, Paul, Gary, Kathryn, Beverly, Marilyn, Dale, Anne, Jeanette, Russ, Staush, Bobbie, John, Renee, Jill,  and Laurel!  What a spectacular group of people that He has brought together.  It has been fun wandering through God’s land with you all……a trip of a lifetime, never to be forgotten.

Shabbat Shalom and blessings to you all, Tiffany

After a delicious breakfast, we ventured out at 7:15 a.m. for a long ride to the one of the Seven Wonders of the World, Petra.  There were several in the group that stayed behind for some much needed rest due to different ailments, including John.  They were missed greatly.  We traveled 3 ½ hours to get there.  The landscape is so barren and desolate which is such a depiction of the spiritual bareness which is so apparent here in Jordan.

We arrived at Petra where we walked around looking at the beautiful, unbelievably majestic rocks surrounding us.  Certainly one can understand why it was given the title of one of the Seven Wonders of the World.  What a creative God we serve.  The stone cliffs towered over us each with different dimension, color and beauty.  God is an amazing architect.  Petra was built by the Nabataeans.  The buildings and structures were carved right out of the rock facades.  One thing we discovered was that the buildings we often see pictures of are really tombs.  They built this city and those buildings to be their tombs.  As we walked through I wondered how God might use this place in the future to protect His people during the latter half of the Tribulation period.  It is speculated, although we do not know for certain, that this is the place God will bring the Israelites to in order to protect them during the latter half of the Tribulation (Revelation 12).  There is such a strong depiction for me in this place of God as our refuge.  It brings to my heart and mind the scripture in Psalm 46, “God is our refuge and strength, an ever present help in trouble.”  What an amazing promise this is that He has given us.  My heart rejoices at the thought of this!

This trip brought many new experiences; some were able to ride a horse and carriage, and some a camel.  We don’t get to do that too often in America!!  The temperature was extremely hot.  Water was a must.  All were troopers, and we had a great time!  As we walked through the amazing rocks there were many little kids that were trying to sell postcards and other souvenirs.  That surely tugged on my heart strings.  They were just adorable.  With some help, I was pulled away.  But we were told that a lot of these kids make a decent income which has a negative side effect of keeping them out of school.

We spent a few hours exploring and taking many pictures.  You could spend days there exploring.  There is so much to see.  So, off we went back on our 3 ½ hour drive to the hotel where many look forward to swimming and relaxation!  But when we arrived, the sandstorm restricted our view of the Dead Sea.  It was pretty hard to breath the sand was so thick.

Dinner was wonderful as we just enjoyed our last night in Jordan.  Many heart to heart conversations and much gratefulness for this amazing experience He has lead us through.  Sleep will be sweet tonight, as we anticipate a long day of travel tomorrow.  We will be heading back to beautiful Jerusalem for a few hours of free time, and then off to the airport we go for a red-eye flight back home.  It has been an amazing journey.  Somewhat indescribable! The Bible has come alive in a profound way and a greater love for His people and His land has been sparked.  We are so grateful for His protection over us all.  Thank you for your prayers.  Please continue to lift us up in prayer as we travel back home to our families, and pray for the physical health of us all.

Goodnight to you all.  We look forward to seeing you on Sunday.   Tiffany

We woke up to the most beautiful sunrise on our last morning in Jerusalem.  What a privilege it was to walk around God’s land for those four days.  Your heart grows deeper and deeper in love and appreciation for His people, the Jews, and His land.

It was also a sad morning because we knew we would have to say goodbye to some of our group, our friends.  Six of them had not planned to go to Petra so we parted ways at the hotel after another delicious breakfast before we left for Jordan.   So we said our goodbyes with some tears.  What an amazing group of people God orchestrated.  John prayed before we separated and then we were off on a new adventure to Jordan. We also, anticipated saying goodbye to Abraham, our new friend whom we began to love very quickly.  There was some concern when we realized that Jane would not be our tour guide prior to coming.  We missed Jane greatly, but we are so grateful for God’s provision of Abraham.  God gave us a man who deeply loves His country, was easy to understand, and was quite funny to be with, and his knowledge was just unbelievable.  God has given us a new friend, whom we can pray for, especially for his salvation.  And many of us will certainly keep in touch with him!

We left the hotel and headed off to the border to go to Jordan.  There was sadness in our hearts as we left Jerusalem.  There is no doubt that we all leave this city with a piece of it etched into our hearts.  We arrived at the border and what a process that was! We had to go through several border patrols, which took much time.  They went through our entire luggage, but we are thankful that although it took a lot of time, it all went without any big issues.  Praise God!  Here is where we said our goodbye to Abraham with gratefulness in our hearts.

From the border, we headed up to Mount Nebo.  For those who struggle with motion sickness, and fear of high cliffs and narrow winding roads—it was quite the challenge.  We climbed 2000 feet above sea level.  The scenery was very rocky, dry, barren and extremely HOT.  Not much sign of life, besides the few camels we raced up the mountain with.  Mount Nebo is the mountain Moses climbed and where God showed him the whole land that was promised to His people.  After God showed all this to Moses, Moses then died and was buried by God in a valley somewhere in that area.  No one knows where he was buried.  Deuteronomy covers this in chapters 32 and 34…now I can read it and picture where he stood and breathed his last breath!

At the top of Mt Nebo, you can look out over the Jordan Valley and see Jericho off in the distance.  One can imagine Moses viewing the whole camp of Israel down in the valley, see the Jordan River they would soon cross, and anticipate the campaign they would soon embark on against Jericho.  And I was standing there—how amazing is that!!!

After we left Mount Nebo, we stopped off at a place that makes beautiful mosaic tile pieces of art.  What patience it must take for these women to sit for hours and create these masterpieces.  We looked around, admired, and went off on our way to our hotel.  As I was sitting on the bus traveling, there was such unsettledness in my heart and spirit; actually I felt it pretty quickly after we left Israel.  There is such a clear sense of spiritual battle here in Jordan, something I had not felt in Israel.  There was a keen awareness of God’s presence and love for Israel when we were there.  I certainly did not expect or anticipate that vast difference in my spirit.  After sharing that I realized that many others felt this as well.  But I was quickly reminded that God loves the Jordanians just as deeply as He does us all.

We arrived at the Movenpick Hotel with great excitement to see this place of rest and excited to experience the “Dead Sea Float”.  After we settled into our rooms, some of us quickly got into our bathing suits ready to experience the Dead Sea.  And what an experience that was!  Many of us got in and were amazed at how buoyant our bodies were.   Our bodies were so buoyant that we could stand with our feet pointed toward the ocean floor and not sink.  You could even run in place….and sit Indian style and not sink.  Scott had never experienced floating as he usually sinks like a rock but for the first time he floated—I don’t think the smile ever left his face!  It was such a fun and unique experience.  We were swimming in the DEAD SEA—amazing!  Then we plastered our bodies with mud and enjoyed together many laughs as well as new sweet memories.

A few of us were enjoying some time around the pool and there was an unusually loud exploding sound.  I looked around and at first thought, wow that was an enormous lasting clap of thunder.  But I quickly realized as I was surrounded by beautiful blue skies that it couldn’t be thunder.  We began to scan the horizon and clear across to the Israel border was a billow of smoke and dust from the enormous explosion.   Israel was having a war practice drill and we think it was a result of that.  Certainly an alarming sound!  It really makes us think how fortunate we are to live in America and how protected we are from these experiences.  Sadly, the sound of war is often too familiar in this side of the world.  Brings us to our knees, not only in gratefulness for the peace we daily live in our country, but a reminder to pray for those who rarely experience that peace in their land.

We enjoyed an amazing feast for dinner.  The desserts were a hit!!  We certainly cannot say that we ever went hungry on this trip!  How blessed we are.  After dinner, we had some time as a group to do some debriefing and ask questions that we might have had, so we dodged into a conference room and laughed, talked, and prayed.  Then off to bed we went.

A goodnight’s sleep is well needed as we anticipate a long, hot day of travel tomorrow.  We miss you all and will see you in just a few short days, with so many stories to share.  Thank you for your prayers.

Tiffany

We started the morning with a journey to Yad VaShem, the Holocaust Museum. We were warned about some of the exhibits we would encounter, but we were not all prepared for the level of emotion we would experience when we saw the photos.

We saw a list that Oscar Shindler made to keep track of those he helped to escape persecution, piles of shoes, and remnants of clothing. What a tragedy!!! I was ashamed and broken and I was not alone in my grief. With tears staining our faces, we made our way through to the end and back to the bus. There was a lot of silence as we drove to our next destination.

We made our way back to the bus (Hiam the driver is our hero!) to the Damascus Gate and entered back into the Old City for lunch and some free time. We all went our own way and wandered the tiny streets. It was wonderful to get lost in the market place, the sights and smells were all new, some wonderful, some….. not so wonderful!

The free time was great but the anticipation had been building all day since we all knew what was coming next and most of us were looking forward to it.

We soon found ourselves standing on the Via Dolorosa, also known as the Way of Sorrow.  It is known as this since it is the path that Jesus took on His way to the cross.  A solemn moment in everyone’s heart.

We gathered in the Cardo, the main street in the Old City, and made our way to a convent called Ecco Homo (Behold the Man). As we ducked and stooped in some low places, we descended to the lowest place in the church, what most would consider to be nothing more a basement. John read us the Passage of Scripture about Jesus having been beaten and scourged, and we saw the most amazing piece of Roman history that put so many of the pieces together. The Roman Guards played a game called “The Game of The Kings” They would choose a prisoner that they knew was slated for execution and  make him the king for the day. The prisoner could have anything he wanted, knowing at the end of the day his life would be taken. It was this game the Roman Guards were playing when they put the robe around Jesus shoulders, and placed the crown of thorns upon his head.

We realized that this was the game they played, according to the scriptures, when Jesus was betrayed.  They say the game is brutal and in many cases the “king” is killed at the end.  But, when Jesus was the pawn that night, He was not killed; instead he was beaten beyond recognition and scourged on the cold, stony payment in this place.

We quietly got up and moved downstairs to the very floor this beating took place.  It was a difficult moment for many.  Tears flowed as John recounted through the scriptures in Isaiah and Luke.  And, to be there, to touch the floor, to imagine what happened in this place was very hard, just like the cold, stony floor.

We understood at that moment what it truly meant when scriptures read that Jesus shed His blood for all.  And, we knew now the place this happened and our grief overflowed.  A difficult moment, but for each of us, we knew we had to move on.  There was so much more to see and do.

Leaving the convent, we walked out the Damascus Gate to a beautiful area, bursting with colorful flowers and tress of all kinds.  Although the noise in the background was at a high frenzy, we knew this place was different from the rest … it was Golgotha, the place where Jesus was crucified.   We met up with the guide from the Garden, his name was Hank from Holland.  A delightful man with a heavy, but not too broken accent.  Joy flowed from his voice as he brought us to a clearing on the path, and there before us stood the face of a man, carved in the rock.  Actually, it was not intended to be a face, but the place where Jesus was crucified was known as the “Skull”.  And, you could clearly see a forehead, eyes and nose.  This was the place and it was if the eyes consumed in the rock were staring at each of us.

Hank recounted the scriptures where Jesus was crucified.  He humbly spoke of the agony that Jesus must have gone through and the powerful words He spoke.  We all sat there, some crying, some weeping, and some just staring at the eyes peering back at them.  But, all of a sudden, Hank said three loud words … It is Finished!  The final words of our King Jesus.  And, how He gave up his life for us because He loved us that much.  A mixture of emotions was evident, joy, sorrow, quiet Spirits and many smiles, knowing this wasn’t the end of the story.

From Golgotha, we walked a short distance down a path and around a bend.   We knew what we would see, but when you get there, it truly takes your breath away.   The tomb spoken about in all the Gospels was in front of us.  Carved into the limestone, it is white, not too big and with a long trough in front.  The sides of the rock walls seemed to be curved just slightly, enough to hold the heaviness of the large stone rolled in the doorway.

It was the Garden Tomb where Jesus was laid.  Hank continued on and spoke of what happened from the time Jesus gave up His Spirit, to wrapping His body quickly and just laid in the tomb, to be tended to later.   But, as we know, a miracle happened in those few days, a miracle that will change lives forever. Each of us was able to enter the tomb to see the layout and especially the place where Jesus was laid.  But, the greatest feeling of Joy we know is that in this tomb, no body is there.  And, on the door, the familiar words – He is Not Here – He Is Risen!

Every emotion was spent this day.  And, for many, it was a day of mourning, repentance and forgiveness.  But at the end, we knew the truth that was before us, He is Risen, Indeed!

We gathered together near the tomb, in a garden spot reserved for us.  Glenn led us in a time of beautiful worship.  As we sang to our King, other groups that were visiting the tomb sang similar songs.  At one time, there were three groups praising God, in three different languages.  What a special and unforgettable moment in time.

We continued to sing and celebrate communion at the very place the great miracle of all took place.  It was a perfect ending to this day and a perfect beginning for those that may have come to Christ during our time together.  Imagine taking communion for the very first time at the tomb.  What an amazing blessing that must have been!

We gathered our thoughts and with hearts filled with joy, walked back to the bus to go to the hotel.   But, we soon found out, the night was not over yet.   We had a “date” at the Citadel, a fortress-like setting in the Temple area.  John described it as a laser show but it was far from a laser show.

Now, if you’ve been there, you know it is something that cannot be described in words, but I’ll try.  The night was absolutely perfect.  The sunset was extraordinary (Jeanette got a great picture of it) and the moon was bright and filled the sky.  Again, it was comfortably cool, a welcome change from the heat of the day.   Sitting in the midst of the massive stone walls that surrounded us, we could only imagine what this would be like.  Soon, the sound system was engaged and we were brought back in time, when Jerusalem was born.  The images that covered the walls, surrounding arches, walkways and tower were filled with color and contour.  It was if we were sitting in the midst of ancient Israel and all around were images of the past – in full color vibrant on the towering rocks.  The unspoken story told of the city’s many sieges, destruction and rebuilding.  The music was the amazing surround sound ever!  At times, we just stared like children, holding our breath at some parts, mesmerized at others.  An outstanding event that everyone just loved!  It’s so hard to describe, and if you do go to Israel someday, this is a MUST on the ticket.  A powerful picture of God’s love for His holy city and His people.  And, the final image on the walls was a simple statement …. Pray for the peace of Jerusalem.  And, I know that everyone there that night was moved at this request.

As we left, we realized that tomorrow would be different.  Six of us (including myself) are heading back to the States on Wednesday, while the others head to Petra and some much needed R&R for a few days.

Today was such a memorable day and night.  And, as we head to dinner and then bed, our hearts are souring with new truths, new love and new understanding of the greatest sacrifice ever – Jesus Christ, our King forever.

For me, it was if the pages of the Bible have now become alive, even more than before.  Not are they just words on the page, but the pages have became a God-filled, 3-D picture book, the kind parents love to share with their children.  Each page now has more color, more depth and more understanding than ever before.  And, I know for everyone, they will each have their own personal experience to take away from this amazing journey and share it with everyone they can!

Sweet Shalom to you all … as our journey continues we say Toda (Thank you) to God for all He has shown us, given us and will continue to show us in the days ahead.   Blessings,  Diane & Jeanette

Wow, what an absolutely incredible week this has been. Jeanette said it was a “Devotion of Reality” and that is so true.  Today, is the most beautiful morning here in Jerusalem.  The cool mornings are delightful and the blue skies continue to greet us each day.  Blessing upon blessing; each day better than the next.

Another full schedule today, and although our feet ache from the miles walked yesterday, we are still ready to go at 7:45 a.m.  If I haven’t mentioned it before, the group is bonding closer and closer.  We really love each other and love experiencing this appointed time chosen just for us.  Today, we head back down to the Temple Mount, but are making a left turn outside the Dung Gate.  We are visiting the City of David this morning, the preserved ruins of King David’s home, years and years ago.  And, we have learned that not only is there a city preserved, but an intricate underground tunnel called Hezekiah’s Tunnel, where the water supply for the entire town was stored.  Abraham separated us like the “sheep & goats” and eight of us raised their hands to go into the tunnel that still had water flowing through it, some as high as their waists.  I was not one of those brave souls, but those that went said it was “awesome” and so “interesting”.  The rest of us enjoyed the dry land, but had to squeeze through the small caverns twisting and turning underneath the once-city.  Once outside, we saw the others emerge from the cave, Jill, Christopher, Dave and a few others, pants wet, but smiling about their experience.  What a great way to start the day.

As we talked with those drying out, we realized that our next visit would be an incredible and personal part of this journey.  We all know the story about Jesus at Gethsemane the night of his arrest, but to really see the grove, the olive trees and be led into the garden was almost surreal.  We gathered at the far end of the grove and bowed our heads in prayer.  Although there was construction all around us and horns beeping at the traffic, God just pulled a veil of privacy over our group as we listened in when John recounted that night as it was recorded in all four Gospels.  He pieced together a night of anguish and sorrow, but ultimately, our Lord Jesus chose to take God’s full wrath for each of us (and you too!) when He said “not my will, but yours be done.”  As John closed his Bible, each of us found a quiet place amongst the trees to share some time with Jesus.  I don’t know what was said, prayed or cried out, but know for myself, it was one of the most powerful times I’ve ever spent with my Lord.  A time I (and everyone else here) will never forget.  And, with our hearts filled with thanks, we left this place of solitude undoubtedly changed from the experience.

After gathering our thoughts, we were again back on the bus at the Temple Mount.  This time, we saw where the Jews were once again ousted from their homes, and their cities taken over and destroyed by others.  The marketplace where we stood had been a pile of rubble just 40 years ago.  But today, it has been rebuilt, and is flourishing.  There were people from so many nations conversing in the square.  And, we were so excited to see three Bar Mitzvah celebrations traveling through the streets. (We found out that children do not go to school on Monday, Thursday or Saturday).  There was such joy with every family passing and we joined in to clap and become, even for a few short moments, one in family with them.

We were all given free passes for lunch, so where do you go in the Jewish Quarter of town?   The local hamburger joint, of course.  Actually, there was pizza, bar-be-que, ham/lamburgers and assorted goodies for dessert. And, shops of all kinds!   It was a magnificent day and fun afternoon as we ventured free for a few hours!

After lunch, we had an appointment at the Temple Institute – a place with the artifacts and implements that are to be used for the next Temple are being created and stored.  The large pieces of gold, bronze and copper were behind sealed glass and we saw others first hand as the guide explained the promise of the Temple to come.  It was all very interesting and those there at the institute are anticipating the completion of the next Temple in the future … but, only God knows when?

From the Temple Institute, we headed to the Israel Museum where incredible replicas of the second Temple and surrounding cities, countryside and villages had been laid out.  Wow! It was so great to understand the entire land layout, see the Temple and the porticoes and vision the night Jesus was betrayed and was brought from place to place, before his was handed over the Pontius Pilate.  It was a helpful visit and as we continue on, a good one for everyone who comes to Israel to see.

Another part of the Institute was some of the original Dead Sea Scrolls that were retained there.  The exhibit was just beautiful and laid out for all to view the parchment that the scribes left behind.  Seeing where the scrolls were found just a few days ago and actually viewing some of them today was certainly icing on a great cake of joy we’ve been sharing together.

And, speaking of together, we headed back to the hotel about 5:00 p.m., early for us.  Some are going swimming, others relaxing before dinner and still others may venture into the shops around us to check them out.  Whatever we all do, we will once again gather as brothers and sisters for dinner in a little bit, break bread and talk about the day.  God has joined us as a special family this past week and it truly is time of giving great thanks for the days we’ve been here and the days ahead.

Tomorrow will be a day that will stir out hearts for sure.  But before then, a good night’s sleep is on the horizon as we wish you Layla Tov for now (Good Night).   Diane

As we woke this morning, we knew it would be a day of great emotion and wonder.  Some called it the “intense” part of our tour; others knew it would be very personal and special to see the sites planned for us.

After a delicious breakfast of eggs, fruit, marvelous breads and homemade jams, we ventured out at 7:15 a.m. for a long, but worthwhile day.   The air was comfortably cool this morning, maybe just 60 degrees with a stiff breeze.  But, considering we are in Israel in May, it was another special blessing for our group.

First stop today is the Temple Mount.  As we drove from our hotel, we saw the typical postcard picture of Jerusalem.  White houses and shoppes stacked up on steep sloops and there in the middle rose the gleaming “gold” dome.  As we passed hrough security, we sat in the center of the first court and Abraham shared with us the history of the temples, their destruction and how the Muslim mosques all around this place were built.  He also retold the story of how Mary & Joseph would have visited the temple in their day to dedicate Jesus as a baby.   And, we laughed about how after Jesus was bar mitzvah’d, his parents left without him, and how Mary probably just blamed Joseph for that mishap!  As a group, we have shared wonderful laughter, (especially at Steve’s puns) and have helped each other to keep up, keep warm or to share a hug at the right time.  It is a bonding I can’t explain, but do love it as do the others.

We took the typical pictures in front of the Dome of the Rock and walked around it, feeling a little unnerved and for some, very uncomfortable.  We viewed the inscriptions at the top of the building and John pointed out some strange images carved into the walls.  It was very eerie and we decided to move on, for there was no reason for us to remain in that place.

As we continued on, we soon found ourselves staring at the Eastern Gates, also known as the Golden Gate.  Understanding the importance of this place was discussed and each of us knew that one day, our Lord Jesus would walk through these same gates when He returns.  It was God-bumps on the arms all around.  They were sealed up and had fences around them, but we all knew that would never stop our Lord from coming back.  Hallelujah!

We rounded the bend and found ourselves in an area of tall buildings, with steps that reached far down below, the Pools of Bethesda.  It was where Jesus healed the lame man in John 5 and for many, the emotion of that healing was overwhelming.  John read the entire passage to us and we then gathered around each other, lifting those specifically in our group up for healing and salvation.  The tears flowed freely as the sweet Spirit of God was amongst us. Praying at that place for our loved ones, our friends and our group was another very special moment for each of us.  And, we thank YOU for your prayers too, as we continue on this amazing journey.

Once we had finished our time of prayer and dried our tears, we entered into a church nearby that had the most amazing natural acoustic sound ever.  All 37 of us gathered on the front steps and sang How Great Thou Art. It was the most beautiful, harmonic and tender lyrical rendition I have ever heard.  After each phrase, for a second or two, the sound bounced off the billowing ceiling and rang back to us, as if we were a chime or bell choir.  It’s so indescribable to be able to hear that melody lifted high to the heavens in such a poignant place.  Something we’ll never forget.  And, as we started to leave, we turned to find Steve, John D. and Abraham (our guide) singing together the stanzas from Jerusalem.  Many of us had to bring the tissues back out.  A truly remarkable gift for each of us to see., hear and share

From the Pools, we walked down a steep street that normally would have taken us back to our bus.  But, God had something else in mind for us.   Abraham took us aside and said he was going to take us somewhere that 99% of the other groups do not go.  In a moment, he showed us a small gate that led into a cemetery and in a few minutes, we stood on the outside of the Eastern Gates staring right at the place where Jesus will enter.  We were so incredibly blessed and thanked him for understanding the importance of what this meant for each of us and for allowing us to come there.

Back on the bus for a short drive to the Mount of Olives.  We spent quite a bit of time sharing scriptures, learning more history about the Temple and Jerusalem and looking at the length of the Temple that was before us.  We then started down the narrow and winding pathway known as the Palm Sunday Road.  This is where Jesus rode the unbroken colt down through the Eastern Gate in his triumphant entry (Luke 19:35).   A memory will we all treasure for the rest of our lives.

We took a break for lunch at a little shop of a friend of Abraham’s.  He sold beautiful jewelry and unique woodcarvings from olive trees.  We were treated to Shawarma, a regional favorite and “George”, the owner, was incredibly hospitable.  A nice Christian-Arab we enjoyed our visit very much.

Heading back to the Temple, we entered through the Dung Gate (and it was ironic that it did have a bad smell nearby!).  We viewed a movie on the pilgrimage that many Jews took throughout history to offer their sacrifices once a year.  We saw ruins of ritual baths that the Jews would cleanse themselves in before entering the Temple.   Boy, the things we have learned, seen, tasted and heard continue to overwhelm us, and it keeps getting better and better.

We stepped outside the museum that housed the artifacts and a brilliant blue sky, dotted with a couple of clouds greeted us.  We were at the Southern part of the Temple and found ourselves looking at the Southern Steps.  Now, each of us had known there could be places that Jesus actually walked.   But here, at this place, there is not doubt about it.  He DID walk here, up and down the steps many times going to the Temple for one reason or another.  We sat down and had a wonderful time of Bible study in the book of Ephesians (2:10).  For about 20 minutes, God’s Word flowed across those steps … and in our hearts.  Even Abraham seemed interested in what was being taught, and it was one of the most powerful messages I’ve every heard.  To sit there, on the steps looking out over Jerusalem and understanding the importance of praying for them, was very evident.   And, this study was just perfect to prepare us for what was next.

We walked back the to the Temple and soon found ourselves in front of the Wailing Wall.  Yes, we had all seen pictures or heard stories of the Wall, but to be there to see the mass of people praying in their own languages is quite stirring.

Each of us was given time to move to the wall (men and women had different places to go) and offer up prayers, petitions, needs and anything else brought to our hearts.  For many, it was overwhelming and to place a prayer in the cracks of the walls was something we never thought we would do.  But, also knowing that we don’t have to go to the Wall to pray, that God is here with us always, is also so very comforting.

Another incredibly powerful image of prayer and the power of it in our lives.

After some time at the Wall, we took a tour of the tunnels that run underneath the Wall and other parts of the temple.  It was a fascinating walk under the mountain that hovers above us.  And, the construction of the massive floors, walls and arches is so great; another picture of incredible workmanship from years gone by.

And, speaking of gone by, it was now time for us to say goodbye to the Temple for today.  We gathered back on the bus and headed for our hotel on the outskirts of Jerusalem.  We enjoyed a feast for dinner and the salads, breads and desserts are really great.  We have eaten well my friends, but after a very long day (almost 12 hours) we deserved it!

A good night’s sleep is in order since tomorrow we are visiting many more places, including Gethsemane.

We miss you all and thank you for your prayers.  For tonight, a sweet Shalom and blessings!   Diane

We have been so blessed on this tour.  We have learned along the way, we cannot call it a vacation or a trip; it is a true life-changing event in each of our lives.  At this point, we are on overload from the things we have seen, the lessons we have learned, the miracles we have heard about, and the evidence of truth we have witnessed.  Today, we leave the lush, green valley of the Jordan Valley, and head south toward the Dead Sea.  The drive will be long and we start to see in the distance a great mountain range, void of color.  We see the trees and grass disappeared and is replaced with rock, brush and sand.  It’s a different Israel we are seeing as we travel on.  We pass by the city of Jericho and hear the chapters about how it was conquered.  The story of Rehab the harlot is shared and we now understand the significance of her life being spared.

Soon, we start to see in the distance the Dead Sea, formally known as the Salt Sea.  It is the lowest place on Earth, 1310 feet below sea level.  The sea is 50 miles long by 11 miles wide at certain points.  It is 1,290 feet deep and the mineral count is as high as 33%.

It is a hazy, hot day and the sea is shrouded in a mist so the colors aren’t as vibrant as we had seen in recent pictures.  But, it is a sight to behold, and stretches as far as we can see.  Journeying on, we passed the Mountains of Gilead where another miracle of battle was gifted to Gideon and his men.  We are really here, really seeing the places we had just read in the Bible.  It’s absolutely remarkable!

On to Masada, an immense plateau of great significance.  By now, it was hot in the late morning sun, but we moved onto a large cable car to ride to the pinnacle of the mountain.  For the next 90 seconds, we held our breath as the car glided upwards, and we marveled at the landscape below.  Again, WOW, what a view!  At the top, we exhaled and wandered into the most impressive ruins of another palatial refuge of Herod the Great.  We saw storehouses, baths, houses, synagogue, kitchens, cisterns and at the very tip of the plateau, the foundation of the palace that stood on the edge of the ledge … another illustration of incredible workmanship, architecture and planning.  It must have been the most beautiful place to see, and God has preserved some of it for us to walk through today.

From our group, we had 12 brave souls that decided to walk down the mountain, instead of taking the cable car back.  It was very hot, very dusty and we prayed for their protection.  We loaded them up with water and soon they were on their way.  We headed back to the main building and soon after, the wandering 12 joined us for lunch. They enjoyed their walk and although hot, said it was worth it!

From the majesty of Masada, we headed to En Gedi, where the famous encounter between Saul & David was in the caves.  Looking at the caves embedded in the rocks, we were so excited to see a family of ibex descending down the side of the hill.  We were frozen in our tracks and Abraham pointed out how blessed we were, they don’t come out often.  It was so cool!!

Many continued on the path to visit waterfalls and ponds. A beautiful trip in a beautiful place.  From Ed Gedi, we moved on to Quorum, where the Dead Sea Scrolls were found.  The story is quite remarkable about a young Bedouin boy, looking for his goat, found the scrolls in preserved jars.  We walked through the foundations of the compound that once stood here and saw one of the caves right in front of us.  We are reminded of the dedication of the Essene Scribes who copied the scriptures and saw the implements they used.  Replicas of the scrolls were on the walls and we were filled with discussion about what we had learned.

After a short movie about the scrolls, a most important part of the trip was about to take place … shopping!!  Yes, Abraham finally allowed us 50 whole minutes to shop in the gift shop where we enjoyed testing many of the salts and lotions from the Dead Sea and valley below.  We had lots of fun and many of us are going to smell really good tonight!

The ride into Jerusalem was now underway.  We passed by wild camels, donkeys on stark wilderness mountains.  We see the town of Bethany in the distance and are now in Saturday rush hour traffic.  We should be in our hotel soon and know that the night will be filled with picture exchanges, a good dinner, some rest & relaxation.  After a very long day in the hot sun, it will be a welcomed sight!

We entered into a tunnel on the highway and the lights were darkened in the bus.  All of a sudden, music filled the bus – a song called Jerusalem.  It was filling our hearts and our many of us just cried.  As you come out of the darkened tunnel, you see the heart of Jerusalem in front of you.  Houses were crammed everywhere, temples gleaming in the sun, the white limestone just beautiful.  A tremendous welcome to us visitors and we felt our hearts jump for joy!

Abraham had shared a very special time of welcoming us to Jerusalem (his home town) and shared a special (and personal) blessing as we disembarked the bus.  We stood overlooking Jerusalem and he poured a glass of juice for each of us.  And, we shared a blessing together and then he said a special blessing for each of us.  It was an overwhelming moment.  We know how blessed we have been these past few days and how God has protected us on our journey.

Tomorrow, we’ll visit many sites in the Holy City.  We can’t wait!

Layla Tov for now (Good Night),  Diane

As we woke up today, many of us were blessed as we saw the sunrise over the Sea of Galilee, right outside our balconies.  What a sight it was and with it is the constant reminder that God’s mercies are new every morning.  We have been blessed greatly on this trip and so far, are all well and we have escaped any evidence of jet lag.  We venture out early today to go to Capernaum, the town that Jesus visited frequently and also the home of Peter.  The weather is perfect today, mid-70s, a little breeze and not a cloud in the sky.  As we pull into the lot, another great blessing … we are the first ones here.  Touring through this ancient city, we see countless sculptures and carvings that once graced lintels of houses.  We moved to an odd-shaped, almost spaceship looking building.  Underneath this structure is Peter’s home, where he lived with his family and mother-in-law.  The house is tiny, round with a few large rooms.  No luxury of any kind, exceptionally humble.  But, to realize that in this home, Jesus healed Peter’s mother-in-law, just takes your breath away.  Across the way, we examine the foundation of a home that may be similar to the one that the paralytic man was hoisted to the roof and lower into the main room for another healing, by our Christ Jesus.  Amazing to think how many that lived here felt the touch of Jesus and were witnesses to His healing power.  As we continued on, we were on the floor of the local temple, a grand and beautiful site.  Columns still stand and the marble of the floors intact.  Actually, John pointed out that this temple has been built on top of another structure, possibly the temple that Jesus visited many time while in Capernaum.  And, Pastor John learned the hard way that temple doorways were not so tall, as he bumped his head on the door post and we think the temple actually shook … but, he’s good and the only temple that was hurt was his own.  We looked into the house ruins and saw millstones, olive presses, wells and large pots. It was if they are just standing still in time.

We found a quiet grove of trees and John taught the scriptures about many healings that took place in this area and also how Matthew, a tax collector with prominence status, left everything and followed Jesus.  That is a miracle we overlook something, but one of great importance.

On to Tel Dan and the most beautiful place as the Jordan River flows through it.  As we enter into the Tel, we see a stream on one side cascading at a furious pace.  The same river splits off and creates a quiet pool of restful water just on the other side.  The same source, but two very different end results.  From the restfulness of the river, we start to climb to find our first gate that would be outside the city.  These gates are those spoken about in the Bible where the leaders were sit, converse and make important decisions.  And, the stones were intact and the wall very high, well built construction to this day.  We passed by more gates and finally ended up at the “high place” where representations of a sacrificial alter has been created.  It’s so big, so wide and would need to be to hold the many animals slaughtered.  John spoke about how, within just one generation of the people that established their homes there, they turned from God and with that came horrific idol worship and debauchery.  A lesson for each of us to remember.

Our journey continues we visit a region called Caesarea Philippi.  There, we find ruins of several ancient temples and an immense cave.  In days long ago, this cave was where sacrifices were thrown into it. It is eerily ominous and very large.  We heard how an earthquake has now blocked the entrance to the cave – its name is also known as The Gates of Hell.  At one time, there was water flowing everywhere.  We saw graves were sacrificial goats were laid and saw tiled sidewalks and other remnants.  As a group, we took a moment to make our video for Sunday service.  We had a good laugh with our guide Abraham, who seems to be enjoying the group very much!

Lunch was in a Drews village across from Mt. Hermon, the most prominent mountain in this part of the land.  It overlooked a very large crater filled with beautiful water.  A perfect spot to stop for lunch.  We munched on falafels, schnitzels and salads.  Great stuff and the cats that we everywhere feasted on our leftovers – very lucky kitties!

Back on the bus and on to a Mount Bental.  Abraham spoke on the historical wars in Israel as we looked over the landscape high upon a great plateau.  There were remains of bunkers used in the wars and he told us about each event and how miraculously God preserves His land and His people.

Since today is Friday, we needed to get on the road early to get to our hotel before Shabbat started.  We passed through the Golan Heights and saw where towns had been destroyed and fields burned.  It was a stark reminder of how fragile this land is and how much those that surround it want to claim it, one way or another.  But, God remains faithful and we continue to see the evidence of it everywhere we have been.

We soon pulled into our hotel in Tiberius and many enjoyed a swim, while others went shopping or just took a short nap.  Dinner was outstanding, even better than the night before (we have eaten well!) and the conversation at the tables is so enjoyable

Before we turned in, we were again blessed as we found ourselves a little hideaway cafe in the hotel.  Glenn brought his guitar and we had some time to worship, prayer, praising God and spoke of the special moments were have been given.  A special time set aside just for us.

On to a good night’s sleep and preparation to head to Jerusalem tomorrow.  Shalom and Sweet Blessing!  Diane

Until you are here, you may think that Israel is a desert land, void of color and beauty.  But, God has blessed this land abundantly.  And, we saw that abundance as we started our second day here in Israel.  On the road by 7:30 am, we were heading to some of the most luscious valleys in this part of the world.  The contrast of color of the fields is so spectacular!  The green is vibrant, the gold of the wheat fields is sparkling in the sun.  We saw fruit trees everywhere we went.  Mangoes, bananas, pomegranates and oranges are in full bloom.  And, the flowers are dotting every road and highway.  A beautiful place to see; God’s beautiful place to share with you!

Our first stop of the day is Beit Shean, an ancient city, preserved for us to learn about the years so long ago.  As you round the bend of the parking area, you immediately stop in your tracks at the magnificent view before you.  Majestic columns of white limestone still stood tall and the maze of houses that once stood stretch from one end to the other.  A great amphitheatre, with original seats (hard as a rock!) that must have held the entire town was to your right.  The workmanship of how they laid the stone upon stone is just amazing. The foundation of the stage remains and we saw cutouts in the rock that would have housed the royals of the day. We worked our way past the theatre to one of the most important places in this city.  The public toilets!  We giggled as we sat side by side on the “thrones” of stone, only imagining (thankfully) would it would be like. Understanding that this place was a privileged place, a place of gathering together that seemed strange to us, but also helped to draw us into the time that this city stood.  We could see roads of great marble and intricate tile works, amazingly preserved for us to walk on.  You see remnants of shops, houses, bath houses, baptismal founts and even “cat” houses, and not the meowing kind!  There were decorative tiled paintings of woman designating the spot of man’s sinful nature, common and in the open.  We learned about how this once beautiful city was taken over and decimated by man, and then in 732 BC, a tremendous earthquake took its toll.  Columns still lay in the same position the fell and stone upon stone piled up high litter the streets.  And, in this historic place, we looked in the distance to see where Saul and his sons died in battle and their heads were cut off and hanged in this city for all to see (1 Chronicles 10).

From this place of sin and great deceitful ways, we traveled a short bus ride to a place of wonderful significance for all believers.  We left the bus, walked down a short dirt path and soon were standing on a field where the Sermon of the Mount was taught (Matthew 5).  For many of us, tears flowed freely (as they are now as I write this) to think that we were standing where our Lord Jesus once stood.  To recognize the power of His teachings was so evident.  We gathered around and held the familiar beatitudes, wondering what it was like. The natural beauty of the Sea of Galilee behind us, the amplification of sound traveling through the air, and the multitudes that came to hear Jesus speak must have been a sight to see.  We were blessed at that moment as John read and taught us from the book of Matthew.

Another spot we visited was the Church of the Primarcy of St. Peter’s Church that houses a large rock.  The rock might very well be the same rock that Jesus stood on after his resurrection, as he waited on the shore for the disciples to come back from fishing.  And, as he watched and told them to “throw the net on the other side”, the 153 fish were caught and another miracle performed.  This place is close to the edge of the Sea of Galilee, where we dipped our toes in the calm water and picked up a few rocks on our way to the “Demon Pig Jump (Mark 5), the story of the demon-possessed man, the legion of demons that left him, and how they plunged down a cliff and into the Sea.  We looked at the landscape around us, and yes, this could have been that spot!  It’s so amazing how the Bible has now become fresh, alive and filled with God’s truth as we stop from place to place.

From here, we had lunch at En Gev at a kibbutz that is known for its “Peter’s Fish”.  Wow!!  The food was great, the breeze was picking up from the Sea, and it was a delightful time of fellowship.  And, for those that didn’t like fish, they could have pizza, go figure!

Our lunches were devoured and now on to the other side of water for a boat ride on the Sea of Galilee.  The Sea is a mix of blue and green, with small white caps on the surface.  It is 8 miles wide (at points) and 12 miles long and can be very deep.  The wooden boats carried us out into the sea and American flag was hoisted next to the Israeli one that flew high about the cross beam of the boat.  A very poignant moment.  The boat glided over the water, which was much choppier than when we saw it before lunch.  A weather front came in and the waves were up, the boat was rocking and thankfully God sustained during the ride!  An interesting picture of what the storm the disciples and Jesus encountered on this sea so many years ago.  There apparently was a “splash zone” in the right/front of the boat that no one told us about, and soon, Jeanette, Bev, Diane, John and Joe were soaking wet!  Laughing, giggling and taking pictures of those of us “baptized” in the sea was so great.  It was if God was sprinkling us, preparing for an even greater baptism scheduled later this day.

As we stopped the boat, John spoke of the great storm recorded in the Gospels.  It was a powerful image of how Jesus is with us in every storm, and will help get us through each and every one.

The boat soon docked and we entered into the Jesus Boat museum.  In 2000, a boat was uncovered by the shores of the Sea of Galilee and through a meticulous and delicate process, it was raised and restored and on display for us today.  Stoch said how thankful he was that God allowed this boat to be found, to bring a little bit of history for us to see.  Quite a remarkable site to see.

Our final stop of the day was perhaps the most profound of the trip so far. We headed to the Jordan River to a quiet place of refuge for a baptism.  As John & Mark entered in the warm water, 21 of us took a step of obedience, repentance and dedication to our Lord Jesus.  We had a chance to share small testimonies before we were baptized.  The world stood still for us at this time as God opened hearts, brought tears and shared His perfect love with each of us.  Husbands and wives joined together as they held each other, spoke of God’s grace and allowed John to baptize them together.  For others, we stood amongst the group with hands and hearts joined as each person was baptized and given great testimony for our changed lives.

The sun was setting and we headed to our second hotel and were delighted with the accommodations.  With the Sea of Galilee outside our balconies, we continue to give great thanks for this opportunity to see, witness and learn more about God than we ever thought.  Our dinner was absolutely delicious as we tried some new foods, some luscious desserts and a good cup of coffee!  An end to another perfect day in Israel.

Until tomorrow, a sweet Shalom!  Diane

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