We woke in Amman, Jordan, to another clear day as we headed to the 4 checkpoints necessary to return to Israel. This would be about an hour drive. We could see Mt. Nebo, the highest peak across from Jericho, at Pisnah. We waited a LONG time to clear the border on a hot bus with no air going. However, my new "sister" and I talked the whole time so I barely noticed. We became deep friends in that little time; I felt so blessed by her friendship as Gary & I both did with a small group of people we had interacted with and prayed with throughout the trip. We left the border around 11:45 am with another 40-min. drive ahead to Jerusalem.
We ate lunch at a Lebanese restaurant. The food was authentic and delicious. Their eggplant was in some sweet red sauce, different from all the other eggplant dishes we had enjoyed. Then we returned to The Olive Tree, out hotel. It was the Sabbath for all of the Jews, so all of their shops and restaurants were closed.
The rest of the day was incredible and these words won't begin to explain what we were taught and saw for ourselves. Robert, the NTS president, asked if anyone wanted to go back to the Mt. of Olives before leaving. Everyone needed to pack, but we were not going to miss the chance. Just a small group went. That made things even nicer! So, at 1:30pm we boarded the bus and returned to the overlook of the whole city. There Robert gave us an amazing teaching. Altogether he gave us 4 teachings in 4 places on the Mt. of Olives. He showed us how Jerusalem is probably the Garden of Eden and where the Tree of Life and the Tree of Good and Evil were probably located; about how Abraham almost sacrificed Isaac there; about Jesus dying there; and about how Jesus is returning there. Completion. He also mentioned something about the red heifer there, which I am not familiar with. Of course, he gave facts about the FOUR rivers that define the Garden of Eden. One of the rivers, I think it is the Araba River, was discovered 30 years ago. It is underground.. And, he gave the scriptures supporting all of his points. I want to get this teaching again. I think he has it posted online.
A friend of his, Zeb, and his wife Linn (who are missionaries to Jerusalem) joined us. They took us to the spot that probably is the real Golgatha, the place of the Skull. He gave the explanations. Nothing has ever been built on this spot. People have tried but had no success. It is just an empty paved parking lot now, littered with trash. However, they said it is the most expensive piece of land in Jerusalem. They felt that it was being protected. Zeb had been given a word of knowledge from God about the true site of the tomb of Joseph of Arimathea. We went there. It was only about 200 meters from where the family would have stayed overnight. It was a MUCH more appropriate distance for Mary to cross and then run back to the other disciples. She ran back and forth and back again. The traditional spots that are claimed would have her running well over a mile down into a deep valley and back up over and over. The time element wouldn't even work with scripture, if that were true. Anyway, inside Joseph of Arimathea's tomb, we were all given another message & then we had the opportunity to go right into the spot where Jesus lay. I put my hands upon the rock where he would have lain, and I prayed in that spot. Only a few of us were there at a time. Eventually, someone came and told others they could not go there. Today, the stone is no longer there, but Zeb said he talked to a man who verified it was removed from the spot only about 8 years ago. This place is now called Pater Nostrum, the name of a church built there to commemorate the Lord giving the disciples the Lord's Prayer. There must have been close to 100 different languages displayed with the Lord's Prayer. They took us to some back steps for another message. Imagine what we got to see and do before we left Israel: we stood in the spot of the cruxifiction and put our hands right on Jesus' grave.
As we left, two Palestinian men blocked the door to the bus. They were pick pockets. Gary had to shove them in order for him to get on the bus. They left me alone as I had not brought anything with me at all on this final trip. A man named Bill realized they had taken his phone and turned and demanded it back. They denied it at first, but Bill was firm (and he was a tall guy). Dale and Robert both had phones stolen. These phones had all of the business contacts for each of them. A spirit of alarm was rising when everyone on the bus began to pray. We were all leaving the country within 3 hrs. and it looked impossible. But, we knew that we have a God of the impossible. A man outside who knew Robert from his many trips there saw the whole thing. He ran after them. A man in a Palestinian shop nearby said he knew these thugs were Palestinian. So, the acquaintance knew a man who knew a man who knew a man. Several hours later, when we were finishing dinner back at the hotel, getting ready to board the bus to leave, the "friend" returned the phones. He had had to pay $1000 to get them! He didn't want to be reimbursed; eventually he alowed it. Dale gave him $300, the last of his money.It was an amazing answer to prayer that was prayed right there in tomb area.
We had a wonderful goodbye time with people who we had developed great friendships with. We actually hated to leave these fellow Christians whom we had come to love and respect! We had learned so much from them.
We left for the airport to get Flight 797, a 12 hr 34 min flight. The airport had about 5 places where our passports were checked. Our carry ons got checked as we got on board. Several of our group were all seated together on the plane. We realized how God had touched our hearts and minds. We had gotten to walk where Jesus had walked. We were very thankful for God's presence being so incredibly strong in so many places. Gary reviewed Psalm 120-129, how the Jewish pilgrims praised God as they ascended into Jerusalem. Now we see and understand their joy.
We landed in Philly at 4:45 am. Customs didn't even open until 5am, so we had to wait. By the time we cleared customs/immigration and were ready for our next flight, it was 6:15am. We tried to get on an earlier flight out of Phillly but it would have cost $150. So, we waited until 11:50 to go to Chicago.
We got to Chicago ahead of schedule, but it only made our wait longer. We didn't leave until 6:03pm. At boarding time, we had been traveling for 30 hrs--with still more to go.
We arrived in Ft. Wayne at 8 pm. to an awesome greeting from Joe, Heather, and three little angels. What a nice way to be welcomed home!
It took us a LONG time to adjust when we returned. Our minds were pretty much overwhelmed to the point we could not express thoughts about our experience in just a few words. I actually hoped no one would ask how the trip was for a few days. A week or two later, I was a bit better, but I still had a lot of processing to do.
This blog expressed only a fraction of our experience in the Holy Land. It was an absolutely wonderful trip, a trip of a lifetime. If you get the chance to go, look at it as an amazing blessing and prepare for it spiritually. It has changed the way we see and read the Bible. Many things are so much clearer now. It is exciting to read about all the Old Testament places and realize how close they are together and how things really took place. We praise God for that opportunity1
Saturday, February 9, 2013
Thursday, February 7, 2013
Nov. 30 Petra--absolutely amazing!
Our group gathered at 8am to walk through the Siq into the ancient city of Petra. The guide exclaimed that it was quite unusual how few groups were there. We had complete access with no crowding as we walked and tried to see everything. We were walking into a deep ravine with colorful, vertical rock walls which narrowed the walking space for long distances. The walk in was continually downhill. It had rained two days before, so the rocks of Petra had all their color. Additionally, the dust was down and we could see clearly. The guide said that that was not typical. We saw God's favor again on this trip.
Petra itself is beautiful and incredible. Only 9% of this city is excavated and that is 27 sq. miles. After walking for over an hour, the path was made of stones placed there by the Romans. They were discovered only 18 yrs. ago. Another 45 min. later, we emerged from the Siq to an amazing sight, an open area with a huge Treasury building (it is featured in an Indiana Jones movie). This not a bank, but a two-story tomb where they believed treasure had been placed with an important person's burial. It was carved out of sandstone and was very elaborate in design. The valley was wider now and there were many more buildings cut out of the rock, one after another, all beautiful and elaborate. We continued to walk another mile through the city. We saw ancient carvings of humans and camels in the rock walls, and we witnessed their elaborate system for collecting water for the city using ceramic in water channels along the walls, just another demonstration of their talent and intellect.
We climbed steps cut out of rock to high trails leading to places of sacrifice to their gods. We didn't go that far, but Gary sat on a high precipice and looked out over the whole canyon. He saw more amazing carved tombs everywhere. Along the way, there was an amphitheatre large enough to seat thousands. And, there were caves all over, some of which still housed some Bedouin who worked in Petra. (There were Bedouin all over Jordan and many, many worked inside here. Young children were peddling their wares. We were encouraged to not buy from them, but rather to tell them to go to school where they should have been. People sold everything from camel rides to jewelry, to books, to food, to chariot rides, to tapestry, to horse rides. Men were everywhere with their donkeys and horses, and continually rode back and forth to drum up trade. Often it created a circus-like atmosphere. At least twice, we saw men arguing to the point of fighting. Once a group which included one woman was seated discussing a topic heatedly. The woman apparently offered her opinion and she was ordered out of their midst instantly! Later, men with horses were competing for business, I think. They got loud and angry. Because there were few tourists that day, they were very eager to make deals and were ready to bargain with us. Tourists tended to buy those chariot & horse rides on the long walk back out--all uphill.)
Robert, the president of our touring company, gave us a wonderful biblical message at a spot along the way. He showed where it was prophesied that this thriving city would be no more because it went against Israel and rejoiced at their misfortune. I had read about this very prophecy in Obadiah before leaving on the trip. His message was mostly from Ezekiel. Within 500 yrs. the city of Sela (Petra) was gone. Now it is just a desolate tourist place. This is a strong warning to us to remember to pray for Israel and to support God's chosen people.
We walked perhaps 3 miles into Petra or more, going to the end of the ruins, climbing up into a latter era temple before we returned. That made for a long uphill journey in the heat of the day. But the light had changed and the day was much hotter and dustier. Naturally, the rocks were all different colors than before and showed new angles and edges. Needless to say, we took way too many pictures. (For me, it was important that I was touching 3000 yr old rock formations and carvings.)
We were back at our hotel by 12:45 pm for another fabulous lunch. We had some interesting interactions with the Jordanian servers and then we left for Amman, a 3 1/2 hr drive to the north.
Amman is a very modern city of 2 1/2 million people. We stayed the night in the Intercontinental. Amazing again! Everything was so authentically Jordanian and lavish. We had robes here and bath scales!!! And, there were two stools in the bathroom, not a bidet..The rooms had wonderful cups available with a heatable water pot. The tea tasted wonderful!
The next day we were headed back to Jerusalem and then on home. We thought it would be a nondescript day. However, it was probably the best day of the whole trip.
Petra itself is beautiful and incredible. Only 9% of this city is excavated and that is 27 sq. miles. After walking for over an hour, the path was made of stones placed there by the Romans. They were discovered only 18 yrs. ago. Another 45 min. later, we emerged from the Siq to an amazing sight, an open area with a huge Treasury building (it is featured in an Indiana Jones movie). This not a bank, but a two-story tomb where they believed treasure had been placed with an important person's burial. It was carved out of sandstone and was very elaborate in design. The valley was wider now and there were many more buildings cut out of the rock, one after another, all beautiful and elaborate. We continued to walk another mile through the city. We saw ancient carvings of humans and camels in the rock walls, and we witnessed their elaborate system for collecting water for the city using ceramic in water channels along the walls, just another demonstration of their talent and intellect.
We climbed steps cut out of rock to high trails leading to places of sacrifice to their gods. We didn't go that far, but Gary sat on a high precipice and looked out over the whole canyon. He saw more amazing carved tombs everywhere. Along the way, there was an amphitheatre large enough to seat thousands. And, there were caves all over, some of which still housed some Bedouin who worked in Petra. (There were Bedouin all over Jordan and many, many worked inside here. Young children were peddling their wares. We were encouraged to not buy from them, but rather to tell them to go to school where they should have been. People sold everything from camel rides to jewelry, to books, to food, to chariot rides, to tapestry, to horse rides. Men were everywhere with their donkeys and horses, and continually rode back and forth to drum up trade. Often it created a circus-like atmosphere. At least twice, we saw men arguing to the point of fighting. Once a group which included one woman was seated discussing a topic heatedly. The woman apparently offered her opinion and she was ordered out of their midst instantly! Later, men with horses were competing for business, I think. They got loud and angry. Because there were few tourists that day, they were very eager to make deals and were ready to bargain with us. Tourists tended to buy those chariot & horse rides on the long walk back out--all uphill.)
Robert, the president of our touring company, gave us a wonderful biblical message at a spot along the way. He showed where it was prophesied that this thriving city would be no more because it went against Israel and rejoiced at their misfortune. I had read about this very prophecy in Obadiah before leaving on the trip. His message was mostly from Ezekiel. Within 500 yrs. the city of Sela (Petra) was gone. Now it is just a desolate tourist place. This is a strong warning to us to remember to pray for Israel and to support God's chosen people.
We walked perhaps 3 miles into Petra or more, going to the end of the ruins, climbing up into a latter era temple before we returned. That made for a long uphill journey in the heat of the day. But the light had changed and the day was much hotter and dustier. Naturally, the rocks were all different colors than before and showed new angles and edges. Needless to say, we took way too many pictures. (For me, it was important that I was touching 3000 yr old rock formations and carvings.)
We were back at our hotel by 12:45 pm for another fabulous lunch. We had some interesting interactions with the Jordanian servers and then we left for Amman, a 3 1/2 hr drive to the north.
Amman is a very modern city of 2 1/2 million people. We stayed the night in the Intercontinental. Amazing again! Everything was so authentically Jordanian and lavish. We had robes here and bath scales!!! And, there were two stools in the bathroom, not a bidet..The rooms had wonderful cups available with a heatable water pot. The tea tasted wonderful!
The next day we were headed back to Jerusalem and then on home. We thought it would be a nondescript day. However, it was probably the best day of the whole trip.
Tuesday, February 5, 2013
Nov. 29 Off to Jordan, Mt. Nebo, and Petra
We took off for Jordan on this sunny, clear morning. As we headed to the border, it was all downhill driving to 500 ft. below sea level. Yosef was our new guide. The desert here was not green or growing anything.
Once we hit the Israeli checkpoint, the waiting began. We arrived at 7:40 a.m., but the Allenby Bridge (the crossing) didn't open until 8 am. We sat there for 30 minutes or more, observing workers waiting to cross. The traffic got crazy here with trucks parked all around, buses in line, and cars pulling in and forging to the front. Workers stood in the roadway, smoking and talking. Soon, two men started to argue. Then later, the "foreman" argued with the security leader. Others had to kindly grab him and walk him away. It was interesting to watch men from this culture and how they interacted.
Then we went to the Jordanian border. Here, we got our boarding passes then went to security then to the new bus. Each stage required checking of passports. I asked the Jordanian men guarding there to unlock the restrooms on the outside of the building. They had to get a "head" man who did. They were very friendly. Then we sat and waited some more. We then proceeded over the Allenby Bridge (named for Gen. Allenby of Britain who fought off the Ottoman Turks here in WWI). The bridge is now re-named King Hussein Bridge. On the way to the checkpoint, we went through a military zone. Everything was set for war. We saw many bunkers along the way. Pulling into the checkpoint, we saw many trucks with 50 caliber guns mounted on them. This small town had many rent-a-car shops, one after another, after another. A guard came on board the bus to count us and take passports. Some luggage was removed from the bus; it turned out to be ours and two of our new friends. They were opened and returned, once all of the passports were eventually returned again. We got a new guide, a Christian Jordanian named Michele. The women tried to go to the restroom here. It was a hoot!! The lady inside asked which type of toilet we wanted. One type turned out to be a hole in the floor. There was no toilet tissue, but the lady was handing out 1 small square. It was quite an ordeal as the ladies squatted over this hole, because they had on slacks--no skirts--which would not get out of the way. Then there was a hose available. We didn't know what it was for, for sure. Was it for flushing? We later decided it was also for Muslim ladies to clean and air dry!! When we returned, I just HAD to take a picture of this toilet! At 10:30 am, we were finally finished and on our way.
We drove to Mt. Nebo, where God showed Moses the Promised Land. The road winds back and forth again and again in tight "S" curves to reach the top of the mountain. On top was an awesome view of the Land of Milk and Honey. We were blessed with an especially clear view that day and could see Jerusalem afar off at the top of a mountain, Jericho at the base in the Jordan River valley, the Dead Sea, Amman to the north, etc. Robert of NTS gave us scripture to read aloud and he talked about Moses, Jacob, and Joshua. We discovered that Jacob was 97 when he wrestled the angel! This spot was the end of the road for Moses. He was not allowed to go into the Promised Land. He died close to Mt. Nebo. No one knows where. The River Jordan, which we were looking at in the distance, stopped flowing from the mouth of the Dead Sea, in the south, to Dan, 15 miles to the north! The valley, which was at flood stage, dried up and 2 million Jews crossed into the Promised Land with no problems.
On Mt. Nebo, they are working on an ancient church built there in honor of Moses. A large tent made of coarse goat hair was set up for people to enter and see many ancient mosaic tiles. They came from a church floor in Madaba. The stories in the pictures on the tiles indicated blessing from God and provision. These tiles pieced together to make a very large floor.
Lunch was in Madaba . They wouldn't give us water for lunch--only soda! The dessert was milk pudding with honey. This lunch didn't measure up to all the fantastic meals we had been served again and again, but it was an interesting spot along a narrow road with nearly nothing around it for miles. A truck nearby was delivering water to a business next to this. Water is very precious here.
We drove 3 hours south to Petra. We had left the mountains and were drving though a flat, open landscape.
We arrived in Petra and stayed at The Movenpick. Two weeks prior, we weren't supposed to stay at this super luxurious place. However, the owner had had enough cancellations that he offered this hotel to us. Everything was expensive--the furniture was inlaid with mother-of-pearl, the fabrics were beautiful and fine, everywhere was quartz and marble. Our room on the 3rd floor (with a mezzanine floor below us added in) had a window that opened onto the inner court of marble tiles, gorgeous furnishings, the bustle of people walking through to the restaurant. The food there was artistic and beautiful, but they wouldn't serve hot drinks (coffee) with dinner! They had lots of chocolate desserts. The date chocolate roll was delish! All of the servers were Muslim men who interacted in a friendly way, for the most part. The food was beyond outstanding with dishes of every kind.
After dinner, we shopped on the streets of Petra. The shop keepers were very friendly, not pushy. We visited with a young man making sand bottles with designs and names in them. His English was perfect. He said he just picked it up from tourists. His brother is presently in London and his parents are in the States! We had to pass back through guards to return to the hotel. We did and then looked through the luxurious shops inside the hotel. This is a place where the elite of the world would stay. Our room had bathrobes and slippers, body gels and Dead Sea toiletries, and a refrigerator stocked with free food and drinks. We got a good night's sleep and were looking forward to going into Petra in the morning.
Once we hit the Israeli checkpoint, the waiting began. We arrived at 7:40 a.m., but the Allenby Bridge (the crossing) didn't open until 8 am. We sat there for 30 minutes or more, observing workers waiting to cross. The traffic got crazy here with trucks parked all around, buses in line, and cars pulling in and forging to the front. Workers stood in the roadway, smoking and talking. Soon, two men started to argue. Then later, the "foreman" argued with the security leader. Others had to kindly grab him and walk him away. It was interesting to watch men from this culture and how they interacted.
Then we went to the Jordanian border. Here, we got our boarding passes then went to security then to the new bus. Each stage required checking of passports. I asked the Jordanian men guarding there to unlock the restrooms on the outside of the building. They had to get a "head" man who did. They were very friendly. Then we sat and waited some more. We then proceeded over the Allenby Bridge (named for Gen. Allenby of Britain who fought off the Ottoman Turks here in WWI). The bridge is now re-named King Hussein Bridge. On the way to the checkpoint, we went through a military zone. Everything was set for war. We saw many bunkers along the way. Pulling into the checkpoint, we saw many trucks with 50 caliber guns mounted on them. This small town had many rent-a-car shops, one after another, after another. A guard came on board the bus to count us and take passports. Some luggage was removed from the bus; it turned out to be ours and two of our new friends. They were opened and returned, once all of the passports were eventually returned again. We got a new guide, a Christian Jordanian named Michele. The women tried to go to the restroom here. It was a hoot!! The lady inside asked which type of toilet we wanted. One type turned out to be a hole in the floor. There was no toilet tissue, but the lady was handing out 1 small square. It was quite an ordeal as the ladies squatted over this hole, because they had on slacks--no skirts--which would not get out of the way. Then there was a hose available. We didn't know what it was for, for sure. Was it for flushing? We later decided it was also for Muslim ladies to clean and air dry!! When we returned, I just HAD to take a picture of this toilet! At 10:30 am, we were finally finished and on our way.
We drove to Mt. Nebo, where God showed Moses the Promised Land. The road winds back and forth again and again in tight "S" curves to reach the top of the mountain. On top was an awesome view of the Land of Milk and Honey. We were blessed with an especially clear view that day and could see Jerusalem afar off at the top of a mountain, Jericho at the base in the Jordan River valley, the Dead Sea, Amman to the north, etc. Robert of NTS gave us scripture to read aloud and he talked about Moses, Jacob, and Joshua. We discovered that Jacob was 97 when he wrestled the angel! This spot was the end of the road for Moses. He was not allowed to go into the Promised Land. He died close to Mt. Nebo. No one knows where. The River Jordan, which we were looking at in the distance, stopped flowing from the mouth of the Dead Sea, in the south, to Dan, 15 miles to the north! The valley, which was at flood stage, dried up and 2 million Jews crossed into the Promised Land with no problems.
On Mt. Nebo, they are working on an ancient church built there in honor of Moses. A large tent made of coarse goat hair was set up for people to enter and see many ancient mosaic tiles. They came from a church floor in Madaba. The stories in the pictures on the tiles indicated blessing from God and provision. These tiles pieced together to make a very large floor.
Lunch was in Madaba . They wouldn't give us water for lunch--only soda! The dessert was milk pudding with honey. This lunch didn't measure up to all the fantastic meals we had been served again and again, but it was an interesting spot along a narrow road with nearly nothing around it for miles. A truck nearby was delivering water to a business next to this. Water is very precious here.
We drove 3 hours south to Petra. We had left the mountains and were drving though a flat, open landscape.
We arrived in Petra and stayed at The Movenpick. Two weeks prior, we weren't supposed to stay at this super luxurious place. However, the owner had had enough cancellations that he offered this hotel to us. Everything was expensive--the furniture was inlaid with mother-of-pearl, the fabrics were beautiful and fine, everywhere was quartz and marble. Our room on the 3rd floor (with a mezzanine floor below us added in) had a window that opened onto the inner court of marble tiles, gorgeous furnishings, the bustle of people walking through to the restaurant. The food there was artistic and beautiful, but they wouldn't serve hot drinks (coffee) with dinner! They had lots of chocolate desserts. The date chocolate roll was delish! All of the servers were Muslim men who interacted in a friendly way, for the most part. The food was beyond outstanding with dishes of every kind.
After dinner, we shopped on the streets of Petra. The shop keepers were very friendly, not pushy. We visited with a young man making sand bottles with designs and names in them. His English was perfect. He said he just picked it up from tourists. His brother is presently in London and his parents are in the States! We had to pass back through guards to return to the hotel. We did and then looked through the luxurious shops inside the hotel. This is a place where the elite of the world would stay. Our room had bathrobes and slippers, body gels and Dead Sea toiletries, and a refrigerator stocked with free food and drinks. We got a good night's sleep and were looking forward to going into Petra in the morning.
Wednesday, January 9, 2013
November 28 Check out this amazing day!!!
We had another beautiful sunrise, and we couldn't wait to smell, taste & soak in all the experiences we would have in the old city that day. Gary & I were definitely thanking God for bringing us here. We were already understanding so much more. God's Spirit was right with us in His city-on-a-hill. Our group was considered by all the people in Israel to be a blessing because the cease fire was signed as our group landed in the country and because our group brought lots of needed rain.
First, we went to the Kidron Valley, the Valley of Jehoshaphat. Jerusalem's city wall is on one side of the valley and the Mount of Olives is on the other side. We walked down through it and observed how they are landscaping parts of the area and making a park. We took a path where we saw Absalom's Tomb, which was carved out of bedrock, not built with new stones. There were other tombs for the wealthy here. Absalom rebelled against his father King David. He built this HUGE mausoleum. Righteous Jews still walk past it and throw stones at it to show their disgust. Modern fathers still stop to lecture their sons about rebellion against authority, fathers, & God. (Absalom was killed.) Perry Stone taped 1 program here and Amir (one of the tour guides -- really good!) taped another, with us sitting and standing among the rocks on the hillside. From there, we had a view of the Temple Mount.
From there, we went to the Garden of Gethsemane. The garden was used for making olive oil. Today it is much larger than it was in Jesus' day. The trees there are very old, 2000 yrs. plus! Jesus came here from the Upper Room after the Passover Feast. He traveled from the SW corner of the city to the east side across the Kidron Valley. Next to the paths in the garden is the Church of All Nations. This church has the rock that is believed to be where Jesus prayed to His Father. He poured out His heart here and suffered so much that He sweat drops of blood. I was able to kneel at this smooth, broad, flat rock and place my hand on it and pray. (This is all so hard to wrap our brains around.) From there Judas brought the soldiers and high priests to arrest Jesus. All of the disciples left Him.
Then we drove to the city wall and entered by the Lions Gate (east side). The city is full of narrow streets with lots of tall buildings. We stopped to see St. Anne's Church, run by the Catholic French Church. It was built by the Crusaders. Three bus loads of us sat in the sanctuary and sang 3 songs. It was a beautiful sound unto the Lord -- and unto us! The acoustics were such that when we stopped at the end of a line, the sound would continue to go throughout the church. Once again, people were moved as we worshipped God together.
This church was beside the Pool of Bethsaida. Here, Jesus healed the man crippled since birth (38 yrs.) He was trying to get into the "healing" pools before others once the water started to stir. Jesus healed him & he picked up his mat and walked on the Sabbath. There were lots of cats in the courtyard around the church.
We continued walking until we came to the Via Dolorosa. This street is full of life. And sounds. And smells. And treachery! Many vendors have small shops, one right next to the other, while others have their items right out in the street. Here they sell sports clothes, digital items, coats, shoes, wallpaper, fresh lettuce, fruits, spices, meat drinks, bread --- everything. Many trained pick pockets moved throughout the crowded street, and one of our teens had her cell phone stolen. They worked in groups of two, one trying to distract while the other grabbed purses, phones, etc. Two boys about 8 and 9 yrs old checked out my bag and saw they would get nothing, so they left me quite abruptly. The street is filled with yelling, selling, buying, bustle, and people of different races, sexes, religions, and levels. We recognized that these are all God's children and we must pray for Jerusalem and its people.
We stopped at one of the Stations of the Cross, the only one that is authentic for sure. This was Anthony's Fortress. We descended three levels below the street to the original street level. We could see a game etched in the flat plaza stone there, a game commonly played among the Jews of the time. It involved throwing dice. This is where the soldiers threw dice for Jesus' clothes. Jesus would have stopped here as he carried the cross on his way to Golgotha. We were walking in His footsteps.
We continued down the street through the open air stores until we exited through the Damascus Gate. The last smell was strawberries. This entire area was within the Muslim Quarter of Jerusalem.
We ate lunch at Alhambra Plaza in a Muslim area outside of the city.
After lunch, we went to the south side of the city and entered through the Dung Gate. We walked to the Wailing Wall, the Western Wall. We were able to experience the most holy place for Jews, the only part of the Temple that was not destroyed in 70 A.D. It is 2000 yrs. old! The Jews never intended that anyone would ever face this wall to pray to God. However, when the Temple was destroyed, there was no place for the Jews to make their pilgrimage. And for years, Jerusalem was controlled by other countries. So, when Jews were allowed to return to the city, it was the only piece of the temple for Jews to visit. This became the place where they prayed. It is a holy area, and thus, it is quiet. The men must cover their heads to approach the wall.We were allowed to visit and pray there. The men & women had separate places along the relatively small portion of remaining wall to pray. The space directly in front of the wall is packed with people, some sitting in plastic chairs. It was difficult to get to the wall to touch it. We were told to walk backwards as we left the wall in respect. This is the spot where God told King David to build the temple. It is the center of this city, this country, this world. Here, Gary & I prayed earnestly for our family, friends, my Bible Study sisters, and the Jewish people and nation. It felt as if there was a special portal to God here.
We returned to the hotel to pack a carry on bag for Jordan. Most of our group would be returning to the States. We thought this would be the end of our travels in Israel, but not so! Check out the day we return to fly out. The best was yet to come!
First, we went to the Kidron Valley, the Valley of Jehoshaphat. Jerusalem's city wall is on one side of the valley and the Mount of Olives is on the other side. We walked down through it and observed how they are landscaping parts of the area and making a park. We took a path where we saw Absalom's Tomb, which was carved out of bedrock, not built with new stones. There were other tombs for the wealthy here. Absalom rebelled against his father King David. He built this HUGE mausoleum. Righteous Jews still walk past it and throw stones at it to show their disgust. Modern fathers still stop to lecture their sons about rebellion against authority, fathers, & God. (Absalom was killed.) Perry Stone taped 1 program here and Amir (one of the tour guides -- really good!) taped another, with us sitting and standing among the rocks on the hillside. From there, we had a view of the Temple Mount.
From there, we went to the Garden of Gethsemane. The garden was used for making olive oil. Today it is much larger than it was in Jesus' day. The trees there are very old, 2000 yrs. plus! Jesus came here from the Upper Room after the Passover Feast. He traveled from the SW corner of the city to the east side across the Kidron Valley. Next to the paths in the garden is the Church of All Nations. This church has the rock that is believed to be where Jesus prayed to His Father. He poured out His heart here and suffered so much that He sweat drops of blood. I was able to kneel at this smooth, broad, flat rock and place my hand on it and pray. (This is all so hard to wrap our brains around.) From there Judas brought the soldiers and high priests to arrest Jesus. All of the disciples left Him.
Then we drove to the city wall and entered by the Lions Gate (east side). The city is full of narrow streets with lots of tall buildings. We stopped to see St. Anne's Church, run by the Catholic French Church. It was built by the Crusaders. Three bus loads of us sat in the sanctuary and sang 3 songs. It was a beautiful sound unto the Lord -- and unto us! The acoustics were such that when we stopped at the end of a line, the sound would continue to go throughout the church. Once again, people were moved as we worshipped God together.
This church was beside the Pool of Bethsaida. Here, Jesus healed the man crippled since birth (38 yrs.) He was trying to get into the "healing" pools before others once the water started to stir. Jesus healed him & he picked up his mat and walked on the Sabbath. There were lots of cats in the courtyard around the church.
We continued walking until we came to the Via Dolorosa. This street is full of life. And sounds. And smells. And treachery! Many vendors have small shops, one right next to the other, while others have their items right out in the street. Here they sell sports clothes, digital items, coats, shoes, wallpaper, fresh lettuce, fruits, spices, meat drinks, bread --- everything. Many trained pick pockets moved throughout the crowded street, and one of our teens had her cell phone stolen. They worked in groups of two, one trying to distract while the other grabbed purses, phones, etc. Two boys about 8 and 9 yrs old checked out my bag and saw they would get nothing, so they left me quite abruptly. The street is filled with yelling, selling, buying, bustle, and people of different races, sexes, religions, and levels. We recognized that these are all God's children and we must pray for Jerusalem and its people.
We stopped at one of the Stations of the Cross, the only one that is authentic for sure. This was Anthony's Fortress. We descended three levels below the street to the original street level. We could see a game etched in the flat plaza stone there, a game commonly played among the Jews of the time. It involved throwing dice. This is where the soldiers threw dice for Jesus' clothes. Jesus would have stopped here as he carried the cross on his way to Golgotha. We were walking in His footsteps.
We continued down the street through the open air stores until we exited through the Damascus Gate. The last smell was strawberries. This entire area was within the Muslim Quarter of Jerusalem.
We ate lunch at Alhambra Plaza in a Muslim area outside of the city.
After lunch, we went to the south side of the city and entered through the Dung Gate. We walked to the Wailing Wall, the Western Wall. We were able to experience the most holy place for Jews, the only part of the Temple that was not destroyed in 70 A.D. It is 2000 yrs. old! The Jews never intended that anyone would ever face this wall to pray to God. However, when the Temple was destroyed, there was no place for the Jews to make their pilgrimage. And for years, Jerusalem was controlled by other countries. So, when Jews were allowed to return to the city, it was the only piece of the temple for Jews to visit. This became the place where they prayed. It is a holy area, and thus, it is quiet. The men must cover their heads to approach the wall.We were allowed to visit and pray there. The men & women had separate places along the relatively small portion of remaining wall to pray. The space directly in front of the wall is packed with people, some sitting in plastic chairs. It was difficult to get to the wall to touch it. We were told to walk backwards as we left the wall in respect. This is the spot where God told King David to build the temple. It is the center of this city, this country, this world. Here, Gary & I prayed earnestly for our family, friends, my Bible Study sisters, and the Jewish people and nation. It felt as if there was a special portal to God here.
We returned to the hotel to pack a carry on bag for Jordan. Most of our group would be returning to the States. We thought this would be the end of our travels in Israel, but not so! Check out the day we return to fly out. The best was yet to come!
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