A Happily Married Couple Experiencing the Joys of Everyday Life
We have WAY TOO MANY pictures to try to post any right now...I will when we return. If you want to see some though, our tour guide, Leor Ilan, has his own website that he has posted some pictures from our tour on.
After a 3 ½ hour bus ride to Chicago, a 2 hour flight to NY Laguardia, a 45 minute bus transfer to NY JFK, a 10 hour flight to Tel Aviv, and a 1 ½ hour bus ride to our hotel on the shore of the Sea of Galilee, we made it! Everything was smooth and safe…praise God!
We left home around 7:30 am on Tuesday and arrived at our destination at 8:00 pm on Wednesday (1:00 pm Indiana time – Israel is 7 hours ahead).
It was cool and rainy when we arrived, but things cleared up for our first day of touring on Thursday. It was great to sleep in a bed Wednesday night after trying to sleep on the plane the night before. Even though we had a bed to enjoy, I woke up at 2:00 am Israel time wide awake, so I went for a walk down by the lake. It was a great time of prayer and reflection. I got back to sleep around 4:00 am and woke up for breakfast at 7 am.
We got around and ate breakfast, and we were off to tour for the first full day. We started with a boat ride across the lake. It took about an hour. It was chilly but dry…a great way to start our trip. Half way across we had some time for worship and I shared for devotions. We talked about Jesus walking on water and the importance of getting away with Him, keeping our eyes on Him, and worshipping Him. We sang a few worship songs together, and before we knew it, we were on the other side.
When we got to the other side, we visited the Ancient Boat Museum, which displays a first century fishing boat discovered several years ago buried in the mud of the lake. Afterwards, we headed to Capernaum (the headquarters of Jesus’ ministry). Next it was off to the Mount of Beatitudes (where Jesus preached the Sermon on the Mount). From there we visited Chorazin and Bethsaida (two towns in which Jesus performed many miraculous signs and yet they did not believe). Then we went to Kursi (where Jesus cast out the Legion of demons in to the swine). We enjoyed a late lunch at En Gev, eating some St. Peter’s fish (a very popular and prevalent fish native to the Sea of Galilee that tradition suggests was the kind of fish that Peter, John, and other professional fishermen of the first century would have caught to eat). It was delicious.
We ended our first day of touring with a Baptism service at the Jordan River. Of our group of thirty-seven, twenty-nine were baptized. Praise God. We then went back to our hotel for dinner, some follow up discussion, and then called it a night.
Today we made a quick stop at the town of Magdala (home of Mary Magdalene), where we had an amazing view of the cliffs of Arbel (great photo opportunity)! Then we drove to K'far Kedem for a Bible experience, learning what it was like to live in a Jewish village 2000 years ago (complete with donkey rides and homemade pita bread).
Next we headed to Megiddo (future site of Armageddon). We then visited Caesarea by the Mediterranean Sea (again...amazing pictures). Then we traveled to a falafel shop for lunch. I tried the falafel and it was great. We went from there to the top of Mount Carmel, where Elijah confronted the prophets of Baal (1 Kings 18). What an awesome story of the power of our God!
After Mount Carmel we went to Nazareth (the childhood home of Jesus) and finished the day at the Mount of Precipice (where the people of Nazareth tried to throw Jesus over the cliff after they rejected Him - Luke 4).
Things have gone so well. Very powerful! Very memorable! So much more to come!! I will keep you posted as I am able.
It's hard to believe that we only have two weeks left until Christmas. For all of you who are wondering what's on our Christmas list, I have listed some of our Christmas wishes below. I actually got the idea from our friend Zack L. who published his birthday wish list this fall. I'm not sure how it worked out for him, but it was interesting to read his list. So here's ours:
Video IPod -After fighting it for some time, we are breaking down this year and asking for Video IPods for our big gifts this year.
IPod Accessories - You can't get an IPod without at least a few of the accessories. The essentials for us include: FM Car Adapter, A/V Cable Hookups and Remote, FM Receiver, AC Charger.
Food Processor - For Natalie.
Electric Blanket - Also for Natalie (anyone who knows me knows that I get way to hot for an electric blanket.
Madden '07 - For Natalie...okay just kidding. This video game is for me. It's been two years since I bought a new video game, so I figured it was time to get the updated NFL game.
Gift Cards - We can always use and enjoy gift cards. Ones we particularly like to spend are Logan's, Starbucks, Family Christian, Anchor Room, Target, and Best Buy.
So that's a short list of some of the things we would like for Christmas. If you get a chance and want to leave a comment, we would be interested in what some of you want for Christmas as well.
Check out this video that our youth pastor, Aaron, made of Joel at one of his recent wrestling matches. AWESOME!
