Israel Trip Update #1 - Friday 9:30 pm (Israel Time)

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.