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Shalom everyone! Just a quick post to let you know that we did arrive home safe and sound. We got to the airport shortly after 9am and got home right around lunch. It is SO good to be back and be with our son! We missed him very much! God bless you all!
Dustin & Monica

Day 12 on the Trail

Greetings! It's amazing that our tour is almost over, and yet when you're missing loved ones it can seem like a long time. Today was our last day in Jerusalem. The first place we went to was the temple mount.

Here you can still see some of the original pavers that would have been there in Jesus' time.

The Eastern gate from the inside.

Here is a better picture of that street that I posted on the blog a day or two ago.

This is where tradition holds that Jesus was crucified and buried.

Here is another picture of the threshold to one of the gates that Jesus would have walked through.

A traditional style lunch!

More temple ruins

Part of a header from Solomon's time

This is part of the rock that would've been at the top of the wall where they blew the shofar. You can see part of the inset where they stood.

The corner stone

Stairs going into the temple

Day 11 on the Trail

Today we spent most of the day in Jerusalem. In the afternoon we went into Palestine and went to Bethlehem to see the Herodian. Today was really fun!

                                  A nice view of the Temple Mount from the Mount of Olives

This wall is thought to be from the time of David

A garden that is thought to be very close to the place Jesus prayed before His betrayal

A Gethsemane

The lower blocks on this wall are thought to be from Solomon's time

A stepped road similar to one Jesus would have taken carrying the cross

The Pool of Siloam

The Eastern Gate

View of the Mount of Olives

A street in the market. This is still very similar to how it would've looked in Jesus' time.

Herod's Pool was the biggest in the world at the time

The two John's

A newly uncovered theater at the Herodian

View from the Herodian

The Herodian

We walked thru the water channels

This is very much how Bethlehem would've looked when Jesus was born

This is an "inn" which should be translated guest house. It's the top room on this house.

Tomorrow we will be in Jerusalem again. Pray for us. Shalom! Monica

Sunday, October 10

Sunday, October 10, 2010

We left Galilee this morning and our first stop was Mt. Carmel…it was an interesting but utterly exhausting experience. Mt. Carmel was one of the more challenging climbs we’ve done. Imagine being Elijah that day when the contest came between God and the prophets of Baal. If you had any doubt that the spirit of the Lord enabled Elijah to do amazing things that day, a climb to the top would have convinced you that the Lord really did give him strength. I think many of us had the idea that the worst climbs were over now that we were headed for Jerusalem, so mentally it was a challenge to face another mountain. It was also very warm this morning. The view from the top was magnificent and it certainly made you aware of how real the Lord is and how He can do anything to demonstrate His power and reclaim the love of His people. We were profoundly relieved to see the bus at the summit; our excellent bus driver and Ray’s assistant had a lovely lunch waiting for us. It’s funny how often the first glimpse of the bus is accompanied with a feeling of immense relief! Yes, we are weary in body and mind….it’s encouraging to know that while we have seen and absorbed so much that it becomes overwhelming at times, the Lord is well able to bring to mind later that which He specifically wants us to retain. 

Outside Jerusalem we viewed a garden that was terraced on the sides of a very rocky mountain. This was one of my favorite studies. It’s amazing how they build walls with rocks, haul in topsoil and plant gardens of olive trees, grapes and fig trees. There are many interesting points including the watch tower where the family sleeps during harvest and stores their tools. They also have tombs in the walls of these gardens, and it is likely the body of Jesus was laid in a tomb much like the one we saw today. It was a peaceful picture of order, beauty and productivity.

Then came our entrance into Jerusalem! Wow, the city is so full of history we’ve read about for so many years but never experienced…we went to the Western Wall and tried to restrain ourselves from staring like the naïve tourists we are. Ray says the Jews traditionally pray five times daily and they enjoy coming to the Wall if they can for prayer. In front of the wall there is a divider separating the men and women. After praying they back away from the wall instead of turning and walking away, as an act of reverence for the presence of God being there. To walk some of the paths Jesus and the disciples walked when coming to the temple for worship was an experience to cherish. 

Karen

Day 10 on the Trail

We have arrived safely in Jerusalem! We're all very excited! We started our day at Mount Carmel and hiked up. This is where Elijah and the Baal prophets had their contest.

Walking through the "sticky bushes" as Richard would say :)

A Carob Tree

This olive tree grove is said to be the oldest working grove in all Israel.

This really is much steeper and harder than it looks.

Lunch time!

Right before we got to Jerusalem we stopped at this garden, or gan.

The watchtower and a garden tomb right underneath.

The western wall in Jerusalem

This is the original gate that Jesus would have walked through to get into the city.