Blog Archives

Israel Journey (September 1 - 10, 2015)

9/19/2015

UBC Team

This spiritual journey was not only for me but for my mother who recently passed away. She always wished to visit Israel; nevertheless, she was with me the whole time. This was a cathartic experience; tears of love, peace and happiness flowed when I was at the Wailing Wall/Western Wall, crossing the Sea of Galilee and Baptism in the Jordan River. Each site I visited brought me closer and closer to God, my Lord and Savior.

The devotional guidance was tremendous, which took me on a biblical as well as a historical journey. Reading biblical verses in reference to several sites set the tone. “Thy word is a lamp unto my feet, and a light unto my path.” (Psalm 119:105) On the tour bus, we sung, praised, and worshipped in spirit and truth.

The journey was incredible, spectacular and simply a blessing. It gave me new meaning to my life and also a different perspective about the tension between factions. I heard the facts and both sides before judging. It takes a lot of energy to hate and less to love. “And now abides faith, hope, love, these three; but the greatest of these is love.” (Corinthians 13:13)

At the end of this journey, I am still singing: “What a Mighty God we Serve.” “Worthy is the Lamb.” “This is the Air I Breathe,” "Oh Happy Day," and “You Are the Living Word.” One word sums up this experience/journey, WOW!

Old Jerusalem - Days of Jesus 2000 years ago

Bar Mitzvah Ceremony and Celebration

Remains of Jerusalem main street running the length of the Western Wall in the late Second Temple period

King Herod the Great site

Overlooking the Sea of Galilee

Capernaum Synagogue

Capernaum - Jesus years of ministry and Peter's home

Capernaum Synagogue

Peter statue in Capernaum

Original Fisherman Boat - 2000 years old

Boat cruise on the Sea of Galilee, a cathartic moment

Sea of Galilee

Mount of Beatitudes

Pilgrim Tour Group

Baptism in the Jordan River

Bethlehem first woman Mayor Vera Baboun

Imitation Starbucks in Bethlehem- missed my Lattes but had delicious cappuccinos at the hotels

I loved the Mediterranean Cuisine.

Jericho

A man from Jericho styled this scarf for my head.

Israel jazz musician was awesome!

Qumran Cave- Remains of Dead Sea Scrolls written by the Essenes( about 825 to 870 separate scrolls biblical & non-biblical - 9 copies of the Book of Isaiah, 25 copies of Deuteronomy and 30 copies of the Psalms, Prophecies by Ezekiel, Jeremiah and Daniel not found in the Bible)