Israel Journey (September 1 - 10, 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!

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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)

Israeli Museum, collections of centuries old Israeli artifacts including the Dead Sea Scrolls, not allowed to take pictures inside

Cable car ride to Masada

Ein Gedi (Spring of Goat) David fled here and hid (Samuel 24)

Masada - King Herod the Great mountaintop fortress

Met a new friend at Masada

Ein Gedi (Spring of Goat)

Wailing Wall/Western Wall

Feeling safe and secure

Bet-She' an Hippodrome

View of the Dead Sea ,formerly Sodom and Gomorrah, no living creatures, lowest place on the earth

Bet She'an was a major Biblical city. King Saul's body was displayed on its walls after his defeat by the Philistines.

Bet-She' an Roman Amphitheatre

Michael (Mickey) Nikolaev, awesome Tour Guide, discusses brief biblical history!

Nazareth Village

Jerusalem - The Dome of the Rock and south looking at El-Aksa Mosque. Both are built on top of Mount Moriah,The Temple Mount.

Dan's Gate

Northern site of Kingdom of Israel - Tribe of Dan

Presumably where Jesus was born in Bethlehem - Star of David

The men take the journey with Pat, helping her through each step. Patience, Kindness and Love

King Agrippa II Palace

Megiddo/Armageddon

King Ahab Tunnel

A extremely unpleasant Dust Storm, so I had to wear a mask.

Garden of Gethsemane at the foot of Mount Olives

On Mt. Zion, ruins of the House of Caiaphas, Jewish High Priest

Golgotha - Place of the Skull

Via Dolorosa, Jesus Tomb

The Garden Tomb

Pastor Allen serving Communion/Last Supper