Sunday, November 14, 2010
...written on their faces...
The reason it's sealed is facinating and you simply must come here to find out why! Let's just put it this way...No amount of cement and rock will keep Jesus from returning through this gate when He returns! Nice Try!
From there we went to the Pools of Bethesda and a stop in Saint Anne's Church for some beautiful singing inside an ancient church made for fabulous acoustics. While we were there we noticed that John Hagee was up front singing and praying for people! It was quite a moment for some people.
Look at Anne's face...She's pretty thrilled don't you think?
Walking the stations of the cross was touching and and also an exciting adventure! The Old City market was crazy busy! It's normally crazy but add the "busy" to it and wow!
Hair cut anyone?
At the end of the day Pastor Blakes blessed us with words God provided to him and I could see it on some faces that when he described the day and God's hand on it, that they agreed and felt it too. Off to bed with wonder on how the next day could top this one...
Shalom,
Kim
Saturday, November 13, 2010
More pictures!
Dinner is over but great conversations with new friends keep going...
Love this picture of Johnnie Mae taken after she was baptised in the Jordan River! Praise the Lord!
And of course... METV is here in the hotel and Dr. Sumrall's teachings as well...
Yawn... early morning tomorrow...must sleep! More tomorrow!
Kim
Jerusalem!
Our day started off at Mount Scopus where we took bus photo's and a group photo. It's also a good spot to start and try to get a grasp of where we are, logistically. Then we moved up to the Mount of Olives and walked the Palm Sunday route to the Garden of Gethsemane. JESUS WAS HERE! He prayed here so often! WOW!!!
Here are some pictures... more to come!
Bus #1 - Ami's bus -(below) They were too busy laughing at Ami than my picture! Good thing we had a professional photographer there. Look at those smiles! I love it!
Bus #2 - Eli's bus (above)- You guys did the best job with "visit Israel, you'll never be the same" - I bet you make it on TV when we put the next program together! Fun!!
And Bus #3 - Mark's bus - You guys are WILD! You made me laugh! Look at the smiles!
Eli, Bus #2 tells his group about the Old City walls, explains where the Garden of Gethsemene is from here and how it relates to where the Garden Tomb is...etc. It's a good starting point!
Alfreda Noble -I love your hat! She just bought it from a vender on Mount Scopus! Beautiful!
More pictures and details to come. I just had a few moments so I wanted to share these!
Blessings!
Kim
Friday, November 12, 2010
Arrival into Jerusalem
We are HERE!
We unloaded, learned about Shabbat...waited for elevators and unpacked and ate and settled into our new hotel here in Jerusalem. Tomorrow morning our day starts with a group picture and the Mount of Olives...and our first time to really gaze on the Eastern Gate and imagine Christ's return.
I was so busy tonight getting everyone checked in and settled in that I forgot my camera...forgive me! I promise to have LOTS of pictures tomorrow!
Here's a few from the past dinners...
Pastor R. C. Blakes spoke briefly on our day while in Tiberias -
Stay tuned to hear about our exciting adventure tomorrow!
Shabbat Shalom!
Kim
Thursday, November 11, 2010
We are here!
And YES! We are all here! Yes, even Johnnie Mae! (She’s had trouble with the phone and could not call home and asked me to post this note to her family! She’s doing great and says hello!)
This is Johnnie Mae planting her very own tree in Israel!
We had a couple of ladies who missed the flight from Newark due to an airline mechanical issue but they were blessed to get Lumi to help them secure a flight only a day later and miss only 1 place on the itinerary! It was miraculous what Lumi did! Those flights were oversold and yet these 4 ladies got a seat on the plane! Thank you Lumi!
Oh my, we have done so much in the short time we have been here. Here, is in Tiberias. Our hotel is on the shores of the Sea of Galilee. Here is a few from my room – which is similar to everyone. The sunrise is extraordinary, breath taking, magnificent, glorious!!! (I really like the sunrise – can you tell?)
I mean really… WE ARE LOOKING AT THE SAME WATER THAT JESUS WALKED ON! Somebody pinch me!
Some of us got baptized in the Jordan River on the very first day. (Talk about digging right in and experiencing the land of the Bible!) No matter how many times I’ve been here to see this…it still makes me get a lump in my throat. It’s powerful and 81 people on this trip felt the power. Amen!
Here are some pictures to check out… see anyone you know? Want to leave them a message? Just make a comment! I’d love to hear from you!
((above)This is Art - he is one cool traveler!)
We are on our way to Jerusalem tomorrow! WOW!
Kim
Wednesday, September 1, 2010
Surrender, for God's best for our lives
Sunday, June 20, 2010
It's technical!
In the meantime, if you have friends and family on the tour, know that they are having a wonderful time! It’s hotter than average this week and it has worn us out. But overall this has been a beautiful time to be in Israel. Today is the “free day” and 38 people went on the Masada optional tour. I know that they will enjoy getting into the Dead Sea today and cooling off. Tonight we celebrate our farewell dinner together because tomorrow morning we board our flight to come home. Seems like yesterday we just got here…yet we have seen and learned so much that my head is spinning. I’m sure that I’m not alone!
We had an emotional communion service at the Garden Tomb yesterday. It was great to see that tomb empty and to remember… (pictures coming soon!)
We walked down from the Mount of Olives to the Garden of Gethsemane…visited the Upper Room… I tell you these are amazing places to visit. We will be coming home changed people that’s for sure!
Home soon –
Kim
Friday, June 18, 2010
Taking it all in...
We left this morning heading north and our first stop was Beit She'an, Israel's largest archeogical dig. Beit She’an is a fascinating place; huge and inspiring. A whole city destroyed in an earthquake now uncovered to teach us. I daydream about what it would have been like for me to live back then in this once elaborate city.
Back in the air conditioned bus we head for the Sea of Galilee… a lake actually which is now called Lake Kinneret. This is in the Galilee region of Israel where Jesus spent most of his time. This area, as far as you can see is quiet and peaceful! They can't build a church over the lake...and the have strict rules about buildings built around the lake...so around here it's easy to picture Jesus walking along the water's edge and spending time ministering. We boarded a wooden framed boat very appropriate I would say; to represent a boat Jesus would have taken out on the water.
Before we could sail out to the middle of the lake and cut the motors I looked around and saw people weeping with emotion. I saw faces turned outward onto the lake and hillside, silent in contemplation and I saw hands raised.
My heart aches as I share this experience with people who feel the same way I do. THIS, is my favorite place…
Pastor Al spoke briefly and Ronnie, one of our guides gave us some details of the area before we headed to the other side of the lake for lunch. St. Peter’s fish! (optional of course)
The day passed and most of the group was anxious for our last stop. The baptism! Wearing white robes…I heard someone say that our group looked like angels!
The water was refreshing both physically and spiritually. While waiting their turn in line people sang hymns and prepared their hearts. They were getting baptized in the Jordan River just like Jesus did!
Emotions were high, tears were shed – I saw one woman sob gently after she was baptized, overcome with the opportunity to be in the Jordan River and grateful for our Lord’s sacrifice.
Most of us came here not knowing anyone but I saw today what a closes bond that is being made in the group; looking out for one another, supporting each other physically and spiritually. I can see life long friendships being made already!
It was a beautiful life changing day... what are you waiting for? Come to Israel!
Kim
Wednesday, June 16, 2010
Breathtaking day 1
It wasn’t long and we were traveling along the Old City walls to the Dung Gate. This is the gate closest to the entrance of the Temple Mount and the Western Wall. The Temple Mount was our first stop – climbing the walkway gave us a birds eye view of the Western Wall that not many people have the opportunity to see. Amnon stopped here so we could take pictures. It was breathtaking!
We wondered through the Christian Quarter, the Jewish Quarter and Cardo to end up at the Western Wall. We burned a lot of calories today! It was hot, sunny and I was thankful I wore my comfortable shoes!
The Western Wall is a moving place for me. Over 3 million people visit the wall annually. I have to pinch myself because I just can’t believe I am here. I had prepared several prayers on small pieces of paper and when I went down to pray I found peace slipping the prayers into the cracks in the wall. I prayed for so many things and so many people and then…I just gave them all over to Him. Your Will be done is all that kept running through my mind.
If you know me, you know that I love the sun, warm weather and summer time. I drive my kids crazy because I don’t run the air conditioner in the summer. I have a pretty high heat tolerance you might say. But today…after all that walking, when we got back into our air conditioned luxury bus that our bus driver had stocked with water…I was so grateful for Michael Faraday (the inventor of the air conditioner)!
Last stop… Yad Vashem. Coming to Yad Vashem is a necessity to any trip to Israel. Visiting this memorial to the Jewish victims of the Holocaust is heart breaking and leaves me with a knot in my throat for 2 hours. Walking through and hearing the stories, seeing the pictures and items recovered from this tragedy is tough – but so important. Part of me wants to outright sob at times and then I turn the corner and I find myself extremely mad. Mad that the world sat by and did nothing. Nothing! Oh don’t get me started!
I had time to relax before dinner and guess what…it was OUTSIDE! We had a lovely dinner with beautiful tables set up elegantly around the poolside deck. Rafi Ben Hur, the deputy director-general of the Ministry of Tourism spoke to our group during dessert. It was really nice to hear from him! It was a great day – great evening and now… I must sleep because tomorrow is my favorite day and I need my sleep! What is tomorrow you ask? Better stop by and see…. You won’t be disappointed, I’ll be sure to take lots of pictures!
I’d love to hear from you… any messages you want me to pass on to your loved ones on the tour? Just let me know!
Exhausted and blessed,
Kim
Tuesday, June 15, 2010
The Saturday, 630am to Monday 5:30pm blessing..
My journey to get to Tel Aviv began at the airport on Saturday at 6:30am – and I didn’t arrive until 5:30pm on Monday! The difficulties I’ve experienced on this road to Jerusalem are all part of the adventure and the plan and part of the blessing. Yes, even waiting 10 hours for a connection, then sitting on the runway for 3 hours and then a cancelled flight…a blessing. It hasn’t been a piece of cake but God never promised us easy living here on earth. There’s a lesson in this! And a blessing in this!
Tonight I met the group as they arrived into the hotel. We passed out room keys, gave directions to dinner and explained how to work the unusual elevators! It was lots of fun to meet the people that Lumi and I have talked to on the phone! I learned that some people in the group had their own struggles to get here… luggage has been lost, a flight was overbooked and someone was bumped, aches and pains and no sleep just to name a few. But they all pressed on and they are here! (ok, well the one who was bumped will arrive tomorrow, with a blessing to share I bet!) I look forward to meeting everyone and learning the story of how God brought them here at this moment in time. Everyone has a story. By the end of this week we will see how the difficulties triumph into blessings… and the people that you kissed good-bye yesterday? Well,they will return no doubt changed; because when you come to Israel whether it's your 1st time or 100th time...you'll never be the same. Stay tuned!
Side note to Mary and Naidean…tomorrow is the wall!
Goodnight for now,
Kim
Wednesday, June 2, 2010
Counting down...
If you want to keep track of the group while we are in Israel you can come back and visit. I'll send pictures and daily updates!
With butterflies,
Kim
Tuesday, March 23, 2010
Dear LeSEA Tours,
I felt in awe from the first step I took in the Holy Land. I thought everything was so fantastic…then one day I stumbled on one of the steps while walking on the Way of the Cross. I hurt my foot and was afraid that the tour was over for me. I have arthritis in every bone in my body and hurting my foot did not help. Our next stop was the Western Wall. When I had gotten to the top of the stairs and looked down on the Western Wall I felt a burning inside my body from the tips of my toes to the top of my head! The closer I got to the Wall the hotter the burning feeling became. I placed my prayers in the Wall and told the Lord that I was expecting my healing in the name of Jesus and thanked Him. As I backed away from the Wall and turned and walked away toward our tour guide the pain I felt in my whole body was gone! I to this day have felt no pain in my bones. I told my Doctor. He cried. Thank you and most important THANK GOD! Amen.
Wanda West
Ahhh sweet Wanda West traveled on a LeSEA Tour just last month and took the time to write us about her miracle healing that took place at the Western Wall. The February tour touched not only Wanda’s life, it changed the life of many people. LeSEA Tour’s give’s God the glory and is honored to play a small role in facilitating the travel to such a powerful and important place where lives are transformed. Come to Israel and feel God’s power for yourself. Daily I am reminded of the continued work that the Lord has been doing in our lives since our return home from Israel. From Wanda and Amelia, Mary and Naidean to June's friend and even myself - Had we not traveled to Israel would this all be happening? I truely believe God has blessed us with our love of Israel and our faithfulness to visit His Holy Land. If you are feeling drawn to Israel you are being promised a blessing in hearing His call.
If you've traveled to Israel and God has touched you in a special way, I'd love to hear about it!
Kim
Friday, February 19, 2010
Lumi!
There's nothing like coming back to the office and to be welcomed back by Lumi. Ahh Lumi! She is the sweetest soul I know, and a very crucial member of our team here. I don't know what I would do without her. She has such a heart for Israel and such a heart for people in general. When you call LeSEA Tours, you will most likely be greeted by Lumi's beautiful Romanian accent. She will answer all your questions and guide you thru the easy steps of your journey. She will cry when you cry, laugh when you laugh and after you hang up, she will usually say a quiet prayer for you. She is all about love and we indeed love HER!
Thank you for all you do Lumi!
Kim
Tuesday, February 16, 2010
"Remember when...?"
Air travel is the greatest invention! I’m drinking coffee 37,000 feet above the ground. My body is moving at 535 mph and outside my window its -83 degrees. How is this all possible and do I really want to know all these details because it kind of freaks me out! There is 4 hours and 19 minutes to our destination. (Newark) I’ve been watching the tracking map that Continental displays through-out the flight. I watched it a week ago too, but this time I notice that I have a different feeling.
Reyklavink. That’s the city that I see on the map now. Iceland is not far from us. I watched as we flew over Athens, Rome, Berlin and London and wondered what life was like for them. Do they know Jesus?
I had such a wonderful time, met the greatest people, walking the steps of Christ! It’s so bittersweet to leave! I was really excited to hear that Frank gathered everyone’s email/snail mail information and is planning to keep everyone in contact with each other. I also heard the excitement of many people who are planning to return…some are planning another trip this year!
February, June and November every year… I’ll be there and hope you will too! A big fear I have for myself and others is “living with regret”. Lumi and I talk to so many people on a daily basis who we hear in their voice the passion to visit Israel. It’s strong, it’s emotional and they are so hopeful that they will get there someday. I pray that each of you who have yearning in your heart to visit Israel will listen to it…pray about it. God placed it there. He wants you to come, visit, and draw closer to Him in this land… This is where God chose for His son to be born… and for Him to die on the cross for us. I’ve said it before and I’ll say it again…because it is so true… You will never be the same. Don’t wait too long to do something about that feeling you have in your gut. Life is shorter than we expect sometimes. God wants you to live a full and blessed life. I am thinking about Amy, Derrick, Jessica and Lake right now. This is a family who came this week and will be talking about this trip for the rest of their lives! What a bond, what a family vacation to change the dynamics for the good in each of their relationships. “Jessica, remember when we rode a boat on the Sea of Galilee…?”
What a trip.
With a big sigh,
Kim
Hey, is anyone out there? I'd love to hear from you!
Sunday, February 14, 2010
Scott and Jane!
Mary and Naidean!
Saturday, February 13, 2010
My surprise blessing...
Only in this very special place, only this week and only with these God chosen people placed here all together by His loving hands.
Today I went to the U.S. Consulate in Jerusalem. I didn't go alone, I went with another tour member to help her with some paperwork. This remarkable woman shared a fraction of "her story" with me. And as my chest grew heavy and my heart broke, she reassured me that God has blessed her (and even others) through the hardships that she is experiencing. All I can tell you is that she touched me and this is a day that will be engraved in my heart. And this amazing woman will be someone that I will always remember.
Humbled by His love,
Kim
Friday, February 12, 2010
All about the water...
Today we went up north to the Galilee. Our first stop was Bet She’an. This is the largest archeological dig in Israel and is simply amazing. You could literally spend 2 full days here exploring the city that was destroyed in a major earthquake. It’s one of my favorite spots actually and what a beautiful day!
The sun was out and we enjoyed temperatures in the high 70’s! (Sorry all of you who are snowed in back home!)
After Bet She’an we moved onward to Tiberias. This is the area of the country where Jesus lived and performed most of His miracles…very awesome! We got on a boat that looked a lot the “Jesus boat” that was discovered years ago. (A boat that scientists feel date back to the time of Jesus.) Looking around the area from out on the boat was so beautiful.
The hills surrounding the lake were the greenest I’ve ever seen! Usually the hills are bare and brown because of the lack of rain, but today after a lot of rain in the last few weeks the hills are very green and beautiful! The water on the lake was pretty choppy and there were several times that waves splashed up and blessed our clothes and hair with the water that Jesus walked on! We cut the motors, sang songs, and Pastor David Sumrall talked about Peter and letting God use our failures…
Then he renewed the marriage vows of two couples on the tour. What he said about marriage…wow. He made us all stop and think…
The day was one goose bumps moment after another. After the boat we ate at St. Peter's fish! Well, most of us. Jessica and I thought we'd try out the pasta since the fish looks back at you while you eat it...and if you've read my blog, you know my rule about eating things that look back at you. (It just doesn't happen!) But really it was a fun lunch.
After lunch Capernaum, Mount of Beatitudes, Tabgha and .... yes! The baptism! 80 people braved the cold spring waters of the Jordan River! I'm so glad they did and so are they. I'll just let the pictures of the day speak for themselves.
Tomorrow I have some work business...but it's interesting so come back here about it AND I'll give you the latest group update!
Oh, and a crazy picture of Mary and Naidean! ha!
Night!
Kim