Hit the ground running...

No nonsense here. When we start touring, we really don't mess around. Today we started off early to get to the temple mount. It's only opened for a few hours and only on certain days. Sometimes we can't get up there at all - so today is special and we begin our day walking around the temple mount and learning about how and why the muslems have been given religious rights to this area. On our way to the entrance we are able to take some great photo's of the Western Wall from up high. This is a rare treat to get pictures looking down like this. Awesome!

Before we left the mount we walked over to the most amazing place... It was the EASTERN GATE from the back side! This gate is sealed with cement and there is a cemetery outside of it; all in hopes to block the way for Jesus's return. (like that will stop Him!) Naidean and I got chills just being so close to this gate. Just to think about Jesus's return and where we were standing...(I'm serious when I tell you that I had to pinch myself!) It's just so unreal to be here sometimes.

After we left the temple mount we started The Way of the Cross. It was an interesting journey through the Old City narrow streets. We stopped many times along the way for our guide to give us details.

Here we are on temple mount.

And here we are during the way of the cross. Listening very intently. It's so thrilling to be right here where Jesus was. He could have been standing on this very spot! I think Kate was pinching herself too (she is my 16year old daughter in the orange coat) She didn't speak too much on the way of the cross... I think she was deep in thought.

Our first day was filled with so many wonderful places and experiences. The Western Wall was so amazing and powerful and then at the end of the day we stopped at Yad Vashem, the Holocaust Memorial. It was somber, but so important to remember - and so important in understanding the people here.

Exhausted but happy... tomorrow might just be my favorite day of all!

Until then...
Kim