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

We are HERE!

For some this was the longest flight they have ever taken. For a few this was their first airline flight they’ve ever taken! And we are here! The group arrived at the hotel in the morning so their rooms were not quite ready for them to check in yet. It didn’t take them long though to park their luggage and take off exploring Jerusalem! Some went to shop, some when to eat and some went to the lobby for some sleep. (Hey that rhymed) By 1pm they were all in their rooms and settling in (or still exploring!). We met at dinner for our first Israeli meal together as a group. It was nice to hear from Pete Sumrall who reminded us how important it is for us to get some sleep tonight and also not to sweat the small stuff while we travel…to remember the big picture of why we are here. Pastor Al introduced us to the happy couple who came to Israel with us and had gotten married the previous day! (Valentines Day) How sweet is that? This is the first time someone has gotten married on one of our tours. Most of us didn’t stay long after dinner since we were so tired. Tomorrow is the first day of touring and we have a lot to see and do.

Good night everyone!
Kim

Let the countdown begin!

I looked at the calendar today and my mouth fell open. It's January 14th already! We will be in Israel in 31 days! In just a month we will be walking and exploring the land of the Bible. I can't wait to smell the air and hear the enchanting sounds of the city. I look forward to the short walk to Ben Yehuda Street in the evenings to listen to the street musicians and people watch. The hotel is perfectly located to explore Jerusalem and get a feel for the city. A walk in the other direction will take us to the Jaffa Gate and the Mamilla Shopping area. A perfect union of Old and New City shopping - anything you need can be found in this area! I like to sit down with a cappuccino and yes... people watch!

Two year ago my son Travis traveled with me to Israel and we had such fun time together. He made me laugh and explore Israel in a way I had never done before! This year my 16 year old daughter Kate will be joining me! I am so excited to show her this wonderful place! She and I and about 80 others are soon to begin an adventure of a lifetime. Check back and watch the adventue onfold! And just think...YOU can be on the next adventure of YOUR life!

If you want some information on our tours to Israel, let me know and I'll be happy to send you the details!

Naidean, Mary, Amelia and Wanda...I can't wait to see what God has planned for all of us once again!

...written on their faces...

It was an emotional day for me - and for others as well. Each one of us had moments today that took our breath away. Sometimes I heard the moments in verbal gasps and other times I could just look at someone's face and see it. Kim E's moment I believe was in Saint Anne's church. Pastor Blakes and the Wagners, the Wall. Everyone has had their moments today of awe. We started the day early to get in line to clear security to enter the Temple Mount. We were pleasantly surprised how quickly the line moved and we soon found ourselves standing right next to the Dome of the Rock, Al Aqsa Mosque and the back side of the Eastern Gate! If you ever read my previous blogs you might know that the Eastern Gate is a favorite of mine - and - to be able to stand so close to it is always such a thrill for me that I feel 16years old all over again. (giggly!) Yes, as you can see the gate is sealed!



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

More pictures!

Here's more pictures from the day. After dinner we were taken to David's Citadel and watched a very moving sound and light show, then walked to the Western Wall! It was awesome to see the Western Wall at night!


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!

Wow- Israel is jam packed with tourists! I read that over 1 million tourists traveled to Israel in just the first 4 monts alone but now I see with my own eyes the number of tour buses and people from all over the world. They are here! Here with the same purpose. It's so awesome to pass another group...from another part of the world. I love to say Hello and it seems the only way we can communicate is "God Bless You" and I get choked up thinking about how all these people from all over the world are here for the same reason I am - we are truely brothers and sisters in Christ! Whoo Hoo!

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

Arrival into Jerusalem

Today was a big day! We packed and loaded and drove and walked and ate and walked and took pictures and laughed and walked and prayed and drove and walked and took pictures and listened and arrived into Jerusalem with a dramatic welcome singing..."JER - U - SALEM! JER - U - SALEM!" Wow what a fantastic goose pimply way to arrive to the most significate city on earth! The son of God came to Jerusalem and died here...for us. And WE ARE HERE!

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