I listened...

I watched today. I listened and watched. That’s the best part of my job. This morning I watched as our group ate breakfast and boarded their buses for a thrilling day of walking in the footsteps of Jesus in the Galilee area. I’m so blessed. I chose to ride bus 3 today to start. Our guide was Ra’anan, or Ronnie and even though I’ve been with him many times in the past, I always hear something new and interesting. Ok, well – maybe not some of his jokes, but I found myself laughing anyway. He has a unique way with words. The way he can paint a picture and take me back to some far distant past is amazing. I found myself closing my eyes many times as he described places not as they were today, but as they were in Jesus’ day.

Caesarea Philippi was first on our itinerary. It’s way up north in the “finger tip” of Israel along the Lebanon border. Along the drive we all listened to Ra’anan talk about this area. The Galilee area. The Sea of Galilee, the Golan Heights and so much more. As he talked, the Sea of Galilee became smaller and smaller outside our window and the views were incredible. I listened to those around me on the bus too and I enjoyed the excitement of seeing these sites for the first time through their eyes. “Oh my goodness!” That was Nic’s repeated reaction to the first impressions of the Galilee region. It was so fun to hear the excitement in his voice and the others around me pointing out places and things that were interesting while snapping pictures and taking it all in.

After Caesarea Philippi we came back down to the lowest fresh water lake in the world, the Sea of Galilee and visited the Mount of Beatitudes and also Capernaum, Jesus’ home town for the three main ministry years of his life. Ra’anan helped make it all come together and explained everything in such a way that my eyes were opened and could see and understand much clearer than I had in the past. I caught myself a couple times stopping in my tracks and thinking… “Could Jesus have stood in this very spot?” The answer was YES, it’s VERY possible that Jesus could have stood or walked on the same paths we took today. It’s actually highly likely even, knowing what the Bible says and learning too from the archeological proof. This was my theme of the day! I put myself in Jesus’ shoes and used my mind’s eye to create life in His day. It wasn’t very hard with Ra’anan’s expertise showing me the way with his clever and descriptive words and the fact that the Galilee region is the most untouched locations where Jesus lived and ministered.

I’ve been here before, it’s true – but it never gets old. Today, with my new theme, I sat on a wooden boat on the Sea of Galilee… a boat that is a replica of a boat in the time of Jesus. After we sang and prayed and learned about the lake we took a few minutes of silence. This silence was the best part of the boat ride. To sit there, on this boat in the middle of the lake with only the noise of the waves lapping on the sides was touching. I put myself in Jesus’ shoes (ok, sandals) again and I thought of Him and the disciples on a boat like this fishing for their daily catch…I thought of their reactions during a sudden storm and also pictured them disappointed after not catching a thing and then pulling in their nets after Jesus told them too…nets full of fish! I bet their laughter and joy was heard across the lake echoing for miles! Oh the conversations that must have taken place in the noiseless world they lived in. Without cars and buses, boat motors and airplanes overhead. Loud speakers, televisions blaring, cell phones ringing. The silence was beautiful and natural and I realized just how much noise I have in my life. Not only noise. But even the noise of distractions and hustle and bustle of life, the many thoughts running through my head of my busy day or week etc. It’s all noise really. I want to listen past the noise. And I have a feeling that while I’m listening, I will hear… is anybody where I’m going with this????

I’m sorry to say that I could not down load pictures tonight. I am somewhat technically challenged and in my rush to leave for the airport forgot an important component to downloading pictures onto my computer. Yea, the cable. I forgot it. Well, I do have a backup plan, so if you’ll bare with me one more day I truly intend to show great pictures of this day.

This day ended like no other day – ever! You just can’t duplicate a special day like today. We were baptized in the Jordan River today. Oh My Goodness! What a lump in your throat, goosebump kind of day! I’m sitting here struggling to find the right words to express what our baptism was like but I’m struggling. The emotion and the spiritual connection that was felt was overwhelming. I will just say this… there was singing, clapping and shouts of praise. There were tears of joy and hugging and more tears of joy. I heard whispers of thanks for our Savior from faces that were buried into a loved one’s neck. Tomorrow I will post the pictures, I hope you’ll check back and see if you recognize any of the glowing faces.

Thank you Jesus, that’s all I’ve got left to say about today…Amen.

Kim

Shalom and welcome to the Holy Land!

The group landed in Tel Aviv and got a beautiful welcome to Israel by stopping at some of the most breathtaking places on their way to the hotel. Caesarea by the Sea which are ruins along the Mediterranean Sea’s shoreline (say THAT five times fast!). This is a beautiful stop and it was gorgeous weather to boot! The waves crashing along the shoreline, the fresh sea air…and magnificent ruins to explore! From there they stopped at Megiddo and also at Mt. Carmel, where I always get goose bumps! I’m planning to ask a show of hands tomorrow of how many people got goose bumps overlooking the enormous valley of Armageddon at Mt. Carmel too! I know that I’m not alone!

It was a big day and even though I could see the weariness on their faces when they walked into the hotel tonight, I could also see a joy behind the tired eyes. They are in the Holy Land! A dream is coming true.
Tomorrow, our wake- up call is early and we have another big day ahead of us but stay tuned to see the joy in their faces when I post pictures of them enjoying the most incredible places on earth. Places that we have read about in the Bible throughout our lives. Places that God chose for miracles to occur. Places that Jesus walked, taught and healed… Places that at one point in our lives we couldn’t even imagine having the opportunity to visit, and yet, here we are!

Tomorrow morning God will bless us with a beautiful sunrise over the Sea of Galilee and I know that I know… that God has great things in store for us while we are here. Amen!

Please pray for a good night’s sleep for everyone!

Shalom and good night! Oh and feel free to leave messages on the blog for your friends and family, I'll pass them along!

Kim

Travel Day!

Today is a travel day and everyone is making their way to the airport. Excited and anxious to step foot on the Holy Land. The flight is long but surprisingly comfortable with meals and movies and sleep. Tomorrow morning they will arrive and visit some breath taking spots along the way to the hotel. Come back for updates!

This is no ordinary place!

There's nothing like spending a week in Israel in the summer! LeSEA Tours is gearing up for another trip to the Holy Land in June and everyone is VERY excited about it. Why? Great question! A visit to Israel in the summer guarantees you GORGEOUS weather! The sun will shine every day! It will be warm – sometimes hot, but it’s very tolerable. The days are longer and with the great weather, you will have the opportunity to walk around the city and markets after you return from touring for the day!

The hotel we will be staying at on this trip is called the Dan Panorama. It’s in the heart of Jerusalem – a fantastic location to walk to the Old City, to Ben Yehuda Street, the German Colony – just about anywhere! Grab an after dinner coffee right across the street with the new friends you’ve made or take a walk to the Western Wall and marvel at the evening prayers being lifted up to heaven. I look forward to the smells in the air and to hear the enchanting sounds of the Holy City. I love the adventure of not knowing what God has in store for me. What will He reveal? How will I be touched by Him? Make no mistake about it, I know that God will move and lives will be changed – there is no doubt.

God has chosen this group of people at this divine time to visit and commune with Him in a very special way. This is no ordinary place and this is no ordinary visit. This is a pilgrimage!

Are coming with us this June?

Free day choices - mud, cable cars and history!

The options you have on your free day on a LeSEA Tour are endless. After all you're in Jerusalem! The Holy City is right beneath your feet.

Some people will venture out on their own and revisit favorite places, like the Western Wall. Or grab a taxi and visit Bethlehem and the Church of the Nativity. (more about Bethlehem later) The Old City corridors are another fun place to walk around in and mingle with daily life. You’ll pass barber shops, meat markets where the meat is hanging freely for your choosing and spices are piled high displayed in beautiful colors. The smells of food cooking, coffee shops with delicious cappuccinos and pastries and of course the sounds of shop keepers calling you to “come in and take a look” are all part of the experience here. You can expect to get lost in the market place but don’t fret. Relax and have fun. When you are ready to find your way out just ask “which way to the Jaffa Gate,” everyone speaks English and everyone is willing to help you. My best advise is to use cash for your purchases (they accept USD) and haggle for what you want. It’s just the way it’s done. Whatever you buy here will be linked to the memory of this special day.

Many people will choose to purchase the tour offered by LeSEA which includes traveling to Masada and taking a cable car to the top to learn about the amazing people who lived and died here. Then a stop at Qumran for lunch and a chance to view the actual caves where the Dead Sea Scrolls were found. Right here! The story of how these ancient scrolls were found is fascinating. Afterward, you will get to slip on their bathing suit and experience the unsinkable Dead Sea, the lowest place on planet earth! The mud along the shore line is good for your skin and therefore gives adults a great excuse for “playing in the mud”! Kate and I sure did. How could we pass up that opportunity! I don’t care how old you are, playing in the mud is just plain fun!

What did YOU do on your free day? Send in your pictures!


Whatever you choose to do on this day, you will meet back at the hotel for a very special farewell dinner where we will say good-bye to all our new friends. With heavy hearts and a lump in our throats we will leave Jerusalem after dinner and are transferred back to the airport for our midnight flight home. 99% of people I’ve talked to tell me that the ride back to the airport is melancholy. It’s feels like your leaving “home”. There is just something special about this place that draws you in and makes you feel like you belong here. And you do!

If you want to experience this for yourself. Request the free information packet today We can show you how this dream can be a reality!

Shalom my friends, for now,

Kim

Covering the country of Israel

We have really covered a lot of ground this week! Yesterday we drove to the coast and visited Caesarea by the Sea, Megiddo, Mt. Carmel and Nazareth. Today we went to Mt. Scopus, Mt of Olives, walked the "Palm Sunday route", Garden of Gethsemane, Church of All Nations, the Upper Room, Caiaphas House, a Bethlehem overlook and the communion at the Garden Tomb! Whoa! That’s a lot of ground in two days. It’s no wonder I’m tired. So tired that today I will post pictures of the last two days instead of talking about them. I know that’s what you want to see anyway!

Here you go… enjoy!

Now... time to rest.

Tomorrow is Masada, Qumran Caves and floating in the Dead Sea!

Shalom,
Kim

"Wow" Day!

Today was full of "Wow's". I heard it from my daughter, Kate when we first stopped at Bet She'an. "Wow". That's just about all she could say for 30 minutes. I really did try to talk to her, but all I got back in return was; Oh WOW. I understood where she was coming from because all I could answer in return was, "yea, I know."

Back on the bus to Tiberias where we boarded a boat for a ride on the Sea of Galilee! What a beautiful day to be on the water that Jesus walked on! Pinch- ouch! - yep, I'm really here...

Pastor Al even renewed the wedding vows of Miriam and Jacinto - they have been married 50 years this year! What a beautiful place and a touching moment to reconnect and renew their love for each other and to Jesus.

"I have decided to follow Jesus..."

That is what we sang as those getting baptised today lined up in the chilly waters of the Jordan River. I didn't see that the water was bothering them though - What I saw were faces that were focused and serious at what they were about to participate in. A water baptism in the Jordan River just as John baptised Jesus in these same waters!

Here are a few photo's. More to come!

And we drove back to Jerusalem with our hearts full... what a day! What a day indeed! "Wow!"


Kim