Happy New Year and welcome to 2018!
I hope you enjoyed the holiday season with your family/friends. I had a wonderful Christmas and a very relaxed New Year’s Eve and Day with loved ones. It was a peaceful ending to a very eventful year.
Did you enjoy reading Victoria York’s blog post, Are You Afraid of Not Being Afraid?, a few weeks ago? I know I did. If you didn’t get a chance to read it yet, please take a few minutes to check it out. You will not regret it.
After an extended break from blog writing, due to poor internet connections, jet lag, and holiday festivities, I am excited to tell you about my first trip to Israel.
But before I talk about all of the tourist locations we visited, let me just say that Israel is more beautiful than I imagined. I have never been to a subtropical region before, so I didn’t know what to expect. The landscape was gorgeous.
I was particularly fascinated by the palm trees and olive trees, especially the twisted, gnarly shape of the olive tree trunks.
The desert areas were beautiful, as well. The sand and dirt piles were not just mounds; they were more like artwork with distinct designs and shapes. A few people on our tour said the scenery reminded them of Arizona’s landscape.
We spent the first five nights of our trip in Jerusalem and explored many holy sites within the city. We prayed at the Western Wall, walked the Via Dolorosa, saw the Pool at Bethesda, took communion at the Garden Tomb, and sat in the Garden of Gethsemane. We were supposed to visit the Mount of Olives, but our tour guide felt it was too dangerous to visit, given President Trump’s declaration to recognize Jerusalem as the capital of Israel and to move the U.S. Embassy there.
It was an interesting time to be an American staying in Israel.
The American flag flew proudly near Jerusalem’s governmental buildings, while some businesses closed their doors in protest to President Trump’s declaration. There was mild violence on the outskirts of the city, but it was not as bad as the media made it out to be, and we did not experience the rage or hate. In fact, many Israeli citizens were very kind and hospitable to us.
Tourism is a booming industry in Israel, so they worked diligently to make us feel welcome, despite their country’s division.
Midway through the trip, we went to be baptized in the Jordan river at Qasr Al Yahud. The location has a rich history. According to Christian traditions, it is the location of three major biblical events – Jesus’ baptism by John the Baptist, the Israelite crossing referenced in Joshua 3, and next to where the prophet Elijah was taken to Heaven by chariots of fire.
I was really excited to be baptized again. Although I had already been baptized at age 6, when I accepted Jesus as my savior, this baptism was just as powerful. It was the primary thing I wanted to do while visiting Israel, and despite the frigid and exceptionally dirty water, it was my second favorite event of the trip.
Later the same day, we traveled to another body of water, the Dead Sea. It was gorgeous. The Dead Sea’s floor is pure salt, an estimated 30% salt concentration, so you can see mounds of salt peeking up through the water near the shore. You can’t really sink in the sea, and you do not want to swim in it because it burns when you get the salt in your eyes and nostrils.
I spent about 5 minutes floating and 10 minutes rolling around like a dolphin and playfully squealing in a childlike, carefree manner. I am proud to report my head did manage to stay out of the water despite my excitement, however, some open pores on my upper back stung for a few hours after the encounter. I didn’t mind the pain. It was worth it! I can’t remember the last time I had so much fun.
After leaving Jerusalem, we traveled to Tiberias, where we stayed for two nights at a hotel within eyesight of the Sea of Galilee. What a view!
Our first day in the Tiberias area was wonderful. Jerusalem is more congested and has a strong religious presence, whereas Tiberias is more relaxed and tranquil. In addition, I had recovered from my mild jetlag and was feeling rejuvenated after my baptism and swim in the Dead Sea.
The day started with a camel ride at Genesis Land that was a bit terrifying, since our camels were walking along the edge of a steep cliff. It didn’t help me or my riding partner, Jean, to have a camel with a wondering eye. I spent the entire ride praying loudly, singing worship songs, and devising my escape plan. I figured breaking a leg or hip, by falling to the left side, was better than tumbling down the cliff to my right.
Thankfully, we all survived with only sore backs and no broken bones.
After the camel ride, we visited Magdala, a newly discovered archeological site. Magdala is part of the hometown of Mary Magdalene, and the location of an excavated First Century Synagogue.
Our guide was a precious 19-year-old named Andrea. I could tell she was passionate about Magdala’s rich heritage. The place felt alive as I walked through the ancient ruins listening to her explain what we were seeing. At the end of the tour, all of the ladies in our group gathered around Andrea to encourage and pray for her. It was a beautiful display of Christian sisterhood.
As our day wound down at sunset, we boarded a boat and floated across the Sea of Galilee, listening to worship music. Within minutes, the boat began to fill with singing and praises to God. I raised my hands, tears streaming down my face, in complete awe and admiration of Jesus. As peace washed over me like a gentle rain, my lips let out the sweet melody, “It is well with my soul.”
It was my favorite experience on the trip.
We traveled to several more sites during the final two days of our journey, including Megiddo (the valley of Armeggedon), Nazareth Village, Capernaum, the Mediterranean Sea, Cana of Galilee (where Jesus turned the water to wine), and an overnight stay in Tel Aviv.
Of course, I have shared only highlights from my trip because I experienced too many wonderful things to put in one blog post. I hope, if nothing else, my journey has made you hungry to take your own trip to the Holy Land.
Until next time, Israel!
I enjoyed reading about The Israel trip through your eyes and creative writing. Very good writing and nice pics to give those that have never been to Israel, a taste of what it’s like.