Simply Amazing

   We are following the route of the Exodus.  The Israelites went through the area of the Edomites.  They then steered clear of the Moabites and went into the land of the Ammonites.  They then crossed over into the Promised Land at Jericho.  Saturday, we will do the same.

Today our trip to Petra was simply amazing.  It is hard to describe the stark beauty of creation here.  The colors of the sandstone and contrasts of light and shadows are spell-bounding.  Rami, our guide, did an excellent job of telling the story of Petra from the hey day of the Nabateans to their tragic end by poisoned water.  There are marvels of engineering to be seen all around here as well as the creative hand of our Lord.

While most of the group walked, some wisely took other modes of transportation, including carts or horseback for the four and a half mile round trip to the end of Petra and back.


On our way to Petra, we stopped for coffee at a little shop in the desert.  Several of the group commented that they have a new appreciation for the term desert or wilderness in the Bible since they have seen the area around Eilat and here.  Prior to entering Petra we ate at a nice restaurant in Wadi Mousa (Wadi Moses) just outside Petra.  It was a delicious meal with several Jordanian specialties.

I've asked several of the team if they are enjoying the trip and glad they came.  I believe the picture of Gus below represents their common response.  Everyone is enjoying themselves and are grateful for the opportunity to be here.  By the gracious work of the support team for the travel office we use and also the cooperation of the guides, we will be going to the Dead Sea tomorrow for a swim and also cross back into Israel in a way that will allow us to see Masada and Qumran, three of the important places or opportunities we missed on our lost first day.  That makes us all very happy.

 One last word about Petra.  Revelation 12 speaks of a time coming when the Antichrist will come against Israel and chase her to destroy her.  She will be given wings to flee to the desert to a stronghold prepared for her.  Many believe that will be Petra.  Read about it.

A Full Day of Sunshine

After a night of rest (and following our ordeal many of us caught some rest on the bus ride to Eilat Tuesday evening as well), we enjoyed a day of varied activities.  Some walked the short distance to the Underwater Observatory where you can see the beautiful fish of the Red Sea without getting wet.

Others went to the Eilat Camel Ranch and went on a journey into the desert with the Bedouins.  Along the way they saw ibex, an animal that looks like a mix between a small deer and mountain goat. The camel riders ate after watching food prepared in traditional bedouin style and then returned.  A few of us also did two dives in the Red Sea, one to a sunken missile cruiser and the other to a reef containing two massive rock formations called the Joshua Rock and the Moses Rock.

 In the afternoon, we traveled about 17 miles north to Timna Park.  Timna was a wife of Eliphaz, the son of Esau, not the Eliphaz of Job.  Their union birthed a son by the name of Amalek, leader of a family that was a thorn to Israel later.  Two important sites we visited at the park were:  the Pillars of Solomon. These steep "pillar" formations show erosion following the mining of copper here by the Egyptians.  We climbed the step cliff, and exited down by the remains of an Egyptian temple to Hathor.

We then visited the Tabernacle that is set up in the desert.  It is easy for us to picture what their forty years of wandering would have been like and how the Lord had to provide for them all along the way.  The lady did a marvelous presentation regarding all the symbolism, practicality, and meaning of all the aspects of the Tabernacle and its foreshadowing of Christ.  If you would like to hear or read some of what we enjoyed and were inspired by, visit their site:  http://berean-to-berean.com.

Tomorrow we leave early to head for Jordan and visit Petra.

The Gang's All Here

Just a quick post to let all our friends know that we have all arrived safely in Israel.  We are on a bus, taking a 4-5 hour ride to our hotel in Eilat.  Tomorrow will be a day of sun, diving, camel rides and a visit to the Tabernacle.  The important thing is that we are all safe and all together, for which we praise the Lord.

Our guide for these couple days is Shimon.  Our bus driver for our whole trip will be Shlomi.

Reunited and It Feels So Good

The last post was misleading.  Turns out the group that was on the original plane to Tel Aviv was also grounded and deplaned at 3:30 am.  After a long night, many calls, pleading and bonding, our whole group will briefly unite in Philadelphia today.  We will then split again, half going to Frankfurt and Tel Aviv.  The other half will travel directly to Tel Aviv.  We arrive within an hour of each other and will drive directly to Eilat.  

We are grateful for those who helped us work it out.

A Split Team

This was an interesting day.  All seemed to be on schedule.  The VA, PA, MD, CA folks all made it to Philadelphia in good shape.  They were enjoying some good bonding time, meeting one another and awaiting the arrival of the rest of the group from Buffalo.

Some of the  CA, MD, PA, VA part of the group

They were delayed (two hours) leaving for Tel Aviv but will still arrive on Monday afternoon and enjoy the warmth of the desert by the Dead Sea Monday evening and Tuesday.

Some of the Buffalo Part of the Group

Not so the Buffalo part of the group.  After multiple promises of getting underway, we were told there was a    ground stop at Philadelphia and our flight was cancelled with no                                                                        hope of an alternative route.

So we are now scheduled to head to Philadelphia shortly after noon Monday, overnight to Tel Aviv arriving Tuesday afternoon, and travel by bus the 4 hours or so to Eilat to catch up with the rest.  Our hope is to rearrange our itinerary a bit to make sure we see most of it all together.  Hopefully the only piece the Buffalo folks will miss is the Dead Sea.

The Day Has Arrived

The day has finally come for us to begin our pilgrimage.  Our group of 29 will gather in Philadelphia from our different locations and we will travel together from there.  Before we leave, we found out we will have a slight change of plans as the father of our guide and friend Nir Nitzan passed away this past Thursday.  Our prayers have been with him.  Nir will not be able to join us at the beginning.  He will lead us once we return to Israel from Jordan.  We look forward to meeting Shimon Zemer and have him guide us our first couple days in the desert.

Itinerary for The Trip

Israel/Jordan Holy Land Tour 2014

Pastor Pat and Pam Jones, Tour Hosts

Sunday, February 9:  We depart the US for our overnight flight to Tel Aviv.

 

Monday, February 10:  Welcome to Israel.  We will go through customs and board our bus to head south toward the Dead Sea.  Our first night will be in the warmth of the desert.

Tuesday, February 11:  After an early morning dip in the Dead Sea, we travel back north to Qumran, site of the Dead Sea Scrolls.  We will then visit Masada, Herod’s palace in the desert and where over 900 zealots died following the Fall of Jerusalem in 70 AD.  Following lunch, we will drive south to Eilat, a resort city on the Red Sea. 

Wednesday, February 12:  We will visit a replica of the Tabernacle set up in the desert and a park where Solomon may have had his copper mines.  Opportunity will also be give to take a camel ride in the desert or dive in the Red Sea.

Thursday, February 13:  We cross into Jordan and travel to the ancient Nabatean city of Petra.  One of the seven wonders of the world, this city is carved into a shear rock face and thought to be impenetrable.  But God said otherwise.  We will visit the city and overnight here.

Friday, February 14:  We will travel north toward Amman, stopping at Mt. Nebo.  Moses saw into the Promised Land from here but was not able to enter into the land.  We will visit Jerash and some other sites around Amman and overnight there.

Saturday, February 15: We will then cross the Allenby Bridge back into Israel and visit Bet Shan.  Following their defeat by the Philistines on Mt. Gilboa, the bodies of King Saul and his sons were hung on the wall of this city.  We will then travel north along the Jordan River valley to Tiberias and our first night in the Galilee.

                        Sunday, February 16: After breakfast we’ll depart Tiberias and take a morning Boat Tour of the north shore of the Sea of Galilee. We’ll visit Migdal, the home of Mary Magdalene and see the “Jesus Boat” at Kibbutz Nof Ginosar. We’ll then drive the plain of Ginosar to Tabgha where Jesus “multiplied the loaves and fish.” Next on our stop is the Mount of Beatitudes for Sunday Worship. We’ll proceed to the basalt synagogue at Chorazin to see where Jesus taught and see the “Seat of Moses.” We’ll also view the Natural Amphitheater where Jesus also taught, we’ll visit Capernaum, home of the synagogue of Jesus’ ministry and miracles. Next we’ll cross the Jordan River and visit Bethsaida, home of Peter, Andrea, James and John. We’ll also see the Decapolis and Kursi where Jesus cast the demons out of a man into a heard of swine.   We will close the day with a baptismal service in the Jordan River for those who desire to be baptized.  We will overnight in Tiberias.

Monday, February 17: After breakfast we’ll have a full day to tour the lovely North of Israel. First we’ll visit the burial site for Honi the Circlemaker who is the subject of Mark Batterson’s book by the same name.  We will pass by the archeological site of Hazor, mentioned in the Old Testament as one of Solomon’s three main cities where he maintained his famous horse stables. Next will visit the archeological site of Tel Dan before moving onto the famous city of Caesarea Philippi located about 25 miles north-east of the Sea of Galilee. Here, Jesus could be alone with His disciples and pass along His teachings. Next we’ll take a drive through the Golan Heights. Afterwards we’ll return to our hotel for dinner and overnight.

Tuesday, February 18:  We leave the Galilee behind as we cross the Jezreel Valley and visit Nazareth, the boyhood home of Jesus.  We will then visit the northern chariot city of Megiddo.  It is in this area where the final battle of Armageddon will take place. We then proceed to Mt. Carmel, site of Elijah’s contest with the prophets of Baal.  We will cross the Carmel range following the Via Maris, the way of the Sea until we reach Caesarea.  Herod’s summer palace and sea port were here.  Paul was imprisoned here.  We will visit the Crusader Fortress and Amphitheater, walking along side the Mediterranean Sea.  A quick stop at Joppa where Jonah ran from God and Peter later had a vision.  Then it is up to the Holy City, our first night in Jerusalem!!

Wednesday, February 19: We will start our day on the Mount of Olives where our guide will share the geography and history of Jerusalem. This vivid lecture overlooks where it happened, the Kidron Valley, the Temple Area, and The Holy City. Descending the Mount of Olives by the path of Jesus’ Triumphant Entry into the Kidron Valley, we worship in the lovely Garden of Gethsemane discussing Jesus’ suffering and his “Passion Week.” Before us is the Golden Gate of the Temple Area, as when Jesus gave the Olivet Discourse in Matthew 24. We’ll then visit the House of Caiphas, the place of Jesus’ early trials when Peter denied him and Jesus was “caned.” We’ll then view the Valley of the Cheesemaker, the Valley of Hinnon, the Field of Blood, where Judas took his life, Gehennah, and the Ophel, King David’s capital city. We will walk from the Pool of Siloam up to the Southern Wall area of the Old City. 

Thursday, February 20: Today we’ll discover more of the Old City of Jerusalem. First we’ll explore the Rabbinical Tunnels behind the Western Wall. We’ll then see the Temple Mount and (if politically possible), the El Aqsa Mosque, the Dome of the Rock, and the Dome of the Spirits.

Visit the Lions’ Gate and the Pools of Bethesda We’ll then visit the Tower of Antonia, the Praetorium, and Pilate’s Judgement Hall. Here our Lord was tried by Pilate, beaten by the Roman Cohort, and took up His Cross for Calvary. The Ecce Homo begins the traditional Via Dolorosa leading to the Church of the Holy Sepulchre (Catholic site of Jesus Crucifixion and Resurrection). Here we’ll have time to shop in the Old City. We’ll then reconvene to visit the Jewish Quarter including the Cardo,, the Herodian Quarter, and Nehemiah’s Wall. Afterwards we’ll explore the Southern Wall Excavations and depart the old city by the Dung Gate.

Friday, February 21: This morning we’ll be exploring the New City of Jerusalem. First we’ll see Yad Vashem the Shoa Museum. Visit the Israel Museum; See the Shrine of the Book, home to the Dead Sea Scrolls We’ll also see the Model of First Century Jerusalem. After Lunch drive to Shepherds Fields and cross over to Bethlehem to visit the Church of Nativity. We will also have lunch in Bethlehem; visit the First Baptist Church pastored by Rev. Naim Khoury (Steven’s father) and do some shopping.

Saturday, February 22:  Shabbat Shalom.  We will have the morning for shopping or resting before checking out of our hotel.  We will head to the Garden Tomb and get a sense of what Jesus’ burial place was like.  We will end our visit there by having Communion.  We will exit Jerusalem and head for the Elah Valley, site of the encounter between David and Goliath.  We will enjoy a farewell meal (not included) on our way to the airport.  We will go through security and begin our journey home.

Sunday, February 23:  We arrive early morning back in the US, go through customs and catch our various flights home.