March 30

Well ... I know it's been a really long time since I've updated everyone and here we are ... our last night in Jerusalem.  It's hard to believe that we've been gone over 2 weeks!  This has been one amazing trip and we all got pretty emotional at our last stop today.

We spent 3 nights and 4 days at the Sea of Galilee.  Our little room in the Kibbutz was right on the shore!  I could so vacation/live there.  It was absolutely beautiful.  We could only get internet if we paid for it ... and really, I just didn't have enough time to update the site.  This whole trip has been one crazy ride with very little down time.  While in the area of the Sea of Galilee, we got to take a boat ride.  It was so neat to ride over the waters where Jesus taught and did many miracles.  We got about half way out and stopped the boat and had some teaching time.  The weather (like almost everyday) was beautiful!  The skies have been so blue and since we have come at the end of the rain season, everything in in bloom and very green ... at least as green as Israel gets.  

Once we got back to Jerusalem ... we had one night and packed up and headed to Jordan.  Most of our Jordan experience was spent on the bus because everything we saw was farther apart than here in Israel.  We did visit some very interesting places including Petra.  If you don't know where or what Petra is ... then check out Indiana Jones and the Last Crusade. :)  It is the big city carved into the mountain.  We hiked up to the Monsestary which was over 950 steps all going up hill ... it was well worth it to see the view at the very top of the mountain.  Of course pictures don't do this trip justice ... but I took them nonetheless.  Then a few of us "rented" camels to take us part of the way out (a little over a mile).  That was so much fun!!  The owner of the camels would make them run and we would all laugh hysterical ... so he kept making them run!  You could say our inner thighs are very sore today! :)

Today in Jordan we stood on Mt. Nebo ... this is the place that God took Moses to show him the Promise Land ... but told him he couldn't enter it.  The view on all of these mountains have been breath taking ... neither words or pictures can describe it.

We also went to the place where David had Urias killed ... it has been the neatest experience to physically be at these places.  You can literally see scripture come to life right before your very eyes.  We've learned about the geography of all the stories we've read over and over ... scriptue has taken on a new meaning for me and will forever change the way I study the Bible.

One of the guys on our trip has one of those pediometers ... and all in all we've probably walked about 90-95 miles during the past 2 1/2 weeks!  There was one day we walked down from Masada and I couldn't hardly walk for the next 2 days because my calve muscels hurt so bad! :)

Tomorrow we head to Tel Aviv for one night.  We've been told our hotel is very nice and right on the beach!  I'm so looking forward to having some down time.  We then get up about 3 am to head to the airport.  Pray that customes goes well ... it can take many hours!  And then of course pray for a safe and smooth plane ride.  We are scheduled to be back in K-town around midnight Wednesday night.

I can't wait to get home to upload all of my pictures ... and to see everyone.  I've had the time of my life, but I'm ready to be in my own bed, my own shower, and to be with my friends and family ... and of course to see my sweet little Peyton (my beloved pet).

I love you all!!

Day 8

Updated 03-23-09

We have had another long day and I'm pretty tired.  We departed Jerusalem this morning at 6:30 am and just got back ... it's 6:20 pm.  We'll be headed to the Sea of Gallee tomorrow ... so, I'm not sure how much I'll be able to update and add pictures.

Today we drove down to Masada, which is another palace of Herod the Great and where the Zealouts were defeated and committed suicide before going into slavery by the Romans.  That was a great place to visit and the details that are still left were simply amazing.  Hopefull I'll get the pictures uploaded quickly.  

From there we went to the Dead Sea.  You really do float in the Dead Sea!  It was fun, but you can't stay in the water very long because of all the minerals.  You skin begins to burn after about 20 minutes.  

Well ... we really did a lot of hiking and stuff ... way more than what I'm typing out.  I've got to go and grab dinner because we have a 7:00 meeting and then we have to pack for the Sea of Gallee.

We did have another beautiful day of weather ... we are constantly being amazed by God's hand and protection on this trip.

Again ... I love you guys so much and miss you!!

 

Day 7

Updated 03-22-09

Well ... things here are still going great.  Yesterday was another full day.  We started the day off with a hike ... and we had yet another beautiful day!  It was cold, but was really perfect for the hike.  We stopped along the way to have study time and again, all of this is bringing scripture to life.  You can visually see how the people lived ... what they had to endure.  The hike was were people would turn caves into their homes.  This was really the great life back in the day.  You worked the land and had all you needed to provide for your family.  

Now ... the hike on the way back up the mountain was very hard! :)  Although, it was great and fun ... I'm sure glad I started working out before this trip!  I wouldn't have made it!

Today was basically our free day.  I had to go to a meeting about our trip to Jordan ... but after that, I hit the markets to start my barginning shopping.  That made me nervous, but I got the hang of it and it really became fun!  All of the store owners would tell you the same thing ... "I'll make you a deal" ... "I'm giving you wholesale price" ... "I can't do that price".  I'm sure I still could've gotten things cheaper ... but it was fun sticking to my price and seeing how they try to tell you other wise.  One guy did tell me "No way Hosea" ... I didn't get that sell, but found one that really turned out to be a God thing.  I can't tell what the gift is ... but it's for my dad and I think he's really going to like it!  The guy who told me "No" was going to charge me $130 for the same thing.  I got this one ... really ... and I mean really cheap thanks to our leader and pastor Micah!  

After that ... me and another lady walked the Via Dolorosa and even though it was all pretty much a remembrance of Christ's walk to the cross ... there were several spots along the way that were very moving.  We stood in a school that is the place of Christ being condemed and even though it didn't look anything like it did at that time ... we were standing on the courtyard of the school ... I couldn't help but to hear people yelling and screaming against Christ.  It brought tears to my eyes ... and was just an emotional experience.

Tomorrow we get up very early to head out to the Dead Sea.  We have to be on the bus no later than 6:30 am.  So ... that means I need to get off of here, go eat some dinner and then go to bed!  

I added more links to pictures ... so be sure to check them out.

I love you guys and miss you very much!  Keep praying we have great weather.  So far, we haven't had any rain!

Oh ... and EVERYONE smokes here!!  It's making me so sick!! LOL