My Impressions and Expectations…
How do you describe a trip to Israel--the Holy Land? Descriptions
are beyond words…you experience sights and sounds but the real experience comes from what you feel. Some feelings you can describe with words, others you cannot. Before leaving
I had expectations; I spent time preparing myself mentally and spiritually by
reading the word and spending time in God’s presence seeking His will for me
while there. I expected this great spiritual experience of spending quality
time with Him in the places where our biblical heroes made history,
particularly our Savior and Lord. What I found when I got there was a lot of
tourism. The sites where history took place were filled with modern entrances
and buildings with all the things that make a tourist happy. And like a tourist
spot there were crowds of people! Because of the crowds and our schedule, spending
quality time alone and dwelling in the places where history took place was mostly
nonexistent. I use the term tourist lightly because I’m sure no one there saw
themselves as a tourist, I surely didn’t, I was expecting to…well, you know
what I was expecting. And I’m sure they were expecting and seeking the same
thing. I found myself being caught between being a tourist and being spiritual. What a battle!
What made my experience great was the teachings we received at each site. Our guide was totally awesome, she was well versed on
every site with scripture, gave us the biblical history as well as current history.
She was well connected and could find us spots and places that got us away from
the crowds as she taught. She knew how to navigate the land and get us to sites
ahead of the crowds. She had God’s favor; you could see it everywhere we went, including the hotels where we stayed.
We had a very tight schedule and visited many places. The schedule sometimes took a toll on my physical being, especially on the nights when sleep
escaped me. I almost didn’t go to one site because I felt I just couldn’t make
it, but thanks to encouragement from my roommate I pushed through. I must admit I
was sometimes listless and didn’t always fully hear all the great teaching we
received.
Enough of my impressions! Let’s delve into where we went
and what we saw.
Day One – September 1 – Departing Charleston
for New York, a special thanks goes out to my awesome coworker and friend Buddy
Metts who braved the early morning hours to get me to the airport in time for a
7:10am departure; he got me there with plenty of time to relax and enjoy a cup of
coffee before takeoff. JFK airport in NY is a nightmare! I had to take a
shuttle to get to the terminal to meet the others traveling from Jacksonville,
Florida. The shuttle travels on the tarmac where all kinds of vehicles
including airplanes cross your path, I tripped out when I read a sign saying, “stop
for airplanes crossing”. My mouth dropped as I watched one slowly roll by. The place is like a maze, good thing they have personnel standing around to ask questions when you don't know which way to go. You have to take a train to get to the international terminal...this train also goes out into the city so pay attention!
SIDEBAR: Have you ever had a moment when you know it is a God ordained moment…I had that moment sitting in the JFK Shake Shack eating breakfast. I looked up toward the window and saw an airplane sitting all alone on the tarmac. The amazing part is what was on the tail of the plane. I will let the picture speak for itself.
That
was my confirmation—my trip is a God thing!
Day Two – September 2 – Arrival at Ben Gurion
Airport in Tel Aviv.
SIDEBAR: September 1st flowed right into September 2nd making the two seem like one.
Seeing Israel from the air and walking on Israeli soil for
the first time was humbling and exciting! Going through customs was harmless; modernized
and digital. Not the monster I thought it would be. I, however, got myself red
flagged complete with a loud buzzer by being slow entering the gate after scanning
my passport. Fear crept in like a sonic! I thought I was going to be carted off and questioned when I saw
the security agent coming my way. That too was harmless, he led me to a separate
area, scanned my passport, took my picture and opened a special gate for me to
enter. My heart slowed down, and I could breathe again.
Day Three – September 3 – We wake up next to
the Mediterranean Sea in Herzliya.
Our first visit was The Palmach Museum, which was new
knowledge for me. Not being a history buff, this story had never crossed my radar.
The Palmach is a museum honoring the men and women of the Jewish Underground
and their role in helping establish a new Jewish state. The rooms are designed
to give you the experience of going through their underground missions with them—poignant
and exciting.
Next, we traveled to the Herodian ruins of Caesarea by the
Sea where the Gospel went out to the Gentiles. We sang worship songs in the
theater built by Herod and walked the grounds where ancient games and races
took place like the ones in Ben Hur.
We then traveled through the Valley of Armageddon to our
hotel, The Ramot Resort, on the Sea of Galilee where we spent three nights.
Day Four – September 4 – The Galilee Region
We begin our day on the Mount of Beatitudes, site of the
Sermon on the Mount. Can you believe it! ...my heart is pounding, and I am
solemn…as I take it all in.
Unfortunately, this is where the touristy feelings begin. We
are standing on the spot where Jesus probably stood when He taught the crowd
the Beatitudes. We received great teaching and history but the crowds of people
milling around made it difficult to totally focus…not to mention the heat and my camera kept jumping out of my pocket. The
Church of Beatitudes was beautiful. Inside the church was a mix of things going
on; there were people kneeling praying, sitting praying, and standing looking;
one big group was chatting and/or praying in a foreign language with a melodious sound that was beautiful.
Because of the multitude of people in there we just walked around the perimeter
and exited. The sanctuary portion is very small.
We continue to Tabgha, where Jesus reappeared to the disciples in John 21. This is the site of Peter’s Primacy, a church memorializing Jn. 21:15-17. Again, crowded. We were fortunate to have an awesome guide, Tisha Michelle; with her favor and knowing the land, we bypassed the crowded touristy section and went to a spot she knew right on the water where we had privacy to worship and receive quiet teaching. To actually see the Sea of Galilee where Jesus walked on water was “AWE” personified! Some locals came to the area on boats one blasting music; Tisha knew the secret to getting them to turn it down—they brought a little local flavor to the experience.
Next, we visit Capernaum, the center of the ministry of Jesus. Again, a touristy feel deterring the spiritual aspect you want to encounter, nevertheless, awe inspiring just being there. We found a quiet spot under a tree where Tisha taught from Matthew 9. The area is mostly excavated ruins and artifacts.
SIDEBAR: You have to pay to use the restroom—the paying is on the honor system, I didn’t see the sign, so I didn’t pay…I guess I’m not honest. ☹ Why didn’t I go back and pay…we had left the restroom area when I found out there was a sign. Where were my eyes when I entered that door...
We leave a holy city and travel to a pagan city, Tiberias,
where we have lunch and wine tasting at the Scot Hotel. The Mediterranean food
was delicious and the wine very delectable!
We started our afternoon sailing on the Sea of Galilee.
Watching the mountains and the same terrain Jesus saw was majestic and humbling at the same time. It’s
an experience you quietly take in as you approach the shore. Prior to that
feeling we had fun dancing and singing! The worship was the best of all. My spirit was floating in His spirit like the waves on the water as we sang Waymaker. After the sailing we watched a moving story of an excavated boat found by some teenagers that could possibly have been
one of the disciple’s boats—or maybe even the boat carrying Jesus when He calmed the storm …the
mystery remains…
We ended our day at the recently excavated synagogue of
Magdala, the traditional birthplace of Mary Magdalene. The ruins were
discovered when they started building a hotel. They uncovered a stone in the synagogue
where the biblical scrolls were placed when they were read.
Day Five – September 5 – We wake up to
breakfast with a view of the Sea of Galilee - Breathtaking!
Our tour adventures start in Tel Dan, the northern border of
Israel where we take in the beautiful Dan River. You must be very agile for this
trek, lots of rocky dirt trails, and a rock path that requires severe
concentration due to its slippery effect. Crossing it was fun! Here, is a frame
of the altar built by King Jeroboam to worship false gods.
From Tel Dan we travel to Caesarea Philippi where Jesus gave Peter the keys to the Kingdom of Heaven (Matthew 16). Jesus wanted to be alone with His disciples in this place; and here, is the genesis of His journey to the Via Dolorosa. We saw ruins of the gates of hell (that will not prevail). Received our teaching by the shady springs built by the Syrians.
Lunch was in a Dru village known for having the best pitas
in Israel...they were delicious! We had a view of a lake that was once the home of a volcano.
After lunch we ascend the Golan Heights, giving us a
strategic overlook of the northern border. We have a nice view of Mount Hermon
in the distance, Israel's tallest mountain, also known as the eyes of Israel
(Dan. 17). Golan Heights maintains security for Israel. We could see the United
Nations in the distance (the white buildings in the horizon). Beyond the UN is the Syrian border. There is also an
area called the Valley of Tears, named for the attack by Syria and Egypt in
1973; Israel won the war but not without great loss, hence, the name.
We end our day at the Jordan River. Again, very touristy and glamourized. It looked like we were at a very beautiful amusement park. There were several sections set up for groups to do their baptisms. The highlight of my experience was filming and capturing the baptisms of those in my group. I was thankful for the areas of the Jordan we passed in our travels that gave a more authentic feel of the river. Needless to say, I didn’t get the spiritual experience I was hoping for. Especially after having to compete with another tourist with a big camera for the small spot where I was filming, (she was taking pictures my group will probably never see). However, the joy of watching the river flow and seeing the rejoicing of those being baptized coupled with the thoughts of what that river means to our history overshadowed all the negatives...leaving me with a feeling of calm solitude.
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| Jordan River off the beaten path |
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| Little River with a Big Name |
Day Six – September 6 – We depart the Galilee region
and head for the Dead Sea and our Triumphant Entry into Jerusalem—the Holy City
The Dead Sea was a mixture of rawness and a touristy beach.
Because of my fear of open water, I floated for about a half second (although
you cannot sink in these waters). The bottom is comprised of rocks and grayish mud; the mud
makes your skin feel soft and smooth. There is a section called Glamping designed
for glamourous camping. We had lunch here before heading into Jerusalem.
Our Triumphant Entry – the overwhelming emotions I felt in this moment cannot be described. This is when my heart was pierced and my love for this nation began to grow. We were admonished to prepare our hearts and souls for the entry into the high places. Our leader Mike, and other tour members read orally Ps. 120-134, adding a great dimension to our experience. As we entered the tunnel to the city Paul Wilbur’s song Shalom Jerusalem was playing in the background, coming out of the tunnel Mike said, JERUSALEM! the song hit the musical crescendo!! and WOW!...what divine timing...setting up a monumental unforgettable experience that brought tears to my eyes. Fostering a desire to never leave.
SIDEBAR: Pictures and words cannot capture the feelings of that moment.
Triumphant Entry into Jerusalem
Scenery before entry into Jerusalem
Our first stop was ascending the Mount of Olives where we took
in an awesome view and received an orientation over the city—an amazing sight
to behold. There were peddlers galore and camel rides for the brave.
Next, we descended the Palm Sunday Road to the Garden of Gethsemane. Palm Sunday Road is the path Jesus took on His Triumphant Entry into Jerusalem. It is a very, very steep decline, paved and narrow. Vehicles unbelievably are allowed to travel this narrow street, one car coming up had to back down to let a car going down pass; we had to scrunch close to the wall to let the cars pass (pedestrians do not have the right of way in Israel). As we slowly trudge downhill to keep from slipping you can’t help imagining palm branches waving and hearing shouts of Hosanna!
Palm Sunday Road leads us to a heart stopping adventure...The Garden of Gethsemane! Knowing you are about to enter the place where He dropped sweats of blood, prayed this bitter cup be removed, but willingly made the sacrifice was the ultimate. I was disappointed the garden had an iron fence surrounding it and we could not enter. Thanks to the insensitivity of tourists in the past picking the plants, entry is prohibited. Overall, it was a humbling moment as we received teaching outside the gate from Ps. 116 and Matthew 26.
We climaxed the day having dinner with three Holocaust
survivors at the Happy Fish restaurant in the Mamilla Hotel where we stayed for
the remainder of our tour. The evening culminated in the hotel auditorium listening
to the sobering stories of the three survivors.
Day Seven – September 7 – City of David/Hezekiah's Tunnel
SIDEBAR: Happy 92nd birthday to my mom! I miss you…
The City of David-Where It All Began—the title of a 3D movie we watched to begin our journey on Mount Zion where David united the 12 tribes and made Jerusalem the all-time capital.
SIDEBAR: The humanlike animated narrator of the movie looked like Peter Wagner dressed in Indiana Jones attire.
We descended a spiral staircase to the underground ruins and tunnels. Very exciting! The most exhilarating experience was Hezekiah’s Tunnel. We trekked through water in a long narrow space that was very dark—pitch black dark in a single file line. Thankfully Jacob, a fellow tour member, had a headlamp and led us through the 30–40-minute adventure. Rose, another tour member, was awesome at forewarning us to duck when we came to low ceilings and being aware of holes and dips so as not to lose our footing. The walls are rock/stone and rough. I came out with a few head bumps from not ducking low enough, and a scraped elbow. I think this turned out to be the thrilling highlight of the tour.
Our tunnel adventure ended at the Pool of Siloam where Jesus
healed the blind man. Here we prayed in humbling humility for the healing needs
and requests for ourselves and our families after Mike’s poignant teaching.
City of David/Hezekiah's Tunnel
We then ventured to the Southern Steps of the Temple Mount,
the steps where Jesus would have climbed to enter the Holy Temple, the steps
where He (and other rabbis) would have stood at the top and taught in front of the
Temple gates. I actually walked on the steps where Jesus walked…WOW!
Our next stop was the Western Wall, also known as the Wailing Wall. This is the place you really want to be reverent. However, as with other popular holy sites it was very crowded; we were there on a day Bar Mitzvahs are allowed; complete with lots of joyous celebrations! It took patience to get to a spot on the wall. With the significance of the meaning behind this place you steal away inside yourself and connect with the Holy Spirit as you place your hand on the wall and pray. Then you look for a crack to place your prayer without disturbing other prayers…unfortunately, not disturbing is hard to do. It apparently happens all the time as there were many prayers on the ground. The fortunate thing is they were once on the wall and are still at the wall, so God knows. I’m sure by now my prayer is on the ground, but He heard me and knows my heart.
Our last stop of the day was Yad Vashem Holocaust Museum. If
I didn’t fully understand the disturbing plight the Jews suffered…I do now.
Humbling—and sad.
Day Eight – September 8 – The deserts of
Qumran and Masada
Qumran is the home of the caves where the Dead Sea Scrolls were found, the oldest scriptures in existence. On this day, if you look very closely in one of the caves you see a little goat just inside the doorway taking refuge from the sweltering heat.
From Qumran we ascend to Masada to the site where Herod built a fortress for himself and his family. The adventurous way up the mountain is The Snake Path which consists of a 700+ step winding path that takes about 35 – 75 minutes to climb, depending on your fitness level. Due to the heat that day, which was between 103-104 degrees, the path was closed, so we take a cool cable car. Masada is also the site where the last Jewish stand in the land took place against the Romans in 73AD.
SIDEBAR: This is the site I almost didn’t make it to. I surprised myself once there with rejuvenated energy to brave the heat. I had no idea how hot it would be when I almost didn’t go. God is good…at getting you to do what you think you can’t do.
Day Nine – September 9 – Old City Jerusalem/Pools of Bethesda
We begin our morning at the Pools of Bethesda where Jesus
healed the paralyzed man. And once again, crowds galore! As favor would have it, Tisha finds a quiet spot under a tree right beside the ruins of the pool to
give us another awesome teaching. We then go inside the Church of St. Anne
believed to be built over the site of a grotto, which was originally the home
of Joachim and Anne, parents of the virgin Mary. The acoustics in this church are
phenomenal! We sang at the altar and sounded like a full-on choir of angels.
We are now approaching the place I have dreamed of walking
for a long time…the Via Dolorosa. And wouldn’t you know it…touristy and
crowded. Again, you have to really focus inside yourself to get in the spirit of what
actually took place along these corridors, or you could get caught up in the busyness. I was able to capture some of the
numbers of the 13 stations of the cross. What once was sacred is now a thriving
marketplace with everything you would want including an ATM machine. Oh, how I
wanted to take in the significance of where I was walking but I had to keep up
with the group and watch out for motorbikes and carts carrying bread. At the
end, the magnitude of where you were just walking hits you when you stand
before the Church of the Holy Sepulcher, the final station of the Cross. Your heart is overwhelmed at the realization that you just
walked where Jesus carried His Cross—just for me! WOW!!
SIDEBAR: One of our states is represented in Israel, complete with their slogan - The Heart of Dixie. The phrase “roll tide” couldn’t help slipping across the lips of some of our group members coupled with surprised chuckles at seeing Alabama on the Via Dolorosa…go figure.
We exit the Via Dolorosa into the Jewish Quarter where
things are quiet…it is the Sabbath...no one is around...except for those in full attire coming from the synagogues where they were praying.
We continue to the Upper Room commemorating the Last Supper
(not the actual place where it was held). From there we visit the House of Caiaphas
where Jesus spent his last night imprisoned. There is also a monument commemorating
Perer’s denial.
With a dichotomy of feelings, we head to the bus to have
lunch at a little quaint café on the Mount of Olives.
Our next stop was the best—The Garden Tomb. The place where He was laid before His Resurrection. Entering the tomb is a sobering exciting feeling, seeing the place where He lay is a breathtaking moment. The jubilance is exiting the tomb knowing that He is not there because He rose to a glorious triumph! Adding to the jubilancy was taking communion in the Garden, then worshiping with reverence and elevated praise in the center of a holy place! What a feeling!
Our last meal in Jerusalem was at the Roof Top Restaurant of
the Mamilla Hotel where we enjoyed our stay for four nights. The night view was
a sight to behold.
Day 10 – September 10 – Sadness…our last day -
Tel Aviv
We visited Tel Aviv's colorful Shuk Ha Carmel Market. Where we strolled through the market and enjoyed the vibrant fruit, vegetable and spice stands, flower shops, souvenirs and a bakery. We had lunch at different authentic Israeli food stands and cafes. Back on the bus we pass by Jaffa, where Jonah set out for Nineveh, and Peter had his vision while staying at the Home of Simon the Tanner. We visit Pastor Avi’s tower with an awesome view of the city from the 18th floor. Worship and praise led by Emanuel Roro was remarkable! We end our time by praying in all directions for the nation of Israel through open windows.
SIDEBAR: Pastor Avi Mizrachi and His wife Chaya are the founding pastors of Adonai Roi Congregation and Dugit Outreach Ministries in the Tel Aviv—Yafo area. Their goal is to faithfully share the life-changing Good News with the people of Israel through personal relationships, exceptional hospitality, and outreach events. The VIP Prayer Tower is currently the only prayer room located in downtown Tel Aviv. The ministry regularly welcomes local believers to join them for prayer and worship. They also welcome visitors from all over the world (like our group) to come pray with them from the 18th floor which provides panoramic views of the city. Their team also goes out into the streets for worship and prayer events monthly.
Our next visit is the David Ben Gurion Museum, the home of the first Prime Minister of Israel, the airport is named for him,
For our final time in Israel, we enjoy a farewell dinner at
a local Tel Aviv café on the Mediterranean taking in a beautiful sunset before
heading to the airport for departure away from this glorious land and back to civilization.
Farewell Dinner on the Mediterranean
My final impression…
This was indeed the trip of a lifetime. I thoroughly enjoyed
every moment of every day. Israel now has a special place in my heart. I want
to return! I am also more cognizant of praying for the peace of Jerusalem. (Ps.122)
Reflections…
The hotel personnel are servant oriented and eager to serve you with a smile and cater to your needs.
The peddlers on the streets are aggressive and will barter excessively to get your money, even give you something for free to get your business.
was an awesome guide and teacher; I call her
Encyclopedia. I mentioned in the beginning the favor she has; it comes from God and people.
our bus driver was phenomenal, fun and friendly; he
could get that bus in and out of any place including jumping curbs if
necessary. He and Tisha have been working together for approximately 15 years,
she calls him a driving magician.Mike Hohman of Eagles Nest Ministries International (ENMI) was
the organizer and leader of our group. He too is a great teacher and passionate
about Israel. He will be leading another tour in 2025.
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| Including 2 days in Greece |
The brevity of my experience cannot be fully described. Every day since my return home I cannot stop being there. Every morning I listen to Shalom Jerusalem and go through my photos. I let the album Pray for the Peace of Jerusalem play throughout the day and praise when the spirit hits. I feel like I'm still there and want to be there still ...I can't let go...
However, I am here. Thank you for following me on this adventure of a lifetime.
God bless!
Additional Photos
Mamilla Hotel and Mall in Jerusalem
