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We arrived back in New York on Thur, March 23. To all involved, it seemed like we had been gone much longer than ten days. Each day seemed like a week when we tried to review at the end of the day everything we had done that week.

Although it was not my normal style of travel, I am thankful that the tour group scheduled as much as possible into each day. I learned to think of it as an ‘overview’ which would be a good foundation for a return trip. We didn’t get much time at each site – not even enough time to read the interpretive signs or shop for souvenirs – but by the time we were done we at least had exposure to many of the places in the Galilee, Dead Sea region, the Judean Hills, and Jerusalem. We also got a good view of the Samarian hills from the road. We stopped at many sites that Christian tours don’t usually go to and conversely skipped many that an Orthodox tour might visit. We had more emphasis on the natural and archeological features rather than the churches that had been established in later years as the Site of this or that.

Our tour group was huge. There were about 350 people in our group divided among 7 buses. Each bus had its own Israeli tour guide. We would visit as a bus or maybe 3 buses at various sites but then a couple times each day we would all come together to the same site to hear a message directly from (Messianic) Rabbi Jonathan Cahn. He, the tour company, our drivers, and our guides all did as much as they could to make the tour a once-in-a-lifetime event. They put us up in very nice hotels where we were served bountiful, beautiful buffet breakfasts and suppers. The Israeli coffee was delicious. We couldn’t put our finger on just what it was that they did differently than at home to make it so exceptional.

I enjoyed getting a start using my new camera. However, my photos didn’t turn out as optimally as I would have liked because I needed to put my attention on the tour itself, not composing photos, and also because I wasn’t familiar enough with the camera features. Part ways into the tour, I quit altogether with the camera work. It was too much to try to carry the camera when we were rushing on and off the bus at various stops and also, surprisingly, I just didn’t have the time to take photos. I was busy watching where my feet were stepping and trying to keep up, listen, and not stumble! I am looking forward to spending more time with photography when I go back again and am moving at a slower pace.

I do have some pictures that I hope to share. I am going to publish this post now and then move on to the next technological challenge of trying to figure out how to get the photos posted!

Today was absolutely full and beyond description. We were walking places that everyone from Abraham to David to the prophets to the Maccabees to Yeshua and his disciples walked. We sat on the steps approaching Temple Mount that are on the outside of the Wailing Wall. This is where Neil Armstrong exclaimed that being here was much more moving than walking on the moon.

We walked to the Eastern Gates which the Messiah is prophesied to enter Jerusalem through when he comes again. The Ottomans were so intent on keeping this from happening that they sealed up those gates with stone. As if that is going to stop or even slow down our powerful and victorious King. They have covered the area with graves of Muslims thinking that will prevent His coming because He wouldn’t be able to come through a graveyard without breaking Torah. Yehovah laughs at them in derision. The entire tour group, around 300 of us?, gathered outside those gates and sang praises. The Muslim guards way high up on the wall were furious but we kept on singing.

Then we crossed over to the Garden of Gethsemane on the Mount of Olives. We had communion there in the evening remembering Yeshua’s night there before he was arrested. But this is also where He is going to return to. His feet will be on the Mount of Olives and it will split into two. And then he will continue down the slope, across the Kidron Valley, and enter via the Eastern Gates (also referred to as the Golden Gates). And we walked that this very night.

Tomorrow we trace some more of the places Yeshua was that last night and we go to the Garden Tomb. After another full day we have a farewell dinner and then take the bus to the airport in Tel Aviv. I expect I’ll have some time to post a bit more when I am at JFK.

Thank you for the message, Rachael! I am looking forward to seeing all of you.

We got here last night after very full days in the rest of Israel, which I am looking forward to sharing with you later. Today we spent most of our day in the West Bank. Tensions are higher than they have been for awhile so that changes plans. Anyway, never a dull moment.

We started the day at Shiloh, the site where the Tabernacle stood until the Temple was built in Jerusalem. There have been many highlights on the trip but I’d have to say that for me, that experience was the highlight, or more accurately, the climax of all of them.

The next two days are dedicated to Jerusalem. Tomorrow is expected to be especially challenging physically. I wish I had my hiking boots. I am going to try my best to succeed!

I guess I will have to share the highlights with you when I get back as I need to get to sleep now. Shalom!

We have beeen fully booked morning through night. Maybe in a couple days we’ll get a little bit of down time.  This is the second of three nights in what must be the nicest hotel in Tiberias. I am pretty spoiled here living the high life. I was thrilled to find that they have wifi. There wasn’t any the first night in Tel Aviv. However, I wouldn’t have had time to use it anyway.

Everything has been wonderful. Each day feels like a week because of how much we do. I am looking forward to sharing some details later. I have really been enjoying using the camera! It’s starting to feel more comfortable all the time. Plus it looks real cool. I haven’t had a chance to look at the pictures to see what kind of results I’ve gotten. It’s kind of like the old days when we had to wait until the film got developed to know how they turned out.

We have a huge group. There are eight tour buses, each holding 50 to 60 people. We gather together as a large group at special sites for events led by Jonathan Cahn sometime in the morning and the afternoon or evening. In between, we have a full schedule of stops that we do with our bus tour guide.

I have had a wonderful couple of days studying and preparing for the trip. Now I am on to the task of trying to understand how to use my new secondhand camera and then how to attach those photos. We’ll see how it goes!

I started on my journey this morning. Had the alarm set for 3:30 am. Sweet little Rachael popped right up and helped me get ready and then Zach dropped me off at the airport.  I had a lovely flight and have settled down nicely in my hotel. I am enjoying the quiet before the hectic pace starts up on Tuesday.

Don’t know when I’ll be back again …

Less than a week until my departure to JFK. I am in Duluth to get a final tune-up: sauna, chiropractic, massage, lunch with the girls. I know, my life is like a clip from Legally Blonde. Except that I’m not blonde anymore. Anyway, living my best life now!

Today I am practicing posting from the Warren library. I tried accessing Every Dollar but it wouldn’t connect. Problem on my end or theirs? I don’t know. One step at a time. By the end I will be an expert just like I was by the time I left work at FSA.

Haha! The problem was that I had forgotten to sign into the wireless internet service. Accessed and used Every Dollar.