Archive for May, 2011

Reflections

Friday, May 27th, 2011

RUSSIA………….cold, and the people don’t smile, but that doesn’t mean they are not warm, caring people once you get to know them. They have nailed indoor heat with radiators and mounted pipes circulating warm water around the walls.God bless the dedicated Americans who work for Student Venture and Campus Crusade who live over there and try to make a difference in young people’s lives in a culture that can be replica watches depressing. Outside of the big cities it is a very impoverished country and boy does their food leave something to be desired.

ENGLAND….always feels like coming home to the Mother Country; where my ancestors walked and where having friends there is 
such a joy. Saw lots of green rolling hills and ruins, ate well and felt at home.

ITALY….now that IS home in many ways.  My heart has a large chunk living in Montalcino.  But got acquainted with Pavia and an amazing family there! Found that 3 wasn’t a crowd while traveling with Carol Patterson; a great traveling companion and so much more!

ISRAEL….new images to go with my Bible knowledge. Traveling with 100 people is a different experience too, and it was ok. We are definitely living in the end times as Matt. 24 comes to life around the world….like labor pains, closer together and more intense and really visible in Israel.  DONT give any of your land up…you should soon realize the consequences if you do.

TRAVEL in general…..slept for the first time on a plane…thank you Ambien! Those long flights are so fearful for me, but the destination it so worth it, I won’t let it stop me now. When you go with a “purpose” it is so much more rich and rewarding! The computer keeps you close and keeps the bills paid, and linked to friends. Praise God for a healthy trip and a return to hug grandbabies and sit and look out on my awesome view and reflect.  Thank you to the few who came along with me on this blog; it means a lot!!

Epicenter Conference

Friday, May 27th, 2011

Joel Rosenburg,Ann Graham Lotz,(Billy Graham’s daughter) Ray Bentley, Skip Heitzig, Kay Arthur, the Minister for Foreign Affairs of Israel, a Shite, a Sunni, and 700 people from North America……..

whose purpose was to illuminate  the role of Israel in history, it’s current situation, and God’s direction via the prophetic scripture of the prophet Joel.   And Joel ( the Bible) and Joel ( the author and moderator of the Epicenter Conference) showed us the signs of the last days of the world as we know it….and they are happening NOW(But not on May 21!)  This conference was 2 days of our Israel tour and a nice break from touring.  But even as we sat in the sub- terranean hal lwith intense security, her very enemies were attacking 3 borders and rioting in the old city in observance  of the Muslim “Day of Mourning”. (where they rue the day Israel was granted nationhood)  Can you imagine one country having a holiday that’s about anger for another country….that would be like the Ol’South having a day of morning for losing the Civil War and attacking their Yankee neighbors once a year. Back on the bus…

 

Shalom,Israel

Wednesday, May 25th, 2011

We traveled with a great group of people: we just are comfortable with each other! We saw so much and have a bond with these folks because of what we went through together. And a GREAT Maranatha staff fo teaching and music and details! Israel, stay fast and don’t give up ANY of your lands…we will pray for peace for you and your incredible people.

IWTWJW III

Wednesday, May 25th, 2011

Awoke the earliest yet–bags in the hall at 6:30am.  Explored a portion of the Via Dolorosa and old courtyards (under ground one level) then to the Western Wall.  This is the only wall left from Jerusalem at the time of jesus and was the retaining wall for the Temple Mount.  I joined the women’s side and approached the tall block structure with minutely folded prayers to insert into the cracks and to touch and pray and lift those petitions to God. I know without a shadow of a doubt that the Lord hears my prayers while I’m in bed or driving or in church, but how awesome to join the centuries of pilgrims placing their modest petitions in cracks of a wall Jesus walked by.  I am so here!!!

 

“Shekeled” at the Wall

Wednesday, May 25th, 2011

One of our group had a very touching experience at the Wailing or Western Wall….a Hasidic jew with prayer shawl and curls asked Lee his name and names of his family so he could pray for them.  Lee asked in return for his families’ names and they lifted prayer together at the foot of the big stone blocks.  What an ecumenical moment…Christian and Jew together with bowed heads…..50 shekels please……………………..

I walked today where Jesus walked II

Wednesday, May 25th, 2011

Gethsemane, Upper Room, Mt of Olives….

I would find all of these very moving if it weren’t for the huge crowds of tour groups and making sure not to gather with the wrong bus load from Alabama.(the olive trees were artistically gnarly) We were alone as a congregation at the Mt. of Olives at 6:30pm with a strong wind, singing, and reading the scripture ( and watching gun shot puffs in the valley below)   I don’t need the real deal for it to be real in my heart, but I now have images in my head ( and in my camera) instead of the previous ones from a DeMille film!

Free Time

Friday, May 13th, 2011

Free time meant the privilege of NOT meeting our “mini group” until 10 am in the lobby. Heaven, and no bus!

We picked the Israeli Museum (boring). When I went to see the Dead Sea Scrolls when they came to San Diego a year ago, I saw more scrolls then; everything today was a facsimile.

But we did find 2 caches and KC’s Jerusalem University campus from her senior year, and walk more miles than these knees should take.

Tomorrow – The DEAD SEA!

Over The Border

Friday, May 13th, 2011

Our buses were not allowed into Jericho. We had to transfer to Palestinian buses and drivers to see what we saw.  Can you imagine, we crossed a border with hugs and entered a  third world country of desert, filth, fear and hatred.  And it was in the middle of Israel???

Saw some digs for the Walls of Jericho, but it was just a pile of rocks (stupid) since the walls fell down and the city was destroyed!

Then we visited Zaccheus’ house (turned into a church, of course) and then around the corner to see the sycamore tree ( I’m a little skeptical on this). But EAGER to get back on our own buses and get away!

Baptism

Friday, May 13th, 2011

Well up until now, my infant baptism had done me just fine!  But being baptized in the Jordan River was too special to pass up.  

About 2/3 of the group were immersed in cool running water where the Sea of Galilee empties into the Jordan. Special outfits, singing, 3 pastors, supportive friends, tears, wet hugs, photos, little fish, loud Alleluias…and then the commemorative gift shop!

Diamonds in Israel

Friday, May 13th, 2011

Leave it to Israel to process and distribute more than 1/2 the world’s diamonds.  Oh they don’t get mined here, DeBeers sends them here to be brokered for the best price around the world. Of course the bus took us to the wholesale mart where my dear sweet husband bought me a diamond and blue topaz ring in honor of our trip and 40th anniversary!  What a guy!