Well, I'm going to have to go out of order here because I'm just overwhelmed with info to share and don't know where to begin!

We went to Jericho today and saw the wilderness where Jesus wandered. Israel is a very rocky country and the deserts are VERY barren. It gives new perspective to Jesus being asked to turn rocks to bread. We were met by Bedouins peddlling their wares.

We traveled to Masada... the amazing city on top of a rock. Everything is built on the "high places" here because that's the best place to see your enemies coming. Re-read those passages and picture many mountain tops covered in towns and cities. They can all see each other from across the valleys.

We visited the Dead Sea - although I forgot my swimsuit so I couldn't go in! Ugh... It was funny to see people float on top of the water. It almost looked like they were defying nature as they lay on top of the water. Fun too watch!

We saw this dead tree at the spot that marked where King Saul would have been hung on the city wall for all to see his decapitated body. It's AMAZING to walk through places that have things that are 2000 to 4000 years old! Things we can touch and feel for oursleves! Way cool...

We visited Kumran where the Dead Sea scrolls were found. We had a bonfire by the Sea of Galilee. Our Pastor Steve baptised some of our people in the Jordan river... way cool. We visited the mountain where Jesus spoke the Beatitudes from... Mount of the Beatitudes. I learned that it is Jewish custom for the family to tear their clothes when a loved one dies... think about that when you think about the torn curtain in the temple at Jesus' death.

We have a Muslim bus driver, a Jewish tour guid and a group of Christians all traveling together. A Muslim, a Jew and a Christian... sounds like the start of a joke! These guys are amazing though. Manuevering the bus into places I wouldn't guess and our guide sharing his knowledge of the bible and history that brings light in SOOO many ways that it is overwhelming!

We are up and out the door by 7:30 every morning and don't get back until 7pm in the evening. It's pretty tiring but everyone is having a fantastic time! I have had my eyes open to so many new things now that I can see for myself what our Bible is talking about. It's been awesome!

Tomorrow we will start on the Mount of Olives and follow the path of the triumphal entry. We learned something significant about palm branches... which of course I can't remember! I'm sure we'll hear the story again tomorrow though. We will also visit Bethlehem. I've learned that our English translation adds the "h" to BetHlehem. The spelling here would be Bet' Lehem - I think. It literally means house of meat. Needing "meat" as a believer rather than just the "milk?" Interesting when you think about where Jesus came from.

So many stories and so little time to share them right now! Things are kinda slow in getting pictures up, but hope you enjoy the ones I do get up! I'll do my best to update, but I fear it won't be as often as I hoped for! I'll share more as I'm able. :-)