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Day 3: Jeremiah 31:35-37

Driving around Sea of Galilee. Just passed the first kibbutz in Israel established more than 100 years ago. Crossed over the Jordan River. The mighty Jordan looks like Mud Creek!The flowers here are beautiful. The colors are so brilliant. It is raining again today, which is an answer to prayer. They have been in a drought. We are thankful for them and trying to deal with the uncomfortable wetness for ourselves. Our kibbutz (where we are staying) is very near Tiberias. They have discovered an ancient ampitheater that they are now uncovering and will open within the year. It is the sabbath today so none of the shops are open. The food for our breakfast was prepared yesterday and they offered us fresh raw fish and anchovies. Yum! Basalt is a stone that they use in their houses here. All the structures look white. It amazing to see the buildings built into the hills here. Mizvah-doing a good work for blessing. There is an important gravesite here of Rambam. From the 12th century, wrote down lots of scripture that the Jews follow today. We are climbing a mountain to get a spectacular view of the Sea of Galilee area. There are bomb shelters built all over here under the ground. They say a good olive tree starts to produce at about the age of thirty years.

First stop today , Arbel, on a beautiful elevated penninsula overlooking the Sea of Galilee. Jason read John 5 first few verses then Matthew 5-7. I videoed and hope I can attach. I am in awe! The plain below is the site of Magdala, home of Mary Magdalene. Becky believes she is a distant relative of Mary named Imogene.

Mary Magdalene was actually from Magdala. Magdalene indicated the town she was from, it was not her last name. We drove past Magdala.

We drove past banana trees with bags over them. They are bagged to keep them from banging and turning black and for sun protection. Otherwise, they will be of lower quality. Nine months after you plant a banana tree it will produce fruit. It is much like growing corn. They will only produce one bunch of bananas. Then the tree is cut down to grow a new one.

After visiting Tel Hazor's Palace of the Canaanite Kings, I (Becky) walked down 138 steps, 45 meters or 100 feet to the source of their water system. At the bottom was a tunnel that led to a pool. It was very dark at the bottom and it was difficult to see the water. The original steps were there, but they have built better steps for us to walk on. Going down was fun and easy, but going back up hurt! I was puffing by the time I got to the top and my legs were hurting. I can hardly imagine going down those steps to fetch water and carry it back up. Ugh! Jane caught it on tape to prove I really did it.(Jane here reporting that I stayed "topside" just so I could make the film documentary. Someone had to make the sacrifice!)

Just walked a million miles in mud and boulders at Tel Dan. The gate of Laish Abrahan walked through. He came that far to get Lot. It was made of mud and has a cover over it now to keep it from any more disintegration. Then we saw the "High Place" that was built by Jeroboam with the golden calf so that people would worship there instead of going to Jerusalem.

Now driving by a field that says do not enter "live mines".

Our next stop was a place built to honor Pan, Nemesis, & Zeus. It was the Augustun shrine. Quick walk to site of the palace of Herod Agrippa. Now in the Golan Heights. History, history, history. Oops, bus stopped as cows are crossing the road. They are unmoooooved by the significance of their homeplace. Pulling off soon for a view of the Syrian border, passing the road to Damascus. It's impossible to absorb it all.

Our last stop of the day was a spot where we could see Syria. A gentleman traveled with us today who fought for Israel in the Yon Kippur War against Syria. The Syrians had 2000 tanks and the Israelis had 200 tanks. The Syrians pushed the Israelis clear back to the Jordan River. Then the Israelis pushed back and (with God's help) forced the Syrians clear back to Damascus. But they weren't allowed to take it, and in the treaty that followed had to give up more of Israel's land. Gary Candish feels America should get out of the way and let Israel fight for their land themselves. They'd be better off with God's help raher than ours.

Back to Ma'agan for dinner. It is dark by 5:oo PM.

Day 2: We're here!

Arrived in Tel Aviv and boarded a beautiful lime green bus (reminiscent of the green bug) around 10:15 a.m. Bused about 1 hour to Caesarea in a DOWNPOUR.

Cornelius, Paul, King Agrippa, Felix, Festus all factor into history in Caesarea. This is where Paul was imprisoned and appealed to go to Rome. A group of us walked through the rain and saw awesome history - Byzantine, Roman, Crusades. Jason Nightingale stood on the stage of the ampitheater and quoted Revelation 1-5 with the Mediterranean pounding in the background. We are sleep deprived and soaked but this is beyond words. I'm so thankful I could come. Thank you Mom and Dad!

7:45 p.m. - We're settled into Maagada (see link at right) and ready to SLEEP. After Caesarea this morning we went on up the Mediterranean coast to the cities of Haifa and Akko. Our guide, Paul, and his family had prepared a picnic lunch for us but we were unable to eat outside as intended due to the rain. Still fun and still good food!

The weather cleared for a beautiful sea view in Haifa. Then a tour of the "Crusader Castle" in Akko.

Day 1: Fly, fly away: Is this yesterday or today?

As I write this, it is 1:45 a.m. Israeli time, 6:45 p.m. yesterday in Iowa! I'm very confused. Should be trying to sleep but will use this opportunity to recap today's events.

All connections have gone so smoothly, no glitches at all. Becky and I were "shuttled" to the airport at 7:00 this morning (or was that yesterday?). As soon as we reached the check-in counter the rest of the CBC group appeared behind us. Oops, I said no glitches but Becky did have to give up some items getting through security because of too many objects in one plastic bag. Steve Wilson also had a little problem with a mispelling of his name on his flight reservation.

It was great to meet up with Pastor Duke and his "gang" from Ohio. I think we'll all get along "swimmingly". At this moment we are somewhere over the Atlantic, flying 640 mph at 33775 feet. Temperature outside my window is -57F. While people sleep around me I'm watching the flight monitor. Maybe I'll try a movie, that should put me to sleep. I'm sharing 51" of flight seats with Ken & Shirley Klopp. I'm glad we're friends and hope we remain so after 6 more hours!

Day 0

The adventure begins. We missed our departure time of 4:00 PM, but were on the road by 5:30 PM after we said "good-bye" to all our special little people. "Love you Karly, Shannon, Wilson, Niall, Lydia, and Nora! Thank you Niall and Lydia for the wonderful pictures. I will decorate our rooms with them to think of you every day!" We stopped for supper at the Flying J truckstop shortly into Missouri. After dinner, about 7:30 PM, we were back on the road. However, two miles down the highway, a deer came out of the woods and proceeded to run into the side of the car. It took out the front panel, the passenger-side mirror, the front door panel and the back door panel. Then the deer lay in the road flailing its legs in the throws of death. Meanwhile, semi trucks were bearing down on it and us. We, of course, were standing in the dark looking at the damage and the deer. About the time we called 911 to let them know the deer was a road hazard, the dumb thing got up and ran off into the woods. We were fine, and happy to know that Bambi will live another day to terrorize another motorist. Got to the hotel by 10:00 and will be up by 5:00 AM to begin Day 1!!

Obviously this writing was Becky's. I would have simply said, "Hit the Missouri border then hit a deer!" - JT

Getting Excited!!!

Estimated time of departure from my garage is approximately 4:00 p.m. Wednesday, Oct. 28, 2009. Becky Ahern and I will be driving to St. Louis and will stay at the Holiday Inn near the airport. This facility offers "park 'n fly" services so the car can stay securely behind without extra expense.

Thursday morning we will board the shuttle around 7:00 a.m., hopefully meet up with some familiar faces near the Continental Airlines drop-off. Departure for Newark is at 10:35 a.m. We leave Newark for Tel Aviv at 3:55 p.m. (Eastern time) and arrive in Tel Aviv at 8:15 a.m. Friday (Israeli time). This arrival time is 12:15 a.m. Central Standard Time! Our first challenge is to sleep on the flight because, upon arrival, we hit the tourist trail (if we get through security).

If you'd like to see where our group will be staying during the trip please click on the links to the right, "My Home Away from Home". We will be at the first place on the Sea of Galilee 4 nights and the second location near Jerusalem the last 3 nights.

Hopefully the quality and content of the photos will improve as this trip begins!!!!