Beginning of the 5 day journey around Israel

So much happened in the past week, days full of Holy Land travel and amazing experiences. To recap:

Last Tuesday, Emily, Lucy, Jeffrey, Nicole, and I set off from Ashkelon. After the adventure of renting the car, I got behind the wheel as the designated driver. Scary? Maybe for my family who rarely puts me as the choice driver. Ironically, my driving skills are very…Israeli and I fit in perfectly. Nicole, who is never her family’s choice navigator, was mine and we made a dynamic duo. Destination: Galilee.

First stop: Caesarea. Ruins of the head of the Roman government in Palestine. Contains streets, baths, a Herodian amphitheater, theater, walls, markets, and houses. We were in awe of all that had been excavated and restored. Very impressive. 

S econd: Nazareth. Church of the Annunciation was our destination. This church stands on the site of Mary’s house and the place where Gabriel visited to tell of the virgin birth. This city is mainly Arab, very busy, and a blossoming food mecca. As we sat in Jesus’ hometown and ate fresh pastries; iced coffee; and fresh, hot kanoffe-a soft cheese wrapped in sweet krispy “hay”.

  Third: Cana, the site of Jesus’ first miracle. Here we saw the stone wine vats and tasted the “delicacy” of Cana wedding wine. We hope that this isn’t really the wine Jesus made… sickly sweet. =) A tourist trap for sure (anyone want me to bring them home a stone jar that says Cana in sharpie?) but just standing in Nazareth and Cana and looking at the hills, feeling the gravel and dirt in our shoes and sweating put us back in time and gave us such a picture of what Jesus saw, felt, and lived.

Fourth: Driving from Cana to Tiberias, we stopped at the Arbel Cliffs and scaled the massive mountain. Jeffrey, Nicole, and I braved the climb and were able to go into caves hidden in the cliffs and saw the most spectacular view of the Sea of Galilee. As we viewed the sea, I just sat and reflected on what a faithful and powerful Savior I have. One who calmed the terrible storm that suddenly arose HERE and walked upon the water HERE, and whose ministry was centered HERE. It was this morning that I had gotten news of Josiah Bubna’s death and as I reflected upon Jesus’ miracles and ministry, his power to give and take away, I prayed that through this pain of losing Josiah, all who grieved could say, “Blessed be the name of the Lord, for He has been, is, and will be faithful to those who put their faith in Him.”

More to come, off to the Russian market for ice cream. =)