Day Twelve: Border Crossing from Jordan to Israel & Garden Tomb

We left early this morning to head back to Israel for a last day of touring. We enjoyed the final escort by our Jordanian tour guide as he shared more historical information about the countryside and we sang songs, accompanied by Pam Peterson-Kintz on the guitar, at his request. Although Muslim, he seemed to really enjoy the Christian hymns and choruses we sang. The border crossing went fairly well although Shirley came through minus one suitcase. After much searching and a final request to authorities, it was recovered and we were on our way back to Jerusalem. We made one stop on the return trip. That stop was at Jericho, the oldest city in the world. Interesting to see the site where, as the old song states, the "walls came tumbling down".

Our final bit of touring was the alternative site of the crucifixion and burial, where evangelicals believe these events may have occurred . I am reminded it is not important where Jesus was crucified, buried and resurrected but that he was crucified, buried & resurrected! We saw where Jesus may have been lowered into the dungeon in Caiaphas' house the night before his crucifixion and were able to walk down stairs (that would not have originally existed) and gather in that small dungeon where Rachel Greenawalt read a very moving passage from the Psalms. From here, we went to the steps where, all experts agree, Jesus would have climbed to Caiaphas' house. Our final stop was the Garden Tomb where we were able to walk inside. At a quiet place near the tomb, one of our Nazarene missionaries to Israel led us in a communion service. It was a wonderful time in God's presence and a perfect ending to our tour.

Our final night (if you call waking at 1:30 a.m. a night!) was spent at the Holyland Hotel in Jerusalem. We enjoyed local dishes at a buffet in the hotel. Dessert was medicine to eliminate any parasites we may have ingested since one of our team members found a live worm in her water bottle. The doctors on our team advised we take a little preventative medicine. The pill form had run out by the time the doctor reached our table, so we had a "toast" to conclude our evening with a tablespoon of liquid medicine!

Pictures include: A street vendor selling the daily newspaper within the lanes of traffic, a herd of Bedouin goats in Jordan, Bedouin homes/huts, border crossing sign, a date palm tree loaded with dates, John & I at the Elisha Spring Fountain in Jericho, the steps leading to Caiaphas' house, the hole through which Jesus may have been lowered into the dungeon, the dungeon where Jesus may have been held the night before His crucifixion, the Garden Tomb entrance, inside the Garden Tomb and our group prior to receiving holy communion.