Day Four: Nazareth Village & Border Crossing to Jordan, 7/13/11

Our day began with a visit to the church built over the site of Joseph's home/carpentry shop. We also saw the church of the Annunciation which was the site where the angel appeared to Mary to announce the birth of Jesus. Lunch was at the Church of the Nazarene in Nazareth. The main outreach ministry at the church is a Preschool for many children in the community. From there we toured Nazareth Village which replicates life in Jesus' time. This included a wine press, carpentry shop, spinners/weavers and a replica of a cross used at the time of Jesus. This made a big impression on me as the cross was much shorter than I had visioned. It was only 5-6 feet tall for the purpose of passers-by to be able to spit on the one being crucified. We also walked through the Eye of the Needle which is a small door within a door. The larger door is opened for the purpose of allowing larger animals such as camels and donkeys through, while the smaller door is opened to allow only people to enter. This gave us a wonderful picture of what Jesus meant when he said in Matthew 19:18, "Again I say to you, it is easier for a camel to go through the eye of a needle, than for a rich man to enter the kingdom of God". Pictures posted are The Eye of the Needle, Joseph's carpentry shop, a rubber tree plant (where our group sang the song "High Hopes" about the ant moving a rubber tree plant...fun!), the Church of the Annunciation & the cross replica.

It was then time to cross the border to Jordan. This was an interesting 2 1/2 hour adventure as we brought MANY gifts and medical supplies for the school and clinic we will be holding. It may have been the 3000 syringes that caught their attention. After prayer, pleading and a small donation to the Jordanian government, we were allowed to continue on our way. Armed soldiers came on the bus to check each of our passports as we entered the country. It was kind of exciting! The drive to Jordan on the mountain switchbacks was exciting/scary as well since our driver didn't hesitate to pass cars with sharp corners ahead (& cars coming!). We saw many areas of poverty on the way to Zarqa. Our work at the school begins tomorrow.

Day Three: Baptism in the Jordan River & Sea of Galilee, 7/12/11

Our day began with many from our team (including John & I) being baptized in the Jordan River; the same river where John the Baptist baptized Jesus. Rod, the missionary overseeing the Zarqa school (where we will be working) baptized each of us; it was a very special service. The next stop was lunch at a restaurant on the Sea of Galilee featuring Tilapia. We were able to ride a boat across the Sea and continue our tour to Capernaum. Here we saw remains of the city including Peter's house and the synagogue. We also saw the Mount of Beatitudes where Jesus preached the Sermon on the Mount as well as the location of the feeding of the 5000. Our final stop was The Primacy of Saint Peter where Jesus asked Peter 3 times if he loved him and asked him to feed His sheep. From our last stop, we continued on to the city of Nazareth where we spent the night. We saw many olive, date palm, mango and banana trees as we drove. The pictures include remains of the city of Capernaum and Peter's house, remains of the synagogue in Capernaum, our group wading in the Sea of Galilee, a view of the Sea of Galilee from our boat, members of our group who were baptized in the Jordan river.

Day Two in Jerusalem & Bethlehem, 7/11/11

Today we saw many sights in the Old City of Jerusalem. We walked the Via Dolorosa (Way of the Cross), visited the Garden of Gethsemane and the place where Jesus agonized in the Garden. There were olive trees that were 2000 years old and believed to be in the Garden when Jesus was there the night he was arrested. We were able to see a possible site where He was crucified, prepared for burial and buried. We walked through Hezekiah's tunnel in water over our knees in places. The Wailing Wall, the most holy place in the world for the Jewish people, was also a part of today's tour. Our last stop included the Church of the Nativity in Bethlehem, the place where Jesus was born and where the Christmas Eve service is broadcast around the world. The day ended with shopping and bartering with a street vendor for 2 necklaces...it really was John's idea! The Garden of Gethsemane was probably the highlight of our day. Pictures include the Dome of the Rock, The wall around Old City of Jerusalem, a possible site where Jesus was crucified, the burial preparation site, a current Jewish burial site, the Western (Wailing) Wall, Kim with soldiers which were frequently seen on the streets in Jerusalem, the marketplace, a 2000 year old olive tree in the Garden of Gethsemane, art graffiti on the separation wall between the West Bank (where Bethlehem is located) and Jerusalem and John & I at the Garden of Gethsemane.

Day One: Bethlehem, 7/10/11

Our team arrived safely in Tel Aviv around 9:00 a.m. US time, 5:00 here. All flights were on time and no problem going through Customs. We are staying the first 2 nights in Bethlehem and have posted pictures of our tour guide, Johnny, the countryside of Jerusalem and the last is the view of Bethlehem outside our hotel window.

One week before the trip to Jordan

We leave for our Jordan Work & Witness trip one week from today. It's time to be packing & leaving instructions at home for Luke & Paul. There are 35 people scheduled to participate in the trip; several from our home church in Richland Center, Wisconsin (Church of the Nazarene) and others from around the state and country. We begin our trip in Bethlehem and tour other historic sites in the Holy Land. The middle portion of our trip will be work on a school in Jordan and holding a Vacation Bible School. We will post pictures and details as often as possible. Keep us in your prayers.